Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Wake him up.”

Akira was greeted with a bucket of water and the feeling like the room was spinning. It only took a moment for him to recognize the interrogation room, and the sinking feeling that he was having that nightmare again.

Akira naively thought that after everything that happened with Shido, Yaldabaoth, and Juvi, going back home would also get rid of that. Not only was he wrong, but this nightmare seemed even more detailed than usual. Most of the interrogation was a snapshot of memories, of the cops, of talking to Sae. Akira wasn’t even sure when he dreamed about it if it was accurate to what happened, or just his imagination trying to fill in the holes in his memories.

“The calm guy act isn’t going to work kid.” Was the only warning Akira got before he was kicked in the stomach and fell out of the chair.

It hurt, but in a weird foggy way. Something was saying it was still off for a nightmare, but then the cop’s foot was on his head, stopping any further thought.

“Come on, cooperate. Or what, you want another shot?”

Akira couldn’t help but give a snort at that. All of the drugs were the reason why this nightmare was never the same. His mind couldn’t remember what to be afraid of, so it kept coming up with new situations.

“What’s so funny? Do you really think a criminal like you will be getting out of here?”

Another kick, and Akira wondered if this was when he bruised that rib.

He didn’t pay attention as the cop listed out his crimes, too focused on trying to will himself to wake up. Or hope that Morgana would wake him up like the last time he had this nightmare.

“Sign this. It’s a confession under your name.”

Akira knew he signed it in real life, but here he pushed it away like he wanted to the first time. Akira wasn’t going to admit to crimes he didn’t do. He was done with that, and wasn’t going to play along with this nightmare.

Akira couldn’t even pay attention to what the cop was saying before he stomped on his leg. The pain was enough to cut through the drugs, and Akira wondered if he was screaming outside of this dream too. He thought he heard something snap, and this time when the clipboard was shoved in his face he signed with tears clouding his vision.

This was usually where the nightmare ended. At least this part of it. But Akira was used to it jumping around, and wasn’t too surprised when he was pulled up into the chair for Sae’s interrogation, his leg still burning in a way Akira didn’t remember happening in real life.

It was weird it was hurting so much, and Akira wondered if Morgana decided to claw his leg in order to try to wake him up. It felt like this nightmare was taking forever.

“...I didn’t expect it’d be you,” Sae said almost as soon as she sat down.

Akira didn’t remember her sounding so shocked in real life. Then again, he only remembers bits and pieces of their conversation. This nightmare was probably the most chronological one he’s had to date.

“...Surprise,” Akira joked, even though his pretty sure he slurred his speech a little.

Sae didn’t apperceive his efforts to make the nightmare less of one, immediately getting into her interrogation. Akira felt like sighing, and maybe he did since Sae smacked the table, shocking him.

“Do you think this is a joke?”

He’s been getting asked that a lot during this nightmare. Maybe his subconscious was trying to tell him something? No metaverse means so Joker, so he should stop trying to lighten the mood with a joke?

“Sorry, I wanted to make things less tense this time around,” Akira heard himself say out loud.

“This time around?” Sae asked, only to spot something on the ground, “Those bastards. How much did they give you?”

“Uh... enough that the room is swaying? Not as much as in Shido’s palace but...” Akira trailed off, thankful that he wasn’t having a nightmare about that.

Or about everyone disappearing when the metaverse merged with reality. The interrogation nightmares suck, but he preferred it to ones where his friends got hurt. Or died.

“Shido’s palace?” Sae asked before shaking her head, “You are going to have to explain everything. No joking or using obtuse names to describe things.”

“Can you get to the point rather than ask about every confidant I made?” Akira knew he was pissing off dream Sae, but he really didn’t want to go through every conversation he remembered having with her.

“Fine. Then why don’t you tell me how you found out about that world, and how is it even possible to steal another’s heart?”

Akira was about to tell her everything, but suddenly the room got dark, and he saw a butterfly. Lavenza’s voice.

“...you are held captive once again. By forces unknown to me. But as you fought for your own future once, you must do so again. Find me once you free yourself from death and win this unjust game for a second time.”

Akira blinked as the interrogation room came back. He hasn’t heard from Lavenza since they fought the fake god. It made him think there was something about this dream. But couldn’t she just summon him to the velvet room if she needed to warn him about a new risk? A new game that he needed to win.

“Hey, don’t fade on me yet,” Sae snapped, and Akira shook his head.

The nightmare was still going on.

Akira figured he might need to get through this conversation before he woke up, and proceeded to tell Sae everything that didn’t incriminate the other phantom theives.

Well, expect for Akechi, but Akira wasn’t sure if he ever considered himself to be one of them.

“You want me to believe that a politician has been using a teenager with police connects to cause these mental shutdown? That cognitive psience is not only applicable, but a you and Akechi randomly got access to another world through a phone app?”

“Not random. We were both pick from a fake god and a... something with a long nose.”

Akira still wasn’t sure what the real Igor was. Nor why he picked Akira to be his tricketer in the game to prevent the end of the world.

Sae looked at him in disbelief. And not the look he remember in real life that lead her to pick up his phone and show it to Akechi.

“Well, this was a waste,” Sae commented as she glanced on her wristwatch.

“Can you show Akechi my phone?” Akira got out as she stood up, and she just stared at him in annoyance.

“I think I entertained your nonsense long enough. I hope the drugs wear off soon enough for the next person to get some coherent answers out of you.”

Akira didn’t think much as Sae left. The nightmare was been going on long enough, and even if he wakes up to Akechi pointing a gun at him, at least he’ll wake up. Akira always wondered if Akechi hesitated at all before shooting his cognition. Or say a corny one liner before shooting him and laughing.

Probably the later, but Akira still thought about the glove that he had, even as he tried to forget about him after his death.

Akira heard foot steps as Akechi walked in along with a guard. Then he took that guard’s gun and shot him.

“Shido didn’t even give you a gun to kill me?” Akira asked, because he always imagined Akechi pulling a fancy assassination gun out of his case.

Akechi then turned to him, gun in his gloved hand, and face torn between confusion and anger. It settled on anger.

“How do you know about Shido?”

“We bugged your phone,” Akira said, wondering if it would hurt getting shot in the dream like how his leg was still throbbing.

“You bugged my... when Sakura grabed my phone. She didn’t care about the model. She was planing a custom made bug,” Akechi realized, and Akira wonder if this was how he looked when he figured out they tricked him the first time.

Akira wish he could have seen it, but he guess this dream’s interpretation wasn’t too bad.

“That still doesn’t explain how you got his name. I make sure not to mention it on our conversation. I know I didn’t mess up.”

“Oh right,” Akira muttered, “we only heard you say that when you made the call saying you killed me. I wonder why you messed up then. Maybe you did feel a little bad about kill me.”

“What are you even talking about? If you knew I was going to kill you, why are you here?!” Akechi yelled, pointing the gun at him.

“I’m not here? This is just a dream, and in real life you were in Sae’s palace and shot a cognition of me just like we planed.”

“Did they give you a concussion along with the drugs? This isn’t a dream Kuzusu. This is real life, but it’s about to be a short one for you.”

“Aww, but if you kill me than how will we change Shido’s heart and fight god?” Akira said as he crossed his legs, only to abort the motion at the pain and the swaying got worst.

“Change Shido’s heart? That’s your grand plan? Make him confess just like any other criminal. After what he did?”

“That’s what we did,” Akira said, suddenly realizing dream or not, this was the only way to tell Akechi he did keep his promise.

At least the major one, though Akira did wish they could have had a rematch before…

“You know, if you didn’t died I think the others would have let you join. At least to steal Shido’s heart. What you did was awful in ways I can’t even comprehend, but I can’t say any of us would have done better if we were alone in your situation.”

That seemed to shocked Akechi. Akira had the rare moment of seeing him just stare at him, still holding the gun, but his finger was on the barrel and not the trigger like before.

“..I’m not dead,” Akechi bit out angrily. “The only one dead is going to be you, and Shido only once I destroy everything he worked for.”

“I wish you weren’t dead,” Akira admitted, “I thought I could just forget about you since everything about our friendship was fake but... I guess if that was true you won’t be in my dreams so often.”

Akira looked back up at Akechi, drinking in the sight of his face with no mask on, even if it was just his subconscious trying to figure out what Akechi would look like when he’s not mad and trying to kill him. The gun was even lower now. And Akira looked to the dead body was had a lot of blood pooled under it. He really wished his dream wouldn’t have kept that around. It felt like this was turning out to be a good way to get all his thoughts out.

“...why do you think I’m going to die,” Akechi finally said, looking weirdly stilted in his movements.

“I think Shido always planed to kill you after the election, but once you found us in Shido’s palace, his cognition of you finished the job after we fought,” Akira said pausing more a moment, “Sorry that we didn’t save you.”

Akira did wonder if Akechi was still alive even when Futaba lost his signal. Or if there was another way into the water sealed room. Akechi was just declared missing in the real world, with no body to morn even after he saved them.

“...why does that sound like something he would do?” Akechi muttered to himself before that rage was back in his eyes and he pointed the gun at him once more. “How did you figure all this out?”

Akira opened his mouth to tell him how they figure it out, only to get cut off by a phone ringing.

Akechi glared at him once more, before pulling out the phone. Akira couldn’t hear the conversation on the other end, but he was certain it was Shido.

“I am sorry sir for not checking in sooner. The dead is done. The leader of the phantom thieves is no more,” Akechi said, eyes not leaving him and Akira was expect a bang to wake him up, only for the gun to disapear into his jacket.

“I hate you so much,” Akechi said as he suddenly came over and started pulling Akira out of the chair.

Akira tried to stand up, but his knees buckled and the pain in his leg throbbed.

“You need to stand. We aren’t going to make if out of Sae’s palace if you can’t stand,” Akechi growled at him, and that was as much warning as he got before he click the metaverse app on his phone.

Akira barely felt the change. It was like the first time he entered the metaverse, a slight pressure that could easily be ignored. The body was gone, and Akira was able to shift his weight to one leg as Akechi put an arm around his waist to help.

“This is a mess. All that planing for nothing. Years of work gone just because of this idiot,” Akechi started complaining as they walked.

“...You know I can hear you,” Akira said and the arm around his waist got tighter, making Akira hiss in pain.

“I could still kill you. Or just leave you for the shadows. I doubt your body could withstand summoning your personas right now,” Akechi nonchalantly said.

Which brought up a good point.

“Were are we going?”

Akechi stopped just as they started leaving Sae’s palace, entering mementos as what happens when you get too far from someone’s distortion.

“I can’t take you to my apartment even if Shido wasn’t planning to eliminate me. You trashy attic is also off limits since the police should be searching it along with the cafe.”

“I like my trashy attic. You’re just jealous.”

“Shut up. Do you have anyone else who can be trusted to make sure you don’t die in your sleep?”

Akira never really thought about staying someone else. Sae wasn’t able to bring him home until the next day, and Akira can’t really remember much about those days after the interrogation. He remembered meeting with all the phantom thieves, but before that...

“I think my drug dealer checked on me?”

“Your WHAT?”

Akira nodded as he thought more about it.

“Yeah, I think Sojiro got her to do a check up to make sure I didn’t brake anything or if the drugs were going to cause liver damage. Or kidney damage? I think kidney damage is when you get over dosed.

“Focus! Were is your... drug dealer...” Akechi got out like it pained him to do so.

“Takemi? Her clinic is just a block away from the cafe.”

“Of course it is. That’s going to be quite the walk, and we can’t afford to get out of mementos to take the subway with you like this.”

Akira wasn’t sure where this dream was going. He never thought that Akechi would… just not shoot him. And while Akechi looked pissed in a way that made Akira wondered if this dream was going to morph into their last fight, he was still helping Akira walk.

Which was getting really hard to do. Akira wasn’t use to walking around mementos on the surface, and not so beat up. There was no reason to when he had a bunch of healing spells and items…

“Wait, why don’t we just use one of my medicines? I kept them in my Joker outfit so they should still be there…”

“Are you a dumbass? Healing real world injuring are only temporal in the metaverse. Better to wait in case we can’t avoid a fight since I wouldn’t be able to hold you at the same time.”

“Huh. I didn’t know that,” Akira admitted.

He rested long enough before entering Shido’s palace that everything was just achy, but not painful. And while it was worst when they left that first day, Akira didn’t think much about it.

“No surprise there. You and the other phantom theives just bummbled your way though this. I had to figure it out all on my own.”

Akechi’s grip around Akira’s waist got tighter, and Akira hiss out in pain from his ribs. The grip loosened, but Akechi didn’t apologized.

Not that Akira ever thought he would. This whole dream was having Akechi act in ways Akira didn’t think was possible, so what did he know. Akira just was waiting to wake up.

Akechi kept muttering threats and mildly concerning statements while they walked, and after what felt like an hour, they turned into the backstreets of Yongen-Jaya.

Akira never seen what the metaverse looked like outside of Shibuya, and it was weird walking pass the cafe seeing it almost glowing in a warm light in the otherwise abandon looking neighborhood. A few of the other shops Akira went to also had that same glow, as well as the clinic.

“Brace yourself, I’m taking us back, and I need you to be conscious enough to explain why we are showing up so late.”

Akira gave a nod, not trusting himself to speak as suddenly noises came back. He could hear people walking in the alley, coming back from a late night out or the bathhouse right before closing. It was almost enough to distract him from how shaky everything still was.

“Good, looks like it’s still open,” Akechi said before pulling Akira through the door.

“I don’t have time for a check up so unless it’s an emerga-” Takemi started to say before looking up from her magazine and seeing them.

“Bring him into the examination room now.”

Akira felt like he blinked and was suddenly on his back with Takemi looking down at him. Akechi was talking from somewhere, but he couldn’t focus. It felt more like Akira was going to fall asleep rather that awake up, but even with people telling him not to, he closed his eyes.

Chapter Text

Akechi still wanted to kill Kurusu.

Only now it was less as a means to complete his goals, and more from how he messed everything up. Akechi doesn’t know why he listened. Kurusu shouldn’t have this information, and it was clear his grasp on reality was shaky which how he thought it was a dream and keep messing up his tenses. But Kurusu knew too much. He knew about Shido, and implied he knew about Akechi’s plan not just to kill him but to destroy him. And seemed confident that it not only was it not going to work, but Akechi would get killed before he even attempted to carry it out. The kind of confidence that didn’t seem like it came from Kurusu making educated guess, but that he knew something Akechi didn’t.

Akechi didn’t even know there was a cognition of himself in Shido’s palace, and the fact that Kurusu did was...

It was a moment of hesitation, of curiosity to see what Kurusu plan really was, that had him lie to Shido. Saving Kurusu wasn’t the plan, and Akechi knew he could kill him at any point to fix his mistake, but he didn’t. Insead he half carried the leader of the phantom theifs to a skeezy clinic.

Akechi waited, telling the doctor what little he knew about the cocktail of drugs the cops joked was a ‘truth serum’ as he thought back. Kurusu was talking nonsense due to the drugs, and the beating, but that didn’t mean Akechi could ignore what he said. Most likely Kurusu was misremembering the plan he made with the phantom thieves, which means that they also knew. Of course they would all know. Joker always made a point of all their decision being unanimous so that no one felt left out. Joker wasn’t one to leave his teammates in the dark.

Joker figuring out his plan and maybe even Shido’s plan for him was one thing, but thinking of how the rest of the phantom thieves knew and still acted like nothing was wrong pissed Akechi off. Their plan was shit. They had no right to act so high and mighty that they got one over Akechi. Joker could have easily died today, and the only reason why he wasn’t was because Akechi needed to figure out how they knew.

“Hey ginnie pig, are you awake?” The doctor said, finally getting Akechi’s attention.

Kurusu was blinking rapidly under the light the doctor was shining over his eyes, and looked like he was moment from passing out again.

“…Takemi?” He slurred and something in Akechi didn’t like seeing him like this.

No one challenged Akechi like Kurusu did. That fight they had in the metaverse felt right in a way meeting him in the interrogation room didn’t. It wasn’t that Akechi wouldn’t kill Kurusu to further his goals, in order to ruin Shido’s life, but he wished it wasn’t like this. Killing Kurusu with Loki, with a blade to his neck seemed more fitting then a gun when he wasn’t even aware of his surroundings half the time.

“That’s right. Can you tell me your name?”

“Uh… Kurusu Akira, please take care of me,” Kurusu said, sounding a little more present as Akechi recognized the upturn on his speak he made whenever making a joke.

The doctor obvious spend enough time with Kurusu to also recognize it, and gave a snort before checking his head.

“That’s what I’m doing kid. Now can you tell me the date?”

“April 9th, or I guess it would be the 10th now…” Kurusu said, and even though Akechi tensed up the doctor continued like nothing was wrong.

“Uh huh, and can you tell me what you did yesterday?”

“Yesterday? I went to class, chated with my friends while studying… wait, Takemi? How am I here?”

“Your friend carried you here. Now, I need you stay laying down, but try not to fall sleep on me. It sounds like you might have a concussion,” The doctor said before turning to Akechi, “Might getting his guardian? Sakura-san lives just down the street and should be there since the cafe is closed at this hour.”

“Of course, I’ll be right back,” Akechi said with his detective prince smile, causing Kurusu to turn his head so sharply that Takemi yelled at him.

But Akechi was out of the examination room before he could say anything. Akechi would much rather just text the phantom thieves and have them deal with this, but they all blocked him soon after he captured Joker. Seems that Akechi will have to suttle with trying to get information out of Isshiki’s daughter since Kurusu at best is confused from his concussion, and at worst might be suffering from trauma induced amnesia.

That would be just his luck.

It was late, close to midnight, and unlike the rest of the city, the streets were empty. A few street cats here and there, but otherwise not a soul in sight as Akechi walked to the building he already knew the Sakura’s lived.

As much as Akechi wanted to demand Futaba explain what they knew, there was no way he was going to be the first to show his hand. He needed to figure out how he was going to play this. For now, he wasn’t going to kill Kurusu, but what about his plan?

Akechi didn’t want to just give up his plan almost three years in the making just because Kurusu mentioned it wouldn’t work. But the problem was that Akechi already knew it wasn’t. After a year dealing with Shido, Akechi knew deep down that revealing his status as his bastard son, trying to blackmail in into accepting him, was never going to work. But by that point he already had blood on his hand, and what would be the point if he gave up? He had to keep going. Get revenge on the man who ruined his mother’s life. He had to win.

But Akechi couldn’t ignore the fault in his plan anymore. He’s not an idiot. Akechi was given the chance to make sure he wins, and he had to take it. Even if it would require him to work with the phantom theives once more.

Kurusu already knows Shido’s name, and implied he was the phantom thieves next target. As much as Akechi hated to admit it, Shido’s palace was too much for him to do on his own, but if he had the phantom thieves to clear the way, to soften Shido’s shadow, then Akechi could kill him. Or just let them change his heart. Akechi wasn’t sure which would be a more fitting end for a waste of skin like Shido.

But if Akechi was going to work with the phantom thieves, he needed to figure out how he was going to play this. He needed to know how much they knew, and not to reveal anything they didn’t already know.

Akechi could tell them the true, that Kurusu was able to talk him out of killing him, or lie and say he was always planing this and hope that Kurusu wouldn’t remember what really happened in the interrogation room. The later was far more risky, but Akechi didn’t like even imagine admitting to Kurusu’s friends what really happened. It made him felt like he lost control of the situation.

He didn’t. It was still very much under his control. Akechi was just adapting to new information. Something he was very good at.

When he knocked on the door to the Sakura residence, it didn’t take long for him to hear footsteps coming closer. He heard voices muffled by the door, and suddenly the door was riped oven to reveal a very angry looking Sakura.

“Get out. I am not going to let you harm anyone else in my family.”

Ah. It seems that Kurusu told Sakura. That complicates things.

“I’ll be leaving shortly,” Akechi said in his detective prince voice, not missing a step, “however, there is some information you should know. Your ward, Kurusu Akira-”

“If you here to tell me that he, that you-” Sakura started to say before chocking up.

Akechi also filed away that he was correct in thinking the rest of the phantom theives knew he planned to kill Joker before continuing.

“Died? No, he’s very much alive, though unable to leave the clinic at the moment since-” Akechi said before he was suddenly shoved aside by an orange blob.

“What- Futaba? Futaba get back here!”

Akechi looked to see Futaba already down the street turning to the clinic, and still wearing her house slippers. Akechi wasn’t even able to finish explain since Sakura quickly grabbed his jacket before following her, leaving Akechi in front of their wide open door.

“Is Joker really alive?”

Akechi looked down to see the stupid cat slink out of the house, looking between Akechi and where the Sakuras ran off.

“I wouldn’t have brought him to the clinic, nor inform anyone of it, if he wasn’t.”

“But you... We know you were planing on killing him! We heard you!”

Akechi gave the cat a sharp smile at the reminder of his phone being bugged.

“I take it you bugged my phone? Then you should already be aware I lied about my reason for joining your little group. It shouldn’t be a shock that I lied to others as well.”

“Lied to... you mean you lied to your boss when you said you would kill Joker? You never planed on killing him?!” Morgana yelled, and Akechi had to keep from telling him to shut up.

He planted the seed of doubt. If the Phantom thieves think that Akechi never planned on really killing Kurusu, then they will be more willing to trust him, and drop their guard. It was going to be hard, since seemed like they never trusted him to being with, but hopefully it will keep his options open.

“If I wanted him to be dead, he would be,” Akechi said before he thought better of it.

As far as he could tell, they don’t know he’s the one behind the mental shutdown. They would be idiots not to suspect him, but that was the point of his red mask. Joker doesn’t even change his mask when changing personas. Only Akechi could do that.

“You better not be lying now then! Otherwise I’ll... I’ll...”

“You’ll do nothing because I just saved Kurusu life. And as much I would love to talk more, I need to tie up some loose ends to make sure it stays like that for the time being,” Akechi said before turning, not bothering to close the door since it’s not his fault if everyone was too focused on Kurusu to keep anyone from breaking in.

And Akechi had a lot to do. He needed to make sure no one noticed he never left the police precinct, tell Shido’s men that he deposed Kurusu’s body in the metaverse, make sure that guard he shot was actually dead since Akechi couldn’t remember if he shot him in the heart or just the chest or...

“Wait! Don’t just leave!” Morgana yelled once more, and Akechi must have been more tired than he thought since he did stop.

“What?” Akechi snapped, and took satisfaction in the way the cat flinched.

“I... I think we miss judgeded you. I don’t know if you are somehow the black mask, or just working with them, but if you were willing to save Akira like this then... we were wrong. So, sorry we never let you be a true member of the team.”

Morgana had his ears pined back, wishing his tail as he looked around Akechi to where the clinic was. Where Kurusu was.

Akechi opened his mouth to say... what?

That he was right? That Akechi can’t be trusted? That he was the black mask and was never part of their little team?

Even though Akechi wanted to yell all of those things into the night sky, he couldn’t.

“Tell Kurusu to contact me once he is lucid,” Akechi ended up saying after too long of a pause.

He didn’t wait for the cat’s answer.

Chapter Text

Everything was going according to plan, until it suddenly wasn’t. Futaba bugged Akira’s phone, but it was quickly picked up and put into evidence. She overheard Sae pick it up on her way down to interrogate him, but by that point it had been hours since they came out of the metaverse.

Hours that Futaba had no clue what was going on since the cameras in the interrogation room were turned off, and Futaba couldn’t risk turning them on to see what was happening.

It was worrying that they weren’t on to being with, but since Mr. Detective Prince was planning a murder, Futaba put it away. Figuring it had to do with whoever his boss was. The mysterious person was already powerful enough to orchestrate a murder in an interrogation room with the plan to frame it as a suicide; making sure there is no evidence to the contracy seems like child’s play. Not that it really mattered, since Akira would be talking to Sae, get her to show Akira’s phone to Akechi, then Futaba would trick Akechi’s phone into activating the nav.

Akira safe, Akechi tricked, and everyone would be home before day broke.

But when Sae got into the interrogation room, she could barely hear Akira. Akira was usually pretty quiet, but when he did speak, everyone listened. Even if it was just him making a dumb joke. Futaba had to change the setting to hear him on her end, and jumped whenever Sae talked, almost blasting out her headphones.

But Akira wasn’t making any sense. He talked about a palace they never been to, and that a god was the one to give Akechi and himself the nav. Futaba knew that Akira never mentioned being given the app, only that it suddenly appeared on his phone. But he also told Sae that Akechi was working for Shido, and a quick search on her other monitor showed that it did fit. The mental shutdowns that didn’t help Big Bang Burger, the rest of them could be linked either to Shido, or groups that support his party. It was a puzzle piece that effortlessly slid into place, even more so when she found that his party founded a research grant for the lab her mom worked at a year before she died.

Was killed.

But it didn’t explain how Akira found out. Did someone talk to him after getting captured and before Sae arrived? Was Akira somehow able to get Akechi to talk before all this? But Futaba was pretty sure he would have told her, or Mona if it was the later.

Futaba mostly tuned out of their conversation until Akira mentioned the phone, and Sae refused. Futaba heart dropped as she turned her full attention back.

“What? Futaba, what’s going on?” Morgana asked as he hopped up on her lap, but she didn’t even notice.

If Sae didn’t show Akechi the phone, then Futuaba wouldn’t know when to activate the app. Timing is key, and Futaba didn’t have time to figure out another method.

Akira didn’t even try conficing her again, and Futaba heard the door open and slam shut as she left. She took the phone with her, but it was too muffled to hear anything, and Futaba realized that they missed their window.

Futaba tried calling, hoping that she could convince Sae, that maybe it wasn’t too late, that maybe-

She didn’t bother picking it up.

Futaba tried her personal phone, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Futaba! What’s going on!”

“I- it didn’t work,” Futaba heard herself say as she hovered over her keyboards, trying to figure out what to do, “Akira wasn’t able to convince Sae to take the phone.”

“What? But then-”

It didn’t work.

Futaba knew this plan was risky, but she still thought it would. Akira was so confinance, and Futaba was as well. It had to work, and now-

“There has to be something we can do! How long until he gets there?”

“I-I don’t know. I lost Akechi’s phone signal not long after Sae first went in.”

Which meant he was already there. Makoto mentioned Sae told her they didn’t get reception in the lower areas.

“Then can’t you check to see what’s going on? Hack the cameras?”

“Of course I can,” Futaba said as she finally got her hands to move.

It didn’t matter if they noticed the camera suddenly going on, Futaba needed to know what was happening. If Akira was-

The grainy footage appeared, and Futaba had to shove Morgana to the side when he jumped in front of her monitor to see.

It was the same interrogation room that they were using in Sae’s cognition. Empty, which Futaba took as a good sign until the camera started moving to the other side of the room. The room looked different than last time Futaba hacked in to make sure that Sae’s cognition matched. The chair was knocked over, and there was something that littered the ground that the camera wasn’t detailed enough to see. But what really got Futaba’s attention was when the camera panned over a dark puddle of something.

“Wait, is that blood?”

It was located under the camera, and they only got a few seconds of it in frame, but Futaba realized that Mona was right. It did look like blood. And a lot of it.

“It might not be his, I don’t see Akira anywhere, so maybe he was able to get away.”

Futaba wanted to believe Morgana, but that blind spot was just big enough to hide a body. Without Sae’s help, Akira had no way to get out of the interrogation room. Without his phone, which Sae took, Akira had no way to go into the metaverse and escape.

Futaba promised herself the would no longer be afraid to look at the truth, and the truth was-

“We failed,” Futaba got out before the dam broke.

She didn’t notice when Morgana left, but she did notice when Sojiro came in. Futaba finally started to catch her breath a little with her face pushed into his chest, and Sojiro stroked her hair muttering something to get her to calm down.

Futaba wanted to explain, but she didn’t need to. She already told Sojiro what they were planning, and with her crying just as bad as when her mom first died, he would figure it out. But she felt like she needed to explain. It was her plan. When Akira and Mona told her that Akechi could hear Mona back in June, she was the one who bugged his phone. She was the one who found out about his plan to kill Akira. And she was the one to come up with the solution. Everyone helped, but Futaba was the one who came up with it first.

She was the one to notice the relief in Akira’s eye’s when she said she had a plan.

And now he was dead.

The tears came back with that reminder, but before they could fall, the doorbell rang.

“Who could that be at this hour?” Futaba heard Sojiro mutter, and tried once more to get herself together as he pulled away. “I’ll be right back, and I’ll make you some curry to eat alright? It- we’ll get through this, alright Futaba?”

Futaba nodded as she tried cleaning her tear covered glasses.

“You’ll keep her company right?”

“Of course!” Morgana said, and Sojiro gave a chuckle like he understood.

It almost sounded normal, but it didn’t last as long as it normally would.

Futaba put her glasses back on, too tired to continue crying. A quick look at her computer showed that close to two hours passed since she found out. All the information on Shido was still up, but any excitement of finding out who Akechi’s boss was was gone.

Akira was dead.

“Get out. I am not going to let you harm anyone else in my family.”

Futaba jumped at Sojiro’s angry tone. She never heard him speak like that, even when he found out about the calling card.

“Who’s Boss talking to?” Morgana asked.

“I don’t know…” Futaba started to say as she went into the hall.

Sojiro was standing in the doorway, blocking whoever he was talking to, but it soon became clear who it was.

“I’ll be leaving shortly. However, there is some information you should know. Your ward, Kurusu Akira-”

“Akechi? What is he doing here?” Morgana asked before Futaba could.

It wasn’t for any good reason, that was for sure.

“If you here to tell me that he, that you-”

“Died?” Akechi interrupted, and Futaba could only imagine the smug look on his face, “No, he’s very much alive-”

Futaba stopped listening. Or maybe she was still listening since she heard Akechi say something about a clinic before she rushed past him.

She knew Takemi. She was nice, and helped a lot whenever Futaba was sick. Also Akira got their medical supplies from her. She was trustworthy, and the idea of Akira being in her care was a good one.

But she needed to see.

She ran down the street and threw all of her wait into the doors of the clinic. Takemi wasn’t in the front desk, but there was only one patient room and Futaba wasted no time in entering.

“Akira!” Futaba cried as she saw the boy sitting up at the bed with Takemi next to him.

“Oh it’s you. Is your-” Takemi started to say, but Futaba squeezed passed her to hug Akira.

“H-hey ‘Taba,” Akira slurred, along with a slight groan.

“Kid, I need you to let go, he’s chest is covered in bruises right now.”

Futaba let go at once.

“Whoops, sorry,” Futaba said, and now that the relief of Akira being alive was gone, she really took in how he looked.

One of his eyes was half closed from the swollen check that was already covered in a bandage. His skin looked sticky and pale, and Futaba noticed that Akira was swaying from her suddenly getting go.

Akira might be alive, but he definitely didn’t get out unharmed.

“I-”

“Futaba, you can’t just leave-shit, kid, are you alright?” Sojiro looked more calm as he walked in, but Futaba could tell he was moments away from hugging Akira in relief as well.

“‘M fine.”

“Don’t listen to him. He’s not the doctor here. Speaking of which, mind watching him while we talk?” Takemi asked Futaba as she pointed her clipboard at Sojiro.

“S-sure,” Futaba said as the adults walked out.

Futaba wanted to overhear what they were saying, most likely how serious Akira’s injuries were, but Akira was pulling on her sweater.

“Futaba?” Akira asked, and Futaba looked over at his slightly glossy eyes, “Do you know how I’m here?”

Futaba felt like she was going to cry again.

“I-I’m sorry! This is all my fault, I should have come up with a better plan. One were you didn’t need to get captured-”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down. Is this about the interrogation room again? I told you that wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could on such short notice and it worked out fine.”

“No, it didn’t! Nothing went fine! You got... you’re hurt real bad and we had to rely on Akechi bring you here for some reason since my plan didn’t work!” Futaba yelled, tears streaming down her face even as she tried to stop them.

Akira looked like he was about to pass out at any moment and here Futaba was crying.

“Wha- Akechi? Did you say Akechi brought me here? But he’s-”

“I know! He didn’t kill you! I- probably should have asked him about it but I was more worried about you!”

“I... I feel like we are having two different conversations right now,” Akira muttered as he closed his eyes and held a hand to his head.

Futaba suddenly realized that now wasn’t the best time to be having this conversation. She shouldn’t be putting this on Akira at all, but she was worried. He was so important. Her key item, and he was almost gone forever.

She almost lost another family member.

“Sorry, we- we should talk more later. Once you rest up.”

“Hmm.”

Futaba looked over to see Akira still had his eyes closed, swaying even more in his sitting position.

“Oh, no, don’t fall asleep like that. If you fall I wouldn’t be able to pick you back up!” Futaba yelled as she scrambled to get Akira lying down.

Luckily, Sojiro and Takemi came back in, and Sojiro was able to pick Akira up to carry him out.

“He’s going to be staying with us while he heals. Takemi’s worried kid might have a minor concussion, so we need to keep an eye on that.”

“O-oh.”

Futaba didn’t even think about that. Now she felt even worse for getting so worked up. She must have confused Akira even more then he already was.

“Finally, you guys opened the door, is Akira...”

Morgana was waiting right outside of the clinic, and stopped talking once he saw them.

“He’s just sleeping. You guys are going to be staying with us for tonight,” Futaba explained, trying to not sound like she was just crying again.

“Akechi didn’t say he was this badly hurt!”

“You talked with Akechi?” Futaba asked, but before Morgana could tell her, Sojiro called back to them.

“You two can have your talk back in the house. I need some help getting my bed ready for Akira.”

“Oooh, you’re getting demoted to the couch, dad?” Futaba tried joking since that’s what Akira would do if he was alway.

Insead he just made small noises as Sojiro walked, causing Sojiro to walk a little slower.

“Looks like it.”

Futaba tried to laugh, but it sounded more like she was moments away from crying. Too many emotions. Futaba felt like she could sleep for a week, but she really couldn’t.

Not when it was clear Akira needed her, and she wasn’t going to fail him or anyone else again.

Chapter Text

Akira woke up in an unfamiliar room.

No, that wasn’t quite right. It was a room he had been in before, but only once.

Akira pushed himself into an upright position, ignoring the aches and pains that filled his body as he did so. The room looked just like it did the last time he was in it. The nice elevated bed that took most of the room, a small dresser that was covered in photos of Sojiro and Futaba at different ages, and some with someone who could only be Futaba’s mother.

The curtains was even drawn like last time he woke up in Sojiro’s room, when Sae dropped him off after helping him escape.

He didn’t remember coming in here. Last thing he remembered was waking up in pain in Takemi clinic, wondering how he got all the way back to Tokyo.

Maybe he got kidnaped and drugged? That could explain why his interrogation nightmare ended up being so weird...

“Hey kid, you feel like eating something?”

Akira blinked and saw Sojiro open the door carrying a tray of soup.

“No curry and coffee?” Akira joked, and then winged from how raw his throat felt.

Like he was drinking sandpaper the night before. It was just like when he healing from the interrogation room.

“Maybe later if you’re feeling up for it. Takemi wanted to wait 24 hours for the drugs to leave your system before giving you any painkillers, so I’ll ask about coffee when you’re in the clear.”

Akira wasn’t expecting much difference. Sojiro also waited over a day before making him some coffee after the interrogation. It seemed like unknown drugs meant no extra caffeine.

Akira ignored the way his hand shook as he took the spoon and started eating. He felt a little nauseous, but luckily eating made it go away slowly.

“Be serious with me kid, how are you doing?” Sojiro suddenly said once Akira was almost done.

He was sitting at the foot of the bed, looking with concern that Akira still wasn’t used to. And something that he missed a lot since going back home.

“Throat feels sort, and a lot of things hurt,” Akira tried to play off like it wasn’t a big deal, but it was hard not to miss the look Sojiro was giving him.

Hoping to move the topic away from himself, Akira decided to ask what he tried asking Futaba when he first woke up.

“Do you know why I’m here?”

“Takemi was worried about you having a concussion, so it was easier having you stay with us than having me stay with you in the clinic.”

Akira nodded, since his head did kinda hurt, more like a headache than a concussion, but he only had one once in the metaverse, so what did he know?

Still, didn’t explain why he was back in Tokyo.

“Wha-” Akira started to say before someone else opened the door.

Or two someones.

“Can we come in?” Futaba asked even though she was almost mostly in the room, followed by Morgana who jumped on his bed.

“Hey,” Akira said with a smile as he gave Morgana a scratch.

He was worried for a moment that Morgana didn’t come with him. And it looked like he was alright, so wasn’t involved in whatever Akria got injured and drugged by.

“Futaba, I told you he might not wait company-”

“It’s fine. I think we should talk,” Akira said since even though he wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, there was too many unanswered questions.

“Alright then, but don’t wear yourself out,” Sojiro said as he took the mostly empty bowl and glass of water, giving them all a look before leaving.

“If you want to sleep more it’s okay, we are going to get everyone together to talk after school anyways,” Morgana told him as he curled up next to him.

And not on his chest like normal, but considering how it hurt slightly from just breathing too deeply, it was for the best.

“No, I don’t think I can sleep just yet. Do you two know what happened?”

“You mean in the interrogation room? We were hoping you could explain that.”

“Interrogation room?” Akira asked, since he didn’t understand why Futaba was bringing that up.

Morgana and Futaba shared a look, and Akira really didn’t like the worried look they both gave him.

“You remember our plan right?” Morgana asked as he stood up to walk to the other side of the bed, “To trick Akechi into capturing you, and then using Sae’s palace to trick him into killing a cognition of you?”

“Yeah...? What does that have to do with anything?” Akira asked, and the look of worry on both their faces was suddenly gone.

“What do you mean what does that have to do with anything?!” Morgana yelled and Akira really didn’t understand why he was getting so worked up.

“I mean, why are we talking about something that happened months ago?” Akira slowly said, since he didn’t like talking about that day even when he was feeling good.

With his nightmare on top of feeling like he got beat up and drugged again, Akira felt like he was going to admit to things he didn’t want to bother his friends with. It was over and done with, so why did they have to talk about it?

He was fine.

But Akira wondered maybe he wasn’t, for the look of horror on Futaba’s face.

“W-what did you just say?” Futaba practically squeaked out, and Akira felt the soup he just eat threatening to make a reappearance.

“Just, I don’t see why talking about that day is relevant to what’s happening right now. I don’t remember coming back to Tokyo, Futaba. That seems like a bigger issue right now unless you know something I don’t,” Akira said, feeling like Futaba was holding something back.

But she only looked more confused.

“W-w-what?”

“Akira, what you you mean come back to Tokyo?” Morgana asked, popping his face right in front of Akira.

“Morgana you know what I mean, you left with me to go back to my hometown weeks ago. I just don’t remember coming back,” Akira said, trying to keep the worry from his voice.

Memory loss was a big deal, at least Akira was pretty sure it was especially if Takemi was worried about him having a concussion, but the way Futaba and Morgana were acting made Akira worried it was more than a few hours that he lost.

“Akira, what day do you think it is?” Futaba asked, and Akira felt like he was going to throw up.

Taking a shaky breath that made his chest flare up in pain, Akria answered already knowing he was going to give the wrong answer.

“April 10?”

Morgana turned to look at Futaba, before turning back to Akira.

“And the year?”

“2017... serious guys, what happened? Is the metaverse back or something?”

Akira really hoped it wasn’t another wannabe god. It was hard enough the first time, and unlike his other personas, Akira lost the connection with Satanael that night.

“Akira,” Futaba said quietly, opening and closing her mouth a few times like she couldn’t figure out how to get the words out, “It’s November 21, 2016.”

That... wasn’t what Akira was expecting.

“No, it’s not...” Akira started to say before Futaba quickly pulled out her phone and shoved it in his face.

The date and time were showing in front of her neo featherman r screensaver. 12:31pm, November 21. Akira blinked a few times, as if that would fix it, but Futaba soon pulled it away.

“Is time travel a thing now?” Futaba asked, thankfully looking at Morgana and not Akira who felt like he couldn’t talk without losing his breakfast.

Or lunch since it was afternoon.

“Why are you asking me?!”

“You’re the metaverse expect!”

“I don’t know! I didn’t think anything like this would be possible! Are we sure Akira's not just...”

“Confused?” Futaba asked as she turned back to Akira.

Both of them were looking at Akira.

“I am, confused, but...” Akira thought back to his weird nightmare.

There was something off about it. It didn’t jump around like his usual dreams, too chronological, and then there was that moment with Lavenza.

“...it wasn’t a nightmare,” Akira realized.

“Nightmare?” Morgana asked, and Akira tried to get his thoughts together.

Time travel. Okay. Not that different from your school suddenly turning into a castle or fighting god.

“I think I was sent back during the interrogation. I thought I was just having another nightmare about it, but...”

“You have nightmares about it?” Futaba asked quietly, and Akira felt like cursing at forgetting she was there.

Morgana knew, but none of his other friends did.

“It’s not that bad,” Akira was quick to reassure her, but was reminded of how she acted when he woke up. “Hang on, you were upset I got hurt last time, but not that upset...”

“Of course I was upset! I thought you died!”

“What? But didn’t you talk to Sae?”

“You weren’t able to convince Sae like we planned! Akechi was the one to bring you home,” Futaba yelled, and Akira mind got stuck on one word.

“Akechi?!”

Akira forgot about that part of the nightmare. Only it wasn’t a nightmare, it really happened since Akira somehow went back in time.

“I know!” Morgana explained, tail swinging around in irritation, “Apparently he lied to his boss about killing you, and brought you to Takemi-”

“Akechi’s alive?” Akira blurted out before remembering he was back in time, so of course he was alive.

He never died. They haven’t even entered Shido palace yet.

“Whoa, what? Akechi died in the future?” Futaba said, and usually, Akira would be touched that she sounded so concerned over someone who killed her mother, but it was too much.

Akira was really in the past. Before the god of control was killed, before the metaverse merged with reality, before they stole Shido’s heart.

Before Akechi sacrificed his life for them.

Akira suddenly could see what it meant that he was reliving all this. The chance to make things better. The chance that things could go so much worst. And it looked like Akira was the only one who went back, or remembered the future, or however this whole thing worked.

“He-” Akira started to say, but he just couldn’t.

It was one thing to talk about it when he thought it was just a dream, but now that he was sent back it felt like talking about might solidify the events to happen again.

“Maybe we should take a break,” Morgana said before Akira could get the confidence to speak up again.

Akira looked at his closest friends, thankful that he could tell what Akira wasn’t willing to ask. It was enough to let him find his voice again.

“There is a lot that happened between now and the end of the year. I think it would be best to go over it with everyone,” Akira said, sounding more steady than since he woke up.

“Alright, but don’t think you can just drop what you just said!” Futaba warned, and Akira nodded even though he wished he could skip explaining how everything went wrong during Shido’s Palace.

Futaba stood up, and instead of leaving like Akira was expecting, she leaned over and...

Patted him on the head.

“Sorry!” Futaba suddenly removed her hand.

“I wanted to hug you, but I didn’t want to hurt you on accident again, so I thought I could do that since it calms me down and sorryifthatwasweird!”

Akira just started at Futaba for too long since she never did that before. It made Akira feel like he really messed up if she thought she needed to calm him down.

“It’s fine,” Akira quickly said before Futaba could get any more concern, “I’m glad you wanted to comfort me, but I’m fine Futaba. Really.”

“Hmmm, x to doubt, but I’ll let it slide for now,” Futaba said before quickly turning around, “Morgana! Tell this young man to sleep! I’m going to make like a tree.”

Futaba was out the door before Akira or Morgana could say anything, and Akira heard her demands for curry to Sojiro. The closed door didn’t do much to silence the noise coming from the rest of the apartment, but it calmed Akira down in a way his too silent home with his parents never did.

“Akira?” Morgana quickly said, and it was only then that Akira noticed he was sinking back into the pillows.

“Yeah?”

“You really came back in time?”

“Looks like it,” Akira said as he closed his eyes.

“And you don’t know why? Or how?”

Akira tried thinking back, if there was anything weird that happened before his nightmare. His not-a-nightmare.

“No, I think I remember Lavenza saying she didn’t know either.”

“Lavenza? She... she sounds familiar but...”

Akira turned his head and opened the eye that wasn’t smashed against the pillow.

“She’s... related to your past. It’s a long story,” Akira said, wanting to give Morgana a heads up about his true nature of being humanity’s hope, but slowly feeling himself slipping into unconsciousness.

“You know my past? Was I able get my human form back? I-” Morgana suddenly stopped, and Akira opened an eye again to see what was wrong.

“Nevermind. You should rest. We can talk later,” Morgana said before curling up right next to Akira’s head.

Akira reached out to pet Morgana, before falling back to sleep.

Chapter Text

Akechi wasn’t a stranger to all nighters. He didn’t like pulling them since things like that could lead to mistakes, and he had to avoid making any, but he often didn’t have a choice.

After using the metaverse to get back to the police building without being tracked by any cameras, Akechi exited close enough to the building to make it look like he just got out. It wasn’t perfect, but there was no metaverse exit point in the building he could use. Akechi just had to hope that no one checked the security footage to see Akechi entered the interrogation room and never exited it.

He made the call to one of Shido’s man, someone Akechi was sure had ties to the Yakuza, to inform them he disposed of the target himself. The guard was already dealt with. Apparently, he was still alive when ‘clean up’ arrived, but he fixed Akechi's mistake free of charge.

That set off some alarm bells.

It wasn’t the first time that someone else had to finish a task. Mental shutdowns were unpredictable if they had a palace. The shutdown could happen anywhere from an hour to weeks after Akechi killed their shadow, and it doesn’t always lead to their death. Some just ended up in a vegetated state. And Shido couldn’t risk the chance of them recovering.

But the few times that happened, Akechi was informed of that fact by Shido. It was never ‘free of charge’. That implied that either Shido had a plan B in case Akechi wasn’t able to kill in the real world, or it was part of something else.

That something else might be related to whatever plan Kurusu found out to eliminate Akechi.

Akechi didn’t know how long it would take for Kurusu to heal enough to properly form sentences, but he couldn’t just wait around. He needed to get information.

It wasn’t the best idea to check on Shido’s palace right after Kurusu mentioned a cognition of himself was there, but Akechi needed to find out for himself.

The last time he been in here was right after he found out Wakaba dead. It was a few days after he killed her shadow and back when killing someone’s shadow was just ‘theoretical’. Not that Akechi expected a different outcome, but it was still enough to shake him out. He was young and a child.

And for a moment, thought that his plan wasn’t enough. That he should just kill Shido.

Akechi doesn’t remember how he got out of the palace. Loki wasn’t nearly as strong as he was now, and Robin wasn’t much use either. Akechi wasn’t even able to get past the entry of the palace.

Even now looking at it, Akechi felt like he was staring at a mountain. A mountain of greed and lust, and the worst of what humanity has to offer. All on a fancy yacht sailing through a drowned city.

It made Akechi sick.

It reminded Akechi how good it was going to feel to have Shido realize who Akechi was, to acknowledge him, to realize that Akechi was needed-

Akechi ripped off his mask and attacked the nearest Shadow. If he was going to see if Shido really did have protections in case Akechi went rouge, then this was how he was going to spring the trap.

The shadows were strong, but Akechi wasn’t nearly as overwhelmed as last time. Robin might have even been strong enough to deal with them after the training that persona got while working with the thieves. But Akechi brought out Loki, eliminating all in only three attacks before moving to the next one.

He could feel the security rise, and forced himself to ignore the suffocating pressure that arose from it. It jumped higher when the next shadow spotted him, and the next. It was easy to ignore during the rush of a fight. The shadows were strong enough that had this been anywhere else, he would have been forced to sneak around and take him time. But Akechi didn’t have time.

And it felt freeing to be able to finally tear through his father’s palace.

Akechi was maybe half way through his SP when a gunshot fired, hitting the railing of the stairs he was on. Leaving a mark on the wood even with no sign of a bullet.

“The captain isn’t paying you to throw a tantrum, so this is your only warning to leave.”

Akechi turned quickly around to spot a cognition. His cognition. Akechi swear under his breath at this confirmation that Kurusu was correct. Shido did have a cognition of himself around to keep him from going through his palace whenever.

It was more detailed than the masked ‘guests’ on the ship, but Akechi could tell it was still off. Details about Akechi that Shido doesn’t care enough to pay attention to even on the subconscious level.

It looked more like a doll than a mirror.

The rage that filled him at the fact that Shido only saw him as a tool, that Kurusu entered this palace and saw it, made him pull out his gun.

The fake just kept smiling.

“Oh? Is this not just some childish rampage?” The cognition said, a hand to his chin in a way that was too familiar, “Well, I suppose that plans do need to be moved up. You did your job of eliminating the leader of the phantom thieves and pinning your crimes on them. The captain has no more use of you if you’re not going to obey.”

“Shut up,” Akechi bit out as he shot at the thing while drawing out his sword.

The shot hit, which he wasn’t expecting. Surely, Shido had a little more faith in him than to think he was that weak. But the cognition started laughing, and didn’t fade away like other cognitions.

It exploded like a shadow. Which it wasn’t. Akechi knew it was a condition and not a shadow. He has been in palaces before where conditions could fight, but they didn’t have true forms like shadows did.

Only time that wasn’t the case was in Wakaba’s place. An anomaly that could have been chalked up to her own knowledge of the cognitive pisience. Which, Akechi quickly realized that this was how Shido use Wakiba’s research. He was never privy to those talks, an obvious show of how even then Akechi wasn’t trusted. But the similarities were too much to ignore.

And unlike in Wakaba’s palace, it wasn’t a weak shadow.

It turned into a tall humanoid with short hair and snakes covering their body. It was one Akechi hasn’t spotted in mementos, but one he has spotted in the more challenging palaces. A Harlot of Desire. It made sense that such a shadow would be drawn to Shido’s palace, but to think it would be tired to any version of himself...

“Eigaon!”

Akechi summoned Loki and watched as the cursed attack did nothing. It nullified Curse, which was annoying.

The shadow just laughed, thankfully not in his voice, before casting Bufudyne which Akechi was too slow to fully dodge. It didn’t freeze him which was good, since Akechi took the next moment to hit it with Laevateinn.

Physical damage had no issues, but it wasn’t strong enough to take it down in one hit. Akechi dodged it’s next attack, a Maragidyne which lit up the whole room they were fighting in.

It was a slow fight. Akechi was dwindling down it’s health, but it was stronger than the shadows patrolling the halls. It got rid of any buffs Akechi placed on himself, and any debuff the one time Akechi waited time to cast Deliberate.

It got to the point where Akechi had to switch to just his sword and gun since his health was getting too low to use his physical skills safely, and SP too lose to waste on a Megidolaon.

He had the thought to switch to Robin to try a bless attack, but Akechi never been able to figure out how Joker was able to switch his personas in the middle of a fight. It was annoying since the closest he ever got was during his duel with Joker and switching from Loki to Robin at the start to block a curse attack. It just took too much time to use in a normal battle.

So he just stuck with Loki who had higher agility and strength.

Then with another close dodge, Akechi stuck his sword and the shadow finally disappeared in smoke. Akechi thought he still heard its laugh, but he was alone.

“One loose end tied up,” Akechi muttered over what would have been a mirror image of his own corpse if shadows persisted after death.

But as it was, there was nothing, and Akechi left before anything else could ambush him while he was so low on health.

Akechi didn’t have many healing items on hand. He gotten used to Joker holding all of that during his short time working with them. It was an undersight he was paying for now, and he ate a who knows how old Konbini bento to try and heal before leaving.

Heading back to the real world made his body feel like it was made of lead. Going through the metaverse four times in less than 24 hours would do that, even if Akechi didn’t fight and got injured. Likely all that was left was bruises, but with the sun already rising over the skyscrapers, Akechi headed to his apartment.

He was pushing it. Already was pushing it before ripping through Shido’s palace, and on the train Akechi could hardly keep his eyes open.

But he couldn’t sleep. He still had school to go to, and an interview coming up to talk about the ‘unfortunate suicide’. Akechi had to make sure Shido didn’t think anything was up, but it was likely too late on that front. The cognition confirmed that Shido had plans to get rid of him, but as long as Akechi didn’t give him any hard evidence, he should still have time to betray him first.

He confirmed that at least some of the ramblings Kurusu made were correct. Not enough for him to blindly trust everything, but it was enough. It was already enough for Akechi to suddenly change his well thought out plan, and he could at least be satisfied for now that he made the right call.

It was only after changing his clothes, and showering for the day, that Akechi checked his phone and noticed he had a message from the Phantom Thieves group chat.

Chapter Text

“He did what?!”

“Ryuji! You’re yelling in my ear!” Ann yelled, shoving Ryuji in the booth before turning back, “But I don’t get it. Why would Akechi bring Akira back?”

“Apparently, my sister didn’t believe him when he tried explaining,” Makoto said, looking away from them all like it was her fault.

“I didn’t do a very good job,” Akira admitted, but at least knew this time around to keep the mentions of drugs down.

They haven’t even gotten around to explaining the time travel stuff yet and Akira could already feel his headache coming back. He loved his friends, so much, but the walk from Sojiro’s apartment to the cafe seems to suck whatever rest he got from sleeping all day.

“It’s not your fault. This whole situation was daunting to being with. We should have come up with a better plan but...”

“We didn’t have time,” Futaba finished for Makoto, still taping away on her laptop.

“Okay, so how did you convince Akechi then?” Ryuji asked, and Akira wondered about how he could even begin to explain when Morgana spoke up for him.

“He was never planing on killing Akira, and just lied his boss that he would,” Morgana said, acting like that made any sense.

“What?!” A few people explained, and Akira was surprised his wasn’t one of them.

He was pretty sure Akechi was still planing to kill him in his not-a-nightmare, but was he wrong? It did seem weird he was able to convince Akechi to change his plan when he wasn’t able to do so in Shido’s palace. Maybe if he did then Akechi-

“But that’s not all, something else happened,” Morgana continued, turning to Akira.

And Akira just looked back at him in confusion until he got what he was trying to say.

“Right, this might be a little hard to believe, and I’m still trying to figure it out myself but...” Akira said, messing with his hair a little as he tried to sound less confused then he was feeling, “I’m from the future.”

Akira waited for the laughs or jokes, but all he got was Ryuji’s snort before Futaba sighed too loudly.

“This guy’s not joking. He somehow time traveled, or at least got memories from the future. That’s how we found out about Shidos’ name.”

The outcry was not as bad as it was with the reveal of what Akechi did. Akira wasn’t sure what that said about their group that time travel was less outrageous than Akechi not trying to kill him.

Ryuji and Ann were the loudest, though Akira did hear Haru whisper to Futaba asking if this was a reference to something under all the noise. Makoto soon got over her look of disbelieve, and seemed ready to figure out what was going on when...

“Of course. That’s how you knew about Madarame,” Yusuke said, effortlessly cutting off the side conversations.

“No... that was just from you getting our interest. I only came back during the interrogation.”

“During the interrogation?” Makoto repeated, and Akira had to keep from squirming in place as she looked over his injuring more critically.

“I don’t want to say time travel is imposable, but are sure you aren’t just confused from...” Makoto trailed off, unable to bring up the obvious elephant in the room that was his very colorful looking face.

“The police ruffed you up?” Ryuji however had no issues about bring up the obvious, and looking like he was moments away from suggestion they change the hearts of every cop how was involved.

Which was something Akira would be behind if he could remember their faces properly.

“It looks worst than it is,” Akira lied, earning himself a sharp look from Futaba, but she didn’t say anything as she pushed her glasses back up.

“I wondered that too, so I look into. All the shutdowns or breakdowns can be traced to Shido’s party, or a donor of it.”

“For real? Then... do you know the win lottery numbers?” Ryuji asked, and even with Makoto snapping at him to take it seriously, Akira found himself smiling.

“Yes, but the deadline to buy the tickets already passed.”

That set off a side conversation where Morgana ratted him out about how often he’s been using memento money to buy lotto tickets, and Ryuji being upset they can’t even use his future knowledge to become billionaires.

“If I got this correct, you were back in your hometown, having a normal night, then suddenly woke up months in the past?” Haru asked, and Akira nodded.

“Wait, it wasn’t a case of something bad happening and you had to be sent back to fix it?” Ann asked suddenly, and Akira was confused for a moment before remember a foreign action movie they watched together with that plot line.

“No, in fact...” Akira started get ready to tell them about Yaldabaoth, but then the bell to the cafe rang.

Akira looked up to see Akechi walking in, holding his brief case, wearing his fake smile like it was any other day.

“My apologies, I didn’t realized I was running so late. I could have sworn your message said we were all meeting at 4,” Akechi said, and Akira couldn’t stop staring.

He was just standing there. Not died. No bullet in his skull or chest or wherever that cognition version of himself shot him. 

“You’re early,” He heard Futaba mutter, but it didn’t matter since Akira opened his mouth and-

“Akechi?”

Akira was going to say something else, something profound to his not-dead rival, but all he could get out was his name.

It made the fake smile drop a little, and Akira was glad to see something a little more honest out of the other boy. It made Akira realized that this was the first time he’s seen the detective prince visage since Sae’s palace, the first time around. It made Akira wonder how he saw it as anything but a mask.

“Have you healed up enough to be of use during this meeting? When I dropped you off last night, it seemed like you were suffering from a rather bad concussion,” Akechi asked, starring right at Akira as he ignored the other thieves as they tried to talk to him.

Akira wasn’t trying to ignore them, but it was hard not to with a dead man in front of him. Or not yet a dead man.

“Akira?” Morgana asked quietly along with a headbutt that finally got Akira into motion.

“I’m fine. Do you want some coffee?” Akira asked as he got up.

Or tried to get up but someone (Futaba, who was sitting squished between him and the wall) pulled on the back of his shirt making him stay sitting.

“I appreciate the offer, but you don’t look like you should be anywhere near boiling water.”

Akira opened his mouth to explain that he was fine to brew a cup of coffee, when Ryuji groaned loudly, pulling his attention off of Akechi for the first time since he walked in.

“Enough of this! Dude, why didn’t you tell us that you weren’t going to kill Akira?”

Akechi had a moment where he looked like he ate a bug before his face relaxed in to something more neutral. Akira really didn’t know why Akechi was still acting for them. He wasn’t while half dragging Akira across the surface of mementos, if Akira was remembering that correctly. All pretenses should be done, but for some reason they weren’t and it was putting Akira on guard.

“Simply put, I didn’t see a reason to. A plan is more likely to fail the more unpredictable elements you put into it after all,” Akechi said with a smug look.

Akira heard Makoto exhale sharply at that, and Futaba push herself further into the side of the booth, and that just wouldn’t do.

“We can talk about that later,” Akira interrupted before any argument could start up, and Akira could almost feel the tention that was building up pause for the moment.

“It’s more important we discuss our plan to change Shido’s heart,” Akira continued, looking at Akechi.

Everyone agreed, but Akira waited until Akechi gave a quick nod before taking a seat at the bar. He still wasn’t sure what was going on. Akira thought that during his not-nightmare he somehow talked Akechi out of killing him, which seemed like something more out of a dream than reality. But now Akechi was saying that he never planed on killing Akira?

Something about that just didn’t sit right with Akira, and recognizing that Akechi was still holding information back, Akira changed his plan slightly.

He can tell them about Yalda later.

“Shido’s palace is a cruse ship that spans all of Japan, but the center point is the diet building. To get to his treasure we’ll need to get letter of recommendations from special cognitions,” Akira started explaining what he remember from their exploration the first time.

How the cognitions with the letter all turned into shadows, about the cleaner show up to fight them a few times before they tracked him down, about-

“You already told me about the cognition version of myself, and I’ve recently confirmed it does exist,” Akechi interrupted, and Akira was thankful for it since he gave a good reason for Akira to skip over Akechi’s death, but then he noticed what Akechi said.

“You confirmed it?” Akira asked, throat feeling a little dry from how long he’s been talking.

“Well, I couldn’t just take everything you have been claiming without some evidence to back it up,” Akechi said with that smile that made Akira wonder if he was imagining his demise, “In fact, now that I think about it, you still hasn’t explain how you know all this.”

“Oh, that’s because Akira is fro-” Ryuji started to say before Akira interrupted him.

“Are you going to explain why you work with Shido?” Akira challenged, and Akira watched as the smile faded from Akechi face, into something much sharper and dangerous.

“Is that your ultimatum? You’ll only explain the source of your information if I explain myself?”

Akira only gave a nod before Akechi continued.

“Then is the reverse true? If I don’t ask how you know all this again, will you leave my history with Shido alone?”

Akira wasn’t expecting that. He knew Akechi history, so already that deal was very one-sided, but more importantly, Akira didn’t know why Akechi was even bringing it up. If he was telling the truth that he never planed on killing Akira, than he would have already came up with a cover story of why he was ‘pretending’ to take hits from Shido. 

The only way Akira could make sense of this standoff, was if Akechi didn’t have a good enough cover story, and that he though he could figure out Akira ‘source of information’. Akira was pretty sure he told Akechi that he was from the future, or at least that he was having a dream of stuff that happened in the past and was talking to his long dead rival. Time travel was a long streach, but Akira knew Akechi could figure it out.

It would be way more interesting then just telling him after all.

“I’m fine with that.”

Akechi looked surprised for just a moment, before staring Akira down like he was trying to read his mind. Or figure out why he was letting this go so easily.

Akira just gave him a joker like smirk.

“Dude, really? We aren’t going to question why the ‘Detective Prince’ was able to take a hit job from some politician?” Ryuji started to ask, and then yelped from someone kicking him from under the table to get him to shut up.

Likely Makoto. Akira was willing to bet she already picked up that he didn’t want to tell Akechi about the time travel yet.

“We don’t need to know how Akechi got involved in order to deal with Shido. I trust him enough to deal with that, but I understand if any of you don’t feel the same.”

Akira needed to tell Haru and Futaba the truth, in case they weren’t willing to work with the man who directly killed their parents this time. But it was true the others didn’t need to know right now. Akira didn’t like the idea of keeping this from them, but he wanted to know why Akechi wasn’t telling them.

Why he was still using the detective prince mask.

Even with the clear elephant in the room that Akechi was still hiding information, Ann and Yusuke were quick to agree with working with Akechi again. Morgana as well, and Akira was a little shocked to see him so quick to accept Akechi. Ryuji complained a bit, but gave his acceptance as well without much trouble.

“I just have one question,” Futaba suddenly spoke up, leaning over Akira to look right at Akechi, “Is Shido the one to ordered the shutdown of my mom and Okumura?”

Akira really needed to tell them, but it seemed like Futaba already figured it out. The wording of who ‘ordered’ and not killed stuck out clear in his mind, and from looking at Akechi, it seemed like he caught on to that too.

“Yes. He is. Shido is also the one who stole Isshiki’s research.”

Futaba inhaled sharply, then gave a quick nod before going back to hiding between Akira and the wall of the cafe.

“I’m fine with Crow joining for real.”

“As am I,” Haru added, and that was almost everyone.

Akira thought that Haru and Futaba would be the last to agree, but...

“Are you still demanding us to disband after this is over?” Makoto asked, and Akira looked over in shock since he didn’t even thinking about that.

He forgot that was part of the term when Akechi blackmailed his way into the group the first time. Not like it really mattered since by christmas the metaverse would be gone along with their method for sealing hearts. The phantom thieves would disband regardless of what Akechi wants.

“Honestly, if you succeed in getting Shido to admit to all of his crimes, I don’t give a shit what your little group does.”

Akira smiled a little at the other thieves shock at Akechi attitude. It was still nothing like when they were fighting with Loki out, but it was close. It was a side of Akechi Akira couldn’t help but want to see more of.

“Then, seeing that you did save Akira life, I have no objections in Akechi joining nor sealing Shido’s heart,” Makoto said, first looking to Akechi, but she gave Akira a looked that promised a future conversation with him.

He was not looking forward to that.

Conversation about the palace slowly moved to more light hearted thing once Akira explained the basics of it. It took Akira a moment to realized his was starting to doze off, but the others must have noticed since no one argued when Makoto suggested they wait at least a week before infiltrating Shido’s palace.

Everyone got up to leave after that, but Akira forced himself to awake up before they all left.

“Haru? Do you have time to hang out for a bit?” Akira asked just as Akechi walked through the door.

The detective paused for a moment in the door way, but resumed his stride soon enough that no one else noticed. Expect For Akira, who wondered why asking Haru to stay behind would get his attention.

“Of course I have time for you Akira,” Haru pleasantly said, and Akira really wished they were able to just have a nice conversation over some new coffee blends she was trying out.

“You too Futaba.”

“Oh boy, I was wondering if you were going to reveal this or not. I guess you’re not really going against that ‘deal’ you two just made since you never asked him about it,” Futaba muttered as she decided to take up the entire booth now that Akira was standing.

“Morgana, mind going for a walk?” 

Akira knew Morgana was likely going to find out about this sooner or later, but he really wanted to make sure Futaba and Haru knew before anyone else.

“I need to go streach my legs anyways, but don’t take too long. We may have a week, but you still need your rest!” Morgana said before the bell rang one more time.

“So, I take it Akechi is the black mask?” Haru asked as she sat down, and Akira stood still for just a moment before deciding he needed to do something and went behind the bar.

“He is. Do either of you want coffee?” Akira asked and Haru gave him a soft smile despite the fact he just admitted they were working with her father’s killer.

“That would be lovely Akira, are you able to have some as well?”

“Nope, hot goth doc said no caffeine for another 17 hours,” Futaba said before Akira could lie and said he was fine.

“Well, then maybe just some water. I would feel bad for having some if you can’t.”

Akira grabbed all three of them some water since Futaba long finished that kinda scary looking energy drink her and Ryuji have been drinking during the meeting. When he took a seat across from Futaba at the booth, with Haru sitting with her back to the bar so she could look at them, Akira wished that Haru did accept his offer to make coffee since he really needed to do something with his hands.

Twisting the wayward curls in his hair can only do so much.

“Did Akechi tell you in the past, or is it future?” Haru asked, looking very put together considering what they were talking about.

A stark contrast to Futaba who was looking like she was ignoring their conversation by tapping away on her laptop.

“In a way. The plan worked last time, and by the time Akechi found out, we were already deep in Shido’s palace.”

Akira paused, since he really did want them all to be able to work together, and suddenly Akira understood why Akechi didn’t want to confirm that he has been working for Shido these past years. If Futaba and Haru decided they can’t work with Akechi, then Akira wasn’t sure what he could do. Convincing Akechi to work with them to change Shido’s heart already seemed impossible, but asking him to stay out of it was just something that wasn’t going to happen.

It just wasn’t fair. To anyone.

“Akechi was - is - only working with Shido to bring him down at his peak. Before, we had to fight him since he wanted to do things his way but...”

“Is that when he died?” Futaba asked quietly, and Akira nodded not looking at Haru who quietly gasped.

“After we defeated him, there was a moment where I thought he was going to accept joining us to change Shido heart, but then Shido’s cognition of him showed up,” Akira admitted.

It... probably not the best idea to talk about Akechi death like this. Not when Haru and Futaba already dealt with so much because of him, but it was part of the story. 

“Is that why you were so worried when Akechi mentioned he checked Shido’s palace himself?” Haru asked, and Akira nodded before steeling himself.

It didn’t work.

“Sorry, I know you probably don’t want to hear that I’m worried about him when-”

“Akira,” Haru said so sharply that Akira stoped fidgeting with his hair to look at her. 

She seemed a little mad, but not as much as Akira thought she would be.

“Please do not hold your feeling back on my, or Futaba’s accounts. I do not like Akechi, but I know you two are close. Even I am sadden to hear that he was killed,” Haru said firmly, before tilting her head, “At least that he killed by the same man who ordered my father’s and Futaba’s mother death like it was nothing.”

“Yeah, I know you two have your homoerotic rivalry going on, but none of us want him dead. I don’t know how I feel about Akechi now that I know for sure he’s the one to...” Futaba trailed off before violently shacking her head and looking at Akira for the first time since the meeting, “Anyways. I don’t think I want him dead, and I am still willing to work with him to ended Shido if you know he won’t betray us.”

“I don’t see why he would at this point. Everything was to get revenge on Shido, and since he agreed to the change of heart, I don’t think he will go back on that.”

“Why does he want to get revenge on Shido so madly he was willing to murder for it? The guy is a real sleaze ball from what I found out outside of the hits, but even if my mom was the first shutdown, Akechi would have started when he was around my age and... that seems like a lot if it’s not personal.”

“Akechi told me why. Before we finish Sae’s palace, though he didn’t name Shido. And it is personal,” Akira said, unable to bring himself to explain in more detail.

Akechi talking about his mom in the bathhouse was too personal. Akira still wasn’t sure if that, or the first time he brought up his orphan status was just a plan to get Akira to feel more sympathetic, but it still felt more that Akechi was use to sharing about himself. 

Even if it would make Futaba and Haru understand Akechi better, he just couldn’t bring himself to betray that trust Akechi put in him.

“If you don’t feel conferable telling us, then we could always ask Akechi our selves,” Haru said, obviously getting why Akira was hesitating so much.

“Ew. I guess we should have a talk,” Futaba complained as she stretched, only to suddenly snap back looking at Akira from across the table, “Or is that’s going to mess up your plan? I think everyone but Ryuji and Inari noticed you didn’t bring up the time travel in front of Akechi.”

“Oh that.”

Futaba was making it sound way more serious than a reaction from how Akechi was acting.

“I think I already brought it up when Akechi was helping me get back, but since he brought up that ultimatum, I thought it would be funny to see if he ever coming up with time travel reason himself,” Akira said with a small smile that grew when Futaba started crackling.

“Mahaha, he’s going to hate it when he finds out,” Futaba said, still giggling like a featherman villain.

Akira just felt like he could breath a little bit easier. Haru and Futaba were still willing to work with Akechi like last time. Akechi was working with them, even if he was still hiding things from the other thieves. Akira felt like things were looking up.