midnightmaiden | IC Inbox

The warmth comes in waves.

Its as if he's waking up from a proper long sleep and pleasant dreams, mouth falling in surprise as the spell or whatever the persona did on him had actually transformed him somehow! A true example of a miracle.. He couldn't believe it as the black charr slowly ebbs away from his skin- now melting back to his usual skin colour as he was anticipating pain coming from the fast healing process. Its like a surgery, right? The way his persona did?

But no. Its nothing like that.

The light dims as he looks down at his hand, now pulling at the sleeve of his turtleneck as his white blazar hangs off on the other end. "Oh- it's-! It's gone-!" The shocks shifts into excitement and relief. "Oh goodness I didn't think I would be able to recover my arm! Thank you so much, Yoshizawa-san!"

The pain is gone paired with the exhaustion. Its just then that he stops, his brows furrow as he focuses on the pinky of his once injured finger. There's a green blemish there. "Huh...I guess there's some residue left. Atleast it doesn't hurt."

Edited 2024-10-02 17:45 (UTC)

When the arm heals properly, Kasumi heaves a huge sigh of relief. A little residue is still a vast improvement over how he looked before, and at long last, a smile returns to her face.

"Of course! I'm always happy to help." She bows, the bubbly brightness returning to her voice. "Though, um... I'm sorry that Ren hurt you."

There's a possibility gnawing at the back of her mind. Someone in particular.

"I might actually know who it is, but I don't want to jump to conclusions..."

He sighs as he finally takes a few steps back and goes over to another wall- leaning a against it as he presses both of his hands to his face- letting out a long sigh of relief that had been building since yesterday and had only worsened when he tried to take care of himself with antiseptic and bandage.

"Oh you shouldn't be the one saying sorry," he shakes his head as he watches her excitement. That's good- he didn't want to worry her anymore. "It was...I wasn't expecting it really. I believe he had a panic attack and then clearly my presence made it worse for him." As for apologies, he would much rather hear it from him but judging from how their last interaction went- he might as well end up losing his entire body if he ran into him. "To think this is how Kurusu-kun in another universe thinks of me." A frown appeared on his face as he let his own sentence sink in.

"I think I know who it is," Maruki hums. "I believe you mentioned Sparrow, right? And his Ren? Seems like they have a very interesting relationship."

"To the point of that Ren nearly killing...me."

Edited 2024-10-03 19:09 (UTC)

"Yeah..." Hoo boy. How to put this...

Kasumi takes a deep breath, in, then out. It's not her story to tell, yet he deserves answers, especially if he's going to help Sparrow in the future.

"In Sparrow-san's reality, you gave Ren-senpai a choice. Either he accepted your reality so Akechi-san could keep living, or he could face you for the sake of their... true reality. In the end, that Ren chose Akechi-san, but he changed so much. That's why Sparrow-san is so different... and why his Shadow is so angry."

She pauses. "He even... killed Ren-senpai, even though he came back thanks to this place. I don't know all the specifics about their world, but what I do know is that it's put Ren-senpai in a really hard place, and it's left Sparrow-san unable to fully understand his circumstances. I've... spoken to his Shadow a few times, and he was always so ruthless. He's stuck in Mementos, carved away from the person he used to be."

Maruki for once goes completely quiet as his widened eyes regard her with nothing more than actual genuine confusion. From the moment she starts talking about a reality where he gave that Ren a choice to...the fact that Ren accepted it and things changed between them.

"What are you talking about, Yoshizawa-san?"

You know exactly what she's talking about.

He remembered that image when he was trying to defend himself against that Ren but that's not...that's not right. That was just something his brain came up with in immense stress. This can't possibly be right. He shakes his head as he looks away from the red haired girl and curls up his gloved hands. "Why would he face me for his true reality? All I have ever done is use patients for-"

~~-my powers as subjects for my research.~~

All of a sudden he stops, realizing just what was going to come out from his mouth. For some reason a knot grows in his chest at the thought of what the girl might think if he continued that sentence. Hence he back pedals and blinks, "I mean use patients' experiences to simply understand how CBT treatment works."

Unless...he managed to figure out a way to manifest and build the perfect reality.

That can't be...

"Is that what Azathoth is supposed to do? All I have been making is infinite snacks in the palm of my hand."

Edited 2024-10-05 16:35 (UTC)

"Well... like I said, the Maruki from their world changed Akechi-san into a very different person when he altered reality. It's supposed to be a world where everyone is happy, but... I don't think Ren-senpai is."

She looks down, fingers threaded over her waist. "I think Akechi-san wanted freedom. He didn't want to live in a world where everything was decided by one person. Sparrow-san is different. He has a right to exist, but his condition means there's so much in this place that he can't understand, and it means his Shadow is trapped down here, all alone."

Edited 2024-10-05 17:39 (UTC)

"If that Maruki is anywhere resembling me then that's just incorrect," Maruki denies again- just as he always did whenever it came to such a topic. The worst part? He doesn't know why he's defending that Maruki in the first place- judging from the reactions that he illicits in that Ren but still-!

His eyelids droop as he fidgets with his curly hair, running his gloved digits on the back of his head as he tries to connect the dots. "That wouldn't...that doesn't make sense. If that Maruki is anything like I am I would make sure everyone can do what they want- happily."

"You know...this shadow, right?" He tries as he carefully looks at Kasumi with a serious gaze. "Are you saying I maybe capable of reversing it?" Then he stops and his eyes widen for a moment. "Hold on-!"

Edited 2024-10-05 18:09 (UTC)

"Does this mean if that Maruki can change reality- perhaps these manifestations-" he suddenly pushes himself away from the wall and snaps his fingers. A packet of pocky drops in his hands. "Are these...also related to that? Did I finally do it?" Its as if he's been hit with the urge to yell Eureka!

"But why...why can't I remember?" His brows pinch together as they nearly spasm in confusion. "I swear I would have remembered something like that, wouldn't I? It doesn't help that Azathoth is keeping his silence away from me and I have been seeing...visions. I don't know. I- I-"

"Can I actually help people with this?"

Edited 2024-10-05 18:13 (UTC)

"You could. I'm sure of it. You helped me, after all." Despite what everyone else says, it helped. She's happy like this... isn't she?

She shakes such thoughts away. "I think the best thing you could do is meet with Sparrow-san. Talk to him. As long as he gives his consent, we may be able to help him, but I'm not sure Ren-senpai would approve..."

Maruki immediately notices the hesitation in her voice and the frown on her face as she says You helped me.

"I am sure your senpai would want what's best for everyone," he answers with a smile which is quite unlike the confused doctor from yesterday. He's more...certain this time. "Maybe that version of me made a blunder on his end but perhaps rather than consulting Ren-kun we could talk to Sparrow-san directly. I just feel like its not in either of our best interests to cross paths unless strictly necessary." Surely, Yoshizawa understands where he's coming from. He needs to have a proper conversation with that Ren first about everything else that happened before he could go after someone with whom he shares such a *fascinating* relationship with. As for consent...well, he can't just let him wallow up in his own misery if he doesn't want his help. Many simply don't reach out for others and there's no judgement there but ultimately if Maruki can save him- it will be worth. He's carried it all before when it came to Rumi- he will do it again for anyone else who suffers.

"You are my patient as well, Yoshizawa-san. We all have different ways of coping with our own traumas...but it should never come down to suffering because of it."

"Or have others told you otherwise?"

"Sparrow-san just deserves a chance to make the choice because he wants to. That's why I think it'd be good to talk to him first, just so he knows what options there are."

What he says isn't wrong. It makes a lot of sense. Some people are stubborn. She can understand that. "It's been so hard for him, ever since Ren-senpai was killed by his Shadow, but nobody's had any solutions. You're our first real chance at helping him."

"When did I say he won't have a choice?" He continues, a strange lilt in his tone as he looks away from Sumire to glance at the deep abyss of Mementos before him. He's a shadow- perhaps he's dwelling here somewhere. "I would need to talk to him atleast once to have an idea about what he truly wishes for." Indeed, he will talk to him. Everyone has wishes, no?

He sighs as he looks down at his hands before he comes down to a slow stop. He can't approach this situation haphazardly. "To be honest, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. Clearly there's a gap in my memory which is keeping me away from my true potential and right now approaching either of your senpais is simply walking into a messy situation."

"I need to figure out a way to unlock it," he nods slowly as he regards her. "I can't possibly expect you to back me up with everything. First I will have to stop being helpless in a place like this and then..."

I will learn the truth.

"...in all honesty," his tone falls as he's once again enveloped in phantom embers.

His clothes manifest back into its true form- as if his spirit had once again shifted to the innocent councillor. "I have no idea where to start haha."

"I definitely owe you after this, Yoshizawa-san."

"If it helps, Shadows don't really hurt me down here. I can keep them more docile, if you need to ease into your powers." It's so weird, how the tables have turned.

Her world's Maruki was the one who gave her so many opportunities, who guided her here and let her awaken her true power, and now...

"But it's up to you! We can take it at whatever pace you want."

"You...can really do that?" His eyes widen at her words. To have enemies suddenly going docile, if it wasn't obvious already- he's now sure that there is a major power gap between him and Yoshizawa.

You must perfect your skills, Doctor.

"I am not sure on how this will work but Azathoth is interested. He's...honestly I am not sure how to feel about my persona yet unlike yours- you and Cendrillon have synergy but perhaps practise is the only way to get ahead here." That way he can perfect the art of making the perfect world. A heaven where everyone can be happy and they will never need to suffer again. "Can you turn a shadow docile here then...? I will see on how to...engage it."

"Yep! All we really have to do is go down to the next floor, and there should be some low level Shadows in the area."

So she turns to the nearest escalators, waiting for Maruki before leading the way. It's only fair, after all!

"Shadows...how lovely," he nods with an awkward smile stretching across his face as he sighs and steels his nerves. This is for the betterment of the others and for the sake of his own safety- he needs to get through this.

He approaches the stairs and notices the red veins popping out from the sides, making tremours climb through the back of his neck. The ceiling is all consuming and dark, making it seem as if he's descending hell itself. He offers a casual glance back at Kasumi as he steps away from the head and looks back to make sure nothig is going to creep up behind him.

"Can you go after me, please?"

=======

The winding, twisting corridors gripe his insides as the train tracks stretch forever. His chest feels heavy the more they walk through the area before he hears cackling at the next turn. He freezes for a moment as a tentacle shoots from his behind- looking onward as its appendages go around the corner- accessing the situation.

The only thing is most of the black blobs in teh previous area were running away from them the more they tried to approach them so its better to be stealthy here.

His vision shifts, catching a pair of Jack O'lanterns laughing and cackling as they roast marshmellows in some cognitive fire with pixies flying in the area. They shift as they turn away from the fire as it comedically poofs away. "Boo ho ho-!" one of them cries as they slowly approach them.

Maruki backs up considerably- another tentacle joining in the midst.

"AGI!" the shadow yells as it charges up its attack while it hovers in the air- its blue cape fluttering in the wind as it twirls- pouring down the little pot in its hand as it flows with fire wisping through the air.

Maruki holds out a hand and the tentacle responds in kind- slapping away the fire as its ends only slightly singe. A myriad of high-pitch responses follow as he looks at Kasumi for direction.

"You won't hurt us," Kasumi growls, once Maruki gives his counterattack. Any Shadows in the nearby area will feel the command jolt through them, rendering them far more docile than before.

While she's sure that Maruki doesn't need too much protection, she might as well deescalate this, just to give him more room to acclimate to Mementos and its general hazards.

Maruki stood his ground, sweat beading on his brow as he hears Kasumi growl into the rippling maze of Mementos that curled in on itself in its red maze. Azathoth hovered behind him, its tendrils hanging to his sides like his own shadow.

I need more.

More.

Not weak. Not anymore.

"Alright, Azathoth... let's see if you know how to deal with this," Maruki muttered as he sprinted ahead- the tentacle latching onto the wall to give him a slide boost as he practically parkours across before finding a group of shadows. He shoots out his hand- fingers flexing slowly as the inside of his palm glowed a faint blue.

In response, one of Azathoth’s tentacles slowly coiled and then shot forward like a striking viper, the tip glowing with an otherworldly light. The tentacle slammed into the Shadow’s head, and the creature jerked- wavering side to side all too violently, eyes widening.

"Memory Blow!" Maruki commanded, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.

A surge of psychic energy rippled from Azathoth’s tentacle, burrowing into the Shadow’s mind in a matter of a few seconds. First the heavy blow suddenly crashing into its head before a yellow pulse follows- starting from the forehead before the creature is enveloped in it as it practically grows ripples, its mask cracking with a shrill, echoing scream. In an instant, the glow in its eyes faded, and it staggered back, its movements sluggish and confused.

The Shadow tried to lash out, but it faltered, unable to remember why it was even fighting. Maruki gave a grim smile, watching as the creature's aggression melted away, leaving it dazed and disoriented.

He slowly walks toward the shadow, a faint golden hue forming in his pupil as if those movements just came naturally to him. That Maruki who was scared of the dark on the escalators of Mementos was now facing a shadow with a sad smile.

"Forget why you're here," he whispered with a gentle tone, his eyes narrowing. "Forget everything."

The tentacle retracts as Maruki presses a gloved index to its forehead.

It screams.

The Shadow collapsed, shuddering, unable to recall even its own existence. Maruki turned away, breathing heavily, knowing that this reprieve would be short-lived. Azathoth hovered behind him, its tentacle suddenly whipping through the already defenseless shadow. CRACK! Goo enveloped the shadow as it suddenly collapsed into the ground.

~~I can fix everything.~~

"Let's keep moving," Maruki said, his voice barely a whisper as he turned his head to gaze at the other creatures over the horizon of the hellish labyrinth enveloping in front of him and Sumire. With an unsual calm, his eyes locked in on those enemies.

"We're not done yet."

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