"And that's it for today," Ren said with a sweeping bow, eyes lingering on Trae's smile. The rising sun did the same, ray shining on her face long after the other children's faded to shadows. "Thank you for coming, everyone." He winked, every inch the charismatic Trickster he'd learned to be.

As the others murmured to each other and found some other place to be, Trae stayed where she was. She was bouncing on her toes and her leaf-green eyes shone with excitement. Ren laughed and ruffled her short hair, slipping out of the Trickster guise and becoming just... Ren.

"That was great, Wonder!" she squealed. "You're amazing! I wanna be just like you one day!"

Can we keep her? Arsene begged.

Ren laughed. "Thanks, Trae. It means a lot." And it did. She was so innocent and kind, even to the dangerous pack members, and they protected her at all costs. In short, this little girl had most of the town under her thumb, and he doubted she even realized it. "But you shouldn't look to me for your future, you know."

"I know," she sighed, sounding more mature than she looked. "But-" she lowered her voice and Ren played along, crouching so she could whisper in his ear. "I don't want to work at the office when I grow up," Trae whispered. "I don't want to do paperwork and learn things that won't help me. I want to see the world."

Ren closed his eyes. "I know," he echoed. "But it's hard, getting out of here."

"You did," she said, standing back up. She took his hand and tugged him out of his backyard. They were going to the park, most likely. Trae always loved the park, the only place with animals that weren't roadkill and plants that weren't weeds. He knew she spent hours there, mostly because he'd always been the one to chaperone her. She was uncoordinated enough to trip over anything, and he hated seeing her with scratches on her face.

"And I came back," Ren said. He hadn't wanted to, but he knew his future would be a shallow grave if he didn't turn eighteen first. Jamestown didn't like it when its residents disappeared.

"But you'll leave," she said with a sad certainty that made her sound twenty, not nine. "And I won't see you again."

"Yes," Ren admitted. "It won't be easy to leave you, though."

Trae's crestfallen face brightened. She laughed, pulling him across the dusty streets and turned around with a smile. "But you're here for now! And I'm not going to waste a second!"

-

"Where've you been?" Akira demanded. Ren sensed Arsene's guard go up, and he resisted the urge to do the same. His father might be a Wolf, but his mother was a serpent. She was graceful and beautiful, so beautiful, until she wasn't. Ren had a few experiences with her that he'd give two years of his life to avoid.

"With Trae," he replied simply, trying to step past her into the small house.

Structure, Arsene corrected.

I live here, it's a house.

It's barely standing. Calling it a structure's generous.

She blocked him, her curly black hair waving in the wind. Like nearly everyone in Jamestown, her skin was moon-pale and she was stronger than she looked. Strong, but soft enough to lure men. "Chores?"

"Completed this morning," he said. He'd woken before the sun so he could have until noon with Trae. She was the light in Jamestown's dark, and he had no intention of letting her be extinguished.

She leaned on the doorframe as Ren tried to push past her. Akira examined her immaculate fingernails, and he stepped back. If there was a single rule about Akira Kurusu he preferred to follow, it was to not touch her. "Didn't Sakura-san teach you cleanliness?"

He debated telling her that Sojiro hadn't cared if his room was clean at first, and later, his teacher helped him clean. That, however, would involve more talking, so he only nodded.

The edge of a smile of her blood red lips. Ren had her lips, but the Wolf's smile. "Clean your room. I can't see a thing through all the colors."

Hot anger pulsed through him. She'd been in his room. The devil herself had been into his sanctuary. If she'd stolen anything, he swore, the witch would burn.

Ren, Arsene chided. There was beginning to be a sort of pattern to this; wake up, want to kill someone, and then get scolded for it.

What? He said to Arsene's offended huff. It's true!

"I'll do that," Ren agreed, if only to end the conversation. Akira, being Akira, blocked the door again.

"Speaking of which," Akira said casually, "I heard you had a busy year." He shrugged again and tried to get around her, but Akira caught him on her arm. "I heard you took a lover," she purred.

Oh, if only he had. Then he wouldn't have left and been in this mess. "Who did you hear that from?"

"People talk," she replied simply, making Ren wonder if she had any hacking ability. If she was anything like Futaba, there was every chance she could spy on him in Leblanc. "When you go in, bring me my jacket," Akira said, brushing off the subject as quickly as she'd brought it up. "I won't be home until nighttime."

It was easy enough to read between the lines, but Ren was more concerned with what that meant for him. "Understood."

As soon as he finished cleaning- Akira actually hadn't taken anything from him- Ren headed straight for his mother's room. His mother was usually home, and when she was, he had no intention of getting anywhere near it. But if she wasn't there, that meant no company. Which meant it was completely unguarded.

He sensed Arsene, who had been complaining about the waste of time, perk up at the idea. What does she keep in there?

Clothes, jewelry, makeup, Ren said. Arsene perked up at the mention of jewelry. He slipped soundlessly into the hallway and pressed himself against the wall. He checked the curtain separating the rest of the house from the kitchen. No movement. She caught me last time. It's time for revenge.

The Trickster could almost see him grinning. As phantom thieves, there's really only one thing we can do, he practically sang.

Indeed. Ren didn't bother to hide his wicked amusement.

I'll bet you she's got a gun, Arsene said casually. And an entire stash of ammo.

She probably does, Ren agreed, testing the floorboards for creaks. He could hear his father outside, prowling the backyard. His room faced Okami, and Akira's room was the closest to the kitchen. He was safe for the moment.

Ren slipped the door closed behind him and clicked on the lights. He wrinkled his nose at the heavy scent of vanilla, clearly used to mask whatever had been done the night before. His eyes swept the room, marking the window- facing the fence at the side of the house, fortunately- the bed that took up most of the room, and more importantly, the boxes under it. The world took on a kaleidoscope tinge at his sudden excitement.

Score!

Wait, Arsene said. Ren's eyes flicked towards Akira's closet. Women are thorough. Check everywhere.

"You say it like you've got experience," Ren murmured, doing another sweep. He checked the nightstand- nothing there- and the built-in bathroom- still nothing- and finally, the closet Arsene had pointed out.

I might. Arsene's voice sounded like a mixture of pride and guilt.

Oh? Ren asked, examining the immaculate floor for any loose boards. Seeing none, he started looking through the boxes, the ones nearest to the door first. Do tell.

I'd rather not, Arsene hedged. Oh, 24-karat gold to your right. Very delicate. Diamond studded. Looks expensive.

"Iwai would take it for a lot," Ren said, weighing it in his hands. "I'm looking for weapons." At his Persona's disapproving silence, he sighed and pocketed the trinket. "But I'll keep it." He needed weapons and clothes, but anything he could sell without its absence being obvious was useful. The next several boxes were filled to the brim with cloth, none of it clean. He wrinkled his nose and carefully shut them.

Well? Tell me, Ren begged while shoving six long needles into his backpack. They were made of some sort of steel and looked better for throwing than any sort of household chores.

No. Arsene sounded embarrassed. Carmen would- he broke off.

Ren opened another box stuffed with paper scraps and pawed through it. At the bottom was an oiled leather strap, thin and barbed. Where did Akira even get this? It was his now.

Carmen? Ann's Persona? What did you steal from her? He kept one eye on the door as he went through the rest of the boxes. The only useful things outside of the closet were more whips, elegant black gloves (which Ren preferred over his Thief ones, since no 'red-handed' jokes could be made) and a silver switchblade. Very beautiful, he noted, flipping it in his hand and testing its balance. Well-made. Really, if Akira was getting these from her lovers, he needed to find them.

It's none of your business. His Persona's voice tensed. I sense someone.

Ren threw himself into the bathroom and crouched behind the sink. He coiled the whip, mindful of the barbs, and prepared to strike. The Trickster was talented enough at the other Thieves' weapons, but preferred his own, and he thanked Arsene silently for forcing him to practice.

Told you you'd find it useful. You owe me a diamond, Arsene said, then shut up. He knew he was reaching out with his limited senses, testing the surrounding area. Ren heard the door to the backyard slam and soft, shuffling footsteps prowl into the room opposite of Akira's. He exhaled softly, setting the whip back in the bag. Ren shifted three needles between his fingers, preparing to throw, and counted to five before peering out of the bathroom.

Safe.

I'll get you your diamond, Ren promised. Arsene laughed.

You can check the closet next, he said.

Rolling his eyes, Ren opened it and grinned at the variety of soft leather- his mother loved leather- silk, and a beautiful, dark coat with silver buttons. Because it belonged to Akira, the suit under it was skintight and mesh, but it looked unused.

Arsene made an approving sound. Any boots?

There were none. He wasn't surprised, but as he searched the closet for anything nicer to wear- girly or not, Ren could use it to his advantage- Arsene told him what had happened with Carmen. It was a decent pastime while he was pillaging Akira's stash of increasingly scanty clothes.

Carmen has these trophies she's proud of from her life before becoming a Persona. Ties from every man she'd won over. Arsene snickered. Stole them right off her while she was in her room.

Her room? Ren made a face at one outfit that was little more than lace. Useless to him. The next one was even worse, just a series of metal-studded straps. It had a nice hood, though. Soft cloth, but smooth, flexible metal was molded into the inside, hidden between layers. Perfect. He swiped it off the rack and stuffed it into his increasingly heavy bag.

When we're not helping you losers-

Hey!

-humans, Arsene amended, with Shadows, we used to live in a sort of mansion. We never knew of Loki, though. Who knows why he was never there? Maybe we only saw the ones our masters knew existed. Carmen has the room next to the garden, easily accessible. But she wears one on her puppets, and the others around her neck and around her bodice.

Ren covered her mouth to disguise his choking. You put your hands down her dress and she didn't notice?

Arsene had the guts to sound pleased with himself. Actually, it wasn't difficult. I played along and let her kiss me, and it was fairly easy afterwards.Carmen planned on adding my beautiful jacket to her collection.

Of course, Ren deadpanned. Anything to save your ugly jacket.

Sorry, I'm deaf to stupid. Arsene perked up at an opened box full of ammunition. And I had to watch my back for days after that! He pouted. And then Goemon made me give them back.

Shocker, Ren thought back, stuffing a jewelry box filled with ammo into the bag and snatched two expensive-looking guns off the rack. From their weight, they had to be real. He slung the bag over his shoulder and kept searching. Akira had needles, whips, chains- something he wanted to forget- guns, and a switchblade. Where were the better knives? She had to have them somewhere.

A door slammed.

Ren threw himself out of the closet, whipping around to shut the door behind him. He bolted for the window. Behind him, the soft, delicate footsteps started to get louder. The kaleidoscope light brightened enough that he had to blink spots out of his eyes. He scrabbled with the window's lock as the doorknob turned. In a last-ditch effort, he threw himself under the bed, dragging his loot with him.

Akira's bare feet stumbled in.

Ren kept his breathing silent, like he did in every Palace. If it worked on the Shadows, it had to work on Akira. Dust tickled his nose.

Oh, this had been a bad idea. Was his feet sticking out? Was the bag? He really needed to sneeze.

You sneeze, Arsene warned, and I will not talk to you again.

That's not a good incentive, Ren thought back. Akira's feet paced towards the bathroom, then he heard a loud thump, like something had been dropped. His nose itched.

I'll recreate the Metaverse and steal your stuff? He tried.

Oh? And how would you do that? Ren put a hand over his mouth and closed his eyes, stopping his sneeze. Akira's near-silent footsteps paused their pacing.

Sheer determination, Arsene declared.

Ren smiled. The footsteps shuffled closer, and he blinked once. His fingers itched towards the switchblade.

Are you going to kill her?

I wish, he thought back, fingers curling around the cold hilt.

"Dammit," Akira huffed, less than an inch away.There was a yelp of pain and a thud, most likely her stubbing her toe on something. With a curse, her feet stormed into the giant closet, away from him. Ren exhaled softly.

She'd look for him afterwards, and when he wasn't in his room, there'd be hell to pay. This was probably his only chance to get out.

The bag's pretty loud, Arsene warned.

It wouldn't matter.

Ren shot out of his hiding place, clutching the backpack to his chest with his left hand. He darted to the window, pressing himself to the side and flicking out the knife. He slashed the plastic lock open and shoved the sliding window to the left. Next, the screen door.

Cut it, Arsene suggested.

She'd notice, Ren pointed out, digging his fingers into the edge of the screen, which stung more than he wanted to admit. He pulled it backwards and out, and the large screen peeled off in his hands. Apparently, Youtube had the capability to be right about things.

Youtube? Correct? Impossible!

He slipped out the window and closed it behind him. He could put the screen up later. Ren paced across the side of the house to the backyard, getting in without incident. His window didn't have a screen at all, which made it easier to sneak out. With the Wolf almost always outside, he made for a good watchdog in the day. Not that he'd ever say that.

That was a bit too close, Arsene said. And where do you plan to hide that?

Ren shoved it under his bed.

Well, that's... a start, I suppose. He could just feel his Persona cringing. But you put everything of importance there.

No I do- He blinked. Oh.

Are you going to hide a body there, too?

Ren grabbed the backpack and tossed it under his desk. He dusted imaginary dust off his hands and looked smugly into the mirror. Better?

Arsene huffed. Better. He perked up slightly when the Trickster presented a large, sparkling diamond to the mirror. Shiny!

You have a weakness for shiny things, Ren noted, putting it back in the bag.

I'm a thief. I like shiny things! He sounded embarrassed. I know you're judging me!

Being a thief and liking shiny things are exclusive, he said, checking outside. The sun was beginning to set. And you're judging me for not taking more necklaces, aren't you?

Arsene didn't say a word. Guilty.

The door slammed open, and without his many-papered doorstop, it rebounded off the wall and hit Akira's outstretched hand. She smiled as dangerously as always, and Ren's mind immediately flicked to his stash. He was sitting on his bed, at least, so he was a good distance from the loot. He would be relieved, except that he knew Akira's subtle moods. Right now, she was royally pissed off.

How much did she know?

"Ren."

He looked up, feigning innocence. "Yes?"

Akira crooked a finger at him and effectively vanished.

Well, you're dead, Arsene laughed. It was a good life.

If she tries to kill me, Ren thought, and I stab her, does it count as self-defense?

No, his Persona sighed. It counts as murder.

Ren padded out of his room and Akira let him into hers. He narrowed his eyes. If she knew he'd stolen something, she wasn't acting like it. If he got caught, he'd just return everything and try for it again later. "Mom, I'm tired. Is this important?"

She only smiled and slipped into the bathroom. He started to get a bad feeling. Hadn't he heard her drop something in there? It had sounded heavy, like...

Like a certain cardboard box Akira was now holding smugly in her arms.

Ren blinked, the only surprise he was willing to show. How had she gotten into his room to steal it! She'd been at the bar the whole day, and they'd both been on high alert for footsteps. Besides, Okami was always outside, and he would've heard the door.

Except... that Okami hadn't been outside today. So while Ren was pillaging Akira's room, she had been doing the same, hadn't she? She must've left and come in through the front door. After making sure Ren wasn't in his room, that meant he was either out of the house, or in her room. It was the sort of plan he usually thought of, and had traps to prevent it.

You didn't trap your window? Arsene sounded disapproving.

Of course I did! He protested. Something else must've triggered it, because I set it last night!

But nothing... his Persona trailed off. That's strange, he said more to himself than Ren. Am I missing something? I feel like I should know this. His Persona growled in frustration.

Ren shrugged it off, already bracing for his punishment. Most likely involving the very sharp knives he kept in that box. Akira was dangerously good with blades, and even if she didn't use them for killing, he didn't want to be on the receiving end of his daggers.

"I knew," Akira said, settling herself at the nightstand and taking out the Days, of all things, "that you'd taken someone for yourself this year."

You did what? Arsene's voice pitched two octaves higher. You never told me about that!

That's because I didn't!

Was it Skull? Fox? Arsene puffed out his cheeks. It definitely wasn't Akechi.

Dammit, Arsene, I didn't! He was seventeen. Besides, it sounded almost as fun as getting pelted by Kouga over and over and over and being forced to stand still.

"I didn't-" he started, but Akira cut him off. She smirked a little at his face. She had the guts to be enjoying herself.

"These pretty little letters say otherwise," she singsonged. Akira flourished one of them and gave a sidelong glance to Ren, who was fuming. The world changed in front of him, becoming dark and cold and smelling like blood. "To Goro Akechi," she read slowly, for the dramatic effect. "It has been 107 days since you vanished. I can't get you out of my mind, and although the world itself has moved on, I feel like I'm being left behind. How can I move on without you? I'd do anything to find you again. And I mean anything. If the gods themselves, evil or no, offered to take my soul in exchange, I would do it." She flicked the paper with a satisfying sound, something like the thud of a blade as it stabbed him. "The Detective Prince?"

He felt his face flush. "Get away from those!"

She blinked once, slowly. "I hope you're not trying to order me around." Akira's fingers danced across the color-stained pages, landing with soft taps. She flicked out another stack of papers, and he realized with horror that they were his drawings. She held up the most recent one, a simple one that used the shading techniques Yusuke taught him. It was Goro, who gave a sadistic smile at the camera in front of Leblanc.

"Now why would the next Alpha be drawing and writing to a male?"

Ren's fists clenched at his side.

"A dead one, too, if these letters are any indication." Akira crossed one leg over the other delicately, watching Ren like a hawk and its prey.

Ren, you know I disagree with killing, Arsene said, clearly remembering when he said that she'd burn. She touched his most prized possessions. She would burn.

Your point?

I'm impartial to killing her.

Ren felt himself calm just a bit at that. An amused smile ticked at his lips.

"Oh?" his mother asked, twirling one of Iwai's knives between her fingers, somehow managing to keep all of said fingers intact. "Something funny?"

"No."

Again, the brilliance of the Trickster shone through. His way with words was astounding, wasn't it?

"I believe I taught you to not love."

"You did," Ren agreed quietly. It was one of the few rules that he'd never broken until he'd left Jamestown. He'd seen early how his parents were, and vowed never to become like them. Never marry, never confine himself to a world as cut-and-dry as theirs. He wouldn't make a world so miserable for himself, he'd thought every day. No friends. No lovers. No family except the pack and Trae.

The first time he'd broken that rule was when he'd awakened to Arsene. From that day on, his world changed for the better. Enough so that he could stop ignoring the impulses that led him to a TV station and Goro Akechi.

Goro had been the ultimate choice, everything he wasn't supposed to be. And as a natural rule breaker, coupled with the strange attraction to him, Ren couldn't resist.

"And what's clearly happened," his mother said. "Is that my little boy is smitten."

Still impartial? Ren asked.

Arsene was quiet, but he could sense his fury.

"And these precious little knives," she mused, shuffling through the pictures. Trae, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumera, Morgana with Lavenza and Igor, and Goro Akechi. With a quick flick, she buried the blade into his drawings. Ren gasped and leapt forward, feeling a sudden pain in his chest.

"Remember our rules?" she purred, standing up. "No friends."

"No lovers," Ren whispered. He shook.

You're the Trickster, Arsene growled. Do something!

There was nothing for him to do. He was trapped in the serpent's coils. He would only get out if Akira let him.

"And yet I find you running after this... boy," she spat, "breaking all our rules." With a flick of her wrist, she embedded the second knife in his packet of photos. Ren shut his eyes. It hurt too much to see it. "You need a reminder of who you are, Ren Amamiya." She tossed him a glossy, black lighter out of the box. How had that gotten in there, he wondered. He hadn't put that in the box. It was too much of a risk, unless he wanted a year's worth of memories to go up in smoke.

"When I wake up tomorrow, I want everything pertaining to that boy and Shibuya in ashes," she hissed. "Give me that."

He mutely held the lighter out, and she took one more thing from the box. Akira held out the small pride flag and flicked the lighter open.

The flag!

"Don't!" Ren yelled. Damn Okami for telling him to put it up. Of course, he realized. The Wolf had been proving a point. He'd left the backyard so Akira could have easy access, hadn't he? He had excellent hearing. It wasn't like she could've snuck in, even with the Wolf in his room.

Dammit!

The Wolf always won.

She raised one eyebrow at him. "Why shouldn't I?"

He had no good answer, not good enough for Akira. "Because it's my life," he whispered. "It's my life, not yours."

She shook her head. "Oh, Ren," Akira said softly, like he imagined a real mother would. She lowered the lighter, just slightly, and hope sparked inside him. Could he make her understand?

Then she threw the flame on top and watched it burn.

Ren felt a surge of rage and Arsene snarled violently. The world changed again, this pitiful room becoming the center of Shibuya. This was where he'd died, he realized. He'd died to the False God, right before he fought tooth and nail to get back.

And then he'd killed Yaldabaoth the exact way he was imagining killing her.

"This was never your life," Akira whispered, then threw the burning flag at his feet. He stared mutely at the flames as they hungrily devoured the fabric. When he looked up again, the serpent was gone.

Somehow, he found himself in his room, sitting at his workbench and folding the lighter over and over in his hand. His emotions felt frozen in place, like it had when he fought Yaldabaoth, when he fought his father.

Remember this feeling, his father had said. Yes, this rage was becoming too familiar.

He looked at the match, the beautiful thing that had caused so much hell for him. Then he looked back at the stack of pictures and photos, all with a hole right through the center.

Ren-

He blocked out Arsene's voice, knowing he wouldn't approve. But there were things Arsene didn't know was at stake. Things he'd trade his very soul for if he had to. Arsene would try to stop him, and then he'd have to hurt himself to stop him. He'd protect his Persona, Morgana, and Trae as best he could.

But now... Ren had been given, by god or demon, a chance to fix the game.

So it was time to play.

---

Words: 4352!

And the events begin! I'm really sorry it took so many chapters to set it up, but it was necessery. I think. Anyways, tell me what you think in the comments if you're comfortable with it, and please do let me know if I can improve anywhere.

Big thank you to all my readers, because if it weren't for you, I'd stop writing this halfway through and the world needs more Shuake content. I will do the best I can.

By the way, to the Arsene Best Boi squad ^^ (he honestly is becoming best boi, my friend even created a meme about it) thank you so much for the support :D

anyways, thank you all for reading! 

Robin out!