Goro Akechi (P4 AU) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fogbornphantom) wrote2024-11-21 02:24 pm
fogbornphantom) wrote2024-11-21 02:24 pm
Entry tags:
Memory Tapes
For Ren (unfoggedlotus) / Falcon (gorobo); CW for attempted murder/gun violence, mental breakdown, general trauma.
A large group gathered in a hospital room, decorated with colorful, smiling animal balloons, with a pile of gifts and a three-layer strawberry cake, massive enough to feed the entire gathering. And what a gathering it was. A little girl, around seven years old, lay in a hospital bed with a party hat and gag glasses with a large nose and mustache. In fact, everyone in the room wore them, including Koromaru, despite how silly he looked.
But there were others, too. A thirteen year old Akechi and Ken Amada, Kanji Tatsumi, a grizzled man in his forties sitting on the edge of another bed: Ryotaro Dojima. Teddie, in his mascot suit, and the others from the Investigation Team gathered alongside Aigis, Mitsuru Kirijo, Akihiko Sanada, Yukari Takeba in her Feather Pink costume, Junpei Iori, and Fuuka Yamagishi. So many people, all here to celebrate this girl's birthday in an unconventional place.
And so, without further delay, everyone prepared for the big moment. Yu sliced the cake carefully, ensuring at least one piece for everyone. At the very least, the cake's tremendous size ensured no one would be left behind, barring Koromaru, due to his dietary needs. Still, Yu plucked off a strawberry for him, just so he wouldn't be left out. Then, of course, he lit the candle, and the group gathered around to sing Happy Birthday.
"Happy birthday to you…"
A perfect, picturesque moment, full of warmth, smiles, and unrivaled togetherness.
"Happy birthday to you…"
Alone, Akechi would have struggled to sing, too ashamed of his awkward, pubescent voice. Here, the voices of the others, of varying skills and pitches, blended together in an odd, but endearing fashion that surely lifted Nanako's spirits.
"Happy birthday, dear Nanako…"
The door opened behind them, and a new voice joined the chorus. "Happy birthday to yoooou!"
Everyone whipped around at the sound of the intruder's voice, while Nanako shrieked from her bed. The mere sight of Adachi standing in the doorway, with a goofy grin and a bouquet of pink carnations, yellow tulips, and sweet pea blossoms set off an eruption inside Akechi. His face contorted into a painfully tight snarl. His back arched. His knees bent, and his head throbbed.
Get him, Prince of Fools. This may be your only chance…
The others froze, save for Dojima, who slid out of his bed and hobbled forward.
Mitsuru shouted to the others, "Everyone, stay calm!"
Dojima ignored her, but before he could come any closer, Akechi charged.
"You won't get away this time!"
And Adachi ran, flinging the bouquet over everyone's head and straight at Nanako's bed. Then he bolted into the hall, while a cacophony of voices shouted out for Akechi, and he refused to turn back. No. Not anymore.
He threw aside the party hat and gag glasses, jogging, then sprinting after Adachi, who zigzagged around corners and straight past hospital staff, unable to say or do anything before Akechi tore past them. The chase seemed to stretch on for an eternity until Adachi ducked into one of the hospital rooms, and Akechi stormed in after him.
Akechi's Shadow spoke through his mind. Goro, this is ridiculous! You can't possibly plan on confronting him alone…
In the center of the dark, empty room, Adachi whipped out his revolver, snorting. "Seriously? I thought you were smarter than this. I mean, I've got a freaking gun, and you're just a kid…"
Akechi's face burned white hot. His breaths grew deeper, as his teeth clenched painfully tight. His left hand instinctively reached beneath his uniform, seizing his Evoker. "Per—"
Before he could finish, a black and crimson blur crashed down, seized Akechi by the collar of his uniform, and slammed him against the wall. The swiftness of the Persona's movements jostled Akechi so much that his Evoker clattered to the floor, and Adachi snatched it up.
Akechi's eyes flitted between the monster in human flesh and the mockery of Izanagi staring silently into his eyes. Bloodstains marred what should have been noble, heroic robes and armor. Its golden eyes remained locked on him, unblinking, while Adachi gloated right behind it.
"Aw, what's this? Kiddo's got a gun, too? Trying to be the big hero, chasing the end to a case no one's even gonna care about in the end?"
Yet again, Akechi's head pounded. Everything begins and ends with him. Kill him, and you free this world of this wretched parasite. What greater form of justice is there?
Akechi opened his mouth, ready to call for his Shadow, when Adachi's smirk stretched unfathomably wide, and his Persona lit up in an eerie, purplish aura. Stranger still, a glowing smile spread across its mask, followed by a sharp jolt to Akechi's heart, and…
And…
H—He was trapped. Couldn't look away. Those eyes. Those smiles. They were so powerful. What was he thinking? His heart rate accelerated. His whole body trembled.
"Isn't it funny? You spent so long chasing after the truth of this case… Hell, maybe you could've bagged me before, if you'd actually cut to the chase. But since you dragged your feet, I took the initiative, and you…"
Hopeless. Helpless. Was it over? Was this it? Was he going to die here?
His Shadow cried out. Goro, snap out of it! You can still fight back! Summon me, PLEASE!
Had to focus… had to summon… but Adachi moved closer, twirling that gun. That deadly, horrifying gun…
"You showed them a world they just couldn't take. You forced them to confront an ugly truth no one wanted to see, and for what? Justice? Heh…" He aimed the barrel of his gun directly at Akechi's forehead. "So sorry, Goro, but this is how your 'justice' ends…"
GORO!
Adachi pulled the trigger.
The bullet sailed forward, closer and closer and closer still…
Then, just before it hit its mark, the air around him shimmered, and the bullet ricocheted back, blasting straight through Adachi's gun. The gun exploded. Adachi doubled back with an unholy scream. His Persona's grip on Akechi loosened, its form wavering before it staggered back as well. Akechi hit the floor, and in that moment, clarity returned.
The brilliant blue aura of his Shadow shone forth before him. Adachi bumped into a hospital bed, hand dripping with blood and cheek sliced from the scattered metallic shrapnel that now stained the floor.
Another stabbing pain seized Akechi's head as he stumbled back on his feet.
You tried sticking to your principles and nearly died for it. He toyed with your emotions, left you powerless... But aren't you sick of being at the whims of the wretched?
Yet again, Akechi snarled, teeth bared, fingers twitching, and fire blazing through his veins. For a fleeting moment, his Shadow glanced at him, before slamming into Adachi with his saber at the ready.
Ignite the flames within you. Think of the lives he robbed. Think of what he almost did to you. To your sister. What he aims to do to this world…
Suddenly, the whole room tinted red, while something cold and metallic clung to Akechi's skin. Clinging so tight, it hurt. It hurt…
Adachi grunted, skidding back. When Akechi's Shadow dived in for another attack, he narrowly tumbled aside, dodging the blow. "The hell?!" When Akechi's Shadow charged again, he once again sidestepped. "Get back here, Magatsu-Iza—"
Akechi screamed so loud, his throat burned. He grabbed, grabbed, seized the sharp, cold, agonizing mask around the edges, ripping and tearing and squirting hot, fresh blood, while erratic laughter overtook the screams and and a rush of power swelled within his chest, spreading throughout. Red, red, so much red, exploded all around him. Clothes tight, tattered, striped… Metallic claws consuming his fingers… Yes…
His fingers clutched the hilt of a crimson, serrated saber. Sharp. Lethal. Perfect. Haha… So wonderful!
His Shadow's gawked at the sight, but it hardly mattered. No. No, Akechi knew exactly what he had to do.
Then shall we form a contract, Little Prince?
"Hahaha… Yes… Do it! Kill him, Loki!"
The roar of laughter that followed was like music to Akechi's ears. His Shadow blinked out of sight, but in his place, a black and white striped demon materialized, with golden hooves, slitted yellow eyes, huge, hooked horns, and a monstrous blade, shimmering in a fiery glow.
"P—Persona!" Adachi yelped, just as Loki twirled his sword, and bullets showered over him. That vile Persona swatted some away with his spear, but Loki refused to relent. With the Persona preoccupied, he turned to the fleeing Adachi, who scrambled toward the TV screen in the corner. He leaped. He lunged.
Loki raised his mighty blade—
—But Adachi disappeared mere seconds before the blade cleaved through the television, scattering sparks and glass. The air buzzed, and the room flooded with smoke.
No. No, no, no, NO!
Akechi howled. Just then, footsteps thundered behind. Interlopers. Intruders. The TV was gone. Just a smoking husk, useless to pursue him. Too slow. Too careless.
"Goro!" Dojima called to him.
Akechi snapped around, and all of them… His teammates, his friends, his family formed a blockade, with Kanji standing at the front of the pack.
Wrong. Wrong! Why were they blocking him?!
Akechi charged. "Outta the way! I'm gonna kill that bastard!"
He ran, ran, ran, but none of them moved. Why weren't they moving? Why wouldn't they—
Knuckles crashed into his cheek, hard, fast. Kanji screamed, "Snap out of it, dumbass!"
Akechi stumbled backwards, sword clattering to the floor, but before he could do anything, Kanji, he—
Grabbed Akechi. Held him tight. No! He had to go. He had to get Adachi! Akechi thrashed, but Kanji refused to let go.
"L—Let go! I… I…!"
He raised his left hand, clawed gauntlet ready to scratch if that's what it took, but—
Yu grabbed his wrist firmly, looking into his eyes. "No. We'll never let go."
W—What…?
Rise came in next, joining the hug. "What were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed!"
Then Naoto approached, tugging at the brim of their hat. "...Truthfully, I may have done the same, had you not done it first."
Yosuke heaved a deep sigh, then walked over as well. "I think a part of us all wanted to."
"...Yeah." Chie winced, but soon threw herself at the growing group hug. "He's lucky I didn't get to him first!"
Sniffling, Teddie launched himself at Akechi's back. "Ake-chan, what's wrong? You're all spiky and scary…"
"I'm… scary…?" Clarity slowly returned to him, and he looked down at himself. Clawed gauntlets, with matching boots, clothes striped grey and black, with tattered cuffs and belts wound all around… He reached up to touch his face, feeling the cold, metallic mask, pointed at the tip, and… a second, just as sharp piece down below, more like a helmet than anything.
"It's okay." Ken squeezed his way in. "Sometimes, all that pain and anger just explodes from inside, and you just can't think straight." Shaky laughter soon followed. "But, hey. All things considered, you look pretty cool."
"Just like a bold, black knight!" Despite her enthusiasm, Yukiko's expression soon softened, and she joined the others at Akechi's side. "It was a bit frightening to see, but more than anything, it broke my heart seeing you in so much pain."
Tears leaked from Akechi's eyes. Despite the others surrounding him, he couldn't stop himself from trembling. "A—Adachi had his gun aimed at… I could have… and still, I—"
Dojima strode up to the group. "All right. Everyone give him some space."
At his command, they all dispersed, and Dojima held him close. Despite the spikes, the claws, the mask, everything, Akechi clung to him and sobbed.
"You're safe, Goro. No one is going to hurt you on my watch. Not now, and not ever." Dojima placed a hand on top of his helmet, lifting the top piece of his helmet to lightly tousle his bangs.
"Goro…" His Shadow returned to his side, his touch warm. Soothing, even. "It's all right. Whatever power Dad bestowed on us, it kept us safe."
"Heh." Dojima looked into Akechi's eyes, no doubt red and puffy from the tears. "See? It's just like I said." Despite his words, his voice carried an uneasy edge.
Then, from the doorway, Nanako's tiny voice called out. "Goro…?"
Gasping, Akechi looked to the doorway to find his sister atop Yukari's back, with Mitsuru, Akihiko, Aigis, Junpei, and Fuuka right behind her, and Koromaru at her side.
"N—Nanako-chan… You shouldn't have to—"
As soon as Yukari set her down, she rushed over, clinging to Akechi's waist. "Don't do that again! I was so worried…" She sniffled, tightening her grip, and now, more than ever, the reality of Akechi's recklessness smacked him in the face.
He placed a trembling hand atop her head. "I'm so sorry, Nanako-chan. I… I'll try to do better."
"You better!" said Kanji. "Damn it! We're a team. Whatever bullshit he throws at us, we're stronger together."
"...I know. I wasn't thinking. I…"
Ken sighed, walking up to him again. "I know what it's like, Akechi-kun. The same thing happened with me and Aragaki-san."
The others all slowly filtered into the room.
"Same day, too," Akihiko said. "It's gotta be some cosmic prank…"
Meanwhile, Aigis watched Akechi with a frown. "...Are you all right, Akechi-san? Your clothes are giving off a strange reading…"
"It must be Loki." Akechi exhaled, and the costume faded. "I'm not fine, but… I know this won't last."
"Precisely," said Mitsuru. "What you did was reckless, but what matters is that you're still here with us."
"Yeah, and Nanako-chan's safe." Yukari paused, looking at the smoking remains of the TV and the bullets wedged into the floor. "Hey. Do you still wanna have cake?"
Nanako looked up, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Mhm… This is supposed to be a good day…"
Akechi stared at the wreckage as well, until Koromaru poked his leg with a paw. "But what about the damage?"
A faint smile crossed Mitsuru's lips. "I'll cover it myself."
"But I'm the one who—"
Akihiko cut him off. "Hey. Adachi's the one who instigated." He gazed down at the splintered remains of Adachi's gun. "At least now, he's not packing any heat."
After slipping a pair of gloves on, Naoto squatted by the broken gun. "We can't get careless. It's possible he could find a new weapon in the TV world, after all." Rather than pick up the remains, they instead grabbed Akechi's Evoker and returned it to him. "Try to breathe, Akechi-kun. If you need time to process your thoughts, you're more than welcome to sit down first."
Perhaps it would have been wise, but… Akechi stared down at his sister, brushing a hand through her hair. "No, we can't let Adachi ruin Nanako-chan's special day."
Though the others shared uneasy looks, they soon dispersed into the hall. Dojima, meanwhile, scooped up Nanako and carried her, despite his sluggish gait. Before long, only Akechi and his Shadow lingered in the room.
"Goro, it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to feel rage, to hate… Even if I wasn't born of those feelings, they're still just as much a part of you as I am."
Akechi winced, turning away. "But I lost control. I wasn't myself to begin with…"
His Shadow reached out to him, gloved hand touching his cheek. "You simply broke the chains around your heart, releasing a lifetime's worth of anger and pain."
Akechi gulped, unable to look away. "...Do you think it was wrong to listen to Loki?"
Surprisingly, his Shadow shook his head. "Loki is a part of you, too. We may not see eye to eye, but his view is one born of the cruelty of this world, absent of the hope you once feared."
"But I had already sworn I was above killing him."
His Shadow raised an eyebrow. "And? You aren't worse for having second thoughts in the aftermath of his actions. Even if you had killed him, I doubt the others would hate you, either… of course, you can always ask them yourself, if you need the validation."
Akechi fell silent, and Kanji soon returned to the room. "Yo, Akechi, what's takin' ya so long?"
"Ah. Apologies." Akechi shuffled forward, cheeks slightly warm. How embarrassing, really…
Then Chie popped her head through the doorway. "Dude, what're you sorry for? You just went through a lot."
"Well, it's just… What if I had killed him?"
Naoto turned around, making their way back toward the room. "You are a child, and he was an armed officer with a gun. Given the circumstances, self-defense was more than justified."
Within moments, the others returned as well.
"We'd find a way to make it work," Dojima said. "But you didn't kill him, did you?"
"No, but he did escape…"
Nanako let go of her dad's hand, walking over to him. "I think it's good that you didn't. Adachi-san might be bad now, but you aren't."
"Yeah, and there's only one place he can go," Yosuke added. "Just means we gotta pick ourselves back up and get ready for the grand finale."
"Which means bonding time to the max! Rowr!" Teddie spun around, flexing like an absolute dork and prompting groans from both Chie and Yosuke.
Rise, perhaps sensing Akechi's lingering unease, stepped in soon after. "One thing at a time, guys."
Chuckling, Yu looked down at Nanako. "So, about that cake…"
By now, Akechi had little reason to drag his feet. Squeezing Nanako's hand, he took a tentative step toward the door. "Cake sounds lovely."
For Dove (seekerofjustice)
Maruki was Shujin's new counselor. What were the odds?
It had been so long since Goro had seen him, let alone spoken with him. It was like a ghost from the past, every bit as clumsy and ridiculous as he was all those years ago, when he bumbled about Inaba, always showing up in the background, only truly registering in the forefront of Goro's mind after Adachi's defeat, when all those incidental appearances finally added up.
But it wasn't as though Goro hadn't heard the name. Futaba was adamant that something was amiss, when Sumire Yoshizawa started seeing him shortly before she 'became' Kasumi.
So, taking a chance, Goro went to the his office one afternoon, adamant to get to the bottom of things.
A bowl full of snacks sat on the table, with unopened apple juice boxes. While Maruki sat on one of two small, leather love seats, his eyebrows shot up when Akechi entered the room, and a smile spread across his face.
"Oh, Akechi-kun! I didn't think I'd see you so soon. As I understand it, you're already seeing another therapist, right?"
Nodding, Goro took his place on the empty love seat. "It's true that I'm not obligated to see you like the others. I suppose you could say that my own curiosity beckoned me."
A small, good natured chuckle fluttered in the air, and Maruki gestured at the snacks. "Well, make yourself comfortable! And if there's anything you need to get off your chest..."
"Well, there is one thing." Goro blew a small sigh, cupping his chin in hand. Perhaps it was a bit forward to start with something so direct, but... "Is it true that you're Sumire Yoshizawa's therapist?"
Maruki's eyes popped wide open, and for a fleeting moment, he sat stiff and straight. Then, with a light, shaky laugh, he relaxed, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh. Did she tell you about me?"
Goro shook his head. "Futaba had... concerns, so she did what she always does when something irritates her and took matters into her own hands." Folding his hands in his lap, he tried his best to maintain a calm expression. "I'll be blunt. Futaba believes that you had a hand in Sumire's change in personality. She thinks you brainwashed her into believing that she's her deceased sister."
Maruki winced, then averted his eyes. "I see..." For a few seconds, he fell silent. "I can understand Futaba-chan's pain. It's difficult when someone you care about changes as a result of grief."
Interesting phrasing. "Are you saying that Yoshizawa-san's behavior is self-induced?"
"My current hypothesis is that her guilt surrounding her sister's death made her feel as though she robbed the world of Kasumi-san. 'It should have been me. Everyone loved my sister.'"
"In other words, survivor's guilt."
"Exactly." Slowly, Maruki looked into Goro's eyes, a deep frown carved into his face. "If she felt that everyone loved her sister more, then it's possible that she 'became' her sister in an attempt to fill the void she left behind. It's heartbreaking that she'd see her life as so worthless, but grief and trauma have a way of scarring the mind, and sometimes those scars run especially deep."
On paper, his logic was sound. One could read Yoshizawa's behavior as compensation. If she had impostor syndrome, if she herself saw little value in her life, then why not become someone else? Goro wanted to believe in Maruki's integrity. The man he'd met all those years ago was a bit naive, certainly a dreamer, but far from a malicious sort.
Why would he manipulate the masses in such heinous ways?
Yet something still didn't sit right.
"Maruki-san... What have you done to help her through her grief? Surely you can see how damaging such a delusion is to the people in her life."
Maruki looked down, blowing a slow, soft sigh. "You're absolutely right, Akechi-kun. It isn't healthy to live as someone else. Those who knew her as Sumire are probably worried sick, but it's my job as her therapist to listen and guide her with a gentle hand. If I act too forcefully, it might only heighten her pain and deepen those scars."
"...I see." He'd have to ask Maki about this later. It was certainly an empathetic approach, but was it truly helpful? "Well, I hope that Yoshizawa-san can find it in herself to move forward. It simply isn't healthy to live like this."
"Heh... In a perfect world, she could live happily as her ideal self, without the pain of her loss weighing her down."
"But that isn't how the world works, Maruki-san. I would know." Slowly, Goro rose from his chair. "Still, it is possible to endure through hardship and find happiness in spite of the pain."
"Sure. And I know that in your case, you found a home, a family, and rebuilt your life. Still, haven't you ever wondered what your life would have been like without that pain?"
Akechi snorted. "Certainly. My mother deserved to live a long and fulfilling life, but I have made peace with her passing, and I wouldn't dare abandon my current life to chase ghosts."
Maruki nodded along. "You have a strong will, Akechi-kun. It almost makes me jealous."
"Don't be. I certainly wouldn't wish my past on anyone but my worst enemies." Still, for now, he'd gotten the answers he needed, so he turned to leave the room.
"Well, take care, Akechi-kun! If you ever need to get something off your chest, you know where to find me."
For Shiho (aknightnotaprincess); CW for Kamoshida's brand of lechery and Cogntiive Ann, discussions of sexual abuse and Akechi's mother
This entire castle was repulsive beyond words. Framed paintings of Kamoshida's smarmy face, in regal attire, or entirely shirtless and surrounded by roses. Garish red carpets, rose petals scattered on the floor. It was as if he had taken Yukiko's castle and fused it with a love hotel, to say nothing of the shameless way he paraded about in nothing bit a heart-patterned cape and sandals, his unshaven legs and thong visible for any unfortunate onlookers to witness.
Though the Shadows, dressed as knights, worshiped the very ground he walked on, they were simple enough to ignore, but this...
Goro glowered at the sight of Kamoshida and Ann Takamaki, but not the true Ann Tamakai. No, this impostor strutted around in nothing but a skimpy, pink leopard-patterned bikini and a cat ear headband, her skin all but exposed, with what could charitably be described as bedroom eyes and a ditzy smile.
And she... Approached Kamoshida's Shadow, parted his poncho and dragged a finger teasingly down his bare and hairy chest.
The armored guards did nothing but dutifully watch.
Goro nearly threw up in his mouth, but swallowed it on the way up. Morgana, meanwhile, hovered close beside him.
"Try to keep a cool head. It's just his cognition."
The dungeons in the TV world seldom featured real people, but this... Goro's lips curled back, exposing clenched teeth. Each beat of his heart became a deep, aching throb.
His Shadow whispered, "Goro... I feel it, too. Like a spark, ready to ignite. Your heart aches for her, doesn't it? He's no different from Shido, no different from every man who saw her as a hole to provide them with carnal pleasure..."
Morgana gazed up at the two of them eyes wide. "You don't mean..."
Goro shut his eyes. In the depths of his mind, a familiar voice beckoned. Why not drop all pretenses, Prince of Fools? We could end this now, before he even notices we're here...
Rage... It had served him well in the past, but Loki's rage brought with it painful memories. A lack of composure. It had been so many years. He was different now. Better...
But the anger welling up within him now differed, didn't it? Slowly but surely, he and his Shadow locked eyes.
"I know it's been some time since our last real battle, but we cannot sit idly by, ignoring the injustice of this phony king! Somehow, we must find a way to seize his crown and knock him off his false pedestal..."
"Agreed." Goro took a deep breath, and as he did, something clung to his face, an all too familiar feeling. Yet, this time, it all felt so much clearer. No pain, no fear gnawing at his very core... Just righteous fury, crying out for justice...
And so Goro reached up, he ripped away the mask. An explosion of bright blue fire flooded his vision, earning a startled grunt from Kamoshida's Shadow.
"What was that?!"
Goro's attire transformed in that twist of fire, matching his Shadow's princely garb, and with a nod to his Shadow, he dashed out from around the corner, a saber glowing brilliant blue in his hand.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Morgana called from behind.
But it was too late. Goro rushed forward.
Kamoshida's Shadow stumbled backwards. "What the hell?!"
"Stand back, milord!" one of the guards shouted, before its knightly body twisted and warped into the familiar form of Eligor, while two others transformed into an Angel and Archangel. Not that it mattered.
"Robin Hood, let's finish this!"
His Shadow leaped out, transforming immediately, before letting loose an explosive Megidolaon that incinerated the Shadows.
"Whoa..." The awe in Morgana's voice spoke for itself. "Geez! I knew it was the right idea, bringing you here!"
"S—Shit!" Shadow Kamoshida's eyes threatened to burst from his skull. "G—Guards! Get your asses down here!"
At his command, dozens of Shadows burst up from the floor. Archangels, Eligors, Belphegors... All of them surrounded Akechi. All of them crumbled after another Megidolaon. But more Shadows dropped down.
Damn it! He got away... Robin Hood growled.
"Forget that!" Morgana leaped at one of the Eligors, and a buff, sword-wielding Persona clad in black blasted it back with a gust of wind. "Now that the Palace security level's gone up, it's way too risky to stay here!"
Refusing to back down, Goro and Robin Hood unleashed another Megidolaon, but deep down, he knew their energy was finite. He'd hardly prepared for battle, so he lacked the essentials, like SP restoratives. Were it not for his sudden transformation, he'd be entirely unarmed.
So, between waves of Shadows, Goro rushed for the door. "Very well, Morgana-kun. Let us make a tactical retreat!"
The rest could come another day, once he'd gotten the chance to question Morgana properly about the nature of this Palace.
unfoggedlotus) / Falcon (gorobo); CW for attempted murder/gun violence, mental breakdown, general trauma.A large group gathered in a hospital room, decorated with colorful, smiling animal balloons, with a pile of gifts and a three-layer strawberry cake, massive enough to feed the entire gathering. And what a gathering it was. A little girl, around seven years old, lay in a hospital bed with a party hat and gag glasses with a large nose and mustache. In fact, everyone in the room wore them, including Koromaru, despite how silly he looked.
But there were others, too. A thirteen year old Akechi and Ken Amada, Kanji Tatsumi, a grizzled man in his forties sitting on the edge of another bed: Ryotaro Dojima. Teddie, in his mascot suit, and the others from the Investigation Team gathered alongside Aigis, Mitsuru Kirijo, Akihiko Sanada, Yukari Takeba in her Feather Pink costume, Junpei Iori, and Fuuka Yamagishi. So many people, all here to celebrate this girl's birthday in an unconventional place.
And so, without further delay, everyone prepared for the big moment. Yu sliced the cake carefully, ensuring at least one piece for everyone. At the very least, the cake's tremendous size ensured no one would be left behind, barring Koromaru, due to his dietary needs. Still, Yu plucked off a strawberry for him, just so he wouldn't be left out. Then, of course, he lit the candle, and the group gathered around to sing Happy Birthday.
"Happy birthday to you…"
A perfect, picturesque moment, full of warmth, smiles, and unrivaled togetherness.
"Happy birthday to you…"
Alone, Akechi would have struggled to sing, too ashamed of his awkward, pubescent voice. Here, the voices of the others, of varying skills and pitches, blended together in an odd, but endearing fashion that surely lifted Nanako's spirits.
"Happy birthday, dear Nanako…"
The door opened behind them, and a new voice joined the chorus. "Happy birthday to yoooou!"
Everyone whipped around at the sound of the intruder's voice, while Nanako shrieked from her bed. The mere sight of Adachi standing in the doorway, with a goofy grin and a bouquet of pink carnations, yellow tulips, and sweet pea blossoms set off an eruption inside Akechi. His face contorted into a painfully tight snarl. His back arched. His knees bent, and his head throbbed.
Get him, Prince of Fools. This may be your only chance…
The others froze, save for Dojima, who slid out of his bed and hobbled forward.
Mitsuru shouted to the others, "Everyone, stay calm!"
Dojima ignored her, but before he could come any closer, Akechi charged.
"You won't get away this time!"
And Adachi ran, flinging the bouquet over everyone's head and straight at Nanako's bed. Then he bolted into the hall, while a cacophony of voices shouted out for Akechi, and he refused to turn back. No. Not anymore.
He threw aside the party hat and gag glasses, jogging, then sprinting after Adachi, who zigzagged around corners and straight past hospital staff, unable to say or do anything before Akechi tore past them. The chase seemed to stretch on for an eternity until Adachi ducked into one of the hospital rooms, and Akechi stormed in after him.
Akechi's Shadow spoke through his mind. Goro, this is ridiculous! You can't possibly plan on confronting him alone…
In the center of the dark, empty room, Adachi whipped out his revolver, snorting. "Seriously? I thought you were smarter than this. I mean, I've got a freaking gun, and you're just a kid…"
Akechi's face burned white hot. His breaths grew deeper, as his teeth clenched painfully tight. His left hand instinctively reached beneath his uniform, seizing his Evoker. "Per—"
Before he could finish, a black and crimson blur crashed down, seized Akechi by the collar of his uniform, and slammed him against the wall. The swiftness of the Persona's movements jostled Akechi so much that his Evoker clattered to the floor, and Adachi snatched it up.
Akechi's eyes flitted between the monster in human flesh and the mockery of Izanagi staring silently into his eyes. Bloodstains marred what should have been noble, heroic robes and armor. Its golden eyes remained locked on him, unblinking, while Adachi gloated right behind it.
"Aw, what's this? Kiddo's got a gun, too? Trying to be the big hero, chasing the end to a case no one's even gonna care about in the end?"
Yet again, Akechi's head pounded. Everything begins and ends with him. Kill him, and you free this world of this wretched parasite. What greater form of justice is there?
Akechi opened his mouth, ready to call for his Shadow, when Adachi's smirk stretched unfathomably wide, and his Persona lit up in an eerie, purplish aura. Stranger still, a glowing smile spread across its mask, followed by a sharp jolt to Akechi's heart, and…
And…
H—He was trapped. Couldn't look away. Those eyes. Those smiles. They were so powerful. What was he thinking? His heart rate accelerated. His whole body trembled.
"Isn't it funny? You spent so long chasing after the truth of this case… Hell, maybe you could've bagged me before, if you'd actually cut to the chase. But since you dragged your feet, I took the initiative, and you…"
Hopeless. Helpless. Was it over? Was this it? Was he going to die here?
His Shadow cried out. Goro, snap out of it! You can still fight back! Summon me, PLEASE!
Had to focus… had to summon… but Adachi moved closer, twirling that gun. That deadly, horrifying gun…
"You showed them a world they just couldn't take. You forced them to confront an ugly truth no one wanted to see, and for what? Justice? Heh…" He aimed the barrel of his gun directly at Akechi's forehead. "So sorry, Goro, but this is how your 'justice' ends…"
GORO!
Adachi pulled the trigger.
The bullet sailed forward, closer and closer and closer still…
Then, just before it hit its mark, the air around him shimmered, and the bullet ricocheted back, blasting straight through Adachi's gun. The gun exploded. Adachi doubled back with an unholy scream. His Persona's grip on Akechi loosened, its form wavering before it staggered back as well. Akechi hit the floor, and in that moment, clarity returned.
The brilliant blue aura of his Shadow shone forth before him. Adachi bumped into a hospital bed, hand dripping with blood and cheek sliced from the scattered metallic shrapnel that now stained the floor.
Another stabbing pain seized Akechi's head as he stumbled back on his feet.
You tried sticking to your principles and nearly died for it. He toyed with your emotions, left you powerless... But aren't you sick of being at the whims of the wretched?
Yet again, Akechi snarled, teeth bared, fingers twitching, and fire blazing through his veins. For a fleeting moment, his Shadow glanced at him, before slamming into Adachi with his saber at the ready.
Ignite the flames within you. Think of the lives he robbed. Think of what he almost did to you. To your sister. What he aims to do to this world…
Suddenly, the whole room tinted red, while something cold and metallic clung to Akechi's skin. Clinging so tight, it hurt. It hurt…
Adachi grunted, skidding back. When Akechi's Shadow dived in for another attack, he narrowly tumbled aside, dodging the blow. "The hell?!" When Akechi's Shadow charged again, he once again sidestepped. "Get back here, Magatsu-Iza—"
Akechi screamed so loud, his throat burned. He grabbed, grabbed, seized the sharp, cold, agonizing mask around the edges, ripping and tearing and squirting hot, fresh blood, while erratic laughter overtook the screams and and a rush of power swelled within his chest, spreading throughout. Red, red, so much red, exploded all around him. Clothes tight, tattered, striped… Metallic claws consuming his fingers… Yes…
His fingers clutched the hilt of a crimson, serrated saber. Sharp. Lethal. Perfect. Haha… So wonderful!
His Shadow's gawked at the sight, but it hardly mattered. No. No, Akechi knew exactly what he had to do.
Then shall we form a contract, Little Prince?
"Hahaha… Yes… Do it! Kill him, Loki!"
The roar of laughter that followed was like music to Akechi's ears. His Shadow blinked out of sight, but in his place, a black and white striped demon materialized, with golden hooves, slitted yellow eyes, huge, hooked horns, and a monstrous blade, shimmering in a fiery glow.
"P—Persona!" Adachi yelped, just as Loki twirled his sword, and bullets showered over him. That vile Persona swatted some away with his spear, but Loki refused to relent. With the Persona preoccupied, he turned to the fleeing Adachi, who scrambled toward the TV screen in the corner. He leaped. He lunged.
Loki raised his mighty blade—
—But Adachi disappeared mere seconds before the blade cleaved through the television, scattering sparks and glass. The air buzzed, and the room flooded with smoke.
No. No, no, no, NO!
Akechi howled. Just then, footsteps thundered behind. Interlopers. Intruders. The TV was gone. Just a smoking husk, useless to pursue him. Too slow. Too careless.
"Goro!" Dojima called to him.
Akechi snapped around, and all of them… His teammates, his friends, his family formed a blockade, with Kanji standing at the front of the pack.
Wrong. Wrong! Why were they blocking him?!
Akechi charged. "Outta the way! I'm gonna kill that bastard!"
He ran, ran, ran, but none of them moved. Why weren't they moving? Why wouldn't they—
Knuckles crashed into his cheek, hard, fast. Kanji screamed, "Snap out of it, dumbass!"
Akechi stumbled backwards, sword clattering to the floor, but before he could do anything, Kanji, he—
Grabbed Akechi. Held him tight. No! He had to go. He had to get Adachi! Akechi thrashed, but Kanji refused to let go.
"L—Let go! I… I…!"
He raised his left hand, clawed gauntlet ready to scratch if that's what it took, but—
Yu grabbed his wrist firmly, looking into his eyes. "No. We'll never let go."
W—What…?
Rise came in next, joining the hug. "What were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself killed!"
Then Naoto approached, tugging at the brim of their hat. "...Truthfully, I may have done the same, had you not done it first."
Yosuke heaved a deep sigh, then walked over as well. "I think a part of us all wanted to."
"...Yeah." Chie winced, but soon threw herself at the growing group hug. "He's lucky I didn't get to him first!"
Sniffling, Teddie launched himself at Akechi's back. "Ake-chan, what's wrong? You're all spiky and scary…"
"I'm… scary…?" Clarity slowly returned to him, and he looked down at himself. Clawed gauntlets, with matching boots, clothes striped grey and black, with tattered cuffs and belts wound all around… He reached up to touch his face, feeling the cold, metallic mask, pointed at the tip, and… a second, just as sharp piece down below, more like a helmet than anything.
"It's okay." Ken squeezed his way in. "Sometimes, all that pain and anger just explodes from inside, and you just can't think straight." Shaky laughter soon followed. "But, hey. All things considered, you look pretty cool."
"Just like a bold, black knight!" Despite her enthusiasm, Yukiko's expression soon softened, and she joined the others at Akechi's side. "It was a bit frightening to see, but more than anything, it broke my heart seeing you in so much pain."
Tears leaked from Akechi's eyes. Despite the others surrounding him, he couldn't stop himself from trembling. "A—Adachi had his gun aimed at… I could have… and still, I—"
Dojima strode up to the group. "All right. Everyone give him some space."
At his command, they all dispersed, and Dojima held him close. Despite the spikes, the claws, the mask, everything, Akechi clung to him and sobbed.
"You're safe, Goro. No one is going to hurt you on my watch. Not now, and not ever." Dojima placed a hand on top of his helmet, lifting the top piece of his helmet to lightly tousle his bangs.
"Goro…" His Shadow returned to his side, his touch warm. Soothing, even. "It's all right. Whatever power Dad bestowed on us, it kept us safe."
"Heh." Dojima looked into Akechi's eyes, no doubt red and puffy from the tears. "See? It's just like I said." Despite his words, his voice carried an uneasy edge.
Then, from the doorway, Nanako's tiny voice called out. "Goro…?"
Gasping, Akechi looked to the doorway to find his sister atop Yukari's back, with Mitsuru, Akihiko, Aigis, Junpei, and Fuuka right behind her, and Koromaru at her side.
"N—Nanako-chan… You shouldn't have to—"
As soon as Yukari set her down, she rushed over, clinging to Akechi's waist. "Don't do that again! I was so worried…" She sniffled, tightening her grip, and now, more than ever, the reality of Akechi's recklessness smacked him in the face.
He placed a trembling hand atop her head. "I'm so sorry, Nanako-chan. I… I'll try to do better."
"You better!" said Kanji. "Damn it! We're a team. Whatever bullshit he throws at us, we're stronger together."
"...I know. I wasn't thinking. I…"
Ken sighed, walking up to him again. "I know what it's like, Akechi-kun. The same thing happened with me and Aragaki-san."
The others all slowly filtered into the room.
"Same day, too," Akihiko said. "It's gotta be some cosmic prank…"
Meanwhile, Aigis watched Akechi with a frown. "...Are you all right, Akechi-san? Your clothes are giving off a strange reading…"
"It must be Loki." Akechi exhaled, and the costume faded. "I'm not fine, but… I know this won't last."
"Precisely," said Mitsuru. "What you did was reckless, but what matters is that you're still here with us."
"Yeah, and Nanako-chan's safe." Yukari paused, looking at the smoking remains of the TV and the bullets wedged into the floor. "Hey. Do you still wanna have cake?"
Nanako looked up, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Mhm… This is supposed to be a good day…"
Akechi stared at the wreckage as well, until Koromaru poked his leg with a paw. "But what about the damage?"
A faint smile crossed Mitsuru's lips. "I'll cover it myself."
"But I'm the one who—"
Akihiko cut him off. "Hey. Adachi's the one who instigated." He gazed down at the splintered remains of Adachi's gun. "At least now, he's not packing any heat."
After slipping a pair of gloves on, Naoto squatted by the broken gun. "We can't get careless. It's possible he could find a new weapon in the TV world, after all." Rather than pick up the remains, they instead grabbed Akechi's Evoker and returned it to him. "Try to breathe, Akechi-kun. If you need time to process your thoughts, you're more than welcome to sit down first."
Perhaps it would have been wise, but… Akechi stared down at his sister, brushing a hand through her hair. "No, we can't let Adachi ruin Nanako-chan's special day."
Though the others shared uneasy looks, they soon dispersed into the hall. Dojima, meanwhile, scooped up Nanako and carried her, despite his sluggish gait. Before long, only Akechi and his Shadow lingered in the room.
"Goro, it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to feel rage, to hate… Even if I wasn't born of those feelings, they're still just as much a part of you as I am."
Akechi winced, turning away. "But I lost control. I wasn't myself to begin with…"
His Shadow reached out to him, gloved hand touching his cheek. "You simply broke the chains around your heart, releasing a lifetime's worth of anger and pain."
Akechi gulped, unable to look away. "...Do you think it was wrong to listen to Loki?"
Surprisingly, his Shadow shook his head. "Loki is a part of you, too. We may not see eye to eye, but his view is one born of the cruelty of this world, absent of the hope you once feared."
"But I had already sworn I was above killing him."
His Shadow raised an eyebrow. "And? You aren't worse for having second thoughts in the aftermath of his actions. Even if you had killed him, I doubt the others would hate you, either… of course, you can always ask them yourself, if you need the validation."
Akechi fell silent, and Kanji soon returned to the room. "Yo, Akechi, what's takin' ya so long?"
"Ah. Apologies." Akechi shuffled forward, cheeks slightly warm. How embarrassing, really…
Then Chie popped her head through the doorway. "Dude, what're you sorry for? You just went through a lot."
"Well, it's just… What if I had killed him?"
Naoto turned around, making their way back toward the room. "You are a child, and he was an armed officer with a gun. Given the circumstances, self-defense was more than justified."
Within moments, the others returned as well.
"We'd find a way to make it work," Dojima said. "But you didn't kill him, did you?"
"No, but he did escape…"
Nanako let go of her dad's hand, walking over to him. "I think it's good that you didn't. Adachi-san might be bad now, but you aren't."
"Yeah, and there's only one place he can go," Yosuke added. "Just means we gotta pick ourselves back up and get ready for the grand finale."
"Which means bonding time to the max! Rowr!" Teddie spun around, flexing like an absolute dork and prompting groans from both Chie and Yosuke.
Rise, perhaps sensing Akechi's lingering unease, stepped in soon after. "One thing at a time, guys."
Chuckling, Yu looked down at Nanako. "So, about that cake…"
By now, Akechi had little reason to drag his feet. Squeezing Nanako's hand, he took a tentative step toward the door. "Cake sounds lovely."
For Dove (
seekerofjustice)Maruki was Shujin's new counselor. What were the odds?
It had been so long since Goro had seen him, let alone spoken with him. It was like a ghost from the past, every bit as clumsy and ridiculous as he was all those years ago, when he bumbled about Inaba, always showing up in the background, only truly registering in the forefront of Goro's mind after Adachi's defeat, when all those incidental appearances finally added up.
But it wasn't as though Goro hadn't heard the name. Futaba was adamant that something was amiss, when Sumire Yoshizawa started seeing him shortly before she 'became' Kasumi.
So, taking a chance, Goro went to the his office one afternoon, adamant to get to the bottom of things.
A bowl full of snacks sat on the table, with unopened apple juice boxes. While Maruki sat on one of two small, leather love seats, his eyebrows shot up when Akechi entered the room, and a smile spread across his face.
"Oh, Akechi-kun! I didn't think I'd see you so soon. As I understand it, you're already seeing another therapist, right?"
Nodding, Goro took his place on the empty love seat. "It's true that I'm not obligated to see you like the others. I suppose you could say that my own curiosity beckoned me."
A small, good natured chuckle fluttered in the air, and Maruki gestured at the snacks. "Well, make yourself comfortable! And if there's anything you need to get off your chest..."
"Well, there is one thing." Goro blew a small sigh, cupping his chin in hand. Perhaps it was a bit forward to start with something so direct, but... "Is it true that you're Sumire Yoshizawa's therapist?"
Maruki's eyes popped wide open, and for a fleeting moment, he sat stiff and straight. Then, with a light, shaky laugh, he relaxed, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh. Did she tell you about me?"
Goro shook his head. "Futaba had... concerns, so she did what she always does when something irritates her and took matters into her own hands." Folding his hands in his lap, he tried his best to maintain a calm expression. "I'll be blunt. Futaba believes that you had a hand in Sumire's change in personality. She thinks you brainwashed her into believing that she's her deceased sister."
Maruki winced, then averted his eyes. "I see..." For a few seconds, he fell silent. "I can understand Futaba-chan's pain. It's difficult when someone you care about changes as a result of grief."
Interesting phrasing. "Are you saying that Yoshizawa-san's behavior is self-induced?"
"My current hypothesis is that her guilt surrounding her sister's death made her feel as though she robbed the world of Kasumi-san. 'It should have been me. Everyone loved my sister.'"
"In other words, survivor's guilt."
"Exactly." Slowly, Maruki looked into Goro's eyes, a deep frown carved into his face. "If she felt that everyone loved her sister more, then it's possible that she 'became' her sister in an attempt to fill the void she left behind. It's heartbreaking that she'd see her life as so worthless, but grief and trauma have a way of scarring the mind, and sometimes those scars run especially deep."
On paper, his logic was sound. One could read Yoshizawa's behavior as compensation. If she had impostor syndrome, if she herself saw little value in her life, then why not become someone else? Goro wanted to believe in Maruki's integrity. The man he'd met all those years ago was a bit naive, certainly a dreamer, but far from a malicious sort.
Why would he manipulate the masses in such heinous ways?
Yet something still didn't sit right.
"Maruki-san... What have you done to help her through her grief? Surely you can see how damaging such a delusion is to the people in her life."
Maruki looked down, blowing a slow, soft sigh. "You're absolutely right, Akechi-kun. It isn't healthy to live as someone else. Those who knew her as Sumire are probably worried sick, but it's my job as her therapist to listen and guide her with a gentle hand. If I act too forcefully, it might only heighten her pain and deepen those scars."
"...I see." He'd have to ask Maki about this later. It was certainly an empathetic approach, but was it truly helpful? "Well, I hope that Yoshizawa-san can find it in herself to move forward. It simply isn't healthy to live like this."
"Heh... In a perfect world, she could live happily as her ideal self, without the pain of her loss weighing her down."
"But that isn't how the world works, Maruki-san. I would know." Slowly, Goro rose from his chair. "Still, it is possible to endure through hardship and find happiness in spite of the pain."
"Sure. And I know that in your case, you found a home, a family, and rebuilt your life. Still, haven't you ever wondered what your life would have been like without that pain?"
Akechi snorted. "Certainly. My mother deserved to live a long and fulfilling life, but I have made peace with her passing, and I wouldn't dare abandon my current life to chase ghosts."
Maruki nodded along. "You have a strong will, Akechi-kun. It almost makes me jealous."
"Don't be. I certainly wouldn't wish my past on anyone but my worst enemies." Still, for now, he'd gotten the answers he needed, so he turned to leave the room.
"Well, take care, Akechi-kun! If you ever need to get something off your chest, you know where to find me."
For Shiho (
aknightnotaprincess); CW for Kamoshida's brand of lechery and Cogntiive Ann, discussions of sexual abuse and Akechi's motherThis entire castle was repulsive beyond words. Framed paintings of Kamoshida's smarmy face, in regal attire, or entirely shirtless and surrounded by roses. Garish red carpets, rose petals scattered on the floor. It was as if he had taken Yukiko's castle and fused it with a love hotel, to say nothing of the shameless way he paraded about in nothing bit a heart-patterned cape and sandals, his unshaven legs and thong visible for any unfortunate onlookers to witness.
Though the Shadows, dressed as knights, worshiped the very ground he walked on, they were simple enough to ignore, but this...
Goro glowered at the sight of Kamoshida and Ann Takamaki, but not the true Ann Tamakai. No, this impostor strutted around in nothing but a skimpy, pink leopard-patterned bikini and a cat ear headband, her skin all but exposed, with what could charitably be described as bedroom eyes and a ditzy smile.
And she... Approached Kamoshida's Shadow, parted his poncho and dragged a finger teasingly down his bare and hairy chest.
The armored guards did nothing but dutifully watch.
Goro nearly threw up in his mouth, but swallowed it on the way up. Morgana, meanwhile, hovered close beside him.
"Try to keep a cool head. It's just his cognition."
The dungeons in the TV world seldom featured real people, but this... Goro's lips curled back, exposing clenched teeth. Each beat of his heart became a deep, aching throb.
His Shadow whispered, "Goro... I feel it, too. Like a spark, ready to ignite. Your heart aches for her, doesn't it? He's no different from Shido, no different from every man who saw her as a hole to provide them with carnal pleasure..."
Morgana gazed up at the two of them eyes wide. "You don't mean..."
Goro shut his eyes. In the depths of his mind, a familiar voice beckoned. Why not drop all pretenses, Prince of Fools? We could end this now, before he even notices we're here...
Rage... It had served him well in the past, but Loki's rage brought with it painful memories. A lack of composure. It had been so many years. He was different now. Better...
But the anger welling up within him now differed, didn't it? Slowly but surely, he and his Shadow locked eyes.
"I know it's been some time since our last real battle, but we cannot sit idly by, ignoring the injustice of this phony king! Somehow, we must find a way to seize his crown and knock him off his false pedestal..."
"Agreed." Goro took a deep breath, and as he did, something clung to his face, an all too familiar feeling. Yet, this time, it all felt so much clearer. No pain, no fear gnawing at his very core... Just righteous fury, crying out for justice...
And so Goro reached up, he ripped away the mask. An explosion of bright blue fire flooded his vision, earning a startled grunt from Kamoshida's Shadow.
"What was that?!"
Goro's attire transformed in that twist of fire, matching his Shadow's princely garb, and with a nod to his Shadow, he dashed out from around the corner, a saber glowing brilliant blue in his hand.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Morgana called from behind.
But it was too late. Goro rushed forward.
Kamoshida's Shadow stumbled backwards. "What the hell?!"
"Stand back, milord!" one of the guards shouted, before its knightly body twisted and warped into the familiar form of Eligor, while two others transformed into an Angel and Archangel. Not that it mattered.
"Robin Hood, let's finish this!"
His Shadow leaped out, transforming immediately, before letting loose an explosive Megidolaon that incinerated the Shadows.
"Whoa..." The awe in Morgana's voice spoke for itself. "Geez! I knew it was the right idea, bringing you here!"
"S—Shit!" Shadow Kamoshida's eyes threatened to burst from his skull. "G—Guards! Get your asses down here!"
At his command, dozens of Shadows burst up from the floor. Archangels, Eligors, Belphegors... All of them surrounded Akechi. All of them crumbled after another Megidolaon. But more Shadows dropped down.
Damn it! He got away... Robin Hood growled.
"Forget that!" Morgana leaped at one of the Eligors, and a buff, sword-wielding Persona clad in black blasted it back with a gust of wind. "Now that the Palace security level's gone up, it's way too risky to stay here!"
Refusing to back down, Goro and Robin Hood unleashed another Megidolaon, but deep down, he knew their energy was finite. He'd hardly prepared for battle, so he lacked the essentials, like SP restoratives. Were it not for his sudden transformation, he'd be entirely unarmed.
So, between waves of Shadows, Goro rushed for the door. "Very well, Morgana-kun. Let us make a tactical retreat!"
The rest could come another day, once he'd gotten the chance to question Morgana properly about the nature of this Palace.