awashlogs | Into The Forest

As long as we get the gist, it'll be better than nothing.

[He believes in your squiggles or whatever you manage, Akechi. But alright— onward they go. At least his expression is reassuring. The entire forest begins to darken almost immediately, and Guren notes that this isn't like the last few times he passed through or dipped in for a short moment. The sky is dark, and he can feel someone watching them. It's a presence, a stare.

But his expression doesn't change at all. All that does change is his hand rests at the handle of his blade as he walks, cautious and staying slightly ahead even as the three of them stay grouped together.]

[ The darkness might be unusual, but not particularly unsettling for Akechi-- not at first, anyway. It is a path he walks often, metaphorically and literally.

But the deeper they go, the more he feels it, a pair of hidden eyes or several, lurking about, bidding their time. The line between his eyebrows can at least be read as focus as he tries to work on their map without any lighting, but the truth is, he's been on the other side of this deal far too many times to enjoy being the unsuspecting victim; he knows what often comes after this game of hide and seek.

The task at hand, at least, is a welcome distraction, and while he hasn't quite lost track of the time, he can't say whether it's been a few minutes or a good half hour since they've been on their way. Eventually, at some point, he looks ahead before Ryoji can relay another group of steps and-- ]

Oh? That is certainly a change in scenery.

[ Is that a... cave? ]

[ The constant presence, innumerable, hidden in the darkness, this is the feeling that had become familiar to Ryoji— this was the feeling he had when he was born as Death, barely holding on- and he's the feeling he feels now, thoughts cast to the Shadows they'd been warned about and trying his hardest not to miscount his steps even though all he wants is to stick directly next to Guren's and Akechi's side, to grab somebody's hand, and run. The tension is almost palpable, as is his worries and fears, so that he doesn't even notice the cave until Akechi points it out.

Ryoji immediately breaks pace and steps back. Familiar feelings. Too familiar. Something drawing them in, beckoning, promising reprieve and finality and... death... ]

Let's keep going. We shouldn't go in there.

[Guren is staring in, too. He can feel something similar— demonic energy. It's certainly not enough to make him step back. In fact, his interest rises even as his stomach twists. An apparition only visible to Guren appears, leaning against the edge of the archway in her school uniform, smiling knowingly at him.

"Don't you want to see what it is, Guren? It's the first time we've felt something like this."

He knows the other two can't hear her, either, but his eyes still focus on her. It looks like he's staring hard at nothing. "Can't you protect them?"]

...No, maybe not. [He finally speaks up, tearing his eyes away from her to look at the other two.] This place has a dark energy to it, so it's probably not safe. If you both want to stay out here, then I'll go in alone. But I'm definitely going in.

[He looks back, past the image of his demon and into the archway.] The whole purpose of this is to find out what's in this forest.

[ Unlike the other two, Akechi can't feel any particularly bad vibes from it - not more so than he's felt throughout their entire hike, anyway, and perhaps some rising suspicion from this very conspicuous landmark in the middle of nowhere. That, coupled with his confidence in his own skill, is enough to have him leaning towards further exploration.

He chooses to ignore Guren's momentary haze, and focus on the other problem at hand. ]

Hold on a moment. [ He begins, still mostly composed despite their circumstances. ] Have you considered that might be a trap? With only Mochizuki-kun and myself left out here, there's a chance we might not be able to hold out for very long in case of an ambush, even with a shield. We are only a pair of ordinary teenagers, after all.

[ Right? Completely ordinary, nothing otherworldly about them whatsoever!! ]

Furthermore, I believe we are stronger as a team. Whether we proceed on our path or choose to investigate the archway further, it should be done as a group-- and, ideally, as an unanimous decision.

[ But if they can't convince Ryoji, well. Two out of three will have to work. ]

I'd prefer to stay together as a group.

[ Ryoji makes that clear, first, no matter what they end up deciding. But as for that decision...

He doesn't want to go in. He doesn't want the other two to go in. But even more than all of that, he absolutely does not want to be separated, to be left alone or left to wait outside for people who may not come back or left to tell everybody what happened. The danger does not scare him, who believes he cannot be killed by any means, but other people being put into danger does, not matter how capable they are. ]

I sense death inside. Not creatures who are now deceased, but rather, something that emanates death, and calls for it. If we enter, I'm sure we won't be let out without a fight.

[ He looks to Akechi, who claims he cannot fight, to Guren with his sword and the demon inside it, to his own hands which he knows could easily destroy most things thrown at him, and yet he hates to fight. Will they be alright? ]

I will go along with whichever you two choose, so long as you are aware of the dangers, and take that into consideration.

Damn it...

[A trap. It could be something like a trap, but Guren has never stopped for things like that when the safety of others is at risk. Does he leave it here and risk the safety of everyone else in the town, or step inside with his two teammates who agreed to sign up for this dangerous mission?

He clenches his fists at his side, and ignores Mahiru's giggle. He just has to make sure they don't get hurt.]

Then let's go inside. Stay close, and remember that formation I told you about if anything jumps out at us. [Death, Ryoji said, and Guren has to wonder how he can sense something like that. But Guren senses something similar— it's the energy of demons, certainly. Cursed gear gives off that same type of aura.

He unsheathes his own sword, already, so that he can borrow Mahiru's strength. The image of her by the archway fades to mist as he steps forward.]

It's dark in here. Don't trust anything you see, and don't touch anything.

[ Akechi takes Ryoji's words into consideration, though he does wonder for a brief moment how he could possibly sense something like death-- Guren, at least, made sense to him, as someone who claimed to wield a demon sword. This might just be someone else to keep a close eye on, at a later moment. ]

I apologize, but-- [ He addresses Ryoji with a placating smile. ] --we did sign up for this mission with a goal in mind. We will heed your warning, but for the sake of everyone else, we must press forward.

[ With that out of the way, he puts his map away back in his pocket - it's far too dark to keep working on it, but he might have to try it anyway if the archway turns out to be another maze as opposed to a straight path - and follows after Guren's instructions, sparing Ryoji a gentle pat in the back or two to get him moving ahead. Whatever lies ahead, their leader better be able to handle it. ]

[ It's true. If they don't go inside, there's no point of them being here; he knew when he signed up that it wouldn't be a simple and fun excursion through the woods. Reluctant as he is, he tries to stay as close as he can to the other two without stepping on the backs of their shoes, although he will take every opportunity to brush his hand against the back of theirs, just for that physical reminder that there is somebody there in the darkness. His eyes search the darkness, but find nothing to focus on, so what he focuses on instead are the footsteps: Guren's, sure and solid before him, Akechi's slightly behind, his own barely audible, as if he were part of the thick smear of shadows spread out across the floor and deep into the cavern.

There's darkness in there, difficult to pick out by sight, but they concentrate in certain places, a little louder, a little more solid, as if they mean to be seen. ]

[As dark as it is in here, Guren can still see that the shadows are moving. It seems to have opened up a little, this far in, but it's hard to say when they can't see more than vague outlines and moving shadows. He turns back to make sure the other two are still following him, but the shadows are all around them now.

This formation isn't going to work.]

Show yourselves!

[He spits it out angrily, fingers clenching tightly around the handle of his sword, and in reaction to the words, the shadows around them begin to morph.]

[ Shadows, huh? But this far from that cabin in the woods, and with no books or any other treasured possessions within sight, Akechi is quick to figure these might not be same as he and the two other Phantom Thieves ran into days ago; those at least only seemed to attack when the group entered their dominions, but these have already shown signs of hostility and wariness from the moment they stepped in.

Guren issues a command, and it's only when they begin to morph that another possibility comes to mind: could these shadows be Personas in disguise? Though the method is slightly different, they seem to have a true form to reveal, and what follows after they drop their masks is only one thing: an ambush. ]

Careful, everyone-- they may be readying an attack!

[ But they don't. Instead, they simply change forms, and take on something humanoid-- not quite like Personas, but something a lot more real, no horns or added limbs or extra attachments that don't belong in a normal person. There's two of them: the first seems male in build and uniform, whereas the other has taken on a more vaguely familiar. Someone he's recently met, perhaps?

A name is on the tip of his tongue, but it's swiftly forgotten once he spots a third figure, all frizzy hair and glasses like he would recognize from a mile away. ]

What--!?

[ Remain in formation. Do not trust anything. These orders that Guren issued are forgotten right away when Ryoji's eyes find that of the person in front of him, blue hair almost black in the darkness, grey eyes lit by the music player hanging on that lanyard around his neck.

"Ryoji." Minato calls his name, and he doesn't even need to offer promises or strike a deal, or do anything. All he has to do is smile, soft, extend his hand. "Come here," he says, and Ryoji, forgetting, steps away from the group at once, so that he can be by Minato's side.

Minato would never betray them. He would never attack them. He always has everybody's best interests in mind, would sacrifice himself to ensure their happiness, he would never never never do anything to hurt any of them. ]

[He can see the figure intended for him begin to form from the shadows, and for that moment, he's entirely focused on it. Shinya, as if he had just stepped out of the darkness in full uniform, the same bright smile on his face. Not Mahiru, but Shinya— it's probably because his thoughts are stuck on what's real, what's still there.

He's instantly aware of the faults, taking his slow steps forward to meet with the demon. The false Shinya laughs. "What's with that tense expression, Guren? I'm here to save you again." A hand is extended, and Guren stares past it, coldly into Shinya's eyes. The demon takes a moment to react to the way Guren's fingers curl around his sword's blade. "Uh oh. Are we going to fight again?" A gun materializes from flames, Shinya aims it— "I thought we were done with that already. You're so mean."

But Guren is faster than these level demons. In an instant, he's ducking away from the gun, but the false Shinya doesn't even have time to shoot it. Guren's blade shoves straight through his chest, and he looks over his shoulder so not to see his pained, dying expression as he rips it out through the side.]

Shut up, demon.

[Just like that, thanks to the power of Mahiru, it fades away. But as his eyes turn back to the other two, he realizes that it's not just his own demon he has to worry about. Shit— they're both looking so drawn in.]

Don't trust them! They're demons! They're wrapping you in an illusion! [Something to give them that sense of calm, the lack of logic that something that stepped out from the shadows in the middle of this forest is not their friend.

He has to make a decision. Who does he address first? It's Ryoji who's already on his way to stand by the demon. Guren rushes to him, grabbing at his shoulder to keep him back.]

Snap out of it!

[ Akechi is tangentially aware of his surroundings, of the silent offer being made to Ryoji and the threats aimed at Guren, but it's all background noise. His entire attention is focused on the one shadow meant for him-- and how appropriate it is that it would be someone who can invoke such complex feelings from him. A demon in his own right.

But what is he? Is he really something so simple like an illusion? Or is he a cognition, instead? But outside of a palace?

"Akechi," he calls out to him, disrupts his train of thought. There's the usual neutral expression, the soft spoken tone, but somehow it lacks heart.

"I understand your justice now," he continues, and Akechi's gaze shifts back onto Akira's face, searching for any signs that can prove his hypothesis. If he's right about his hunch, then whose cognition is it? Is it Akechi's...? Or--

"I want to see it come true. I want us to fight together, for real." ]

To fight... together...?

[ He can no longer look away. ]

Edited 2018-04-08 23:54 (UTC)

[ Ryoji startles when he feels the weight of the hand on his shoulder, turning slightly, although it takes another moment for his gaze to leave Minato's face and meet Guren's eyes. ]

He's not a demon-- he's my friend. [ A simple explanation, but one he believes would suffice, believing that Guren is simply unfamiliar with Minato and has never met him, therefore does not know or trust him. ]

He also went into the forest with us, with another group. Perhaps they reached this cavern first?

[ He turns to Minato's figure to corroborate this, but the demon remains silent; there's no need to talk, when Ryoji does all the talking. Ryoji then turns to Akechi, to call out to him in case he knows Minato and can back Ryoji up, but Akechi's attention is caught by somebody else— not a person Ryoji has spoken to directly, but somebody he has seen before, recognizes by sight, and has no reason to distrust either. ]

[His fingers grip tighter at Ryoji's shoulder and he grits his teeth. They're not used to this. They can't help this at all. It's just like when Guren had to face his own demon alone the first time— he gave in. Of course he did. Who wouldn't?]

That isn't Minato.

[His voice is stern and clear, his eyes sliding across the dark room to make out the shadows of Akechi and... Akira? It had to be these two. Of course it did. He's on a time limit here.]

Take a closer look! There are things that are off about him, aren't there?!

[Shit—] Akechi! Listen to me! It's fake! [But he's not there to grab him by the shoulder, too. Words alone are much harder to get through to someone.]

[ Maybe he hears a voice, faint, like the remnants of a dream upon awakening. He even turns to look in the direction it seemed to have come from, but--

"Everyone else does, too," the fake Akira continues, and Akechi's attention is drawn to him again, unrivaled. "They all have seen your justice. They want to fight with you. They want to be your friends."

The demon takes a step forward, and Akechi wants to back away, but he doesn't have the will to; first his reasoning, and now even his legs have failed him. Have betrayed him, because they only push him forward, as well. ]

My justice is... extremely personal. Are you sure this is what you want?

[ Akira reaches out with one hand and smiles, wicked, in a way that suits Joker much better. But ultimately, they're the same.

"We will make him pay."

He clenches a fist, and his whole figure stiffens, frozen to his spot. Is this for real? ]

[ Are there things that are off? Ryoji stares at Minato, but all the demon does is smile back. If anything, maybe that's it— the slightest difference is seeing Minato smile, because maybe this is just how Ryoji wants to remember him. But the thought of Minato being fake doesn't hurt as much as the thought that he's real, and Ryoji does not believe in him. The latter hurts so much more, and he can't--

"Remember our promise?" ]

...To see spring. To spread happiness where we can. To find a way for color to return to this world.

[ He and Minato had made many promises. None a demon might know of, but with Ryoji listing them out, he smiles at the very last one, unnaturally bright and eager. "There's a way. Further inside, we found something that might bring it back. Come here, I'll show you."

Ryoji turns, pulling himself out of Guren's grip, and steps back. ]

There's a way to bring the color back. Akechi-kun, you should listen to this too!

[So much is happening at once, and he's only one person. Ryoji still hasn't snapped out of it completely, and when Guren glances over at Akechi, it looks like he's completely gone. There's a hand being stretched out. Shit—]

Don't touch them! You'll lose a piece of yourself! [What happens when you touch unrestricted demons in his world certainly fits into that bill. The demon latches on and tries to take over. There's no way either of these two would be able to resist.]

Rip them to pieces, Mahiru-no-yo! [The red of Guren's katana glows brighter in the cave, and Guren steps between Ryoji and the false Minato, gripping his sword tight. He draws it across Minato, and then jumps to do the same to Akira in that same swipe—

But though his blade moves straight through Minato and is ready to do the same for Akira, nothing changes with them. Instead, he's hit back with the same force he gave, and he goes flying a few feet, rolling on the ground and coughing as he stops himself.

He can't do this for them. Wincing, he tries to push himself up immediately.]

Demons will tempt your mind with promises of what you want to hear! You have to fight it back on your own!

[ More noise, so distant, so... meaningless. His surroundings, his companions, it all seems to slip right out of his mind and out of reach. He wants to hear more of that deal... Wants to know what else Akira can offer.

"Happiness," He says as though on cue, borrowing from Ryoji's very real words to give it extra meaning, perhaps even help his fellow demon to strike a deal. "Friendship. A place to belong, with teammates who acknowledge your skill. You can have it all."

Akira outstretches his hand that little bit further, and Akechi's own unclenches, moves on a will of its own. Forward, closer, just a few inches apart. ]

Happiness... huh...?

[ He would never hurt others, that's what Ryoji believed. So that when Guren swings that sword at Minato, Ryoji feels as if time stopped-- and then sped up all at once, Guren getting flung aside in a way that uncannily resembles the way Ryoji's shield works, taking in the damage and returning it in full.

Even if it were to protect himself, Minato would not.

Ryoji takes a step towards Guren, uncertain, his words cutting through the air like a blade. Demons. He has to fight back. He can't. He can't fight Minato, not again, not like this, and Akechi-

With a soft gasp of distress, Ryoji runs towards Akechi, reaching to grab his hand and hold it back, at the same time letting his shield emerge all around him. It's a subtle thing, almost unnoticeable in the darkness where there is only a faint shimmer in the air to suggest something is there, like a soap bubble, or the heat haze on a scorching summer day. Physical attacks, magic, those sorts of thing he knows he'll be able to keep out and reflect back on the user if they try to throw something at him, but he can't do anything if Akechi steps out on his own accord. ]

[Ryoji might be able to help in some way, but if Akechi gives in and touches that demon, he's worried for his sake, too. Grabbing his sword from the ground, he pushes himself the rest of the way up, rushing over to them.

But thank god Ryoji at least seems to be on the edge of sanity.]

You, too, Akechi! Snap out of it! That's not Akira! [He won't get there in time to hold Akechi back, but he will at least be ready to pull Ryoji out of the way if he has to.]

[ But it's too late.

The most Ryoji gets is a stare-- no, a glare, like Akechi normally wouldn't offer, like he wouldn't present himself as anything less than a perfectly pleasant teenager. He doesn't make so much as a motion to fight back, though; he doesn't have to. If he wants, all he needs to do is take that hand.

"Come on, Akechi," Akira goes on, a wider smile plastered on his face. "You have fun with us. You want to join us, right? Then I'll never leave your side."

Another micro step closer, avoiding Ryoji's shield by a hair's breadth, hand still outstretched.

"I'll be your strength, and you, mine. For I am thou--" ]

--and thou art I.

[ The words leave his lips in a whisper, a reflex, and his own hand finally reaches out and closes around Akira's. A deal has been made. ]

[ no

Maybe he should have rushed forward to pull Akechi away even after he'd shaken hands with Akira, but what Ryoji does is step back as if burned. He doesn't know what to do. He looks for Guren for guidance— and sees Minato, closer than he'd expected, Ryoji's wide and frightened eyes reflected not in the demon's clear grey eyes, but the sword that he now has drawn. ]

Damn it...!

[He places his hand on Ryoji's shoulder again, pointing to Minato.] If you don't take care of that thing, it's going to hurt you! Remember, it's not Minato! I can't get a hit on it, so you have to do it.

[As he's coaching him through this, he turns his eyes back on Akechi, trying to see what's happening. It's too late if he's already touched a demon, but he still intends to try to save him as much as he can. After whatever it is happens— they'll figure it out. They have to.]

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