*I'll be away on vacation Thursday through Monday, so Friday's and Monday's parts might be late. I don't know what sort of internet situation I'll have. They should still be up on the appointed day, just later. If not, I'm very sorry.*

Chapter 14

"Alright, let's get this over with." Kanji grumbled as he climbed the stairs. He and the rest of the Investigation Team reached the top, arriving in a large dark area. "Come on out you little shit!" Kanji called, shaking his fist. "It's time for your beating!"

"Please don't yell." A voice said from the darkness. "The patients are trying to rest." The lights came on to reveal what looked like a movie set of a hospital. An older man sat on the edge of one of the beds. He strongly resembled Kanji.

"I should have known it would be you old man." Kanji said. "You were an ass even before you were a shadow."

"Kanji, is that any way to speak to your father?" The shadow said. "I thought you'd be happy to see me after all this time."

"Happy to see you?" Kanji laughed. "If you wanted that you shouldn't have brought me to a hospital. You know how much I hate them. I know you're a shadow anyway. There's no point keeping up the act."

"But it's so much fun!" The shadow said. "Besides, there are some important matters we need to discuss, and this is the perfect mouth for that discussion."

"Fine, get on with it." Kanji ordered. "I know how this goes. First, let me guess, I'm not being enough of a man."

"Admitting you have a problem is the first step." The shadow smiled. "You were just starting to really understand that knitting and all that girly shit isn't something a man should be wasting his time on. Then you met those idiots who told you it was okay and convinced you to just be yourself. Well, yourself sucks. You're a constant disappointment."

"I heard it enough from you when you were alive, and human." Kanji said. "Are we going to fight or what?"

"In time my boy." The shadow replied. "You can't even be a proper punk. You make yourself look intimidating and talk a good game, but you never back it up. You ran those bikers out of town but those cowards didn't even put up a fight. You just shake your fist and people run for their lives. I bet if someone stood up to you it would be you who ran."

"You know about all the shadows I've killed." Kanji growled. "They put up a fight and I ground them to dust."

"Of course, but you had help." The shadow said. "Without you gang of misfit losers, you'd be nothing. You were before you met them, just an insecure little child, all show and no go."

"You can lie to me all you want." Kanji countered. "I know what I'm capable of. I know I'm no coward. I can kick ass with or without backup."

"You sound quite sure of yourself." The shadow said. "Why don't you prove me wrong? Fight me, one-on-one, man-versus-man."

"I thought you'd never ask." Kanji cracked his knuckles.

"Now, it wouldn't be a fair fight if only you had a Persona, so I took the liberty of acquiring one for myself." The shadow said. "Tenkai!" The Persona had the appearance of a man with black stone for skin, wearing elaborate golden armor.

"Cheap tricks won't help you." Kanji warned. "Takeji Zaiten!"

*Recommended Ambiance: Silence*

The path opened up into another large area. The trail continued on, lined with flowers, until it reached a small shrine slightly raised above the rest of the field. In the shrine, surrounded by candles and flowers was Ren. He sat cross-legged, his hands resting on his knees. His eyes were closed and his face betrayed no emotion. The whole scene inspired a feeling of peace and calm. Nora ran to Ren. "Come on Ren, let's go." She said. Ren did not respond. She knelt down and grabbed his shoulder. "Wake up sleepy head." She tried to shake him awake but he was frozen in place, no more movable than a statue. "Ren, what's going on?"

"Please don't disturb me." Another Ren walked out of a cluster of trees and approached the shrine.

"That's a shadow." Yang warned.

"Labels are meaningless." The shadow said. It walked up to the shrine and stood beside Ren. "I wish, that is Ren wishes, to be left to quiet contemplation. He is ensconced in a world in which he has everything he wants. He has access to the collective knowledge of the universe and a quiet place to study it for all eternity. The path to inner peace and enlightenment is at his fingertips. He must only sacrifice his interaction with the world. Should he return his consciousness to this existence, all that would be lost."

"Ren would never abandon the world." Nora argued. "He would never abandon us."

"He already has." The shadow said. "His decision has been made. He cannot interact with this world, but he is aware of it. He has chosen to ignore your presence. Why wouldn't he? He has everything he could ever want, everything that anyone could ever want. If knowledge is power, he is almighty."

"What about human interaction?" Aigis asked. "He does not have that. Surely everyone longs for connection."

"Hence the sacrifice." The shadow explained. "The human world, his friends, his family, his connection to them must be abandoned to achieve this enlightenment. He has decided which is more important to him." The shadow walked out into the field and inspected the group. "You intend to return him to this world by force. This is something I cannot allow. I will kill if you do not depart."

"We're prepared to do the same." Blake declared. "Free him or we'll destroy you."

"Along with his happiness." The shadow sighed. "Very well, you will die by my hand." The shadow groaned as it collapsed into a pool of black liquid. It reformed into a giant version of Ren. The giant shadow wore a mask with no eyes and the depiction of a mouth sewn shut.

*Recommended Music: A Pure-Hearted Beast (Persona 4 Arena Soundtrack)*

Kanji's Persona stretched out its arm at Tenkai, pointing its sword directly at it. The sword charged with electricity and a bolt of lightning shot from it and into Tenkai. There was no reaction. "Oh come on now, you'll have to do better than that." The shadow taunted.

"Fuck you!" Kanji shouted. Takeji Zaiten raced at Tenkai. It swung its sword, striking the Tenkai on the shoulder. A few chips of stone flew off it but it was otherwise undamaged. It head-butted Kanji's Persona, causing it to stumble back, before bringing its hand across its body to slap it backhand across the face. Takeji Zaiten ran forward, shoulder-blocking Tenkai and knocking both to the ground. Kanji's Persona ended up on top and rained fists down upon Tenkai. Subtle cracks began to show in the stone skin of the shadow's Persona, but it threw Takeji Zaiten off and both scrambled back to their feet.

"That's more like it." The shadow said. "Still not nearly enough, but at least you're putting up a fight." Tenkai punched Takeji Zaiten in the face and Kanji's Persona staggered back. The shadow's followed up with an elbow to the side of the head before sweeping Takeji Zaiten's legs. Kanji's Persona crashed to the ground and Tenkai kicked it in the side while it was down. Takeji Zaiten grabbed the offending leg and dragged the shadow's Persona down, slamming it into the ground and producing more small cracks. Takeji Zaiten stood, raised its sword and brought it down hard, only for Tenkai to catch it. The shadow's Persona tugged the sword, pulling Kanji's Persona off balance. A kick to the gut flipped Takeji Zaiten over onto its back. Both stood again and faced off once more.

"We should help him!" Teddie shouted, starting to run forward.

Yu grabbed him by the arm and stopped his charge. "No, Kanji needs to do this on his own." Yu said. "He can handle it."

Takeji Zaiten charged and swung its blade at Tenkai's neck. The shadow's Persona ducked the attack and delivered a devastating uppercut to Takeji Zaiten. Kanji's Persona wobbled and Kanji felt the pain in his own jaw. Tenkai grabbed Takeji Zaiten by the legs and slammed it down onto its back. It dove on top and hit it with a flurry of punches from a dominant position. In desperation, Kanji's Persona lashed out with its sword, hitting Tenkai with a series of ineffective blows. One managed to strike its mask. The mask fell off, revealing a soft and vulnerable face. Unfortunately, there was nothing Takeji Zaiten could do, as the beating had it on the verge of defeat.

Kanji groaned in pain as he withdrew his Persona. He converted his weapons into their pistol form and took careful aim at Tenkai's face. "Alright, just like Naoto showed you." He said to himself. He steadied his arms and fired. The first shot hit Tenkai in the face as planned and it shrieked in agony. "Eat this!" Kanji shouted as he unleashed a series of shots, blasting away at Tenkai's weak spot. Now it was the shadow's turn to withdraw its Persona.

The shadow charged at Kanji as he swung his pistols around to meet the approaching threat. The shadow got there too quickly and grabbed both of Kanji's wrists. It twisted them, causing Kanji to drop his weapons as he grunted with pain. The shadow then punched him straight in the jaw with all its might. Kanji did not even flinch. He just stared the shadow in the eye, rage written on his face, reared back and knocked it down with a single powerful punch. The shadow fell on its back and groaned.

"You see, I'm a man." Kanji said, standing over the wounded shadow. "I'm more of a man than you ever were, knitting, girly shit and all." He stomped on the shadow's face again and again until it was crushed by the punishment. The shadow dissolved and disappeared.

"Holy shit, that was brutal." Yosuke said.

"A brutal end for a brutal son-of-a-bitch." Kanji said. "My father had my head all fucked up for so long. It felt really good to return the favor."

"I'm glad you got to experience some catharsis." Naoto said. "Hopefully it helps you put it all behind you."

"Ca-what-now?" Kanji had no idea what she was talking about.

"Now that you've got your head on straight, maybe work on the vocabulary." Rise laughed. Kanji swore under his breath. "Anyway, the path is blocked so let's head back."

*Recommended Music: Silen…Just kidding!: Keep Talking (Pink Floyd, Division Bell)*

"Keep your distance, attack with Personas." Aigis suggested. She summoned Pallas Athena. It swept in and stabbed at the gigantic shadow with its spear. The shadow was clearly distressed, but swatted the Persona aside.

"Silence!" The shadow rumbled.

Pallas Athena disappeared. Aigis tried to summon it again, but could not. "I cannot summon my Persona." Aigis reported.

"I'll give it a shot." Yang said. "Turan!" Nothing happened. "Turan!" She tried and failed again.

"I think it's safe to assume it's somehow suppressing our Personas." Weiss said.

"That's alright; we'll just shoot at it." Ruby said. Crescent Rose folded into its gun form and she fired several shots at the massive shadow. It recoiled and turned aside to shield itself from the onslaught.

"Silence!" The shadow thundered again.

Ruby pulled the trigger on Crescent Rose. Click. She tried again. Click. "Now my gun doesn't work." She said with alarm.

Blake pointed Gambol Shroud at the shadow and pulled the trigger. Click. "My weapon isn't working either." Blake reported. "It's doing something to our weapons too."

"We'll just have to get in close then." Yang concluded. She charged straight at the shadow. She leapt high into the air, aiming to punch the shadow in the face. The forty-foot-tall shadow met her with a head-butt, slamming Yang to the ground. It attempted to step on her but she rolled out of the way. Scrambling to her feet, she punched the shadow repeatedly in the leg. It wobbled but soon knocked her away with a swift kick. Yang sailed across the area and slammed into the shrine. She bounced off the roof and landed at the base of the stairs in front of it.

"Are you okay?" Nora asked. She had not left Ren's side.

"I'll be fine." Yang said, dusting herself off. A trickle of blood flowed from her lip and she wiped it away with her forearm. "Wake Ren up, it might help."

"I'm trying." Nora said. Yang charged back into battle and Nora turned her attention back to Ren. "Come on Ren, your friends need you. Please wake up."

Ruby used her semblance to zip around in front of the shadow. The shadow fruitlessly swiped at her as she made hit-and-run attacks with her scythe. With the shadow distracted, Blake snuck around behind it. She jumped up and stabbed Gambol Shroud into its back. The shadow groaned and tried to grab her, but she was beyond its reach in the center of its back. She separated the two halves of the weapon, using one to anchor herself in place and the other to stab and slash the shadow. In desperation, the shadow fell flat on its back, Blake crushed beneath it. It stood again, leaving Blake unconscious on the ground. Yang rushed to Blake's aid, but she shadow hit her with a powerful kick. Past her breaking point, she tumbled across the ground before coming to a rest just in front of a bush.

The shadow approached Blake, raised its fist and brought it down hard. Weiss surrounded Blake with ice using her glyphs and the shadow slammed its hand down onto the jagged frozen shield. The shadow turned its attention to Weiss, rushing at her as she attempted to flee. It was too fast and grabbed her in one of its gigantic hands. It lifted her up before throwing her straight down. She slammed into the ground, ending up unconscious and embedded in the dirt. The shadow raised a foot to stomp her but Jaune arrived just in time and miraculously stopped the shadow's stomp with his shield. He managed to shove it aside, protecting Weiss. The shadow responded by kicking Jaune who flew across the field before landing near the shrine unconscious.

"Ren please!" Nora implored. "We need you. I need you. You have to wake up." She embraced him, tears streaming down her face. "Don't abandon me."

"I would never abandon you." Ren said. "What's going on?"

"Our friends are fighting a monster!" Nora said. She sniffled and wiped away her tears. "It's beating them up really bad. It said 'silence' and now we can't use our powers or guns."

Ren pushed Nora away and stood up. He walked down the steps from the shrine and out into the open. "Hey, leave them alone!" He shouted. "It's me you want right?" The shadow turned and faced him. It menacingly stomped toward him as Ren stood there calmly. "What do you say we make some noise?!" A wave of energy radiated out from Ren, knocking everything and everyone back. He turned to Nora. "Try your gun again." Nora stepped out of the shrine and aimed her grenade launcher at the stunned shadow. She fired several grenades at it, each exploding on impact. The shadow staggered backward and groaned in pain.

"Orpheus!" Aigis shouted. The Persona immediately appeared, ready to fight. "Ruby, fan the flames." She ordered. Ruby summoned her Persona Summer Rose, ready to assist. Orpheus blasted the shadow with fire. It flailed and struggled against the flames. Summer Rose joined in, adding wind to the fire to make the flames even more intense. They shadow was completely engulfed. Its thrashing slowed and it collapsed before dissolving and disappearing.

"I'll heal the others." Ruby volunteered. Before getting a response she went to work. There was much to be done.

"Ren, are you okay?" Nora asked, rushing to his side.

"I'm fine." Ren replied. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

"I'm just so glad you're alright." Nora said as she hugged him tightly, too tightly for his liking.

"Let's get out of here." Ren said. Nora released him and he started to walk, but soon stumbled and fell to his knees. He held his head, a pained look on his face.

"Ren!?" Nora shouted.

Nora began to approach him, but he was suddenly engulfed in purple flames. A tarot card descended from the sky and shattered in front of him. The figure of an older man with a long white beard, dressed much like Ren and carrying a staff with a long curved blade at its end, appeared above him. "Guan Yu." He whispered the name of his Persona. "Don't worry Nora, I just need some rest." He said softly just before falling unconscious. Nora knelt beside him, not sure what to do.

"Come on Nora, we need to get going." Aigis said. "He will be fine." Nora nodded and stepped aside as Aigis picked up Ren.

"How'd you guys do?" Yosuke asked. The Investigation Team was waiting when the others exited Ren's world.

"We've done better." Blake answered.

"We got our butts kicked." Ruby said. "Luckily Ren helped just in time. How was it for you?"

"I faced my shadow and kicked the shit out of it." Kanji said.

Nora helpfully held the door open as Aigis carried Ren into their dorm room. She carefully laid him down on his bed. "He will be fine with rest." Aigis said.

"I'm so glad you saved him." Pyrrha said. "The whole team's back and safe."

"We've still got to rescue Helia though." Ruby reminded them. "To get to her we need to open the last two seals."

"Yes, and I fear that means my sister and I will be forced to face our shadows." Aigis said. "I am sure we can handle whatever the shadows have in store for us."

"Rise, Teddie and Naoto still haven't faced their shadows here either." Yu said. "It looks like we'll have to deal with that too."

"We'll worry about it tomorrow night." Yang yawned. "Right now we need to get some sleep."

"Yes, we've got a busy schedule of classes tomorrow too." Yukiko said. "It seems Ozpin has enrolled us in a particularly intensive program to get us up to speed."

"Yeah, it sucks." Yosuke said. "At least we get to learn some practical combat skills. That beats the stupid crap they teach us back home. There's no math class either, so that's a plus."

"It's all designed to make us better fighters, so I'm totally on board." Chie said. "Come on; let's get some rest so we're ready to train."