Of Phantoms and Thieves

Mind the Mask

"Is this a dream?" Ren asked.

Akechi shook his head. "No, Amamiya, it is not."

"It must be. You're dead."

"And yet here I am, standing in front of you."

Ren stayed silent.

"What's the matter? Having a bit of trouble remembering?"

For once, Akechi looked concerned. Ren crossed his arms and stared at the ground.

"You're free to speak your mind. No need to be so quiet."

Ren hesitated. "Even if this is just a dream, I'm not really getting my feelings out."

"Dream or not, who cares? Don't you ever dream of having something again? Your old life? Your family? I was unfortunate enough to not have those. And yet I always chased fame and perfection."

"That isn't what I want."

"Then what is it that you desire, Ren? Tell me. And then, perhaps you and I aren't so different after all. They're all toying with you. Making you a puppet and then pulling your strings. And yet you still fight, even though you've got a noose around your neck. How much longer until it will kill you?"

"Stop. You're wrong."

"Oh, no. I'm most definitely right. Keep chasing dreams like a child would a butterfly. You're too far out of reach to catch them."

"What dreams are you talking about? Akechi, you're not making any sense."

"Oh, of course. You're a moron. Look around you, Ren. You're starting to shape your own reality. Just a little bit more, and you'll soon join her."

"Her...? Akechi, what-?"

Ren froze. Tears began to stream down his cheeks.

"You keep chasing those dreams, now." Akechi smirked. "Trust me, you'll make it there sooner than you think."

"So? Any good news?" Morgana asked, jumping down from the counter.

"Dang it, Morgana, you never stay off the counter..." Sojiro sighed.

"Hey, Boss, I thought you wouldn't say anything!"

Sojiro walked over and placed some food down in front of Morgana. Morgana sighed and looked down at it.

"I'm not hungry right now..." Morgana muttered.

"He says he'll eat later," Futaba offered.

"I didn't say- ugh, who cares... How's Ren doing?"

"No so good," Futaba told him. "He's in a coma."

Morgana stared at the floor. "What do you think could have happened? Do you really think we could have done something? It must have been me. I brought up a lot of personal stuff. It's all my fault..."

"Morgana, it's not your fault," Futaba growled. "Why is everyone blaming themselves for all this? No one did anything wrong!"

"What's he blaming himself for?" Sojiro asked.

"He thinks this is all his fault, that he did something to Ren's shadow in the Metaverse, even though he clearly didn't."

"I must have," Morgana pressed. "He wouldn't be acting like this almost right before we left his palace."

"Morgana..."

Morgana huffed, turned, and walked upstairs, his tail flicking angerly from side to side.