A/n: So my knowledge of Madarame's boss battle is somewhat rusty. I apologize for any inaccuracies. I also changed a few of the things I remember to add a dramatic flair. Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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"Now..." The two eyes and nose twitched as the Shadow spoke. "Let's begin, you vermin!"

The phantom thieves, with their weapons at the ready, faced off against Madarame. Joker was the first to attack. With his dagger, he dashed toward the nose and slashed it. He jumped back after attacking and dodged the mouth before it could bite him. Fox and Skull, with their melee weapons, targeted the eyes. Mona swung his saber as he set his sights on the mouth. The blade slashed the painting, but he was shocked when it absorbed his attack. "What?!"

Panther and Sphinx summoned their Personas and targeted the eyes, but they gasped when they realized their magical abilities only healed the damage their teammates inflicted on them earlier.

Sphinx grimaced at the Shadow, gripping her khopeshes tightly. She dodged the mouth as she addressed her teammates. "Focus physical attacks on the eyes and nose while using magical abilities on the mouth!"

Skull called upon his Persona, "Captain Kidd!" The pirate materialized behind him, using Zio on the right eye. Seeing the attack injured the optic, he cheered but his joy was short-lived as he fell prey to Madarame's own electrical attack. The electricity courses through his body, earning a scream of pain. He stumbled backwards but managed to remain on his feet. "Ah, shit!"

"Are you okay?!" Sphinx worriedly shouted.

He grinned at her. "A weak attack like that would never knock me on my ass!"

"Remain focused!" Fox warned his teammates as he used his sword, focusing on the nose.

"Dance, Carmen!" Panther's mask disappeared from her face as her Persona landed a critical blow to the Shadow's mouth.

Sphinx dodged a fire spell as she circled around Madarame and used her khopeshes to pierce the nose. Because of Fox's earlier attack, she was able to knock it down. The nose fell to the floor, leaving only the eyes and mouth.

Panther's whip cracked against the Shadow's left eye, causing it to fall and join the nose. The only targets left were the mouth and right eye. Before she could avoid the spell, the pigtailed girl was knocked down by Madarame's ice spell. Seeing the girl was vulnerable, the Shadow's mouth closed in on her. As Madarame went to sink his teeth into Panther, Mona came to her rescue. He summoned Zorro and used Garu, defeating the mouth.

Joker took it upon himself to handle the right eye. He took his dagger, dealing a strong blow with it. The frame crashes to the floor and joined the other facial features. A puddle of ink formed under the frames and they sink into the black liquid. Madarame's human form arose from the puddle, his body hunched over in pain.

"Madarame's out!" Mona shouted.

"Surround him!" Joker commanded as he grabbed his handgun.

The phantom thieves surrounded the Shadow with their firearms drawn. They pointed their guns at the man. The fraudulent artist gritted his teeth, glaring at the group encompassing him. "Dammit... I'm the great Madarame... The Madarame who gathers a full crowd every time he opens an exhibit! I'm not someone that worthless brats like you are allowed to defy!"

"You're still saying that?!" Mona growled. He looked over toward their leader, his slingshot focused on Madarame. "There's no need to hold back then! Let's get him, Joker!"

"All right!" Joker grabbed his dagger as the others switched out their firearms for their melee weapons. In sync, they performed an all-out attack. They dealt a heavy blow to the Shadow, but it wasn't enough to defeat him.

The phantom thieves backed away from Madarame as he used Madara-Megido. Joker, Mona, Fox, and Skull were unable to avoid the blow while Sphinx and Panther sidestepped at the last second. With their comrades knocked down and in need to compose themselves, the two girls conjured their Personas and pushed Madarame back.

The Shadow glared at the two before he corrected his stature, placing his hands in the sleeves of his golden hakama. The puddle of ink returned and the old man's body sunk into the liquid. His body, once returning to the surface, reverted back to the four facial features. He growled, his eyes twitching. "Impertinent brats! It seems you need a good whipping to make you understand!"

Sphinx's eyes widen as she saw Madarame's eyes focus on Panther. She jumped into action just as the Shadow attacked. She pushed her companion out of the way and took the brunt of the attack. She didn't feel any pain, but her body was covered in black paint.

"Sphinx!" Panther cried out.

A strange sensation enveloped her body as she felt the effects of the attack. She fell to her hands and knees, her entire body shaking as she felt weak. Her khopeshes slid across the floor and she watched helplessly as they stopped by a stack of paint cans. She could barely move her body due to her current fragile state. Her arms shook as they tried to support her weight and keep her off the floor. "M-My body..."

Mona pushes himself off the floor and gasped when seeing the girl was covered in black paint and hearing the effects it had. "What is this attack?!"

Madarame directed his full attention to Sphinx. The four frames floated toward her with a sinister chuckle. The girl looked up, staring into the Shadow's eyes as it approached. She tried to fight against the strange ailment, but she couldn't even call upon her Persona because of her weak state. She saw the mouth inching closer toward her and waited for it to attack.

"Hey!" Someone shouted.

The inky-haired girl heard someone running toward her and looked up to see Skull. He stood in between her and the Shadow, immediately summoning Captain Kidd. "You gotta go through me first, asshole!" Using Zio, he electrified the mouth and forced it to back off.

Joker and Fox ran over to Sphinx's aid, attacking Madarame with their Personas and weapons. Mona used his slingshot against the mouth and cheered triumphantly when he knocked it down. Unfortunately, the Shadow has more tricks up his sleeve. A cackle emanated from the artist as he used another ability to heal the fallen frame. The cat's eyes widen in bewilderment. "They regenerated?!" He quickly dodged a fire spell and groaned. "Dammit... Those things can come back if we don't take them down at once?!"

Panther whipped the left eye and then the right one. "There has to be a way we can take them all out at once!"

Sphinx looked to where her khopeshes were and saw the paint cans. She looked down at the puddles created by the black paint dripping off her body. "Paint..." She weakly reaches out toward Skull and gripped the back of his belt, gently tugging on it to grab his attention. When he spun around to face her, he kneeled down. She pointed to the paint cans. "Use the paint. It has to be the same kind Madarame used on me."

"I ain't leavin' you by yourself!" Skull protested.

"But Skull...!"

Fox overheard their conversation and sheathed his sword. "I'll go."

"We'll keep Madarame distracted," Joker informed his teammate. Fox nodded and used the bushes as cover, waiting for the perfect opportunity to grab the paint and attack the Shadow.

Seconds turned into minutes as Sphinx watched her friends fight against Madarame. She felt her strength returning and the black paint was gradually disappearing. With what little strength she regained, she activated the Eye of Horus and healed her friends. Curious, she looked over at Fox and saw him picking up one of the paint cans. All he needed was a little more time.

Once her body stopped shaking, Sphinx managed to push herself off the floor and deactivated the Eye. She received a helping hand from Skull as he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her.

Joker and Mona used their firearms against the eyes and nose, forcing Madarame to direct his attention toward them. This provided Fox with the perfect opening. He took the paint can and dashed toward the Shadow. Once in proximity, he tossed the black paint on to the four frames.

Madarame cried out in surprise as his movements were halted and all his strength was siphoned from him. He was left defenseless. "Wh-What...?!"

Sphinx's mask dissipated into brilliant blue flames as she called upon Anubis. With her strength finally restored and the effects of the ailment worn off, she knew exactly how to destroy all the frames at once. "Spectral Legion!" The jackal-headed god conjured his undead army and the mummified corpses attacked Madarame. The Shadow cried out in pain as he was forced to revert back to his human form.

"Dammit... Dammit..." Madarame cursed, breathing heavily. "Stop it, you brats, or else!" Like before, the phantom thieves surrounded him and aimed their firearms at him. Joker didn't hesitate to give the command to his teammates to attack in unison. Drawing their melee weapons, they did as their leader commanded. With their combined strength, they were able to destroy Madarame.

The powerless Shadow grabbed his precious treasure with a panicked expression. Fox stepped forward, approaching him slowly. Madarame shrieked in fear and backed away, resulting in him to trip over his own feet and fall on his back. He hugged the painting closely as his pupil closed in on him and fear overtook his being. "No one cares for true art. All they want are easily recognizable brands!" Fox loomed threateningly over the man, causing his fear to skyrocket. "I'm a victim in this too! Wouldn't you agree?!"

"Really?" Sphinx groaned in disbelief.

"Someone's in denial," Joker added.

Skull crossed his arms, rolling his eyes and expressing his own annoyance. "Excuses now?"

"The art world revolves around money after all. You can't rise up without any money," Madarame explained. He stared up at Fox with a desperate look in his eyes. "Yusuke, you understand, don't you?! Being a poor artist is truly miserable! I just didn't want to return to that life!"

Fox glowered at the man. He leant down and snatched him by the collar, suffocating him slightly. "A fiend like you has no right to speak about the world of art! You're done for, along with this abominous world!"

A cold sweat consumed Madarame's body. Beads of sweat trailed down the side of his face as his body shook. "No, please! Just...don't kill me!"

Fox released Madarame's collar after shoving him to the ground. The man broke out into a coughing fit after the boy relinquished his hold. The tone of his voice lowered as he addressed the Shadow. "Return to yourself in reality and confess your crimes—all of them!"

Madarame lifted his head, golden eyes wide in shock. "Y-You're not going to kill me?"

"Swear it!" Fox demanded.

The Shadow shrieked in fright. "All right... All right!" He lowered his head, unable to look at his pupil any longer. "Wh-What about the other one though? The one with the black mask?"

"Hm?" The boy hummed, puzzled at who the man was referring to.

Joker's brows furrowed together, muddled. He looked around at his fellow phantom thieves. "Who?"

"A black mask?" Panther mumbled. "Wait, who's he talking about?"

Mona crosses his arms. He looked at Skull and Sphinx. They were the only ones whose masks are close to being black. His eyes widen when he realizes Madarame wasn't talking about either of them. "It can't be... There was another intruder besides us within this Palace?!"

Suddenly, the ground started shaking. Dust filled the air as small pieces of the ceiling began raining down around them. "There's no time! Hurry!" Skull hollered.

Mona changed into a bus, knowing it would be the quickest way to escape the crumbling Palace. "Get on!"

Joker, Sphinx, Skull, and Panther climbed inside the bus. They could hear the small pieces of debris hitting the rooftop and the hood of the vehicle. The inky-haired girl, who sat in the front with Joker, looked back toward the devastated Madarame. She saw Fox took the painting from him and began walking toward the bus. When the Shadow stopped to talk to him, she knew there was no time. She lowered the window and poked her head out of it. "Yusuke, we have to go!"

Fox rushes to the bus, ignoring Madarame's desperate cries. He hops in the backseat and Joker immediately slams his foot on the gas pedal.

"Hey! Watch it!" Mona hissed at the force he used.

"Sorry, but we don't have time," Joker said as he drove through the Palace and back to the entrance of the museum. They exited the Metaverse and returned to reality.

<——————————<<<<<

"The destination has been deleted."

Akira glances at his phone as a familiar computerized voice came from it. He closed the Meta Nav app and placed his phone in his pocket. "It seems we did it."

"All we have to do now is wait for Madarame's change of heart," Mikono said. She looked toward Yusuke, who was gazing at the painting in his grasp with a gentle smile. Her own smile appeared when seeing his gentle and happy expression.

Morgana addressed the group as he hopped up onto Akira's shoulder and shimmed into his bag. "It would be bad if people started getting suspicious of us. We should leave at once."

Everyone decided to head to the hideout. When Ryuji saw Yusuke wasn't following them, he called out to him. "Yusuke, c'mon."

Yusuke lifted his head, tearing his gaze from "Sayuri". "Right..." He took one last glance at Madarame's atelier before sighing sorrowfully, "Goodbye, Sensei."

The group headed to the Teikyu Building Accessway, eager to discuss what transpired in the Palace. Once arriving at their hideout, Mikono gazed out at the traffic below. Vehicles sped by as they raced to their destinations. She heard a few horns blaring before turning her attention to Yusuke. The gentle smile he had on his face earlier was still there, but it was faint. Using his fingers, he traced the outline of his mother's soft complexion and the kind smile painted upon her face. His fingers trailed down her hair before arriving at the baby Madarame had shamelessly covered all for fame and money.

Ann, who had just returned from buying a drink for Ryuji, handed him a can as he sat down on the floor with his back leaning against the railing. He popped open the can with the tab. "I guess the mission was a success. All that's left is to see if he had a change of heart or not." Taking a large gulp of the drink, he puckered his lips and grimaced in disgust. "Ugh, so bitter..." He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his school blazer and looked up at Ann. "Why'd you get it black?"

The pigtailed girl rolled her eyes, choosing to disregard the blonde's question. She leaned against the railing and peered at the painting in Yusuke's grasp when he mumbled, "The "Sayuri"..."

Ryuji's eyes flickered from Ann to Yusuke. "You're not gonna get all teary-eyed and say stuff like "Mom...!" are you?"

Mikono kicked the boy's foot. When he looked up at her, she frowned disapprovingly at him. "Yusuke can get emotional whenever he wants. It's not everyday you learn the truth about the one thing you admire the most."

Yusuke smiled at the girl before looking back at the painting. "To think that this painting was the source of Madarame's distorted desires. The only saving grace is that my mother won't know of what transpired."

Movement came from Akira's bag as it sat beside the navy-haired boy on the floor. Morgana pushes his head through the zipper and hung his front paws out of the bag. "The genuine painting at his atelier has been altered, after all. Ironic as it may be, this one here is her true self-portrait now."

"It's a wonderful painting," Ann complimented with a warm smile. "And, although it took some time, it's in your hands now, Yusuke."

Mikono walked around Ryuji with her schoolbag held in both hands. She sauntered over toward Yusuke, deciding to stand beside Akira. "It's in the place it should've been from the beginning."

Yusuke nodded in agreement. "I'm thankful for it. However, it's impossible for this painting to be acknowledged by society anymore."

"Was "Sayuri" your mom's name?" Akira questioned.

"I've been wondering that, too," Mikono said.

The artist shook his head. "No. I doubt it's the name of any woman in particular. I bet it was to make it more mysterious—just a part of Madarame's foolish staging."

"Well, it would've been obvious that he plagiarized it if he had used the real name," Morgana commented.

"I'm actually glad society won't be able to learn the true mystery behind "Sayuri". After all, it was never meant to be seen by the public in the first place. Your mother made it for you alone, Yusuke," Mikono said.

"Yes," Yusuke's smile bloomed. He analyzed the painting of his mother, admiring her beauty. "So this is my mother... There's no way that I would remember her face clearly. But I was right about the rush of emotion I felt when I saw this painting."

"You might've felt those emotions because you unconsciously knew it was your mom," Akira said.

"Ooh, look who's reading between the lines now," Mikono snickered, grinning at him. "It looks like I've rubbed off on you. Am I a good influence or what?"

Akira couldn't help but chuckle. Ryuji, who had been silent for the past couple minutes, stood up and headed to a nearby vending machine. He tossed the canned drink into the trash before buying a different one. He twisted the top off and gulped down the soda as he headed back to the accessway. Standing beside Ann, he lowered the drink and immediately belched. The girl was startled by the sudden ruckus and glared at him. "Stop that!"

"Lovely, Ryuji," Mikono groaned at his poor manners.

"You're so vulgar, Ryuji," Morgana sighed.

Ignoring their comments, the blonde put the cap back on his drink and looked toward Yusuke. "So, what're you gonna do now? We're gonna keep targetin' big shots."

Yusuke places the painting under his arm. "Why do you do such things?"

"It's to get back at scumbags and like...society in general?" Ryuji was having difficulty finding the right words to explain it. "We also wanna give courage to the people that're sufferin' 'cause of selfish adults."

"Courage, hm..." The gray-eyed boy hummed. "What good does that do? You mean the courage to stand up for themselves, correct? Will acquiring that make them happy?"

Akira pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "We're not sure. We may be being selfish."

Ryuji sighed, knowing he was right. "Yeah... There's no knowin' whether it'll turn out good for everyone or not. Still, we won't know unless we give it a try."

"In other words, it all depends on the person, hm?" Yusuke muttered. "Then the same can be said about myself right now. I also suffered because of an adult's selfish act. Moreover, if we investigate these Palaces, it may expand my artistic repertoire."

The blonde grinned. "You really only think about art, huh? That's impressive." He jabbed a finger toward Mikono. "Space cadet over here does the same thing, except it's history. She's also a walkin' encyclopedia."

The cerulean-eyed girl purses her lips, crossing her arms. "At least I use my brain..." She mumbled to herself.

Yusuke smiled faintly. "Ah, yes. Tsutsui-san has shown me a small portion of her vast knowledge. It is quite impressive."

"I'm actually surprised how many of her historical rants have actually helped me in class," Akira confesses.

"Ah," Mikono sighed in relief, rubbing the sides of her head. "My brain has helped at least one soul."

"Well I won't take part in any inelegant plans, all right?" Yusuke informed the group.

Ann winked at him. "No worries! I've got us covered! Plus, we have a rule that says we always have to decide on a target unanimously."

"How about it, Joker?" Morgana asked. "We can give our calling cards a lot more oomph if we have Yusuke on our team. With his brain and Lady Mikono's, our calling cards will be legendary!"

Akira didn't even need to think. He already knew the answer. "He would make a great member."

Yusuke smiled at his words. "I will try and live up to those expectations."

"At any rate, I'm curious..." Morgana murmured. "Another intruder besides us, huh?"

Ann cupped her chin between her thumb and index finger. "Our only clue's a black mask, so that doesn't necessarily mean it's just one person, right?"

"But there's no way to check anymore. The Palace is gone," Ryuji stated.

"I'll try probing Madarame. I may be able to learn something from him," Yusuke said.

"Are you sure?" Ann inquired. "I mean—"

"I'll contact you all if anything turns up," he reassures her while smiling.

"We should probably exchange our contact info with you then."

Everyone pulled out their phones except for Mikono. She already had the boy's information due to all the events that led up to this very moment.

After receiving everyone's information, Yusuke places his phone in his pocket and grinned slightly in amusement. "An artist and a phantom thief... It seems I'll be engaging in two trades from here on." He chuckled lightly. "Very well. You only live once, after all. Still, the incident about this other intruder does concern me a little..."

"Let's not worry about that now. We should head home and get some rest," Mikono said. "We're all tired and we also have school tomorrow."

Ryuji hung his head with a dramatic sigh. "Don't remind me..."

*****
Confidant: Mikono Tsutsui
Arcana: The Puppeteer
Rank: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*****