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Critical Hit

Tickletober Day 4: Weak Spots

Yes, I am severely late. No, I will not be taking comments on it at this time. I would rather post something I'm satisfied with late than something half-assed on time. You all and I both deserve the best <3

Ryuji is tasked with leading the next Phantom Thieves' training session. Leave it to him to work in time to pick on his favorite Joker and teach something worthwhile!

Warning: Of course, tickles, and some curses.

“Joker, watch out!” Skull cried, deflecting an oncoming attack toward his leader, who had been occupied with another enemy. The attack was directed back toward the Shadow that cast it, defeating it instantly.

“Nice job, Skull,” Joker praised, finishing off his own target. The Phantom Thieves were surrounded, but not critically so; a group of lower-level Shadows had managed to get the jump on the gang. Even so, this was far from the Thieves’ first rodeo, having made several trips to Mementos, both in search of their favorite non-feline’s past and to help the citizens of Tokyo whose Shadows have become too strong.

“Truly art in motion,” Yusuke, aka Fox, commented. He, Skull, and Joker have been tasked to search a section of Mementos while Panther, Queen, and Mona search another section, having Oracle be the go-between for communications.

“Skull, your form and approach have quite changed for the better. Perhaps I can attend your and Joker’s next training session? Surely there’s much I can learn,” he asked sincerely. Skull snickered, throwing a knowing glare at his leader.

“I’m cool with you tagging along, but it’s up to the mighty leader over here. Not sure if he could handle both of us.” Joker rolled his eyes as his friend hinted at the mischief that unfolded last time.

“Yes, Fox, I think that’s a good call. And since Skull is so eager for you to join he shouldn’t mind planning our next training session.” That wiped Ryuji’s grin away.

“What?”

“Yeah, you did really well last time. And it would be beneficial for someone else to be able to lead training sessions, just in case.” Ryuji thought for a minute before nodding slowly.

“...Yeah, I can do it, no worries.” Ren smiled.

“Good, can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

“Nor can I,” Fox chimed in, “I’m looking forward to it.”

They agreed on meeting in a week’s time, when the field and track would be free and clear again. It seemed like the dialogue in Ryuji’s head went from “I’ve got a week, no big deal” to “CRAP, I have to have this ready in a few hours!” in the blink of an eye, and he still had no idea on how to lead a training session. He sat alone in the library, which was a rare sight in itself, but he knew he needed to step up.

“Come on,” he mentally prompted, “just plan training time. An hour, maybe ninety minutes. You can do this.”

“Ryuji?” The electric blonde jumped out of his skin with a shrill noise of surprise, earning him a “Shh!” from the other students. He turned quickly and saw his student council president and Queen to Mementos. Makoto sat across from him.

“I’m surprised to see you here. You looked like you were struggling, though. Anything I can help with?”

“Uh… Yeah, actually. But I really can’t talk about it here. It’s about practice,” Ryuji emphasized and gave her a look, hoping she’d take the hint. She stood, as if to say “received,” but actually said, “Of course. We can use the student council room. Our meeting just ended, so no one’s in there right now.”

They walked to the now empty classroom where student council meetings are held, and Ryuji explained the situation to Makoto. She listened intently, already forming several solutions but not wanting to miss any details.

“He just sprung it on me. And in front of Fox, how could I say “no”?” Her strategizing mind realized he was venting now, and she smiled at him.

“He trusts you, Ryuji. And he wouldn’t have asked you if he didn’t think you could handle it.”

“...you think so?”

“Absolutely! You’re his best friend, you don’t need me to tell you that.” Ryuji reflected on it and smiled, but in an instant grew panicked again.

“Wait! Aren’t you and Ann going too?!”

“Shhh! Ren and I already discussed that,” she started, keeping her voice low despite the privacy of the classroom, “it might be best to keep up appearances as much as possible. Meaning getting together in a big group all of a sudden might seem suspicious. She and I have separate training days until we figure out something else.”

“Oh… yeah, that makes sense. That’s why he’s the Leader, I guess.” Ryuji couldn’t help but be relieved; he enjoyed having Ann and Makoto on the team, but the less people at his first led training session, the better.

“So, as for your session,” Makoto started, “Always start any physical training with a warm up. It’ll help keep you from getting sore, and will help with performance during the training.” Ryuji was scribbling madly in his notebook, as if she were sharing answers to a final exam.

“Next, you need to pick the focus of your session. What did Ren do during your last session?” Ryuji shrugged.

“Ran and sparred, mostly.” Makoto looked blankly for a moment, and as if on cue Ryuji added, “Oh! He went over “observing and adapting,” saying stuff like how just charging at Shadows wasn’t always going to work. Which I still don’t know if I buy it, but his way worked, too.” Makoto sighed at his impulsivity, but continued.

“So he focused on refining a skill. You can do that. Or, you can try teaching something that you specialize in.”

“Well…” Ryuji thought, “I am pretty good at knocking down some Shadows with one hit.”

“So you’re good at finding their weakest points, and using them to your advantage?” Makoto asked. Ryuji’s eyes started to light up.

“Yeah… I can show them how I do that! Thank you, Makoto!” He suddenly stood and hugged her, running out of the classroom and not stopping until he reached the track field.

“I wonder how he’s going to teach that.”

**************************************************

“How the heck am I supposed to teach this?!” Ryuji exclaimed in his head, pacing the track while waiting on his two trainees. He didn’t have to wait long though, as he could see Ren leading Yusuke in his direction, both changed in athletic wear and ready to start.

“Hello, leader-for-today,” Ren started, “I’ve been wondering what you’ve come up with.”

“As have I,” Yusuke chimed in, “I hope to be better equipped to handle Shadows, and to gain some artistic inspiration. Seeing Joker take the lead is inspiring in itself, but you surely will offer a unique perspective,” Though Yusuke’s intentions were pure, Ryuji took this as “the pressure’s on,” and became a bit more visibly nervous.

“Uh… Yeah… totally… WARM UP!” he shouted, suddenly remembering Makoto’s advice and recognizing a way to dodge the inevitable for at least a few more minutes.

“Right! We can’t train well without a warm up! Let’s jog a few laps and stretch!” The two looked a bit confused, but did as they were told while Ryuji led the jog and stretches.

“Ryuji, are we ready to get started on the lesson?” Ren asked gently, starting to realize the task had given his second-in-command much more stress than he thought. Ryuji finally sighed.

“Okay, I wanted to show you guys how I land critical hits on Shadows, but we aren’t in Mementos and I know we don’t usually go without the others just in case something happens and I couldn’t think of anything else to do and-”

“Ryuji,” Ren put a hand on his shoulder, and it worked as if it functioned as a “pause” button.

“That’s a great skill to learn! And we don’t have to be in Mementos; I’ll be the Shadow so Yusuke can observe.”

“O-Oh, okay… Yeah! Thanks, dude!” Ryuji regained every bit of his energy and excitement, causing Ren to chuckle fondly and Yusuke to wonder how Ryuji functions so well against enemies while his train of thought was all over the place.

“I suppose that’s what I’m here to learn” he thought, watching Ryuiji and Ren take opposing stances.

“Okay, um… Ren?” his ravenette friend smiled at him.

“Just do what comes naturally when you’re fighting. Try to narrate it.”

“So,” Ryuji started, “There’s a Shadow in front of you, Yusuke. What do you notice about his stance?”

“Well, he’s grounded. And he has one arm toward his face, and the other at his torso.”

“Right. And that’s pretty normal for us: to protect our faces and middles, where our organs are,” Ryuji explained. Ren and Yusuke were shocked at Ryuji’s knowledge on the subject, and how well he was teaching it. Ryuji was even surprising himself, although he was only doing as Ren said, narrating his instincts.

“Every Shadow is going to have different areas they want to protect. They don’t have organs and some might not even have faces, who knows. But they’re weak somewhere, and their defensive stance will usually tell you where.”

“What about our Personas?” Yusuke asked, “They seem to have abilities that work well against certain Shadows, and not with others.” Ryuji blanked, he hadn’t really thought about that part.

“Excellent question, but let’s focus on the basics for now,” Ren saved, “Queen and I were actually discussing this earlier, and are working with Oracle on compiling a list of Shadow’s we’ve faced and what their strengths and weaknesses are.” Though it appeared to just be the three here, Ren wanted to remain vigilant in keeping the other members’ identities safe.

“I see, thank you. My apologies, Ryuji, please continue.”

“Yeah dude, totally ask questions!” He faced Ren again. “Now, come at me like you’re going to attack. Slow-mo, though.” Ren nodded, seeing where Ryuji was taking this part. He motioned a running start, and a punch with his right hand, the one originally blocking his torso.

“Stop,” Ryuji instructed. Ren froze in his position, right arm extended in a mock blow to Ryuji’s jaw.

“Now, I can do three things. Since I was in my own defensive stance, I can block with this arm,” motioning his left, protecting his face, “I can take his wrist and fling him behind me using his own force,” again, the both of them demonstrating what that would look like, “or, what I’m showing you guys, I can take this as an opportunity. Yusuke, what’s changed about his position?”

“Well, in order to make an attack, he was forced to uncover a weak point he was previously protecting.” Ryuji beamed.

“Exactly! You can’t do both. See,” Ryuji demonstrated, taking his pointer finger and tracing from Ren’s ribs to his hip bones. “His weak points are wide open now.” Ren inhaled sharply and winced. Ryuji looked to him, suddenly smug.

“And I do mean his weak points.” As a leader, he was proud that Ryuji picked up on small cues that could give him an edge. However, he wasn’t the acting leader right now, so as his friend he’d hoped it would go unnoticed. Yusuke hadn’t paid the brief interaction any mind, as he was more focused on the lesson at hand. Ryuji returned to his original position, to the moment just before he would have been struck by his opponent.

“So,” he continued nonchalantly, “since we decided to attack, I see him coming toward me with this opening, I’m going to dodge, and strike.” Ryuji swerved his body under Ren’s extended arm, and instead of a mock strike, latched onto Ren’s side and squeezed. Yusuke would have had to be blind and deaf to miss Ren’s reaction this time, as he squealed and recoiled from the surprise attack.

“AH! Ryuhohoji!”

“...What’s going on?” Yusuke asked, as much confused as he was amused.

“Just a demonstration,” Ryuji replied with a snicker before releasing Ren. “I think you should give it a try. Ren, you’re the Shadow again.”

“Greheat,” he replied as Ryuji and Yusuke switched places. Yusuke had a gleam in his eyes too similar to Ryuji’s to be considered “comfortable” to the Joker.

“All right, Ren, slowly. Yusuke, get ready.” Ryuji prompted. Ren exhaled, moving slowly for Yusuke’s sake. It was his job, after all, to teach his team. And surely Yusuke is serious about his training, as to not be tempted by such juvenile tactics-

“BWAH! Hehehehey! YUSUKEHEHEHE!” Yusuke did appear very serious in his training; so much so he adopted two strategies. As Joker came with his slow swing, Yusuke grabbed his wrist with his right hand. With his left, Yusuke latched onto the Joker’s ribs, noticing a much stronger reaction to his grip than Ryuji’s.

“Lehehehet go, Yusuke! Yohohou got me!” However, the artist chuckled and held firm to his “opponent’s” wrist.

“Have I done it correctly, Ryuji?” The blonde couldn’t believe what he was witnessing, and in the best way. He cackled wickedly.

“I couldn’t have done better myself. But he doesn’t look totally defeated.” Ren, still giggling against Yusuke’s ticklish grip, noticed Ryuji approaching.

“Stahahahay awahehey, Ryuji!” Ren threatened, trying with more desperation to break himself free from Yusuke. However, in response Ryuji snatched his other wrist. His giggles were already becoming more frantic, knowing how screwed he was with both of them playing this game.

“I’ve never seen you like this, Ren,” Yusuke noted, “It’s like witnessing a whole other part of you.”

“You are, dude. This, you see, is “nearly defeated” Ren.” Ryuji explained as if we were now the expert in Ren’s weaknesses. Which, in the context of which tickle spots can get Ren to buckle, he just might be the expert, Sojiro being a close second.

“I see. Are you telling me he has weaker points?” Yusuke said, still sounding like a student but adopted the smug smirk and mischievous gleam of a tormentor.

“Juuhuhust get ohohon with it!” Ren pleaded. Why were they taking so long? And talking about him like he wasn’t even there?

“Quiet, you, I’m teaching, just like you asked,” With that, Ryuji swiped his fingers along Ren’s collarbone and neck with his free hand. The raven-haired boy scrunched his shoulders up and sweet giggles bubbled forward. Yusuke would not have believed this boy, adorable in his mirthful state, was in charge of the vengeful Phantom Thieves, if he were not there in the flesh to see for himself.

“Such a sweet sound, and a precious expression to accompany it. I had not expected to find such inspiration from mere child’s play.”

Ren didn’t really have a response; he didn’t think he would serve as inspiration in this state either. Other than inspiration for Ryuji to continue leading him to his ticklish demise.

“Yeah yeah, he’s cute, we get it,” Ryuji said, and blushed himself a bit at the remark. “Here, give me that.” He took Ren’s other wrist from Yusuke and pinned both over his head.

“Now see, you’ve found your target’s weaker areas. Deliver a critical hit.” His instructions came out malicious, and Yusuke’s look of adoration turned back to sinister.

“Y-Yusuke! You don’t have to do it! You already got me, and you picked it up really quick!”

“Yusuke, you remember when we fight Shadows how they sometimes beg to be spared?” Ryuji intervened, “Well, this is one of those times. Since Ren’s right and you did get it on the first try, it’s your call. Mercy, or finish him?” Yusuke looked at his now pitiful leader, and almost felt bad for him. However, he realized this was an effect Ren tended to have on people. He comes off pretty innocent or unassuming, but Yusuke has seen first hand what he’s actually capable of.

“How will I know if he’s “defeated”?

“Yusuke!” “Oho, trust me, he’ll tell you!” Ryuji said. Ren felt his grip tighten on his wrists as he helplessly watched Yusuke approach him, claws formed with his hands.

“Y-Yusukehehe, nohoho, dohohon’t-NAHAHAHA!” Ren begged, but it fell on deaf ears as Yusuke descended his claw-like fingers into the hollows of Ren’s underarms, skittering up and down his tricep. Ren tried vehemently, but failed to bring his arms down and out of Ryuji’s grip, who he could hear snickering under his own cackling.

“RYUJIHEHEHE you JERK!” he spat.

“You know, we don’t take crap from Shadows, do we, Yusuke?”

“Definitely not. This heathen needs to learn his manners.” Ryuji was absolutely ecstatic that Yusuke was seamlessly playing along as he shifted gears, drumming on Ren’s ribs like he would a piano.

“Do you know how many ribs you have, Joker?”

“YEHEHES!”

“How many?”

“TWEHEHENTY-FFFFAHAHA!”

“PFFT!” He might have been trying to say twenty-four, if not for Ryuji throwing in a raspberry to the crook of the Joker’s neck. He could (barely) handle Yusuke prodding at his ribs or Ryuji’s raspberries to the neck, but both?

“Well, if you don’t know, I’ll have to show you.” Yusuke stated simply, starting with his bottom two.

“THAHAHAT’S NOT FAHAHAHAIR! YUSUKE!”

Ryuji laughed wickedly at his best friend’s expense, unknowing beforehand that Yusuke could be so cruel. He wasn’t sure if Yusuke could tell, but amongst the loud belly laughter and rib-counting, Ren was starting to buckle the farther up his ribs Yusuke’s wiggling fingers traveled.

“Hey, Yusuke,” Ryuji said. He almost had to raise his voice to be heard over the ravenette’s boisterous laughter. He halted immediately, and Ren took the gracious opportunity to catch his breath.

“Be ready when you get to twenty-three and twenty-four. That’s our Joker’s weakest spot.”

“I started to believe he himself was a weak spot.”

“Screhehew you bohohoth,” Ren replied, bracing himself.

“Is that really any way to talk to your pupils?” Yusuke asked, catching Ren off-guard by kneading into his belly. It was firm from consistent training, but still was quaking from all the giggle fits it helped produce. Ren threw his head back onto Ryuji’s shoulder in a surprised guffaw, nearly head-butting his nose.

“H-hey, easy dude!”

“I-ihihi’m sorrihehehe!” Ren cried, putting in more effort to hold himself up.

“Here, Yusuke, follow me,” Ryuji instructed. They led Ren to the ground, Ryuji still holding his wrists but allowing his head to rest in his lap rather than the ground. Yusuke straddled his waist.

“I suppose this Shadow’s had quite the battle,” Yusuke observed, noticing the streaks of mirthful tears on his leader’s pink face. “I’ll waste no more time then!”

“Any last words, Shadow?” Ryuji teased. Ren offered one more futile tug to his wrists and took a deep breath.

“Do your worst. Because you two are dead.”

“Tch, as if,” Ryuji played off, ignoring the slight chill down his spine.

“Bold words in the face of your demise,” Yusuke noted, also feeling a tinge of nervousness, but wasted no more time and drilled his thumbs in the topmost ribs on either side. The same leader daring enough to make such a claim in his position positively howled as his most ticklish spot was exploited.

“YUSUKEHEHEHE!” Ren bucked and kicked at the space behind them, but to no avail as far as stopping the maddening sensations playing at his ribs.

“This Shadow’s done for!” Ryuji exclaimed, then laughing along as if Ren’s giggles were truly contagious.

“It’s almost as if, once you know how to deliver a critical hit, the Shadow is not as menacing,” Yusuke teased, switching from drilling to vibrating his fingertips along the length of ribs twenty-three and twenty four.

“JUHUHUHUST YOHOU WAIHIHIT! BWAHAHAHA!” Joker cackled, somehow still delivering threats. His booming laughter soon grew silent, and he became too weak to struggle.

“All right, all right, I think he’s had enough,” Ryuji warned. As cruel of a tickler as he was (which Ryuji made a mental note of), Yusuke stopped within the same second he was asked to do so, not wanting to abuse the trust he’d been given. Ryuji released Ren’s wrists, though his arms remained limp above his head while he caught his breath, which occasionally hitched in leftover chuckles.

“Are you all right, Ren?” Yusuke asked, now concerned. But Ren chuckled, of his own accord this time.

“Yeah, heh, I’m okay.” Ren looked up at Ryuji, since his head was still in his lap.

“If this is how you plan on leading training sessions, you’re fired.”

“What?! No! At least, not every time,” he grinned, still full of mischief, “Gotta keep you on your toes, Joker.”

“And I yours. Yours too, Yusuke. You won’t know when, you won’t know where-”

“Yeah, yeah, we get it, fearful leader, so scary,” Ryuji brushed off.

“...Let’s instead get some water and continue training? Actually training this time?” Yusuke suggested, as he and his eccentric blonde partner in crime helped their leader up. While the rest of the training went as planned with no more antics, Yusuke and Ryuji couldn’t help the nagging feeling their Joker was not about to forget this any time soon.

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