Makoto Niijima

[chapter originally by Phantom Pen on writing.com]

Joker whispered the name of one of his partners in crime. Sae nodded, watching him carefully.

"Makoto Niijima. We both already know my connection to her. You claim she joined your team, and used her intelligence to plan your crimes, acting as a kind of chief strategist, to make no mention of informing you of my actions. But something went very wrong in this incident. We don't even know if it was related to Phantom Thief business. How did it come to pass that she lost her clothes...and suffered through such a strange series of incidents? Tell me everything. And keep in mind that if you had a hand in this and try to hide that from me... it won't end well for you."

Joker cleared his throat, his mind still fuzzy from the **** and trying to decide whether he felt more mortified or ecstatic about what his friend had gone through. Finally, he spoke, his voice cracking slightly. "This is how it began..."