The Emperor's Fortune

(Kanji x Naoto based with assumed Souji x Yukiko and Yosuke x Chie REVISION on 1/24/13)

Chapter One: Days Go By Part 1

March 25th 2013

It had been five days since Souji Seta left the quiet town of Inaba; Kanji had spent the last week helping out around his mother's textile shop. "So, sempai is really gone now, eh?" a voice rang deep inside his head, it was Rokuten Maoh, his evolved Persona, "Yeah, 'spose it'll be awhile before we see him again" Kanji rarely talked to his Persona, so he felt weird technically talking to himself.

"B-but Yukiko-Sempai seemed to take it the worst, she was barely holding back tears at the station" His Persona agreed and Kanji got back to cleaning the counters of the Textile Shop, that's when a police officer strolled into the store,

"Greetings, Mrs. Tatsumi, I'm here for pick u-" he stopped dead in his sentence when he saw Kanji behind the counter wearing a black t-shirt behind a white apron, Kanji broke the awkward silence, rubbing the back of his head, "So, uh, you need to pick up something, ma's sick today so I'm watchin the shop" Kanji's "social skills" were nonexistent before he met Souji-Sempai, but he was getting better at dealing with people, the cop looked away, "Never mind, I'll just come back when Mrs. Tatsumi is in, sorry to bother you" he turned to walk away, Kanji knew why,

"Look, man, I can get you order, ya don't have to be scared of me." He held up a receipt and got the cop his order, feeling like he accomplished something that day, he closed up early and retreated to his room. The tall young man checked his cell phone, Mar 25 2013, Kanji sighed heavily, not because of the date, but because of the "0 new messages" that appeared on the top of his cell phone, he put it back in his pocket and removed his shirt to prepare for a shower, "Damn that Naoto."

The Train Station, Souji Seta's Departure

Souji was drifting away from his friends, It had been a long and exciting year for the small town of Inaba, but now it was over. The train was now out of sight, and everyone was left with a depressing cloud over the group, Naoto broke the silence, "W-well I have to get back, Grampa will be upset if I arrive home late again" Kanji happened to be standing behind her,

"Here, uh, I'll walk with ya, my place is on the way, so 's no trouble." Naoto nodded and the two walked down the twilit stairs of the station. Chie got close to Yosuke's ear, "I think Yukiko needs to be alone, come on, the steaks on me tonight!" Yosuke's eyes lit up, "That's a new one, Chie, but I'll take your word for it." Yukiko just sat on a station bench thinking to herself about his departure.

Kanji and Naoto were walking through the spring streets of Inaba, Naoto was fine but Kanji hadn't gotten good alone time with her since the ski trip in the winter, he had to think of something to say to her, "S-so, a-any other cases you working on right now?" Crap, his voice stuttered way to much right there, Naoto seemed unmoved, as always, "No, I decided to take a bit of a break after the Midnight Channel incidents, so my schedule will be open for quite some time." Kanji thought about the previous sentence, Naoto has never been one to leave social cues in her words, but even Kanji picked up on that one.

"R-Really, so are you free this week then?" Naoto looked up from underneath her blue hat that had become her signature, "Sure, is there something you would like to discuss?" Naoto seemed serious, Kanji rubbed the back of his head, "Spose it's something like that" he managed to speak without stuttering for once in his damn life. Naoto nodded, "In that case I will text or call this week when I am free, talk to you then, Kanji-kun." Kanji realized that they had reached his home at the Textile Shop, "O-oh this is my stop, see you later" Naoto nodded and tipped her hat, then left down the sidewalk, Kanji ventured into his home.

Back to present 5 days later

Kanji got out of the shower feeling a lot better, "That's just like her though, waiting til the last minute to call me" Kanji sighed as he pulled some sweatpants on, he sat down at his sewing machine to take his mind of Naoto. He was halfway through a blue scarf that a customer had ordered a day ago, he suddenly stopped and scratched his bare chest, "Damn this color, it shows up everywhere" he was referring to the blue hat his pint sized crush always wore,

"I need some fresh air, that's all" Kanji grabbed a shirt and left the Textile shop to hang out around the riverbank, he pulled out his cell and checked the time, 8:47 PM, "Damn it got late, guess I should get home, then" Kanji walked home slowly, checking his phone for any signs of Naoto, when he finally got home, he returned to work on the scarf, just as he started he heard a loud buzz from the counter where he tossed his phone, "Ah, shit" he exclaimed as he fell backwards hitting his head, "Ugh, Dammit" another buzz, Kanji rolled onto his feet and ran to the cell phone, he heard a familiar voice on the other end.

"Kanji-kun? Sorry for not getting back to you in a while, I have been spending a lot of time with grampa while he is still in town" Kanji shook off the hit he took from the floor earlier and responded, "It's cool, so what's up?"

Kanji rubbed his head, "I just wanted you to know I am available tomorrow if you want to get together and discuss what you mentioned on the 20th" Kanji shook his head realizing his opportunity, "Yeah, yeah, just, uh, stop by my place around like 4:00, I'm off by then" Kanji was blushing at the thought of Naoto seeing him at work, he gave thanks that he was currently on the phone, and not face to face. "Ok, that sounds good, see you then, Kanji-kun" Naoto hung up, followed by Kanji, who let out a sigh,

"Alright, I've been getting ready for this day for a while, the day that Naoto sees my hobbies" he put his cell in his pocket, "I won't let you down sempai, I promise" he raised a fist in the air as he ran back upstairs to finish the blue scarf that someone had ordered.