Author's Note: Hello hello! I decided that there wasn't enough NaotoxRise in this world, so here is my own creation!
Information: Persona 4, NaotoxRise, yuri, drama?!
**Special** If later chapters have NSFW content I will say so in the beginning in the Author's Note. But this story actually has a plot (gasp!) so it wont be every chapter haha...
Comments/Reviews/Concerns etc. are welcome! Thought something was excuted strangely? Let me know! Was one part particularly funny/sad/etc.? Let me know! I'd like to grow in my writing to better meet the desires of the readers! [PS: I don't own anything related to P4 or its characters...]
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy...
My Private Detective Chapter 1
Naoto looked out the window of her personal car silently. Tokyo was one of the largest cities on the planet, making it a completely different experience from the countryside. Her grandfather had a small apartment in Ueno for emergency trips, but she had never needed to use it before. The car pulled onto a small sidestreet next to a large building before disappearing into the underground parking.
Once she and her escort made their way into the elevator, Naoto wiped her hands on her jacket nervously. The Investigation Team from her high school days kept in touch regularly, but it was difficult for them to meet up much these days. Most of the members were in their final few years of college, while some had already moved on to the workforce. Since Naoto had finished a special early degree program while still in highschool, she had been working for a while.
The person she was meeting today, in particular, was one of the busiest of their group. Rise Kujikawa, a largely successful and popular idol, seemed to always be participating in a new tour, album promotion, or anything an idol could be involved in. With enough notice, she always made sure to visit her friends back in Inaba. Traveling into a world inside the TV together to fight the dark impersonations of people's subconscious tended to make a strong bond amongst friends.
The last time Naoto had seen the idol was the past winter holiday, over Christmas. She had seemed as happy as ever, handing out everyone's special presents. Naoto had received a new watch that matched her signature detective's hat. She never removed the watch except to bathe, but she would not admit that to anyone aloud.
Her escort directed her to a door across the hall, and Naoto entered silently. A middle-aged man rose from the couch, bowing at the waist. "Naoto Shirogane-san... thank you so much for coming."
"My pleasure, Inoue-san," Naoto smiled gracefully as she returned the bow. "I'm always more than happy to accomodate a friend in need."
"Yes well-" The man was cut off but a sudden squeal of delight on the other side of the room.
"NA-O-TO!" Rise exclaimed happily with every hop she took towards the detective. Once close enough, she threw herself onto the suit-clad girl in a hug.
"Kujikawa-san..." Naoto chuckled softly. She hoped desperately that Rise could not feel the increase of her heartbeat when they touched.
"Rise!" The burnette idol pulled back with a pout. "It's Rise!"
"R-right... Rise-san," Naoto added the honorific to her friend's name quietly.
Rise sighed dramatically. "That's the most I'll ever get out of you isn't it?" Naoto simply smiled sheepishly in response.
Rise's manager cleared his throat. "Shirogane-san is here for work, not play, Rise."
"Right, right," Rise rolled her eyes as she grabbed Naoto's hand to pull her towards the big empty couch. "Come sit! How about some tea?"
"No, thank you," Naoto replied softly as she sat next to the energetic girl. "I understand you have a busy schedule. I'd like to discuss the matter for which you require my help as much as possible."
Rise's adorable grin quickly turned into a grimace as she rested her hands in her lap. Naoto was about to apologize for bringing up an upleasant subject, but Inoue interjected first.
"Recently there have been an increasing number of ... worrisome incidents regarding Rise's personal space and overall safety."
Naoto immediately pulled out a small notebook and pen from her jacket pocket, flipping it open to a blank page. "What kind of incidents?"
Inoue glanced at Rise, wondering if the girl would offer the information herself. After a moment of silence from the idol, her manager continued. "It's normal for an idol to receive... less than wholesome letters once in a while. Rise, however, has been receiving an increasing amount the last three or so months. We're averaging almost ten a week."
"Do you have copies of these letters?" Naoto asked, scribbling notes.
"We discarded the ones in the beginning, like usual," Inoue scratched his nose. "We've only kept a few recently. The letters have also become increasingly... violent."
"Violent?" Naoto asked, wondering if the man was going to dance around the details through the whole investigation.
"They're outright death threats," Rise piped up, crossing her legs as she leaned back against the cushions. "Some of them have pretty creative ways to carve me up and throw me to the fishes."
Naoto blinked at the girl next to her. "You've read these letters?"
"When one of my letter openers was hurt by some hidden needles in a package, I insisted on seeing them for myself," Rise answered seriously. "I'm not in the business of allowing people to get hurt for me."
Naoto tried to hide her grin. Rise hadn't changed at all. "What other incidents have happened?"
Another stretch of silence followed her question until Inoue spoke again. "There have been... a large number of leaked images and recordings. Things not sanctioned by the company at all. Private things that... we can only suspect to be the handiwork of a real, high-level stalker."
"Inoue-san," Naoto set her pen to rest. "I understand that this is a difficult and sensitive subject. However, I need you to be as forthright with details as possible."
The man's face reddened, but he forced himself to speak. "The images are of Rise in her... in... when she's in her dressing room."
Rise sighed, obviously frustrated. "There are pictures of me in my underwear in my private changing rooms popping up everywhere. I mean, I've done tons of bathing suit advertisements, so its not that big of a deal. Its the fact that these pictures are coming from secure locations. There are even some of me sleeping."
"You mentioned recordings?" Naoto asked, furiously scribbling notes.
Rise blushed, and Naoto raised a brow in curiosity. Naoto wondered if she should allow the subject to pass when Rise suddenly blurted out, "There are audio recordings of me singing in the shower and... and peeing and stuff." The last part was whispered.
Naoto's notes stopped instantaneously. She stared at the idol for a moment, mouth hung open.
"Argggh!" Rise growled, stomping her foot on the ground. "Who the hell wants to listen to that anyway? What kind of pervert is this?!"
Naoto tried not to smile at her friend's indignation, although the idol was adorable when incensed. "So you're worried about the increase in death threats and leaked personal material?" she scribbled a few more lines in her notes.
"There's also been a few incidents with some fans..." Inoue added. "In the past two weeks, we've had two middle-aged male fans attempt to... reveal themselves... to Rise during a walk-by event. And a third man who insisted on receiving a handshake during a autograph event."
"A handshake doesn't seem very suspicious?" Naoto questioned, her eyebrow raised.
"His hand was covered in his own semen," Rise interjected angrily.
Naoto had to fight to keep her pen steady through the flare of anger in her chest as she finished her notes. "Your concerns are well placed. I'd like to begin by reviewing your security plans, as well as accompany Rise-san home this evening to check the security precautions there as well."
Inoue smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Shirogane-san. We'll leave it up to you."
Naoto nodded in assurance, glancing towards Rise who still averted her eyes from the detective, a blush covering her cheeks.
Naoto spent the rest of the day reviewing the security measures of Rise's personal guard and studying the transcripts of the three interlopers' interviews. The most they had been charged with was public indecency, which allowed them to be released easily. Tracking them down for her own interrogation would be very difficult.
At the end of the day Naoto followed Rise up to the top floor of a high-rise apartment building in Roppongi. The very thought of how much an apartment like this must cost kept Naoto quiet on the elevator ride. Rise happily chatted about her long day, filling the silence.
"Well, home sweet home!" Rise exclaimed as they approached a door on the top floor. The idol tapped a number into the keypad at the side of the door, the large wooden obstruction clicking open in response. Naoto made a mental note to make a list of everyone who knew the codes to Rise's personal quarters.
"Excuse the intrusion," Naoto murmured as she removed her shoes at the front door.
"Don't be so formal, Naoto," Rise grinned at her brightly. "Make yourself at home!"
"I'll begin with a sweep of the complex," Naoto replied, removing a flashlight from her pocket.
Rise shrugged, heading for the kitchen as the detective began slowly working her way through every room in the large condo. Once finished, she found Rise sitting in the living room eating from a small pack of yogurt.
"Your apartment seems secure, at the least," Naoto reported. "You should always have someone you trust accompany you home, but I think..."
"Won't you do that?" Rise asked, tilting her head to the side.
"My purpose here is to track down those threatening you, Rise-san," Naoto scribbled something in her notebook. "I'm of little use to you as a bodyguard."
"But... surely you can find the time to walk me home in the evenings?" Rise grinned up at her friend pleadingly. "It'd be a good time for you to tell me what progress you've made."
"If you wish to receive daily reports, I suppose I can find time to incorporate such a thing," Naoto replied, snapping her book shut firmly before returning it to her inner pocket. "This is as much as I can accomplish today. I'll report back to you in the morning before continuing my investigation. I'll see myself out," she bowed quickly and turned to leave.
Rise instantly hopped off of the plush couch, trotting up to Naoto from behind. "Wait..." she said softly, grabbing onto the detective's arm.
Naoto froze at the touch, her body going taught. She forced herself to breathe normally, keeping some sense of normalcy to her actions. The detective wasn't sure when these feelings towards Rise had first began... it was as if they had just appeared one day after simmering deep in the back of her heart for years. Normally their reunions only coincided with the Investigation Team's, where everyone from their group came. At those times, Naoto was more than placated by visitng with Rise in the presence of others.
Now, however, they were alone and Naoto felt herself constantly doubting her actions. The only way she could think to counter looking like a fool was to be as professional as possible.
"Naoto..." Rise stared up at her, her sparkling eyes wide with honesty. "You don't have to be so formal. I mean, yeah my manager hired you to help keep me safe but... you're my friend too. We're friends first, you know?" She smiled, and Naoto understood how thousands of people had fallen for this girl.
"Of course, Rise-san..."
"And drop the -san!" Rise pouted, smacking Naoto's arm lightly.
Naoto simply chuckled and moved to leave, slipping her shoes on.
Rise held onto the detective's arm when the other tried to pull away. "Thanks for coming Naoto," she said, her voice earnest with trust. "I already feel better knowing you're here."
Naoto wrapped her hand around the Rise's fingers, hoping the idol didn't feel the nervous tremor running through them. "I won't let anything happen to you," Naoto said seriously. She wondered if Rise could possibly understand the deeper truth behind these words.
"I know," Rise giggled, smiling happily as she removed her hand to wave goodbye.
"Tomorrow, then," Naoto tipped her hat before exiting out the door a little too quickly. Once in the safety of the hallway, she stared at the floor to regain her thoughts.
"I will not let anything happen to you," she repeated, more to remind herself the importance of those words. She rubbed the spot where Rise's hand had held onto her moments before as she walked to the elevators.