A/N: Hello welcome to my new fic. I've had this idea in my head for a while which I have decided to get down on paper. I appreciate all comments, both negative and positive. I will try to keep updates regular.

Disclaimer: I do not own any assets or characters from the Persona series.

Chapter 1 - Friend Report

Frantic typing of the keyboard. Yu Narukami glared intently at his computer screen, willing his already numb fingers to type faster. Because if he didn't finish his report in the next ten minutes, there would be hell to pay. He didn't even bother sipping his coffee after finishing a line or two like usual. He didn't even lean back on his chair to see what on earth his co-worker was shouting about in the cubicle next to him. Hunched at his desk, only the glare of the screen and Father Time kept him company that day, making an annoying tick, tick, tick sound in his ear.

In a big business like this, being prompt and on time was everything. Something Yu should be good at, what he is normally good at. It makes the shareholders happy, having such workers making them cash. But something told Yu if he didn't make this report something more than money was on the line.

A brash male voice suddenly called out in the large office. "Alright guys, finish up, call it a day. Hand your work up here."

The incessant noise of phone calls finally died down people scrambled from their work stations to dump off their papers so they could go home. Yu blasted through the last sentence and clicked the 'print button' with haste. He snatched up his bag and grabbed the photo that he propped up neatly next to his screen. Eight smiling faces shone up at him before the photo was quickly but delicately secured in his bag…

Perhaps he was stooped over from sitting all day, hiding him amongst the crowd. Maybe it was his dishevelled silver hair and bags under his grey eyes coupled with an expression that told people: Don't talk to me and get out my way. But whatever it was, he made it to the printer across the room and grabbed his reports unnoticed and without interruption. He quickly cast his eyes around upon receiving them. Many people were still shuffling against each other to be first to drop the reports off. 'Good, everyone still busy handing their work in to the Department Supervisor,' Yu thought with some relief. He briskly moved his weary self out of the office and into the hall, silent as a phantom.

Three minutes to go. This day was nearly over at last. His good friend, well, only friend in this city was about to be saved. He was galloping up the staircase at the end of the hall two steps at a time. Tomi was higher up in the building than he was, too much for Yu's liking as his legs felt more like jelly with every step he took.

Floor 62…63…yes! 64!

He bumbled through the door and into a particularly long corridor. Now to get to Tomi's office…

"Yu!"

Yu stumbled in his steps at the sound…Not Tomi's voice at all.

"Yu, wait!"

Yu turned to look down the corridor. A small figure of a lady lumbering towards him. Yu's insides tightened for a fraction of a second; how did this girl see him leave? She has the eyes of a hawk and the persistence of an annoying insect.

He had half a mind to leave right then. He couldn't let this girl know what he was up to. He nervously glanced at his watch. 2 minutes. He could shrug her off in that time… right?

"Seki-san, sorry this isn't really the time, I'm late for an appointment," Yu said, still looking at his watch.

Seki-san didn't seem to listen. She careened up to him.

"Come on now, Yu," Seki-san said, a provocative smile forming on her lips. "How many times have I told you to call me Megumi?"

Yu couldn't believe this. Now was not the time for Megumi's games. He straightened up the bag on his shoulder and turned away from her.

"We are at work, you should be acting professional."

About to step away, she simply put a hand on his chest to stop him. He couldn't help but make eye contact at this point. She constantly appeared as if she had run a marathon. Her dark hair was knotted in places, and her skin had a shine to it – oily. Her small figure always seemed to be craving air, her small chest rising and falling noticeably. She just didn't seem to care about her appearance; Her small fingers bore horrible lumpy rings and her suit looked twenty years out of date. Believe it or not though she was only slightly older than he was.

Megumi closed the distance to an uncomfortable level. She reached up to straighten Yu's collar. His hand gripped tighter to his bag strap.

"But work is finished now," she said, making a fuss over a particularly stubborn crease. "So when I saw you leave without handing your report in, I had a duty to follow you."

"Like I said, I have an appointment with a colleague from this department. For research. I assure you my reports will be better off for it. Oh and I will hand my own report after I finish, alright?"

"Is that so?" She at last stopped playing with his collar, but she didn't step away. "Oh Yu…" she breathed, "There are no appointments today. Just what are you up to?" She didn't seem to care he hadn't handed in his own yet. He took an unconscious step away from her.

'None of your business!' a voice screamed in Yu's head.

"It's not an official appointment," blurted Yu. "This is extra. Now please, may I go now Seki-san?"

Megumi looked to the floor, a small smile on her lips.

Yu looked around quickly, possibly for someone to rescue him, but no-one. Just them, alone in this dark hallway. The moments dragged on…

He knew she was doing this on purpose. Testing her hold over him. She was the President's daughter after all. He wondered if she was some form of shadow. He's been tested in battle many times in the past, but he has never faced a creature like this. The ability to snare, the ability to render him helpless, it was only a matter of time before she sucked out his soul with murderous intent—

"Yu!"

"Wh-wha?"

He blinked. For just a moment he let his imagination get the better of him. How desperately he needed sleep.

"I said hand your report to me after you finish your appointment, and afterwards you will walk me home." She was no longer right in front of him, but leaning against the wall playing with her employee card that was clipped to the front of her jacket. She smirked.

Less than minute to go.

Yu couldn't help but make an angry sigh, enough was enough.

"I will drop my report off after I finish my appointment Seki-san. And I suggest you get going now, before it gets late. You have a company car don't you? And I don't need—"

Yu was about to keep rambling at this point but stopped himself. He shook his head and bumped past her. Disrespectful? Yes. Unlike him to do so? Absolutely. But something bigger was at work here.

He made it to the end of the corridor and was just turning the corner when he heard Megumi call out:

"See you later Yu! You wouldn't want to be without this would you?"

But Yu ignored her.

He stopped in front of a door with a plaque. The name bore Tomi Takenaka, a name that has steadily increased in importance the last few years. To get your own office, despite how small, was quite a feat in this company. Yu didn't bother to knock, he didn't need to. He stepped inside and closed the door quickly. He barely crossed the threshold when Tomi called out desperately:

"You're here!"

He jumped up from his desk. A young man like himself, he was tall and stocky. But unlike Yu, his skin was tanned and brazen. Thick locks of hair fell charmingly – but his handsome features were lined with worry and anxiety. His tie was loose and his sleeves were rolled up messily.

"Tomi, I just finished it not so long ago. I would have been here sooner but Seki—"

Tomi swatted Yu's explanation away. He snatched up his jacket that was thrown over a chair.

"Don't worry you're here now. Where is it?"

Yu pulled the report out of his bag. The edges were a bit creased now, but it didn't phase Tomi. His face relaxed a little upon seeing the wad of paper.

"Good man, I can't thank you enough for this—come, walk with me, keep the report safe."

He put his jacket on and put an arm around Yu's shoulder leading him out the office. Once outside, he lead him into a bigger area where lots of office cubicles resided, much like on his own level. A few stragglers remained, some putting on their coats and some desperately trying to finish their phone calls. The aim was the room at the far end, where the reports were stored for filtering and selection.

"Tomi," Yu muttered as they walked. "Are you sure this will work? My work isn't with books and storytelling."

"If it doesn't, I'm screwed," he hissed back. "This is my last chance, if I fail to show something 'new and fresh' to the publishers, I'm out."

Yu was about to retort but a man walked in front of them from behind a cubicle, his nose buried in a folder. A cough from Tomi told him this man wasn't welcome at this moment.

The man looked up. His hair was grey and thinning and he had small calculating eyes. His glare was cold and icy.

"Takenaka, what are you doing here? You're normally the first one out of here," the man said, snapping the folder shut quickly.

"First one out, first one back in the mornings Ueda. Is work being kind to you?" Tomi nodded towards Ueda's folder. Ueda didn't move but he moved the folder closer to him in response.

"Just as kind as it is to you. Don't think I haven't noticed the way you've become more shut up in that office—" Ueda's voice suddenly relaxed"—Actually, it's kinda nice, now we don't have to hear your voice around here anymore."

"Ugh, ever the defensive one aren't ya?." Tomi then shrugged, "Though I would too, if someone younger and better looking took my job. But we can be friends right? Have a couple drinks? Or maybe I could take you to the park, little kids love that don't they?"

Yu glanced apprehensively at Ueda, who seemed to inflating before his eyes. He better step in before Ueda blows, his tiny eyes were already starting to bulge

"Ueda-san, I'm sure we're all very tired," said Yu, giving a little bow. "The company expects more of us every day, we shouldn't take our stress out on each other. Let's finish our work so we can all go home."

Ueda snapped his beady eyes on Yu instead, it looked like he was going to shout out him for a second, but he gestured to Tomi instead.

"Who is this? Don't tell me you have a P.A…"

"This is Yu Narukami from the media department, works for that paper; Tokyo Today. You might have seen it, they sent a copy to everyone last week."

It seemed Ueda calmed down a little; he was a bit more relaxed as he studied Yu. Yu suddenly became aware of how scruffy his hair was and how his shirt was half tucked in. He probably looked like a local schoolboy who was lost to this crisp suited man with his polished shoes. Ueda raised his eyebrows.

"Tokyo Today? I hear it's starting to lose money… Though I'm not surprised, it has more uses as packing paper, or for protecting the floor from muddy boots. You better watch yourself Narukami, or you could be out of a job."

Yu's mouth became a little dry at his words. Tokyo Today was a very small and relatively new, struggling to sustain itself among the blockbuster papers that the company was famous for. It's not surprising. His job as a copy editor has undoubtedly made him aware of all the rubbish the journalists and reporters had come up with for Tokyo Today. It didn't help the editor was an eccentric old loon.

"News changes every day Ueda-san," Yu said, "So can the wellbeing of the paper." He didn't know if he was talking to Ueda or himself at this point, it could be either. Perhaps Ueda knew because he smiled and said:

"A word of advice then, Narukami. Concentrate. Always look over your shoulder in this business. You don't know who or what is after you."

And with that, he flashed Tomi a disgusted look and took off. Yu looked to Tomi, eyebrow arched.

"Is it really true you managed to get his job?"

Tomi had a satisfied expression, arms folded.

"Seems like he is still bitter about it." His expression soon turned sour. "But if I don't get this report in, he might get the last laugh. Come on Yu." He inclined his head towards the room and they started walking again.

"Tomi. You shouldn't be gloating; you should be trying to stabilize your job position. I mean, your family…"

The two young men got to the door of the report's room. Yu was staring at him, but Tomi avoided his eyes. He was gripping the door handle tightly—the mood quickly became dark.

"Yu, I'm sorry. I am doing this for my family. I couldn't pay for my mother's healthcare and look after my brother without this job. Ueda doesn't know this, no one does. Only you do."

Yu felt his pulse quickening. He had sudden flashes of empty house—no cheerful "Welcome home!"—An unresponsive Nanako in a hospital bed… when someone close is torn away from you that empty feeling could easily consume oneself. It threatened to creep into Yu's heart just at the thought of that awful time, but he forced it back. Nanako was alive and well.

"Don't worry Tomi. Once you realise that you have it within yourself to achieve anything, you won't even need my help anymore. Your brother will grow up learning from that, and these hard times will be over. Your family will be stronger. I'm sure of it."

Tomi glanced seriously at Yu.

"You're talking about your cousin aren't you?" he said quietly.

Yu nodded. Tomi opened his mouth and then closed it again, looking unsure of himself. But he broke into a grin and clasped Yu on the shoulder before opening the door.

"Typical you, always so wise! How you're stuck as a copy editor I don't know. You should be working as a monk, preaching to us all."

Tomi laughed and walked inside, and even Yu managed a small smile. Tomi never was good at talking about his private life for long. He always deflected away from it. It's only because Yu had hung around with him this long that he managed to fill the blanks in.

Yu was with Tomi in his office, having just filed the report in Tomi's name. Tomi was kicked back in his chair like a King, glorious and triumphant.

"I tell you what, I'm so glad I asked you to come on my team that day," said Tomi.

"Well you weren't at the time; I remember you shouting at me until you went the colour of beetroot."

Tomi was talking about the time when he recruited Yu into his soccer team for a match; one of Tomi's teammates dropped out and it's only because Yu mentioned in passing that he used to play soccer during high school that Tomi pretty much begged and for him to play.

"Yeah until I saw you in action, those crosses infield were amazing; I still don't see why you don't want to join our team."

Tomi had tried to get Yu to play permanently after that game but he never did. Something about it was all to similar to when he was back in Inaba. He wondered how Daisuke was getting on…

"Yu come on man, what's up? If you join, we can finally get some more trophies! The new League is about to start soon." Tomi then wondered over to the shelf behind his desk, which was full of dusty medals and trophies. Why he kept displayed them at work was beyond Yu, but Tomi was looking at them with hungry longing in his eyes.

"No thanks," Yu said. He had to stifle a yawn. He didn't realise how tired it was. Trying to finish Tomi's report seemed to drain him of all enthusiasm, let alone agree to play soccer.

"How do you even find the time for it? Looking after your brother and visits to see your mother must take most of your free time. And with work too, today was a perfect example of—"

"Ah forget it then," Tomi said irritably. His good mood seemed to be popped like a party balloon. Tomi resigned himself back to his desk, and bent down. Little clinking sounds could be heard.

"Come on, we deserve this after today," Tomi said, re-appearing with two glasses and a bottle of dark liquid.

"It was a genuine question you know," said Yu. It didn't go unnoticed how Tomi always seemed to be at practice, or meeting with his teammates on weekends.

Tomi stopped as he was just about to pour the alcohol. He looked at Yu. A look of disbelief.

"My brother comes with me to practice most of the time. Then we visit mother on weekends. What is wrong with you man? I'm grateful you helped me today but I gotta say, lately you've been acting weird."

Yu looked to the ground, feeling like a fool. Why was he poking and prodding at Tomi? He was tired, but he was sure that wasn't it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it."

"Hmm, don't worry about it." Tomi resumed pouring the drink. "But I do wonder what's going on in that head of yours. Work, home, work, home. Do you do anything fun anymore?"

Yu looked up. Fun? It was a long time since he felt that, the last time was…

"You're quiet too"—Tomi carried on—"Though you talk enough about Inaba. Just what was it about that place? It's been years since then right?"

Yu pondered for a couple moments. Now that Tomi mentions it, he does think an awful lot about his time there. I mean who couldn't, The Midnight Channel – he traversed worlds warped with people's feelings and desires. The sense of euphoria one held when you saved someone from themselves. Unforgettable. But he couldn't discuss it with anyone, not here. People would think he was crazy. Only select few could be trusted to speak about it. Select friends he once held dear to his heart…

"Yes," Yu said, his voice hollow. "It seems like a life age since I was there."

Yu's nose wrinkled when wafts of spirit floated over him—a drink was shoved in his hands. Tomi had come over, a knowing look in his eyes.

"Then that's it man." He chuckled. "If you spend most of the time there in your head, that means it's time to go back. Right?"

Yu stared into his glass. He hadn't spoken to any of them for a long time. His stomach did a summersault—the thought of seeing his friends again was wonderful but at the same time horrifying—what if they didn't care about him anymore?

"Maybe you're right." Yu stood up next to Tomi.

"Of course I am. Kanpai!" Tomi raised his glass and drunk a big mouthful.

"Kanpai…" Yu said quietly, taking a small sip himself.

"So who are these friends of yours? Do you have a picture of them or anything?" said Tomi, taking another gulp.

Yu felt a tingle dance inside of him as he sipped. Wow that drink was strong.

"Yea I do actually, hold on."

Yu handed his glass to Tomi and dropped to his knee to rummage around in his bag.

"I always take this with me—don't laugh!—anyway, we were pretty much inseparable."

But Yu couldn't find it. He searched every nook and cranny with desperation—he didn't forget it, he remembers putting it in!

"I can't find it! It must have…wait"

Yu suddenly remembered something. A voice nagged at him from the back of his mind:

"See you later Yu! You wouldn't want to be without this would you?"

"Megumi!"