PERSONA OWN NOT. NO OWNINGS.

"We went into the TV today. Naoto's gotten a lot better at controlling her persona. She keeps up well even though she was the last to get hers." Souji sat outside his best friends door, nearly shouting to be heard through the thick barrier between them. Luckily his parents were out of the house so he could talk about important issues dealing with the TV world.

He'd done this everyday for the past week and a half. He would come after school, or after visiting the TV and sit outside and talk to the door in hopes his friend would eventually open it and let him in. Some days Yosuke would let him talk to himself the entire visit, and others he passively would join in on the conversation.

He heard faint shuffling, and then a quiet voice next to his head where he leaned against the door. "She's like a prodigy. Of course she would be a fast learner."

Souji gave a small hum of agreement and tapped his foot lightly against the hall floor. He was curious, but hesitant knowing that the next thing he would say wouldn't get a good reaction from his friend. "We're going in tomorrow. Are you coming?"

The silence he received for the rest of his stay answered his question.

When he finally decided to leave he knocked on the door, a signal he'd created to let Yosuke know he was leaving, and said his goodbye. If Yosuke said anything back in response it was unheard over the loud music playing in the closed off room.

"I can't visit tomorrow so Kanji and Chie will be here. Everyone else is busy."

Yosuke found himself wishing Souji was visiting today instead of the two now camped outside his door. They would alternate between whispering to each other and making false threats to him. As if Chie or Kanji could really kick his door down…

Actually he wouldn't doubt that. Maybe he should put something in front of it just in case they caught him off guard.

The rumbling screech of furniture being moved caught their attention outside.

"Dude what are you doing in there?" Kanji called.

"Hanamura, even if you block this door I'll still kick it down!" Chie shouted angrily.

"I'd like to see you try!" He shout back, his face growing red with the exertion of moving his desk to sit in front of the door space. "Jeez, couldn't anyone else come instead of you two?"

"Unlike someone who just sits in his room all day we have other things to do besides cater to you!" Yosuke watched the door shake at the sound of a foot or other heavy object colliding with it. He couldn't decide if it had been Chie or Kanji who'd decided to test the door's endurance. "I hope you rot in there! It'll teach you not to do stupid things like lock yourself in your room."

He grit his teeth at the painful comment. "Yeah? Well I'd rather be in here than out there with you. I'm glad I don't have to see your ugly face everyday."

"My ugly face? At least I take care of myself. You probably reek! Stay in there and do our noses a favor!"

"I took a shower yesterday!"

"Oh? So the hermit comes out once in a while?" Chie joked bitterly.

"H-Hey…ain't this going against why we came, senpai?" Kanji stuttered. It grew quieter momentarily, but he could still hear Chie's harsh whispers to the underclassman. Then Kanji spoke up. "We'll talk to you later, man."

Chie growled. "Wait! What? I'm not done talking to that assho—"

There were scratches at his door, banging against the hall walls, and then frustrated screams that grew fainter as Kanji's heavy footsteps, along with Chie's reluctant one's, made their way away from his room.

Yosuke let out a sigh. He would have to beg Souji to never let anyone else take his visiting time again. Although he couldn't say he didn't have fun arguing with Chie again.

"So how was it?" He could hear Souji ask as he got comfortable at the foot of his door.

"Dude don't ever do that to me again."

Souji chuckled. "It went that bad?"

"It made me realize why I love my room so much."

"So you can masturbate without getting caught?" Souji joked.

Yosuke sputtered, nearly dropping his juice bottle in his surprise. "N-No dude that's not it!" He got quieter. "I mean that is a plus…but…" His voice picked up once more. "I don't have to deal with people, you know? I don't have to be fake and pretend for them."

"So you're feelings about your friends are fake?"

"No…I mean people in general. You guys are still my friends."

There was a calm silence between them as one sipped from his bottle and the other leaned against the door. Yosuke picked up a stray music magazine to flip through. It was the same one he'd read about a million times that week, and unfortunately for him the articles wouldn't be magically changing any time soon.

"Hey, can you do me a favor?" The brunette asked. Souji let out a noise to let him know he was listening. "Go to the convenience store and get me some magazines? The one's I have are getting pretty dull. I'm dying here, partner."

"Maybe you should come out and get them yourself."

Yosuke groaned. "Come on! I'm just asking you for one thing. I'll pay you back, promise."

"No."

"I'm begging now, man. I can't go out there."

"Why not?" It was question he knew he'd already answered. Souji was messing with him, trying to push all the right buttons, and it was working.

"You know why!" Yosuke snapped, turning round to slam a fist against the door. He hoped he'd hit where Souji's head was resting. It would serve him right to start bringing up a topic that shouldn't be up for discussion in the first place. "I need to be in here. I-I'll get hives or something." He joked awkwardly, trying to cover for his explosion.

"Are you planning to hurt anyone?" Souji asked.

"No…What kind of question is th—" Yosuke scratched the back of his head and gave a small glare at the door when he was cut off.

"Are you physically sick or disabled?"

Now he knew where Souji was trying to get at.

"Isn't being a loser a good enough excuse?" Yosuke stood and paced his mess of a room. He absently kicked at the empty soda cans and full trash bags that littered his floor. Two weeks worth of garbage that he'd let collect and grow into a disgusting pile. Maybe he would throw them outside his door and hope his mom dealt with it.

"I'd say you're more of a coward than a loser." Ouch, that actually stung.

It took Yosuke a while to recompose himself after such a blunt statement from his best friend. He knew his friend was right. Hiding like this solved nothing, but it made him feel more secure than he'd ever felt. He loved this feeling even though it was tainted with loneliness.

"You really know how to tear into someone." Yosuke shuffled his feet and then, after clearing his futon of dirty clothes, flopped back onto it. He stared idly at the ceiling. "I admit it. I'm a coward, okay." His voice shook. "Just leave. I'll come out when I'm ready. Just…not now."

The tears he held back finally fell when he heard Souji get up and leave. He lay there, shaking with sobs. It was only when he heard something slip under his door later that he forced himself up. Two new magazines wait for him.

Yosuke jumped up, pouncing on the magazines. But it wasn't those he was interested in. He pressed his eye close to the door crack, searching. He smiled. A familiar shoe shift and stepped away until it was no longer visible.

"Thanks, partner," he whispered.

"I think my dad's trying to starve me out of my room." Yosuke fiddled with his guitar, plucking at the strings, twisting the pegs, and then repeating the process. He bounced his phone higher on his shoulder, trying to prevent it from falling. "Mom hasn't given me any food for about two days. At first I thought she just forgot but now… Man what am I gonna do?"

"Your dad is smart," Souji replied.

Yosuke let out a noise of frustration. "Dude, he's starving me. I could die! I don't want to die an untouched virgin!"

"Your parents won't let you die. They're just worried," his best friend reassured. "But you may lose a few pounds if you don't do something about your food situation."

"Easier said than done, partner."

Giving up on tuning his guitar, Yosuke stood and logged onto his computer. No new emails what a surprise. At least his favorite blog had been updated. Not that he could concentrate on anything but his stomach eating itself.

"Go down and grab something from the fridge." Logic, Souji always liked using logic.

"It feels like I don't even live here anymore. I'd feel like I was stealing." Yosuke groaned and rubbed at his angry stomach. He grumbled. "Yeah, yeah I know you're hungry."

"Go to the convenience store and buy something," Souji suggested. "And don't say you can't. If you don't want to starve you'll go."

"Can't you just bring me something?"

Souji's tone was flat, unwavering. "No. I'm only enabling you partially until you're ready. Don't forget that I want you to open your door too."

"Jeez. Fine, I'll think of something!"

So here he was in the middle of the night shuffling his feet outside a bright little store. The light burned his eyes. He was so used to everything being dark in his room. He couldn't even remember the last time he opened his blinds. All he knew is that seeing kids walk home from school or playing was so depressing he made a vow to just keep them shut.

Yosuke stepped back away from the store. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. What if someone he knew was in there? He doubt any of his friends would be out at two in the morning but that didn't keep his heart from racing in his chest.

"Okay, I have to go. I have to go," he chant. Taking a deep breath he allowed himself to enter the store. He was welcomed with a cheerful beep as the door opened.

"Welcome," the worker drawled, not looking up from his magazine. Much to Yosuke's comfort the store was empty save him and the one running it.

He let out sigh and moved to grab any and everything he was willing to stuff into his mouth. He didn't even care about price. He just wanted to eat. Yosuke shuffled up to the counter and dropped his goods down.

Later he would thank Souji for the idea, now he would feast.

"Yosuke? Yosuke this is getting ridiculous son," Yosuke groaned and turned over in his futon. He sluggishly pulled the blanket over his head when his father continued to not shut up like he wished he would. "We're getting worried. You're behind in school, not eating properly, and it's not healthy to stay in that room all day. You need to come out." He waited patiently but he could sense that his dad was still standing there, hoping his son would finally give in. "Whatever this is about, your mother and I want to help you through it."

Oh, now they wanted to know about his life, his problems. They probably only want to know so they can get this situation over with so their reputation in the town would stop going down. Bad for the customers or something. Isn't that all his dad ever cared about? Well that and if his son's grades stunk because that would make him look bad.

Something at the back of his mind nagged him. This isn't what they really think. They do care. I want to go back outside. I want to prove that I'm not just the Junes kid. I want them to like me.

"Yosuke?"

He stood and leaned his forehead against the door protecting him from the outside world. "I'm sorry, dad…" No matter how hard he tried to keep the shakiness from his voice it still rang clear and he had to swallow hard to keep the tears back. There was a sigh and then something that vaguely sounded like a This isn't your fault.

That night he heard arguing. Arguing created because of him. It put enough guilt in him that his mind raced so badly he couldn't slow it down enough to sleep. Not that he would have been able to anyway. He'd fucked up his sleep schedule to the point where he slept in the day and woke at night. But this time he wanted those angered voices out of his head. Sleeping was the only option he could count on for that because he swore he could hear what they'd said in his music. The lyrics, which once comforted him, now frightened him so much he refused to touch his mp3 player. He still wore his headphones however, that proved to be comforting.

His fingers dug through the trash hiding his floor until he felt a smooth object. He let out a small noise of accomplishment and flipped it open to dial his best friend. His chest clenched when he was sent to Souji's voicemail. He tried again.

"Hello?"

"Partner! You worried me for a second. You busy?" Yosuke tried to keep his voice cheerful. He wanted normalcy not a pity party. "I'm bored. Wanna chat for a bit?"

Souji hummed into the phone. "I'm doing an essay." He must've made a disappointed noise because his friend quickly changed his mind. "But I can do it tomorrow."

"A-Are you sure? It's cool. I can wait and call you when it's done."

"What's wrong?" How does he do that? "Your voice sounds weird and you don't normally call me at this time of night unless it's about the Midnight Channel."

"It's nothing." Souji sounded unconvinced. "Seriously, dude! I'm just bored." He quickly changed the subject. "Any hot girls in school lately? That's what I miss the most. Seeing their legs and watching them move around in real life is better than both of our porn collections combined!"

"Same old same old," Souji drawled. "Although, Ai decided to alter her uniform skirt to fit a bit higher."

Yosuke groaned. "And I'm missing that? She just had to do it now. Get me a picture? Be stealthy. I know how you quiet types are. You're expert ninjas or something."

"Not a ninja, maybe more like a spy."

"Special Ops?"

"Of course."

This brought a smile and laughter to the once depressed boy. "Don't keep it all to yourself! You have to give me tips!"

"Maybe when I see you again," Souji answered. "Plus, you'd be a noisy spy or ninja. You could always try for something more like a pirate. But if I were to ever become a ninja we would be enemies."

Yosuke paused. "Dude, pirates aren't sneaky."

"Neither are you." He let out a huff of annoyance much to Souji's pleasure. "Plus, they do have sneaky qualities. How else would they steal?" Souji's voice moved from teasing to sincere. "Pirates also have a lot of good qualities. They're resourceful, brave, and persistent. They aren't book smart, but they're knowledgeable in what they need to be successful in other ways. And, even though they have a lot of unfavorable qualities there are the few who would choose a pirate over something cool and respectable like a ninja any day."

Yosuke stared down at his floor, phone trembling in his hand. His breath hitched and it took all his might not to let Souji know that his words had him blubbering like a little girl. "D-Dude, that was so gay." He could only imagine what his best friend was thinking on the other line hearing his harsh breaths. "That's so gay," he repeated. "Who the hell likes pirates anymore?"

"I do. I still think they're cool." A sob escaped, then another until Yosuke fully broke down.

"I'm sorry, partner. I don't know why…" He rubbed at his eyes and leaned over for a tissue to quell the snot leaking from his nose. "I think it's because I ate something with onions in it earlier. I didn't finish it so it's still laying around somewhere. It's bothering my eyes."

"I understand. Do you want me to go?" Souji asked.

"No!" Yosuke rushed. "I just need a minute is all. Don't tell anyone about this okay?"

"Not a word. But I'll tell them to stay away from strong smelling onions."

Yosuke choked out a laugh. "Partner…"

"I want to stay, but Nakako seems upset my uncle isn't coming home tonight. Do you need me to call back later?" Souji seemed hesitant.

"No, I'll throw out the onions and I'll be fine. Don't worry. Go take care of Nanako-chan. She needs her big bro." And after a quick goodbye the line grew silent. Yosuke still clutched the phone in his hand after flipping it shut, a smile on his face. He still didn't get any sleep but he felt a little better about himself, even if everything Souji had said sounded like it was straight out of a chick-flick.

That pleasant mood followed him into the next day. He cleaned his room while his parents were out to work, even did so much as take his first steps out into the sun to put the garbage on the curb.

"I should at least study if I want to go back to school, right?" His eyes shift to his damaged schoolbooks. There was no saving them. He sighed and seated himself at his computer. He remembered the curriculum he could just study online.

He lasted only an hour before he threw his keyboard to the floor. Souji's comforting words became pushed to the back of his mind and his previous self-loathing kicked back in. At least in the shelter of his room he didn't have to pretend all of this wasn't getting to him, that he was still as happy as ever. Yosuke flopped onto his futon, unmoving until his phone beeped.

From: Souji

It's a raining and they'll be fog when it ends. Watch the Midnight Channel.

Yosuke shut his phone and turned to his TV. Why did he need to watch it when he no longer fought with them? Still, he was just as curious as he always was when it came to nights like these. His heart thrummed in anticipation and he held his breath as he wait for the last few minutes to tick by.

Midnight.

He switched the TV on and sat close to the screen. They really shouldn't be expecting anyone. Things had been peaceful when he locked himself in his room, and Souji would have told him if things had changed for the worse.

A shadow of a figure stood on the screen. Yosuke moved closer and squint trying to make out the person's identity. They were tall, but not as tall as Kanji, not as short as Teddie and they looked to be male judging by the shoulders and stance. The screen flickered briefly showing the clothing and face. Yosuke shot back, stumbling until his back hit the floor painfully.

He jumped at the sound of his cell phone exploding with texts until it finally rang. He let it go to voicemail. His throat felt constricted. He could barely swallow nonetheless talk to Souji. Instead, he checked his text.

Did you see?

Yeah…Yeah he did see and it terrified him. When did things get so bad?

No comments besides: I'm so sorry about that sappy moment between Souji and Yosuke. Ninjas vs. Pirates...I don't even know where that line of thinking on my part came from.

As always I love to hear thoughts on the story. I really do want to know if you're enjoying this. Gives me motivation! And I need it...school is starting soon. Ugh.