It was much too easy. All Junpei had to do was hang back and conserve his energy until Akihiko finally said, "I can't believe I'm this tired." Then he waited a suitable interval and told everyone he was beat, too. As Junpei had known he would, Minato decided to stop for the night. They all headed back to the dorm to go to bed.

Junpei knew that Akihiko always locked his door, so the next part was a little trickier. He hung back in the lobby and asked Akihiko something inconsequential about school. Akihiko was tired and didn't notice anything unusual. Junpei watched Minato ascend the stairs and then waited two more minutes.

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Thanks for explaining, Senpai." Junpei put a hand to his mouth as if he were stifling a yawn.

"Sure…" Akihiko did yawn. Then he turned to go up the stairs. All he was focused on was getting to bed. As he tiredly unlocked his door, he heard the sound of steps coming at him fast. He only just had time to look up and then he felt himself being shoved backwards into his room. The light from the doorway rapidly shrank as the door swung shut behind him. Then there was only blackness, leaving him blind until his eyes had a chance to adjust.

"What…" He found himself fighting, grappling with someone there in the dark. Normally that wouldn't have been a problem, but he was tired and confused. He swung but his opponent ducked and got behind him, taking him momentarily off balance with a kick to the back of his knees.

He reached to brace himself instead of ducking and tumbling, and his palms hit the bed. Then a weight was on him and he felt a hand clamp his jaw and force his head to the side. A voice next to his ear said, "It's only me."

Akihiko was dismayed and angry. "What the hell do you think you're--" Then his words were cut off abruptly. It was a bruising kiss, with teeth behind it, and Akihiko struggled under him. He felt Junpei's hands as they worked roughly to undo his clothes and realized for the first time what this must be. That gave him a kind of new, desperate energy, but it still wasn't enough. His exhausted mind wondered how Junpei could still be so fresh after fighting all night.

"Come on, it's not like we haven't done this before," Junpei panted a little with all the effort Akihiko was giving him.

"Then why are you doing it this way…instead of asking…" Akihiko clung to the hope that he could either reason with him, or stall him and wear him down.

"You would have said no."

"Damned right I would have…" Akihiko fought to keep ahold of his pants but Junpei finally tore them down. He focused next on wriggling from side to side. "What the hell brought this on…anyway?" He refused to panic.

"She… … …She's scared I'll…" Junpei's voice lost it's edge and he gulped, unable to continue. He suddenly seemed like he was going to stop, like he was just a frightened boy who had done something stupid and he was realizing it now.

Akihiko looked back over his shoulder. "Junpei," he started to say, carefully. Then he gasped and his chin hit his chest as his mind froze around the impossible thing that had just happened.

Junpei's voice was softer now, but the edge was back, sharper. "I can't let that happen."

The world was moving, or no, it was the bed, it was them, and Akihiko stared blankly at the headboard before he came back to himself and the awful reality of what was happening. He gripped Junpei's arm and braced himself against the bed. He couldn't reason anymore, he couldn't force him off, and he was damned if he was going to cry or beg. He stayed quiet and waited for it to be over.

Junpei felt condemned by Akihiko's silence. "You were the one who did this to me."

Akihiko's grip loosened. "If your breaking point is so low…then you're weaker than I thought you were." He wasn't struggling now, and Junpei finally realized that Akihiko must have decided it would be over faster if he gave in. Something about that made Junpei far angrier than Akihiko's words ever could.

He put a hand under Akihiko's chin, jerking it up so he could whisper against his ear. "You know, I hope you're right…I hope he's watching you from Heaven. Right. Now."

That statement succeeded in doing what no amount of physical pain would. Junpei felt Akihiko start to shake under him and he silently clamped his hand over Akihiko's eyes. At least, this way, Junpei couldn't see him break down. He tightened his other hand on Akihiko's shoulder as he felt the wetness build against the inside of his palm.

Finally, Akihiko pulled Junpei's hand away. He sank his teeth into the side of it and the pain was so intense it made Junpei dizzy. He only smiled though, and said, "That's okay. This isn't the worst you've hurt me."

He pulled Akihiko closer and the bedsprings groaned under them. Akihiko let Junpei's hand slip from his mouth as his head fell to the side. He clutched blindly at the sheets and tried to breathe, eyes unfocused. Junpei felt little pity as he looked down at him. "You can drop the act," he breathed. "I know you're used to this. You can't try and tell me Aragaki-senpai was gentle."

"Stop…"

Junpei chose his next words very deliberately. "…not yet."

"Look…we didn't," Akihiko managed to gasp. "I never told him how I felt." He dug his fingers into the bed and lowered his chin.

Junpei stopped cold. "Then…"

Akihiko took the chance to grab the headboard and drag himself away. As he turned to slump back against it he said in a tired voice, "You were the only one."

Junpei waited for him to do something now that he was free, but Akihiko had nothing left in him. Finally Junpei reached over and roughly wiped Akihiko's eyes with his thumb. Then he sat back. "I'll leave. You should sleep."

Akihiko shut his eyes. "Do you really think I'll sleep?"

Junpei smiled just faintly, and Akihiko heard him say, "I can put you to sleep with one kiss." A second later he felt Junpei's mouth on his and something hard and cold under his chin. Junpei pulled the trigger and they both reeled from the impact.

For a moment an impossible mingling of chrome and ivory shifted above their heads. Caesar flickered and melted away as Akihiko passed out, his body unable to handle the strain of summoning a persona. Hermes lingered a moment longer and then faded as well.

Junpei slid Akihiko's Evoker back into it's holster and got out of bed. He had been wrong about everything, but he was used to that by now. Gently, he laid Akihiko back into what he hoped was a comfortable sleeping position. Then he left.