Sebastian, unable to sleep on his side, took almost fifteen minutes to find a comfortable position to sleep in in his current state. With his ribs being broken and his sternum cracked, as much as he enjoyed having Naoto draped across him, found it most suitable for recovery and sleep when he was on his back. It took the pressure off his ribs and chest and applied the pressure to his shoulders. He was truly thankful he hadn't had his shoulder broken. He would have been in much rougher shape.
He fell asleep soon after turning over onto his back. Naoto pressed herself along his side and cradled his head into her neck, careful of his nose and head as she held him. His arms, weak and bandaged, reached up to grab onto her arm which she draped across his chest. As they found a comfortable spot, they said nothing to one another. To the both of them, this wasn't just about getting comfortable before passing out from the days and nights and mornings events. It was something different. Sebastian didn't know how to explain it. It was foreign to him. To Naoto, though what they were doing was rare, was not foreign.
She was so thankful they were alone; if only for the time being. As he slept in her arms, she would occasionally stroke his hair or kiss his forehead. As mad at him as she wanted to be, she couldn't find it in herself to speak out. She wanted to tell him how stupid he had been. To tell him how foolish and selfish his actions had been and how they had led to his current situation. But in the end, he was the only one able to speak what she could not. She was afraid she had lost him; but what did that mean? Afraid she had lost her partner? Her friend? Her lover? Her stranger? What kind of loss was truly what she had feared?
Sebastian murred quietly and leaned his face up into her neck, his lips grazing her skin. She felt herself smile slightly and her arms wrapped a little tighter around him as she closed her eyes.
"Idiot…"
She leaned her head back against his pillow and drew her jacket a little higher to cover him up to his shoulders and up to her chest. Her legs attempted to draw up as they normally did when she went to sleep, but was unable to with Sebastian's form lying next to her. Instead she drew her leg overtop of his, curling herself up to him. They held onto each other for support. Right now, they needed one another. He needed support and care, and she needed to be there for him in his time of need just as she should have been. At the same time, she needed companionship.
She rested her face against the top of his head, falling asleep to the smell of his hair. Through the blood and glass and chemicals and standard issue hospital soap, his smell pushed through all of it and caused her to fall asleep. She held him close to her neck and chest, subconsciously afraid to let go.
The stream of nurses and doctors that came in to view the scene left them alone. Some even decided to be quiet on their approach. They would check Sebastian's chart at the end of his bed or mark down whatever information they needed from the machines he was hooked up to. But in the long run, they left the two alone.
Even Dojima, who had come to see Sebastian when he couldn't get through to Naoto's phone, decided to leave them alone. At first sight he had been a little disappointed in Naoto when he saw her draped across this boy. That was the first impression. The second impression came when he looked at her face. The little smile she wore, the way her arms cradled the broken detective, and the way their hands almost touched. He couldn't blame her for making up her mind. He had decided to leave; come back in a few more hours.
Sebastian woke up first, the pain in his chest having forced him out of slumber. He looked at the clock. They had been out for several hours. The sun was high in the grey sky. Somewhere around noon. No. it was winter. Probably eleven or ten. He shook his head to focus and looked at the clock again. It was 2pm. His constant stream of morphine and lack of sleep was making it hard for him to concentrate or focus even on something as simple as telling the time. This was going to be a difficult recovery.
He craned his head up into the face of Naoto who was still asleep against the pillows. He smiled slightly and with a clench of his teeth, scooted a little closer to her, placing his face into her soft neck. She smelled wonderful; though it hurt to breathe in from his broken nose.
Naoto stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She yawned and looked down to Sebastian looking up to her. She suddenly felt very embarrassed and tried to pull herself away but Sebastian held onto her.
"Don't go"
Naoto felt caught between her instinct to pull away and her want to stay close. She could physically feel herself pulling away from him and yet wanting to stay right there beside him. It was difficult. She willed herself to stay where she was although she pulled her arm away from around Sebastian. Upon realization, she lowered her leg as well.
"How do you feel?"
"Better. Can you help me sit up?"
Naoto slid her arms gently under his as he tried to pull himself up to sit. It took a few minutes on his shaking arms to get himself up, but eventually he managed to sit and rest his back against the thick plastic yellow headboard of his hospital bed. Moving the bed to a sitting position didn't come to mind until after he was already sitting.
"What are we going to do, Naoto?"
He turned to look at her, his bandaged hand reaching for hers again. He was still in rough shape; although after the sleep and comfort she had given him, he seemed a bit more stable. He had been severely shaken from the altercation with Simon. Long lasting effects were to be expected. Perhaps comfort is what he needed most. It wasn't as though Volf could give it to him.
"What do your instincts say?"
Naoto hadn't considered their next move. Did they even have a next move? Sebastian was out of commission until he had recovered. If she took him to the shadow world and summoned Volf, she couldn't imagine what it would do to his body in an already crumpled state. And she couldn't take on Simon on her own. No doubt the spider would destroy her. And her friends…they…could help. But did she really want them to help? Would they be able to?
It had been years since they had used their personas for an actual fight. They would all be out of practice. Kanji was busy with his business deal, Yukiko was busy taking over the business, Chie had a career ahead of her, Teddie and Yosuke were moving on with their lives, and she…she was here. Did she really want to put the lives of her friends in danger?
"My instincts say we are in a bad place right now; a dangerous situation."
"I suppose all we can do is wait for Simon's call"
"Will he call you?"
"He always does…"
As if on command, the phone in Naoto's breast pocket began to ring on Sebastian's lap. He reached down into the jacket to pull his phone out. He would have asked several questions to Naoto as to why she had his phone. But he was almost certain she would have several different answers that would justify it.
Incoming call: unknown
Sebastian sighed and showed Naoto the screen
"Speak of the devil…"
Naoto slid her finger across the screen and Sebastian hit the button for speaker phone.
"Hello, Simon"
"Detective Chastity…"
There was frustration in his voice.
"How much harder to I have to hit you to stop your heart?"
Naoto spoke up.
"For the record, Mr. Simon, You did end up killing him"
"Mr. Shirogane, it's good to finally hear your voice. And a little disappointing, Sebastian"
Sebastian glanced to Naoto for a moment and made a mental note.
"Disappointing? How?"
"Well I did give you specific instructions…"
"And the game is over, Simon. You said that if I broke the rules that you would kill me. Well you did that. I lost the game. So the game is over"
"You have a funny logic, Detective Chastity, but I suppose the logic makes sense."
"What do you want, Mr. Simon?"
"Well, Mr. Shirogane, I am calling to say I need a bit of a break from our little adventure"
Naoto looked to Sebastian for a moment before speaking.
"I do not understand what you mean by 'break'"
"Well you see, I am still growing as a person. I still live at home. Christmas is coming quickly and I want to spend time with my mother over the Christmas break. Then shortly after Christmas is New Year's Eve and day. January is quite clean but then we have Valentine's Day in February and there is a girl I want to ask to the school dance. So in order to do that, I need to start forming a relationship with her.
You see, this is a business for me. I kill people who carry a persona inside of them. I offer to kill them for money. Once I find a victim, I have to stalk them. I have to follow them and learn their moves and habits in order to find the perfect time to pull them inside the television and kill them. It takes time and effort. It's my business. This business is very hard to keep alive in itself; especially when I have school and tests and exams and studying. It's only by the grace of god that I haven't just stopped and waited for my academic career to be over. But you see, I have a goal I need to reach and that goal takes time. In short, I'm on vacation"
"Do murderers take vacations, Simon?"
"This one does, Detective Chastity. My business resumes in March. Then, I will kill someone every day for you. I can't imagine the headlines in your town, Mr. Shirogane. The bodies piling in the streets. Retaliation. The army getting involved and the stories. The businesses that will shut down and leave, how desperate people will be to stay away because of superstition. Can you imagine what your town looks like when it's abandoned?"
Naoto felt her hands ball up tightly, her fingernails digging into the skin.
"Damn you…"
Simon chuckled on the other side.
"I will kill someone every day; persona user or not. Unless…"
Sebastian sighed.
"Unless?"
"I get to eat you two"
Naoto and Sebastian exchanged glances.
"If you two come into the shadow world and let me eat your personas, I won't kill the innocent"
"But you will keep killing persona users and shadows, won't you, Simon?"
"Well yes. But you can protect and serve the people by serving yourselves to me"
There was a moment of silence between the three of them. December, January, February. Less than three months to train Naoto to use her Persona like he did. Less than three months to make a full recovery. Was it enough time? It didn't matter even if it wasn't. They were on a tight schedule.
"Very well, ."
Sebastian was a little surprised to hear Naoto answer first.
"March 1st. Same location you attacked Sebastian?"
"Sounds delightful, Mr. Shirogane. I do so enjoy little walks down memory road. See you two on the first. Goodbye Mr. Shirogane, Detective Chastity"
"See you soon, Matthew"
There was a pause of silence before Sebastian hung up the phone with a tap of the red button. He smiled slightly and looked at Naoto.
"How much panic do you think he just experienced when I said his name?"
Naoto smiled and stretched in her spot.
"Tell me, Sebastian, what's our next move?"
Sebastian sighed and let his head fall back against the headboard.
"I need to get out of this bed and start your training. I'll be in here for the next little while so you need to start your training on your own. Every night I want you go to home and talk with Yamato. Learn about her. Her likes and dislikes. If you two have a fight or argument then you need to apologize and reconcile quickly. Your persona is an extension of you and will be used as such. At the same time, Yamato is her own individual. You must learn her. Be her friend rather than her host. And once you have become a friend, you may learn to trust her. Remember, she is a child to you. It will be complicated at times. She is young. Be patient"
He ran his hands along his face as he considered what he really needed to do and the reality came down on him.
"I have to teach you fourteen years of trial and error in three months. I can't imagine how this is going to work…"
"One day at a time I suppose"
And so, time passed…
It took Sebastian fourteen days to be released from the hospital. Within the first four days he was able to force himself up into a sitting position and within seven he was able to get his feet on the floor. By ten he was walking around his room, and by the twelfth day he was walking slowly up and down the hallways of the hospital. While Naoto was at home or at the office updating her superiors with whatever story she had tried to conjure up, Sebastian was wondering the halls of the hospital. His recovering time had been rather quick for six broken ribs and a cracked sternum, but the morphine and other pain killers in his body had allowed him to start rebuilding his muscles that he had been afraid had become soft and stiff from laying in a bed for too long.
On more than one occasion he had been chased by nurses and doctors to stop and rest, but he couldn't stop. Too much was stacked against them and he couldn't train Naoto stuck in this building. He needed to get her and train her with weapon in hand and not just a few homework lessons. He couldn't just send her home with a lesson like "listen to her speak" or "try to feel her inside of you" or something as equally obtuse. He needed to sit down with her and guide her through an event or an outreach.
Four times in the course of his walking did Sebastian have to be stopped by nurses and doctors in order to re-stitch up his wounds; them having opened up from the stress of movement. If he gave himself irreversible damage and turned the small scars he was to receive into large ugly ones, then it would be worth it to ensure that Simon was stopped. His safety and wellbeing was not something he was concerned with. What he needed to do was force the evolution of Naoto and Yamato. The needs of the few did not outweigh the needs of the many.
While Sebastian was walking up and down the halls of the hospital, Naoto had taken time to herself to try and really communicate with her persona. The first night he was awake, she had gone home and left Sebastian in order to have a talk with her persona. The first thing on the agenda was to talk themselves through their previous altercation and reconcile before any more progress could be made.
Naoto was angry at Yamato for her influence and actions, but she also understood why it had been necessary and she was thankful that Yamato had been there to protect and keep her safe. They had to meet in the middle somewhere and they had.
Naoto was a detective. She used her brains and the folly of the one she was trying to catch in order to succeed in a complicated situation. Yamato was a soldier. A warrior who used her speed, cunning, and sword in order to stop their opposition. It was, in every essence, a difficult situation. Brains VS. brawn. But if any progress between the two was to be made, they would have to be able to stand on even ground.
With the understanding out in the open, Naoto had made a deal that she would take up a physical conditioning of some sort to keep Yamato's urge for combat in check and not have it boil over. Every day for one hour, Naoto would go running and improve on her cardio like she had said she would back in October when she would spy on Sebastian. It had been agreed upon by both parties. It was strange having a deal with a voice inside your head that was essentially you. Sebastian had told her not to think too hard on it and she had agreed. It would have been too confusing in itself to make sense.
In return for the physical conditioning, Naoto would sit with Yamato every evening and have Yamato speak about herself. Her favorite color, her favorite weather, the kinds of music she liked and the food she enjoyed that Naoto ate. Naoto found herself, on more than one occasion, ordering more food than was necessary from take-out to quell the hunger she had. She was beginning to develop the hunger that Sebastian experienced with Volf. She understood what it meant to eat for two now. Maybe it was just the jogging that was making her hungrier, but she wasn't so sure.
Naoto was enjoying the company with Yamato more and more as the days went on. At the same time, there were things about her that Naoto found a little strange. Yamato always spoke her mind; she was honest. She had nothing to hide from Naoto when she spoke. Yamato had an honesty that Naoto found concerning. If Yamato was a physical representation of Naoto, then where did the honesty come from? She had spent most of her life trying to be something else and even now still disguised herself as a boy. Perhaps it came from the shadow that Yamato had once been.
Yamato, on the other hand, accepted who she was and was proud to be who and what she was. Naoto was not as honest as Yamato; but at least if Yamato said anything, it would be inside of Naoto's head and not to the ears of the public. She was thankful for that.
When Naoto went to pick Sebastian up from the hospital, he reveled in his complementary wheelchair ride to the door. It was good to see a smile on his face again. His eye was vastly less puffy now and other than being a light purple and green, had reverted back to its original size. His nose was yellow from the tip to the bridge and was still slightly swollen. The damage was deep for swelling to have continued this far into recovery. It would take another week or two for his nose to finish healing. His ribs would take another 3 to four weeks to heal fully. He would have to spend more time in bed to heal; longer mornings and nights. Even then, it would take longer for him to recover.
She had had the suit he had been wearing into the hospital dry cleaned along with her own suit. As he walked down the long ramp towards the pickup zone, it was a strange thing to see him on the move in the suit he had been brought into the hospital wearing. She was still wearing her old uniform. She liked the new suit he had purchased for her, but she still like this one.
She unlocked the passenger door for him as he eased himself down into his seat with a small grunt, carefully strapping himself into his seat.
"First thing is first, we need to go to the shopping district. I need something from your blacksmith"
Naoto was quiet for a moment.
"Everything is fine, Sebastian. Thank you for asking"
Sebastian leaned his head back and closed his eyes
"Sorry. How are you doing?"
Naoto put the car in drive.
"Yamato and I have been making progress. How is your recovery process?"
"My chest and back hurts"
"Did the doctors give you anything to help with the pain?"
"They did."
The car was quiet for a bit as she drove back into town. Sebastian was happy to see it again having spent too long inside the hospital. He wasn't one for staying inside; especially if he was chained there.
"I'm glad to be out…"
"We're glad to have you out"
Sebastian reached over and placed his hand on her leg momentarily, giving it a squeeze.
"Thank you for being there for me, Naoto"
Naoto felt her leg getting heavier on the gas and fought to keep herself concentrated on the road
"No problem"
"Naoto, I mean it"
He rubbed her leg for a moment before returning to his side of the car
"Thank you. It's good to know who I can rely on"
Naoto smiled a little, unsure if it was from Yamato or a genuine smile.
"It is a pleasure, Sebastian"
They didn't need to speak for the rest of the trip as they drove into town. Naoto parked outside the blacksmith shop and helped Sebastian to get his seatbelt off.
"Does the seatbelt hurt?"
She opened her door and went to the other side to open his. He waved her off. He was still stubborn.
"Only when you brake too quickly. Would you mind staying here? I'll only be a moment"
Naoto nodded and stayed by the car as he slowly walked across the street, one of his arms pressing across his chest and along his side as he moved. He didn't have time to feel pain. It wasn't fair that he had to go through this alone. She would need to be there for him over the next coming weeks while his bones healed. She would need to make sure the pride of the Volf did not interfere with his recovery.
'Make sure to keep a tight leash on him'
"Don't say leash around him"
Sebastian returned quickly with a large black satin bag. He carried it in his free hand while the other held himself tightly around the midsection. When he approached he waved her off
"I can do this myself, Naoto"
"Sebastian, you can't-"
"Listen to me-"
Naoto grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the car
"No. You listen. You don't get to make this decision"
Sebastian dropped the satin bag and brought his other arm around his chest. She felt terrible for hurting him, but she couldn't let it show.
"Time is against us. I understand that. But until you can run a mile, hike a mountain, swim a length, whatever it is that you do, you don't get to push me aside and try to do this on your own. I understand that you are out of the hospital, but as far as I'm concerned, you are still the little boy who held on tight and cried his sorrys."
Sebastian didn't want to look at her
"You are in a very weak and damaged state. Just because you are out of the hospital does not mean you are one hundred percent. You are still broken and bruised and damaged. So until that time that you are healed and fully recovered, don't you think for a moment that I will let you play the part of the tough guy. Do you understand?"
Sebastian nodded his head after a moment. She could see the foolish Volf pride and turned his head to face her with both her hands, forcing him to look at her.
"Did you learn nothing from death?"
Sebastian bit his tongue, trying to block out one pain for another; but it wasn't the pain from his ribs.
"Time is against us. So rather than try and prove something to no one, let me help you. I want to help."
A few people had stopped along the street to watch the two of them. Only now did Naoto realize this. Under normal circumstances she would have been embarrassed, but right now she didn't care. This wasn't about them. It was about her and Sebastian. She lowered her hands and he kept his eyes on her. She leaned her head down on his chest. She did not rest the side against it or press against him. It wasn't that kind of moment. She needed to get her point across.
"I don't want to lose you again…"
Sebastian took a moment to gather himself before speaking. She leaned her head up, looking slightly up to him. She lifted the rim of her hat up.
"I'm sorry, Naoto."
"Good…"
"…Can you help me into the car?"
Naoto nodded and opened the door a little wider for him, taking his arm as he sat down with a grunt. She pulled at his seatbelt and handed it to him so he didn't have to turn before she got into the car and continued their drive back to his residence.
When he returned home, he unclipped his seatbelt but couldn't open his door. She opened it for him and helped him from the vehicle. His steps were slow and weak, but he would be ok for walking in the next few days. Until then, she would probably have to stay with him. It made sense to. While he was recovering, he would teach her how to interact with her persona during a battle with a shadow. Win win.
Sebastian stepped into the house and was greeted with the blood trail on the floor. Dark brown streaks ran along the carpet towards the television where his pool was. He stepped inside and braced himself against the wall as he moved, shaking himself free of her. Blood. His blood.
He felt dizzy and started to slide down the wall. Naoto was there to catch him.
"Are you alright…?"
Sebastian just stared at the blood in the carpet.
"How bad did I look?"
"…Awful"
Sebastian turned his head slightly and pressed it into Naoto's neck.
"Thank you for being there. Thank you for coming in to work on the case. Thank you for putting up with me"
Naoto helped him stand and helped him into the kitchen, sitting him down on one of the chairs. He was still so weak. He was having a hard time standing, let alone walking. She took a seat opposite him.
"I need to call someone to have the carpet cleaned. Professionals."
"I can phone some people"
"Get whoever can get here fastest and get this place clean. I have a Christmas dinner to make in a few days."
Naoto smiled.
"Still planning to go through with it?"
"I am"
There was a moment's silence.
"Invite your friends"
"Pardon?"
"Invite your friends over for Christmas dinner. There are a few I haven't met yet. I want to learn about the other wielders in this town. So far they have all been very nice people. I want to meet them. Have the dinner I promised Teddie and Yosuke"
"Are you sure you are up to it in your current condition?"
"No. But I think the two of us are"
Naoto smiled. He was involving her. Good. A good start.
"Naoto, in the bag I brought to the car, there are two bokken swords. The first step of your training will be for you to learn how to fight as your persona"
"Are you speaking from experience?"
"Volf fights with his hands and a sword; although he prefers hand to hand combat. I had to learn to fight with both."
"Then how did Simon hurt you so terribly?"
"He punched me in the nose"
"Therefore…?"
"When you punch someone in the nose, they can't see. Sensory scramble"
"So you want me to learn my persona's fighting style?"
"I want you to learn how to fight with a sword. I want to see you conduct the London symphony orchestra with it"
"I have never handled a sword before"
"With a persona like yours, it doesn't matter"
Sebastian reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small pill bottle. He opened the top and swallowed one of the small red pills inside.
"Go get them. We can start with your movements being guided through Yamato."