Hey, sorry, I know, updates are slowing to a crawl here, I used to be able to get 2-3 Chapter out a week, no it's two a month if I'm lucky. Sorry, real life gets in the way like the pain in the ass that it is.

Reviews are appreciated and ShuMako is canon, don't at me


When Makoto was walking around town, feeling uncertain about herself, she could clearly remember much lonelier days. Sad, painful, and horribly awful lonely days.

She remembers what it was like when her heart felt so empty, that she wondered if she'd ever find a reason to truly smile again. Her life has come to be defined by two acronyms in her heart. BR, Before Ren, and AR, After Ren, because of how significantly he changed her whole world.

Before Ren (BR), the reasons to smile had dwindled so much that Makoto hadn't smiled a really true smile in many years. Life became almost robotic after her parents had died. Makoto had often felt like she deserved to not have reasons to smile, since her Father's warm smile that would fill the whole household with happiness was gone. She never felt sorry for herself, and she never asked anyone to sympathize with, or for her.

Life was a chore. Waking up each day, doing the same old thing, over and over, and over again. Makoto keeps walking through the dark city, looking at the bright lights, even as she remembers the pain of her past.

Then...her third year of Shujin Academy begun. Makoto hadn't expected her whole life to take a one hundred and eighty degree turn, but that is exactly what happened...and AR all started with the a mop of black shaggy hair.

She thought he was a trouble-making boy, but he would later prove her wrong, and show that he was an admirable young man. He reacted in a very unexpected manner when she explained that her situation to him.

When he agreed to let her fight alongside them, Makoto had an aching flashback to her Father, and she could practically see him in this brainless kid, offering his help without a second thought.

Johanna offered him a way to save her family, and she took it, not only that, she nearly annihilated all enemies then and there. That's when it started. All of a sudden, physically, emotionally, and mentally, she no longer felt alone. It's pretty impossible to feel alone, when you're connected with someone else, through the power of your own Persona.

At first, she tried to act like it was a pain, but no matter what she said out loud, she was inwardly drawn to the black haired boy who had the ability to make her forget everyone and everything else around her.

Makoto was glad he wasn't involved romantically with another girl, and most of all, she was looking forward to getting to know this boy. He had impressed her a great deal the first time he killed a shadow.

Makoto found that she could read this boy even when he was trying to be a tough or cool guy. She had been shocked when he'd asked her rhetorically, if she joined the Phantom Thieves out of a sense of duty, and it seemed that deep down, he knew there was more to it all, than what she had chosen to share with him.

That was the moment she realized, that he could feel the connection too, no matter how much they both tried to act like the other was just a friend, they were both enjoying this tag team partnership, far more than either of them ever expected to.

Makoto stares up at the sky, as she keeps walking around Shibuya, and continues to contemplate hers and Ren's story.

Then, right as Makoto was realizing that she had actually fallen in love for the Ren haired teen, she was ripped away from him, locked up in Juvie.

Makoto did her best to keep Ren alive in her memories, and even went so far as to discuss him with her sister. When he had returned to LeBlanc, her heart had literally done a dance, at the sight of him. She had been surprised when he walked past her, but she knew, immediately, that he was far too emotional to address her right away. He accepts the fact that she loves him so much that sometimes, words just can't come out.

That day, when they faced the False God, was the day she realized that he loves her so much that he can't stand to see her get hurt either. So they have both saved each other, and they no longer keep track of who has saved who more times...they only love each other silently...and deeply.

Earlier today, Sae called to tell her they had to move, temperately, but still. The apartment had an electrical problem, a major one that basically required the building to be torn apart. Sae told her that they only place they could afford to rent out was deep in the countryside. The problem wasn't that school was in the way or anything, it was summer break, it was the distance, it was miles away. Her heart despaired, until Sae asked if she would like to stay with Ren,

Makoto hadn't answered right away, and that's why Ren is mad at her. She had told her Sister that she would call him back and then she informed Ren what she had been offered. Ren had looked awfully hurt for an instant, and then he'd glared at her.

"Is there someplace you would rather be, than here?" Ren had asked her, and Makoto had just stared at him, dumbfounded.

She hadn't answered Sae, because she felt like she should ask Ren what he wants, but she hadn't even been able to get that far in her explanation, because all he had to do, was hear what was offered to get mad, and get her side tracked from her original explanation.

So, instead of clarifying her point, she had gotten mad back, in response to his anger.

"Did anybody ever tell you that you're a complete and total idiot?!" Makoto had shouted at him, before she'd stormed out. He hadn't followed her, and she hasn't gone back.

It's been a couple of hours now...and she's been walking around. She remembers each and every moment she's shared with him, and she knows how their love has slowly bloomed into something rare and beautiful, a once in a lifetime kind of love.

Soul mates.

Makoto keeps walking around the city for an hour. When she walks onto a bridge, she sees Ren...just standing there. The bridge may look nothing like the one in they used to climb into Kaneshiro's Bank, but it brings back all kinds of memories, just because it's a bridge. Bridges have had that effect on her for awhile now.

She slowly walks towards him and then stops, ten or so meters, away from him. She looks at him, and once again he manages to shock the hell out of her.

"You'd better stay here with me!" Ren calls out to her, quite loudly, and then he looks at her, expectantly.

Makoto knows. She ran away from him at his house earlier, and now she has to run back to him. She has a decision to make. To walk away or to run back to him...and the look on his face is ordering her to follow her heart, to chase her dreams, and to chase him. To...make beats with her feet.

Makoto takes a deep breath and runs towards him at top speed. He has a soft and welcoming smile on his face, and Makoto is helpless to do anything other than follow her heart…straight to Ren.

When she's almost to him, he yanks his hands out of his pockets and opens his arms to her. Makoto doesn't even think about it, she flies right into his arms, and hugs him fiercely. He hugs her back with no sign of letting go, and Makoto savors it. The feel of his arms holding her is nearly magical. It's more amazing than a -dyne level spell.

"That's what I want, Ren...to stay here with you, always!" Makoto admits, in an emotional voice.

Ren doesn't talk, because he can't. His Queen has brought him nearly to tears, because he can feel her emotions as if they're his own. So Ren answers her, by pulling away and claiming her lips in a possessive, but loving kiss.

"Running away from me, is not an option...Makoto." Ren whispers, when they finally pull away.

Makoto nods as he takes her hand and they walk off the bridge to head for home. A happiness far greater than what she had ever experienced in her past is now upon her, and she's grateful to Ren for giving her all of that.

I'll never run away from you, Ren.