Disclaimer: If I owned Persona 3, there would have been another alternate ending. Just saying.
A/N: So, I intend for this to be a series of one-shots, but with fanfics I just have to wait for inspiration to strike. Hopefully it won't be too long between posts. And just, AAAAHHH. This pairing. I don't cry at sad movies or books or anything, but these two. These two kill me every single time. I hope I do them justice.
I. Rascals
"Do you think I'm troublesome?" he asks one day as they sit on the riverbank, his head resting in her lap. His eyes are closed, and he's smiling. It's a gentle expression - one that reminds her of warm morning light, falling through the curtains and across her bed.
She thinks for a moment, absently rubbing the edge of his scarf between her fingers.
"I think . . . I'm going to have my hands full with you," she decides.
That smile takes a mischievous turn.
One eye peels open, slowly.
"Sounds good to me."
". . ."
"Hm?"
"Ryoji!"
She gives his scarf a little yank, and he laughs, pulling at the fabric around his neck and then at her wrists. His hair is all ruffled in the back now, and it flares around his head. In that moment, he looks so young.
"However you think I meant it, I didn't mean it that way – Minako! Okay, okay – I'm at your mercy!"
She laughs too, easily swatting his hands away.
A short while later they are quiet again, and she watches the water as the light plays across it. Peace is so strange to her now, after so many nights in a row exploring Tartarus. Secretly she hopes that the others will be too tired to want to go at it again. That nap she took during composition barely helped her at all, and her arm is sore.
Ryoji's hand slips under hers and gathers it up, brings it to his lips.
"I feel better now," he says quietly.
She looks down at him. His eyes are closed, expression content.
"Were you not feeling well earlier?" she asks.
"Huh? No. I mean, I wasn't ill or anything. Just this feeling I had, but it's gone now." Still holding it, he rests her hand on his chest and turns his head to look out at the water. He sighs, wistful. "I wish we could just stay here."
She brushes hair out of his face with her free hand. "We can come back tomorrow. Oh – no, we can't. I have plans with Rio . . . Ryoji, don't pout."
"You shouldn't get my hopes up like that."
"Oh, poor you. Hang out with Junpei - he was complaining about not having plans."
"Okaaaay."
She sighs with feigned annoyance. "You are troublesome."
He beams up at her. "You wouldn't love me if I wasn't."
Minako gives his scarf another small, threatening yank, and he catches her other hand. Keeps it.
Ta-da! Another one-shot completed. Thanks, and please drop me a review if you can!