Set before Xmas obviously. Wanted to do something a little different for this while still keeping the ball rolling. Shows how protective these two can be when something threatens the other. Both scary individuals.

I've started work on one of the ideas, so if anyone has any more please do I don't mind giving them a try.


Fierce Pair

They were pushing and pushing hard, they had a strict time limit, they needed this done before Christmas Eve to make sure the catastrophe didn't happen. However the urgency meant all they could concentrate on finishing off wave after wave of enemies if they could as fast as they can. The Magatsu Mandala area's fog was dense, like the amount of strong enemies in the area. If it wasn't for Rise, they wouldn't have to be able to pick and choose their battles as quickly as they could. The team Souji was leading consisted of Naoto, Yosuke and Yukiko, with Chie, Kanji and Teddie shadowing the group. Souji embedded his blade in another Agitating Hablerie with force, crushing it under his weight. He pulled up his weapon and swung it around ready for the next wave. Yosuke was on main assist point, doing damage to whatever Souji was attacking, while the leader was on point, tanking and main sweeper. Naoto was playing conservative damage dealer, picking stuff off with her revolver and occasionally shielding Yukiko who was the team's healer. Normally when Kanji was in the team he would have Souji's role as on point tank with Souji taking Yosuke's place but the diversity of enemies strengths and weaknesses just made it easier for the power of the wild card to take that role. This worried Naoto, while Souji didn't have the raw physical strength and durability that Kanji had, he was still strong but if he went down it was game over. Never mind that it's hard to see someone who she has such an intimate relationship with willingly throw themselves into danger so often against such strong enemies. At times like this, Naoto wished she was stronger.

"Naoto! Heads up!"

"Wha-" Before she realised what happened, she was tackled to the ground by their leader as he braced for the incoming attack. She watched in horror as the Minotaur II's Agidyne spell connected, sending Souji flying through the air then hitting the ground with a hideous thud.

"Souji-kun!"

"Partner!? Yukiko!?"

"On it!"

Naoto scrambled to her feet with much needed urgency, angry with herself taking her focus off the fight for a second. The Minotaur II stepped forward closing in on the downed the leader after he winced in pain. He needed to move but his body didn't react. He looked up to see Naoto stood over him facing the enemy head on.

"Naoto what are you doing?"

"Naoto-kun!"

"Shit!"

She said nothing as she aimed her revolver at the card, activating Mind Charge, if this thing wanted to hurt the ones she loved, then the being and her could not co-exist. The shadow's roar was intimidating but Naoto didn't flinch. She aimed her gun again seeing nothing but red.

"Come Yamato-Takeru! Annihilate this thing!" She roared back in defiance. She pulled the trigger causing her Persona to appear, he flew around her for a moment before point to the sky. After a small flash, a hail of almighty damage known as Megidolain rained from above the Minotaur instantly wiping it out amongst the carnage of explosions. The party watching in awe as the enemy was reduced to smithereens. She turned back to her secret boyfriend in concern.

"Are you ok Senpai?" She asked worryingly taking his hand in hers. She went to pull him up but her touch lingered for just a moment. He groaned as he feebly got to his feet with help from Naoto then receiving a healing spell from Yukiko.

"I'm fine, just a knock." She pulled away blushing slightly.

"Senpai, what would we have done if you gotten injured or killed?" Souji shook his head.

"It's fine really." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Just keep your head in the game ok?"

She nodded slowly at his advice. He let go of the sleuth as he signalled the team to move with him.

...

...

...

They were making swift progress, Adachi's puzzles and tricks were only a minor hindrance to the investigation team. With Rise's tactical knowledge and the flexibility of the party, it looked like they might be able to map out the whole dungeon before the end of the day.

"There are only a couple more floors left, so not too much longer Senpai." Rise communicated with glee. Naoto huffed in minor jealousy at her bright tones for the leader; she wished she could openly show her affection like that. She shook the thoughts from her mind as the team was about to enter another battle. However Naoto's worry grew as they stared down a set of five shadows, strong ones.

"Guys, be careful." Rise echoed.

'If she's worried, then this can't be good.'

It was three King's Castles and two Pistil Mothers. Naoto could sense dread coming from this battle and she noticed she wasn't the only one. Souji's actions became very defensive like he was only stalling for any one of the team to make a breakthrough critical or one of the backup members to provide assistance.

Yosuke fired another Garudyne. "This isn't working..."

Souji dodged another incoming spell, side stepping it so it didn't hit any of his team members behind him. "Rise? You have anything?"

"The Castles are weak to fire. Yukiko?" She spread her fan in preparation for the spell.

"Guys I won't be able to heal for a moment so stay out of trouble." Souji nodded.

"I'll try to hold them off the best I can, Yosuke, increase Yukiko's dexterity, we need these to hit."

"Got it." The Junes worker called Susano-O. "Masukukaja!"

Souji let out a breath as he felt his body energise from the spell. His reactions and reflex becoming sharper so could evade and attack better. "Naoto, back me up."

"Roger." She loaded a new clip then summoned her Persona. "Yamato-Takeru, I need you." She aimed at the leader. "Protect my loved ones." She mumbled before firing.

Souji felt the barrier of a Tetrakarn envelop his body. He clenched his sword and charged with the intention of taking the aggro from the team. He was successful as a barrage of spells and physical attacks were fired in his way. He ducked and weaved, assisted from the boosted reactions of spell Yosuke used earlier. He switched persona to Kohryu for some added protection when he had a second to change.

"Now!" Yukiko called, Amaterasu appearing above the priestess. The shadows sensed the incoming danger and the King's Castles changed their targets, Souji looked on, and thinking ahead. He banked on all of the Rainy Death blows connecting at the same time and charge at the shadows. Naoto watched on as everything seemed to slow down from Souji running into the shadows to Yukiko's spell going off. Then several explosions went off all at once. The Rainy Death fired at Souji all bounced off and flew in multiple directions as Yukiko's Maragidyne blew through the castles defences, wiping them out instantly. The sheer force of the amount of energy being used at the time was enough to make the floor rumble. When the dust cleared, she could see the satisfied grin of the leader, that same grin when an impromptu plan comes together. However something wasn't right and Naoto reacted first.

"SENPAI!" She screamed as she pushed Souji out of the way taking a fully charged Bufudyne spell to the side. Souji watched on in shock as she hit the ground unmoving. His retaliation was instant.

"Yukiko!" He shouted as an order, eyes glazing over in anger.

Yukiko, completely flustered over the last minute of events scrambled for a healing spell. Calling for Yoshitsune, Souji charged without a second thought with one purpose in mind, destruction.

"Partner! Are you crazy!?" Yosuke called but Souji ignored him.

He didn't care, he ducked with swiftness as he slipped past an upcoming cast. Noticing how the first mother was tracking him he skidded to a halt and changed direction. About a second later, he got within range he pulled his weapon back and gave a savage slash to one of the legs of the chair the mother was sitting on causing it to buckle and fall, knocking it down. Souji didn't stop there, using the downed mother as a boost he kicked off it to land blade first onto the other. Souji called Yoshitsune on top of the previously down shadow to hold it in place, he looked at the one he was looming over, struggling to get away with his blade embedded into it. He kicked it while pulling out his blade in the process.

"Big!" A series of savage over head slashes connected with the downed shadow. "Fucking!" His strikes became more intense, every slash and stab getting more powerful with each attack.

"GAMBLE!" He crouched for a second before bursting upwards with a rising slash splitting the shadow in half before it exploded. Once landing, he turned to the other still wrestling under Yoshitsune blade; he stalked it down with a menacing glare. Souji could hear his friends calling for him but he blocked it out as his rage burned.

"Die! Yoshitsune!?" The swordsman persona looked at its owner in question, further embedding the blade into the squirming shadow to keep it still.

"Hassou Tobi!" The persona smiled at its command as he raised his second sword and slammed into the shadow. Ripples in the ground became waves and then collided with the helpless shadow. After the vicious barrage of the attacks finally came to an end, the shadow just simply dissolved from the overflow of damage. Without looking back, he ran over to his team with Yukiko kneeling down cradling the dizzy Naoto.

"How is she?" Souji asked, he tried to be calm but Yukiko could sense the panic in his voice.

"She's ok, just took a really hard hit. I could only imagine how strong it was especially if it knocked her unconscious." Souji turned away with shame, his own cockiness getting them into trouble.

"Senpai..." Naoto's voice was weak. "D-Don't worry about me, swap me out and finish mapping." Her tone only made him feel worse.

He sighed. "We're done for the day." Bringing surprise looks from the three of them.

"Why Senpai? We're almost there-" He cut Rise off.

"No. We are not taking the risk, the dungeon is too dangerous, and we've already had two major near misses. We're close but we can pick up from tomorrow." His decision was final.

Yukiko pulled Naoto carefully to her feet but she wobbled as soon as she stood upright.

"Sorry..." Souji shook his head.

"No, I should be sorry, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be in this shape, allow me..." Souji took Naoto's weight off Yukiko and lifted her on to his back.

"I-I can walk Senpai..." He looked back at her.

"It's obvious you can't in your condition." He turned to the other two members and nodded. "Alright let's head home. Rise alert the others and get them out of here, we'll regroup tomorrow morning."

Souji let the two others walk in front of him so he could chat to Naoto privately. "I'm sorry about that." His voice was grim, racked with guilt. Naoto shook her head against his back.

"C-Call us even..." Souji acknowledged her comment but didn't reply but the sleuth tightened the grip her arms had around his neck. "Just don't leave me..."