Author's Notes: Standard disclaimers apply (does anyone even read these?). Don't own P4, not making money off this work, no copyright infringement intended, and all that.

Gasp! Could it be? Indeed it is! A new chapter so close on the heels of the last one. Needless to say, this one came to hand and mind much easier than the last one. Hope you guys like it!

For those whose everyday vocabulary doesn't include "nacre", it's just a different name for mother of pearl. Oh, and I'm playing with the timeline a little in this chapter, where Rise meets up with the team after her rescue, but before King Moron's murder and Teddie's transformation where she becomes an official member.

Something to be aware of: this chapter contains scenes of nudity and the less-than-platonic thoughts by one character about another. If that offends you, you're welcome to skip this piece and wait for the next one.

For those who'll read the chapter just for those parts, hope they meet your standards.

With that said, go forth and enjoy.

Chapter 11

"We'll be by to pick you up tomorrow at 9, Rise-san. Sleep well."

"Thanks Inoue-san. You too."

There was the sound of a retreating set of footsteps, the ding of an arriving elevator and a whoosh of closing doors. Then a sigh and the rattle of keys in the lock. The door opened and the lights snapped on as she murmured a faint "welcome home" to herself, standing, as always, in the doorway to take in her surroundings.

For anyone who really knew Rise, a group which consisted of the Inaba crew, her parents, Inoue, and a small handful of agency employees that could say and spell 'discretion', her apartment would not have felt like what they would've expected from Risette. Surveys were polled and fan mail had come to a consensus of how the public thought she lived. Risette's apartment would have been flashy and bright, possibly gaudy in its layers of colour and posters and pictures and plushy collections. Hot guys would grace the walls, of course, be they actors or athletes or singers whose trademarks were open shirts and low-riding jeans. It would have expensive oak furniture, calfskin leather couches and chairs, and a sound system with more output than a radio tower and a higher decibel threshold than a jet engine. Her bedroom would be large, spacious, have mirrors everywhere and be home to makeup and moisturizers by the litre, all surrounding a king-sized bed made for comfort and salacious encounters, set across from a wardrobe larger than the average apartment, the contents of which would cost more than the net income of most auto manufacturers. And her bathroom, without question, would be hand-cleaned and polished twice a day, have a different scent each week, and be sheathed in white marble and nacre. Nothing less would do for Risette.

The reality was different.

There were posters, yes, but they were of her albums and photo shoots, stored away in a container to be kept for posterity and looked at when she desired. Which wasn't often. The various autographs and photos of male idols and actors she'd received over the course of her career were kept in the same place, though she'd admit to looking at those more often than the posters. Some of those guys were kinda cute.

The walls themselves were decorated as much as they needed to be, colourful and chic in the same breath. Shelves and mantles held up long strings of fan mail that had been a steady source of encouragement over the years, the ones that had become irreplaceable earning their own spots along the wall, surviving every move without fail. And her stereo system was modest, often tuned to something fast-paced and unapologetically girly. Something she could dance to. And there weren't any plushies here; those were in the bedroom.

Though her furniture was oak, polished and sturdy. And the couch and seats were calfskin leather, so soft it was like sitting on a thick, fluffy cloud. Her agency had insisted on that luxury, for tax purposes if nothing else.

The bedroom wasn't nearly as large as some of her fans would have expected, though the king-sized bed was there, in the middle. Though, again, not as rich or luxurious as her fans thought was appropriate to her. Nor was it home to any intimate encounters, as her sex-starved admirers believed, nor her more vindictive competitors declared. The bedroom as a whole was, however, where one would find her plushy collection, taking up a corner, table, and end of the bed, as much a measure of her life as a chronological biography. The larger ones were invariably yellow and pink, from just before she'd had her audition. Then medium-sized and white with bows or hats for when she was getting started, which led to them being large in size again after her first album and part in a TV series. Most recently, she'd tended towards the smaller and more varied in form, from blues and green for the sports plushies to the blacks and greys and oranges of her cat collection. There was even a corner for the various bird dolls she'd been given over the years after she'd been caught on record saying the owl exhibit at the Kyoto zoo had been her favourite part of the trip.

That said, her favourites were the ones perched on her vanity, next to the moisturizers and makeup. There was a line of them, all hand-crafted from Tatsumi Textiles as a going-away present from Kanji, that was in the shape of every member of the Inaba Investigation Team, from Yosuke-senpai and his trademark headphones to a green Chie-senpai and blue Teddie, complete with bear outfit. They were all crafted with exquisite detail, though her favourite in its simplicity was the plushy of Souji-senpai, a perfect mimicry right down to the coloured arm wraps and grey hair and eyes. Every time she looked at it she heard his calm encouragement in her ear, and it was better than therapy at making her find her centre and shrug off her worries.

And for the record, she didn't use much makeup or moisturizer; her vanity table was the only place in the room where it was held, largely limited to her favourites since they had to share the space with her Inaba plushies. Also, her wardrobe was comparatively sparse, almost half made up of her everyday clothes and nightwear. Most of the clothes and makeup and creams she was given by sponsors were kept at the office, as much for her own consideration about space as anything.

Coming back to herself, she started the motions of her post-work day ritual by kicking off her shoes and walking into her living room. She checked her handheld for messages, then the calendar, and then the phone to make sure nothing had changed. Then she ordered take-out from her favourite restaurant, set to be delivered in two hours. She looked around her living room, taking comfort in the stability of her image and ego outside her body, brushing her fingers along some of her favourite fan letters before heading to the window. Kofu had a prettier skyline than Tokyo, she decided. The stars weren't easy to see like they were in some parts of Inaba, but nor was there a blue-grey haze surrounding the skyscrapers and office buildings. She could see the sky without fear for her health, and that was well worth the hassle of moving so soon after her return from Inaba.

She gazed out the window and let her mind wander back to that morning with a naughty little smirk. Never far from her thoughts, seeing him made her appreciate the view all over again, bringing old feelings and memories to the front of her mind. Souji-senpai had looked good. Better than good. Nonchalant as always, dark slacks emphasizing a white shirt that did great things to his chest and shoulders, silver hair combed back, and oh-so-sexy in those black shades and half-smile. She hadn't bothered to resist running into him when she saw him. And what she felt with her arms around him was even better than looking; he'd been working out since the end of their TV adventures.

His escape plan had been just what she needed then, and he hadn't disappointed. Running beside him was a thrill she'd missed, and talking with him had been even better. She never felt like she needed to guess if he was listening to her, or just using the time she was speaking to bask in glow of an idol. Souji-senpai always listened, even when she was feeling playful and got him to blush.

She frowned then. The revelation about his home life shed some light on his reluctance to talk about who he was before he'd moved to Inaba. It had been a topic she'd wondered about, and she apparently wasn't the only one as she'd asked the others about it, and they'd been similarly dodged or stonewalled. It was hard to believe that someone so kind and understanding would have the distant parents he'd described. But maybe that was the point.

Oh well. She'd make sure they spent more time together, now that she knew where and how to find him. She sniffed delicately and turned her nose up. Good day or not, she needed to get rid of the crusted grime she'd collected from a day of singing on an outdoor stage. She headed toward her bathroom, determined that Souji-senpai could keep her company in the shower.

Her bathroom was neither marble nor nacre. Instead it had polished dark tiles on the floor and an equally dark countertop, white towel racks and faucets that led to a large stand-up shower unit, big enough to sit down and relax in should the mood strike. Only her favourite scents, either eucalyptus or grapefruit, graced her shower walls, and while the towels were as soft as the leather in her couch, the rest of the room was simple and unadorned. No statues, no multi-coloured lights, no collection of expensive soaps, no water-proof stereo to lull her away on the sound of dolphins or the forest wind.

She kicked the door shut and stripped naked, tossing the clothes into the nearby hamper before turning on and adjusting the water, stepping under the warm spray after she'd taken out her hair ties. The shower was a welcome diversion, warming her up and peeling away layer upon layer of sweat and dust. As the steam rose around her and caressed her every curve, it heated up her thoughts as well. It hadn't been a mistake, that she'd clung to Souji-senpai the way she had. Having him pressed against her, every muscle and tendon of his toned torso against her breasts and abdomen, after she'd run into him was a guiltless little pleasure: she didn't think anything that felt that good could be wrong. Nor was her usual place at his side, wrapped around an arm with the length of the limb along her front, a mistake or coincidence. Being near him made her feel like an irrepressible girl and a mature woman at the same time, neither fighting for the spotlight and instead existing in the same place and working together. The combination was strange but potent, letting her see herself more clearly and able to move forward with an energy she'd never had before.

Rise didn't know how he made her feel that way, whether it was the way he talked to her and treated her like a close and trusted friend, or if it was just something ingrained into who and what he was that he had no control over. It was uplifting, to think beyond the measure of a doubt that she could do what she set out to, because people believed in her. It was addicting, so much so that she never wanted it to stop no matter how fast it felt like she was going sometimes. And while she might not know how Souji-senpai had affected her so deeply, she did know when it started. The memory sent a shiver through her despite the wet heat around her. It made her eyes glaze over and her thighs twitch together and her nipples harden and her breath catch for a heartbeat.

Flashback

It had been a hot day in Inaba and the Investigation Team, their egos still orbiting Jupiter from having rescued Rise so promptly, had gathered at Chie-senpai's house for a well-deserved party. Rise, done dodging questions by the cops and media, had recovered enough that Yosuke-senpai had spontaneously invited her to the get-together. She'd hesitated at first; she knew very little about them, and didn't know how to act around people who'd known her for less than two weeks and hadn't asked for anything in return despite what they'd gone through to rescue her. Furthermore, besides Yosuke-senpai's offer, none of them had brought up the matter of repayment for saving her. Or even stopped by to talk beyond a "how are you doing?", for that matter. Still, his insistence was more coherent than he'd been the first time he saw her, and she had the day off work and no real reason not to go, so she grabbed her phone and shades and followed him into the summer sunlight. She hadn't felt comfortable trying small talk with Yosuke-senpai, and he'd had no problem filling the time with descriptions of the team, so she listened and committed each detail to memory.

Before she knew it they'd arrived at a normal-looking, larger-than-average house, voices and shouts and barks and laughter greeting them. They hadn't even made it to the door when Chie-senpai called out and told them to come around back. Yosuke-senpai led, Rise followed, and soon they saw the rest of the Investigation Team, plus a few additions. The tall guy with the black skull-adorned muscle shirt and bleached hair was sitting on the patio, busily eating out of a bucket-sized bowl. Chie-senpai was in a tank top and shorts, laughing and jumping about in the middle of the yard with a water hose, playing with a large white and brown dog who was already soaking wet and completely into the game. Yukiko-senpai was in a shirt and skirt near the patio, watching the two in the yard with a smile on her face. And Souji-senpai, who she recognized immediately, was near some food platters that smelled heavenly, dressed in slacks and an airy short-sleeved shirt that set off his hair beautifully with the white wrappings around his left forearm. Rise frowned a bit; she remembered seeing those in the TV as well, meaning it probably wasn't a coincidence. But why did he wear them in the first place?

Her gaze shifted when she caught sight of a young girl in a white sundress, a wide smile on her face as she sat near Souji-senpai. The smile faded a bit when she saw Rise, however, and she hesitantly stepped forward. "Um..."

Souji-senpai turned to see where she was looking, catching sight of her and Yosuke-senpai. "Hey. Welcome." He glanced down at the young girl with a smile. "It's alright Nanako. You know Yosuke already. The young lady's Kujikawa Rise-san, a new friend of ours."

A friend?

Nanako looked less concerned and smiled warmly. "Okay, Big Bro. Hi Kujikawa-san, I'm Dojima Nanako. Pleasure to meet you." It was smoothly and calmly delivered, and didn't lack for depth like she'd heard so often from other stars and agents. The words sounded like they should belonged to a young woman in her early twenties rather than a girl less than the age of ten.

It broke the ice, and was so unexpected and unexpectedly welcome that Rise couldn't help but lean down and take the girl's hands. "Hi!" she replied immediately. "I'm Kujikawa Rise. And the pleasure's mine. Nanako-chan, right? Then you're Seta-senpai's little sister?"

"The relation's a bit more distant than that," Souji-senpai explained, still working over the platters. "Nanako's the daughter of my mother's brother, so she's my first cousin."

"But he's better than a cousin!" Nanako put in, breaking away from Rise and catching Souji-senpai in a hug. "He's my Big Bro! Come over here, Kujikawa-san. Big Bro made lunch today! And he's a amazing cook!"

From behind the pair there was a barely-restrained belch. The tall guy with the bleached hair came over, massive bowl empty and in hand. "Excellent as always, Senpai. You got any more of that teriyaki beef?"

Souji-senpai nodded. "Right there. You may want to dish up if you're hungry, Kujikawa-san," he told her. "We brought a lot over, but it's not going to last at this rate." She nodded and helped herself to the pickled vegetables and rice balls that looked distinctly like curled-up cats and seasoned koi.

She couldn't suppress her surprise. "You're right Nanako-chan. This food is amazing!"

The girl nodded proudly. "Yep. Big Bro's the best cook in Inaba."

"An exaggeration, I'm sure," he replied. "But it's a useful skill to have." He and Nanako chatted amiably over their food while Kanji dished up again. Rise couldn't help eating slowly; she wanted to stop chewing so she could better watch the pair, so clearly at ease with the other, and yet the food was too good to put down.

"C'mon Big Bro!" Nanako told him after they'd finished their dishes, dragging him into the yard. She started twirling and jumping around Chie-senpai's dog, laughing uncontrollably. Souji-senpai joined her, albeit with less body movements, and seemed content while he watched his cousin. Yosuke-senpai called to him, and the two started talking in lower tones, taking their attention from Nanako-chan and the dog. Their discussion seemed deep enough that they didn't notice the dog rushing past the little girl until he crashed between them.

Yosuke-senpai was knocked back with a startled shout. Souji-senpai, caught between a soaking dog and the wet grass, staggered back, just barely keeping his balance.

Only it put him square in the path of the water hose Chie-senpai was waving around.

His face and shirt were soaked before Chie-senpai realized what'd happened and turned the hose away. He'd let out a shout of surprise and was trembling by the time the hose was redirected. His hair was dripping and his shirt had turned translucent and clung to his body. There was a moment of silence before he started laughing, a deep, clear sound that Rise suspected wasn't commonly heard. He rocked his head back and ran a hand through his hair and Rise got her first close look at his body then, unobstructed by body armour or a school jacket. And it took her breath away.

Broad shoulders and a strong back, defined biceps, clear muscle across his chest and a stomach so tight she swore she could wash her frilly unmentionables on it. Even his slack had gotten wet and stuck to a tight, toned butt. She glanced away quickly, hopefully before he saw her gawking, and noticed a distinct blush on Yukiko-senpai's cheeks as she stared as well. She heard Chie-senpai apologizing and tossing the water hose away, but Souji-senpai kept laughing and brushed it off. He stripped the water from his hair, dove for the discarded hose, and started aiming at Yosuke-senpai and Chie-senpai, both who started running to avoid the spray and ended up crashing into each other, her sprawled atop him on the grass. Souji-senpai hadn't bothered spraying them when he had the chance; Chie-senpai's indignant shout at where Yosuke-senpai's hands ended up was all the entertainment they needed.

Discussions were struck up, laughter bounced around the yard, and any topic of the TV world was stringently avoided. Yukiko-senpai and Souji-senpai discussed cooking techniques, Chie-senpai and Nanako-chan were in deep discussion, and Yosuke-senpai said something to Kanji-san that sparked up a loud and nearly violent response. Despite it all, they always returned to their easy companionship, and she knew then that these people were more than just comrades who shared a common goal, but instead were genuine friends who went out of their way to connect with those who shared the same purpose. She knew instinctively how out of place she was there, having no real connection, in her mind, to them. She was envious, and couldn't help but feel a bit left out.

Until Nanako-chan saw her and drew her into the discussion with Chie-senpai. Then the feeling was gone.

The day progressed from there, and it was time to leave before Chie-senpai's parents got home. Yukiko-senpai stayed to help clean up, Souji-senpai left with Nanako-chan, and Yosuke-senpai and Kanji-san walked her part of the way home before going their separate ways.

For all that had happened in the day, she wasn't ready to see it end. She sat on a bench near the shrine, turning the day's events over in her head as she made shapes out of the clouds overhead.

"Kujikawa-san?" She startled in her seat, looking over sharply to see Souji-senpai standing a few yards away. The heat had mostly dried out his hair and shirt, though the creases still clung to his muscled frame. "Everything alright?"

"Ah, Seta-senpai. Yeah, everything's fine. Just needed a place to think."

"I see. Care for some company?"

"Hm?"

"I forgot to mention something back there, so I figure this is as good a time as any."

"Ah, sure. Have a seat." She scooted to the end of the bench, leaving him room to sit.

She squirmed a little, still remembering how he'd looked soaking wet, but also struggling with her own shyness and uncertainty of how to talk to a boy who'd put so much at risk for her sake with neither reservation nor a clear motive. She hadn't taken the time to talk to him much at the party for the same reason. He, on the other hand, looked as calm as ever. He glanced at her, apparently oblivious to her dilemma, and then stared out over the roofs and into the sky. "How're you doing?"

She jolted a bit at the question. "Sorry?"

"The others can be a bit energetic at times," he explained. "Chie and Yosuke in particular. It can take some getting used to."

"They seem like great people," she volunteered.

"Oh they are. Don't get me wrong, all of them are better friends than you could ask for. But if you're used to staying on the edge instead of being part of the group, well, it could take a while to find your place."

"Do you speak from experience, Senpai?"

He nodded, still not looking straight at her. "I doubt I'd be where I am if not for Chie and Yosuke. They pulled me into something that turned out to be way bigger than all of us combined." He chuckled, a small smile curling his lips at the edges, and Rise melted a little at the sight. "It's been thrilling, it's been terrifying, and it's taken over my life more than any after-school club could've. But they're good people, no matter what happens."

"Gotcha."

Now he looked at her, silver eyes catching sunlight and almost glowing at her like festival lanterns. "Which brings us back to my question: how're you doing?"

"I'm..." She struggled with her words, uncertain how honest she could be. "It's different," she told him finally. "Not in a good or bad way, but I never expected to be at the centre of attention or meet people this fast when I moved here. Especially not since all of you saw... well, you know."

He nodded. "Give it time. And don't forget that all of them have been through the same thing."

"Their repressed selves created strip clubs and spun around on a pole for complete strangers?"

He laughed, an expression that lit up his face. "Well, the details are different, but it wasn't any easier, regardless of the form it took. All of them faced their Shadows and denied them at first, and those Shadows tried to kill us."

That caught her attention. Part of her, a big part, was torn when she saw the wounds and burns the team had sustained, injuries caused because of the repressed feelings that she'd never come to terms with. "All of them?"

He nodded and held up his left arm, tapping his arm wraps. "Yukiko gave me this, a little something our Personas can't heal. She couldn't accept what her other half said, and it blew up on us. Kanji's still working out what he saw in his Shadow, too."

"What was his like?"

"That's... Better that you ask him. It's kind of an unspoken rule, at least for me."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"No worries. But even Yosuke and Chie had their dark sides, no matter how they act now. And I doubt they'll forget it, too." He sighed, gazing off into the distance again. "I'm sorry. This is getting away from what I wanted to talk to you about."

"What's that?"

"Kanji went through this same sort of thing before, and I'll tell you what I told him. None of us got through our encounters unscathed. Facing yourself and coming to terms with it will be hard at first, but don't forget that there's a group of people who've been through the same things you have, that no matter what the antics or games, we've all been at our worst. And we know how it feels, before, during and after. It might take a while, but they'll accept you for who you are, good and bad. No matter what."

It was frightening, in a way, how well he'd hit the issue she'd worried about. Finding something in common with other celebrities had been hard enough, especially when so many saw her as competition. Finding anyone who'd been through what she had in the TV and understanding the fear, the anger, and rampant shame that had forced the words from her lips, she was certain, was an impossibility. And yet he'd been there, seen it all, and never treated her worse for it. If anything, he seemed more open and expressive than he had when she met him at the tofu shop. It took her several moments to find her breath and words. "You... you really think so?"

He nodded. "It would be pretty hypocritical if we went through the same things you did, but didn't accept you despite not doing any better. Besides, knowing Yosuke and Chie, they'll find a way to welcome you into the group."

"... I'd really like that."

He looked back at her, a half smile gracing his lips that might've been sarcastic if not for the gleam in his eyes, genuine pleasure that couldn't be faked. "Good. Now then, shall we?"

He'd walked her home, chatting about Inaba and his little cousin in that calm, comforting voice that made her want to curl up in a corner and sleep to it washing over her. He left her on her doorstep, saying he had to get home himself. For a singer and occasional actor, she was at a loss for words to say, to tell him how grateful she was for his assurances and what the afternoon, both at Chie-senpai's house and that he'd sought her out to make a connection, had meant to her. She never found them, and he'd walked away with a farewell wave.

And weeks later, with the news of another murder and a grim pall over the team, when they'd met at the shrine and he'd handed her a pair of glasses, she felt something she hadn't felt in years. Not a weight off her shoulders or the click of a key in the lock, but just a marrow-deep sensation of belonging, of calm focus and iron determination. She knew she wanted to be there, fighting with them, with him. And nothing had felt more right than when he'd nodded at her question and told her "Welcome to the team." She wanted to feel that way for as long as she could, no matter what.

End Flashback

The memories ended, pulling her to the present, though the body-wide tingling remained. Every nerve came alive, and she washed herself carefully, having no desire to over stimulate into pleasure or pain. The scent of eucalyptus surrounded her, adding a dreamy tinge to the memories before she pushed them away and continued her shower.

Rise finished washing the shampoo from her hair and dried her body off, slipping into a soft bath robe. She towelled the water from her hair and let it dry on its own. She returned to the living room and sank back into her couch, let her mind wander more before dinner was delivered. When it did, she made a point of hitching her robe around her and flirting with the delivery boy. Dinner was as enjoyable as ever, and she spent the evening on the phone with Inoue and some of the agency staff. Afterwards, she turned off the lights and headed to bed, shedding her robe and slipping into a lacy pair of panties and a soft, silky nightgown. Even against her bed, in the comforting dark surrounded by her plushies, she thought of Senpai one last time.

You're the first guy who saw me for me, Senpai. You never talked to me like I was a ditz or treated me like an idol. I could be normal around you, talk about anything, and you'd always be honest. You might not think so, but you're smart, funny, easy to talk to, and absolutely gorgeous. You're really amazing in every way.

I love you, Senpai.

But...

Author's Note: Yep. I'm ending it there. Sue me.

I'm happy with how this one turned out. Agree? Don't? Favourite lines? Let me know.

Until next time!