Hello, everyone. I'm back with another Persona story, this one officially being my first set in the timeline of The Royal. The main focus is the pairing of our beloved Joker and favorite punk goth doctor, a pairing that I've been meaning to get back to for a while. Given the events of The Royal and certain real-world events, I figure some good 'ole fluff and hurt and comfort wouldn't hurt. Hope you enjoy!
I do not own anything.
Like a Light from Above
Chapter 1-What and Who to Believe In
"You're quite the daredevil, aren't you?" Mused the blue-haired woman while standing over the comatose young man who'd wormed his way into her life. As she'd started doing, she reached down and caressed the teenager's slumbering face. It was a habit she'd fallen into and didn't believe she'd be able to break even though she should have made an effort to. She was taking a lot of risks in doing this, but then again, so was Akira, yet she felt like the responsibility still fell to her. She was the adult, she was the one who should have known better.
That said, just because a person knew better didn't mean they always acted accordingly. If they did, then the world would be a radically different place. It would perhaps be a more orderly and sensible one. To Tae though, that would make it a lot more boring as well. Excitement was one of the best parts of life, and without that excitement, well, Tae couldn't really think of anything that would make life worth living. Of course, excitement came in various forms, some of them good, some bad, and others…strange. Tae wasn't sure which her current predicament fell under, but it certainly was interesting.
It wasn't every day that she received a free and willing genie pig for her clinical trials. Matter of fact, most people would have either walked away or demanded assurances that the medicine they were taking would be none-fatal and come with next to no side effects.
While he may have provided token resistance, Akira didn't ask for any of that, which was both amazing and troubling.
Ultimately, though, his trust in her was verified as Tae would sooner bite off her own tongue and bleed out than risk harming another patient, not again. Akira had no idea about her past so ultimately, he was gambling with his life, putting his faith in someone he hardly knew.
"You're a doctor, a bit of a strange one, but still a doctor none the less, a good one at that."
"My, my, at the end there it sounded like you realized you needed to speak fast or risk a lethal injection."
"Nope, I planned that little bit. Dr. Takemi, Tae, I mean what I say, you are a good doctor."
That had been three weeks, verging on a month ago, when he said that. It was the first time that he'd called her by her first name, something she hadn't minded. She wasn't one of those professional types, nor was she even classified as a professional doctor in spite of operating a fully functional and legitimate clinic. No, she was the Plague, a back alley doctor the desperate, shady, and outcasts went to…along with several others who simply heard of her and decided to stop by and see if she was worth all the fuss. Even if she was no doctor, Tae sometimes still felt her pride as one rearing up within her, as well as her spirit to help others as she'd originally set out to do. She formerly believed that side of herself to have been buried away, but the past few weeks had shown that wasn't quite true.
And she had to the sleeping high schooler behind her to think for that. As she punched in data into her computer, she felt an urge to look back to check on him. They'd done this song and dance before, yet Tae couldn't help but shake the odd feeling that arose in her stomach each time. It stopped her dead in her tracks and at times left her staring down at the unconscious teen who'd waltzed into her life without warning, just as she'd been doing before. Like she found herself doing so again.
Several times she'd fought the urge to reach down and touch him, stroke his cheek , his hair, even his chest, the last of which she watched rise and fall with a stronger than average attentiveness. If there was something abnormal in his breathing than Tae needed to know so she could act quickly and prevent a disaster from unfolding. One could say the fact that none had in the years in which she'd had her clinic open were something of a small miracle. Either that…or Tae was simply that good. Personally, she accepted both, but her pride caused her to lean toward the latter category; she couldn't help herself. Rather knowingly or not, Akira was stoking her pride; he seemed to enjoy doing so for the reactions it got out of her. She told herself that was one reason why she was so attentive to him.
The other was somewhere in her heart, she'd grown to care for this young boy who was still by far and large a stranger to her, yet there were things about him that she'd learned. For one…he had more guts than nay man she'd ever met, any person really.
And he had determination that was both annoying…and oddly charming. Not that she could let him know about the latter, granted something told Tae that Akira might have already known. Bold and daring, he was no fool. "You're almost like the complete package." Murmured the blue-haired doctor, her hand running along his cheek. Even if he was unconscious, Tae knew how wrong this was, scratch, because he was unconscious it made this especially wrong. Though she wasn't a recognized doctor anymore, she still was one at her core. Even if she'd been cast out by the medical community, there were still certain oaths and boundaries she felt she had to adhere to. Akira was making her challenge some of those. "You're going to be quite a catch for the lucky lady who snags your heart."
"Will I?" The voice nearly made her jump out of her skin, which was the intent of its owner. A chuckle quickly followed while Tae's cheeks flared up with embarrassment, which only caused the teenager to laugh all the harder. With her hand swiftly withdrawn, Akira sat up, a lackadaisical smile on his face. "Sorry about that, I just couldn't resist."
"Next time, try harder." Tae growled, though the blush remained on her face. "You seem to keep on forgetting that I hold your life in my hands."
"Pretty much." Answered the sixteen-year-old in a casual tone as he felt around his neck and cheek. He could still feel the residual warmth of her fingers, her touch, on his skin. "Not that I'm ever seriously worried."
"You should be." Pressed the punk rock woman, her caramel-brown eyes narrowing as she attempted to install some sense of fear into the teenager. It didn't work; matter of fact, Tae looked back on their months-long history and realized that barring a few cases, she'd rarely been able to install genuine fear into him. At first, she had some success considering that she held all the cards, which Tae flouted with pride…then it gradually began to stop. Correspondingly, she began to take more of a shine to the black-haired teen. "Seriously, you're way too calm and complacent with this stuff for a teenager."
"Hey, some people live strange lives that leave them pretty well adjusted." Shrugged the gray-eyed teen. "Maybe I'm just one of those people. Not to be rude…but I've been through quite a wild series of events since coming to Tokyo." His lips twitched into an upward curve, yet there were shadows fell over his eyes. Though the statement was delivered with a point of pride, there was also a bit of remorse in it. "You know, out in the country, they used to tell stories about the big city, especially Tokyo, talking about it like it was some sort of gigantic blood-thirsty monster." Her eyebrow rose in a look of inquiring interest which made Akira chuckle. "I've survived the monster for a good three months and gotten used to it." He looked here square in the eye as he spoke his next words. "And the people in it, you could even say I've taken a liking to them."
She knew quite a few guys who were charmers and sweet talkers; a great many of them gave her false flattery and sweet lies that were nice to hear, but ultimately meaningless. Then there were guys like Akira, how could say such words…and mean every last one of them. "You know, one of these days I'm going to have to see if I have anything for that charming but wicked tongue of yours." Giggled the blue-haired doctor.
"And deprive yourself of my oh-so-enjoyable voice?" Playfully offered the young man. As he hoped, he got a laugh and a smile out of the doctor. It was an admission, one that he'd been hoping for. "If you don't mind me asking, what was it like when you first came to Tokyo?"
It was a personal question that Tae wouldn't have answered for him two and a half months ago. A lot had changed in the time since then, she'd grown more comfortable being around Akira. Again, he was a remarkable kid, one that she never expected to walk into her life. He had and now Tae found it a tad hard to picture how things would be without him. "I was nervous, I'll tell you that much." Admitted the blue-haired woman, now taking her seat directly across from him. She'd noticed how gradually, he'd gone from looking at her legs to her face. His curiosity in her was genuine; such a development had aided her in opening up to him. "Like you, I was a young person coming to the big city from a relatively quiet town in the countryside. Granted, unlike you, I came here on a scholarship which I'd earned." Akira laughed at the air of smugness in her voice. "Being the type of person I was, I knew that I had to learn my way around. Tokyo was a big place, and a dangerous place."
"But," Akira interrupted. "Being the type of person you are, that danger sounded pretty alluring to you, didn't it?"
"Pretty much." Tae responded with an amused smile. "I was…in awe for the first while, then I found my way around and before long, Tokyo became my home." Cocking her head to the side, she turned her always intuitive gaze toward Akira. "What about you? Unlike me, you really didn't have much of a choice in coming to Tokyo."
"No, I didn't." He responded in a detached voice. For Tae, it was the lack of anger or any other real emotion that concerned her. One could have said it was just acceptance, but when it came to her guinea pig, she was a tad bit more careful. Maybe too careful. "It's not like complaining about it will do much good though, will it? Not to mention coming here hasn't entirely been a bad experience, in fact, I'm actually inclined to say that it's been the best thing that ever happened to me. Downsides included." He finished with a laugh that further intrigued the doctor. "I like to think that I've done well for a kid from the countryside."
"Maybe you can say that after you've made it to the one year mark." Chirped older woman. As she said it, her mind raced with the possibilities of what the future would bring for the two of them. It was a further shock to her that she was thinking in terms of her and him; another part of her brain chastised her seeing as Akira had become her unofficial assistant. He certainly wasn't what she thought she'd had if she ever took an assistant, but he was what she ended up with. And she was okay with that. "Akira, I've noticed that ever since you've arrived, this city has become a tad more…livelier. One's inclined to believe that there's a connection there."
"Or maybe I'm just a guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time." His lips subconsciously twitched as the statement was made. It didn't go unnoticed by the doctor who sat across from him. "Tae-"
"You don't owe me anything, Akira." Swiftly cut off the disgraced medical professional. It was clear the rebuttal was more for her sake than his. The faint drumming in her ears was her heart, once again called into action by the actions of her young and mysterious guinea pig. Not helping things were his eyes, stormy gray eyes that rarely backed down. She'd seen them ignite and was quietly awe-struck by the intensity in which they could shine. There was a small spark of glee at the fact sometimes those eyes had ignited in defense of her. Those same eyes were now looking at her, telling her that she had permission. "Y-You should be confining this sort of stuff in people your own age, your inner circle."
"Have you considered the possibility that I consider you a part of my inner circle?" Beckoned the blue-haired woman.
"I like to think of you as such." Akira held her gaze, returning the intensity of her gaze. "You've done a lot more for me than you think."
"True, I have helped keep your alive. For a teenage kid from the countryside, you sure do seem to come in with the strangest of injuries…almost like you're getting into fights a lot." Her already racing heart slipped a beat, the silence echoing in her ears. Tae looked straight into Akira's gray eyes, silently transmitting the full weight of her feelings. They also manifested in her next statement. "You're not doing it just for kicks…are you? I know you're a daredevil…but there's got to be more than just thrills, or at least I hope there is."
Holding her gaze, the Shujin student responded, "If I told you there was a good reason…would you believe me?"
There it was, the invisible gate they had to cross before things could move any further. Rather or not they wanted to admit it, a relationship had formed between them, a bond of friendship that Tae wasn't entirely against it, perhaps because these days, she had very few people whom she could call friends. Sure, she still had some associates from her medical days, some of whom she still went out with, but only up to a point. She was The Plague, being caught with her was toxic on so many levels, especially for those who were climbing up the ranks. Being around her was practically a guilty pleasure, but one that they could only indulge int to a point. Akira was doing the same, but taking it much further. He came to her hoping she would help him with his endeavors, she'd agreed on the condition he helped her with hers. It was doctor and patient, but steadily it'd become doctor and assistant, especially as he so subtly pushed her back toward a path she believe she'd been forced off of.
Akira had steadily dragged her back onto that path, no, perhaps it was more appropriate to say that he guided her back onto it.
Fingers gripping the handle of her chair, Tae looked down, hiding her face beneath her blue bangs. It was a tactic she hadn't used in a while, only in the rarest times did she slip back into that tactic. "Akira," she started, sucking in a breath to steady herself. Again, it wasn't often she had to do this, but talking to Akira seemed to take something out of her. "I know you can lie, and you're a damn good liar, but when it comes to telling the truth, or being just a little honest…I can put my faith in you. So, when you tell me there's a good reason you come in looking beat up, requesting medicine and medical supplies like you're about to go into battle or something…I can for whatever find myself able to believe it's all for a good reason. All I end up asking you is if it's useful, to give me the kind of feedback I need to make adjustments. I don't ever question why you need all of this stuff…I just…trust you to use them properly, and I believe that you do."
Akira certainly had came in expecting a deep-seated emotional talk like this, but things had turned out this way. He couldn't say that he was complaining about it, he could never complain about coming to Takemi Clinic and getting to talk with Tae, clinical trials and all. As he'd learned, rather painfully at times, sometimes something simple snowballed into something else. That was certainly the case regarding him and the outcast doctor.
Neither of them were inclined to deny the kinship that had been forming between them in spite of the age gape between them. At times like this, that gape seemed nonexistent; Akira liked it when it was like that. Of course, with the elimination of those barriers came an air of danger. Looking deeper into Tae's eyes, she could see that she had come to the same realization…yet she couldn't stop herself from drawing closer and closer either. It was like they were a pair of magnets attracting one another in spite of their efforts to pull away.
Just as the teenager opened his mouth to speak, he was cut off by perhaps the most unexpected sound imaginable.
Though Tae had successfully worked to create a dark image of herself in the minds of the masses, she was still very much human. She had very human needs, such as eating, which her stomach chose to remind her of at the exact moment that Akira readied himself to reply to her declaration. Needless to say, her cheeks burned bright red with embarrassment. And Akira's words were quickly replaced by thinly veiled snickering.
"Sounds like someone might have been working so hard they've been forgetting to eat." He snipped.
Looking away did little to hide the blush on her face, or block out Akira's snickering. "L-L-Look, I-I've had a lot to do lately. Maybe I let grabbing a bite or two slip my mind, that's all."
"You know, it's important that you take care of yourself. I know another someone who's neglected their physical health and I had to step in to help her." Spoke the black-haired teenager.
"Well, don't you just sound like the concerned friend." Tae absent mindedly replied. Finally looking up, she was completely blown away by the simple prospect of a hand offered out to her. It was Akira's, and his face held a soft smile instead of the impish giggling expression he'd had on earlier. This was the side of him that always drew her attention, the side of him that caught her and held her like an anchored ship. His stormy gray eyes twinkled with affection as he began to speak.
"When it comes to the people I care about, I do tend to get worried about them. My dad claims I picked up the trait from him, not that I'm sad or mad about it. I think it's important to look after the people in your life."
For one reason or another, a blush crept up her cheeks. T-This kid, h-how the hell is it he can go from being such a rascal to a complete smooth talker? All it took was a single look at him for Tae to realize yet again, this wasn't an act, this was genuine kindness. At times, it made it hard for her to turn down his offers. "Y-You're a really annoying kid, you know that?" She stated even as she reached out and took his hand. A jolt ran through her as their skin connected; Tae prayed that she wasn't blushing like a school girl, she felt she'd had enough embarrassing moments brought by for one day. In an odd way, it seemed it was all about to be balanced out by a much-needed lunch break.
Internally, Tae mused about how long it had been since she'd let someone treat her to lunch. As with several things, that had changed when Akira came into her life. She had so few people whom would offer her such kindness nowadays; privately, a part of her admitted that she was reluctant to give such a person up. Like the kanji in his name, he seemed to bring light to the people around him. At the moment, it was rather literal as he guided her out of the clinic and into the late June sunlight. It felt warm and invigorating against her skin, making her pause and soak up the rays. She was well aware she was giving Akira a little bit of a show, and didn't quite mind.
"Sure that you want to keep the lab coat on?" Questioned the black-haired teen with a smile building on his face.
Tae smirked at him. "I think I can take it off once I get to Leblanc, can you be patient until then?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about doctor." Snickered the teenager as he was joined by the doctor. He was always happy to have her by his side, and he could see that she was happy as well. They weren't a kid and an adult, nor were they a doctor and patient or even a doctor and her assistant or guinea pig, just as two people on their way to enjoy a little meal.
Granted, some might have said that it was a date, especially since Akira would be the one cooking for her. Technically speaking, he was starting his afternoon shift at Leblanc and Tae was just another customer, albeit one that Akira paid special attention to.
Even when the café was rather crowed and his boss grumbling about how he could have used his help over the last half hour. All Akira did was laugh and said that he was here now and ready to work. Given that it was rather crowded this evening, some threw in their commentary, especially since he'd walked in with the local goth doctor at his side. Said doctor quietly took a free seat and told Akira to take his time in serving her.
"Spent all afternoon with the doctor, any need for me to be worried, or optimistic?" Joked the black-bearded man getting a chuckle out of multiple parties, including Tae herself.
She'd been to Leblanc several times before he showed up in Tokyo, but only after his arrival was she able to say that she'd truly begun to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the comfy little café. Even the simple act of waiting gave her more time to ease herself up and relax…and watch Akira work. Tae had noticed how lax he was even while working on multiple orders at once, how he never cracked under the pressure, quite the opposite in fact. A part of her found that trait admirable and even attractive. As soon as the though crossed her mind, Tae tried to shake it loose, telling herself that she was wondering into dangerous territory. Rather unsurprisingly, the act became rather difficult as she continued to watch him, patiently waiting for when he could turn his attention back to her.
Her patience was rewarded as he stood before her from behind the counter, a warm smile on his face as he asked what would she like.
You, you enigmatic guinea. Answered a side of her that she never thought existed, or had forgotten about. What I would like…is if we could keep on doing this. Keep talking with each other…seeing each other…relying on each other.
Early August…
"So, have our be helpful?" Started the black-garbed doctor in a lackadaisical tone. "For your escapades with the Phantom Thieves I mean?"
Akira froze like he'd just been hit by a blast of arctic air. Tae kept her snickering confined, but the glee exploded across her face and even the giggles slipped through as she watched the way he tensed up. His secret had just been exposed, but likely for him, it was just the two of them this early August afternoon…which arguably made it the perfect time for them to get this out of the way. Tae's eyes swerved to her left where the door was; no one was coming through and she hoped that no one would come by. Selfish as it was, she wanted this moment, and the newly revealed Phantom Thief, all to herself.
The teenager let out a shaky breath. "Uh, what?." The statement came out with a little bit of a laugh that was equally humorous and equally horrified. Akira was certainly taking her bombshell statement in strides, knowing him, he likely suspected that she'd figure it out at some point down the line. That said, dropping it here and now in this relatively peaceful and benign moment was probably not what he had in mind. Not to mention the fact that he'd confessed his romantic feelings to her little over a week ago, that was definitely weighing heavily on his mind. "I…guess I didn't exactly do a good job of hiding myself, did I?"
Her finger lightly ran along the edges of her coffee cup. "For the record…I never fully bought into your story about needing medication for your exams from the start, but I was willing to go along with it. That was actually selfish of me since I was just using you." Her eyes fell at the verbalization of the truth that had been sitting within her for months. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be." Akira immediately responded. "It's not like I have much room to talk considering that I did come to you hoping you'd be one of those amoral doctors who'd give me what I needed as long as I didn't heckle you too much." Yet another nervous laugh rung through the empty café. "Tae, I'm sorry."
She shook her head, taking a sip of her coffee. "Don't be, that was the sort of reputation that I cultivated. It's what I believed was for the best after Oyamada scapegoated me for his failure." Now it was her humorful laugh filling the café, it echoed in Akira's ears causing him to smile. "If it weren't for you…I would have been resigned to suffering under his deception." Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw him look away, a look of shy denial on his face. Tae laughed again. "Oh, come on, I know it was you. I visited him in prison. A swing of fortunes like that could have only come at the hands of the Phantom Thieves, whose MO is helping people in need."
His cheeks were blazing with embarrassment, though Akira tried hard to remain passive. "Well…you caught me, red-handed I'd say." Though his head fell, a smile remained on his face, the smile of one who felt relief. Odds were the secret had been weighing him down; Tae could look back on their interactions and notice how Akira seemed straddled by some invisible burden. She now knew why, and had exposed that burden into the open, causing it to evaporated into thin air. He rose his head, looking to her with a face free of fear. "So…what happens now? You've been aiding and abetting a fugitive. Definitely not the sort of thing a doctor who's getting her reputation back should be doing."
"True…a normal person would…notify the police, right?" She watched the way his body tensed, as if he were bracing for what could happen next-the worst-case scenario. Tae's first response was to place her hand over his; Akira jumped, the tension in his body suddenly flowing out like air out of a balloon. "Well, I don't care, I'm not really a normal person anyway. The bottom line is without you, I never would have completed my medicine, I would have still been deceived by Oyamada, and lastly, I never would have gotten to meet any of the townspeople. All of it because of you, Akira." Slowly, she felt his hand turn around beneath her, their palms faced one another and their fingers laced together. "The Phantom Thieves…to the world at large they're criminals, but…you guys save people in need, just like doctors. To me…that makes you guys heroes…and you…well, you're someone I'm willing to keep on supporting. I'll have even more powerful medicine ready for you, which I'm trusting you'll use responsibly, right? You are my boyfriend, after all."
The Cheshire grin formed on his face in seconds. "Don't I always?" His words came with a soft squeeze that sent a jolt of sweet euphoria running through her. Smitten with her giggle, he leaned over and kissed her atop the forehead. Were it not for the chairs they were sitting on, they would have gone further; pull away, Akira could see the hungry glint building in Tae's eyes, she definitely wanted to go further. "Your…boyfriend," he repeated. "So, does mean that you…"
"Recuperate your feelings?" Offered the short-haired woman with a smirk on her lips. "I wouldn't have said all of that if I didn't, would I?"
He sighed in relief. "Happy to know that my first serious crush hasn't ended with me looking like a complete idiot. Given how everything else in my life has gone, I've been expecting a pitfall somewhere, and nothing seemed to scream that like confessing to an older woman."
"It does, doesn't it? Truth be told…I tried to tell myself that I had to reject you. That's…what I told myself over and over again, but the more I did…the more I realized I couldn't do it." Explained the punk goth woman, her thumb lightly rubbing circles against his skin. "You're a minor…and I have no idea how to proceed into a relationship with such a person…but…you're someone that I can always rely on, and whom I want to watch over as best I can. What you do…it's dangerous, stupendously dangerous it's like getting into a relationship with a soldier at war."
"That's not entirely wrong." She'd always known what he did was dangerous, after all, Akira had lost count of the number of times she'd had to tend to his injuries. Tae had let her curiosity and concern show when she asked him point-blank why his injuries looked like he'd been through fighting everything from street thugs to pyromaniacs to wild animals and even why his emotional state was in a flux. All together, Akira suspected that she'd deduced his alter ego some time ago, long before he stepped in to make Oyamada confess his lies. "Getting involved with me, not only am I a minor, but also leader of the Phantom Thieves."
"Leader, huh? Then it sounds like I really did hit the jackpot." Laughed the formerly disgraced doctor. "Still, I haven't exactly heard anything that's going to make me renege on my decision." Tae stood up, looking down upon her teenage lover. He stood up as well causing her to look up at him. The height difference between them had always been a point of interest to her. Akira's unusual height had admittedly been a bit of a turn-on for her, but there was more to it. The shadow he cast was one of protectiveness and warmth; it fittingly lived up to his name. Reaching up with her hands, she caressed his cheek. "Akira…Akira Kurusu, a minor, a guinea pig, a Phantom Thief of Heart…and a man that I want in my life, and in my heart. That's all I'm seeing in front of me."
Hearing those words caused a stir in the high school student. Still gripping his lover's hand, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was a chaste kiss at first, but in seconds it exploded into a passionate affair. Akira's free hand moved to circle the doctor's waist, squeezing her against him, much to her delight. They didn't separate until the human need for air forced them to. Taking in a quick gulp, Tae asked point-blank if he was alone and if he did indeed live upstairs. A furious blush adorned his face as he answered yes to both statements. Quickly, he dislodged from her and ran over to the door, flipping the sign to "closed" then turning back to her.
Tae stood in front of him, blocking the path to the stairway that lead up to the attic he'd turned into a room. She'd never been in there, but she was looking forward to setting foot in it, or rather, being carried into it by Akira.
There was so much about him that she'd come to know and cherish, yet just as much that she was curious to discover. Now that they were officially together, Tae believed that there was more about him that she would come to know, and vice versa. Now that all theirs masks had been stripped away, she believed with all of her heart that would happen, just like how she believed, no matter what happened, their future would be a bright one. It was silly to think such thoughts, but as Tae was swept up in the arms of her teenage lover, she believed that anything was possible. It was trust, it was faith, it was love, and those were things that Tae felt she could let guide her into the unknown future.
Early January, 2017
Kasumi Yoshizawa, no, Sumire Yoshizawa.
Names were important, they were directly tied to one's identity, thus a fake name meant a fake identity. A stolen name meant a stolen identity.
Tae had heard more than a dozen stories about how names and identities were taken up on the behalf of the fallen. It was an old romanticized idea that had long since faded out, granted it was preferable to the other option, which was assuming a stolen name and identity. Murder was sometimes involved with the latter, which added an especially atrocious stigma to it. Such a thought could be rather despicable, which Tae agreed with; however, the world wasn't such a simple place. Sometimes people had reasons for discarding their identities, after all, she had practically done the same.
The case of Sumire Yoshizawa, she couldn't blame the poor girl, especially when her boyfriend arrived at her clinic with the girl leaning on his shoulder. Clenching on it actually.
"I've got everything set up." She told him, her voice and face one of a professional doctor. That was what was needed, she was after all the personal doctor of the Phantom Thieves of Heart. Speaking of the team of misfit rogues, they were there too, all of them, each and every last one of them, looks of concern on their faces. Even their "resurrected" black knight.
Tae found it hard to remember a time when the entire team had been assembled at her clinic, strike that, there'd never been a time when that had happened. It was oddly fitting what brought them all together was the health of one of their own, perhaps one of the most troubled members of the bunch from what she understood.
The first-year high-schooler was laid down on the bed, the same bed that had been occupied by countless other patients including Akira, who stood to the side ready to act as her assistant as he had done dozens of times. In this case, the patient had a personal connection to him thus he was going to give his utmost focus to the matter at head.
Isn't this certainly an interesting place to land yourself in, huh, Tae? Treating teenagers wasn't exactly something that was out of the ordinary for her. Treating teenagers for mental trauma wrought from having their psyche shattered and a metaphysical version of their inner selves beaten down after going berserk? Yeah, Tae wished there was an instruction manual for all of that, but there wasn't, or at least not one that she was privy to. At the very least it wasn't like this was the first time she'd had to look after a patient recovering from Persona-related injuries.
"Persona…that's…what our power is called. It's another version of ourselves that we can call upon in the Metaverse. It's…well, I don't think words can properly describe it. It's incredible, beyond belief. It's downright supernatural if you can believe it."
"Normally, I'd be highly skeptical of such a thing…but coming from you, actually, yeah, I can believe it."
As a doctor, she could have been considered a woman of science, which she was, and proudly so. It was said there was nothing in the world that couldn't be explained through science. Well, Tae had learned that wasn't always the case, albeit she was willing to admit cognitive psience certainly opened up a door to a whole new world, a world she'd been forced to explore. At any other time, this would have been something worth celebrating, but lives were on the line.
Sumire Yoshizawa's medical history had been easy enough to come by, as had her personal history. All things considered, Tae couldn't quite say she was surprised that the redhead had ended up on her hospital bed, being examined for any physical or mental injuries. Several times did she stir, but it was only faint murmurs at best, murmurs that included her sister's names…and apologizes. None of it was new to Tae.
Why? She continued to ask as she ran examinations with Akira at her side, his face never far away from concern. Why is it that you kids are having to do all of this? None of you asked for this, none of you were qualified for this? At least not at the start, you should all be living your lives as you wish. No, from what Akira told me, you all were living the lives that you wished…your perfect, ideal lives. It was all still a bit much for her to wrap her head around, which was saying something considering the usual messes that her boyfriend got involved in. This time though, she could say that the situation was a hell of a lot more complicated than she'd ever dared to imagine.
"How is she? Is she going to be okay?"
Turning to look to the concerned faced of her boyfriend, Tae answered him. "She will be…but as a doctor, Akira, I am going to tell you right now that you cannot take her into the Metaverse for at least two days or so. That's just me spit balling the amount of time she'll need to recover from the mental shock. Likewise, I'm going to write a note advising that she take that same amount of time off from school."
"Ms. Kawakami can help arrange that." Akira answered with a sight of relief born from hearing the first bit of the response. It was as good as he could have asked for, even the part about leaving her out of Metaverse exploration. Truth be told, Akira himself felt like the team needed some time off. "If we got back into the Metaverse though…"
"Akira, I can't speak for any of that since I'm not an expert on it." Declared the blue-haired doctor, her eyes hard. The slight aggression in her voice wasn't aimed at him, they were aimed at herself. She was a physical doctor, not a mental one, which was definitely the type that the currently unconscious girl could have used. "All…all I can do is be here for you all. Even my medicine, the medicine that I can cook up in the Metaverse-"
"Is enough…it has been…so far." Came a third voice that snapped up the couple's attention. As one, they looked down to the redhead who was currently attempting to sit up. In a heartbeat, Akira was there, helping her up. "D-D-Doctor Takemi…t-t-thank you, b-but I-"
"Am going to spend the next two days in recovery." Tae cut off, a firm edge in her voice. "Look, I have no idea how much of our talk you heard, but as the official doctor of the Phantom Thieves, which you are a part of, I am telling you to take the next two days off." The freshman student's eyes widen at her declaration, almost as if she were struggling to believe she'd accurately heard it. "Look, I know that…you're eager to make up for the mess you caused everyone, believe me, I know…but you have to slow down. Collect yourself, gather your thoughts and feelings, regain your physical and mental strength…and then you can be cleared for Phantom Thief duty. Understand?"
While the younger girl blinked and nodded her head in continued shock, Akira let loose with a single snicker. It wasn't the first time she'd used the phrase cleared for "Phantom Thief duty", he'd grown happy to hear it. At times, it was a much needed diffusion of tension, just like now.
"I-I…I understand, D-D-Dr. Takemi." Sumire finally responded, her head low and a blush covering her cheeks. "I-I…um, th-t-thank you, f-f-for t-t-treating me."
A thin smile tugging on her lips, the redeemed doctor reached out and patted the girl's head. Akira's snickering grew louder, thus causing Sumire's blush to deepen. "It's what I do…and your job is, at least for a little while, to be an ordinary teenage girl. Nothing more…and nothing less, just a normal teenage girl, just that. Got it?"
Bewildered dark red eyes looked up into warm and inviting caramel brown. Whatever traces of fear and anxiety that still lingered in the freshman gymnast quietly faded away, much to Akira's relief. He would notify the rest of the team, but only after he'd had a second to drink in the scene in front of him. His backside hit a nearby chair and a sigh passed his lips. It felt like they'd just survived an air raid; not quite a far-fetched scenario considering how closely they'd all come to flirting with death. It wouldn't be the last time, but Tae knew that, as did Akira and the other six teens and the cat in the waiting room.
Akira offered her his hand as she stood up. If Tae were another less mature kind of woman…she'd have felt threaten by that. Instead, she stood behind the two teens, safe in the knowledge that though Akira's heart belonged to her, he still had more than enough love left for the rest of his friends. Those same friends all expressed nothing short of joyous relief as the bespectacled redhead was presented to them, including Goro, who gave a short look over before turning his head to the side.
It was an odd assortment of teenagers, all of whom were once again carrying the fate of the world on their shoulders. No one would ever know, perhaps it would have been better off that way, not to mention the nine youngsters and feline weren't simply fighting for the world, they were fighting for themselves. Tae found such resolve admirable, and the fact that her boyfriend was spearheading this rebel movement made her all the prouder.
Briefly, she caught the sideways look of her newest patient. Sumire's expression was one of tranquil relief, a smile of gratitude she'd seen on countless patients. For a time, it had been Tae feel uncomfortable, but thanks to the boy beside her, she'd regained the ability to treasure that smile.
Four Days Later…
"I…lied to my dad and told him I was heading to the gym to work out, he believed it." Nervously explained the redheaded and red-eyed girl as she nervously sat atop the bed in front of Tae.
She gave a short nod of understanding. "You've done it before, haven't you?" It was a trick question that could have referred to multiple things, her actually choosing to spend the weekend practicing, or more recently, her lying and saying she would be one place when she was really somewhere else, it could have been a mix of truth and lie. Regardless, Sumire gave a short nod as her hands closed atop her knees. They were shaking. "Sumire," Tae started. "You don't have to-"
"Y-Yes, I-I do, Dr. Takemi. I…I…" Whatever words she was hoping to get out where lost as fear racked her. Tae had been expecting it thus she reached out and put a hand atop of Sumire's. Her presence caused her trembling to ease up. A short breath later and she was able to meet Tae in the eye. "I have to do this…I can't spend the rest of my life running away, especially after all the trouble that I caused everyone. Akira-senpai, Akechi-senpai, and the rest of the Phantom Thieves…Kasumi…"
Seeing where things were going, Tae responded, "Sumire…while you may have to do this, do you think you have the heart do this? Having to do something and having the heart to do it are two different things."
Her words rippled across the teenager's being like a drop of rain on a pond. Sumire leaned back, a look of conflicted emotions on her face. "A heart weighed down by doubt is nothing but deadweight…Akechi-senpai told me that when he and I bumped into each other."
"His way of asking you if you're prepared to do this, and it sounds like he was rather nice about it." Chirped the older woman. Her statement got a laugh out of the teenage girl. Tae smirked and filed the reaction away, it seemed that her earlier observation regarding the former hitman had indeed been right. Turning the conversation back to a serious angle, she began to speak again. "As you know…I've been told next to everything, about how Maruki used his Persona to overwrite your own personality in favor of your sister's…or what you thought was your sister's." Secretly, she'd been fishing for a reaction, and Tae got one. Sumire's entire body tensed, though it wasn't out of anger, more like acceptance.
"Was it…hard for you to believe all of this? I-I mean w-w-when you were first brought into the fold regarding the Phantom Thieves?" Started the redhead.
"Honestly, yes, but I'm one of those people who takes life as it comes to her…or that's the person that I am now thanks to Akira. Besides…I can't deny that it's all rather interesting, including your unique situation." Answered the short-haired woman with a whimsical smile. "As much as I'd love to study it all…it's a tad bit outside of my expertise. My field is medicine for the body, I'm no psychiatrist…but if you want, I could direct you to some."
Sumire stared straight at the clinic owner, her body froze where she sat. A second passed, and then she relaxed if only just a bit. "Dr. Takemi…do you…hate Dr. Maruki for what he did? F-For what I asked him to do?" Just as quickly as she'd relaxed, she braced herself yet again, like a physical blow was coming.
A verbal rant wasn't entirely off the table, all things considered, but it's not like Tae had any room to talk, something she made clear with her next words.
"I don't think I have a right to judge him…yet, I have my personal opinion on what he's done…and what he's trying to do. From one doctor to another…I honestly don't know how to feel." Genuine sorrow covered her face as she leaned back, arms on the armrest of her chair and her gaze distant. "As doctors, it's our job to do what we can to help our patients. That said…if it that help crosses the line into harming them, then it's a red light to stop. On the other hand…sometimes the best medicine can be the most bitter kind." Her words did little to quell the unrest in the Persona-user, if anything her statement had just throw her into further confession. "What Maruki did…Sumire, one thing I will not dispute is that he likely saved your life. From what I understand, following your sister's death, you were suicidal and likely a stone's throw away from committing suicide." The silence she received from the other end was telling.
"So…you…don't consider what I did running away?" Finally came the response.
"Like I said, from what I can gather, you were suicidal so something had to be done, or else you wouldn't be sitting here in front of me, would you?" Again, the silence was answer enough for her. "To answer your original question, Sumire…no, I don't hate Dr. Maruki, not for doing what he thought was right, which in the end, he might have been. He saved your life, and he believes that he's saving the lives of others." Relief and doubt danced in the redhead's eyes when they finally met again. Such reactions weren't unexpected; Sumire wasn't the only one attempting to navigate the complicated mess that this was. That said, Tae knew she had to try, she had to try for the same reason one got up and faced the rising sun day after day, because that was part of living life. Apparently, her fellow doctor had forgotten that in his sorrows and her boyfriend was fighting to remind him of that. "Where I think he is wrong…is believing that having one's wishes granted for them, living life in a fantastical dream world is right. I'm not saying this as a doctor, I'm saying this as a person…he's wrong in that thinking, or at least that's what I believe."
Sumire's hands temporarily paused in their shuffling, then they laced together. A shaky breath escaped her. "Then you're on the same wavelength as Senpai and the others."
"Aren't you there as well?" Tae inquired with a socked eyebrow. "After all, you've decided to go with them. That must mean that you've decided that his path can't be the right way, not for humanity…and not for you, right?"
The teenager's hands tightened. "My sister…I think she would be ashamed of me for all of this."
"I think she'd be worried about you." Tae softly chided only for the teenager to shake her head back and forth. "…She wasn't one of those people who liked relying on others, was she?" Sumire looked up to her with naked shock. Tae laughed, "Hey, mental health isn't my department, but I've come to know a thing or two about people. That…and Akira dropped some details on me, details that he felt I needed to know."
"Y-Yes, o-of course, you are the Phantom Thieves' doctor, after all." Reasoned the long-haired woman with a slight smile. "You know, I heard stories about you, but it wasn't until Akira-senpai talked about you that I began to give much thought as to what kind of person you really were. Just like he said, you're an extremely kind and generous doctor."
A pink tint assailed the genius doctor's face. "Sounds like I'll be having a word with a certain someone the next time I see him." For the first time since coming to her clinic, the teenager laughed. It was a sound that put Tae at ease and made her feel like she was making some progress. As she'd said, mental health wasn't her field…but if someone was in front of her and needed help, she felt an urge to give it her best. "Out of curiosity, what else did my little guinea pig say about me? Nothing too scandalous I hope."
"O-Oh, n-no, not! H-He spoke of you with the highest respect!" The first-year high-schooler stuttered. Tae bit back a smirk. She'd noticed how flustered the girl seemed to get whenever Akira was brought up, especially in a positive manner such as this. Taking mercy on her, she sat back in her seat and waited for Sumire to compose herself. Once she had, Tae noticed how the teenager looked like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders; if she had to guess, it was no doubt because of her answer to her question involving the good Dr. Maruki. "Akira-senpai told me that…some of what I'm going through…a crisis of faith…he told me that you could help, t-t-that's why I came to you." Sumire finally admitted in a quiet voice, a near-whisper.
Tae could see the teen's body moving as if it were in slow motion. She was seconds away from rising off the bed and leaving, her feelings still muddled and disoriented. "I can help." The response was automatic, a gut reaction that was made before her mind could catch up. "I-I-I mean I-I know w-w-what it feels like t-t-think that you've…to think that you've hurt someone special, to blame yourself…and to lose faith in yourself. I-I know what those things are like…and I know...sometimes that isn't the case." Now it was her heart racing a mile a minute. Her mind still hadn't caught up yet meaning everything she was saying, it was coming from the heart. All things considered, that might have been for the best since this wasn't the sort of talk that required logic, it required emotion.
Sumire looked to her like she was a light flickering in the darkness; she was scared. This was the side of the Phantom Thieves that next to no one saw, that no one was meant to see. To the world at large, they were daredevils risking life and limb for freedom and justice, but when the masks came off, they were kids. Traumatized kids who needed help from anyone who could offer it. Tae had never planned to be in such a position, but here she was, and here she would remain.
"How…how did you do it?" Sumire asked again in that same whisper-like voice. "F-F-Feeling all of that…h-how did you handle it? H-How did you get through it?"
"First of all, I let someone in." The truth was, that someone practically forced his way in, but details. "Your sister's motto was that people should help themselves, right? That's a good point…but sometimes we all need help, especially from the people who love us and care about us. As human beings, as people…we can be strong…but we can only be so strong on our own. Even the strongest of us need someone to lean on from time to time, and there's nothing to be ashamed of in doing that. Supporting each other, especially in the darkest of times…that's what having friends and family are for. Sumire, you're lucky enough to have both, neither of which see you as a burden."
"But I-!"
"You did nothing wrong." Tae firmly cut off, knowing where the girl's mind was about to wonder. She'd seen it coming a mile away and was expecting it. "What happened to your sister was tragic…but you have to understand something, it was not your fault. You did not kill your sister; she chose to give her life for yours. Do you know why? Because you were her sister, whom she loved more than anything in this world."
"And now she's left it…because of me." Near sobbed the redhead, her gaze pointed downward. "B-B-Because I…because I-"
"Because of nothing." Again, cut off the medical professional. Standing up, she walked the short three steps over to the teenager and took hold of her trembling hands. She'd grown used to doing this to patients whose emotions were running high; picturing the man who did the same to her, Tae channeled all that she could into her next words. "Sumire, if your sister truly hated you or looked down on you, do you think she would have given her life to save yours? Do you think that she would have wanted you here, blaming yourself for her death, and living her life as a means of escaping whatever misplaced sense of guilt that you feel?" There was a squeeze on her hands. She was making progress, she had to push to get the rest of the way there. "You may not think that you have the strength to go on…but you do, know why? Because, you're still alive, Sumire. You're here, alive and able to move and talk and run and do whatever you want. Don't doubt if you deserve this life that you have, you do, it's the life that your sister gave hers to protect, so don't you think you should cherish it?"
"But what's there to cherish? This…this me that is so weak and pathetic?" She whispered. "This me that chose to run away and hide from the truth. This me that could never measure up to Kasumi." Sumire might have said more if she wasn't preoccupied with the slight pain that was throbbing in her forehead curtsy of the finger flick the blue-haired doctor had inflicted upon her. One look at said doctor's stern look and she knew to take the pain in silence and listen.
"Do I have to repeat myself, you are still alive, Sumire Yoshizawa, do you know what that means? You can change all those things you just listed about yourself. Again, do you know why? Because you're alive, thus you have the power to decide how your life shall be, what you can be." Her mind flashed with the memories of Akira repeating those same words to her, reminding her that she had a purpose in life beyond simply perfecting a medical drug; once she had been a doctor, and she had become one again thanks to him. The girl before her had been someone who strove for her dreams, and like her, she could become that again. "Sumire…so long as we're alive, we have the power to seize the dreams that we chase after…but we can only do so if we believe we can push ourselves toward them. To do that, we need people to have faith in us, but most importantly, we need to have faith in ourselves."
"Faith in others…and faith in ourselves." She repeated, showing that the words had made a deep cute. "Senpai and the others…a-after all of that…do you think that they'd-"
"I know they have faith in you, I know that Akira does. He's the type of person who believes in his friends…all of them." Softly pushed the shorter-haired woman.
Sumire gave her a smile, and a slight blush on the cheeks. "Dr. Takemi, it sounds like you really do know Senpai a lot…and trust him a whole lot."
It took some control on her part to keep from emoting beyond a soft laugh. "Yeah, you could say that. He's a troublemaker of the worst kind…but the sort you'd want to have in your life. You're lucky to have him and the rest of the Phantom Thieves…and your family. All people who care about you and have faith in you to stand up and soar."
A pregnant pause preceded the next statement, which was spoken with the appropriate shyness. "Does…Dr. Takemi…would…you say that you have faith in me?"
Shoulders relaxed, she gave the teenager's hands a light squeeze. "Yes, Sumire…I do, as a doctor to her patient…as one person to another…I have faith in you. Now…here's the question, do you have faith in yourself?"
A supportive squeezed answered Tae's question for her, as did a pair of determined red eyes. Tae had seen that same fire before, in the eyes of her boyfriend, in the eyes of his rival-turned-ally, her school teacher friend who'd likewise had to find the strength to stand back up on her feet.
The buzzer above their heads sounded interrupting the moment.
"Um, I think that might be my que to get going." Sumire somewhat nervously laughed.
"Indeed, and mine to get back to work." Tae concluded pulling away. She suppose she was lucky that they'd had as much time as they had. It was her hope that some of her words had gotten through to the teenage girl. As she readied herself to leave, and Tae prepared herself to see another patient, she felt her heart take over. "Sumire," she called out. "About what I said about people having faith in you…look after them. That faith…it's a two-way streak, okay?"
She wasn't sure how much Sumire picked up, hopefully not much as Tae hadn't alluded to anything too alarming. On the surface, she'd just made a simple statement; thankfully, that was what the teenager seemed to take it as, her face brightened a she nodded in understanding.
Faith, yes, it was indeed a two-way streak, and it had the power to make and break a person. It was a massive chain that snaked its way through society, and in many ways kept it together. Just as Tae was placing her faith in the high school freshman, people were placing their faith in her.
Internally, Tae mused about how radically she was shifting gears. She was going from attempting to heal the soul to healing the body, a profession she was much more skilled in.
"You're a doctor, aren't you? Your job is treating people, right? So just keep on doing that, you may not be welcomed in the medical community, but Tae, you're still a doctor, and a damn good one."
Yes, She thought moving into the waiting room to face her next set of patients, a familiar trio of faces. I am a doctor, and this is my job, my life, my passion.
And there finishes the first chapter of this three-shot, the focus on course being on Sumire. It was a big thematic clash having the game's Death Arcana having a sit down with a member of the cast who has been majorly affected by death, and dealing with some genuine psychology issues that were somewhat out of Tae's league. Throughout this one, there was a running theme of Tae confronting things that couldn't be explained by science or logic, such as human feelings and emotions, so she had to trust her heart. Not all wounds need physical medicine, and sometimes those wounds can be amongst the hardest to heal, but when it comes to someone you care about, it's worth it, especially if you can sympathize with that person.
I'll admit, it was also a tad funny writing Tae falling for Akira then having her help out a girl developing a crush on her boyfriend. Dramatic irony has become a favorite of mine.
With Sumire's chapter finished, I'll be moving onto the next chapter which will feature Tae's thoughts and interactions with our favorite pancake-loving psychotic tsundere. Should be fun, right? Except some more loose therapy, trading of death threats, and even a peak or two at life post game! Until then!