Feather Change

Halloween Night and Inaba was alive with life and holiday spirit. Children were excited for the adventures the night would bring and parents were preparing to accompany them. Despite all of the fear and dread the town had experienced in the previous months, people seemed happy and excited for the holiday.

Yu Narukami understood why, of course. Most people thought the killer was caught. He was sure that Halloween was doubling as the chance to celebrate the end of the terror they had all felt. They were safe now, and they had nothing to worry about.

Idiots, he sighed. Oh well, might as well enjoy this while I can. He glanced towards the sunset and watched the sun continue to fall, signalling that the night's activities were going to begin soon. Yosuke had told the group that Junes was going to hold a party for the holiday, and Naoto's insistence had been the final nail that ensured the Investigation Team's attendance. Now he waited for their arrival, patiently sitting at their 'secret headquarters.'

"Hello, Narukami-kun..." Yu lifted his eyes from his phone and felt a pang of guilt as he saw the girl that stood in front of him.

"Hey, Yukiko..." And cue awkward silence...

"Have you been waiting long...?" Her eyes couldn't meet his. She just stared at the table, looking for anything to focus on that wasn't him.

"No," he replied. "Um... Excited for the party?"

"Yeah. Seems like it'll be fun..." Neither spoke and both avoided the others' gaze as they waited for something to break the tension. It seemed neither of them were ready to act upon their new link, a fact that left Narukami rather frustrated with himself. He made a silent promise himself to try again later, but for now, he gave her space.

The two were left waiting for several more minutes before any of their friends showed up.

Despite Naoto's insistence that the group attend this party, the young detective lacked a costume. In fact, several members of her social circle lacked proper attire. It seemed that most of them simply outgrew the spirit of Halloween, save for Teddie, who happily arrived with a large Jack-O-Lantern themed mask atop his bear costume. Thankfully, Hanamura-senpai assured Naoto and the others that he would supply costumes for each of them.

Unfortunately, Naoto had failed to predict the kind of costume Hanamura-senpai would give her.

"I refuse to go out there dressed like this!"

"What? What's wrong with it?" asked the brunette from beyond her changing tent. "It doesn't have a skirt!"

"T-that's not the point!" Naoto glared at the thin, cardboard flap that hung on the outside of the costume. "I refuse to be seen in public as some kind of cat girl!" If she had been insane enough to actually wear the costume she would have been exposing far too much skin for her liking The dark blue shorts exposed her knees and thighs, and the small shirt left her midriff and shoulders open to view. There was even a pair of cat ears that were meant to sit on her head.

"Huh. There's an interesting idea," a voice chuckled.

"Be quiet, Narukami. A-and stay away from my tent!" The voice laughed at her, just beyond the thin, white fabric.

"Right, right."

"Come on, Naoto-kun! I bet you look super cute!" Rise's arms reached into the tent to try and pull the detective out. Naoto rolled her eyes and merely stepped out, glaring at her companions with flushed cheeks. The sleuth noted Rise's small pout when the detective stepped out in her usual clothing. "You didn't even try it on?"

"There was a picture on the front." Naoto motioned to the picture that decorated the cardboard. "That was more than enough for me."

"Man, I knew I should have removed that thing," grumbled Yosuke, earning himself a harsh glare from the younger girl. "Aw, come on, Naoto! It's just for fun."

"No. I'll merely attend the party as myself," the girl argued.

"Can't do that. Junes actually posted rules that they wanted everyone attending to be in costume," countered Yosuke. He grinned at her, as though he had just seized victory with his own two hands.

"T-then I'll simply find another, more practical costume!"

"Um, Naoto? It's Halloween night. Most places are sold out by now," Chie reminded.

"Oh. Yes, that would be likely... In that case, perhaps-"

"I'll walk you home." Naoto blinked, and each head of the Investigation Team turned to the speaker. Yu Narukami watched them, with hands in his pockets as he shrugged. "If Naoto isn't able to attend, then she shouldn't have to just hang outside the party watching us have a good time, and I would hate for her to have to walk home alone. After the recent murders, I can't help but imagine some people will try to pull off some dangerous stunt or prank. It would simply be safer if I accompanied her."

"But dude! Then you won't be able to have fun either!" Yosuke groaned. "Do either of you know how much your costumes cost me?!"

"And we appreciate the gesture," replied the silver-haired leader. Naoto's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the young man. He was speaking with a different inflection, making himself sound more charismatic and polite than he needed to be. That only meant he was up to something malicious, if not immature. "But Dojima-san wanted to know if I could stay home tonight to watch over Nanako-chan. After accompanying Naoto, I will stay at home to do that."

"You sure, Senpai?" inquired Tatsumi. Naoto glanced at the blonde boy, silently noticing the Frankenstein's Monster costume he was adorned in, before glancing back towards Narukami.

Does Tatsumi see through his deceit as well? Or am I the only one picking up on his subtle inconsistencies?

"Oh, Senpai," sighed Rise. "You're too nice for your own good." The young woman stepped closer to the silverette's side and gently elbowed him, glancing into his eyes. The two shared a silent discussion that left both of them grinning, and Naoto with a slight frown on her lips.

Rise-chan knows he is planning something... But what are you planning, Narukami? Whatever it was, Naoto knew she was going to end up as his partner in crime. The possibility of speaking up and denying Narukami's offer did come to mind, yet when she looked at his shimmering, silver eyes, she recalled their time together yesterday...

Together, they braved those accursed, 'haunted' halls. They confessed to one another their fears and secrets, enjoying one another's company. He truly was her closest friend. An intellectual equal, but with a personality vastly different from her own, yet their were similarities. They both stove to find their true selves after years of deceit and masks. They smiled at one another, they had even held hands in the past, and they had even ki-

"Naoto? Are you coming?" He was looking at her with the slightest smile on his face. If he saw the scarlet cheeks that tainted her pale skin, which he most certainly did, he did not remark upon them. Instead, she took a deep breath and exhaled. Naoto tipped her hat down slightly, hiding her flushed cheeks as she silently accompanied Narukami out of the changing rooms.

The two walked out of Junes, Narukami silently smirking as the detective followed, equally quiet for the moment. Her patience did not last forever, and she broke their silence as they walked into the Northern Shopping District. The young woman came to a stop and crossed her arms, frowning. The older boy noticed she had stopped and turned to meet her frown with a smile.

"Do you want to tell me just what exactly it is you have planned?"

"It's a surprise. Don't you like surprises, my dear Naoto?"

"Not particularly, no. My very profession is finding out secrets, after all."

"Ah. Fair point," he chuckled. Her glare sharpened, and he held up his hands in a mock motion of surrender.

"I already know you have no intention of walking me back to my home, Narukami," the sleuth deduced. "So what exactly do you have planned? Something mischievous and juvenile, no doubt."

"Oh, ye of little faith." Narukami chuckled at the girl, shaking his head. "As for what I have planned, it is a little mischievous, and a bit of a white lie, but it will be fun, I promise you that."

"Is that so?" She did not sound convinced.

"Enough to put a smile on that pretty, little face of yours, I bet."

Pretty...? Stop that! she scolded to herself. Despite her internal conflict, Naoto just glanced away from her friend and grunted in a quiet response."Hrm."

"There. Come on, we're going into Aiya's," he explained, motioning her after him. The two walked into the restaurant, finding only a few patrons inside, and a young woman at the counter. "Aika, do you still have the bags?" The navy blue-haired girl glanced at the two, her face stoic and strangely monotone. She nodded her head as Naoto watched her bend down under the counter. She handed two bags to Narukami, who took them with a quick "Thanks." He motioned Naoto to follow him to the back, who did, her eyes on the plastic bags.

"What are those?" she asked, following him down an empty hall.

"Costumes for us." He stopped at the bathrooms and knocked on it, awaiting a reply. "Okay, looks like the lady's room is empty. Hurry up and get changed," he declared, tossing one of the bags to her. She caught it, but her eyes widened as he began to enter the men's bathroom.

"Wait, you intend for us to simply change here?!"

"Don't worry! Aiya's keeps it clean!" His teasing, mocking smirk faced her. "I'll meet you back out here in a few. Try not to take too long. Party's probably starting."

"Narukami-!" The door closed, and the distinct click of the lock told her he would not be answering her questions. "Darn it..."

Yu could make a clown suit look good. Most people didn't realize this, but good looks weren't all about the physicals. You didn't need to look good to look good. True, Yu was a handsome man already, but it was his confidence that really made him the heartthrob women lusted for. He smiled at the mirror, admiring himself for a moment. He looked good, even in the skintight spandex.

Hell, he looked amazing.

He heard a soft knock on the door, followed by a voice calling out to him. "I-I'm finished."

"Alright, I'll be out in a second." Yu glanced back at his reflection and his smile grew. Okay, Narukami. Time to make her night amazing. He stepped out of the bathroom, helmet safely held under his shoulder as he greeted the girl. "So, Naoto, how do you like the...?"

Good God...

She's so cute!

Naoto wore her costume well, and his silver eyes traced over her frame as she glared at him. Her anger fell on ignorant eyes as he framed the sight of her like a painting, hanging it within his mind like a work of art. He opened his mouth, only to feel it hang loosely. Just like him, she was stunning in the superhero garb. His eagle eyes noted that her chest was pushed flat, her bandages clinging to her skin underneath the blue spandex. He could see the slightest bump on her chest... He swore his heart drummed just a little faster at the sight of her.

And her eyes... Her cobalt eyes glared at him, yet all he saw was the beautiful passion they held. Like watching a fire through sapphires, her eyes entranced him. Even her hat was gone, letting her short, blue locks hang freely. Her bangs just barely blocked the sight of her shimmering eyes. Finally, he saw her cheeks and the sight of the rose-tinted skin brought his hanging jaw into a soft smile.

"Narukami?" Naoto's voice snapped him out of his daze. He watched her hand wave in front of his face, before she crossed her arms over her small, near-flat breasts. "What were you staring at?"

"Uh... N-nothing?" He quickly shook his head and coughed into his hand. "So, what do you think of the costumes?!"

"Phoenix Rangers Feathermen R... Why?" Her eyes returned to glaring at him, though he could see she was using it to hide her true feelings.

"We both like Phoenix Rangers. Why not?" He shrugged his shoulders, his confident smirk returning to his lips as she looked away.

"Why not, indeed," she repeated.

"I won't force you to wear if you really don't want to." And he meant it, much as that pained him to admit. She looked amazing in the uniform, like the character came to life, only hotter and cuter.

"No." She was quick to shoot down the idea, a fact that only widened his smile. "You went to the trouble of acquiring this outfit, a feat that could not have been easy, I suppose I can at least wear it for the night before returning it."

"You sure?"

"As long as we avoid anyone I respect knowing it's me in this costume, I suppose it will be fine. For the holiday, of course."

"Of course." He motioned his head to the main room of the restaurant, where the navy-haired girl waited for them. "Aika will take our clothes and hold them for us. You ready to have some fun, detective?" He held his hand out to her, and she glanced down at it.

She stared at his hand for a moment, before her eyes softened. The corner of her lip was pulled into a wryly smile as her hand fell into his, firmly squeezing it. "I am."

Yosuke had been asked by his boss to spend the first hour of the party greeting people. So he stood by the entrance, Teddie by his side, forcing a smile on his face as his friends enjoyed the festivities. As he half-heartedly waved at the guests, his ears picked up on a familiar voice. He glanced to the side and saw Rise, dressed as a mad scientist, with large, thick-rimmed glasses on her face, holding onto Kanji's arm. The young, blonde Frankenstein's Monster turned scarlet as he tried to fight off the idol.

"Come, my monster! Let's go terrorize the snack bar!"

"H-hey! Quit it! G-get off, Rise!"

Yosuke watched the sight of Rise pulling on Kanji's arm with a bewildered stare. He crossed his arms over the fur of his werewolf costume, frowning slightly. "Is it me, or have Kanji and Rise been acting really weird lately?"

"Huh? I haven't noticed anything," commented Teddie.

"I mean, Kanji doesn't even like Risette! But Rise's been hanging by his side ever since the Culture Festival!"

"Maybe he has candy in his pocket?" wondered the bear, staring at the pawful of sweets in his own hand. "I know that'd get me! Mmmm!" The short, blue bear threw the candies, wrapper and all, into the black void of his jack-o-lantern mask. Yosuke could hear him happily chewing away, despite his lack of a real mouth.

"Dude, you better brush your teeth tonight. You've been packing the candy." The brunette reached his hand forward, only to be smacked away by the bear's paw.

"Paws off, Yosuke! Get your own!"

"Ow! You little bear bastard! What the hell was that for?!"

"Excuse me? Are we at the right spot for the Junes party?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Welcome!" Yosuke's eyes darted back before him, finding a gloved hand offered to him. The wolfman shook the hand as he smiled at the couple. "Hey there, welcome to the party. Cool Phoenix Ranger costumes."

"Thank you so much. My name is Souji. This is my girlfriend, Narumi." The blue ranger turned her head to look at her taller, red partner. She looked like she was about say something, but Souji interrupted her. "You're the Junes kid, right? Yosuke Hanamura? It's nice meeting you."

"Oh. Thanks?" Souji's hand and the couple began walking by the two boys. The man waved goodbye as the entered the party. "Hey, Teddie."

"Hiya!" Teddie quickly returned to his candy horde as Yosuke's dark brow rose up.

Weird... Who was that guy?

"Souji? Narumi?! Girlfriend?!" Naoto's voice only rose in passion and volume as she glared at her masked compatriot.

"What? You said you didn't want anyone you respected knowing you were dressed up as a Phoenix Ranger. Do you not respect Yosuke?" he teased, chuckling behind his helmet.

"But why the ridiculous aliases?! And..." She was blushing behind her mask, a fact that she prayed he did not realize. "Do you enjoy embarrassing me, Narukami? Or do you just enjoy making a fool out of the both of us?"

"A little of both, honestly," he replied. His hand fell upon her helmeted head, gently petting the hard, plastic material. "Come on, Naoto. The night is ours. No one is going to know that Naoto Shirogane and Yu Narukami are in spandex, partying the night away. Be who you want to be, do what you want to do, no one will know that it's you, no one will judge you," he explained, motioning around them with a hand on her shoulder.

"No one except you," she deadpanned.

"Yeah, but I'm your best friend." He gently elbowed the young girl, before looking around. "So, what do you want to do first?" The disguised detectice seemed to glare at him behind her visor, before turning her head away. She did not give an answer, instead staring at the festivities around them.

Everyone was dressed in a costume, some simple, like Rise's mad scientist costume, some more intricate, such as Nanako's Detective Loveline costume. Yet joy and mirth was a constant among most of the party-goers. Everyone looked to be in high spirits as the DJ played another song. Decorations such as cobwebs and ghosts hung from trees as the night sky hung over everyone. Activities lined the outskirts of the party, such as bobbing for apples and face painting.

All of this just made the sleuth feel lost. "I have to admit, I have little experience with events such as these. I'm... rather at a lost of what to do." He could practically hear her blushing.

For a brief moment, Yu considered teasing his friend about her lack of experience, but he decided against it. Instead he placed a hand on the side of her helmet and gently pulled her towards him. She faced him and he leaned close, staring into the darkness of her visor. "Hey. It's okay. Trust me," he suggested, pulling away from the bluette.

Naoto watched him walk away, towards the stage where the DJ played his song. He wasn't the only one as other partygoers walked towards the dance floor. Some were couples holding hands, some were gangs of friends, and others were alone as they joined on the smooth, stone floor, all of them moving in time to the synthesized music.

The beat of the music started slow, and Yu stood near the center, gently bobbing his head as the speakers trembled from the volume of music. Yu's hands traced over the air, moving like they were flowing through water at first, before moving like lightning down and up, dancing to the beat as his legs stepped left and right. It soon became clear that the young man wasn't simply dancing with the music. His gifted reflexes made him almost seem to control the flow of the song, dancing at a quickening pace as he spun and danced.

He quickly earned the eye of the other dancers, and people seemed to marvel as he moved. Naoto wasn't sure what to think as Narukami fell to the ground, only to place his gloved hands onto the ground and shoot his legs up, into the air. He held the handstand position for a second, before pushing off the ground, almost spinning in the air as he somehow landed back on his feet.

His audience cheered as Naoto just continued to stare, mouth slightly agape as Yu took to the dance floor again, masterfully moving his body. It was clear the young man had experience with rhythm and dance. It almost annoyed the young woman at how skilled he seemed in just about any task he needed to be. He turned his head and looked in her direction, running towards her.

The music continued to play as he held his hand out to her. "Wanna try?"

"I... Where did you even learn to dance like that?"

"There was a girl." And Naoto didn't really need to hear anymore than that, crossing her arms with a slight scowl on her face. Despite her mask, Narukami seemed to pick up on her feelings. "Come on, don't be mad. That was the old me. I'm the new and improved Yu Narukami. So, dance or no dance?"

Her eyes glanced towards the mob of people, then back to her friend, before looking down at the hand offered to her. She weighed the options in her mind, silently watching the red-suited man look at her. "One dance." Despite the mask, she could easily visualize the smirk on his face behind his mask. She walked past him towards the dance floor, leaving Narukami's hand to fall to his side.

"Heh. Good enough, I suppose." He turned his body to follow the Detective Prince, his smirk turning perplexed as he saw her standing outside the dance floor. She gazed into the jubilant masses, hesitant on how to join in. His lips formed a small smile as he approached her from behind. "Follow my lead, okay?" He walked past her and began to bob his body to the music, arms raised slightly as his shoulders bounced. He effortlessly melded into the crowd, but remained at the edge for her. "Come on! Nothing to be afraid of!"

Naoto watched him, studying his movements like he was a file. Her cobalt eyes traced his taut frame, analyzing his shifting feet, even mentally measuring how far he moved his limbs. All of the information and details led her to one conclusion.

She had no idea how to dance like he did.

"Come on!" And he wasn't going to give her the chance to try as his hand took hers and she was yanked into the audience.

"N-Narukami!" She fell into his chest, a fact that seared her face in a scarlet flush. "I was mentally preparing myself," she huffed, pushing him away. He just chuckled in response, giving her space as he danced.

"You were taking too long," he laughed. "Remember what I told you! Live in the moment!"

Naoto felt her cheeks burn even hotter as she recalled when he gave her that advice, and what happened afterwards. She shook the memory from her head and looked at him, watching his body move like water as he effortlessly danced to the beat. He motioned to his arms, and began to simply snap his fingers as he leaned back and forth. Hesitantly, she did the same, trying to match his rhythm as she snapped her fingers.

He grinned, and began to saunter behind her. She watched him go, immediately mimicking his movement, leading to the two walking around in a circle, facing each other. He grinned under her mask, and she masked her scarlet cheeks with a scowl, before his hand caught hers and spun her around. She stumbled in place, nearly falling over, but he caught her hand, locking his fingers with hers.

"D-don't drop me!" she gasped, her voice breaking as she hung from his grip. Her blush only intensified as she realized how feminine she sounded. He just chuckled, pulling her close and letting her back on her feet. Their bodies were close, chests almost touching, and Naoto could hear her heart thumping in her chest as he swayed in front of her. "You're incorrigible."

"Would you want me any other way?" he teased.

Naoto wasn't sure how to reply to the question. Narukami returned to his side of the dance, keeping his distance from her as she tried to match his movements. Despite how little he meant of it, the question continued to plague and distract the sleuth's mind. Would she change the young man, if she could? There was a time where she would have said yes, without a second thought, but now...

The man before her was her best friend. He did more than support her. He challenged her. He struggled with her. He was different than her, there wasn't a doubt there, yet the two were so similar. He was her friend... Her other half, it felt. He was... She l-l... liked him.

"Naoto?" She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she realized he was suddenly much closer now, staring down at her.

"The song ended, but you've been doing the same dance move for over twenty seconds now. You okay?"

"Oh! Y-yes, of course. I'm fine."

"Hm... Well, come on. I won't make you suffer this anymore. Let's-" He tried walking past her, but his wrist was caught by hers.

"Wait. I... I would like to try one more dance... If you would care to join me?" She couldn't look him in the eyes, couldn't even face him. A gentle, soft tune flowed from the speakers as the dancers around them prepared to begin again. She could feel his head turn to stare at her, eyes and mouth open wide most likely, before she heard his snicker. "What is so funny?" she huffed, trying to sound offended. She only accomplished something bemused, she imagined.

"Nothing. Okay. Let's dance." Their arms fell from one another as they turned back to face the other, a soft choir of voices echoing through the night air to make a harmonious whisper...

"Heaven..." The speakers' song was like a breeze against their bodies, crashing against them like a wave of water. It flowed around them, encompassing them as everyone began to dance. "Can't get my mind out of those memories..."

Yu almost immediately saw that something had changed in Naoto. No longer was she trying to imitate his dance moves, instead, her own leg began to move, gently stepping against the stone floor to the beat of the song. She walked around in a small circle, before holding out her hands as if she was carrying something precious to her, then with a grace and beauty that he had thought impossible, she lifted her arms to the sky.

It wasn't like the party, amateur dancing she had done before. She danced like she had years behind her, her movements like a faster paced ballet. He blinked behind his mask, stunned as he watched her dance through the air like she was a autumn breeze.

"Now time to tell them, 'don't take my dream.' Still music keeps on turning me from the words that hurt my soul... Removing doubts from my mind...!"

She was moving with an all new grace and spirit, her body dancing to the beat as she kicked up her legs and moved her arms through the space between them. She turned away, walking away from him and suddenly he felt as though he had been given a drop of cold, clean water... But he was in a desert and he needed more. Narukami followed after her, like a lost animal, only to step back when she turned to face him.

The beat began to quicken, and her foot gently tapped against the dance floor as his heart raced to match the rhythm. But it was more than her foot, her hips were moving side to side, almost grinding against the air as Yu felt his suit tighten around him and his breath fall short. Her bound chest gently bounced as she moved her body, dancing to the fast paced beat.

Her movements were more than just arousing to the young man. She was like a modern day ballerina, a mix of a fast, modern dancing and the slow, methodical grace one would find in a ball room or on a stage. Her arms combed through the air as her hips swayed to and fro, her long, thin, flawless legs carried her like angelic wings. When he looked at her, he didn't see the costume or the mask. He saw the woman he loved, the one he saw in Junes. She danced with such radiance, such fluidity, such... sensuality.

Yu Narukami had never met a girl like Naoto...

She stretched out a hand to him, and a single finger teased him, motioning closer.

He was happy to obey, even if he moved like a lumbering, stunned beast. He wanted to be with her now, more than ever. The two danced with one another, the rest of the world, the mysteries, the danger, everything just faded away as they became enraptured by one another. There were no other eyes in the world but each other's, no other heart beat.

All they needed was the music and one another...

The song soon came to an end, and Yu framed the last moments of Naoto's dance in his mind forever. Her arms fell against her body and slowly traced up her petite and flawless frame. Her curves and subtle beauty became accented as her arms traveled from her thighs, up her hips, over her sides, gliding over her chest, before reaching to the heavens above. Her hands gently fell back to her as a single finger laid perpendicular to her lips. She smiled at him, her eyes narrowing and turning almost... flirtatious.

"W-where did you... How did... Where did that come from?" Yu stuttered, staring at her as the music faded away. She seemed to blink, and the two seemed to remember they were dressed up as Phoenix Rangers... at a party... surrounded by dozens of people.

Her air of confidence shattered as she looked away. "I-I took some ball room dancing lessons in my youth. N-nothing like this, but I assumed some of the principles were the same and simply did my best to employ them in a fitting manner." There was a pause as she felt his eyes drill into her head. "How did-?"

"Amazing! You were amazing! I mean, damn! You're a natural at this!" he laughed.

"Oh! T-thank you, Narukami," she replied, nodding her head.

The two were silent for a moment, before Yu held up his hand. He motioned away from the DJ station, smiling as he made a suggestion. "Hey, Naoto? You want to get away from the party?"

"What? We just got here."

"I know, but..." He wanted to be alone with her, but he couldn't find it in himself to speak up. He looked away, rolling his shoulders for a moment. "I'm getting kind of sweaty in this costume." His voice was hesitant, an obvious deception that Naoto could clearly see through.

"I suppose that's fair enough."

Huh?

"Lead the way, Narukami."

Rise glared at Kanji from across the table. The young imitation of Frankenstein's Monster crossed one leg over the other, his arms similarly positioned, and just glared off into the distance. Every now and again she'd catch Rise staring at him, only to look away when he thought she saw. He had a faint fluster to his cheeks, but he seemed unable to act on it.

"Kanji." She did her best to sound like she was annoyed. The young man glanced at her, his mouth sealed shut. "We're at a party. We should be having fun." She pointed at him, leaning over the table to prod his shoulder. "You are not having fun."

He didn't reply, just letting his foot bounce in the air as he looked away. That just spurred Rise on. "Come on! You're at a party with an idol!" She hated playing this card, but she hated just sitting around, waiting for the boy to speak up. "Don't you want to do anything together?"

He turned his head away, and she was almost sure he was pouting, only in a more 'Kanji-like' way. She returned with her own pout and glare. "Come on, Kanji! I just want you to have f-" She was silent as he towered over her, a scowl etched into his face. His crimson face stared at her as he advanced closer, her eyes widening as he took her hand in his. She made a small mental note to ask him just how he got his hands to be so soft, when he popped the question.

"D-do you wanna dance?"

"Huh?" She blinked, shocked silent by the question. Her eyes were wide, pupils small, face red, and brain flabbergasted. She opened her mouth, a smile forming on her lips as she took in what just happened. "A-are you serious? Kanji 'Delinquent' Tatsumi is asking Risette out on a dance?"

"You ain't Risette, I mean... You are, but you aren't just her, I mean... I-I ain't asking her! I'm asking my bro, Rise. Er..." He couldn't stop himself from blushing, nor could he stop his flustered stuttering. "I'm asking you. If you wanna... try... try dancing the next song with me?"

Waiting for an answer was one of the hardest things Kanji had ever had to go through. He felt his heart reverberating in his ribs, a thin, layer of sweat form in his pits and on his face, and his fingers twitched as they sought something to grab. He saw Naoto where Rise stood for a moment. His heart, his true feelings, the words he spoke laid out on the table for both to see and hear. He hadn't wanted to say it, he never should have said anything, to Naoto or Rise. Girls just didn't like him...

But then he saw Rise smile, and Naoto vanished. Her soft, pink lips pulled into a curvy smile. He heard her laugh, and it sounded like music to his ears. He could almost start to see why so many guys liked Risette. Yet, when he looked at the young redhead, he didn't see the idol. Well, he did. He saw Risette, but he also saw his best friend.

"I'd love to, Kanji." Her hand fell into his, and he couldn't help but marvel at how many times he and Rise had held hands. He couldn't even stop himself from wondering why her small fingers fit so well with his. It was funny, actually. They were almost like a couple. Well, they were a couple. A couple of friends.

The idea of them being anything more than that made the boy scoff. Like that could ever happen. Still, he glanced at Rise as they walked towards the dance floor, hand in hand. She was nice. She wasn't like Naoto, in fact, she was about as far from Naoto as a girl could get. Naoto was cold at times, Rise was warm. Naoto made herself look like a boy because she feared being looked down upon. Rise embraced her femininity on TV screens and stages.

Actually, come to think of it, the two did have similarities. They were both kind women. Smart, in their own way. Naoto was book smart, but Kanji saw how Rise had helped him, and how she planned things out for his date with the detective, or how she scanned the battlefield and offered advice. She was smarter than most people gave her credit for, honestly.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you're ready, cause it is couples' time!" The DJ began to work his magic on his station, changing the song that was ending to something new. A song began to play as those dancing alone filtered out of the dance floor. Kanji and Rise stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching as couples paired up and a new melody began to play.

"A love song?" Kanji squeaked, his voice cracking as Rise's smile waned. He watched as the many couples laughed and smiled, dancing with one another, arms around the other, with some hands going a bit too low he noticed... "Uhh..." He looked at Rise, who looked back at him.

"We don't have to, you know," she muttered, her eyes averted away from his.

"I mean... I ain't a man if I don't try, right? Besides, I keep my word." His hand pulled on hers as he refused to meet her shocked gaze. "J-just don't blame me if I step on your toes, okay?"

"Heh. If you do, I'll just step on yours right back, Moronji," she teased. Rather than be insulted by the teasing name, he smiled. Rise had a spirit in her that seperated her from the whiny girls he used to know. She was as tough as she was nice.

Naoto wasn't sure how long they had walked together, or how long they had talked. Time just seemed to wash over them, both ignorant to its' passage. Instead, they focused on one another. Both of their helmets were discarded and safely stowed away, underneath their arms, as they walked down the Samegawa River. They were side by side, and Naoto couldn't hide the small, amused smile that shined from her face.

"Hm. A dark room, huh?" She had given him the same riddle her grandfather gave her and she watched him work the problem in his head with a perplexed expression. Her dark brow rose up in curiosity as he snapped his finger. "I got it."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Just imagine an exit." A smirk pulled the corners of his lips when he saw her face. She looked doubtful, but he explained his reasoning. "The riddle never states you are in a dark room. You told me it was 'imagine you are in a dark room.' Thus, I can imagine an exit, lights, or whatever else I want." Naoto blinked, pondering his answer, before her lips slowly formed a small pout.

"It cannot be that easy."

He just chuckled beside her. "Sometimes the right answers are the simplest, beautiful." She turned her head, trying to hide the hint of rosy warmth on her face. Her hand reached for her hat, instinctively, only for her fingers to find nothing there. Her blush only grew more vibrant as he laughed at her second-hand nature. "You look good without the hat."

She cursed her friend, silently damning his laughter for sounding so nice. She even cursed herself for letting him get to her. She always acted so ridiculous around the young man. "Thank you," she mumbled, accepting the compliment with a subtle nod. "Narukami?"

"Yeah?"

She didn't know what she wanted to ask him first. Why was he so invested in being her friend? Why he made her feel like she finally found something she didn't even know she was missing. Why he made her feel like she didn't need to be a detective or a man... She didn't have to be anything more than Naoto around him.

"Damn you." She hadn't meant to utter those words aloud, but they still found themselves flowing past her lips.

"What'd I do now?" He didn't even sound angry or disappointed. He just tilted his head slightly, staring at her with confusion and... a glimmer of guilt.

"N-nothing." She was quick to wave away the change of atmosphere. "I was merely thinking aloud." She soon realized that statement didn't do much to change his question, if fact, it only rose more queries. "You are simply..." She tried to find the words for her feelings, but her lips seemed to stumble against one another. "I suppose, I was just thinking about how glad I am that I met you."

The confession floored the once-upon-a-time liar. His foot were planted against the ground as he watched her walk past him. "Seriously?"

"Yes." She didn't turn to face him, lest he would have seen her scarlet cheeks. "It is hard to believe, isn't it? Had one told me the man who had annoyed and disgusted me all those months ago would grow into my best friend, I would have called them mad."

"Probably would have shot them," he joked.

"It would have been possible," she replied, and the two laughed together. "Yet, here we are. Both of us are hardly the same as when we first came to this town."

"I wouldn't change a thing." He moved closer to her side, and she quietly accepted his presence. In fact, she rather enjoyed him being by her side. They were equals, neither standing over the other. Partners.

"Oh? Not even my initial distrust of you?"

"Not even you punching me. Some people need to be punched," he grinned. "You knocked some sense into me."

"Hm..."

"But damn," he uttered. "Was all that shit really less than a year ago? Feels like eternity." A feeling that Naoto had to agree with. Her own attempts to hide her true self felt so long ago, it seemed impossible to imagine that was merely weeks ago. She opened her mouth to comment on the subject, only to blink.

"What time is it?" He seemed at a lost for an answer. Narukami quietly watched as the sleuth opened one of the pouches on her belt and pulled her cell phone from it. She gaped at the time, her mouth falling open as she mentally cursed her misfortune. "It's almost midnight!" She snapped her phone shut and silently mouthed another curse as she began to pace. "Darn it! How did I let it get this late?"

"You got somewhere you need to be?" inquired the silverette.

"I try to keep myself to a very strict sleep regiment, Narukami," she replied, crossing her arms and meeting his amused smile with a glare. "This is not a joke."

"Little Naoto's past her bedtime," he snickered.

"Narukami!" She swung her arm at him, a mere jest that she knew he would evade. He effortlessly moved his body around her hand as he continued to chuckle. "Your humor is hardly appreciated. We're miles from my home, not to mention my clothes are still at Aiya's."

"You could come home with me." Her scarlet face and sharp eyes showed that she was not entertained by his joke. He held up his hands to dissuade her anger, explaining, "I mean, my house is closer. You can sleep on my futon for the night, and then we can go to school from there. You can even borrow my school uniform or something."

"Are you being serious with me?"

"What? It's a good idea."

She just stared at him as though he was crazy. Her mind reeled as the implications of what he was saying came to mind. Going home with Narukami?!

There was a danger to him, to the feelings she experienced around him. If she accompanied him back to his home, then... She wasn't sure what would happen, but part of her feared it. The rest of her... She didn't know how she felt, only that her heart continued to race when he stared at her. Her breath was short and her face hot as she struggled to answer.

"Naoto?"

"Okay."

"Wait, what?" She wasn't the only one shocked by her answer. Narukami's eyes widened, disbelief clear in the silver pools. "R-really?"

"You bring up sound logic... Of course, I'm only doing this for practicality's sake! N-nothing more." She was furious blushing, but her gaze still met his as a beaming grin formed on his face. "S-stop that, Narukami. There's no reason for you to be so happy..."

"I beg to differ," he joked. "Come on. Let's go home..." He motioned her to follow him, and despite her embarrassment, she followed by his side once more. The two walked together and soon the scarlet hue faded from Naoto's cheeks as the two once more fell into their natural place as friends and partners.

Naoto tried not to think about the fact that she was wearing Narukami's clothes on her petite frame. She tried not to think about how the smell of his body now flowed around her. He tried not to think about the fact that she caught him staring at her body, making her heart race and face flush. She tried not to think about him, but she failed on every occasion.

It wasn't that she enjoyed his stares. It was that she enjoyed him. Some part of her enjoyed being seen as attractive by the silverette. The way he looked at her showed more than just a physical attraction. It showed feelings that terrified the detective. They terrified her, because her eyes might have had the way.

Stop it, she demanded herself. I have time to... mull over these feelings. Narukami swore he would not make a move until this case was solved. And when this mystery was over and the file closed, what would be next? They would both move back home, away from one another, separated by miles. To think that any sort of relationship beyond platonic friendship could be possible is... was...

She scratched at her head, angrily sighing as she tried to ignore her wandering mind. She didn't need to think about this. She didn't need his smile plaguing her thoughts or his new, kinder nature infecting her dreams. She needed sleep.

So without anymore thoughts regarding a certain young man, she laid herself down on his futon and rested her head on his pillow. She closed her eyes, only to open them against something poked her head. There was something under her pillow. With a sigh of annoyance, she reached underneath the pillow and searched for what ailed her, finding something edgy and hard. She pulled it out, plucking a decent sized sketchbook from under the pillow. The cover was hard and blue, with a single word, 'SKETCH,' written on it in black, bold letters.

A sketchbook? she wondered. This must belong to Narukami. He mentioned he drew in his free time once before... She moved to toss the book aside, before something caught her eye. She glanced at the pages as the book fell open, slipping from her hand. It fell upon its' spine and opened, revealing a random page to the blue-haired girl. Her eyes widened as she saw the page, finding a drawing of herself on it.

END

Phew! Man, that took way longer than I would have wanted. This was supposed to go up on Sunday, but life came up. Sorry, folks. As for the chapter itself, 'fluff and romance' were the goals of this chapter. Just Yu and Naoto continuing to fall for the other, with Naoto especially beginning to fall, and Yu continuing to balance his troublemaking ways with his new self.

I made a couple of references to Dancing All Night, with Naoto dancing to the remix of Heaven like she does in the game. You guys seen that video? She's pretty hot, if I do say so myself. Also, Kanji and Rise danced together! Yay!

That said, the fun times are over. Next chapter will focus on the murder mystery again and things will get dark. I hope you enjoy it, and all the little changes I'm going to make to the game's plot. I'm excited. I enjoyed writing about the lovey-dovey drama, but it's time to get murdery!

Have a good day, please review, and know that you are awesome!

One more thing... Due to current obligations and responsibilities, my current update schedule for Delinquent will probably be once a month. Sorry to all my wonderful fans, but I am a busy man. Check out my other stories, though, if you can/want. Maybe you'll like them!