Yosuke - First Partner

This can't be happening.

Yosuke stared at the monster in front of him, trembling as it loomed over him like a tower about to fall on him. The abomination laughed at his fear, mocking his attempts at bravado as it neared him. The earth trembled with every approaching step and the air turned cold as Yosuke struggled to breathe.

I'm going to die... T-this is it.

The monster that once had his face reached towards him, and he did nothing to fight it. How could he? What could he do against it? It was a giant compared to him, and the long, gangly limbs trembled with barely restrained power, but the worst part of the entity was the voice. Yosuke could hear the monster's voice; a perfect copy of his own, mocking and insulting him, bringing every last buried secret and hidden thought to light.

Yosuke closed his eyes and hung his head low, accepting his fate...

Then came the lightning and a crack of thunder. The creature cried out in pain and Yosuke felt the strength to lift his head up to look at it. He saw the silver-haired student staring at the monster as his Persona hovered behind him. The entity known as Izanagi brandished his spear, twirling it in his fingers as Yu Naruakmi stood beside him. The abomination howled in pain from the electric attack as Izanagi shot forward.

"Yu...? W-why are you...?" Yosuke felt himself being pulled up from his knees. The other boy just smiled at him, dispelling the dread that flooded Yosuke's mind.

"It's okay, Yosuke. You're not alone," he promised him. "Everything will be okay."

That day, Yosuke became indebted to Yu and swore he would help his friend out. That day, Yu shackled Yosuke into being a near-perfect servant. Someone to grind under his foot as he stole the hearts of women and men around him.

Yosuke didn't understand how it came to this. He came here to help Yu, and to stop him from doing something stupid, but instead he just joined him. I've got to stop him! he thought, before he dodged a clumsy swing from Yu. Yosuke ducked under another attack, before he pushed the silver-haired teen back. Yu stumbled, falling to the ground, only to stand up angrier than ever.

"Dude, stop! I don't want to hurt you!"

"Loser," Yu spat, before moving forward again to throw another punch. It was sloppy and predictable, missing Yosuke's head by a few inches. "Saki's probably glad she's dead! It keeps her from having to deal with you!"

With every word, Yosuke's self-control chipped away. He struggled to control himself, begged with his shaking fists not to fight back, but Yu knew every crack in his armor. Every word felt like a knife to Yosuke's heart, making him more and more infuriated. He grabbed Yu's arms and grappled with the spiteful attacker. "Stop it! I'm your friend, dude! Ya-!"

"What's next, Yosuke?" Yu's mouth shifted, curling into a twisted smile as his steel eyes glared into Yosuke's own. He laughed at the other boy, mocking his attempt at peace with more goading and shameless sadism. "You going to fail Chie too and get her killed?"

"Damn it, go to hell!" Yosuke lunged forward and slammed his forehead into Yu's nose. The blow not only stunned him, but it drew blood, and Yosuke took advantage of it by punching Yu in the gut, knocking the air out of him. "We're going back to Naoto's, Yu!"

"Make me!" Yu lunged forward, grabbing Yosuke's collar and shaking him back and forth. Yosuke broke free and slammed his fist into Yu's cheek, knocking the boy to the ground with an unsightly welt on his face. Despite the beating, he forced himself up again on trembling legs. "Is that all you got?"

"Stay down, man! I don't want to do this!"

"Ahhh!" Yu ignored any attempt to talk things out, and instead he charged at the brunette. He didn't throw any punches, rather he shoved Yosuke. The attack wasn't even enough to push him to the ground. "Come on! Fight me!"

"Let go!" Yosuke tried to pry his fingers off of him, but Yu's grip proved too strong. Instead Yosuke slammed his fist into Yu's other cheek, knocking him back. There was another welt that tarnished Yu's once handsome face. Yosuke didn't relent, and he moved forward and slammed his shoulder into Yu, sending the silverette stumbling into the wall. He fell against it and slowly slid towards the ground.

Yosuke released a breath he hadn't realizing he was holding. For a moment he thought it was truly over.

Yu forced his body back up and glared at Yosuke. "Saki killed herself so she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of living. Pain you helped cause her." His words had no real rage to them, no passion. He sounded like he was simply stating facts.

His blase, uncaring tone only fueled the inferno in Yosuke's eyes as he ran forward, pelting Yu with more punches. A right hook to his cheek, a jab at his gut, another blow to his face. Yu didn't offer any kind of defense, simply standing there as the brunette's assault carried on. Every time Yosuke's attacks began to relent, Yu mocked Saki's death or threw the blame at Yosuke's feet. The beating went on for what felt like hours for the two boys, but it had only been a few moments.

Finally Yu hit the ground again, his nose bleeding as discolored, purple skin blemished his flesh. His face was a mess, a stark change from the cool and pristine appearance he usually kept. He struggled to stand on withered knees, only to let out a groan of pain as he fell to the ground again. He was panting, trying to catch his breath as Yosuke stared at him. The brunette could see blood drip from his friend's mouth, but it was quickly wiped away.

With the silverette silenced, Yosuke finally had a moment of clarity as he watched the young man strain to even sit up. Unlike Yu, he was completely unharmed. Some part of Yosuke told him to leave. Just turn around and leave his so-called friend to wallow in defeat. Yet he knew there was something amiss.

"You barely touched me," he muttered.

"What... what the hell are you on about?" Yu tried to stand again, only to fall once more. He landed on his arm, cursing in pain as the bruised skin was crushed between the hard floor and his own battered body. "Fuck...!"

"You didn't even hit me... Why?"

"Saki's dead because of-"

"Enough with the bullshit, Yu!" Yu's eyes widened at the outburst. Yosuke used the silence to speak his mind, forcing Yu to listen to him.

"You keep talking shit every time I stop attacking you. Every time I try to calm down, you just piss me off again, but you haven't even tried to defend yourself!" Yu wiped some of the blood from his nose on his sleeve, trying to look away from the infuriated brunette. "No, look at me! No more of this crap! You're telling me what's going on in your head! No more lies, no more shit, the truth, Yu!"

Silence. Yu stared at Yosuke with an unreadable glint in his eyes, before glancing to the ground. "When the hell did you start giving me orders?" Yosuke felt his teeth grind against each other, but before he opened his mouth to berate Yu, the silverette interrupted him, scoffing and shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn it." There was a smile on his face, but it dripped with bitterness and blood. "Fuck..."

"Yu...?"

"Dojima." Yu lifted his hand to touch his discolored cheek. He pressed his knuckles against the tender skin, cringing in pain. "Nanako." He grabbed his forearm, and squeezed, digging his fingers into the his flesh. Yosuke's eyes widened as Yu then bent his own finger back, grimacing from the sensation. "Naoto." He released his finger and stared at Yosuke, silver eyes burning with hate, but not for Yosuke, not even for Namatame. It was for himself.

"They're all going to die because of me. I got all of them killed, because I was too brash and too stupid. I failed them, and I even failed all of you. I nearly got us all killed because of my own arrogance. I'm a fucking idiot to think I could have saved any of them. At this rate, I won't even be able to avenge them." He sat on the cold, tiled ground of the store as he lifted his head to stare at the TV. Yosuke followed his stare.

"That's why I have to go by myself. I can't get anyone else hurt that way. You, Chie, Rise... Everyone would be better off without me."

"Yu... Come on, that's not true." Yosuke reached towards his friend's shoulder, only for his hand to be smacked away.

"Dojima's in the hospital. Nanako is being held captive by a psycho. Naoto nearly got cut in half! That's all I have to show!" His voice rose in passion and volume, dripping with volcanic fury and unending guilt. "Everything used to come so easy. I thought I was perfect, but look around! Look at Chie! Look at everything I've touched! It's all turned to shit!"

He rose up, and Yosuke saw his silver eyes shimmer. Tears welled in his eyes as Yu continued to roar, shouting as tears slid down his cheeks. "I can't keep doing this. I can't keep failing. Naoto nearly died because of me... I have to make this right. I have to go alone." He wiped the tears from his face, scratching his sleeve against his eyes as the bitter taste of salt sparked on his tongue. "I have to."

He looked at Yosuke and there was no hate in his eyes. Only a passing feeling of pity. "Tell everyone I'm sorry. I'll get Nanako back myself, and I'll kill Namatame. Just... just protect her when she comes out, okay? Please?" Yosuke had never heard him sound so broken. "I'm sorry for what I said by the way. I just... I needed to give you a reason to hit me. You actually hit a lot harder than I thought you would," he joked, laughing through the tears.

He turned his body and shambled towards the TV, limping, but biting his lip to keep quiet about the pain. The tears didn't stop, but it was all he could do to hold back his shuddering and raspy breath. He came to a stop as Yosuke moved in front of him.

"The only way you're stopping me from going in by beating me until I'm unconscious, or killing me. You pick, I don't care which," he hissed.

Yosuke looked at Yu Narukami and he couldn't believe what he saw. The man he respected and the leader he followed had been reduced to a sobbing mess. It wasn't like crying in a show or a movie. It wasn't a single tear going down Yu's face. No, he was just a step back from bawling.

Yu struggled to hold back the tears, even as he stood in front of Yosuke, but despite his best efforts, the tears still fell. His eyes were red and puffy, distorting his features as he tried to stop the his bawling. The tears shattered against the ground as they fell from his chin and Yosuke could hear the quiet sound of gasping as Yu failed to control himself.

What was he supposed to do? What could he do? Yosuke had never been in this kind of situation before. He wracked his brain for an answer.

"Move." Yosuke stood in his way. "I said, move!" Yu's growl fell on deaf ears. "Either kick my ass, or move!" Yu limped forward, only to come to a halt as Yosuke embraced him. "What-?"

"Just shut the hell up and listen, okay?! You think this is going to make things better?! What the hell are we supposed to tell Nanako, even if you do save her?! When she finds your body hanging on top of a building, what the hell are we supposed to tell her?! That her brother thought she was better off without him?! And what about Dojima?! The guy practically sees you as his son! You just going to die on him too! He loves you, damn it!"

"And Naoto... She blames herself for all of this, man. She doesn't blame you for what happened! I spoke to her! She thinks this is all her fault! You just going to abandon her and make her feel even worse?!" Yosuke grabbed Yu's shoulder, squeezing it as he tried to reason with the fallen leader. "What the hell do you think is going to happen? You kill yourself and everything turns out fine afterwards?!"

Yu turned his head away, not having the strength to push Yosuke back as the brunette continued. "I get it, alright? You're hurting. You're in pain, and I understand why, but we can do this. We can all work together to fix this, but we can't if you get yourself killed!" He said nothing in reply, just glaring at the television. Yosuke squeezed his shoulder and shook him, tearing Yu's eyes from the screen.

"You're my friend, dude, and Naoto... She really likes you."

"She shouldn't blame himself..." It was a faint whisper.

"And you shouldn't either. This is Namatame's fault."

"You don't get it... I could have saved them. I should have saved them! I'm supposed to be-" Yu stopped as Yosuke squeezed his shoulder again, glaring into the silver, yet scarlet-cracked, eyes.

"What? Perfect?! You're just a guy. Just like me. You make mistakes. I know more about that than anyone," Yosuke joked, offering an understanding smile.

And for a moment, it worked. Yu's face reflected the smile, only to vanish in a near instant. His eyes weighed heavy with thought, before he spoke with a slow, deliberate tone. "Yosuke... There's something I need to tell you." Yu tried to pry Yosuke's hand off of him, and after a moment of resistance, Yosuke released him. "You need to know the truth about me."

"Truth? What truth?"

"When Saki died..." The silver-haired boy struggled to explain his secret, but it was not easy. He kicked himself for hesitating and remembered Rise, Kanji, and Yukiko. He could tell them the truth, he could it again for Yosuke. "When we went to that liquor store in the other world, and we heard all those things she thought about you, I was happy."

"What?"

"I'm not a good person. The person you've known, the one you called 'partner?' Not the real me. The real me is a scumbag who uses other people. I used you. I made you into a stepping stone for my own amusement. It's what I do with everyone. I was going to manipulate Rise into having sex with me, and then I'd just dump after I left town... That's the kind of man I am... Was? I'm not sure which is more accurate, honestly..."

Yosuke's eyes were framed with shock, and he struggled to say something. His mouth uttered little, fractured words, but he just couldn't understand what he was hearing. "W-why would you...?"

"Because that's who I am. Was?" Yu sighed, shaking his head. "I don't understand it either, but I guess it just made me happy. I was bored, and it was all just a game. There was a time I'd sacrifice any one of our friends for more power or excitement..."

He was silent again. Yu glanced towards him and saw the brunette gritting his teeth, hands tightened into fists. "What changed?"

"I met Naoto."

"And... what? That changed everything?"

"Falling in love can do that to a guy, I guess."

There was a short moment of silence that felt like forever to the silver-eyed youth, but even with all of that time he was still shocked by Yosuke's response.

"So there's no problem then."

"What?" Yu felt his eye twitch for a moment, before he stared at Yosuke with a hanging jaw. "What?!"

"It doesn't matter who we were or what we thought or even what we did. What's matter is what we do now," Yosuke explained matter-of-factly, standing up on his own two feet. "I learned that from you."

"What?!" The silverette stood up as well, glaring at Yosuke. "Whatever you 'learned' from me was based on a lie!"

"Maybe. But I still believe it doesn't matter. You're still our leader, and when you keep a cool head, you're great at it," Yosuke reasoned.

"Are you insane?! I can't lead us! I nearly got everyone killed! I nearly got Naoto killed!"

"Maybe. You're still the best choice to lead us."

"I can't! I-I just can't!" Yu trembled where he stood, but Yosuke's hand on his shoulder helped ground him.

"You're not alone, dude. Come on, we're all here to help you. You need help, we're there, but you're still our leader. Besides, we don't exactly have the time to pick a new one, y'know?" Yosuke tried to smile, hoping one would soon form on Yu's face, but it was a futile effort.

"So what? Just like that we're all back to being friends? No problem?" The very thought left a foul taste on Yu's tongue.

"No." Yosuke's hand fell from his shoulder and he sighed. "I don't know how I feel about all this. Angry? Frustrated? Pissed off at you."

"I get that a lot," the boy remarked with a hint of bitterness. "Granted, it's not undeserved..."

"But I can push all that crap aside, because we need to save Nanako. How I feel doesn't matter. What's important is catching Namatame and finally ending this shit."

The silverette gaped at Yosuke, bewildered and flabbergasted by his admittance. "That's... that's really big of you. Shit." Yu blinked, leaning back as his silver eyes looked over Yosuke's frame. "You're... a lot more mature about this than I thought you'd be."

"Yeah, well... I don't know if we're friends, but I can work with you, least until we can close this case. Sounds fair?"

"Yeah. Sounds fair," the silverette nodded.

"Come on. Let's get back to the others. Agreed?" Yosuke motioned to the exit with his head, and Yu slowly nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. Let's- ah!" Yu ground his teeth, biting the inside of his mouth to hold back the cry of pain. Standing up was difficult, painful in fact. His legs pulsed with agony, forcing him to take slow, deep breaths. "Fuck... My whole body hurts."

"S-sorry. Guess that's my bad." Yosuke offered his hand to Yu, who took it and stood up with trembling legs. The brunnette placed his hand on the boy's opposite shoulder and helped him along, letting Yu lean on him.

"No, no. I deserved it. Just... shit, you hit hard," laughed Yu. "Thanks, I guess..."

It was late in the night by the time the two boys had returned to Naoto's home. The others had fallen asleep, with Chie sleeping on a chair, Teddie on the floor, and Rise and Kanji sharing a blanket on the couch. Yu had a bemused smile on his face as he stared at the two sitting on the sofa, shoulders touching, with Rise's head resting on the blond boy's shoulder. Yosuke stared at the couple with a confused look in his eye.

"Rise and Kanji like each other," whispered Yu.

"Wait, what?!"

Yosuke quickly slammed his hands over his mouth, eyes wide as he watched their slumbering teammates stir. Teddie continued to sleep like a bear during hibernation, but Kanji and Rise's eyes strained for a moment. The idol pressed her body against Kanji, her lips turning into a smile as she held the boy's arm like a stuffed animal. Kanji didn't seem to mind her presence, letting out a quiet, relieved sigh as he returned to a peaceful sleep.

"Shut up, Yosuke," muttered the still sleeping Chie.

"They like each other. Well, Rise likes him, but I'm pretty sure Kanji likes her too." Yu smiled at the sight of the two of them, admiring how innocent and sweet the two were together, before looking at Yosuke. "Naoto's in her room?"

"Y-yeah."

"Do you mind if I...?"

"Sure, dude. Just make sure you get some rest, okay?"

Yu nodded his head in response and bid Yosuke farewell, before walking towards Naoto's room. The door was slightly ajar, so he was able to enter with a quiet push of his hand. Inside the room was the slumbering Naoto, oblivious to his presence, but there was one other as well. A young woman sitting on Naoto's bed, tending to the young woman.

"Yukiko?"

"Yu-kun?" The two stared at one another, shock mirrored on one another's faces, before Yu's eyes glanced towards the sleeping detective. Yukiko followed his eyes and her wide gaze narrowed. "Yosuke found you?"

"Y-yeah..."

"Stopped you from doing something stupid...?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Naoto was really worried about you." Yu slowly approached the two girls, but Yukiko did not look at him. She just stared at Naoto's peaceful body.

"Yukiko... About last time... When we were in the TV World? I'm sorry for what I said." She did not reply. "And I'm sorry about Chie too! I was out of line. I get that." The raven-haired girl rose up from her seat and turned her body to Yu. She did not even glance at him as she walked out. Their shoulders gently brushed against one another and Yu cringed at the icy chill.

"Goodnight, Narukami."

"R-right. Goodnight," he muttered. The door closed behind Yukiko and Yu placed his fingers on his brow, gently massaging the bridge of his nose as he tried to keep himself focused on one problem at a time. His silver eyes fell upon Naoto's sleeping form and he silently pondered just what he was supposed to do now.

He opened his mouth several times, only to hesitate. He paced from one side of the wall to the other as he watched Naoto's chest gently rise and fall. Then he turned crimson as he realized what exactly he was staring at. He tries not to think about if they were bandaged or not, though judging by their size at the time, they were not.

Just wake her up. Just go over there and wake up. Poke her. Wake her. Do something, stupid!

Yu finally stopped pacing and decided on sitting beside Naoto. He sat on the floor, crossing his legs as he gazed at her slumbering face. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were slightly pulled apart as he listened to her whistle-like breathing. He opened his mouth again, only to find memories bubbling in his head. His eyes glanced at her sweet lips, the ones he had kissed all those months...

It had been one of the greatest kisses of his life, and he hadn't even known her true gender at that point.

She's so beautiful, and she nearly died because of me... Yu damned himself once more, before sighing. He sat down on the ground and his back rested against her bed as he thought aloud. "Good morning, sleeping beauty... Hey there, sleeping prince. How you feeling, detective?" He let out another sigh and rubbed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. "Naoto... I love you."

It felt oddly pleasant to declare that fact. It was like taking a weight off his shoulders, even if she couldn't hear him. He released the bridge of his nose and gently took her hand out from under the blanket. She felt like a blazing inferno in his fingers, and they melted the cool tingle that still plagued his skin. He gently caressed her hand, admiring the smooth skin and petite digits.

"I love you so much. You're smart. Brave. Confident. You're like no one I've ever met. You changed my life, and I..." He searched his heart for the truth, before scoffing at he realized just what impact the young woman had on him. "I want to marry you. How insane is that? You and I haven't even known each other for a year, and yet I can't imagine my life without you. I want to spend my whole life with you, I want to be yours, and I... I think I want to be with you forever." He laughed, watching as a single tear shattered against her skin.

"That's why you have to wake up. I can't do this without you, Naoto. I can't... I can't lead the others. I can't save the day. I can't be my usual, perfect self... But worst of all?" He kissed her hand, gently pressing his lips against the fallen tear and wiping it away. "I won't be able to tell you I'm sorry. I won't be able to tell you how my arrogance and stupidity nearly got you killed. I won't hear you yell at me and insult me. I don't need you to love me, Naoto. I just need you to wake up again, one more time."

Naoto awoke to the gently burn of the sun's rays. They touched her closed eyes, shining a painful radiance into her slumbering mind. She rose up from her bed, cringing as her muscles ached and her arms trembled. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she blinked away the blurs and haze slept left her. She uttered out a loud yawn as her arms propped her up.

She was in her room, though she did not remember returning to it. She was dressed in her pajamas, and again, she had no memory of changing into them. She remembered entering the other world with her friends and fighting through a massive swarm of Shadows. Narukami was...

Narukami!? Naoto struggled to get out from under her blanket, only to stop as she felt her hand brush against something.

The subject of her thoughts laid beside her, sitting on the floor of her bed, his arms and head laid on her bedside. His head was gently nuzzling against her leg, a faint, content smile etched onto his lips.

Questions plagued through Naoto's mind like the scarlet flush that struck her pale cheeks. She opened her mouth, only to close it and swallow deeply. The more logical part of her mind told her to recount what she remembered and decipher what could have led Narukami to her bedside, but it was hard to hear it through the pounding of her heart.

The schism of her mind was finally quelled when she closer examined her friend's face. There were marks on his face. Discolorations on his skin that was typical of bruising. It appeared as though he had been in a fight lately, and closer examination revealed an abnormal 'puffiness' to his face. Her hand reached out from under her blanket to gently prod the space below his face. It felt slightly wet, as if he had been crying into it...

Crying? Narukami? But why...? No, you know why, you stupid girl. Nanako-chan and Dojima-san's lives are in danger and it is because of you. You caused him such grief and anguish...

She recalled their venture into the other world, their failed attempt to save Nanako from the clutches of Namatame... They had failed and- Naoto's eyes widened as her hand touched her chest. Her fingers pushed through the cloth, trying to find evidence of the wound that had befallen her. She had remembered seeing so much of her blood... She remembered the momentary pain, before numbness took over her body.

She moved the collar of her shirt and her body shuddered as she saw the faint scarring that now afflicted her body. It was a cruel reminder of her failure, and a constant keepsake of her own stupidity. She looked to Narukami once more, her eyes falling onto his body with guilt and shame. "I'm sorry, Narukami."

Has... Has Narukami been with me since that night? Why? He should be with the others. He should... Naoto lifted a hand to gently touch his silver locks, and she was pleasantly surprised by the tingling sensation his hairs gave her fingertips. You have no right to even think about what he should and should not do... Stupid girl.

"Hm... Naoto..."

The navy-haired girl's eyes widened and her hand pulled away from Narukami's head, as if it had been bitten. W-why did he say my name? "N-Narukami?" The word slipped past her lips. She hadn't even realized she had said it aloud until the young man stirred, slowly rising up from her bed. He let out a silent yawn as he stretched his body and blinked away the remaining fatigue and exhaustion.

"Naoto?" he groaned, rubbing his sleeve against his arm. Narukami gazed at her with a sense of confusion and disbelief, and she stared back with wide-eyed perplexity. "Naoto!?" He rose up, nearly stumbling in place as his body struggled to catch up with his mind. "Y-you're awake!"

"I-I am." She couldn't meet his eyes as she muttered the obvious fact. He sat beside her bed, smiling at her for some strange reason.

"H-how are you feeling?"

"Sore... and perplexed," she answered. "The last thing I remember was being attacked by a Shadow. How long have I been unconscious?"

"About a day, I think."

"A-a whole day?!" Guilt washed over Naoto once more as her fingers dug into the blanket. An entire day wasted because of me?! Damn it! Nanako is in Namatame's clutches, and not only did I gift wrap her for him, I am impeding in our rescue attempts! Naoto's eyes lost their fire and they grew wide with shock as a warm sensation pressed against her skin. She glanced at her hand and found Narukami gently stroking it.

"I need to talk to you." She pulled her hand out from under his, but he offered no complaint.

Here it is... He's going to ask me to step back from the team. I can understand why... I'm the one who failed to save his sister. I'm the one who failed them again and again. I deserve his ire...

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

Naoto blinked, lifting her head to stare at Narukami. His eyes had no trace of deceit in them, nor did he wear his synonymous smirk. In fact, it was the first time she had seen them since her awakening and it pained her heart to see him like this. His eyes were puffy and had crimson in them, further implying he had been crying. The skin on his face was discolored, a faint purple that implied it had been a recent fight.

His lips formed a forlorn frown, infuriated, yet caged by depression. "This is my fault. All of this. Everyone nearly died because of me, and no one got it worse than you. Dojima and Nanako weren't the only ones to pay for my mistakes, everyone on this team suffered because of me. I'm so sorry, Naoto, and I-"

"Enough." Naoto's voice was firm. It extinguished the anguish in Yu's voice like a tidal wave to fire. Her hand grabbed his shoulder, fingers burrowing into his shoulder as she glared at him. "Stop. Namatame is the one responsible for all of this. No one else, but him." Her words didn't seem to reach him. Instead his eyes burrowed into her own, staring into her very soul as he pierced her resolve with a single question.

"Then why do you blame yourself?"

Once again she was floored, and she watched as his silver eyes turned sharp and accusatory, yet there was a gentleness in the steely stare. Yet another conundrum that only Yu Narukami could give her.

"Yosuke told me what you said to him and Chie. You blamed yourself for all of this."

"I... I hardly remember saying such a thing."

"You're an awful liar."

"Narukami-"

"How could you think any of this is your fault?! You're supposed to be the smart one, damn it," he sighed.

There was disappointment in his voice, as if she was some kind of child to scold. The tone of his voice was like gasoline, earning him a fiery glare and a burning heat to her voice. "Nanako wouldn't be in the clutches of a madman had I been stronger! Your uncle would not be in the hospital, if it weren't for me! Your anger towards him might as well be directed at me, Narukami!"

"Bullshit!" The rage in his voice did nothing to put down her own spirit. In fact the two fires seemed to feed off one another. "That's a load of crap! This isn't on you, Naoto!"

"You don't understand! This is my fault, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner we can save Nanako!"

"I understand perfectly. This doesn't have anything to do about saving Nanako. This is about who we are as people. You and me," he growled. "We're used to being the best. Geniuses. Amazing at everything. We're used to putting the weight of the world on our backs without complaint or fear. But when we fuck up, we fuck up bad, and we don't deal with it well." He stood up from the floor and sat on the bed, staring at Naoto as she rested her head against the headboard. She looked back at him, her eyes revealing the conflict in her soul. "We're both more arrogant than we like to think, aren't we...?"

Naoto's eyes drifted away as the words he spoke resonated with her. She muttered a reply, denial and guilt tugging at her soul within. "I had hoped I had grown past such... childishness."

"Change comes slow. I'm still working on being a better person, but I nearly got you and the others killed." Narukami rubbed his head with a tired breath. "Shit, I need to apologize to Chie still."

"I just... What happened to Nanako-"

"Wasn't your fault."

"She was right there! I saw her! And I failed both her and you!"

"And you were right there for me. You nearly died because of me! You don't think that nearly killed me?! I thought you were dead, Naoto!" he cried. He slammed his eyes shut, the strain and wrinkles in his brow shaking. "I did something stupid. Beyond just blaming myself..."

"Narukami? What are you referring to...?"

"I tried going into the other world myself. In my defense, I was drunk," he chuckled, opening his eyes. They lacked any light or spark, not a single trace of life. It pained her to see them in such a manner. They were so... empty. "I was going to save Nanako myself, without any risk to the others, or die trying, and honestly, I don't know which I wanted more."

Her eyes widened at the confession. T-to die...? He wanted to die? "I-is that where the bruises came from...?"

"You noticed, huh? No. Those came from Yosuke beating the shit out of me. We had a heart to heart and-"

He fell silent as Naoto's hand struck his face. His eyes widened as the slap echoed through the small room. It barely hurt, physically, but her words struck a chord in his soul. "How could you ever do something so stupid?! How could you ever want that?! Don't you understand how much the others need you?! How Nanako needs you?!" How I need you?! "Were you even thinking?! What could possibly...?!" Her words failed her as her teeth ground against one another. She was shaking as she tried to voice her outrage. "What would such an act accomplish?! Nothing! It..."

"So, what? Are you telling me that beating myself up over something that isn't my fault is stupid and that I shouldn't do it?" His voice lacked any kind of excitement or happiness. "Hello, kettle. I'm pot." His eyes stared at her with a trace of that familiar spark she knew so well.

"T-that is different!" she stuttered.

"No, it isn't. We both messed up, we blamed ourselves, and we punished ourselves when we should be trying to punish the real culprit." He held out his hand to her as he smiled. "So what do you say, partner?"

"Narukami... I..." Naoto stared at his hand as if she had been offered a gem. There was a desire to seize, to accept it, but fear and doubt plagued her mind. Her sapphire eyes glanced at his as he eased her anxiety.

"I know you'll stumble. So will I. You're scared of making mistakes? So am I, but I think the biggest mistake either of us can make is just ignoring the other." She wanted to take his hand, truely she did, but something kept her arms still. Memories bubbled in her mind, unspoken truths and hidden secrets. She tried to ignore the vexing questions, but the words fought to escape her lips. "I-"

"I saw your sketchbook!"

That broke the coolheadedness of the young man. His eyes widened as his hand fell onto her lap and her cheeks turned scarlet. She cursed herself internally at her own confession, but it was too late. The elephant in the room that had been prodding at her mind was now out in the open. "Is that why you were ignoring me after the Halloween party?" She nodded her head, eyes on the blanket and cheeks turned crimson. "Oh... Well, I guess that makes sense. Huh..."

"I-I saw you had illustrated more drawings of me." The contents of which I'd rather not say aloud.

"Did you see the nude drawings and the one with the ring too...?" She nodded her head, cheeks turning even redder. "Well, this moment of seriousness just got sidetracked..."

"I-I did not mean to ignore you, it's just..."

"It would have been awkward seeing me after knowing what I think of you."

"The entire sketchbook was of me..." she groaned. "A-and I realized that if you had gone to the work of meticulously recreating my appearance so many times that you might... You may harbor feelings for me that were beyond platonic. I-I understand you've admitted to being attracted to me, but those illustrations went far beyond the realm of mere attraction and-"

"Yes." He ended her quickening chatter with a single word. "I like you a lot, Naoto."

"O-Oh."

"And those feelings haven't changed." He lifted his hand up again and his smile returned with a new vigor. "In fact, after all of this? They might have doubled. I like a girl who can call me out for being stupid. Long as she can admit when she's made a mistake too."

"You are completely ridiculous," she muttered bemusedly. Her face was no less red as she lifted her hand up. "I failed to save Nanako. I failed to realize Namatame was at fault for all of this. I promise, I will not fail again..."

"Failure is a part of living. We all fail. What matters most is getting back up again."

She peered at his hand for what felt like forever. "You have to promise me you won't put yourself at risk like that again..."

"This coming from the girl that literally used herself as bait for a murderer?" he chuckled.

"Narukami."

"Fine, fine. I promise. No more unnecessary risks."

Her hand fell onto his, and he stroked it with warm fingertips. "And Naoto...?" He lifted her hand up and her eyes widened as his lips kissed her knuckles. "When this case is over, we have a lot to talk about." His silver eyes gazed into her navy pools and he sealed his promise with another kiss. Her skin felt like electricity was dancing on it as he stood up from her bed. "No more blaming yourself. Okay?"

"O-okay. R-right."

"Good. If you ever feel like blaming yourself, come find me. We'll set each other straight." He winked at her, earning a blushing glare as he turned his body to the door. "It's kind of funny, you know. You finding my sketchbook."

"Funny isn't the word I would use for the situation..."

"Got to look at life with an outsider's perspective, gorgeous."

Damn him... Every time my blushing stops, he just ignites it again! And judging by the smirk on his face, he knew it.

"I'm going to go cook breakfast for everyone. You take your time. Get some rest. I'll see you later, Naoto... And thanks."

"For what, Narukami?"

"Being you. You're smart, brave, kind, and I just... I wouldn't be here, if it weren't for you. I wouldn't be the man I am now, if you hadn't been in my life. No matter what happens, you mean a lot to me. I hope we'll always be friends," he answered. She could see his own cheeks turn pink. The infamous Yu Narukami, blushing because of her? It almost made all of his antics worth it. He winked at her once more, enjoying the sight of her own flushing cheeks, before walking towards the door.

Without another word, he opened it and closed the door behind him. Naoto stared at the wooden frame for a moment, before a smile finally pulled at the corners of her lips. I suppose it could be seen as rather comical in a way... Her eyes fell to her hand, staring at the knuckles he had kissed. There was a promise in them, a silent vow that he would uphold.

"Narukami..." She closed her eyes and slid down the headboard, laying her head on her pillow as she stared at the ceiling. I'm scared of him... Scared of where he could lead me, but at the same time... I've never met a man like him. I... I agree. I hope he and I continue to be friends beyond this case...

Yosuke Hanamura couldn't sleep that night. He knew he should, but he couldn't the strength to, if that made sense. His mind was alight with the details of the night and the recent revelations he had regarding his so-called best friend. He leaned against the wall and sighed, not noticing the shuffling sound beside him. He sat on the ground and hung his head low, but try as he might, his mind felt overwhelmed at the new world he lived in.

This world was just the same as it had always been, yet now everything seemed to have changed. The friend he trusted in was a liar, who apparently had been manipulating all this time. Yu admitted to being a bad guy, but what did that make Yosuke? What did the real Yu mean for Yosuke?

The boy looked at his knuckles and stared at the marks the fight had left. They were scarlet, with hints of his blood leaking from the cuts. Punching wasn't like how it was in the movies, he learned. Punching in the real world hurt like hell and left some nasty cuts.

"You okay?" Yosuke turned his head and stared at the closest person to him, Chie Satonaka, staring at him from under her blanket.

"S-sorry. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah. You were brooding so loudly that I just couldn't sleep," she joked. He scoffed at the joke, before her hazel eyes glanced at his hands. "What happened...?"

"Yu and I... It's a long story," he sighed.

"I got time," she replied. "Besides, I won't be able to sleep with you being all pissy about yourself either."

Her attempt at humor fell on deaf ears. Chie saw the depressed frown on Yosuke's face and she didn't know how to react to it. It was rare to see anything more than a simple clown in him, she often forgotten about the man this case had made of him. She remembered seeing anger in his eyes when they finally found the identity of the killer. Heartbreak whenever Saki's name was uttered. Worry when she had nearly been killed.

"What would you do if your best friend wasn't who you thought they were?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, what if you found out the person you thought you could always trust was... not how you thought they were. What if you just woke up and found out everything was just a dream...?"

"I'd figure out where I belong." Chie rose up from her makeshift bed and walked closer to Yosuke's side. The young man averted his eyes, a slight flush forming on his cheeks as he tried not to look at the pajama-clad brunette. She carried her blanket with her as she sat by his side and threw her blanket over the both of them. "And I'd just do my best, I guess."

"When I saw my Shadow, I realized there were some stuff I just hadn't accepted about my world. Then I saw Yukiko's, and I realized how little I knew." She brought her knees to her chest and rested her arms on them. "I always thought Yukiko and I were best friends, and I thought things were fine just as they were, but they weren't. Yukiko's Shadow was so angry, and I was to blame for that. I should have been a better friend."

"Hey, none of that is your fault," Yosuke countered. "You can't blame yourself for that! Yukiko was bottling all that stuff in, you couldn't have known!"

"Still..." She shook her head and looked at Yosuke again. "That's not the point. The point is, after I saw the real Yukiko I... I knew things were different. I had to be different. I needed to be different. So I've been training even harder than usual."

"So... What? You're saying I should train?"

"I'm saying, just because your world is different doesn't mean it's worst, Yosuke." She placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a natural, if small smile.

"So... What should I do?"

"Do what you do best. Be yourself."

"Heh. Wow, Chie. When did you get all spiritual?"

"Shut up, ya big dork," she muttered playfully, gently poking at him with her other hand.

Yosuke chuckled a bit, before growing quiet one more. "And my friend? What do I do about him?"

"I guess..." She hesitated. She didn't know how to give an answer to the question. Chie's hand squeezed Yosuke's shoulder as she thought. He lifted a hand and placed it atop of hers, nodding his head in understanding. The two smiled at one another, before she uttered her answer. "Do what Yukiko and I did, I guess. Wait and see if you're still friends when it's all over."

"I don't even know if I want to be friends when all of this is over..." Yosuke mumbled. His hands tightened into fists and he let out another sigh. "Damn it."

"It's going to be okay, Yosuke..."

Her hand fell from his shoulder and onto his shaking fist. The two looked at another and shared a silent clarity. Neither said anything after that as they closed their eyes and shared the blanket. The rest of the world turned, but whether or not it left them behind, the two had one another at least.

For now, that was all they needed.

END

Well... This is a long time coming, huh? There are a list of reasons this chapter took so long to create, and one of them was that it was just straight up hard to write. I had to reedit a lot of it, and honestly, I am exhausted.

I'm honestly not sure about the quality here, but I'm tired and this damn chapter has took too long as it. This chapter was a bitch to write, as I had to fix up a lot of things and close the arc on other things, not to mention I worried about Yosuke's character. You write for certain characters so long, bringing in another one can just break your brain for a moment.

Also, Persona 5 came out and I played it. It was awesome. Loved it. Can't pick a best girl in it yet. Love Haru, Futaba, and Makoto too much. I don't want to take anymore time up before I post this, so...

Have a good day, everyone. Love ya. Bye!