Many thanks to rZD, who had to escape a post-nuclear Boston in order to proof read. (I know the call of such things can be hard, so I AM thankful he takes the time still. ^^
Catherine, hope this was the bit you've been waiting for, if not, you know my chapters are a little more 'filled' than the ones in Shortest Distance, it'll come.
RageCaje, happy you're having fun! Changes have to be, after all, this is her point of view, and cannot create her purely from what Kanji experiences in SD. NEEDED to add "You're not me!" because, yes, totally was missing and had to address "find my own reasons for living", because that line had always made me sit up and take notice.
For now, let's get her home, eh?
She was unable to recall the winding paths taken. The strange red-and-black striped shadows continued to make her nauseous; walking became a matter of pure will. She simply kept trotting along, one foot stubbornly placed before the other, allowing the girls around her to gently direct her motions now and again. She was certain she actually lost consciousness a few times. It was that, or that her brain simply lacked the energy to keep a record of her transition between places.
When she found herself on hands and knees yet again, fighting to gather her senses and force them to report in, the first thing reporting in was Tatsumi's strange-sounding voice. Pressed, somehow. Angry. Worried?
"Hey... hey!" Blurred vision made it hard to truly see, but a darker shadow seemed to be in front of her a moment later. "C'mon, answer!" If she concentrated, her vision actually managed some colours alongside shadows. As she narrowed her eyes, she saw a hesitant hand seeming to appear before her, then being drawn away.
She pinched her eyes shut again. If anyone had told her that she had spent the last week being held bound and gagged while receiving the battering of a lifetime, she could have believed it. The aches and pains throughout her body made even simple muscle work difficult. She could not even fully experience mild annoyance as she found even breathing to be a struggle. Her heart thundered, working hard to keep up with the physical stress her body underwent.
A quiet female voice spoke up near her. "Sheesh... Naoto-kun really put her life on the line for this." Satonaka, possibly? A small burst of pride at her words tried to make her lips quirk into a smile.
"Nothing to be proud of..." Tatsumi's gruff voice cut that impulse short.
"No, it isn't," another male, low voice agreed. "But if she hadn't, we wouldn't know the killer is still on the loose."
The delinquent growled, low and angry. And then muttered, almost softly, "You're too frickin' reckless, dammit."
This had to stop. They worried about her, and she did not wish to burden them more than she had by needing a rescue mission. "I-" she swallowed, "I never doubted... that you'd all come for me." She attempted to push herself up, but aside from her muscles shakily protesting, nothing happened. "Though the reality h-has turned out to be... far beyond what I'd imagined"
"Tch... what a dumbass!" Tatsumi snapped, pulling himself to his feet. "You're no genius at all. We were tearing our hair out over you!"
Fury so hot it froze her every thought made her pull up her head finally. Her vision swam a moment, then it latched on to the tall teen towering before her. She forced herself to try and sit on her heels, trying to at least get so far as to kneel. She tried to glare at the insult, will herself to demand he explain himself.
It only added to her anger that the best she could manage was a small frown directed at him from under her brow.
When the tall young man met her eyes for a moment, his expression shifted. She had seen this shift before, in others; when conducting interviews to be precise. And then realization came. He is putting on a show. He isn't angry, not really. He looks like someone who is angry at being caught out.
A new thought tried to elbow into the foreground. Why was he fussing? None of the other teens seemed as preoccupied with her actions. So why him? He frown shifted into puzzlement. Who are you, Kanji Tatsumi?
Kujikawa lightly skipped to his side, happily looping her arms around one of his. "Oh, so you did worry about her, Kanji!" The thought that she may have missed the two them in a romantic engagement surfaced briefly, but was buried again under a new wave of nausea. She closed her eyes and let her head sink.
"Shuddup, Rise! Mind your own damn business!"
Well. Maybe she was wrong in that last thought. She was not sure why she should care about that issue one way or the other right now. However, that previous thought still hung on. She held his gaze, the frown melting into puzzlement. Why did he care about her actions seemingly more than the others?
"Okay, guys," Narukami said, stepping in front of Kujikawa, "Let's not have this conversation in the middle of Junes, all right? I think Naoto-kun needs to get home."
Junes?
"I'll take her," Amagi immediately offered, bending down at Naoto's side.
She, in turn, reacted in the only logical and acceptable way. "It's... all right... I can... " She shivered, words trailing off.
"No way, missy!" The detective winced at the outburst of Kujikawa. It was far too remains of the way she had addressed her in the Junes food court only a few short months ago. "Don't think that doing everything on your own is the 'adult' thing to do! Me and Yukiko-senpai'll take care of you."
One should always name oneself last in a listing of people… Why would I even care about her composition at a time like this?
While she still eyed the teen idol through half-open eyes, the grey-haired boy spoke up, directing the others. "You too, Tatsumi. Can't have them out causing trouble this late at night."
This was too much. Naoto flinched, mumbling to herself. "Three of them. Am I so pitiful a display? What's next, calling an ambulance?" She levelled a frustrated glare at Amagi, Kujikawa and Tatsumi in turn - before finally giving a small nod.
As much as this was an embarrassment, she needed some small assistance. She still felt unable to rise to her feet, so when a pair of hands each reached for her upper arms on both sides, she did not shake them off again. Slowly the two girls helped her to her feet and she finally got to take in her surroundings.
It was indeed Junes, the electronics section. She had been here frequently, though not near the TVs. Since the small specialized store in the shopping district had closed down, she came here to buy tin-solder, wiring and similar items for her electronic tools, gadgets and machinery.
Once erect, she gently rejected the steadying hands and willed her legs into motion. Taking the lead before the others might convince them that she did not need to be helped further and she could make her own way home.
That however turned out to be a fleeting fancy.
When, for the fourth time in half as many minutes, her legs refused to support her and she nearly found herself barrelling into one of the girls at her side, Tatsumi grunted with annoyance and put up a hand, motioning the girls to a halt. He stepped before Naoto, eyes her wearily, and went, his back towards her, on one knee. "Hop on."
Naoto gaped and stared. "Wh... what?"
The boy grumbled something before replying audible. "J-Jus'... c'mon, man, you can barely stand. Hop on."
She could swear she heard the beginning of a titter to either side of her. She flushed furiously. "Absolutely not!"
His reply came with a quick glare over his shoulder. "Ya can climb on, or I can toss ya over my shoulder."
"Neither! I will not be lugged about like- like a sack of rice, Tatsumi-san!" She shot Amagi a baleful glare as the latter could no longer contain her laughing and snorted a few times.
She turned her head to see him tilt his head back, looking towards the cloud-hung sky. "Rise," he sighed.
Before Naoto could react, she felt two hands placed on her shoulders and herself being being pushed forward. Unable to catch herself in her weakened state, she stumbled and fell onto Tatsumi's back. His swift reaction secured his arms around her legs and under her knees; while reflex made her swing her arms around his neck.
She absolutely did not squeak. She was startled. It was just an outcry. Anyone could have reacted in a similar fashion.
It was over in a flash, and Tatsumi already straightened up, lightly tossing her up a few times to settle her more comfortably onto his back.
Outrageous! "You will put me down this very instant, Tatsumi-san," she hissed against his neck. She emphasized her words with a sharp kick; trying to click her heels into his sides. She only managed to hit his legs weakly.
"If by 'this very instant' you mean the moment we get you home, Naoto-kun," Kujikawa happily said beside them, "then you are absolutely right. Besides, Kanji gives great piggy-back rides, I am sure!"
The detective glowered at her and bit back the scathing comment on her mind. Well, Kujikawa-san, you appear like you'd know all about those. She tried a punch against his shoulders. "Down, Tatsumi-san. Now. This isn't funny!"
He grunted, but did not react in any meaningful manner.
Naoto tried to push herself away from Tatsumi. She noticed one traitorous arm curling itself against his shoulders for support. At once she made her arms twitch away from him, pushing against his back. She leaned back, but felt a hand on her from behind, pushing her forward again with way too little effort. With a light giggle, she heard Amagi-san say, "Careful, Naoto-kun, you don't want to fall off. It's a long way down." A snorted laugh. "Kanji-kun is so very tall-" and then it just dissolved into laughter.
She would not stand for it. She balled her fists and pounded them on his shoulders. "Set me down. Now." She added a kick for extra emphasis.
He did not reply, simply taking one long-legged step after the next.
She heard Amagi and Kujikawa start to chat lightly, walking behind them.
Maybe the gentle approach would work. Naoto swallowed and lowered her voice. "Listen, Tatsumi-san..."
He murmured what sounded like "Tatsumi again," but she was not entirely sure. He had been rather quiet.
She hesitated a moment, feeling his grip around her legs and the steady rhythm of his pace. It was... eerily soothing.
"I appreciate your offer to come to-to my assistance in this... this matter." She placed one hand on each of his shoulders and leaned forward, lowering her voice further. "But surely you, too, agree- I mean, you see it, too, what a strangely c-compromising position we are in. At this moment. I would n-not wish to embarrass you before your associates and-"
"Do you always talk so much?" he replied gruffly.
Naoto actually fell silent at that, taken aback. Thankfully, the girls seemed to have missed the comment, as the chatter behind her did not cease and they still seemed to be deep in their own conversation.
Suddenly, gravity seemed to fail. She felt light-headed, her muscles first cramping up, then slacking. Her reflex was to tightly fling her arms across the broad shoulders in front of her, clutching at the front of his shirt as she squeezed her eyes shut. The lurching feeling didn't stop.
"Hey... Naoto?" Tatsumi's steps faltered a moment and she felt as he turned his head.
One after the other her hands let go of his shirt and clasped his shoulders. She fought down the nausea that last burst of vertigo had caused and swallowed hard. She noticed her hands shook, but she simply could not let this continue any longer. She could make it on her own, without this ridiculous show they were surely putting on right now. If anyone were to see them... if one of her co-workers from the Inaba station were to-!
She struggled, trying to make him release her legs. The only action this triggered, was a hum from him and a readjustment of his grip on her.
"Put me down." she hissed weakly, trying to give his sides a kick.
He growled deep in his throat. "You ever shut up?" He shook his head and resumed walking, lengthening his stride again.
"I said... Ugh! Put me down," Naoto repeated. "You- you d-don't need to-"
"Give it a break!"
"I... I can walk!" Her body betrayed her with a shudder.
"Yep, Naoto-kun," Kujikawa chirped behind them. "We know. Just not in a straight line and not for more than a few seconds, right?"
Naoto growled and tried another punch against Tatsumi's broad, toned shoulders. His... She frowned, trying to catch that last thought once more. It escaped her, so she turned her frown into a glare and directed it at the pierced ear in front of her.
"Well, we're almost there," Amagi said lightly.
Naoto thumped a fist against her mounts' shoulder. "Then put me down!"
Rise Kujikawa let out a deep sigh. "I used to think you were so eloquent, Naoto-kun."
"And I used to think you had it all together," the young man muttered, skipping a moment to make her settle down against his back. "Why you gotta be so stubborn?"
"I-I don't require your assistance - or transport for that matter," Naoto weakly mumbled into his shoulder. "So... y-you don't need to be here."
A few steps ahead, Amagi stopped in front of a tall apartment building. She ran her eyes over the lettering on the building. "Is this it, Naoto?"
Naoto peered up, one hand pressed against Tatsumi's head for support, and nodded.
"Good. Do you have your keys?"
"... Pocket." Though she punctuated her answer with another kick, it felt half-hearted, even to herself.
She surrendered to the care of her saviours. Only a few more minutes and she would be able to rid herself of them. She let her chin sink on Tatsumi's shoulder, her eyes sliding closed after she mumbled her apartment number to Amagi.
She had nearly started to actually doze off, when she felt Tatsumi stop. Shuddering, she pushed herself up, seeing Amagi ease the key into the lock, quietly opening the door. "We don't want to wake anyone up," she whispered.
"You won't," Naoto murmured. "Nobody there."
"Oh... is your grandfather away?"
"D-doesn't live here." Isn't even in the country. "Put me down," she added.
With a sigh, Amagi shook her head and pushed open the door - and, after a few seconds of fumbling, found the light switch inside.
Naoto knew what to expect, but still her apartment felt strange to her. As she saw it from behind Tatsumi's shoulders, she felt she saw it for the first time. The only true personal touch where the book shelves. And even these looks rather clinical. Just books. Stacked neatly, no variation, no changes. No personal items, save for the framed picture.
She noticed with some discomfort how the three teens that brought her here gazed about curiously.
"Tatsumi-san. P-Put me down," Naoto repeated. "Now."
"So, which one's your room?" Kujikawa asked, cheerfully ignoring her.
Naoto shifted her eyes towards her and sighed. Laying her arm over his shoulder, she pointed towards Tatsumi's left. He promptly turned towards the door and started to open the door to her bedroom.
Rise Kujikawa saved her with a squeal. "Kanji! Stop right there!"
She felt his shirt being tugged and he tried to wiggle out of the grasp. "Dammit, let go!"
"C'mon, are you seriously gonna walk right into a girl's bedroom? Put Naoto-kun on her feet."
Naoto's head sank against his back and she let out a muffled groan. As if this day had not been bad enough. Now she had to worry about her privacy being violated like this.
"Oh. Right." A trick of the light made it seem his ear grew pinkish.
He went back down to one knee, his arms uncurling from her legs. For a moment she worried he'd try to keep his hands on her, but it was the girls who took over. One of them on each side, they reached for her arms and attempted to navigate her through the door into her bedroom. She tried to pull away again, tried to see if Tatsumi was still watching. He was male! He should not be anywhere near- "Stop it! Just, j-just go away, I don't-"
"You never stop, do you?" Amagi muttered, closing the door behind them.
Kujikawa had not seemed to lose her good humour. What did she feel so happy about as it was? "It'll be all right, we're just making sure that you are okay. Why won't you just let us settle you in, hm?"
"This is my home! You should not force yourself in here and e-expect any less!"
"Oh, come, Naoto-kun! Don't be shy. We just wanna make sure you'll be alright. We've all been there, you know! If I hadn't had help, oh boy, I would have been in so much trouble."
"That's right," Amagi agreed right on top of her, "We've been there. We know what to expect."
"All I need is some rest and quiet."
"Indeed, which is why only one of us will stay here tonight." Kujikawa still had that bubble-gum smile on her face as she tripped the detective into her bed. Well. Pushed her in, really. Alright, so she only needed to adjust my general stance towards leaning a little too much and I …keeled over. Lost my balance, that's all. Thinking these thought with a face full of pillow did not exactly make her pride sting less.
"Y- Y- You cannot possibly be serious..." Her energy drained quickly now. Her hopes of just holding on till the teens had left was fleeting and she could no longer deny even to herself that she felt sick. But not sick enough to need a... a nursemaid!
"I think I should stay with her, Rise. I told my parents I would be hanging out with Chie, and they won't worry about me."
The idol hopped up and nodded, her pigtails bobbing. "Sounds good." She skipped to the bedroom door and called out "Okay, Kanji-kun. You and I are heading out." Amagi had followed Kujikawa, closing the door part-way.
She could follow the conversation through the nearly shut door. "What 'bout Naoto? We're not just gonna leave him, right?"
"Her, Kanji."
Naoto flinched and struggled from the bed. She was right here; talking about her in third person was quite out of order. Especially in her own home! Also, it distressed her that the teens knew her secret; having them discuss it this openly was ... uncomfortable.
"Yeah, her. Whatever." At least one person who did not seem to care about her gender in the midst of all of this. Did that mean she could tell herself that their behaviour was not over her size or ... whatever else they had learned tonight? She heard him continue. "Ain't no-one else here. Who's gonna look after her?"
She simply had to try making them leave. She clawed at her bed, trying to pull herself out. This was just all too much. She needed time to evaluate the past three days; she needed to find a solution to the predicament of them knowing," I... I do not need looking after!" Further, that blush creeping up was anger. Not embarrassment. Only anger.
Amagi, her back still towards the detective, didn't even turn around. "Naoto-kun, get back in bed before I throw you in there!"
Naoto spluttered in indignation.
"And Kanji-kun," the refined young woman continued, with an exasperated sigh, "there's no need to worry. Chie can cover for me, so I'll stay here tonight."
"You mentioned! Great idea, Yukiko-senpai! C'mon, Kanji." Kujikawa.
Okay, so that was two who had left. All she needed to do was make Amagi leave... or possibly beg her to. Either way, Naoto laid a hand on the black-haired girl's arm and began saying something - when she felt her arm gripped and herself bodily thrown into her bed.
"I did warn you," Amagi huffed behind her.