Title: "Last Days"
Author: Agony-Howl
Summary: When the unthinkable happens, the Investigation team is on high alert. As they prepare for the killer to strike again, Yosuke tries to make sense of what he's feeling towards his partner and something he said.
Pairings: SetaHana, with Chi/Yuki on the side. Stop reading and thinking about flaming me if you don't like it.
Disclaimer: Persona 4 would be a crappy game if I owned it so rejoice-I don't.
Rating: T-oddly tame for a story based on an "M" rated game.
WARNING!!! If you didn't read the pairings, this story contains shonen-ai and shojo-ai. Also, there may or may not be possible spoilers depending on where you are in the game. (This takes place after Naoto's dungeon).
Before I begin…Since I still haven't gotten many ideas for "TRHS," I'm working more on this story until I get some.
BTW, events from the Magician social link are going to be used in the story. Since this isn't like the game, they'll be used mostly to progress the relationship between Souji and Yosuke. And two might come up in the same day. Just an FYI.
Now onward!
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My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride…
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Yosuke stared at Souji with disbelief. "I-I'm the next target?" he asked, voice cracking. "That…that can't be right…why…"
"You do fit the trend so far." Naoto pointed out. "All of the killer's targets showed up on TV before they appeared on the Midnight Channel. Yesterday, there were newsmen covering the vandalism that occurred at Junes. And even though you did not stay long enough for them to get anything from you, you were nonetheless still in front of the cameras."
"And maybe the killer doesn't know who exactly is helping his victims." Yukiko added. "So he might figure you'll be the same."
"Or he may know and will want to get you out of the way." Naoto deduced.
"Is that really important?" Chie asked. "I mean, either way the killer will still target Yosuke."
"But if the killer knows he is part of the team, he will be more careful around him." The detective argued. "And he may make sure to take away anything that might help him while in that world."
"Hold on a second!" Yosuke broke in. "How do we know for a fact that I showed up on the Midnight Channel? It could have been someone else."
Souji shook his head. "It was definitely you-even with the blurry image I could recognize you. If you think otherwise, than watch it again tonight-the forecast said it would rain tonight."
"I will-and I won't see me on it!" The brunette stated firmly before he left to find his own area to eat lunch.
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Evening
Once again, time seemed to slow to a crawl as Yosuke waited for midnight to come. When he came home, Teddie had come up and told him about what had happened the night before. After assuring the bear mascot that he didn't appear on the Midnight Channel, he had headed back to his room. The rain pelted against his window as the clock ticked closer and closer to-
Midnight.
The TV flickered to life on its own while brown eyes widened. It wasn't the action that surprised him-he had seen this happen countless times while searching for the murderer. This was nothing new.
Neither was the image.
The figure stood in front of the screen, arms folded. They were definitely male and were wearing the Yasogami High uniform. Brown hair seemed to grow away from the figure's head and there was something over their ears and curving over their head. At one point the figure began to gesture like they were talking.
Like Yosuke did when he was talking with his friends.
"I…I…" the teen chocked out as the image faded away. "Damn it, I really am the next target."
&
The Next Day, After School: October 12, 2011
The meeting place for the Investigation team was an ironic one. Whenever Yosuke had thought of the word "headquarters," he always imagined something secretive and hidden. The Junes food court was neither-all kinds of people gathered either for a bite to eat or for a rest from shopping.
Yet where they sat had a sort of nostalgic importance to it. Where they sat was also where Souji, Yosuke, and Chie sat months ago when they decided to try the rumor about the Midnight Channel. This event led to Souji's discovery of his ability to go inside the TV and later Yosuke's assumption that people who showed up on the program died when the fog came.
Maybe that was why they gathered here. Or maybe it was because it was close to the electronics department and no one found a group of teenagers gathering at one table stranger than a group of teenagers sneaking around whispering in secret code-even if the former group wore school uniforms on holidays.
"So…" Rise began. "We were right about Yosuke-Senpai being the next target."
"And so, we should expect the killer to strike in the next few days. In that case, we will have to be prepared for what will come." Naoto turned to Yosuke. "Since we cannot be too careful, we must assume that the killer knows that you are one of the people foiling his murder attempts and expects you to fight back."
"That, and we have to be ready to catch him in the act." Yosuke spoke up. "If I'm the target this time, then we have the advantage of knowing he's coming. And thanks to Naoto, we also know how he'll strike."
"Yosuke, I don't like the way you're talking…" Chie said cautiously. "It almost sounds like you're going to use this as an opportunity to catch the killer."
"Better not be planning that!" Kanji sounded like he was threatening the older male. But after Naoto had seemingly set herself up as bait when she was kidnapped, no one could blame him for being jumpy on the subject. "If you even think about trying to lure the killer so you can catch him in the act, I'll-"
"I'm NOT going to lure him!" Yosuke protested. "I'm just saying that since he's targeting me next and I know he's coming, we might be able to catch him."
"Well, that does help out a little…" Yukiko admitted. "While making sure he doesn't kidnap Yosuke-kun, we might be able to find out more about him. Or even catch him in the act."
"So what's the plan, Leader?" Chie asked Souji. No one had to ask her to know why she was changing the subject all of the sudden.
The silver haired teen was quiet for a moment as he thought. "We'll keep an eye out like we always do." He announced. "Teddie is staying with Yosuke, so there's someone keeping an eye on him at home. I doubt the killer will try to kidnap him with everyone watching, so school and Junes should be safe too."
"But what if he does get thrown in?" Teddie asked. "The Shadows don't normally attack people unless the fog lifts, but since they're hostile towards you guys they won't just leave him alone."
"Then like Naoto mentioned, we can't be too careful." Souji turned to Yosuke. "Keep your glasses and kunai on you at all times. If you do get thrown in, you'll at least have the means to defend yourself until we come get you."
"And try not to get kidnapped during midterms!" Chie added. "I don't wanna fail because I was saving your hide!"
Yosuke glared at Chie. "Wow, thanks Chie-I feel really safe now!" he said sarcastically. The kung-fu obsessed girl grinned back. The dark clouds that seemed to have hung over the group seemed to have disappeared as they chatted about miscellaneous things. Even if they were thinking about the murder case in the back of their heads, everyone was willing to forget about it for a few minutes until they left to go home.
After Chie and Yukiko left together, it was just Yosuke and Souji left. The two of them had gotten something to eat and were talking casually. "You know, hanging out with you here every so often isn't that bad." The brunette spoke up. "Even if we're short on cash we can get a little discount here. Though there's a small price to pay for that…"
"Oh, there you are, Hanamura!" A girl's voice called out.
Yosuke groaned. "For example…" he stood up as two gaudily dressed girls walked in. They looked like they were third-years. "Hello there, Senpai. What's wrong today?" Nonetheless, he managed to use a courteous tone.
"You better say something to that blockhead manager!" One of the girls snapped. "I told him I can't come in on Saturdays or Sundays. But he's saying I need to be here since we're low on staff. And if I don't, he'll fire me!"
"Isn't there some kind of law against that?!" Her friend complained.
"Er, but…Didn't you guys say you could work weekends during your interviews?" Yosuke asked.
"Well, yeah. They wouldn't hire us if we didn't!" The first girl said, as if answering a stupid question.
Yosuke sighed in defeat. "Alright, I got it. I'll try talking with him…" he promised. "But you don't want to get fired, right? It'd make it easier for me to strike a deal if you could show up every now and then on weekends…"
"…We'll think about it." The girl said, though she didn't sound convincing.
"You'd better do it, 'kay?" Her friend spoke before the two of them left. Almost as soon as they did, another employee came up to Yosuke with a complaint about the head butcher. After a quick apology to Souji, he went with her to talk about it. After a few minutes he came back, disgruntled.
"Phew, I'm beat…I'm not the complaints department…" he huffed.
"You're incredible." Souji said. "I wouldn't be able to handle all those complaints."
"Huh? Dude, it's nothing but trouble!" Yosuke's cheerful mood returned. "Besides, I wouldn't peg you as the type to get frustrated with people complaining to you."
He sighed. "Geez, everyone's trying to take advantage of me as the Junes kid. Maybe I wouldn't mind if I was free, but we have the murders to deal with. I don't have time for this. Can the police really handle the killer? Can the law really convict whoever's behind this…?" He shook his head. "Once I started worrying about that stuff, I knew I couldn't bother with anything else. I have to do what I can…"
"Just don't do anything too rash." Souji warned. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"What makes you think I'm going to do something stupid?" Yosuke protested. "First Chie thinks I'll use myself as bait, and now you're telling me to not jump into anything!"
"I'm just making sure…" Souji calmed him down.
Yosuke laughed humorlessly. "I never thought I'd talk about serious stuff like this…Before I moved here, it was all small talk…Stupid, trivial things. I thought that was fine. It's only with you guys that I talk seriously like this. I dunno why, but I feel like I don't have to lie-especially with you. You've seen the worst of me and all. But…if someone had to see that, I'm glad it was you." He smiled. "It's a bit late now, but…thanks for going in with me that time."
"No need." Souji replied. "I'm just glad that both of us got out of that alright."
Silence stretched between them. "Hey, Yosuke…" Souji trailed off, averting his gaze.
The brunette looked at his silver haired friend with confusion. Up until now, he had never talked or acted like this. "Souji? Is something wrong?" he asked.
"…No. Nothing's wrong." Souji replied. "I just have a question…"
"Oh, that's it? What do you need to know?"
"What if today might be your last?"
Brown eyes widened. "W-What? What is that supposed to mean?"
Pi Pi Pi Pi Pi Pi Pi
"Hold on a sec…" Souji pulled out his cell phone. "Hello? …Okay, got it. I'll be over there soon." He put it away. "I have to go-I have a shift at the hospital tonight."
"Oh, alright." Yosuke said. "Well, see you tomorrow." As the two parted, he felt a strange weight on his chest. Part of him wished that Souji had stayed longer-though he told himself it was because he wanted an explanation of what he had just told him.
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Wow…I didn't think I would update this quickly.
Apparently, my muse can be very choosy when it comes to which stories she wants to work on. I still haven't gotten any ideas for "TRHS," but ideas for this story are pouring in.
Well, I'll still try to work on "TRHS!" I won't blow it off like I did with the third chapter!
Sayonara!