Author's Note: It has been decided: Continued. Oh, and SPOILER for The True Ending and Farewell. Really, it's a spoiler. XOO… Oh, sorry that I cannot answer all reviews. School drained my strength (just imagine leaving from your home at 6 AM and arrived back at home at 7 PM) and thus, leaving me with no spirit left to reply. I really appreciate all of your review... so I'm so sorry..

Oh yea... My… In this fic, T.T I'm a loser for sappy stuff.

Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 4 or any of its characters. They belong to Atlus.

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A P4 MC/Yukiko Fic
Sarasvati

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Everytime look at the picture in the frame
Gaze in fascination so hard
You still think that's nothing but love
Rain still falls

Shihoko Hirata – Signs of Love

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Chie wrapped her green jacket over her best friend's shoulder. She tugged it tighter until Yukiko lifted her face from between her sobbing and with a weak smile said, "Chie… you're hurting me…"

"You'll catch a cold otherwise, Silly!" Chie chuckled. Her eyes softened. She gently wiped some of the tears off her friend's face then brushed her cheek. The cheerful girl grinned. "Now. Feeling better?"

A small smile answered her question and it was enough for now. The brunette smiled then put her arms around her best friend once more.

"Let's go home."

XxX

The clock tickling restlessly from the wall, as if wanting to frustrate him even further. His dark eyes flew to the small TV by his room, hardened themselves by the thoughts circling in his head. Even though he said he was okay… he couldn't prevent the burning flames in his heart. He didn't know… all this time… He didn't know what she had been going through… What kind of man was he? He was a total jerk…

"Che!"

The next thing he knew, he grabbed his old jacket from the wall and rushed outside. He couldn't stay in there for any longer… He wanted some solace…

The memories.

XxX

"The car…!"

Yukiko's sudden voice snapped Chie from her thoughts. She quickly saw the luxurious car by the parking space and almost at the same time, her heart sank. If I'm not mistaken… aww Not now!

"I… I should get dressed!" Yukiko hastened her pace, tightening Chie's green jacket around her. They changed their route to the back door. "I can't meet him like this!"

"Yukiko…!" Chie groaned as she kept up with her best friend's pace. "I-Is that his…"

There was no need for an answer. The brunette could see clearly how her best friend's hand trembled as she clutched her jacket. She was afraid. She was afraid her emotions would leak when she met her fiancé. What kind of engagement that could inflict such fear? That was unhealthy… but Chie had no right to state her opinion anymore.

They arrived in Yukiko's room without any fuss from the staff—in fact they met none, since most of them were greeting the rich young man that arrived. The manager hastily opened her wardrobe, messing the clothes as she rummaged for a kimono like the one she wear now. Chie watched her choosing in a hurry then sighed.

"Yuki…"

Now she got to play along with her in her scene.

XxX

Despite the rain on the outside world, the inside of the TV was always beautiful and sunny without the fog. He threw his jacket to the grass and sat there. The moon was illuminating strange light in this world; he could definitely feel the gentleness and hope in everyone's heart emanating from it. Besides… only in this world he could feel the bonds with everyone else… only in this world he could hear the voices of everyone…

"I love you, Senpai!"

"Distance doesn't matter to us. No matter where you are, we're still friends!"

"Sei~ no!! Yattaze~!!"

"Sure enough… one strike."

"I can proudly say that this is my world!"

"Shall I get on the train together with you?"

"Just… a little longer…"

He opened his eyes then touched the soft grass below him. He wanted to say the same thing… The exact same thing…

Just… a little longer…

XxX

Yukiko straightened her kimono, looking at the big wet lump of her previous one. Chie followed her eyes and laughed, "You really didn't realize how heavy that wet kimono is? You were wearing it like it's nothing! I'm amazed."

Yukiko smiled weakly. She then realized something and went panicked again.

"D-Do I still look like I just finished crying?"

Chie smiled and went closer to her. The red eyes were gone, along with the lines below her eyes after some polish with the make up. She looked normal… but anyone who knew her well would definitely see that hollow look in her eyes, the dark place of her heart. The tears may have stopped for now… but the wound was still there. Regardless, Chie tapped her best friend's cheek, gently.

"No. You look great."

Going back to the front door after going through the back door was kind of ridiculous but they should play it anyway. The waitress looked at her in surprised when she saw the manager by the front door and quickly shouted, "Yukiko-san! Kuroda-san is here and…"

"Yes, I understand. I'm so sorry; I lost my umbrella so I cannot go back in time."

Chie was amazed how well she could mask her sadness in her voice. It was normal; calm and strong. She must have practiced it all the time... No surprise, though.

Yukiko quickly went in but stopped when she realized Chie stayed outside, looking at her under the umbrella.

"Chie…"

"Perhaps I shouldn't come…" the brunette looked worried. Her eyes looked past her best friend to the waiting room. "I mean… that man is…"

A look to Yukiko's eyes stopped her sentence.

"Please."

She sighed then went in. She really didn't want to go further into her scheme… but her discomfort was second to Yukiko's feelings. She was her shield. Like always, she would shield Yukiko from her tears.

XxX

"I know I'll find you here, Partner."

Souji quickly looked back, only to see Yousuke grinning at him.

"Yo. How are you now, Mate?"

XxX

The waiting room was tidy as always, and Chie could definitely feel the aura of anxiety from every staff as they went in and out of the room. This was one very special guest.

"I'm sorry if you have waited for a long time, Satoshi-kun…"

Kun…?! Chie quickly swept the disgusted expression from her face the moment she realized she was making one. Since when Yukiko called a guest with a –kun??

"Ah… Yuki-san… I was wondering where you went."

Yuki…?! Another swept of repulsion. Yukiko never had anyone called her Yuki! In fact, only Chie that called her that way once in a while for a joke or a lovable notation…

But the voice of the man sounded soft spoken and almost… feminine. It was also very friendly and kind—not forced at all. Chie looked at Yukiko nervously but the manager seemed like she didn't see the look.

"I lost my umbrella… I'm sorry it took so long for me to be here…"

"Ahahaha… That seems like something you'll do, Yuki-san. And don't apologize… we're not strangers, are we?"

Finally, the soft spoken man stood up. He was not so tall, almost as the same height as Yukiko—just a bit taller. His short brown hair was very well combed, tidy and normal. His clothes were definitely expensive—even a slight look at it already made Chie thought about her poor small almost-empty wallet. And for an addition, he was handsome. Very handsome. But Chie understood exactly why Yukiko just couldn't forget Souji. This man… This very handsome man… just couldn't compare with Souji. Nuh-uh. This something… was just… off.

And… nothing can erase that one year memories of togetherness. Nothing.

"Ah… and… you are…?"

He turned to see Chie, who stood right beside Yukiko. Yukiko quickly said, "She's my best friend. I thought I'll introduce her to you."

"Oh yes…" Satoshi smiled. He offered his hand. "Kuroda Satoshi."

Chie shook his hand and said slowly, "Satonaka Chie."

Soft. His hands were soft. What kind of man had hands this soft?!

"So you're friends with Yuki-san, eh?" He seemed eager to question her. "Yuki-san never talked about her friends, so I don't really know."

"Well… yeah… since we're in elementary school," Chie grinned awkwardly. Never talked? Not at all while days when they were together were the most important days of her life? "I… er… happened to meet Yukiko without her umbrella, so… er… I brought her here."

"I see…" said Satoshi, who now turned to see Yukiko with laughter in his eyes. "You seemed like you're into some kind of trouble there, Yuki-san!"

He chuckled. Yukiko only smiled and her face showed this… faked embarrassment that Chie felt like she couldn't take it anymore. She was smiling, talking, doing everything like that was normal when in fact it wasn't. Chie couldn't stand that… She couldn't stand looking at the mask Yukiko wear right now… That mask... was suffocating.

"I… I guess… I should get going now," Chie moved a step away from Yukiko. Her best friend quickly looked at her, eyes pleading when she went just a step further away. "I have… work… back at the police station…"

"Chie…"

"Oh yes… can't you stay longer?" asked Satoshi kindly. He patted Yukiko's shoulder. "You just arrived; maybe it'll be good to have some chat with us."

"W-Well, I…" Chie looked at Yukiko. She felt really awful for leaving her… but she wasn't sure if she wouldn't do something that would make things go out of hand. She was known for being impulsive after all… she didn't want to see Yukiko got into trouble because of her anymore. Right now, she really felt like slapping Satoshi's hand off Yukiko's shoulder and shouting him the real feeling of the woman he would married with. She could barely restrain herself from doing so, she doubt she could hold any longer. "W-well… It's all up to Yukiko, actually…"

"I'll return your jacket later," Yukiko suddenly said. She smiled. "Thanks for everything, Chie."

"Yukiko…"

She nodded. Satoshi raised his eyebrows, smiling kindly, "Well… if Yuki-san said so… We'll see you later then, Satonaka-san."

"Y-Yeah," Chie grinned. She turned to see Yukiko then tapped her best friend's cheek again. The manager's face quickly turned red by the affectionate gesture.

"C-Chie…"

"Stay well," she said, meaningfully. "Don't push yourself too much. If you need anything, call me."

She stopped, taking sometime to look deep into her best friend's eyes.

"Remember, Yukiko: Anything."

XxX

"Now I'm completely clueless of what I should do."

Souji threw a rock at the lake. He saw it bounced twice then took another one. Yousuke threw his then chuckled.

"Yea, I definitely understand that," He put his hands on his hip, looking how his rock bounced four times. "It is kind of sudden for you anyway. None of us who stay in Inaba could comprehend it, I don't see how you could. Amagi-san pleaded to us not to tell you, saying it would be best for you if you don't know… I didn't think it'll work that way, but I still somehow fulfilled her wish. I guess it's not that it's better for you not to know… She merely wants to tell you herself."

Souji's rock bounced five times then sank in a depressing flop. Yousuke whistled.

"Five! Wow. I can't win against you, Man."

Souji gave a low chuckled and threw another. Six times.

"I… made her cry again, didn't I?"

Yousuke didn't answer. Souji continued with his throwing. Seven times.

"I came here, without knowing anything. I'm such a selfish jerk."

Another rock was thrown… and it didn't bounce. It fell to the lake surface with a blob.

"She must've been very angry at me."

The gray haired man could feel the rock started to hurt his skin when he gripped it tighter.

"She needs to forget me."

"Don't put words in her mouth, Souji."

The gray haired man turned so see Yousuke. His best friend was looking at him with something blazed in his eyes, almost akin to anger.

"Why do you think she's angry at you? I thought you do know her feelings," said Yousuke harshly. "She wouldn't think of feeling angry at you, she's overridden with her guilt for leaving you! You don't know how much she hated herself for letting you go."

Souji looked down, clenching his fists.

"Look, Man…" Yousuke stepped forward and tapped his shoulder. "I'm glad you come here. You released her. You don't know how Chie and I tried our best not to tell you to come back after seeing her suffer. She didn't have the courage to go to see you, nor the heart to tell you through phone calls or postcards. You being here… is actually the best thing to release her. Now she can be true to herself."

"By being a masochist that hurt herself? Yeah," Souji gave a mocking smile as he threw another rock. "I'm angry at myself because I don't want to let her go either."

"Or maybe that's what she wants all along."

Souji quickly turned at Yousuke. His gray eyes turned so hard, it could pierce.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" Yousuke sighed. He folded his arms. "Maybe that's what she wants all along. She won't forget you, or rather, she cannot and she doesn't want to. I believe… she hopes you won't forget about her either—and if you can, still treasure her in some way. Call her selfish, Souji, you may… but that's what's best for her. The less painful way."

Yousuke took a rock then threw it.

"She will always love you, you know."

The rock bounced eight times.

XxX

"I was… never lying, Souji-kun…"

"You will be the only one that I love forever."

XxX

"How's her condition?"

It was full moon and luckily the rain had stopped. Breathing in the scent of the wet humid air, Chie took a sip of the TaP Soda and leaned herself to the wall. She glanced at the questioner.

"Do you want the truth or her lies?"

Yousuke titled his head.

"Hm… both."

Chie chuckled. She looked up at the night sky.

"Great, in lies. Messed up, in truth. She wouldn't stop crying for a while there."

"I see…" Yousuke looked at his Dr. Salt NEO. He shook it then drank it. "I can understand that."

"Haha, yeah," Chie chuckled. She took a deep breath, touching the cool can of soda to her forehead. "You really should see her fiancé though. He's not like what I had imagined."

"W-What do you mean?" Yousuke turned panic. "H-He's not t-this… this pedophile perverted old man with uncountable girls, is he? Or…"

"Yousuke! No! What makes you think like that?!" shouted Chie, hands on her hip. Yousuke grinned sheepishly. Only perverts think the way perverts think. And she completely understood that notion of her best friend. "Awww! You dirty pervert! Maybe YOU're the one who's having that kind of psychological disturbance! Yes, you have the possibility, Dear Sir, for those dirty talks at night!"

"Whoa, sorry, girl, I'm healthy!" Yousuke laughed. "And… those are not dirty talks! They're guy jokes!"

"Awrgh!" Chie leaned to the wall again and folded her arms, sulking. "Figures! You never look at me as a woman!"

"Of course not! I— W-Wait, w-what…?"

But Chie didn't talk anymore. Burning red, she turned her face away. Yousuke opened his mouth to say something but a can of half-drunk TaP Soda greeted him in the face. Hard.

"Ouch! What's…"

"Go see him for yourself!!"

And the next second, she wasn't by his side anymore.

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To be Continued

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Author's Note: Some hint of the future chapters… and yeah, sorry if this one's soooo boring. You really need to know her soon-to-be husband anyway. :D I like making the OC. Although, yes… it's kind of hard making the conversation and I'm sure you all see how hard it is for me to keep it flowing. Sorry for that. I guess… it's only a few more chapters away from the end… It IS short anyway…