Disclaimer: ATLUS owns Persona 3 Portable. The song is Stranger by Secondhand Serenade.
NOTE: THE DATES ARE CHANGED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS FIC.
To my ever so gracious wonderful reviewers:
Yosho25: Was that you or FeMC drooling over Akihiko? :D Yes, you're right I'm nearing the end. Hope you still stick around until then. Thanks for your review.
namine23: I really wanted to give Shinjiro some love there, and it also broke my heart to hurt him. I may be biased somehow but this is still an AkixFeMC fic so, yeah, Aki gets the upper hand. Thanks for the review.
MissFortune-Hime: I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to review both of the latest chapters and that you love my story. I hope you like this chapter. Thanks for the review.
Mimi Minato: I like that line a lot too, it was fun fooling around with Shinjiro. It's not that 'she's taking care of Aki' more like 'Aki is taking care of her'. Read to find out more! I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Author's Notes: Update took so long because all of you and I know how FREAKING HARD it is to log in at FF net. Seriously, why don't they fix it?
Anyways, another reason for the long wait was because I started to hate the way my prose for this chapter was going – it felt rusty, dragging, non-descriptive, and bland, pure-action-no-depth material, and doesn't flow smoothly at all – and I don't feel anything from it when I read it. (Yes, I criticize my own work this way. I'm kind of hard on myself.)
So I had to drill my brain and inspire myself with AkixFeMC things just to get the writing style I want to get on going. I hope you like this.
Turn around
Turn around and fix your eye in my direction so there is a connection
I can't speak
I can't make a sound to somehow capture your attention
I'm staring at perfection
Take a look at me so you can see how beautiful you are
Stranger
-alienated person: somebody who has become distanced or alienated from somebody
February 6, 2010 / Saturday / Late Afternoon
A week has passed and Akihiko has yet to talk to her. He has no idea what to say, how to apologize, how to say sorry when he isn't really sorry at all that he kissed her, well, kissed her back. But then again, he was the one who invaded her personal space in the first place. Never mind the order though; what he knows is that they kissed with both of their consents. And he liked it, and if she would let him he would kiss her again, more this time.
Akihiko shakes his head to chase away the image of him and Minako kissing, as he can feel his ears getting hot. He adjusts his grip on the railing when he feels a bump from behind him as the train jostles sideways. He looks through his shoulders to see that the person who accidentally leaned on him is actually Minako. Likewise, she is also surprised with her eyes wide and mouth half open in a silent gasp, her fists collected underneath her chin defensively.
"Sorry senpai."
"It's alright."
They both look away, cheeks flushed. Minako moves away, giving space for another person in between them. But there are too many people and she isn't really strategically far from him, so when the train jostles once again the passengers crushes her back to him, this time with much more force. Akihiko can tell from Minako's facial expression that it hurt.
"Switch places with me." He tells her.
"Huh?" She asks as if she didn't comprehend what he said.
"Oh, no, senpai, it's ok. Really! There's no need. We're almost there anyway."
Akihiko shoots her a disapproving look as he takes her shoulders and moves her to stand in front of him, by the side of the door. Thankfully it isn't the side of the door that opens, for he is forced to knock her over against it as another turbulence occurs when the passengers push him, there is a different anxiety that creeps over him though. It might not have been much of a good idea after all, but he wants to protect her and he doesn't want her to get hurt.
He is crammed against Minako with only one of his arm leaning at the door for support so he would not crush her further, the other holding his bag. However, the last bump and squeezing movement of passengers is enough to make Akihiko painfully aware of his kouhai's female body. He can feel her arms brush his abdomen, a slope a little above it barely touching his chest, her legs jamming with his, and her hair tickling his chin as she looks sideways to avoid being crushed and muffled by his uniform. Akihiko is overwhelmed with the feel of her body against him that his arm quivers and weaken. He prays that she doesn't notice the uneasiness enveloping him along with the loud beat of his heart. He can't say that he doesn't like the situation that they are in but he can't say that he isn't worried either.
Akihiko swallows, clears his throat, and look ahead staring at the scenery that they pass by. The sound makes Minako gaze at him, which he intends to ignore for her own safety. But it doesn't take long before he returns her intent stare.
In that moment, everything seems up close. And there is no one there but her, only her and the scent of lilac and vanilla. Her red wide eyes, slightly parted lips, and soft breathing calling unto him.
"Minako…"
Akihiko digs his nails against his palms.
The train jostles once again, and he bumps into her again. This time instead of lifting himself off of her, he lingers, relishing the feel of her warmth. His cheeks resting on her hair, the side of her head pressed against his shoulder, their chests brushing with so little contact, their legs tangled together. Not really touching but not really far from each other either. Akihiko wants to make time stop at that moment. But his almost eternity doesn't last long.
"…Iwatodai…"
"We're on our stop now, senpai." It's too soft and uncharacteristically timid that he wants to make sure if it's really her who said it.
Akihiko straightens himself up, shakes his head, and utters a sorry. Minako only nods and walks out of the train. Not even looking at him.
They pass by two blocks, three blocks, four blocks, and still Minako has not yet spoken even a word, which is so unlike her since Akihiko knows her as a talkative person that brings life and joy in the company of anyone. Whereas now...
Akihiko has had to start a conversation yet. He keeps throwing intent stares at her but she keeps on walking silently beside him with her eyes trained on the ground the entire time, as if she is avoiding him on purpose. Maybe she does. And Akihiko realizes that he might have offended her a great deal.
They spend the whole walk towards the dorm wordlessly it suffocates him in a painful way. He curses himself for being socially inept and clueless when it comes to girls and affection, and for being so helpless and in shambles in front of her.
They arrive at the dorm to find it completely deserted, which is not at all surprising during Saturdays. While he's still in the process of closing the door Akihiko immediately notices Minako heading towards the stairs it makes him act without thinking.
"Wait!"
He rushes towards her and grabs her arm.
She stops, looks at his hand on her arm and then at his face. Akihiko sees the worry and question in her shimmering red eyes. The silence drags on.
Akihiko doesn't know what to say, where to start, and how to begin. He decides on being transparent, after all that's the kind of person he is.
"About…what happened on the, uh, clinic…I…" She cuts him off.
"I'm sorry, senpai. I didn't know what came over me. I'm truly sorry. It won't happen again, don't worry. We can forget about it. I hadn't told anyone about it so there's no need to think about rumors. I'm very sorry, senpai. I hope you don't hate me senpai…I…don't want you to hate me. Please."
She says it with a serious face full of conviction. Confident of what she believes that he must have disliked what happened to them. But it's not like that. That isn't what he wanted to hear.
"No…I mean…That's not it–" She doesn't let him finish again.
"If its senpai running away I understand. It's alright."
"Will you listen to me first?" Minako is surely surprised with the tone he had used. She's probably thinking that he's angry with the way he's glaring at her.
She purses her lips and gives him her undivided attention.
"About what happened at the clinic I'm not mad about it, okay. I won't hate you for it. I can never hate you for it. I'm not worried about rumors of me being involved with you either. I don't want to forget it. Don't ever think otherwise or say that to me again. And I'm the one who should be sorry for running, it's not alright. I shouldn't have run away. If anything..." A pause, he holds both of her hands in his. "I should have stayed and made things clear. I…I'm not sorry at all that we kissed. I actually wanted…liked…if it's with you. What I mean is I don't regret it and that I want to feel this way about you more."
It isn't exactly smooth. It isn't exactly what he wants to convey either because he wants to say more and those things mean a lot more, however he's Akihiko Sanada, and Akihiko Sanada is always at a loss for words in desperate times.
Nonetheless he concentrates on Minako's reaction, which is to say doesn't seem like happy at all. Her mouth opens then closes, like a fish. Her brows crumple with an emotion passing through her eyes unknown to Akihiko. She shakes her head and withdraws her hands away from him.
She's slipping away from him.
He feels something break.
"I see…I…there's…there's somewhere I need to go to senpai. Sorry."
She turns away and walks up the stairs.
She's leaving.
One, two, three, four…
He doesn't want her to go.
Five steps...
He can't let her go.
Her footfalls echo in his ears.
He dashes towards her. One step lagging behind her so his face is at level with hers as they stand on the stairs. He laces their fingers together, his left hand grabbing her arm.
I know that I can't make you stay
But I would give my final breath to make you understand how beautiful you are
They drown in each other's eyes in an endless loop and then...
"Stay" Is all he can say before he cups her cheek, holds her nape, and kiss her.
Akihiko caresses her lips with his in a slow dance, finally tasting once again what he has been dreaming of and longing for ever since. He nibbles her upper lip, then her lower lip, and then the sides. He flicks out his tongue, coaxing her to open her sweet mouth and lose himself within. When she moans he takes his chance to dive in and meet her tongue with his, clashing and savoring the flavor of each other. The hand on her nape slides downwards until it rests on her lower back stroking the patch of skin under her shirt while his other hand stays by her cheek to angle her face and deepen the kiss. Minako's hands in turn finds their way pressed against his chest, sliding up and down feeling his muscles.
Everything goes haywire, and in the back of Akihiko's lids fireworks fly and burst. He can feel and hear the loud throb of his heart in his head and the knot in his abdomen clenching tighter and tighter still. He pushes her towards the hand rails of the stairs and failingly tries to maintain balance. Minako then reaches up to entwine her fingers in his hair and arches her back so she fits perfectly in the hollows of his chest.
Akihiko breaks the rhythm and the kiss leaves them both panting for breath but still yearning for more. He takes her face with both of his hands to make her look at him and see the raging tempest and peace that she brings to him all at the same time. Minako licks her lips with her eyes still in a daze. It takes all of Akihiko's self control not to ravish her then and there once more.
"Minako…"
Minako meets his eyes, her face flushed and lips all swollen.
"Please don't leave…I want to be with you."
Minako gasps, her eyes widening.
"I love you. Will you be mine?" He mutters softly but confidently, his determination and anticipation pulsing all throughout his body.
A lone tear escapes in one of Minako's eyes and he is quick to wipe it with his thumb. Her red shining orbs crossed with hesitation, sadness, guilt, and longing. It is only then that it dawns on him that she might not actually feel the same way.
A muffled sob resounds in the silence of the dorm. Akihiko's confidence begins to drip off bit by bit every second. Finally, she answers.
"I…Yes…"
It's barely audible but he heard it clearly. And it's enough to make his blood run hotly in his veins and his heart to leap off his chest. Akihiko embraces her tightly never wanting to let go and let the moment end. He encircles his arms around her waist and buries his face in the crook of her neck inhaling her scent. He is grateful for the absence of their fellow dorm mates and he wishes that they all come home late just so he could enjoy this time alone with her longer and make it last.
You call me a stranger
You say I'm a danger
But all this thoughts are leaving you tonight
I'm broken, abandoned
You are an angel making all my dreams come true tonight
Author's Notes: Get ready for a very long author's note.
Oh Aki, If only you knew why FeMC was so hesitant. Just so you know FeMC does NOT spend a long time with Aki here. Not yet.
I do think it's too quick or early for Akihiko to say 'I love you' and for Shinjiro to feel that he likes FeMC at this point of time in the story but I took into consideration the fact that they both felt affection for her. So, I guess it's like the 'feeling' is still there even if memory does not permit it.
I'm feeling brain-dry so if you please…INSPIRE me! Please Review!
On a side note, after I finish this fic I'm planning to write a P3P and P4 crossover. There's no firm plot yet, I've got to make an outline first. But I have written half of the first chapter already. So I'm giving you a teaser of it:
Sometimes she was an angel and sometimes she was a devil, whispering hushed words of consequential and misleading messages to him.
Souji always had the urge to bat her away like a fly as her breath brushed his ear, but he never did, instead he would turn his head to glare at her or shoot her a disdainful incredulous look. He would see her awfully red eyes twinkle with amusement and her pink lips curl up in a smirk. Then she would let out a broken laughter that to him sounds like a screeching cackle of a witch.
What do you think?