Thanks for the reviewer...
And this is the second chapter, hope you enjoy it.

Sorry for my mistakes, as usual, my vocabulary and grammars. Still, I'm searching for a Beta Reader, and I'm on state of study my english again.

Happy reading!

DISCLAIMER : I only own my plot, the persona series belong to ATLUS corp.

ONE STEP CLOSER

Minako was on her duty, while unexpected Akira and Fuuka barged into her office, "Minako-chan!" both of them shouted while they entered the room and made Minako jolted. Minako tried to calm herself and turned around to see the exhausted Fuuka and Akira. Oh, Akira joined too, he by himself volunteered to become the researcher at Mitsuru's place. Maybe he thought that, he still had a chance to get Minako's heart but nah, he knew about Minako relationship with Akihiko already.

"What's going on both of you?" she asked. Minako approached them and closed the door.

"Are you free tomorrow? After the work time finish actually." Akira asked to her. He stood up and repositioned his glassess. Akira graduated together with Minako, and nobody knows, he followed her, not only started from the internship but also until here, when she got her current job as the scientist and researcher team at Kirijou Group's Laboratory. He followed her, every where she go. An old friend after all.

Minako raised one of her eyebrows, tried to remember her schedule for today. "Nah, I have a part time job to do, actually, what's wrong?"

"What!? You still do the part time job even you already got a current job like this?" Akira sounded pissed.

Minako checked the papers that Akira gave and she only nodded, "Yeah, for my future allowance." She cross checked the files, "I know, I got plenty from here, but still I must save it and send it to my family at Inaba."

"Yeah, but I heard that you lived with Sanada-san together now?" he asked and she only nodded. Fuuka kept silent as she thought it was interesting to see this two conversation. "Just propose him and get married already, so you won't- AUUUGH..." suddenly with her haste move, Minako did a judo move to Akira. "Alright, I give up!" he shouted.

"DON'T SAY ANYTHING STUPID LIKE THAT! WE HAVEN'T THINK TO STEP TO THAT THING RIGHT NOW!" Minako sounded mad and released her grip. And her face was turned red, really red even redder than her ruby blood-red eyes.

"Eeer...come'on both of you,.." Fuuka tried to stop the kid-fight between them even she still though that it was interesting, "..please stop..."

"Hmph, if Yamagishi-san, said so..." Minako turned around from Akira, tried to hide her red face. "So, what's on earth that bring both of you to my office?" she asked.

Minako was on the bad state while she finished her job. Yeah, it was because of Akira. She was on the bad mood now. Even the dark sky wouldn't match with her cloudy heart right now. So, she decided to hear some music from her MP3 player. Even she already reached adult, she still wore it. It was her precious thing afterall and it would be strange if she didn't wear it.

Suddenly she smiled when she heard the song that changed her mood quickly. She started to humm the song and do a little run. She remembered the song, the song that always made her happy, sad and angry in the same time, but for now, she was happy because it made her remembered the happiest thing in her life, Kimi No Kioku.

She stopped in front of a boutique's display and she looked at the mirror, her happy face reflected on it and she smiled again. She wanted to treasure this happy feeling forever but she couldn't, because she knew, human being are being tested by the God in the world. Even the God gave her a special power. Minako touched the mirror and memorized all of the hardest and the happiest things that had happened in her life. When she remembered, Minato and Takumi suddenly she clenched her hand and tried to hold her tears.

"Minako-chan?"

A familliar voice snapped her to return to the reality. She then looked at the reflection of the person behind her, it was Fuuka Yamagishi. She had a worry face on her cute face. "Yamagishi-san?"

Fuuka patted one of Minako's shoulder, "Are you okay?"

Minako and Fuuka sat on the near cafe and decided to have a little tea time together, "Sorry for asking you to accompany me.." Fuuka apologized to her while she took a sip of her darjeeling tea. Minako blushed and waved her hand as the sign that she didn't mind to tag along with her.

"It's okay actually...I'm the one that supposed said that,..because..." she seemed depressed a little, "..you saw it..back then..."

"So, how about Minako-chan own feeling?"

"Eh?"

"Did you regret with the past? Do you want to change your future? Do you have any dream to fulfill?"

"I didn't regret it. It was my destiny after all. And...now...yeah I have a dream, a dream to make my precious person happy..." Minako took a deep breath, tried to control her emotion. "Back then, I remembered how Takumi died, Minato-niisama and my parent too...for a while I thought I was helpless, but now...when I realized that all of you, was staying by my side..I was happy, I wasn't alone anymore. Nope, it was wrong, from the first, I'm not alone, I have all of you..." she smiled brightly.

The way of Minako smiled, made Fuuke remembered the way how Minato smiled. She admitted that she had a crush with the former Leader, but she didn't mind because he had taught her everything about life and she didn't want anything again she had enough. Fuuka chuckled, tried to hide her tears that suddenly came out from her pale blue eyes. "Ya-Yamagishi-san? Is there something funny?" Minako asked and she seemed unpleasant with Fuuka's sudden act.

"No, no really it was just...you make me remember about something funny, sorry..."

"Sorry, if my words was a bit sappy and chessy..."

"It's okay..." Fuuke then looked at her watch, "Want to take alook around the strip mall for a while?" she asked Minako. Minako nodded. "Alright, come on!"

When both of them walked near the Ramen Restaurant, they spotted a group of people and saw a silverette guy that they knew. "It's Sanada-senpai!" Fuuka nudged Minako. "It seems that he is here with his coworkers."

Minako smiled and tried to call Akihiko, "A-..." but she then stopped, after she –and Fuuka too- saw one of his coworkers, a woman, grabbed and held Akihiko's hand. But they saw his face seemed unpleasant. Minako shocked and again she was in a bad mood again.

"Minako-chan, it's maybe a misundertanding...it's just a work related relationship. Don't take it too serious... "

Minako only kept silent, "I'm going home..." she said, walked away from Fuuka.

Minako opened her apartment door, and nobody greeted her. So, it mean that Akihiko hadn't return yet. He still with his coworkers. She sighed and closed the door, then locked it. She surprised, she didn't mean to spy him or what, but when she remembered the way how the girl grabbed and touched his hand. It was really hurt. She knew, she didn't have much time with him together, but it couldn't helped, they had a work to do after all.

Threw her file cases and bag to her bed, she decided to take a bath. "Maybe an aromatherapy bath will help me..." she said as she took her bath robe, towel, shirt and short. Remember with Fuuka's words, it's only a work related-relationship.

Akihiko sighed, it was really a long conversation with his coworkers and he felt sorry for Minako, again, he came home late and let her by herself. When he looked at the letter box he saw an envelope tugged on it, he took it and read the sender, "Shirogane?" curious, he opened the envelope and read the letter while he entered his apartment.

Akihiko looked at the letterhead, and he surprised. "Minako!?" he shouted. But he didn't hear any answer, but he knew that she had returned already. Her shoes was the prove. He put the letter inside his bag and walked on the hallway. Then, he spotted the certain brunette was coming out from the bath room with towel covered her wet hair, while she hummed some song.

Minako saw her boyfriend had returned, and she smiled while rubbed her wet hair with her towel, "Welcome home, Aki!" Akihiko didn't say anything except showed his gloomy face to her, Minako realized it and approached him, "What's wrong Aki? Anything wrong? Are you sick?" she touched his face and hair tried to figure out he had a fever or not.

Akihiko reached one of Minako's habd, "No, Minako..I'm fine..."

"Thank godness,.." Minako sounded relieved, "Are you hungry? let me prepare..."

But Akihiko didn't let his hand off from her, instead he took the letter and showed it to Minako, "I found this on the letter box when I got home...it had your family name on it..."

Minako looked at the letter head carefully and she gasped, it written Arisato Company on it "Grandfather..."

"I'm sorry, I didn;t mean to read whole of it, but it made me curious." Akihiko apologized and he tried to avoid her shocked expression. " Would you like to explain it, about this letter Mina?"

"You're the daughter of the Shirogane-Arisato Company !?" Akihiko sounded surprised. Shirogane and Arisato Company wasn't a big company like Kirijou or Nanjo, but they had their own speciality that made them famous. Shirogane was a big company that always helped the Ministry of Justice while Arisato was the big company that always helped the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Both of the group merged up because they knew, it would be easier for them to move the company because like they said, they weren't a big company. Actually, it was because, they often showed themself in front of the people. Minako's parent was the current president, but they died on the accident and after that, both of the group powers was decreased.

"Yes, and until now..the one who held the position was my grandfather. My and Naoto's grandfather for the correct."

"Your grandfather, but why?"

"I told you that on the same time, after my parents died, Naoto's parents too, two weeks later...But now, the group known as Shirogane, because the former president, my father changed it. He said that, 'we are the groups that do the job as a shadow, right? So why we didn't use one of the group name, instead we use the both. We're one after all.' I remembered because he said that while we had a family party at our place that time."

Minako took her cup of tea and sipped it, the atmosphere was cold because they had an intense conversation right now. No one tried to change the subject. Just looked at the cup of tea that Minako had prepared and listened to each other words without changing the topic. But Minako didn't mind.

"My father, decided that Arisato only a common family. Didn't belong to anything, but now maybe Grandfather think that, it would be easier if we make it into two group because there only two heirs."

Akihiko bit surprised, Minako knew it because his sudden move. His shoulders tighten and his shocked face. Akihiko knew, about the heirs, it was her, Minako and the little detective Naoto Shirogane. Akihiko met Naoto, not only when he was on mission to find Labrys but at the Prefectural Police Office too. She grown up,her hair was longer and her outfit even she still wore the trousers it was more feminine than before, and –ehem- her body curve too, she was popular among the male officers.

"Aki?" Minako looked at Akihiko with a worry eyes. She held a little pillow tightly to her chest. She didn't want to make him sad or mad. Because, she knew it. Akihiko didn't like this kind of things. It was like you're tied up by an obligation.

"Euh, yeah..what?"Akihiko snapped from his thought and looked at Minako. She was scared and he knew it was because of him. "Sorry, Mina...I didn't mean to..."

"If you think the same thing with me...can we just go to visit my Grandfather and have a words with him?" she asked and unpredictable she sounded like a little kid.

Same thing? "What do you mean by that?" he asked again.

Now, she sounded more childish than before, " I know, you dislike the family obligation things, and you as a male maybe won't take your future wife's family name.

Wife? I never think to go this far with her, but why she? But it wasn't like I won't do it.I really want to, but...it's not the right time, to ask her, to propose her, even I haven't buy a ring for her. What's goin' on with her? Is something happen at her workplace? Maybe I should ask Mitsuru about this one. But now, I must clarified what inside her mind.

"Maybe it sounded cheesy but...I love you Aki, I want to be with you. If this family things just made our relationship worse, it would be the best if I talk to Grandfather and decline his offer as the heir...I don't want to separate from you..." Minako face turned red as she tried to hid it behind the pillow. But Akihiko heard her sound clearly.

Akihiko on the same time his face turned red and he tried to find some words so it won't be a dead end of their conversaton, but he thought too long. Suddenly, Minako threw the pillow to him, "Geeez, Aki come on, say something! Just don't let me embarassed myself..."

You're the one who start this first..."So, how about yourself Minako? So you want me to marry you?" great, Akihiko what such a dumb straight-forward question. Just admit that you want it, Akihiko. Akihiko really want to punch himself right now, it was the stupid question that he ever ask to her.

"It's not like that, beside...we're...like you said before, let's just stay like this for a while, take our time carefully to know each other..." Minako started to stutter.

Akihiko face palmed himself, really sometimes Minako was really a piece of works. "But before you told me about, 'my future wife'..." and for the second times, a pillow hit his face again.

"It wasn't like that!" She shouted. Stupid Minako, why you told him like that. Yeah, it is true that he is your boyfriend, but for uncertain time. What if he wasn't your destined person? Stupid, fool, clumsy...Minako tought. A wife, geeez...it is too fast to think about that...Ouch, stupid why I act like a tsundere-chara now ?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to act harsh to you Aki. It's just I want to tell you straight what inside my mind, my feeling. It would be nice if we could make a family together..."

Suddenly Akihiko grabbed her wrist and leaned her on the wall, he covered her. "Aki, what?"

"So, you doubt about my feeling toward you Minako?" he asked her, and he sounded little mad. That time, Minako remembered again, about the scene that she saw on the strip mall. Akihiko walked with his coworkers, one of them was a female and she held Akihiko's hand tightly eventhough that Akihiko tried to release it.

"It's not like that.." Minako avoided his silver eyes, only stared on the floor, "...when you asked me to be your girl, I was happy, really. But now, I realized that, are we do the right? Am I enough to stay by your side? You're popular afterall...many girls want to be with you. If I remember about that, I think again, Am I match for him? Good enough for him?"

"Minako..."

"I'm scared Aki! About our relationship! About this family's matters! I don't know what should I do first!? I want to help my grandfather but in the same time I don't want to lose you, despite I'm not confidence with myself with about relationship..." Minako shouted and tears fell from her red ruby eyes.

Akihiko, loosened his grip and rather than he said something to her, he hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry to make you worry Mina...I'm sorry..." Both of them fell down slowly and sat on the floor. Akihiko then cupped her face, and kissef her on the lips. Tried to comfort her.

It's long enough for both of them kissed. They stopped and tried to catch some air, "Mina...listen..," Akihiko looked at her eyes directly, "I don't what happen with you, but you can have my words. I won't lie to you. My feeling toward you are true...about the marriage, I have a plan for it, but maybe now..." he turned his face, tried to hide his red face, "maybe now, is not a perfect time, but please just wait..." He stood up and gave one of his hand, "Okay? Can you stand up?"

Akihiko's words made Minako's worry gone, and she smiled to him brightly. So, Theodore and his brother were right, Akihiko wasn't only his Emperor but he also her Star, her hope. "Yes," she reached his hand and stood up.

"So, Minako I'll ask you something. Which one do you like, live in a 'field of trust' or in a 'exist village?'"

Minako took a while to think what Akihiko's question meaning. She then smiled, "it would be nice if I could 'braid' something new with you together Aki..." she smiled and walked away from him, "I want to use the bath room first, then I'll prepare the bath for you Aki. You must be tired after a long day hard work."

Akihiko raised one of his eyebrows, after Minako entered the bath room, now it was his turn to figured out what's the meaning from her last words. Braid something new? He then remembered his family name meaning and smiled, Geeez...Minako just admit that you already think to 'that' way... "Thank you Minako...I love you and I'll treasure you..."

有里 = Arisato = reasonable
湊 = Minato = to encounter; to approach

有里 湊 (Arisato Minato)
有 (ari/aru/yuu) = exist, 里 (sato) = village, 湊 (minato) = port

真田明彦 (Sanada Akikiho)
真 (sana/shin/ma = serious, trust), 田 (ta/-da = field), 真田 (sanada = plait/braid), 明 (a/aki = bright), 彦 (-hiko = boy)
*彦 (-hiko) is commonly used in boys' names in Japan.

白鐘 直斗 (Shirogane Naoto)
白 (shiro = white), 鐘 (kane/-gane = bell/chime)
直 (nao = straight/frank/fix/honest), 斗 (to = a measure unit for volume)

So, this is a little help for the last paragraphs.
I find this at Deviant Art.

Please, read and leave your review guys!

Regards,

Fuyu Aki