Disclaimer: The Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series belongs to Atlus Corporation.

Part One - Chapter Three

Being human means to make mistakes. Even those we view as perfect human beings are capable of making mistakes. Some people tend to forget this facet of life. Chie was like said people. After hearing Yu talk of what he did even she, a more often than not rash act-then-think individual, was questioning his choice. "So you decided to just up and leave?" she questioned.

"Yes, I always knew I would return to Inaba. Thinking about it I think now is the best time," Yu told Chie. Something he had already said about four times now, but begged repeating.

"Why didn't you talk to me about doing something like this before?"

"Again, I just did it. I thought this was a going to go fine."

"You "thought"?" using heavy emphasize on the word though, Chie continued to question Yu.

"I know this is going fine."

"What makes you think that?"

"Have I ever did something wrong that ever nearly cost me—us—anything?" Yu now turning the tables on Chie with the interrogation. He took her hand in his, trying to assure her that everything was going to pan out fine. Chie jumped her hand away at first. Yu's hands were freezing. She took hold of his hand, bracing and ignoring the pin like prickling in hers. "Well there was the time, you did find that chest in the TV world and decided to open it. Only to be confronted by what Rise said was Death," she leaned over and knocked into his shoulder playfully. Yu's flat emotionless face soon gave rise to a smirk. Like a flower in the middle of a desert.

For the first time in the last couple weeks, and the tumultuous last two days, he was happy. Yu had set in motion a rushed, elaborate, and not well thought out plan with a low chance of success. These things didn't register with Yu, he was too busy thinking of how the plan was going to work. The pursuit of happiness blinding him. The little victories and blips of success making it all seem like it was okay. Chie ruined this victory however by asking the big question, "So are you going to stay at Dojima's?"

"Well—I missed the train earlier in the afternoon, so I couldn't get in earlier. Was thinking I would just talk to him tomorrow," Yu did come clean in his statement. The subtle lie about an earlier train. He didn't try to make an earlier train, he had an intention of making it to Inaba late. "You plan on just sitting outside here all night?" asked a concerned Chie.

"The—the shrine—it's not that bad to just sit and wait till morning. Those rumors of a ghost are just that—rumors. Yeah," Sure, being fast on your feet to dodge a shadow, but that doesn't mean you fast at on your feet to dodge a question. Chie gave him a strange look, a look of concern and confusion at the same time. Looking at him and around the shrine. "I'm not going to let you just sit outside here all night!"

"If you'd like, you can keep me company," Yu said while pulling her closer to him. Chie let out a little nervous laugh, pushing him away. "He he. I don't think so," she stared at Yu for a while, thinking. There was a moment of awkward silence, but it was quite peaceful. Chie's thinking was distracted by the peace. She thought about her current situation. Her boyfriend had come back into her life, obviously hell bent on staying. They could hold each other again, without waiting months to see one another. Feeling like a maiden waiting for her lover to come back from a voyage on the high seas. Things were perfect. As fast as the following feeling appeared it was squashed, how long could this last? She loved him, and was willing to help him. If it meant they could be happy—together. Moments continued to pass when the silence was finally broken. Chie took Yu's hand and started to drag him. He did ask what was happening but no response was given. Grabbing his bag, he left with Chie.

Walking down the shopping district, Yu asked again where they were headed. Chie finally responded, "I'm not going to let you sit out here all night, in the cold, by yourself. Also I don't want to sit out here in the cold with you."

"So where are we headed?"

"Where do you think we're going?"

"The Inn?"

"Nope."

"Dojima's?"

"Wrong again"

"Can you just tell me, please?"

"My place," she answered. Finally letting Yu in on her plan now. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Yu asked. He had only been there once, and that was a quick stop to pick up something she had forgotten. Chie never did answer the question. Instead still proceeded to drag him along. After a good walk they finally came to her home.

Chie gave the international signal for "stay quiet or else you will screw this up" the finger over the lips. Yu nodded as Chie opened the little gate and started walking to the door. Putting an ear against the door and looking at all the windows, it had seemed like her parents had gone to bed. It was nearly 2300. Her parents abided by a bedtime to make sure they were rested. Chie popped her head inside, she had been right. She waved her hand and Yu came in to the home. Taking off their shoes in the foyer, Chie signaled him to pick his shoes up and bring them along. After not leaving any evidence to suspect someone was over, she guided Yu to her room. It was down the hall from her parents' room. With every silent step they took toward Chie's, both turned and looked at the door behind them. Finally making it to the door, they proven that their movement was indeed silent. The door closed, the lock turned, and sighs were released.

Yu looked around the room when the light had come on, though his vision was overexposed for a brief moment. When his eyes adjusted he made a note that he was almost right about what he thought Chie's room looked like. Clothes ranging from shorts to jackets, socks to underwear, made guest appearance in a random arrangement on the floor. A couple posters on the wall: a favorite kung-fu film, another film, and a poster for good stretches to do before a work out. Conveniently placed right over the bed. That was another thing he'd guessed right, no futon but instead a bed. There was a coffee table pushed up against the wall. On top of it there sat a small TV and some textbooks and pencils. She must like to study and watch her films at the same time. "Doesn't sitting close to the TV ruin your eyesight?" Yu thought to himself, putting a hand to his chin letting an audible "hmm" escape. He felt a soft punch land on his arm. "Don't judge me," Chie demanded not speaking too loudly. "It's fine to talk but not too loud."

"I wasn't judging you. Well not really. Your room is very "you"," he spoke as Chie did. Reaching down and pick up a training bra. "I take it I'm the only boy who's been in here?" Chie snatched it out of his hands and toss it in the hamper, grabbing two sitting pillows she threw one at Yu. Plopping into him and onto the floor, took a seat. Chie sat beside him and asked, "Since you are my guest do you prefer to sleep in the bed?"

"Feels kind of—wrong to kick you out of your bed."

"Don't feel that way at all. When Yukiko would stay here, I would give her the bed since she was the guest. That and she doesn't sleep in a bed and its rare experience for her. I remember her saying it was like sleeping on a cloud."

"If you insist, I've always preferred a futon though. No matter where you roll there is technically room. That and sometimes I think because I'm used to a futon, I'll fall off the bed." Yu pointed this out, and it caused Chie to giggle a bit.

"In that case, why not live on the "edge"?" She joked as she got up to grab a little futon she stored for whenever Yukiko was over from her closet. Yu asked if it was okay if he use her bathroom. Like two thieves, they went into the bathroom beside Chie's room. Together they brushed their teeth, rinsed, but after that shared moment Chie left after Yu said he had to use the restroom and change. Chie went back to her room to change and finish rolling out the futon. After finishing his business and flushing, Yu went on to change. Though halfway through pulling his pants up he heard a sound. To him it was like the sound of the old rusted metal gate opening, but in reality it was the sound of a door creaking open. This wouldn't be a problem if it had come from the room beside him.

Yu was panicked and so was Chie in her room. With every step of bare foot tapping the floor coming closer and closer tension skyrocketed. Yu stood there, staring intently at the door. Tap. Tap. TAP. TAP. Tap. Tap. The steps continued pass the bathroom. Soon he heard the door to Chie's door open. "Hey there, so everything fine with Yukiko?" Yu heard a voice ask Chie. It sounded like a woman's. Putting two and two together he figured it was Chie's mother. Apparently, Chie told her that she had to go talk to Yukiko about something important. They continued to talk for about two minutes before Yu heard Chie yawn and mention being tired. "Well I'll let you go to bed. I'll see you in the morning," Chie's mother said as she started to walk back to her room. She stopped though. Yu panicked once more, he could tell that she had stopped at the door to the bathroom.

He was about to be caught. A young man she has never meet, somehow inside her home late at night. Without a clear cut true god out there, Yu didn't know what higher being to pray to. In the end settling on Izanagi to protect him. Coming from the other side was a sigh. "Chie, please remember to turn the bathroom light off when you are done with it," Chie's mother instructed. "I'm sorry, here I'll get it," said Chie. "No, no I've got it. Just remember for the future," Chie's mom said pushing Chie's offer back. Yu heard the door open and hid behind up against it. He didn't bump it as a hand reached in and struck the light switch. Yu was left in the dark, he couldn't see the hand leave but Yu did hear the steps Chie's mother took back to her room and the satisfying and relieving sound of door closing. Waiting a few minutes to pass, Yu made his way back to Chie's room. Closing and locking the door, he turned to Chie who was grasping her chest in anxiety. After a moment though they started to giggle uncontrollably, wrapping their arms around one another to celebrate their luck. Another victory on the road to happiness. A minute passed and they were still wrapped together, and that's when Yu planted a kiss right on Chie's lips. The kiss lasted for about ten seconds before finally breaking. It had been so long since they last had an opportunity to share any physical contact. When it broke, Yu also broke the silence. "Nice try at a save there. Thank you," he said.

"Yeah, well, you weren't the only one who would have been punished, so of course I was going to try and save you." Chie was trying to be sarcastic huh? Well to Yu, two can play at that game.

"Oh? You mean this was all for you?" Yu pretended to be hurt by this. "After all we been through, especially tonight, this was just for you?" They laughed a small, stifled laugh and soon Chie let out another yawn. Chie finished yawning and said, "Okay that was a real yawn now. I think it's time to hit the sack." She gave Yu a quick peck on the lips and turned to save the lights. Yu smiled and went and got into her bed. He said his goodnight as Chie found her futon. Laying down he glanced once more at the clock. The clock read it was midnight. He closed his eyes and took a relaxing breath in. The smell of sugar cane reed, deodorant, and a faint hint of teriyaki hit his nose. It was a smell he missed. Well specifically the smell of someone he missed. It was over now, she was near him again. His stared at the short haired vixen lying beside him. Yu was tired of being so far away from the things that had truly made him happy. No matter what he was going to get it back and wasn't going to let it go again.

Quietly, Yu got out of the bed and made his way down under the futon covers to be with his lover. Chie was awakened by this though, and turned to face him. "Did I miss you falling out of the bed?" she asked. Yu just caressed her face and smiled saying, "No, I just prefer futons remember. Actually I really prefer this futon." His arm draped over her side, she smiled and gave a little happy sigh once more as she turned over. Soon they were one, Yu quickly flashed back to the first Christmas they had spent together. Cuddling under the covers keeping each other warm during the cold winter night. The feeling of being complete. With her there, and his friends and family near—he was complete. Pulling her close to him, he whispered, "I love you". She giggled and replied with, "I love you too". Hearing her say that just made Yu feel even warmer inside. Text messages and phone conversations were one thing, hearing her say it in person was night and day. One of love's greatest challenges is distance. Yu leaned in and gave Chie a peck on the nape of her neck.

One thing that many didn't know was Chie was ticklish, especially in the neck. She wasn't fully asleep, so she felt that peck. She couldn't help but wiggle and giggle. Yu did it again and again. Soon she had to cover her mouth in fear she might scream from the kisses. Due to uncontrollable movements she eventually bumped her bottom on Yu's upper lap—a couple times. That was enough though to drive a man who hasn't seen the woman he loves in a long time to get excited. Soon Yu just let himself give in to his passion and he start to nip at her neck and ear, his hands slowly moving from her stomach to her hips and breasts. Chie hadn't felt this in forever and soon gave in as well. She grabbed his hands as they continued to remember the curve to her. Soon she felt something hard bump into her from behind, she remembered what it was, there was no forgetting. She finally turned to face Yu. Looking right into each other's eyes they knew, though it was Chie who pushed her mouth onto his, it actually didn't matter.

That night, just like when he would visit after he left, there was no stopping the two from showing each other how much trust and love they had for one another. Only stopping in order to change something up: Yu being on top, Chie being on top, on the bed, on the futon, sitting, standing. In the end the only thing that stopped them was passing out after a very tiring round. Both falling onto the floor breathing heavily, Chie was out almost instantly when she collapsed onto Yu's chest. Yu could tell from the light snore. Looking around he looked around and saw the mess they had caused. Pillows everywhere, blankets strewn across the floor, this'll be a bitch to clean in the morning. Yu thought about that, but just smiled and started to doze off. "Worth it".