Originally I was going to post this on New Years Day, but I felt that I could give a little extra for Christmas(even though it isn't Christmas themed). Hopefully this can be a pick me up for anyone feeling down today. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
'I swear this is the last time I let Junpei sike me into joining a mission,' Yukari thought as she stepped outside the club and took a breath of air that wasn't tainted with stale liquor and sweat.
Mitsuru had gotten the tip that two of R.U.I.N's members were coming out of hiding tonight. With some hacking from Fuuka and a little digging from Akihiko, they found out that Shadows "Lovers" and "Hierophant" were tonight's targets.
Shadow "Lovers" is a popular dirty mistress of the red light district. Famous for owning many sex shops and love hotels across Japan, infamous for her super secret "love potion", promised to win over the heart and body of the lover you're after, that has led to multiple accounts of date rapes and kidnappings of both men and women inside her hotels. Shadow "Hierophant" is a loyal customer of Lovers and one of her best salesmen. As one of the best, he's won high favor with the madame and allegedly has his own personal room at the love hotel on Shirakawa Boulevard, the very first of her many. The info said he can usually be found there on Fridays and Saturdays nights from 9 pm to high morning. Apparently they've been hiding ever since the death of "Priestess" two months ago. But with last month's joint death of Shadow "Emperor'' and Shadow "Empress" by the agents of S.E.E.S's hands, they've come back out into the open.
There was a high chance of this being a trap, and they knew this. But it was also the perfect chance to off two more members of R.U.I.N and become even closer to stopping the evils of the Dark Hour.
Mitsuru assigned Yukari and Minato to take care of this mission. She says they work well together, but Yukari doesn't really see it.
Minato is a quiet soul who she would've thought wouldn't hurt a fly much less a person if she hadn't been there to witness the death of Shadow "Magician" and helped him take down three other members of R.U.I.N these past few months. He's easy on the eyes and can show rare moments of sweetness, but he's so apathetic and passive. He only joined S.E.E.S because he felt like there was no need to say no. It frustrates her to no end how he just doesn't care about his own safety at all.
Ever since Fuuka joined the team, he's seemed to have changed though. He's more careful about how he fights and commands in the field. He smiles a bit more now, just small little quirks of his lips. He also talks a bit more. While he still answers with his usual two or three word responses sometimes he'll make complete sentences too. And when sitting with him whether it be in the lobby of headquarters or on the monorail heading to school, it doesn't seem as dry or as awkward anymore.
It's nice to see him opening up more, to loosen that cage he has built up all around him, but she still feels like there's something more there that he's still trying with great effort to hide.
"Yukari?" Makoto was walking towards her from the club's entrance, a little sturdier than she thinks he should be able to after knocking back three shots of straight bourbon (all while two women whose clothes barely covered them were dancing a little too close to where he was sitting at the bar).
Her eyes couldn't help but wander as she looked at him. Though sporting a simple match of a black jacket, a blue t-shirt and jeans, he still looked as handsome as he would have in a suit.
Then again, she's never actually seen him wear a suit. How would he wear a suit? Would he wear it the professional way with the jacket, or would he just lay it over his arm? Would he even wear a jacket and go instead with a vest? Would he even be comfortable wearing a 3 piece suit?
"Yukari?" He was standing beside her now, his eyebrows quirked in a questioning manner. Yukari could feel heat rising to her face; she must've been staring at him for a while. She looked away to hide her flush for good measures, but she could still feel his stare.
"S-sorry. I just needed some air."
"You don't like clubs?"
"It's not that." The visage of those half naked girls dancing close to him abruptly came full frontal again.
He hummed and turned around, his back against the grimy wall and his feet crossed at the ankle out in front of him, accepting her vague answer and leaving it up in the air as he looked out in the semi-busy streets of Shirakawa's red light district.
With the attention off of her, Yukari felt it was safe to show her face again, copying him and looking out at the busy street and people walking by. It was a small bout of quiet but sort of awkward silence before she peeked another glance at his profile and any sort of embarrassment she felt earlier was a backwards memory
Leaning against the bricked wall of the bustling club, the special ops leader's face was as passive and blank as usual, but bathed in the bright lights and colors of the numerous neon street signs, passive and blank transformed into something else, something... sad. It's like the lights made cracks in his ever present facade.
Or maybe the lights revealed cracks that were already there.
"You two work well together."
"Yuki-kun?"
His steely gray eyes that shined pale blue in the light were once again on her and why did she feel so nervous all of a sudden? "Hm?"
"It's just that," Yukari started, her arms folded behind her and her hands clasped, clenching and unclenching in a nervous twitch. "You haven't been acquainted with the Dark Hour for that long and your first interaction with the Shadows was when you fought Magician on the headquarters' roof and that landed you in the hospital for a week. Then Ikutsuki asks you to join and you said yes so abruptly that-"
"You're wondering why I joined S.E.E.S."
"...Yes."
He stared at her for a small moment more before with a sigh his gaze was drawn back out into the streets of Shirakawa. His eyes grew dull in that way they did when he was deep in thought for a few seconds before he answered her.
"At first I took Ikutsuki's offer to join the team because I felt there was no reason for me to say no," Minato said, stuffing his hands in his pants' pockets. She realizes it's a stance he usually takes to appear aloof to everyone around him, but knowing him for these few months and fighting alongside him so now knows that Makoto is more aware than anyone gives him credit for.
"Have your feelings changed since then?"
"I think-"
A static buzzing eased through their com-set hidden in their ears before Fuuka's voice came through.
'Hierophant just entered the hotel. Mitsuru and Akihiko are safely inside. She says it's time to go in.'
Makoto nodded. "On our way." He rocked forward once on his feet to propel him forward off the wall and offered her his arm from the hand that was still stuffed in his pocket. "Ready?"
Yukari looped her arm around his, "As ready as I'll ever be."
With a random room on the second floor selected and the key safely in his hands, Yukari couldn't help it if she gripped Makoto's arm a little tighter as she started pulling him towards the elevator.
Yukari didn't let go until they were both safely in the elevator. She let out a sigh when she saw Makoto staring at her slightly wide-eyed from her periphery. "What?"
"Nothing." He looked away then, suddenly finding the elevator's wall very interesting.
Yukari huffed. "I can't wait for this mission to be over with. This hotel gives me the creeps."
"Is it because that an infamous, psychopathic, murdering gangster owns this hotel, or it is because this a hotel where most people come to-"
"Yeah, that."
The elevator opened with a ding to a long dimly lit hallway with rooms on both sides, some with "do not disturb" signs hanging on the door handles. Makoto started walking down the hall and Yukari stayed close behind him. He stopped three doors down to the left.
"This is the room." He opened the door.
They couldn't do anything but stand in the doorway in awe.
The door opened to the living room of the spacious room. The ceiling was painted with the stars and the shining moon and the walls were painted like a beautiful night sky and calm, rippling waters and a large out-of-place, wide-screened television. A white gazebos with string light wrapped around the cloth and legs. Underneath the gazebo were two white beach chairs with a plush pillow on both and a lantern with a fire already lit on top of a circular side table in between them.
"Woah. It really looks like a beach." Makoto took the liberty of testing out one of the beach chairs.
"Like a soft lit night under the stars," he looked at her while he said that, his eyes glinting in the lantern's light.
"Wh-what are you saying!" She swears he just says these things to get a reaction out of her. "Come on! The sooner we start, the faster we can get out of here." Even if the room was amazing, it still didn't change the actions of what happens in here.
"You don't want to check out the bedroom before we go?" A small smirk was breaking through the deadpan now.
"Wha-what! Shut up!"
"Huh? But I didn't say anything." Fuuka's voice came from both of their com-sets.
"Sorry Fuuka, I didn't mean you," Yukari apologized.
"Can you see which floor Hierophant is on, Fuuka?" Makoto asked.
"Hold on a sec," Fuuka was quiet for a few seconds before she came back. "Okay, gotit! He's on the floor above you. You should be able to take the elevator down."
"Thanks Fuuka. We're heading there now." Makoto stood up from the beach chair and Yukari was already standing by the door. Makoto opened and walked out with Yukari in step behind him.
The elevator dinged open to a beige and maroon hall, the floor above. They stepped off of the elevator with caution.
"He's in the last room to the left." Fuuka said.
"Something's wrong. It's too quiet," Yukari said.
"It's a hotel. Isn't it supposed to be quiet?"
"Yes, but not this quiet, Listen" Yukari shook his head. Love hotels are places of rest and privacy so of course it would be quiet, but she was right. Usually in a regular hotel there would be noise of families talking or footsteps moving around in the rooms. Even in love hotels there should be some noise or signs of activity within the rooms. Here, there weren't even 'do not disturb' signs on the doors.
Makoto pulled out his gun from his inner coat pocket. "Stay close."
At the end of the hall was a single door that -just as Fuuka said- was on the left side of the hall. The two S.E.E.S members swarmed the door on both sides, guns drawn and eyes and ears trained on the door.
"Be careful guys. It seems like there are other people in the room with him."
That meant they were potentially walking into a trap, and whoever was on the other side of this door could be even more dangerous than they at first thought. Makoto tried the door handle. It was unlocked. Makoto looked at Yukari and Yukari looked at Makoto. They nodded at each other before Makoto opened the door.
Inside the room were women -at least 6- in different arrays of undress surrounding a large, bald man in a chair. One in his lap, one standing on his left beside the chair rubbing his arm, two kneeling on the ground beside his legs with their hands on his thighs, another on the other side of the chair with her hand on his shoulder, and one standing behind the chair rubbing his bald head. Yukari's face twisted in disgust.
The spud king sitting on his hoax-of-a throne while he reveled in women of the night and money he made off of the lives of others. This was the Hierophant she's heard about.
The girls screamed when they saw the two teenagers standing in the room with guns trained on them. Some lunged for articles of their clothes to cover themselves up while others ducked behind the chair. Hierophant jumped back in his chair, his pudgy face streaked with the mixed emotions of shock and fear at the two guns pointed at him.
"What the hell are you kids doing here!"
"Time for you girls to leave." Makoto motioned a swaying motion with his gun like a marshaller would an airplane, ushering the girls to leave as soon as possible. The girls were running over each other to get out of the door with the fear of a gun firing at them.
"Your time is up, Hierophant." God, could she sound any more cliché.
"W-what the hell are you talking about, you little brat?" The bald man staggered out of his chair, clutching his chest looking close to having a panic attack with his erratic behavior. "What do you mean "my time is up"? It's you kids whose time is up!" He reached for his gun in his holster. When his hand swiped at nothing, he understood.
"Leave your gun tonight, Hiero. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it..."
'That bitch' was Hierophant's last thought.
A gunshot rang out in the hotel room. Only two stood remaining.
Makoto raised his hand to his com-set in his ear and tapped two times. "Hierophant is dead."
"Good job guys. You succeeded once again. I'll be waiting outside for you."
Yukari hurried and holstered her gun while Makoto walked over to the dead body of the Shadow of R.U.I.N Hierophant. He gave the body a small nudge with his foot just to make sure he was really dead.
"I don't think he's going to be moving anytime soon." Especially with the bullet sized hole in the middle of his forehead.
"Just making sure." One more subtle kick, he turned his back on the body and started for the door. "Let's go."
When they got to the door Makoto twisted the handle. It didn't budge. He jiggled the handle harder. It still didn't budge.
"What's wrong?"
"The door won't open."
"What!"
A click and then a pink gas started seeping into the room.
"Shit!"
Yukari grabbed Makoto's hand and he clasped it back just as tightly before everything turned black.
Makoto's head was pounding when he woke up. His surroundings were unfamiliar. His head felt foggy and he was having trouble remembering why he was here, but he remembers that it was something important. He could faintly hear the showering running.
Embrace your desires...
A sudden pain racked Makoto's head, making him reach up a hand to lay against it.
Enjoy the moment... That which cannot be felt is merely a dream... The present is all we have...
He felt the voice to be seductive and carefree, so much so that he could feel no other need but to listen to it. But wasn't he...
The future is but a fantasy, memory a fabrication... Let your desire free you from your shackles...
The droning of the shower in the background stopped. There were wet smacks on the floor of the shower. A body started to become more visible through the sheer, see-through material.
Yukari emerged from the bathroom with only a white towel wrapped around her, the only thing keeping it up being her hand. Her gait was slow as she walked towards him. He could feel himself widen the gap between his legs as she stood in front of him. Using his shoulders for balance, she pulled herself onto his lap. Now they were both on the same level. They stared into each other's eyes for moments waiting for the other to make the first move.
Leaning down, Makoto saw close up the light rosiness of her cheek and the chocolate brown of her eyes. He raised his hand to her rosy cheek before he closed the distance between them and slid his lips over her.
Pleasure is what you truly want... You stand before the doorway to bliss... You cannot deny your instincts... Embrace your desire...
The kiss was a motion of push and pull. Makoto could vaguely feel himself falling back onto the bed and Yukari falling on top of him as her tongue swiped across his bottom lip. His hand drifted down to her side to where her supple thighs met her lean torso. A soft moan slipped out of her mouth and into his.
There was a big explosion, creating a huge hole in the wall beside them. The force from the blast blew the two entangled teammates behind the bed. They both fell with Makoto holding Yukari close to his chest to protect her from most of the impact. The pain of the ground meeting their sides completely snapped them out of their daze. Yukari blinked almost doe-eyed at his chest then up at him, the fog starting to clear from her eyes.
"W-what? Yuki-kun?" It was the next second that she realized her state of undress.
Before he could completely get his bearings a low shriek nearly deafened him and there was an angry, searing pain on his left cheek. There was a scrambling of footsteps and a loud swish of curtains as his senses came back.
"Yuki! Are you all right?" Red entered his line of sight. Mitsuru was kneeling in front of him, concern clear and a hand reached out to help him up. Her outfit was a sparkly black mesh of a loose bodysuit and a white cover up jacket. As he thought about it, the outfit made sense. Her and Akihiko were also posing as a young couple in love, looking for a few hours of privacy to express their love for each other while in actuality they were supposed to be stationed in another room of the hotel and remain on call in case there was a need for backup.
"I'm fine." He clasped her hand and she pulled him to his feet. Akihiko was standing on the other side of the room in a boxing stance - fist up, feet apart- and wearing a tux himself. Lovers was a few feet in front of him struggling to her feet, holding her side where a steady build-up of blood started pooling past her hand and down her leg.
"D-damn you!" The madame looked worse for wear. Her flowing maxi was stained with blood and the slit in the dress was ripped to her waist(she was using her hand to keep it from showing off her 'assets'). There was a dark bruise blooming on her otherwise made up face. Her cherry pop bob was pristine though.
"Shadow Lovers of R.U.I.N! This is your time to die!" Akihiko whipped out his gun, Mitsuru right behind him with both of their guns trained on the gangster in red.
"Y-you kids are so s-tupid." S. Lovers laughed, slowly standing up to her full height but still slightly slouched over in pain. "You brats have no idea what you're actually doing." Her eyes turned on Makoto.
"And you, you claim to be the leader, but you have so much heavy shit clouding over your heart that it's affecting your mind. I was doing you and that brunette a favor. Getting laid by that pretty little harlot might have done you some goo-"
Lovers fell back against the wall, her hand letting go of her ripped dress to clutch her neck where the bullet shot straight through. Her last words were a gargled mess before she slumped, her hands went limp and the light drained from her eyes. They turned to see Yukari, her clothes slightly soggy and her gun up and still trained at the level where Lovers' neck was. Makoto was shocked. Working with her for the past 3 months, this is the best shot he's seen her make.
"Takeba?" Mitsuru started to step towards her but hesitated before coming any closer to the brunette. He could feel a tension between the two.
"I'm fine Kirijo-san." Yukari turned her head away from the heiress. She ducked her head when her eyes met Makoto's, but not before he saw her cheek flush a soft pink. "L-let's just take care of Shadows Lovers and Hierophant and get out of here already."
Mitsuru stepped away to make a call leaving the rest of them just standing around, though Yukari would glance up at Makoto every now and then when she thought he wasn't looking. He noticed.
Mitsuru had called the Kirijo's Group cleaning crew and they arrived within an hour. The two rooms were clean and the bodies were gone within minutes as if no one had even been there without the guest or even bystanders on the street noticing anything.
Akihiko, Makoto, Fuuka and Yukari stood on the sidelines in one of the alleys while Mitsuru watched over the last of the cleanup.
"The cleanup crew has finished. In the morning it'll be like none of this ever happened. Another good job team."
"Let's head back to the dorm."
"Are you coming, Senpai?" Fuuka asked.
"I have to stay here to help oversee the structural damages."
"I'll stay with you until they finish," Akihiko said.
"Thank you, Akihiko."
Mitsuru and Akihiko walked back towards the hotel while their koheis started walking back towards the dorm. Makoto noticed Yukari started to lag behind, a thoughtful yet lost expression on her face.
"Yuki-kun?"
"Go on ahead, Yamagishi. We'll meet you there."
Fuuka nodded before continuing ahead.
"Why did you send her ahead?"
"You look like you wanted to say something/had something on your mind."
"Well," she hesitated and bit the corner of her lip before finishing the sentence. "You never finished your explanation from earlier."
"Ah." After a second of silence he said: "Ask me that question again."
"Why did you join S.E.E.S?"
"No, the other one."
"Have your feelings changed since then?"
"From the moment when Ikutsuki asked me to join S.E.E.S to now, I think they have."
"You think?"
"Before I joined S.E.E.S I didn't have any reason to care about what happened to me or anybody else. Doing whatever somebody told me to without any emotions or ties helped me cope. I felt that it was better that I stayed alone. But then I had to come here and I discovered the power of Persona and Ikutsuki-san asked me to join."
"And that's when it changed?"
"In between all the training, the sushi runs, and the full moon operations, you all became like family to me."
"All of us?"
"Well, except for one." He looked down at her then, a meaningful twinkle in his eyes that entranced hers to not look away and understand the deeper meaning of his words. A meaning she's not sure she's ready to accept yet.
"Is my answer okay?"
'Y-yeah." She's never blushed so many times in one day before. She'll never understand how he could say stuff like that but come across so aloof all the time. "S-should we go back to the dorm?"
Makoto nodded. "Let's go."
1. This was originally going to be a Mafia AU but as I kept writing it, it kept venturing further and further out until it became, well this and then I was like 'there is no way I came call this a Mafia AU. What mafia does this much just to kill someone' lol
2. I'm actually surprised how easily this flowed out because for so long I've been scared to write anything for Persona for the fear of getting the main characters and other characters completely wrong. I actually enjoyed writing this one though.
3. I kind of summoned a little Iron Man 3 with the Mandarin while writing. I wonder if you can see where that scene just took over.
4. I have no ideas how love hotels work and everything in here was from research so please excuse me if I messed anything up and just let me know so I can know for future writing reference.
5. Writing over 600 or 800 is something I'm not really used to so there may be longer jumps between updates with this one.