This is it. We've reached the end of this story after taking oh so long to get it done. This is more of a continuation of the previous chapter. Just tying up any loose ends. This hasn't been easy on our heroes. I'll see you guys on the next project!

I'll be slowly adding new versions of the previous chapters, editing them to make them flow better. Thanks for reading.


Day Four: Forever More

Sat on his sofa in his apartment, Naoto was quietly nursing a book on Psychology that she found in her boyfriend's room, assuming it was one of the materials needed for his University work. In her lap laid the head of her said boyfriend, quietly dosing, a brief nap after saying comments about feeling tired. She absentmindedly brushed her hand against his forehead, clearing any strands of hair in the way of his face before cupping his cheek softly, wanting nothing more but to keep the contact. Turning the page of she looked down at the man she calls her own and smiled as the soft rise of his chest told her he was sleeping comfortably.

"Souji..." Naoto whispered as her hand played with his hair. She would be lying if the tension of the previous day didn't still flow through her. She always had an eye on the TV; keeping an eye on it just in case it buzzed to life with something else Amanozaku sent after them that they weren't able to clean up. Considering the latest incident was literally out of nowhere, it made her wonder just how many gods or ethereal being that were as dangerous as her who figured they could take their chance with humanity and just take control. Considering her conversations with both Marie and Margaret it's a thing that tends to happen more consistently than she thought.

"Just how much danger are we in?" Naoto muttered, her mind wondering at just how much time they had, if this has happened twice in considerably short time, is there a way where herself and the team could be ready to tackle another situation or will it happen somewhere where they wouldn't be able to deal with it. Is it something that was an international problem or was it isolated to Japan? What happened if there would be no one there to stop it?

All of these questions swirled in her mind as the fear and anxiety started to grow. Maybe this was just a warning of a relatively doable situation to face. How could she be ready to fight? How can she protect everyone? What would she need to do?

"Naoto?"

The tired voice of her beloved knocked her from her thoughts as Naoto looked down, to see the groggy expression of her boyfriend looking back up at her, shades of worry was the other expression that she saw in it.

Trying to hide her worry she gave a soft but loving smile.

"Hey Souji-kun, how do you feel?"

Her question was seemingly ignored.

"Something is on your mind? Speak to me?" Naoto couldn't help but admire that really acute side of him where he was so sensitive to the emotions of others around him. Considering how she knew exactly how the power of his Persona worked, it gave her context on just how well he had to train himself to notice these small things with people.

"Nothing, what makes you say that?"

Even though Souji was on her lap, he still shook his head, reaching up he stroked Naoto's cheek, she sighed and relaxed into his touch, even with how gentle he was, she noticed that his strength still wasn't there like before, it wasn't as firm as it was before which only frustrated her.

"I can easily tell when things bother people, and for someone as important to me as you, it's even easier, please just tell me."

He tried to sound firm but it came out more like a plead, even his voice showing the effects of everything that happened. Naoto pressed her free hand against his own, trying to feed her strength into it.

"I should have known I can't hide these things from you..." Taking a large sigh she relaxed, looking back down at Souji,

"I was just wondering if we would have to ever fight something like I did before. And if we would even be ready to deal with it? What would happen if we fail?"

Souji nodded in understanding, His hand against her face tensed a bit, trying to give her comfort.

"Those are all questions that I cannot answer but what I can say we will try our hardest." Naoto only shook her head.

"I know that's a given but this is not just something that happens. We can't anticipate something like this from happening again because we don't have access of information of those beyond the plane. We live in complete blindness of the acts of the gods and they know so much about us. Your words sound simple but they specifically targeted you without trouble. We were lucky that Margaret and Elizabeth were all the wiser about what was going on. Me and the rest of the team were completely lost that this was going on and it was only because were dating I even knew something was wrong and it wasn't even something that was tangible. If you just happened to be carrying different items on your person at the time of the attack the outcome could have been very different."

Tears threatened to fall but she held them back. This wasn't the time.

"I went on a gut feeling and it just happened to be true, if we weren't saved by Philemon we would have been dead and you by extension." Taking a breath to steady her mind before she continued, "The problem is with all of this is that so much is left to chance and nothing concrete. While chasing you between worlds, we were basically running blind following clues and being attacked by things that didn't make any sense. If they are capable of turning people into mindless slaves, what can we do to prepare for something a lot more powerful?"

The Sleuth finally turned away from her boyfriend, looking to the window of his apartment, the silence of her voice meant she could hear the sounds of Tokyo outside with hustle and bustle of the cars and trains from around the area.

"I've been doing some thinking after speaking with Mitsuru-san about Arisato-san and the sacrifice he made to keep the world safe and hold back the greatest threat to everything we hold dear. You would do the same wouldn't you?"

The pause pushed her question further. It took a moment but Souji answered, almost mournfully.

"Yes I would,"

Naoto sighed again,

"I figured you would say that, and this is the sort of thing I'm worried about. I'm worried that the powers that be know this and how much you are willing to do to protect everyone. You are smart but you are both selfless and selfish at the same time. If any of us were in trouble you would happily trade yourself to save everyone the danger. While I'm not at mad at your decision I feel it would be an easy target for anyone that target you or need you for their plans."

Naoto looked back down at him, a mix of sorrow and frustration on her face.

"I'm fully aware that we are your biggest strength yet the largest weakness. I've seen you fight me and I've seen you break limits. But this alone showed that you are just as vulnerable as everyone else. How long can we truly keep this up, if we keep fighting gods, there is no way we can win in the long run can we?"

Naoto's voice was something he hadn't heard in a while, it was doubt. Listening carefully to her words, she wasn't wrong with all the logic applied. While he was aware that he was out of action for all of the last battle, due to the power of the Wild Card he's more than aware of exactly what happened, just through the eyes of Naoto rather than himself. IT was dangerous how close they were to failing, a small coincidence here, and a chance meeting there was the only reason where they were now was still standing. He took a chance last time and played a trump card, but now the universe knows, how would he know it would work again.

"Yeah it really does feel like that doesn't it?"

The downcast tone to his voice made Naoto's eyes grow in surprise.

"You agree with me?"

The former leader nodded,

"Of course I do. It would be stupid not to put the facts together to realised we don't know what we are fighting against. I guess deep down I share that same fear of not knowing the unknown, knowing that what we are fighting against is forming and growing in places we can't see yet they can see us. I wish we didn't have to worry about it and a part of me wouldn't mind living in ignorant bliss so I can just live my life with you and everyone else and be none the wiser. But that is not the cards we dealt and given. This has been a brutal reminder that we have to be ready whenever, wherever. I was foolish enough to think it was over after Izanami but there we go. I'm now struggling to comprehend where we go from here."

Absorbing his words, Naoto eyes narrowed as Souji spilled his own worries and fears about the future and what the recent fight implies. She had to ask herself.

Are they now in a situation where they spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder for something to happen or will they eventually break the cycle?

"I want to nothing more than to live in a world where I can fight for peace, but considering how skewed not in our favour it is in, it's hard to trust the gods will play fair. Saying that I also think going around god hunting isn't the best idea and is only asking for trouble so even I wouldn't know where to start at the moment."

Naoto couldn't help but smile at the ending comment,

"I can also agree chasing after danger is ill advised. At that point I'd have to stop you there Souji-kun and so would everyone else." Her expression turned to one of love, moving more of his hair out of his face. "Please don't do anything on your own. I know you would for the sake of keeping us safe but I couldn't bare it if I'm not there to help as well as the rest of the team."

"I figured you would say that."

Naoto giggled, momentarily forgetting the heavy conversation they were having seconds later.

"If anything we should speak to the team about this when you get back. It would only be fair if this could affect all of us. And anything about you involves the rest of the team by default. I hope you understand that?"

Souji smiled himself, a small tint in his cheeks.

"Yeah... I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good,"

Naoto leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his lips causing him to hum in appreciation and kiss back with just as much love.

...

...

By the time it was evening, Souji wondered if he could flex his legs a little and head out, he needed to pick up something from University so hesitantly Naoto went with him, suggesting she could get it herself or they could go somewhere nearby. The train ride was uneventful; it was just after rush hour so public transport wasn't as busy as it could have been. Still Naoto watched the crowd from Souji's side, with sharp eyes, looking out for anything that's out of the ordinary that could be around them.

"Naoto," The soft tone of Souji snapped her out of her surveillance; she looked up at him, concern and anxiety written all over her face.

"Yes?"

It was a small sigh that came from the University student, but the soft smile was enough to show he wasn't upset.

"While I know you are only looking out for me, you are going to need to relax; we are on a train with people here. You look like you are ready to pick a fight."

The Sleuth blinked for a moment, she noticed that Souji rounded on her so he was blocking the view of the rest of the train carriage. That combined with his hushed tone signalled that he didn't want to bring attention to either of them. Naoto took a deep breath and tried to settle her own nerves.

"I'm sorry Souji-kun, I really should but it's really hard after that."

He tried to fire her one of his trademark grins but it came off a little tired making the Detective frown at what he was trying to do.

"I already feel much safer knowing you are with me. But I can see you are really stressed being here. If you want my personal opinion I think we will be fine for the time being." Naoto took in his words and adjusted her posture to give a more relaxed look.

"Do you honestly believe that Senpai?"

She could see the gears in his head turn at her question as he searched for a reply.

"Not quite, I'm only hoping at this point..."

The reply only made her grasp the right arm of his that was not holding one of the train bars firmly.

Stepping on to the main campus of Tokyo University, due to the late evening it was quieter than usual but the lights were on in the building that Souji was going to. She walked close next to him, his larger hand held in her stronger one as the cross the main threshold of the building. Much easier this time Souji swiped his ID card at the front door, as the lock clicked and beep notifying them that they were free to enter.

The security guard at the door looked up lazily at the two people just coming in but his face brightened up as soon as he saw Souji.

"Seta-san, it's been a while where have you been?" The relief in his voice was evident. In the back of Naoto's mind, she was a little worried about his disappearance would cause and how it would be explained. Without missing a beat Souji spoke up without hesitation.

"Oh there was a little work that got me off the grid but I didn't realise it would take so long. Did something else happen?"

The security guard took his words without hesitation, the Sleuth thinking just how earnest Souji comes off to everyone meant it was easy for people to take his words at face value. Just sometimes she had to question what the upper capacity of how much charisma her boyfriend had.

"Did something happen? We had a search warrant out for you yesterday because we thought you disappeared..."

"Search warrant?" He turned to Naoto who was now looking away, her face beet red in guilt.

"I was desperate..." Is all she muttered causing Souji to shake his head. He turned back to the security guard, giving him his best apologetic face.

"I'm sorry for all the stress I've caused. Next time I'll make sure everyone knows before I'm away for a few days. I can see it being a problem especially if I don't have my phone on me. It won't happen again."

The security guard smiled back at him, happy that one of the beloved students of the faculty was now safe and sound.

"I'm just happy that you are all well. Whatever you have done I can see how exhausted it's made you. If anything go upstairs and tell everyone you are ok, I've even had your course director worrying about you."

"As in Mihara-san?"

"Yup, he wasn't happy about his star student bailing out on him."

Souji half frowned, rubbing the back of his neck, slightly annoyed that his disappearance has bled into his everyday life.

"Did he say anything else?"

The security guard shook his head. He looked through the registration papers just in case there was something else he missed but shook his head again when he couldn't find anything.

"Nope that's all, a couple of the other students asked for you, they were worried about a burglary in the apartment block you stay at and wondering if they were linked. Considering you are here now I'm sure you didn't even know it happened."

Former leader of the Investigation team traded glances with his girlfriend before looking back at the concerned security guard.

"Oh that's new. I wasn't home for when this stuff happened. I'll check in with the apartment security when I make my way home. I'm sure they have signage or something like that floating around." Souji lied, the security guard nodded, figuring that it would have been best for him to keep the young man up to date just in case anything happens.

"Anyway go tell the professor that you are ok. He might not be in though."

The pair nodded as they walked into the University building and took the lift to the third floor, heading up to Souji's desk area to retrieve some things.

"By the way Souji-kun, there is something that tipped me off about your condition when I came to your work office before."

Souji gave her a curious look, wondering what she was on about.

"'The Five Senses on How they Define Humanity and Self'"

Souji blushed over deeply,

"Oh yeah, that's a pet project of mine…"

Naoto looked a little confused.

"What do you mean 'pet project'?"

The lift pinged to signify they were on the floor they requested. Taking a step off, Naoto focused on her boyfriend as he looked for words to describe his answer.

"The analysis of shadows and how they mirror intention of the humans they belong to. I wondered if the five senses applied where if you lose them if you lose one self." He put his hand to his chin in thought. "I can't take it to my course coordinator that I know mysterious beings from another world and they can help me prove my research because that will be silly. Unfortunately that world is best left being more of an unknown because just looking at what Adachi did, people as a whole can't be trusted…"

He stopped for a minute to open the glass door to his work area.

"Even after the battle with Izanami, I think we're lucky because it was us fighting her. It could have been others with ill intentions and could use these powers with destructive effects." Turned to Naoto,

"We are living weapons; while we can't exactly to anything in the real world the ability to access the other world can be absolutely destructive. The rise of other gods that might not be as willing to back down as Izanami or even play fair backs up my theory how dangerous the other world is and it's a conduit for spiritual power far beyond both of our comprehension."

Concern was apparent on Naoto's face when she looked at him carefully, taken back by the sudden shift in tone and outlook.

"Is this what you have been worried about all along?"

Leaning his head against the glass, he breathed heavily, wanting nothing more than to relieve the weight on his chest.

"Yes, I thought having another incident like we had in Inaba was a one off event, never to happen again, then the Grand Prix and all of the information about the Dark Hour came to light, and these were only a couple years apart if that." The expression he had was exactly what Naoto feared.

He really was scared.

"These incidents are not isolated, each of them triggers another, it might not be the same way but it does. What happened to us only backs up my theory."

As much as seeing him being fearful of the future, she was also scared about where this was going.

"…We just have to be careful."

Pushing open the door they walked into the empty office, Souji's desk left as untouched as it was when Naoto came in a couple days before. He stacked some of the folders that were on a desk before he took his bag off and opened it up.

"Do you plan to tell the others when you head back to Inaba?"

Nodding while piling some of the folders and books into his bag,

"Yeah, if anything happens they need to know, like you said, you guys are there but if anything it could affect any one of us."

The Sleuth couldn't help but nod.

"Anyway we can discuss it more in a week or so, I'm just gonna spend this week trying to process what happened and get better, I still don't feel great so it would be best for me to concentrate on that."

He gave Naoto a wry smile.

"A certain someone would kill me if I didn't do that."

Sighing she helped him put some of the books and folders away and zipped it up for him. Tilting her hat in a way so she could see his face, she frowned.

"You are absolutely right, but I agree with your reasoning. As you know I'm still scared of things happening, as much as you tried to ease my fears I appreciate that you are open about your feelings. From my experience of holding your power, I now feel the context of the troubles you see in the future, and just how much is at stake."

Naoto's words gave him paused, it wasn't until she placed a hand on his, forcing him to make eye contact.

"But I can't and won't have this play on your mind as you are the only one that can save us. Please don't go this alone…"

The soft and tired smile didn't quite put her at ease but she would take it for now.

"I won't…" He hurled the now heavy rucksack onto his back. "…The original point of that paper was to look at it at a psychological point of view rather than a spiritual one since that's the only way my paper will make sense without knowledge of the Midnight Channel and all. I've been pretty successful interviewing people and getting a thesis done but I've still got a bit to do until I hand it in next semester."

Naoto put a finger to a chin in thought, it being in the late evening meant the campus was relatively quiet, the odd sounds of footsteps other than their own was heard in the distance in each direction due to the open air layout of the building when not in any of the study rooms. In the back of her mind, the low ambient noise of the area still put her on edge, but she pushed them down to concentrate on Souji's words.

"It's interesting that you say that since when I found you without your powers, I found you without your physical senses."

Souji's eyes widened as he pressed the button for the lift, his finger lingering on the recessed switch, his face holding a genuine look of shock.

"Wait, are you serious?"

Nodding, she leaned against the door frame, her mind having the time she found him fresh like it happened 10 minutes ago. In her lifetime it's one of those moments she couldn't forget, no matter how hard she tries. She had already given up the fact that his form she found him in will probably haunt her for the rest of her days.

"I wouldn't lie about it. You couldn't see or hear me. You felt like a corpse when I touched you. You couldn't recognise who I was and I had to give you the key for you to return back to normal."

Souji blinked, taking a moment for him to realise the lift was open and his girlfriend already stepped into it.

"That's interesting and disturbing..."

The Sleuth shook her head to cut off whatever trail of thought he was thinking.

"I don't think that is what stripped you of your senses however,"

Something resembling of a dragon snort came from her at the remembrance of what caused so much damage in the past couple days.

"Amanozako's ability to absorb people and take them over is probably what caused it. Rejoining you with your power pulled whatever of your spiritual senses from her body back into yourself, as farfetched as it sounds." Naoto continued to think, feeling there was more to this as she thought. Making a mental note to contact Mitsuru when she got back to Inaba.

"She attempted to absorb the power of Arisato Minato and failed the first time while he was part of the seal. Whatever guard the way, spiritual or otherwise, didn't allow her to complete whatever ritual she had planned and needed you to do it. A part of it was absorbing your own spirit or soul with it."

The grim thought of Souji being a part of whatever that demonic god's plans sent a shiver up her spine as she visibly bristled.

"I think that's what caused you to lose your senses, it masqueraded after it attacked you and took enough just to emulate both you and Minato-san's appearance. That level of magical ability and manipulation possible in the real world is what makes it frightening…"

Souji was trying to comprehend what Naoto was saying to him, his theory held up a lot more than what he was scared to believe.

"I guess that means if Margaret didn't pull me away I might not even exist on a spiritual level to retain a body anymore considering what she was able to do in such a short time."

"What a horrible way to die…"

The lift stopped and pinged, knocking the two out of their thoughts as the glass doors with metal frames giving them their freedom. Stepping out the both headed towards the exit, making sure to give a nod to the security guard who waved back at them happily in return.

"Let's get take out while heading back, I don't really feel like cooking tonight,"

Naoto wasn't bothered by this at all, actually smiling at her boyfriend acknowledging his own limits.

"I'm happy with whatever you want to do Souji-kun."

On their way back they stopped for curry to take away with the train ride just enjoying their company, both of them mulling over what they've learned. However before heading back, they took a detour to Naoto's hotel room to check out and pick up her things. Since she was going to be in Tokyo for a couple more days, it would be best if she stayed at her boyfriend's apartment. Overall it took another hour before they got back, heated up on the food before watching TV for the evening.

One thing Naoto noticed however that was now when they both went to sleep, in each other's arms it was a lot more difficult than before. Whenever she was with him, she would normally be asleep in moments but the tension in the air from before still clung around them like a bad smell.

"Finding it hard to sleep?"

The question pierced the darkness, only got ruffling as a response for the moment as she awaited her answer.

"Yeah I'm still on edge a little,"

"Lest I'm not the only one." Naoto sighed as she settled into his embrace. She looked at his clothed chest and kissed it softly. "We can't keep living like this…"

On reaction Souji held her tighter.

"I know in the grand scheme of things, we've been through this all before but something about this feels all so different..."

The silence from her boyfriend was soothing even with the heavy subject.

"Like opening up Pandora's Box right?"

That was exactly what she was thinking.

"Exactly, it's like stumbling across a secret we were never supposed to learn. Which in itself bothers me…"

She stopped to gather her thoughts, but something popped into her head.

"You should tell Mitsuru-san about your thesis, including everything that happened. She was helping me earlier with you going missing and she's been researching the seal to save Arisato-san's soul. She thinks the ability to your own power of the Wild Card is the key to it somewhere."

Souji rolled over on to his back, his eyes taken over in the darken room

"I really should, I need to send her a message of gratitude, and I owe her for giving you so much help." Naoto snuggled next to him, her finger absentmindedly drawing patterns on his chest.

"Yeah you can but only when you are feeling 100%. The last thing I need is to have you worrying about others when you are not fully fit. Mitsuru-san would understand." With her head on his chest, she could hear how unsteady Souji's heartbeat was, it concerned her, she wasn't a medical professional (She had adequate training from her family to diagnose injury and physical abuse on cases but that's it), but it did unsettle her. She wondered what other effects the power of the Wild Card had on the body.

"Your heart beat is strange." She voiced. To her surprise Souji hummed in agreement as he tried to relax.

"You can hear it too?"

"Of course I can…"

He couldn't help but wrap his arm around her, holding on to the person who kept their dreams alive…

Over the next couple days, Naoto accompanied Souji as he tried to get his life back in order but all too quickly, it was time for her to head back to Inaba this time however Souji made sure to go back with her to the airport to see her off. By the time they were getting ready to leave his apartment, she already noticed how much of a recovery he's made. The spring in his step he used to have been coming back in parts, he didn't spend as much time in thought as before. Most importantly his smile was back. She couldn't help but bask in his glow.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Naoto asked, concern still laced in her voice for her boyfriend but he held up a hand and shook his head.

"No no, I can already feel myself getting better. And I don't think anything in the immediate future is going to attack me again." She raised an eye brow at him.

"…I hope,"

Naoto could only scoff as she shuffled on her jacket. Taking a quick look around the apartment, keeping an eye out if she missed anything.

"I'm hoping this is everything…" She muttered as she pulled on the handle of her suitcase, bringing it upwards.

"Well anything you don't have I'll bring to you next week." The bluenette nodded as she perched herself up on her toes. Souji instantly knew the gesture as he leaned down and gave her a sweet kiss, causing the Sleuth to hum.

The detective blinked slowly, her expression slightly whimsical,

"Are you going to be staying with Dojima-san and Nanako-chan?"

He shook his head, a small grin appearing on his face.

"No I won't be. Dumping myself on them this short notice would be a nightmare for them no matter how welcome I am. I was planning to stay at your apartment for the week." Her eyes lit up at the implication of his request. "…If you will have me?"

Almost winded him with a deep hug,

"Of course Senpai! You are always welcome to stay at my apartment whenever you need too."

His arms wrapped around her.

"Thanks…"

The embrace was cut short as Souji reminded her that she had a plane to catch and couldn't afford to stick around longer than she already did due to finals and such.

With that they were on their way to the airport, the whole time, Naoto held on to him, one hand around his arm with the other firmly gripping her small suitcase. It was a rough feeling in her mind to let him go even for a couple days but the world they lived in had to be dealt with and the pressing matters of school hung over her head too.

The trip to the airport was way too quick in her mind and before she knew it she was in front of security, luggage already checked in with her carry on in her hand. The thought of separating herself from her love was daunting and just the need to protect him ran through her mind but she pushed it back, hoping things were different, least for a couple days before he made his way to come and see her.

"I guess this is it for the week…"

Souji frowned sadly, knowing what she was thinking; he took her hand holding her carry on and covered it with his own.

"I'll be ok; I'll be with you soon, I promise. You won remember, it wasn't based on luck or anything. You were amazing and you saved this world." Naoto tipped her head down, hiding her expression under her cap. Pondering his words…

"I'll be fine I promise, as soon as anything happens I'll be on my phone but I'll make sure I'll get to safety."

Naoto only sighed.

She dropped her carry on to the floor as her arms shot out and grabbed his jacket and pulled him down for a deep kiss like it was their last. The people around them stared at the sudden public display of affection. Some people muttering how unbecoming the young people of Japan were in this day and age. Souji instinctively wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, only making Naoto hold him tighter. After a moment she pulled away for a moment but still enough that they could feel each other's breaths on their lips.

"I wish I didn't have to go…"

His voice was husky.

"I wish I could be by your side forever."

She kissed him again with as much passion before his words; his declaration was enough to give him her heart. Give him everything…

The flight back was short but by the time she got back to Inaba, she was instantly swamped by the Investigation Team, as they held a small party for the resident detective. And while it was good to see everyone coming back to their senses making it feel like it was home, her mind was constantly on the thoughts of her boyfriend. Still unable to get rid of the stress and the paranoia from the event but she did her best to mask her inner feelings to her friends. The fear, the trip and her battles haunted her, every attack and every moment where Souji's life on the line her body constantly played in her mind.

She needed space.

"Naoto-kun?" The Sleuth looked up to see a small look on concern on the Idol's face.

"Hmm?"

"You ok there, you don't seem right..." Naoto nodded slowly.

"I'm just a little tired; I'm going to head outside and get some fresh air. Might wake me back up."

Naoto slipped outside one of the Amagi Inn rooms and down the corridor to the courtrooms with an open roof. She took a deep breath in of the spring air as she leaned against the wall. Her eyes to the sky of a clear night, the stars sparkling making her aware of their presence.

"It's still bothering you isn't it?"

Naoto's eyes snapped open as she reached for the revolver that wasn't there. She sighed at how on edge she was, turning to the originator of the voice it was Yukiko. A look of concern in her face was similar to the one of the Idol. Naoto only shook her head, knowing she should know better. She was going to dismiss Yukiko of her worries but her reaction to just being surprised by a familiar voice already cut that opportunity off.

"Y-Yeah it is…"

Yukiko only gave a bit more of a frown.

"I'm so sorry we couldn't support you…"

Naoto shook her head vigorously.

"No… It's not your fault. It's no one's fault. If it wasn't for you guys at the end I might not have even had the resolve to continue." She blinked and clenched her fist, memories of the hollow feeling of Souji's hand in her palm playing in her mind.

"I know but you were alone out there… Doing everything to save someone we love…"

Naoto lifted her head so it rested against the wall she was leaning on.

"I know but it's not even that, no it's not." She let out the breath she was holding, her nerves on end. "I was so close to losing him you know. Literally minutes away. He was on my lap basically nothing but a cold corpse on my lap. I can't get that image out of my mind. I was so close to losing everything."

"But you didn't." The owner of the Amagi inn cut in.

"I didn't but there was no leeway for error, no build up of a threat, we didn't have time. It just happened."

Naoto's thoughts hung uncomfortably in the air.

"It happened out of nowhere; we had a celestial level threat with almost no warning. It would have been so easy for me to just leave it because I didn't think anything of it. It's my mind just playing tricks on me and everything was ok. And even playing on that we barely won…"

Yukiko shook her head.

"You can't put this all on yourself."

The Sleuth snorted.

"I'm not putting it on myself." The host of Izanami turned to the soon to be Inn manager. For the first time Yukiko noticed in her expression, her eyes telling a thousand stories at once.

It was fear,

"I'm scared!" Her voice jumped up an octave at her own self revelation. The same expression she had earlier when speaking to her boyfriend.

"I'm scared we don't know when it would happen. I'm scared at how easy it was for us to be split up. I'm scared that the gods acknowledge how important Souji is and he is one step away from being assimilated by some angry god and being lost forever, or even worse, his soul to be used to destroy us all." She put her hands against her face as she held back trying to cry into them.

"I used to not be able to understand the feeling when Souji was our final stand against Izanami. But now I do, and I hate it. I used to believe it was over then, then incident after incident has happened but we've kept it all in check, we were a team…"

She sighed, trying her best to relax.

"I'm so on edge all the time now; I think I might need a therapist at this point…" She said, her voice laced in dark humour.

"You did us proud."

Naoto couldn't help but look up at her.

"You stepped up where I think most of us would struggle. Lucky for the rest of us this was tailor made for your skills. From everything you told us, any one of us could have been lost or killed a lot earlier trying to do what you did." While Yukiko looked sympathetic she turned to the side, looking glum at the situation.

"I'm not sure what we could do in your situation and you don't deserve the scars you are currently carrying. You don't deserve it. We don't deserve it."

She took a step forward and wrapped her arms around the detective.

"There isn't much I can say to make you feel better without sounding patronising so I hope this can help." She said as she squeezed the Sleuth into a hug. Subconsciously Naoto returned it in kind.

Just around the corner, the investigation team was listening in to the conversation, shared sad looks amongst each other as Yukiko's words sunk in.

-A Couple Days Later-

Naoto waited with tightly knotted anticipation, constantly checking her phone for the train movement status as she was at Yasoinaba's JR Railway platform. She looked up at the dot matrix board noting her boyfriend's train should be here within three minutes. The last message she got from him was that he boarded his connecting train and was on his way here soon. She could only clutch her phone harder.

"Now approaching on Platform 1, a southbound 13:43 train. Please make sure you stand behind the line and wait for passengers to alight first."

It took a moment as Naoto waited; several people shuffled off the train before her beloved stepped out, hoisting his suitcase from the train to the platform, before pulling up the lever so he could drag it along. It only took seconds for Naoto to be within his grasp.

"Souji-kun!" she cried as she caught him in a massive hug, almost knocking the wind out of his chest. But almost instantly his arms wrapped around her lithe body and pulled her close.

"You made it!" Her work tone thrown away in excitement as the feeling of his body and his scent brought back all of the feelings she missed over the past couple days. The feeling that he was with her now putting her mind at ease knowing she could now watch over him.

"Of course, I did say I will."

"Yeah you did…"

She had no reason not to believe him. Not after everything they've been through, but all of it was just so she could see him again. To hear his voice, to see him smile, to have him keep the strength to hold her like only he does best. She almost gave up the world for his safety, and she would do it all again.

"I know I shouldn't get so nervous with you taking the train but I'm still not over last week." She said with no shame. She pulled away slightly to see him beam down back at her.

"To be fair neither am I. I'm just happy to be back in your care."

She couldn't help but giggle as she took his hand in her own.

"I've made my apartment suitable for you to co-inhabit with me for your time away. I hope it's to your liking." Souji shook his head as he squeezed her hand.

"I'll always be happy to be in your space. I hope your grandfather doesn't mind." She gave him a look that only made him laugh.

"Trust me, after everything that has happened, I'm not leaving your side either way. If one thing this past week has taught me is to cherish the time we have together. Unfortunately you never know what's happening around the corner."

Souji hummed in agreement as they started to walk hand in hand out of the station.

"I can only agree. It's nice to be back."

She nodded, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek, not caring about what's around them.

"It's amazing having you back. I'll never get tired of you saying that…"

Silence of the Butterflies…

…End…

…?