vatheon | Backdated to May 2

Who: Naoto Shirogane and Yu Narukami
When: May 2, following this conversation
What: Naoto has something to tell her senpai
Where: On the island in a private beach area
Style: Prose, but will adapt

Naoto led her sempai away from the crowded area of the island - after she had her mark adjusted. She was glad that she had left her SFC back where she was staying. She knew he would probably have his, but that didn't matter. The scientists didn't know much about him just yet to know what he could do. She just had to make sure that she stayed under the radar long enough so that they could do what needed to be done.

The detective had told him some of what she knew. She also told him other things that were going on that were being kept somewhat quiet. She needed to tell him now. She needed to tell him so that she would feel better about what she was going to do. Because she was doing it now not just for everyone, but for him.

Once they got to a more secluded area of the beach, she sat down on a bent tree that one could gaze out over the water from. Her eyes were serious but sad. She was trying to do her best to keep from trembling. She didn't need to cry again, not this soon.

"Senpai," she started, "As stated before, I'm a member of the Vatheon Defense Force. It's made up of visitors who wish to keep Vatheon a safe place. Me being what I am back home, I joined as soon as I could. Especially after an event occurred of which I got the last half of when I arrived. "

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Yu followed alongside her quietly, glancing over to her on occasion. Now that he had the opportunity to look closely, he could see that she was different than he remembered. She looked... older; not in the sense that she had aged, but more like she had been through a lot more than what they had already gone through in Inaba.

It was upsetting to think about it.

He sat down beside her when she stopped, gazing out to the ocean. "Makes sense," he replied softly. "I couldn't imagine you not being part of some police force."

She honestly felt older... and she was older and younger than she should be. It would depend on who you asked: Yu or Naoto herself. It was the whole concept of perception, really.

As they both sat there, she closed her eyes. The ocean breeze felt nice on her face. She wondered if this would be one of the last times that she would feel it.

"Since the start of the chaos of the bubble's barrier cracking, I've been trying to help people where I can," she continued, "This is the first real... anything that's happened since my arrival."

"Is that so bad?" Yu asked, before a small, sincere smile worked its way onto his face. Naoto hadn't been as deeply involved as they all were for as long, but she still did her part. And she had been investigating for just about as long. All that work they put into solving the mystery... only to have the worst of it near blow up in their faces just before he left. He would have thought a break would be welcome.

Edited (Finishing my sentences might help.) 2013-05-15 03:32 (UTC)

"I suppose not... knowing that right when I showed up I was thrown into a murder kidnapping case that... Well, no one was able to solve until one person revealed who it was... Even the leader of the Defense Force felt helpless," she told him. How could she forget how Squall reacted. She felt and understood how the man did, but she had made it less evident. It had been how she felt for failing her sempai when Nanako was kidnapped.

She gazed down at the water, knowing what lay underneath. She knew what she was doing. She just prayed that Yu understood as well.

"And while not being in chaos for so long was alright... it left me thinking... A lot. I was always alone. There was no one who really... I never spent time with anyone... because who would want to be with some quiet male detective all the time," she continued, putting the slight emphasis on male. "Only one person knows, though others may suspect. That's... not the point of why I'm saying this though."

"Naoto...?"

He was reminded of when Nanako was kidnapped, and after she... died. It was the only time he had seen the young detective this unsure of herself. The fact that she was still trying to pass herself off as a boy was a bit concerning as well; just how much had the time away from everyone effected her...?

Yu reached over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

Naoto took a breath. Of course she was nervous about this, but she had to keep her cool. She had to remind herself what and who she was doing this for. It wasn't just for any one person.

This was for everyone in Vatheon, including him.

"I... signed up for something," she told him, still not making eye contact, "This was before you got here and really before my birthday."

"Signed up for something... in the city below?"

Naoto nodded. "It... It's to help... save the city below... To fix the coral... and the barrier..."

Yu paused, observing her closely. If she was being that hesitant, he could only come to the conclusion that this wasn't a mission that would be easy...

"You'll come back," he said softly. "Everything will be okay."

"It's the reason why I brought you here to this place to talk... Why I told you what I did back at the gathering spot," she told him quietly, "I'm on one of the attack/defense teams... I'm not sure which yet. I'll be told soon."

The young detective looked up at her sempai. He had faith in her. It was good to feel that again after so long.

Yu gave a nod, knowing very well that she would be fine. She was Naoto... probably the most level-headed person he knew. Well, normally.

"I'd go down with you if I could; I doubt they'll let me in at the last minute," he replied, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "But I know no matter what team you're on, you'll be fine."

She gives a small smile. She could feel his faith within her. She could feel it strengthen her. He was as Izanami said: he was hope. They were both children of destiny, but he was the aspect of hope.

"I wish you could come down. We could use your strength and power. The power of Izanagi or any of your Personas would probably do wonders," she told him, looking down, "To be honest, I'm not sure how much Yamato-Takeru would be able to do."

"The same he was able to do against Adachi, and Ameno-sagiri, and Izanami," Yu assured her. "I may have other Personae, but the only reason I do is because you all make me strong. You have that same strength, Naoto."

"Do you really think I do, sempai?" she asked nervously, "I mean... I know that I wasn't able to do much, but I... I tried... Especially in the battles against them. You were always able to bring out the one who could get the weakness. I could only harm with certain attacks."

She was light and dark, after all. He could be any element at any time and she was just two. She wasn't sure how she would be able to handle anything that could come at her or her team.

"I know you do."

Naoto, did you forget about that one little spell? You know the one; the Almighty that explodes in everyone's faces and creates a world of pain? Besides, he knows you have the passion to see everything through to the end, no matter how difficult it is. Strength didn't just run on the skills your Persona had, after all.

Naoto gazed up at him. She still held him in such high esteem. She always had and she always would. He had made her feel welcome in the group. He had made her feel like being who she was was okay. She made it so that she could be a girl again. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why...

No, now was not the time for that. Now was the time to be re-assured of her strength. She had not forgotten she had the Almighty spells... She was just unsure if it would work like she would want.

The young detective was not sure what to say. As they sat there on the tree, the sounds of the waves and soft breezes through the palm trees filled the air. What could she say to the one who saved her not once, not twice, but several times over the past... year? Half a year? There was that perception issue again.

Backdated to May 2

Sorry for the delay

It's fine!

Re: It's fine!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject