Coming to you live from a very steamy journal post~
Why, hello there, kittens! I'm Kanji, esteemed reporter of all things fabulous and ever so delightfully naughty, and I'm here with a most special update for a fandom just beginning its long, hard... journey into adulthood~!
SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: PERSONA 4 KINK MEME
In this scintillating post of mine, you can comment anonymously with any pairing ( Read more... )
SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI: PERSONA 4 KINK MEME
In this scintillating post of mine, you can comment anonymously with any pairing ( Read more... )
Souji hadn’t even realized that he’d fallen under so deeply until something woke him. It wasn’t a noise or a physical sensation, just an apprehension stemming deep from his marrow. His eyes snapped open and immediately sought out the wall clock. Almost midnight. Rubbing his eyes, he caught a steady sound coming from outside.
He got up and looked out the window to find a light drizzle falling upon the town. How long had it been raining?
Once the clock struck midnight, the television screen flickered and the same image of the undecorated room appeared again. This time everything was clearer, though shadows hugged the edges of the screen. The same woman in white sat doll-like in her bindings in the far corner, oblivious to her surroundings. Something seemed more familiar about her this time. Souji didn’t have to stare at her too long to realize that she actually looked a lot like his mother. But…that couldn’t be right.
The scene panned out to display more of the room and Souji spied another woman in the room, bound in a manner very similar to that of her companion, but this woman’s bindings were black. That and she hung suspended by her legs from the ceiling in the opposite corner, her dark brown hanging messily about her face. Souji couldn’t tell if she was alive or not as she slowly rotated in lazy quarter circles from the taut rope. There was something vaguely familiar about her as well, but he couldn’t quite place it. A chill ran unbidden up his spine.
Then, from the darkness, the same man from the night before emerged. His back was smooth and bare, and it seemed he wore only pants. When the man turned to sit upon the bed’s edge, paying no heed to either woman, the shadows still managed to obscure his facial features. Souji’s eyes followed the dark trail of hair extending from the figure’s broad chest to his pants’ waistband. The same hair, though sparse, covered his forearms as well.
“It’s not right…I…can’t…”
Souji strained to hear the voice coming from the TV set. The man raised his arms to his head and a choked sound escaped the scene. Just as Souji felt the man was on the verge of sobbing, a low chuckle caught him off guard. The sound elevated into something far more disarming for the level of its amusement than for its juxtaposition within this dark scene, though it tapered off quickly.
“Not right! It’s not right! Same old broken record, bullshit excuse. Ha. What a joke.”
Souji’s eyes went wide when he heard the deep voice. No, he wouldn’t believe it.
“It’s time to give up that tired façade. Starting now.” The figure stood and walked toward the ‘camera,’ pulling his belt loose at the same time.
Though the shadows had not lifted entirely, Souji recognized the sharp stubble along the man’s chin. Then the screen blacked out.
A sour sensation rolled through his stomach, threatening to expel his dinner. Souji closed his eyes and clapped a hand to his mouth to calm himself, but it hardly helped. The floor seemed to turn beneath his feet. He never thought it would be someone close to him.
There was no doubt left in his mind now that Dojima was the next victim.
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LOL reCAPTCHA would've been more appropriate for one of the art fills: Saturday doodles
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captcha sez 'condor put.' which is almost 'condom put.' listen to captcha.
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“Dude, you were right! I saw it. And, didn’t that person look familiar?”
“Y-yeah. I think I know who it is.” Souji paused.
“So? Spill it already!”
“Look, tomorrow’s Sunday. Do you think you can come over?”
“Hey, what’s wrong? Why won’t you tell me?”
“Yosuke,” Souji began, wondering how he should even articulate the line of thought that just occurred to him. “I have a really weird feeling about this. I think…I think we can’t tell the others if no one else saw it.”
Yosuke didn’t say anything for a moment. “Why?”
“I don’t know! Just promise me you’ll be here tomorrow morning. We’ll figure it out then.”
“And what if they did? I mean, it didn’t even start raining until around midnight, but someone else might’ve been up.”
“I know. I’ll think of something.”
“Tch. This isn’t like you at all, Souji. But fine. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Yosuke hung up without a farewell and Souji followed suit. There was no way he would be able to sleep tonight. He wondered if he should call the police station. Just to be sure.
Making his way downstairs, the house seemed unnaturally still. The rain outside had become more mist-like now, and he couldn’t even hear it against the house. Pushing Nanako’s door open slightly, he peeked inside to see her sleeping peacefully in the glow of her Iwatodai lamp. He sighed; his stomach hurt all over again just thinking about how she would take the news that her father was missing. But maybe she wouldn’t have to know.
Moving toward the kitchen, he spied Dojima’s work number scrawled across a yellow Post-it stuck crookedly to the refrigerator. Punching the numbers hard into his cell, he allowed himself no time to hesitate. Someone answered the line almost immediately.
“Inaba police department.” The voice was gruff, obviously tired and ready to leave work.
“Is Detective Dojima available?” Souji disguised his unease with bland politeness.
“Dojima-san left hours ago, son. What’s this in regards to?”
Souji ignored the question. “Did he get off early today or something?”
“Is this his nephew?”
“Yeah. I’m…just staying over at a friend’s tonight and I could’ve sworn he said he’d be working late. But if he’s already gone I’ll just try the house.”
“I see. Nope, far as I know he was gone by eight or so. Said he wasn’t feeling well.”
“Oh, okay, thanks. Sorry to’ve bothered you.”
Souji clapped his phone shut before the officer on the other end could get another word in. There was always the possibility that Dojima had hit the bar with that lanky partner of his. But that didn’t seem likely. Souji would just have to wait until the morning came until this could be resolved.
The medicine cabinet in the bathroom became his next priority. With any luck there would be some strong nighttime cold medicine he could take to knock him out for the rest of the night. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, Souji scowled. He really did look like he could use some rest-faint bluish crescents hugged the undersides of his eyes. As he pried the mirror open, he was relieved to find that something out there might be watching over him after all. After a few quick jerks to the cap, he downed a gulp of the bitter black licorice-flavored syrup without bothering to measure it first.
Trudging back to his room, he mused over what he had seen. There had never been more than one person at any given time on the Midnight Channel before. But then again, the two women were so motionless the entire time that they didn’t seem alive in the first place. What did it all mean?
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Taking these factors into consideration, it seemed Souji had subconsciously decided that any rescue party had to be small. Now he was positive of it. Whatever Dojima’s shadow would be like, no matter how the situation would play out, there was little doubt in Souji’s mind that Dojima would definitely not cope well with the knowledge that so many eyes had seen his inner turmoil once his shadow had been defeated. No, it was better if he kept his friends in the dark about this one. Yosuke would be enough. They’d been through so much already, right from the very beginning. Together, they could do it.
It wasn’t long before the sedative began to take control of his body and Souji’s thoughts trailed off. With heavy eyes, he submitted to the first wave of drowsiness without protest and fell under soon after.
When he awoke, it was to the rude alternation between a determined knocking and the doorbell’s shrill chime. Blinking groggily, he hauled his body out of bed and lumbered down the stairs to the source of the din. When he opened the door, the brightness of the morning sun assaulted his unprepared eyes and they watered immediately. Squinting in pain, he managed to make out Yosuke’s irritated face staring back at him.
“The hell, man? I’ve been knocking for like ten minutes!”
“Wh-what? Where’s Nanako?” Panic skirted his disorientation and he whipped back around to scour the house. All remained still, but it didn’t take him long to spot the note written in Nanako’s rounded hand resting on the table. He grabbed it up and read its contents, breathing a sigh of relief as he did so.
“Thank god,” Souji mumbled to himself. “She’s only gone to Mai’s house for the day...”
As he set the note back down, his relief crumbled anew as the previous night’s memories flooded back. When Yosuke touched his arm he jumped and wheeled around, having forgotten his friend was there at all.
“Damn, dude, you’re really wound up today. What the hell is going on already?” Everything about Yosuke’s presence radiated pure concern.
Souji looked at him sadly for a moment. “It was Dojima. He’s in there, Yosuke.”
Yosuke’s bottom lip fell open and his eyes widened as he processed what his friend had just relayed. “Dojima-san? Are you sure? But how?”
Souji shook his head. “I don’t know, but he never came home last night. I called the station, but they said he left early.”
“Shit.” Yosuke pulled his cell from the back pocket of his red jeans. “We have to get everyone over to Headquarters right away.”
As soon as Yosuke’s phone was open, Souji instinctively slapped it out of his hand and knocked it clattering to the floor. Yosuke looked angry as he bent to retrieve it. “What the fuck, Souji?!”
Once his line of thought from last night had returned, Souji’s determined mind began to operate seamlessly. It must have showed, because Yosuke’s irritation quickly dissolved. “Come sit down.”
Once seated on the living room sofa, Souji told Yosuke everything he knew about his uncle’s troubled past and his reasoning for not wanting to tell the others. Yosuke’s face betrayed his dubious feelings as he listened, but he nodded in affirmation every so often.
“I see,” Yosuke said once Souji had finished. “I guess I get it, but, isn’t it kinda dangerous for just the two of us to go in after him? I mean, how are we gonna find him in the first place?”
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“Teddie? But why? Rise’s the scouting pro now.”
“Look, I just don’t think it would be a good idea any other way. We can trust Teddie, too. It’s not like he’s completely lost his nose.” Though he wouldn’t tell Yosuke, something inside went off like an alarm bell at the sound of Rise’s name. He wanted to keep the girls away from this one at all costs, though he wasn’t sure exactly why. Whatever it was, he refused to question it. He’d learned long ago to implicitly trust his instincts when it came to his Persona and the other world.
Yosuke looked at him earnestly for a long moment, searching for something in Souji’s eyes until the latter finally looked away out of discomfort. Sighing, Yosuke wordlessly speed-dialed Teddie’s number.
“Hey, Teddie, you up yet? Oh…yeah…okay. Hey, listen, I need you to meet me and Souji over at Junes asap. It’s a secret…ugh, I don’t care, Ted! Just be there in fifteen, got it?” Yosuke clacked his cell shut and stood, facing away.
“You’ve been our leader all this time, so whatever’s telling you to do this, I know I’ve got to believe in, too.” Yosuke turned to his friend. “I can’t say I agree with it, but I trust you, man.”
Souji stood and touched Yosuke’s shoulder. “Thanks. I can’t do this without you.”
Yosuke’s face blossomed into a fierce blush. Turning away, he scratched at the back of his head and made a quick beeline for the front door. “L-let’s just get going. Nanako-chan will worry when she comes back.”
In no time the two were headed for Junes, neither talking, but each lost in his own uneasy thoughts about what they would find that day.
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Love the setup, love love love. I love that you even DID a setup! but now I'm sad there isn't more! Your writing is well-crafted, well-paced, and enjoyable to read, I hope there's more soon!
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Hooray, the continuation! I too am loving the setup. I'm kind of dreading yet really looking forward to finding out what's up with Dojima's shadow.
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Also, there WILL BE GAME SPOILERS in this story soon...
***
With a mechanical groan, the power doors leading into Junes slid open once the two approached and Souji bumped headlong into a suited man leaving the department store. Surprised, Souji’s mind instantaneously processed the familiar red tie practically smashed against his face and his heart skipped a painful beat. A hand clapped around his shoulder to keep him steady.
“Whoa there. Sorry ‘bout that.”
The voice was definitely not Dojima’s. Naturally, it wouldn’t have been. Souji looked up to see Adachi wearing his usual sheepish smile, a plastic Junes bag hanging from the man’s arm.
“What are you two up to?” Adachi asked. “Wasting a gorgeous day like this going shopping?” He glanced at Yosuke.
“We could ask you the same thing,” Yosuke casually pointed out.
“Oh, this?” Adachi lifted the bag on his arm a little. “Yeah, well, a man’s gotta eat! Too bad I’m such a lousy cook, though.” He smiled at Souji. “Dojima-san tells me you’ve got some culinary prowess yourself.”
Souji shrugged, agitated at this roadblock. “I manage.”
“Yep. Dojima-san’s sure lucky to have you around.” Adachi’s gaze practically glimmered as he eyed his partner’s nephew. “Well, I’d better get going. You kids be careful now.” He began to depart but suddenly paused and turned back to them. “Oh yeah, speaking of which. Tell Dojima-san to hurry and get better soon.” With that, he strode off.
The two boys watched him walk away for a moment before Souji looked to his friend. “Come on, we’ve wasted enough time already.”
“Hey, you don’t think we should’ve mentioned something about this to Adachi-san do you? I mean, they are partners after all,” Yosuke suggested.
“Are you nuts?” Souji scowled. “He still works for the police, remember?”
“Yeah, but… I mean, he’s helped us out on the sly before.”
“Forget it, Yosuke, we’re not taking that risk. Now let’s go.”
Before long the two were seated at their usual table in the food court; Teddie was already there, waiting for them in his bear suit.
“Wow, I’m impressed, Ted,” Yosuke declared. “You got here pretty quick.”
Teddie, however, did not appear flattered. “Wh-what’s going on? Are we going into the TV world today or something?”
With a meaningful glance from Yosuke, Souji nodded. “We need your help.”
“But, where are the others?” the bear all but whined.
Souji gestured with his hand. “This is a special mission, Teddie. Now listen. You have to promise to keep this a secret among the three of us. No matter what, okay?”
Teddie looked skeptical. “But why?”
“We made a promise to help figure out what you are, remember?” Yosuke chimed in. “Don’t you trust us?”
“Huh?! Of course I do!”
“Then promise.”
Teddie looked down at his feet, his expression sullen. “Okaaay. I promise.”
Souji breathed a sigh of relief. “Alright. Let’s get going. I’ll explain the situation once we’re inside.”
Standing quietly near the stack of TVs, Souji and Yosuke watched Teddie keenly. Souji had left out a few details in his reiteration of what he had previously told Yosuke, but it was enough. Teddie didn’t need to know everything, after all.
“Someone’s been thrown in all right. I…definitely smell something different.” Teddie tilted his head this way and that, nosing the murky air. Suddenly he stopped and pointed excitedly into the distance. “Oh! I think he’s this way!”
“You found him?” Souji asked and approached the bear. “Quick, take us there!”
Souji’s wild determination momentarily took Teddie aback. “P-please, be careful, Senpai. I don’t know what I’d do if you got hurt…”
Smiling, Souji tried to put Teddie at ease. “Hey, don’t worry. I will. We both will.”
Nodding firmly, Teddie turned toward the source of the interference. He led the pair through the dense fog before two hazy red blots of light winked on in the distance.
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“Principle and…desire?” Yosuke read aloud. “What does that mean?”
“I still have a bad feeling about this,” Teddie complained.
Souji turned to the bear. “Thanks, Teddie, Yosuke and I can take it from here. Wait for us.”
“Um, sure thing. Good luck, guys.” Teddie frowned as he watched the boys disappear into the ominous gateway, but resolved to uphold Souji’s wishes by repressing the urge to follow.
Inside the house a long, cold hallway immediately greeted them. Everything from the walls to the flooring appeared to be made of some sort of drab, gray stone.
“Geez, it’s frickin’ cold in here!” Yosuke wrapped his arms around his chest to suppress his shivers. “What do you think this place is, anyways?”
Souji shook his head. Something was definitely familiar about the entryway itself, though. It wasn’t like the rest of the hallway, but was instead floored with wood. Even a well-used mat lay underfoot. It was almost as if…
“It looks like the house,” Souji realized as he scouted his immediate surroundings. “I mean, it looks just like the doorway to my uncle’s house.”
It was true. Everything there was the same, but something remained missing as well. No shoes rested anywhere in sight. Souji hadn’t realized it until now, but the sight of Nanako’s shoes at the door always made the Dojima house feel, well, contented. Like there was someone there that would always welcome you home. But this house was empty and devoid of warmth.
When he came back to the present, Souji saw that Yosuke had already begun trekking up the hallway. He jogged to catch up.
As the two walked, the hard stone hallway yielded several closed doors on either side. Though he tried to push them open, and though the freezing knobs were clearly unlocked, Souji could not get any of them to budge. It was as if something, or someone, behind those doors held them shut with determined force. The further he and Yosuke walked, the more dispersed the doors became. Even the doorframes began to look different; hard, jutting edges replaced the smooth sterile order forming the previous structures. Here, everything seemed more hastily and unstably thrown together. Even the stone tiles making up the floor attested it. The squares rested at haphazard angles: both overlapped and separated by wide spaces, as if they had been flung from a distance like frisbees and subsequently cemented down.
“Is it me, or is it actually getting warmer?” Yosuke asked and turned to look behind them. The path from which they’d come had been swallowed in seething darkness. He nearly tripped on a lump in the floor, but Souji caught him.
“Careful,” Souji warned and helped Yosuke recover. “I think you’re right though. It does feel warmer now. We may be close.”
“Yeah. I get that feeling, too.”
Still, the odd house remained strangely empty. The path was straight and long-impossible to get lost on. They had neither seen many Shadows along the way. It was all going just a little too easily, and though that fact didn’t sit well with either of them, neither vocalized their concerns.
Finally, the stone motif gave over completely to ancient, rich woods. Sconces bearing mysterious light spotted the walls between the jagged doors and occasionally spit up red sparks. The hallway walls and floor seemed to creak with each step they took. Yosuke paused to run a finger over a plank in the wall. When he drew it back, an ashy film covered his fingertip.
“Dust,” he declared and wiped the matter on his jeans.
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Yosuke looked wide-eyed at Souji, a blush covering his cheeks. “Y-you don’t think?”
Souji scrutinized the doorknob for a moment before covering it with a shaky hand. When he twisted, however, nothing happened. The lewd sounds continued uninterrupted and he had to fight to keep from blushing himself.
“I don’t think it’s this room. Let’s keep going.” Souji hurried away.
Though the doors they encountered at this point were few, each boasted events along the same unseemly lines as the first. Souji had to swallow his disconcertment and attempt to open each one, though none would yield to him.
“This really is too much,” Yosuke nearly whispered when he heard the sharp cries of pleasure from another door’s unseen side. When Souji looked at him, he had to turn his burning face away.
“Are you okay?” Souji asked.
“Y-yeah! I mean, it’s nothing.” Yosuke tugged on the front hem of his shirt and stepped to the front line where Souji would be unable to get a good look at him. The fog had grown thicker than usual, and he was very nearly thankful for it. What he hadn’t anticipated was nearly running smack into a dead end almost immediately after his retreat. Another door waited there.
“This has to be it,” Souji said as he stepped up beside his friend. “Ready?”
Yosuke breathed deep to compose himself. “As ready as I can be.”
Souji nodded, and as he turned the handle the door practically flew open for him.
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I really like your description of Dojima's bit of shadow-space. Looking forward to the next part!
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