Sea of the Unconscious Part 9

[madimpossibledreamer]

oh yeah I forgot to mention this my thermometer was apparently off by enough degrees to make me panic because it was old (and also because I accidentally got water in places it shouldn't have been when I was cleaning it possibly)...so that's good.

Main Points:
Persona 4 Sea of the Unconscious
Summary: Yosuke was not part of the original investigation team. In fact, he wasn't even part of their world. He was a huge fanboy. And then he fell into Inaba, and his life changed forever...
Really old, so not perfectly written, and it was during my FONTS EXIST phase. Slightly inspired by Chisotahn's Ten Steps fic. The entire concept is a little chuuni/Gary Stu. I don't think it would be bad with some tweaking, but that's tweaking i don't really want to do, so we've got this instead.
Word Count: 2333
Rating: teen
Warning: This is, uh.  It means well.  It has better intentions than the ones writing the original Persona 4 (and the animation, and Golden), but it's still a little cringy and stereotypical.  Arguably that could be because it's a Shadow, but even then.  (Though some of the interactions between the different Shadows really do kind of show an internal struggle, so that part works.)  It's got some of my favorite lines in the entire fic, but.  (I guess it's a distillation of the best and worst parts of P4.  Of which there are some really high highs and some kind of disgusting lows.)  Thought I'd warn.  Also some outright homophobia from the new Magician Takuma.

 

        Suited Yosuke bounded up the escalator, realizing only at the top that everyone wasn't right behind him.  He turned to look, a blank and confused look that seemed a natural part of his face.
        Souji was still having to tug along the young Yosuke, who wanted to stay at least fifty feet away from his other self and was threatening to burst into tears at any moment.  As much as Souji loved taking care of children, he hated it when they cried.  Sometimes it was really difficult for them to calm down, especially if you didn't know them well enough to know the buttons that would ease them back into their default happy, bouncy state.  And it always bothered him when he couldn't fix anything socially.  "You know what we're looking for," he called out, attempting to maneuver the little boy onto the escalator.
        "And our shoes are thirty percent off," Junes Yosuke reminded them.  Rise squealed.  "The ladies in the clothing department are more than happy to assist you with everything, including trying on clothing."
        Suited Yosuke scratched at the back of his head, looking highly embarrassed.  "Um, Rise, you know that it might not be safe, right?  I mean, the clothing might have spells or...you know, something in them.  And I hate this guy on the intercom.  He's more of a perv than the usual Inaba reporter guy, and that's saying something."
        "You...do know that's you, right?" Chie asked, and he winced.
        "That...makes it worse, not better.  I really, really want to beat something up."
        Kanji grunted in agreement.
        "Figure out if this Yosuke is likely to attack first," Souji called, still near the bottom.
        They nodded, and spread out.  It was the clothing section, if the clothing section had taken up an entire floor.  Teddie was already getting distracted by shirts covered in glitter that 'complimented his natural sparkle'.
        Kanji headed toward the changing stalls and noticed that one of the doors appeared to be locked.  "Hey, Yosuke, you there?" he called out cautiously.
        A sniffle came from the stall.  "'m not here," he mumbled.
        Kanji snorted.  "The hell you're not.  Come out."
        "D-don't feel like it," came the answer.  "J-just, you know.  You've found me.  That's enough, right?"
        Tatsumi shook his head, getting frustrated.  "Don't give me that shit.  Look, you want me to break that door down?"
        "No!"  This time Yosuke's voice sounded several octaves above normal.  "Look, you've found me, I'm fine, but the other me might not if you don't hurry.  I mean, bad things happen in these dungeons to people from the real world, not the TV world, and I don't like the sound of the announcements, because they're weird and creepy and I just...Um.  S-so, go, have fun s-s-saving me.  I'll be fine, I mean, of course I'll be fine.  I'm a Shadow, and I could totally go grr if anyone, I mean anything attacked me.  If I felt like it.  I've got music and a stack of comic books and I'm one hundred percent okay, thanks for worrying.  I mean, y-you can tell them that, because there's no need for me to do that, right?"
        A little more sniffing convinced Kanji that Yosuke was trying to hold back tears.  And he definitely was hiding something.  "Do you think I'm stupid or something?  I'm coming in."
        Yosuke cried out in alarm, but Kanji broke the door in anyway.  And just stared in shock.
        The auburn-haired teen was blushing deeply.  He really had been crying, as makeup ran a little down his cheeks, and bit lips a bit too red to be natural, probably trying to keep in whatever other reactions he might have.  His eyelashes were emphasized by whatever girls wore to do that kind of thing.
        He was also wearing what looked like the female version of the Yasogami uniform, yellow skirt, long socks, skirt and all.  He fiddled with the sleeves uncomfortably, quickly putting his legs down from where he'd pulled them onto the bench in the changing room.  Kanji caught the slightest glimpse of white briefs.
        What was even more shocking was that he pulled it off...well.  If he'd been around during the Miss Yasogami pageant last year, he'd have given Teddie a run for his money, with the soft, vulnerable yellow tinted eyes, the shy attitude, the soft legs-and were they shaved?  He looked a bit...unprotected without the headphones.  A girl's sewed bag (fairly good craftsmanship, too, he thought) sat next to her.
        Kanji quickly shut his mouth and pulled his brain back into a more acceptable place.
        "W-well, I...um..."  Luckily enough, it seemed Yosuke was having just as bad a time thinking, much less talking, as he was.  That actually helped him put his thoughts together in a coherent manner.
        "Dude, um."  He could feel a slight burning in his own cheeks.  Embarrassment, that was it.  It was like seeing his own Shadow again.  Not something that needed repeating, really.  "We're here to save you.  So get off your ass and come out already."
        "N-no!" Yosuke squeaked.  "Th-th-there's no need for that.  I mean, Idon'twanthimtoseemelikethis."  He seemed on the edge of hyperventilating.  "It's really nice of you all, I mean, I r-really appreciate it.  C-coming to rescue me I-I mean."
        Kanji blinked, trying to decipher what had just been said.  "U-uhm, what do you mean by him?" he asked cautiously.
        "N-nothing.  I, I m-mean...It's nothing.  Wh-what could it be?"  He trailed off into a nervous giggle.  Kanji still stared, unconvinced.  Yosuke looked at the floor, twisting the skirt in his fingers.  "P-promise you won't s-say anything," he whispered, looking broken.  Tatsumi felt the urge to protect the little lady.  Even though only the 'little' part of the description was accurate.
        "Sure," he answered, scratching the back of his neck for lack of anything better for his hands to do.
        "S-s-s-s..." Yosuke stammered, then paused, trying to get control of his lips and tongue back probably.  "S-s-sou...Souji."  He looked up with lost, wide yellow eyes.  "I-I just...I'm doomed," he admitted, staring down at his feet encased in soft black socks.
        Kanji blinked again.  "Y-you like dudes?"
        Yosuke laughed hysterically.  "L-like you're any better!"  He quickly looked hurt and panicked.  "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, that was mean and cruel and I'm just...I'm sorry."
        "Have you found anything, Kanji-kun?" Yukiko's soft voice called.  Panicked, the Shadow stared at him for a moment before whirling back into the stall and slamming the door.
        Yukiko walked up and stared at Kanji and then the stall door.  He didn't say anything as he heard the sounds of crying start up again from inside.
        "What did you say to him?" The Amagi Heiress looked disapproving, and Kanji had been on the team long enough to know that her wrath was something to avoid.
        "I didn't.  I think he's a little..."  He fumbled around for the correct word for a moment, before deciding on "...shy."
        Hysterical laughter and then a hiccup came from inside the changing room.
        "Yosuke?"  Both of them jumped, not having noticed Souji approach with pouting child in tow.
        Absolute silence issued from the stall.  Then, softly, "Souji?  Is that you?"
        Souji smiled and nodded, even though the one he was trying to coax out couldn't see him.  "Trust me, I won't laugh at you."
        "I'm..."  Yosuke started, but he couldn't finish the sentence.
        To everyone's astonishment, the door swung silently open.  This time, he was carrying a pair of black slip-ons with strawberry buckles in one hand and strawberry-decorated headphones and an mp3 in the other.  This time, the shy look was accompanied by one a little more hopeful, the smallest of smiles appearing on the face.  "H-hey Souji."
        The area was absolutely quiet as the onlookers tried to take in what they were seeing.  Kanji realized that he'd gotten used to it already.
        "Seriously?  That's disgusting!"  Takuma yelled, having just turned the corner.  "We already have one in the party; we don't need another one!"
        Yosuke burst into tears, the shoes dropping from a lifeless grip.  The cute headphones followed in short order, and the crack as they broke only made Yosuke cry harder.
        For the first time in a long while, Souji let go of the child's hand as he surged forward, being careful not to step on the precious headphones, and hugged this Yosuke tight.  Not the way you'd hug a friend, either.  At least, not if your friend was male.  One arm went around the waist, the other rubbing comforting circles on the back.
        Yosuke quickly surrendered to the embrace, crying hard into Souji's shoulder.  "You idiot...that's for girls..." he muttered.
        "So?" the leader asked, a half smile on his face.
        "I-I...how...?"  Yosuke couldn't find the words.  Neither, really, could the rest of them.
        Seta Souji smirked.  "It's my gift."
        "Y-yeah, okay, so sometimes I do want to b-be treated like a g-girl, and you're right, this is nice."  He began to relax, the sobbing slowing.
        "Wow!  You make a good girl, Yosuke!" Chie stated, giving him a double thumbs up as she appeared at the other end.
        Yosuke giggled.  "Even...crushes on guys."  He pushed Souji away, blushing prettily again.  "Th-that's enough.  Y-y-you're such the h-heartbreaker, Seta."
        "Leave the kid alone or I'll beat you up," Kanji warned Takuma.
        The magician grinned.  "Have fun with your new boyfriend."
        "Kijmuta-san," the leader warned.  This was no time for that.  Not that there ever was one, really.  "Stop teasing them unless you actually want a fight."
        "I could kick you," Chie offered, and Takuma cringed.
        "Okay, all right already!  Sheesh, Chie, you're violent."
        "I can't...I mean, I can't do much, Souji."  He fiddled with the skirt again as the other two Yosukes and the rest of the party caught up.  Suit Yosuke gave this floor's Yosuke a dark glance.  That made him shrink inside himself even further, shaking a little.  "I'm...I'm not really that useful."
        "Two things-one, you're probably wrong, and two, that's not a problem.  You're welcome to come with us if you want."  A beaming smile from Yosuke told Souji that was the right answer.
        "O-okay.  Th-thanks.  You're the best."  He took a deep breath.  "I-I um.  I could answer questions.  Or whatever.  Wh-whatever you want me to do, S-s-souji."
        "I will repeat my earlier announcement-our sales girls are willing to do anything for our loyal customers."  This Yosuke blushed deeply and stared at the floor again.
        He was cheered up slightly as the child gave him the slightest of smiles.
        "What can we expect from the next couple floors?" Souji asked quietly, taking the kid's hand again.
        "W-well, if m-my theory is correct, um.  It's not just a couple floors."  He put on his shoes slowly, carefully.
        "How many do you think we have left to go, then?"  Teddie asked brightly.
        This Yosuke winced.  "Um.  If I can do math, f-fifteen?"
        Suit Yosuke snarled, getting in the new Yosuke's face.  "You're an idiot.  It can't be that many."
        He shivered and drew back in himself, mumbling "...if I'm a Fool and t-there's twenty two arcana, then yeah, maybe..."
        "Do I have to separate you two?" Souji asked, annoyance and amusement warring in his face.
        Suit Yosuke's face cleared.  Instantly he was back to a carefree, cheerful grin.  "Nah, someone already did that."
        "Good, because this is important."  He turned back to the one in the dress.  "You're saying you're a wild card like me?"
        Yosuke blushed.  "Well, I w-wouldn't say that, exactly.  I mean, a wild card, but u-um, not l-like you.  Because that isn't, um, possible."  He paused, then continued in a soft voice, "Th-this, if I had to guess, is, what, the seventh floor?  Lovers?"  He bit his lip again.  “You’ve already gone through the Fool, Magician, um.  Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, and Lovers.  Souji, Takuma, Yukiko, Margaret, Kanji, Dojima, and Rise.”
        Souji started, staring.  How could Yosuke possibly know that?
        “The next one’s probably Chariot.  Then Justice, Hermit, Fortune, Strength, Hanged Man, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, and World.  Um, I don’t remember off the top of my head which are likely to be which.  P-personality wise.  I never really was that good at tarot.  I mean, it was interesting, but I had to look it up every time.  And knowing the personality would probably help predict which are going to attack.  I’m…I’m sorry, I really am.  I should be more useful!” He literally hit his head.
        “Souji-kun, why is he talking about cards?” Yukiko asked quietly.
        That…made a lot of sense, actually.  Well, it didn’t; it was just one more question.  How did Lovers Yosuke know about the tarot deck?  He realized he’d never told the others about the compendium, the social links.  All that hard work fusing Persona of different types and remembering to have the right Personae with him for a week so he’d be more likely to increase in power…
        The others had never bothered to ask how he had so much power, never raised an eyebrow when bigger and better Persona would make an appearance every fight.
        Lovers Yosuke blushed prettily and looked at his feet.  “I-I um.”
        “It’s…it’s a part of our power.  Of the Shadow’s too.  Each one of us corresponds to a particular arcana.  What I don’t understand,” he continued quietly, and Yosuke gulped, yellow eyes now looking like a cornered deer or rabbit, wide and terrified, “…is how Yosuke knew about it.”
        “I-I don’t…If I explain that, you’ll hate me!”  And then he burst into tears, body shaking as he covered his face and cried.  “I…don’t…don’t make me, please don’t m-make me, you’ll hate me, I don’t want you to hate me, p-please don’t…”
        Suit Yosuke looked between the leader and the now sobbing Yosuke.  “Well done.”  He looked vaguely amused.
        “Let’s just continue for now.  Maybe one of your other selves will explain.” Souji stated quietly, and the teenager calmed down.  And blushed again.
        “Th-thanks, Souji!”
        “Oh, brother,” Suit Yosuke commented, and headed up the stairs that had appeared.