Author's Note: Wow, it's been a long time since I've written a fanfic. ^__^;; I may be a little rusty in general so I apologize. I do want to say that this fic is a little AU in the aspect that in the game it always took people so long to recover from coming out of the TV World even if you saved them a long while before hand, so I sped that up but kept the dates in order so things to get wonky. I also want to apologize if the characters end up being OOC, though with Souji it's just up for the player's interpretation. w

Anyway, this is a SoujixKanji fic, so if you don't like yaoi please don't flame. I liked the idea of this pairing the moment you really got to know Kanji and I loved the idea of a character questioning their self in such a way.

It will be rated T for now though it may increase depending on the direction it flows. This note ended being longer than intended………On with the story!

It was raining again. Souji stood at the doors of the school, looking forlornly at the gray clouds as he debated about how to spend his afternoon seeing that he didn't have his day care duties. There was also wasn't a point for him to hang around the school; nearly all the students fled the campus to make it through the rain as quickly as possible and the clubs he was a part of weren't meeting. Heaving a sigh Souji decided to head over to Aiya for their Rainy Day Special and figured that, if there was time, he would stop by the shrine to speak with the fox until sunset.

Souji listlessly opened his umbrella and stepped out into the sheet of rain, his mind slowly drifting as the drumming of water above him blocked out every other sound. He floated from thought to thought, his memories milling about as he mindlessly retraced steps towards the shopping district. It was the first time he really stopped to think about the friends he had made in Inaba and how much he really cared for them even after such a short time knowing them. At first it all seemed like nothing more than a 'who dunnit' game, an odd activity to do after school but as things began to escalate their bonds seemed to tighten and it was beginning to look like nothing could tear them apart.

"Damn it."

The exclamation caused Souji to come to a stop, suddenly noticing Kanji standing beneath a tree. He was rummaging through his bag and cursing beneath his breath as he pulled out a water logged book. "Kanji?"

Kanji looked up abruptly with a furrowed brow and a clenched jaw. The anger in his face seemed to melt in to an embarrassed expression as their eyes met. "Ah, Senpai," Kanji smile, "I didn't think anyone was still at school."

"A few clubs are still going," Souji replied. He paused and watched as Kanji pulled out another water logged object, the boy sighing and ramming both wet items back into his bag. "I take it you didn't bring your umbrella."

"Didn't think I had to," Kanji replied as he slung his bag over his shoulder, "Guess I was wrong." He looked out across the rain drenched street and frowned slightly, muttering to himself again. Souji gave a soft smile and held out his umbrella, the smile growing a little wider as a rosy hue bloomed in Kanji's cheeks. "D-don't worry about it, Senpai; my place is outta the way for you."

Souji shook his head, "I'm going to the shopping district for some food. Come on." It took a moment of silent negotiations for Kanji to comply but soon the two boys were strolling down the street. They huddled beneath the umbrella, Kanji eventually taking it out of frustration and holding it in a way so neither of them got too wet. Eventually the two began to speak about their classes, though it all seemed a little awkward. It wasn't long ago that their small group saved Kanji from the TV World and the underclassman was still nervous and agitated by what his shadow had said. It didn't help that Yosuke kept bringing up the subject and began to make verbal jabs at the bleached blond.

Kanji decided to join Souji for a meal, the two of them deciding to sit and watch as the owner prepared their food. Silence had settled between the two boys and Kanji shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked at Souji out of the corner of his eye, feeling a mass of butterflies spring to life in his stomach as he really took a look at his senpai. He lowered his eyes and tried to sooth the odd feelings but something was fighting against him and he knew he would just be denying himself again. "So, uh, Senpai," Kanji cleared his throat, "it seems like things are going well between you and Yukiko-senpai."

A smile crept across Souji's face but he shrugged in response, "There isn't really anything special between us, Kanji-kun; I've just been trying to help her with her cooking." His voice trailed off as he noticed a slight look of relief flash across Kanji's face as he fidgeted with his chopsticks. "She's getting better," he continued, "but I think the cooks at the inn have more to do with that then I realize."

The conversation slowly shifted to hushed whispers of the Midnight Channel, the discussion getting heated as Kanji began to hear more and more about what happened to Yukiko and the others in their small group. To relieve the tension in the air Souji changed the subject to their personal struggles with the idea of Personas and what exactly they could be. Their conversation dwindled to silence as their meal was placed in front of them, Kanji's face lighting up as he took in the scent of the food. Souji wasn't surprised to see Kanji finish the special but, in the end, he would have to try another day to overcome the challenge.

"Looks like the streetlights are coming on," Souji sighed, catching sight of the street as another customer arrived. He gave Kanji a smile as he stood, "I should get going."

Kanji nodded and followed after his upperclassmen, both pausing at the door when they noticed it was still raining. "Man, doesn't look like it'll let up; you think we should watch the Midnight Channel tonight??"

"I think so." Souji opened his umbrella and looked at Kanji, "I'll walk you home."

"I-I'm just up the street, Senpai; I can make it without a problem."

"The rain is still coming down pretty hard and the last thing any of us need is a cold. Now come on." Souji stepped out into the rain and Kanji grudgingly followed, opting not to fight with the umbrella and hunch over to accommodate. "Thanks for coming with me; I don't see you all that much."

Kanji's face slowly took on a rosy hue and he gave a soft smile, "Yeah, it was pretty nice." Their paces slowed as they came to the Tatsumi Textiles storefront. They stood in silence, both looking at each other but neither one moving. As Souji opened his mouth to bid farewell Kanji cleared his throat, "Senpai, there's something that I think I need to tell you."

Souji gave the bleach blonde boy a bright smile, "What's up?"

Kanji rubbed the back of his neck and took a step closer to the upperclassman, "I-I think I like you." A look of confusion crossed Souji's face as he looked up into Kanji's eyes but the confusion quickly melted into surprise as the bleached blond leaned forward and kissed him softly. The umbrella tumbled to the ground with a loud clatter and the two were quickly becoming drenched in the downpour. A million thoughts ran through Souji's mind as he closed his eyes, giving into the kiss and reaching up to hold the underclassmen in place.

Upon feeling the touch of Souji's hand on his neck Kanji pulled away as sudden as he began the kiss, his face red with embarrassment and his heart pounding in his chest. "Sorry," he muttered, turning his eyes away. "I don't know what made me do that.

"Its okay, Kanji-kun," Souji stammered. He swallowed hard, hoping to ease the butterflies in his stomach. "I kinda-"

"Kanji, is that you?" The door to the textile shop slid open and Kanji's mother appeared in the doorway. She looked at Kanji and then at Souji, a soft smile crossing her aged face. "I thought I heard voices! My, you're both soaking wet; why don't you and your friend come inside to dry off, Kanji."

"Ma," Kanji growled, "Senpai has to get home."

Mrs. Tatsumi's eyes sparkled slightly, "He'll have caught a cold by the time he made it back home." She took Souji's hand and smiled, leading the boy into the textile shop as Kanji cursed beneath his breath and retrieved the fallen umbrella. "Why don't you call home and tell them where you are. I can get you something warm to drink while you wait for your clothes to dry. Kanji, dear, can you see if we have any clean towels lying around?"

Kanji pushed past the two and disappeared, cursing loudly as he stomped through the house. "You don't have to do this," Souji smiled. "I can get home pretty quick and I don't think Kanji really likes the idea of me staying here."

"Oh, he's taken a shine to you," Mrs. Tatsumi said with a chuckle. Souji could feel his cheeks grow warm as a deep blush crossed his face. "It's always 'Senpai this' or 'Senpai that.' Kanji doesn't have many friends and I'm thinking he really enjoys your company." She led Souji deeper into the shop, which slowly gave way to their living space, continuing to talk about Kanji's past and the issues he seemed to have lately. "Why don't you give your family a call? I'll get you something warm to drink and see if Kanji has found a towel for you."

Souji fumbled with his cell phone, muttering to himself as he tried to find a dry spot on his clothes to wipe away the water. Surprisingly Doujima answered the house phone and after a short conversation told him to make it home as soon as he could, the streets weren't that safe and, being a detective he was on edge about having Souji walking around so late. He tried his best to ease his uncle's mind but it didn't seem to do much good.

"Heads up." Souji had little time to react to the warning, finding a towel suddenly hitting him in the back of the head. He pulled it off his head and turned to give Kanji a playful glare but paused despite himself; Kanji had changed out of his wet clothes and into a pair of loose fitting black jeans and black muscle shirt, his hair no longer slicked back but ruffled from the obvious action of drying it. Souji felt himself blush once more as he noticed that he was staring at the underclassmen. He looked away and tried to hide his flustered expression behind the guise of wiping his face.

"I found some old clothes that you can change into while your clothes dry," Kanji said as he held out a pair of folded pants and a worn shirt. "The bathroom is down the hall." Souji muttered his thanks as he took the clothes and disappeared towards the lavatory. Kanji balled his hands into fists, punching the wall with grunt, 'What was I thinking? I should apologize.'

"I have some tea in the kitchen." Kanji looked at his mother and gave a sigh; she knew that look. "What wrong?"

Kanji shook head, "Nothing, Ma. Just have a lot on my mind."

Mrs. Tatsumi gave her son a soft smile and patted him on the shoulder, "What ever is bothering you just know that things will get better in the end. I'll get your friend's clothes and dry them, you go have some tea."

A pot of tea sat on the table along with two cups waiting to be filled. Kanji sat crossed legged and poured himself a cup, welcoming the warmth that quickly radiated into his hands. He took a sip of the tea, catching a glimpse of Souji entering the room out of the corner of his eye. The towel he had tossed at his upperclassman was draped over his shoulders though he appeared to be as dry as he could be; neither boy spoke as they drank tea and the feeling of unease was slowly becoming too much.

"Senpai," Kanji swallowed hard, "about what happened. . . ."

Souji looked at his reflection in the tea and took a deep breath, "Yeah, I've been thinking about that myself."

"I'm sorry if I-"

"I didn't really mind it."

Kanji's face quickly flushed with embarrassment, "WH-what?" His mind began to race with a myriad of questions but he didn't know where to start. He averted his gaze and took a drink of his tea to ease his stomach.

A nervous laugh escaped Souji and he ran a hand through his hair, "I was a little surprised and, well, confused but, you know, it felt right."

"It felt right?" Kanji looked up in surprise his face once more growing rosy. Souji gave him a soft smile and he returned it, looking bashfully down at his cup of tea. Reality tugged at his mind, though, and his mood seemed to grow somber. "What happens now?"

"I really don't know," Souji shrugged.