Inspiration seems to come from the most unlikely places. This one was inspired by listening to Mari Iijima's song Cinderella and watching RahXephon movie. Those and the thought that Joshua's been the Composer for a very long time and he was just waiting for his sucessor though I don't know who that will be if ever. It's rather unforgiving, what I did to him in this fic, I think.

Anyway, here is the fic. Thank you very much to everyone who read and reviewed my fics. Please forgive me if I don't reply but please know that I appreciate it and thank you.

This is a JoshuaxNeku fic with slight spoilers.TWEWY doesn't belong to me but I like Joshua. The small translation of the song doesn't belong to me either. Please forgive me.


"Sleep Until Dawn"

Just like Cinderella's love,

Cease as time.

All that engrave time,

Sleep, until dawn.

-Cinderella, Mari Iijima


"How long do you have?" Neku asked, quietly where he laid bathing in the moonlight that was the only light in his room.

"Until dawn, I suppose…" Joshua replied. Shibuya slept for once and all was silent.

"Is that enough time…?" He asked again.

Joshua shrugged. "There's never enough time…" He replied.

"Then… this is the last night, I suppose…"

He didn't want to believe it. But it was true. He felt it. Shibuya's new Composer will arrive soon and take Joshua's place. He hoped it didn't happen so soon. But there was never enough time.

Even for the Composer.

"It is."

"I see…"

But just because he said it, doesn't mean he should accept it. There was only one end for a Composer. It was erasure. Joshua was no exception to the rule. His successor had come in his time and he only wished there was more time for them.

Joshua seemed to take everything calmly. He'd been prepared for this day for so long he almost wished it came sooner. But that was before Neku. Now, with Neku in his bed in the moonlight, it wished it had come much, much later.

But his predictions have never been wrong before.

Why should it be wrong now?

"It's not fair, you know…" Neku remarked.

"It never is." Joshua replied.

No, it never was fair. Not quite. But at least they had tonight. Joshua turned to Neku with a smile.

"Why now? Why can't it be next week or the week after that?"

It sounded childish, petulant, in his ears but could he help it? They had so little time in their hands. Joshua didn't answer him. It was just the way things were.

"I'm sorry, Neku…" he said instead.

"I won't even be left with a trace of you, wouldn't I?" He murmured, remembering Rhyme's soul gathered in a pin.

"No." he replied. "But, if you want, I can give you memories of us."

"Memories…?"

"Memories of us together, of us growing up together, the time we should have spent together… Just living life."

It won't be enough. They both knew that. Memories can only comfort you enough but in the end it was just that. Just memories. They never touch you, they never hold you, they can never kiss you goodnight. But if they had no choice at least they had this. If only…

"You can do that?" Neku murmured. It was only a small comfort but a comfort nonetheless. He'll take anything he could get.

Joshua smiled. "Only if you want me to…" He said.

The clock ticked away in that moonlit room. If they could they would have time stop so that hour would never come. But it was a selfish thing to wish for. A selfish wish that could never come true.

When dawn came, Joshua was no more.

END


I need to sleep... Lots of sleep...