A/N: Thanks to everyone for the support! Sorry if I didn't get to reply to all the reviews! I know it's been so long, but I hope you guys get these overdue replies: Rhyme13kh14Xion8: Yep, updated and finished! Sorry if Rhyme isn't mentioned much, but I'm thinking about doing another scene on her scene with Joshy ;) Enjoy! Yvune: Ohoho, of course there'll be more! Can't resist putting moar JoshuaxNeku :) Updated and finished! Enjoy as well! CHAPTER ONE ***NEKU POV*** It's been three months since the game, and the world has become a bit brighter than before. Yeah, yeah, I learned my lesson and shit like that. I still have a bit of an issue with the personal space and letting people in but hey, at least I'm working on it, right? Well, my friends aren't so bad after all, and they're pretty ok to be around with for a while. Beat and Rhyme are even closer now ever since the game. Though Rhyme lost her dreams in the game, I think she's finding something to reach for. She seems like she wants to follow in the footsteps of her brother. She's as nice as ever, still the perceptive girl I always saw in her. Her eyes almost always were focused and they held so much in them, like they knew everything. It's like she always saw things we never did, and she always comprehended more unlike the human eye would. She was strong and tough like her brother, but she was also objective and understanding at times. She was the type of person who could listen to problems and was always there for you. Beat also grew more protective of Rhyme since the game, and he almost never was separated from her. He was so patient in everything he did with Rhyme, and he always took time to listen to her and explain to her about some things she didn't understand. He was always tough in front of us, but deep inside, we all knew that he was a softy. We were all happy to meet Eri and we were relieved when we finally talked to the rightful owner of her body. She and Shiki are really close, they're just like sisters. She always had Shiki's back, and Shiki had hers, too. It's like they were twins; they really understand each other in every way. She's much louder than Shiki, but she knows when to keep quiet. Although she isn't as intelligent as her best friend, she did know how to be a great friend like Shiki. Shiki's learning to like herself more, and we were all cool when we saw her again after the game. She doesn't look bad at all, actually I think I kind of like her. She's sweet, pretty, and everything I saw about her in the game. I loved the way she smiled and laughed, the way her eyes would sparkle in the sun, the way she could just think positive about everything and be so carefree—she's just so—I can't quite describe her at all. I think I'm even in love with her. I'm just at home eating breakfast and doodling randomly in my sketchpad. I settled for drawing a boy with slightly wavy hair and a wide grin. He had sharp eyes, and the frame of his body was thin but tall. He wore a neat button- up shirt with dark colored jeans and white shoes. To finish it I added a pair of beautiful wings behind his back. I made sure to put every detail carefully. After I finished erasing all the unnecessary lines I raised up the sketchpad so I could scrutinize my work. I frowned when I found that all I was looking at was a boy about the same age as me, staring back with an all-too familiar smirk. On instinct I planned to tear out the page, but I decided against it because the drawing was too good for me to throw away. "He never came," I muttered to myself as I put away my dishes in the sink and washed them. Upon returning upstairs I placed my pencils and erasers in their proper places and I stuffed my sketchpad in my already full drawer. My phone beeped and I flipped it open to look who texted. It was Beat. "Hey Phones, if you got nothing to do today, let's meet up at Hachiko and grab some lunch later. I'll text the others yo." I smiled as I replied back. I decided that today was the perfect day to move to the next step; I was going to ask Shiki to be my girlfriend. I know that it's only been three months, but we've been going out for a while now, and I really like her. I rubbed my hands together and I got ready. I took a shower and I put on my regular J of the M clothes. I slung my purple headphones over my neck, and did the same with my mp3. I know, I know, but I still like keeping them around my neck. I got out of the house, locked the door behind me, and set out for WildKat to pass the time. I thought of buying a small gift for Shiki, so I went to Shibuya Department store to find something for her. Well, even if I hated shopping, it was for Shiki anyway. After I spent a good deal of time (and probably money), I came out of the department store with a small box tucked safely in my pocket. It wasn't anything too big or anything, just a small ruby pendant strung on a gold chain. I smiled to myself and headed in the direction of Cat Street. I came to the door of the tiny deserted café, and I let myself in. "What's up Boss? The usual?" Mr. H asks, not looking up from the mug he was wiping. "Yeah," I said as I took a seat on one of the barstools on the counter and cranked up the music on my headphones. Absent-mindedly I tapped the rhythm of the song I was listening to on the table top. Mr. H served up my order and I took a swig from it almost mechanically. After a while, I became aware that the music in my headphones was already blaring into my ears. I lowered the volume so I could hear more of my surroundings, and besides, I didn't wanna get deaf before I reached fifty. "Oh what a surprise, look who came to visit. How thoughtful of you, dear!" I heard a voice from behind me. Whipping around, I scowled upon seeing the tall, slender boy from my sketchpad come to life in front of me, with those unmistakable violet eyes, that wavy ash- blonde hair, and most of all, that smug grin plastered on his face. "I didn't come here to visit," I snapped back at the dick wad who was now sauntering up to me. "Aww come on Nekky, is that any way to treat your partner after seeing him in a very long time?" I twitched as I heard that stupid, annoying giggle that came out so often from the prick's mouth during our week in the Reaper's Game. I struggled to fight back the urge to strangle him with all my might. "Shut up, Joshua," I rolled my eyes at the Composer of Shibuya who was currently emphasizing his ego of being a royal pain in the ass. Joshua giggled again that infuriating, girly, sanity-driving giggle of his and he ordered something for himself. There was silence between the both of us, and nothing else filled the café except for the whir of the coffee machine and the click of switches as Mr. H fiddled around behind the counter. "You never came," I mutter almost inaudibly after a while. I decided to break the silence; it became too deafening and it made my ears ring. "Beg your pardon?" "You never came," I repeat my words, this time louder and clearer, and I turned my head to look at him with eyes that blazed with anger. "Why?" "Well, simply because I am the Composer of Shibuya. I have many duties to attend to and especially now that I lack a Conductor, I am not given the luxury of time to do my own whims at any time. Satisfied, Neku?" I was surprised at how I was able to get such a straight- forward answer from him. I felt a small pang of victory inside me, but it was overwhelmed by hurt. Was I… not that important to him at all? So insignificant that he couldn't at least spend an hour with me and my friends? Immediately I shook the silly thoughts away; it's not like Josh mattered to me so much and he was my whole life. Joshua's phone rang, and he went to the back of the WildKat so that he could talk privately to whoever was calling. The moment he left, Mr. H, as if reading my mind, said on cue, "He was watching, you know." I tilted my head sideways a bit to show my confusion. "He watched you there at Hachiko; when you and your friends met after the game." I looked straight down into my cup and just shook it slightly, watching how the coffee whooshed around in waves. "J was also a human before. Even if he wouldn't admit it, he probably would've wanted to join you guys, but he had a whole lot of cleaning up to do in the UG," Mr. H said reassuringly as he turned off the coffee machine and packed away the other things he used back into the pantry. Just as I opened my mouth to ask him another question, the bell of the door tinkled. Joshua came in, looking annoyed. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, and he placed his hand on his forehead in an effort to try and calm down. "Trouble in the UG again?" Mr. H. asked with an arm leaning on the counter. Joshua let out a heavy sigh as he sat down on the barstool and took a sip of his latte. "You know that you won't be able to keep this up much longer, J. You're going to need to find a Conductor soon, or else the whole UG will collapse and –" "And both Shibuya and I will come crashing down. I know, I know, you don't need to remind me, Sanae," Joshua cut him off abruptly. My heart almost stopped beating the moment his sentence registered in my mind. Both he and Shibuya would die if there was no Conductor to help Joshua look after the UG. I suddenly felt like a ghost watching a conversation, unnoticed, by the two people who were talking about a serious matter of life and death. I can't believe it; after my friends and I worked so hard to get our lives back in the game, after risking everything just to have another shot at making the most of our lives better—we were just going to die again—all because of that stupid bet that Kitaniji made with the Composer. More anger started to boil inside me just as it started to dissipate. Heat creeped up my chest, and a flush started to make its way on my cheeks, not sparing my ears either. Unconsciously my hand balled up loosely into a fist, and I clenched it tighter and tighter until I was sure my bones would crack from all the pressure. Many thoughts started to run through my head, and the rest of their conversation was a blur. It took me a while to regain my grip of the outside world, and I finally caught up to their conversation. "Sanae, I don't have a choice. You said so yourself; Shibuya needs a Conductor more than ever in a dire situation like this." "I don't know J. I don't think he's up for this yet. Or ever. You put him through a lot." I froze in my spot as I felt myself being pinned down by two pairs of eyes. One violet, and the other, black. I let go of my fist and I pretended not to hear anything. I looked obliviously around the café and pretended to admire the works of art hung all around the place. I forked up a small bit of my slice of tiramisu cake and put it inside my mouth. "Again Sanae, you don't need to state the obvious," Joshua drawled not letting go of his gaze on me. I felt strange, as if for some reason he was undressing me as his eyes roved around briefly on my body. A shiver went down my spine at the thought, and I forced myself to shake it off. Joshua finally took his eyes off of me. "He just has so much potential; it's not like anything I've seen before. He would be perfect for the position." "More like you just want him to be your slave…" I heard Mr. H mutter under his breath. His statement nearly made me choke, and all it did was make Joshua giggle. I gulped down my coffee as I tried to process every syllable that Joshua was saying. Me? Conductor? Sorry, but count me out. I'm not ever going to try and kill people for fun like Joshua does for a hobby; Hell, that's insane! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joshua turn to me and he opened his mouth to say something. I cut him off immediately with a sharp "No." Joshua clamped his mouth shut slowly after a moment, as if he had anticipated the answer the whole time. Well obviously since they probably knew that I was listening to the whole conversation. "Listen, J. I know that you want Phones over here to be your Conductor, but he's just not ready for it yet." "Maybe not at all," I say as I drop my money on the counter with a loud clang. I didn't even bother to finish my coffee; I lost the guts to drink it. I shoved my way out the door, and I strode along the empty street, with hands stuffed into my pockets and loud music echoing in my head. "Neku!" I faintly heard someone call my attention, but it only made me pick up my pace. I only paid attention to the owner of the voice when I felt fingers comb through my gel-stiffed hair and yank my headphones off in one fluid motion. "Hey!" I turned around sharply and I glared intensely at the person who so rudely snatched my prized possession from my head. "Neku, I know that you're not ready at all for this—" "I don't even want this!" "Just listen to me Neku!" Joshua said with a slight hint of a raise in his voice. I tried to pry my arm from his iron grip that held my left wrist, but my efforts were useless. "Shibuya really needs a Conductor, and if there will be no one to take the position, I will fall along with it, and the whole City will be wiped completely from existence!" I knew inside that it was true, but I couldn't do it even for the sake of Shibuya. Great, it was like living the final game all over again, which by the way I didn't forgive Joshua for yet. I couldn't bring myself to use whatever potential I didn't know I had just to kill people for the heck of it. "I don't want to take part in your stupid schemes again Joshua. I'm through with it, okay? I don't kill people because I want to see them suffer." I finally got loose of Joshua's hold, but I didn't go just yet. "It isn't all about killing people, Neku. Sometimes you just have to do it because they failed to prove themselves worthy of getting a second chance. It's not like you can always just live again the moment you die." Joshua said with a pained tone in his voice, like he remembered something from a long time ago. "But it's not fair! Everyone deserves to have a second chance!" Tears started to sting at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, not wanting to show weakness. "Not always, Neku. Not always…" Joshua replied softly. There was silence between us, and I said after a while "Listen Joshua, you brought me into that game for what? Just to see me try so hard and to laugh at my suffering!? I got nothing from your twisted, stupid plans—nothing at all!—and now you just walk up to me out of nowhere and drag me to your stupid games where I'll just be made a pawn again!?" I finished my sentence to the point that I was shouting and I was out of breath. "I got lots of things now that you never had before," I began again. "I have friends, I can open up more to people now, and most of all, there's someone I love—Shiki. Hell, you wouldn't care but I do. So you can't just take my life away from me just like that." Joshua looked like he wanted to go on a killing spree. A short silence followed, and he looked at me with an infuriated look in his eyes. "Well if I never brought you in the game, you would have none of those! You would have forever shut out people, you would have no friends to talk to at all, you would live on being the complete anti-social you were, and most of all—you wouldn't have met that girl you so claim to love!" Joshua shot back, looking equally as pissed as I was. I just scoffed, retrieved my headphones, and started my way back to Hachiko. I didn't pay attention to what he said at all and just continued walking. It was almost noon anyway. When I got there, it was still ten minutes before our agreed meeting time. Bummed, I looked around and tried to listen for the City's Music. I could hear it sometimes, bits and fragments that clung to the air and played a sickly tune that always sounded haunting yet oddly comforting at the same time. Amongst the crowd, I tried to spot the Players who were running for their lives and who bet on their lucky stars for a second chance at life. I tried to spot the Noise that chased the Players and caused havoc to wreak everywhere in the UG. I was zoning out again in my thoughts until I heard a familiar voice snap me back to reality. "Hey there." I looked up and saw a familiar face staring back down at me. "Oh hey there Shiki!" I scooted over so that she could have a seat on the bench too. She sat down beside me, a little too close for my liking but what the hell, at least it's Shiki. I wanted to drape an arm around her, but I decided against it, because I knew that it wasn't proper at all. I decided to save it for later, when she says yes. We just sat there not talking and simply enjoying each other's presence, I guess. I was about to ask her the big question until a familiar booming voice came out of nowhere. "Yo man, let's get a move on. I'm starving yo!" a blonde with beefy muscles, blue eyes and a skull beanie shouted while waving at us. "Beat!" Rhyme scolded him while tugging on his shirt. "You shouldn't greet like that," she said with a small laugh. She bore a striking resemblance to her brother; the same sandy hair, sky blue eyes and a matching cap with a skull pin. A little bit later, the last member of our group arrived. I heard the distinct click of three inch heels on the pavement moving in a steady rhythm. In ten seconds, a girl about the same age as us with fiery red hair, a stylish brown cap adorning her head, and a red sleeveless top that exposed much of her midriff paired with an olive denim mini-skirt appeared in front of us. To top it off she had a yellow vest that had a hoodie, and knee high boots with those three inch heels that made those sounds that bounced off the cemented walkway. She stood, poised, in front of us, lips taut and shiny with cherry-flavored lip gloss and eyes that gave away nothing. She had one arm on her hip, and she looked down at all of us as if she expected us to worship her or something. "Well?" she asked with a tinge of superiority in her voice. "Where to?" "To Ramen Don. Didn't you read the text message?" Shiki face palmed lightly while shaking her head. "Pshh… of course I read it. Just um—checking. Yeah, checking!" Eri replied, trying not to look like an epic fail. "Let's go! I can eat the whole of Shibuya if I aint got nuthin to fill my stomach yo!" Laughing, we all stood up and went off to Ramen Don. Little did I know of what awaited me was entirely something that I didn't expect.