Well you guys… you wanted it and here it is! The sequel to Because of you! Enjoy!

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His hand had traveled all throughout his body leaving warmth behind at every touch. When their lips met, the sudden warmth coursed through his entire body. No one was there besides them; no one existed except for them. There they were, moaning and sweating. At that time, it seemed like nothing could get in their way anymore. Nothing…

xx.

Neku paced back and forth. His bit his lips, stopped walking, and started pacing again.

Sitting on the couch behind him were his friends who looked at him with both worry and annoyance.

Finally, Shiki stood up. "Neku, I can't stand to see you like this."

"Yea," Beat and Rhyme agreed.

Neku stopped and gave his friends an apologetic look. "Sorry guys." He sat down with them and opened his mouth as if to speak and clamped it shut again.

"What is it?" Shiki asked.

Neku opened his mouth again and forced the words out. "Have you guys heard from Joshua lately?"

There was a collective sigh and everyone resisted the urge to just stand up and leave.

"Again? Yo, there's nothing wrong."

"Yea, Beat's right…surprisingly," Rhyme assured, "Joshua's the Composer after all. There are going to be times when he gets really busy."

"But it's been so long."

"Neku," Shiki said, "it's only been three months. If Joshua's surviving, I'm pretty sure you will."

Neku sat in silence for a while and finally, opened his mouth to speak again. "Shibuya's been quiet."

"How can you tell?"

"Ever since the incident with him being sent to the RG, I've still been able to see the Noise."

"That's hella sick, yo!"

Ignoring his comment, Neku went on, "Lately though, I haven't seen any Noise at all. It's like they all disappeared into thin air."

"Which goes back to my point that Joshua's working hard," Shiki commented, "He has to restore Shibuya and direct the games as well."

"I guess so," Neku said, his voice filled with doubt, "Sorry for bothering you guys."

"No, it's fine," Rhyme assured and slowly walked out with Beat in tow.

Shiki glanced at Neku and stayed for a couple more minutes before finally walking out leaving Neku alone in the room.

Neku bit his lips. He should have told them… he should have but he couldn't….

xx.

Three Months Ago…

"Nekky dear, may I ask you something?"

Neku's head shot up. "What is it?"

"I'm going to do some investigating on the person who attacked us….what was her name? Oh right Haruki."

"And?"

"I'm asking you do keep an eye out for anything suspicious okay? If you do see something report it to me."

"Joshua, I thought she was dead."

"People tend to surprise you from time to time. I won't be surprised though if that hectopascal is still alive."

That made Neku cringe and smile at the same time. "Won't that be a sight to see."

"Haha, I rather not…"

"Is that all you wanted to ask?"

Joshua became silent for a moment. "Neku…"

"Yes?"

"Something's going to happen, I can feel it."

"With the Games?"

"No…with Shibuya. I been trying my hardest to restore it but….every time I try, there's always something in my way. It's like a wall pushing me back."

Neku gave him a quizzical look but didn't mention how weary Joshua looked. He noticed a small dark swirl forming around Joshua until it nearly engulfed his entire body. "J-Josh…"

Joshua looked up and the swirl disappeared. "Yes?"

"N-nothing."

Joshua sighed and moved closer. "You're a horrible liar you know."

Neku cringed away surprising both of them. "I'm sorry, Josh but….. I'm just tired."

It was obviously a horrible lie but instead of arguing until the truth came out, Joshua shrugged and motioned to his bed. They had other plans for that night.

xx.

Present day

There was rain. It was raining really hard that night. Thunder and lightning accompanied it and the news reported that there was also a slight chance of hail.

Neku sat on his couch with the TV on but barely paying any attention to what was on. He unconsciously flipped through the channels fully unaware of anything that was playing.

It was almost obvious what was on his mind. He should have told him. He should have told them. Joshua's sudden silence wasn't normal. Something must have happened.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door.

Deep in his thoughts, Neku would have missed it if it were not for the loud banging and loudly spoken commands directed at him from outside.

He contemplated on opening the door and finally, got up and walked out. He opened the door to a soaked woman in mid-knock. She stumbled in and hung her wet jacket on the hanger.

Neku closed the door and immediately asked, "Who the hell are you?"

The woman tore off the second layer of jackets revealing a brunette who seemed to be in her late 20's. She eyed Neku and said, "I'm sorry for such a sudden intrusion but I need to talk to you as soon as possible. My name is Kasuki."

Neku eyed her and contemplated on throwing her back out in the rain. He soon decided against it and motioned to the couch.

As they sat down, Neku asked, "What is it that you wanted to ask me?"

Kasuki shivered for a bit. "Neku," she said, "I—"

"Wait… how do you know my name?"

"That's why I needed to come see you…. I'm an old acquaintance with Joshua."

The minute she said that name, Neku was nearly fastening himself on the couch. "W-what about him?"

"You see," Kasuki began, "Ever since, me and Joshua met again, I became his top Reaper as you can call it. We were partners once in the Games."

"Then shouldn't you be dead?"

"Yes, but somehow, I landed myself in the Games again when I died again. And when I lost, I was given a choice like you were. I chose to become a Reaper. Surprisingly, Joshua remembered me and as I worked my way up, he revealed himself to me as the Composer."

"And?"

"Well," she looked down, "Recently, Joshua has been acting weird. You must have noticed."

"Yes?"

"I was so stupid. I should have suspected something when he told me to run an errand for him out of the city. It just wasn't like him."

"What happened?"

"When I came back, the UG was in a state of distress. Most of the Reapers were either dead or severely injured. The Producer was knocked unconscious and…Joshua… was missing."

Neku had to use all his will power to prevent himself from grabbing Kasuki by the shoulders, demand the info and running out to find Joshua.

"I have a theory on that," Kasuki continued, "from what I know, if that Haruki is still wandering around, there are four types of Noise."

Neku's head shot up.

Four?

"The first ones are the normal ones that players fight against. The second are the ones that possess humans. The third ones are the ones you and Joshua discovered or well erm were pitted against. The ones that seemed to have a mind of their own and could well talk. The fourth ones… this is a theory after all but there was nothing else that could have made Joshua act the way he acted…"

"Which is?"

"Noise that can possess and control people of the UG."

Neku was silent for a while.

Impossible…that…there can't be such a thing….

Yet, he remembered the dark swirls forming around Joshua. If Kasuki's theory was true then Neku sat there and watched Joshua being consumed by the Noise.

"How's Mr. H now?"

"He's sober but has difficulty remembering what happened to him. Same with all the Reapers."

"And what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to assist me in finding Joshua."

"That's impossible."

"No," Kasuki gave Neku a hard look, "it's not."

"He could be anywhere…"

"He's still in Shibuya. He's still the Composer. He can't go anywhere."

The memory of the beach suddenly flashed into Neku's head. "I disagree."

Kasuki gave Neku another look before standing up. "Fine, sit there and sulk. I'll find him by myself!"

Before she left, Neku spoke softly. "Why do you care so much?"

Kasuki looked down. "Because I care about him and I would do anything to find him and straighten things out. I hear you two are lovers so wouldn't you do the same?" She put on her jackets, opened the door, and slammed it behind her.

Neku sat in silence.

Wouldn't you do the same?

"Joshua…." He said, his eyes were starting to brim with tears, "Where the hell are you?"

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Hoped you enjoyed this first chapter. I'm sorry to say that the other chapters will be coming out extremely slowly while I try juggling Rhyme's story, this one, and school work at the same time. So be patient please. R&R plox! :)