Countdown

This has been sitting on my computer for… forever really. I decided to just post it and see where it goes. From 10 to 0, a series of drabbles and tidbits that examine the world of TWEWY. Some are canon with the game; others are mini crossovers or half baked theories that I had come up with. A few are directly inspired by some twewy fanfics that I read long ago and the remaining are part of a large Kingdom Hearts/TWEWY story that I hope to write one day. Have fun piecing them together.

Inspired by The Sh33p and his Catch 22 (Naruto) story. Written in a similar format.

10…

It occurred to Eri one day; that something was different.

Eri wasn't sure what changed. But she knew something had. Shiki had changed. It was almost as if Eri didn't recognize her friend anymore. One day they were fighting, the next Shiki came back, happier then Eri could remember with friends she never knew existed. Back then Eri was too relived to care or to notice. All it had matter then was her friend was alive.

But once the shock wore away, and everything fell back into a lull of normalcy, she could see the changes. It was like a secret that Shiki was keeping from her and it drove her insane.

The scary part was that she wasn't sure she wanted to know…

9…

It was a test.

A simple exam, write a short essay on the topic sentence. While grammar, sentence structure, and other literary techniques were looked upon, it should have been a relatively easy exam. The topic sentence: "Write an essay on your hopes and dreams."

Rhyme turned in her paper blank.

8…

Of all the souls he had met, Joshua had never seen a soul so bright and so dark at the same time. It was a soul that screamed of pain, sadness, and anger, and glowed with love, kindness, and unwavering faith. Never had he witnessed a soul more blood soaked then his own.

Joshua met a murderer that day on the street.

He raised his hand up, with every intention of erasing the soul, because Shibuya, his beautiful Shibuya, did not need another murderer to add to the growing numbers of souls entering the Reapers' Game. Just as he was about to bring his hand down, the murderer, no, the girl, a girl no more than a few years older than Neku, turned and looked directly at him. Her ice blue eyes stared straight at him, showing nothing but a quiet understanding.

He hesitated, even though he knew the girl shouldn't— couldn't see him. Suddenly she joined by a boy with wild chocolate brown hair and far too bright hazel eyes. He watched as the boy grabbed the girl's hand, his soul just as bright, chasing away all the darkness her soul had. Joshua simply let them go.

As they disappeared into the crowds, Joshua frowned slightly. Apparently his time with Neku had made him softer then he realized. To his surprise, the girl turned back and stared back at him. She offered him a small smile, mouthed a silent 'thank you' and disappeared with the boy. Joshua realized it was okay that he had gotten a little soft.

7…

On the other side, Joshua couldn't help but stare at his sons as they slumber quietly in front of the TV. His entire family had fallen asleep while watching the movie. He smiled as he watched them snuggle closer to each other before he felt someone snuggling up to him. Joshua looked down, and his smile only grew as he stroked the orange locks of hair.

He realized then, that everything was just right.

6...

One day, Beat was arrested for a robbery he didn't commit. He had countless support from his friends and parents, even if he had to spend the night in the slammer. Eventually he was released after they found the REAL culprit.

But what made Beat happy was that Rhyme was there with him every step of the way, even that night in jail when she was bunking next to him.

5...

There was a reason why Neku was so close off.

While many believed that was just his personality, others worried if it was something deeper than that. They were right. Only no one knew why... Teachers thought it was the loss of his best friend a few years ago, Shiki worried that it might have to do with his parents fighting or something because even though Neku had drastically improved since she first met him, she knew he closed himself off sometimes and she saw the shadow of his former self shine through. (And God forbid if his parents were hurting him, she would hurt them.) Beat was convinced it was trauma from Joshua shooting him, until Rhyme reminded him that Neku was probably like that before his "death". Joshua knew the reason, but didn't say a word. Instead he offered a comforting look, and a helping hand. Neku often accepted with a nod, but offered no explanations to anyone else.

There was also a reason why Neku was so attached to his headphones.

Teachers try hard to get him to remove them, but he never listen. Beat made the mistake of taking them one day, only to have Neku freak out on him and not speak to him for the rest of the day. And while he no longer blasted music through them all the time to tune out the world, Neku never ever took them off.

The reason why Neku is attached to his headphones was the same reason why Neku was so close off. Now if only they knew why...

4...

Sanae let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. He was cleared of all charges, given the circumstances, and for one reason or another Joshua was scot-free as well. Then he realized that he would be spending the rest of eternity working with Joshua... and wondered if the higher ups thought that was punishment enough.

So when Joshua turned and look at him with all too familiar smirk, Sanae thought to himself ' Yup, I'm screwed.'

3...

Kariya loved ramen. Someone, perhaps his father, he didn't remember really, once told him it ran in the family.

So as he ate he remembered shocking blond hair and bright blue eyes and couldn't help but wonder if he made a mistake of not taking his nephew in. After all, being a reaper couldn't be THAT different from being a shinobi right?

2...

On the other side, Joshua met a child with ice blue eyes.

He didn't need to know the future to understand that she was doomed to a life of pain, misery, and anger. Her bright soul would grow so very dark and Joshua wasn't sure if he would be able to do anything about it. But he resolved this much: he would make her as strong as possible so that if anything else, she survived.

1...

Shooter was surprised to find out that the guy who he taught and challenged to Tin Pin was actually his classmate, a bit older than him, but he did attend the same school.

He also was very crushed when the guy said he didn't recognize him.

Then again, Neku was trying to save Shibuya. It couldn't be his fault that he didn't remember the kid's name... right?

0...

"Open up or die."