Author's Note: Hey Guys, here is my Christmas present to you all. This will be a little series that highlights some of my favourite parts of winter/Christmas. It will mostly follow Joshua and his redemption after the Long Game. I probably won't get it all done by the New Year but I shall try my best.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything referenced in this story.

He rarely roamed amongst the people. He entered the RG even less frequently than that. However on that snowy morning, he couldn't resist. He just had to feel the chill on his face; hear the ice crunch under foot. He had loved the snow. Inevitably his fascination with it had been his undoing: snow chains had been made compulsory after the accident.

But as the sun streamed down, glistening on the pale cushion of snow, his breath clouding in front of him: he didn't care. His past life was so very long ago; irrelevant yet so crucial in making him who he was. He had learnt to turn a blind eye to previous events but still retain the wisdom and knowledge he had gained.

Although he had loved the winter in his old life, it had lost its appeal over the years. He had no idea where the sudden compulsion to immerse himself in such nostalgic pleasures came from. He took no pleasure in reminiscing; it pained him. His past was bitter and empty; wrought with pressure and pain. He clenched his fists; nails biting into his palms. The pain was familiar; a frequent companion. He was headed north; toward Cat Street – it was about time he clocked in with his Producer.

That was until he saw a flash of purple, a shard of ginger hair: Neku Sakuraba. Had he unconsciously sought him out? No surely not. But it could not be a coincidence for them to meet here. Hachiko was a place for reunions but this was one amalgamation he would rather miss.

He had not seen Neku since the Long Game. That had been three months ago. Seeing him in that moment - smiling and content with his band of friends – made him stop. He had no idea how Neku felt toward him: was he hated? He had every reason to be. Was he feared? He hoped not. Was he forgiven?

He doubted it. He digressed that this was an understatement: he knew it. Neku could never forgive him for his actions, and he would not ask the teen to. He was used to being loathed – used to being lost. His incapability to face the animosity of the ginger made him turn and begin to walk back to the sewers. He wanted to coop himself up – to hide from the blaring light that was Neku Sakuraba. The temporary peace he had found; gone. Robbed from him at the sight of the life he didn't have; the friend he couldn't have.

"Whoa there Josh, where're you going?"

He froze. Surely his mind wasn't so cruel as to imagine that. The foot traffic faded from his vision; the faceless crowds unimportant to him. A hand landed on his shoulder. Breath tickled his ear. He felt the heat of the body next to him.

"Nice to see you too, Josh."

He was there. He hadn't imagined him. His legs shook slightly; his hands trembled. His usual cocky façade discarded; his emotions too intense for him to hide like he usually did. He was scared; he was tense; he was hopeful.

He was gently turned around. He kept his head low; not wanting to see the disdain in the other's eyes.

"We were about to go grab some ramen; want to join us? It's my treat." It was if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't killed the other: twice. As if he hadn't betrayed him. He was still haunted by the tear stained face of Neku Sakuraba. The final game had killed him even though he was the one who had fired the shot. Neku lifted his chin so that their eyes met…

No hatred. No contempt. No mistrust.

He was smiling.

Neku Sakuraba was smiling at him. His throat was tight; his breathing was heavy; his heart thumped painfully. He couldn't contain it any longer.

He stepped forward; curling his arms around the other's neck. He buried himself in the other's embrace. Neku cocooned his arms around him. Tears slid down his frozen cheeks; landing on the ginger's purple scarf. He had been so lonely. The snow had lured him from the sewers; promising salvation. The sharp dagger of loneliness had lodged itself in his heart for so long; he felt he would be crushed under the pressure of it. The only sanctuary he had found in his after-life had been the ginger boy, but he had betrayed him. With that betrayal he sentenced himself to loneliness.

But he wasn't alone. A care free, teary laugh erupted from his chest: he wasn't alone. Here he was; in the arms of Neku Sakuraba – the one person he had ever risked his life for. He had hoped Neku would not shoot him but he could never have been certain; he could have died. Yet he proposed the duel anyway. Neku didn't shoot him. Neku cared for him. He wasn't alone.

"I missed you, you know?"

His heart couldn't take any more emotion. Normally he would either run away or push people away with his egocentric disguise. This time he relished in the feelings. He had been alone for too long.

He stepped back; untangling himself from the other. A genuine smile was cemented on his face. No more games; no more tricks; no more lies. He wanted to be Josh; not the Composer and not the pompous mask that was Joshua. No; he would be Josh: Neku's friend. He would not ruin his chance at happiness.

"I missed you too, Neku. Now, what was this about free ramen?" Neku rolled his eyes and turned toward Dogenzaka - Ken Doi's ramen calling to them.

They left Hachiko; as a group. Behind them was a statue, a past full of lies and a pit of loneliness. Ahead of them: friendship; joy and of course, free food.

"Hey, Neku."

"Yeah Josh?"

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"Showing me the snow."