Kay: Apologies for the delay. Despite being only two chapters so far (including this one) it's going damn slowly. In retrospect, I should've thought of things before I decide to post them, considering that I suffer from a severe case of writer's block. I have an idea laid out for this story, but it's difficult for me to express effectively (as possible). In anycase, it's been two months or so, and here's a 900 word chapter to get you going some more. About story progress, it won't be a long story, but it would take long to get out, simply because I'm busy with school as well (final year of high school!).

So thanks for reading, reviewing, and returning!

Neku's Wings

Neku stood in front of the mural in the back streets of Udagawa, tracing a finger over the lines of the hooded, skeletal face that oversaw his death so long ago. His wings were folded, seemingly hovering an inch above his back. He turned to his left, where he could still see Joshua running at him with his pistol. At his feet he noticed that there were still specks of red staining the ground.

Blood. My blood.

He let out a sigh. It was in the past. Udagawa would haunt him for the rest of his life, though now it doesn't really matter.

Sakuraba Neku was dead.

At least in the eyes of society. In reality, he was simply a reconstruction of the energy called Soul, into his current appearance and his new wings which were augmented to enable frequency tuning to access both the RG and the UG. Neku didn't want to go back to the RG, not as a reaper; but he knew eventually that he had to. He had to appear before they realised he had gone. Hachiko was the usual meeting place, but would they know that? Neku wondered if any of his friends found out he had died. It was a week since and they'd have heard at least a word of it.

"It is amazing, that one man could have created such a thing."

He turned to face the owner of the voice, Kitaniji Megumi. His sunglasses sat atop his nose, concealing his eyes. His headphones were on, playing music through the silent, back streets. His hands were shoved in his pockets and yet had a professional look about him, the unconditional power and presence of being the Composer's right hand man.

"I love his work, it's damn awesome."

"It truly is an amazing piece of art." Megumi pushed his shades up the bridge of his nose. "Especially the imprinting of the work itself, which I believe you've been subject to." It wasn't a question. He noted the confused look on Neku's face. "The Composer has told me much about you Neku, he fancies you quite a bit."

At this, Neku spun around, a disgusted look on his face that relived all the moments of 'bonding' they shared, that one week which had Neku both curious and disgusted. He thought he was gay, that Joshua, he probably still is though he couldn't know for sure. He had yet to see the composer since his joining in the reaper ranks.

"Don't talk about that, I'm having painful memories already."

Megumi chuckled. He wondered what had happened to Neku since the last time he saw him in the reaper's game. Those three weeks taught his little band of friends what they all lost when they had died. Neku grew the most he thought, remembering the boy who was taught what it meant to have friends. Being defeated by him was crushing, and yet, Megumi felt he had learned something as well. He loved the place called Shibuya, its people and would never give it up in a reaper's lifetime. Neku sat at the steps to the mural, holding his head in his hands.

"You will eventually have to rejoin your friends within the Realground Neku."

"Don't tell me that twice." He snapped. At this he stood and turned, facing the mural. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his power around his wings, and they disappeared.

"Good luck Neku."

***

"He's going into cardiac arrest!"
"Hurry! He hasn't got long left!"
"No! Bring me the defibrillators now!"
"Clear!"
"No pulse."
"Clear!"
"Still no pulse!"
"Damnit to hell! Clear!"
"Give it up! He's gone."
"Damnit…"
"Inform his parents. We've done all we can. It's up to the God of this world to help him on his way."

***

"Where is that Neku?"

Shiki Misaki stood at Hachiko, impatiently tapping her foot. She pushed her glasses up her nose and looked around. The crowd at Hachiko wasn't thinning out at all. She supposed it never did, considering her week playing in the Reaper's game. Those times that she spent with Neku were her favourite. She learned so much about him, and more importantly, about herself. If it wasn't for Neku she thought, she probably wouldn't be alive. She smiled slightly but frowned again.

"That boy said he'd be here in a week after his vacation. Hope he didn't lie to me."

Hearing footsteps stopping behind her, she turned around and saw the orange clump of hair she remembered all too well. She ran up to give him a hug but felt his shoulders stiffen up. Letting go, she looked at him. She thought there was something different about him. A week of vacation would've helped his nerves though. Since the school year was over, all the other students were nuts about the summer vacation time they would have. But Neku told her that he would be taking a week's vacation by himself, never mentioning where he was going.

"Neku, is there something wrong?" She took a step back and examined his posture. His shoulders hunched and his hands were clenched in his pockets.

"Maybe." He looked away. It turned out to be harder than it seemed. "There's not much going on."

"Liar, I can see right through you." She stepped closer to him. "Tell me what's wrong! I thought friends trusted each other!"

"Listen, it's nothing." He turned his head and bit his lip. It was way too hard to tell her now. Even as Shiki was ready to deny it, Neku turned and began to run from Hachiko, eyes beginning to tear. She moved to stop him but saw in a flash of sunlight, a pair of jet black wings.

"That can't be…"

One more thing. I have no editor for this, nor do i have a team of plot-hole checkers so bear with me. I would smile but it's depressing writing about this. Really.