Atonement

Stage 2 - The Fear

It was to the loud crack of thunder that Joshua awoke that night, shooting upright in an instant and struggling for breath. Another thunderous crack drew his attention to the window and to the water droplets that splattered against it and then trailed ever so slowly downward.

Panting, still, Joshua ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself by murmuring: "Just a dream… it was just a dream…"

But the words spoken in his 'dream' still echoed through his head even now…

Your city is corrupt, Composer!

When he could control his breathing again, he sighed in slight relief. 'It's fine… it's fine… He's dead now, anyway… He has no more power over me…'

As he lay back down, turning away from the window, he allowed another small sigh of relief before he shut his eyes.


"…Are you ready?" asked a deep husky voice.

There was a soft grunt of affirmative. "…'s ready as I'll ever be… but you have to promise you won't–"

"I wouldn't dream of it. I promised you, and I always keep my promises."

"…a'ight… let's go."


When Joshua awoke that morning, he had not slept as well as he had hoped. He had snapped upright at least three more times before he had decided to just screw trying to sleep (since it was already 6 o' clock by the last time he awoke). Now he sat at WildKat's counter, sipping some coffee to try and wake up properly.

"Rough night, boss?" Hanekoma asked with a small chuckle.

"Hmm… Something like that, you could say…" Joshua murmured, taking a long swig from his cup. "It's been exactly 25 years now…"

"Aaaah… Already, huh? Where does the time go sometimes, eh?"

Joshua chose not to respond.

25 years ago, Joshua had run into a Kyuubi no Kitsune–a Nintailed Fox–who had come to Shibuya with every intention of destroying it. Of course, Joshua, being the Composer, had not accepted that and had rushed to intercept the beast. How Joshua had not been defeated by the Kyuubi, he wasn't too sure, since it wasn't until their battle was well underway that Joshua remembered that the tails of foxes only split into multiples after they aged a hundred years.

Which would've made that fox at least over 800 years older than he had been at the time.

With a little help from Hanekoma, he had managed to defeat the Kyuubi, but all it had done upon being defeated was laugh. It laughed and laughed and then he had set himself on fire. As he burned up, he swore to Joshua that the Composer would come to see how corrupt Shibuya had become, and how the boy would seek out its aid to destroy the city himself once that time came. But that had not shocked Joshua as much as the last thing he had said…

Remember this, Composer! Five years after you realize your city is corrupt, I'll come for you and I swear I'll devour you!

Today marked 25 years since the fox had been burnt to a crisp, yes, but it also marked 5 years since Joshua had told Megumi he had been going to erase Shibuya… it was 5 years since Joshua realized that Shibuya had, indeed, been corrupted like the Kyuubi had claimed.

And this, for some reason, made a shiver run along Joshua's spinal cord and back down all the way to his toes.

"Chill, boss. He's dead. We saw him die right in front of us," Hanekoma said with a small wave of his hand. "He was probably just bitter over his loss and was trying to get you to start panicking."

"…Yeah. I guess you're right." Getting up after downing the rest of his coffee, Joshua dropped a few coins on the counter and headed for the door. "Well, I better get ready for the next Game tomorrow."

"You're gonna walk?"

"A little exercise never hurt anyone. Ja ne, Sanae."

"Later, Boss," Hanekoma said with a small salute.

If Hanekoma had been paying proper attention, though, he might've noticed the dark figure that approached his shop when Joshua had left. Instead, he briefly turned his back to the door to put some of the glasses and cups in place, just as someone entered, causing the bell above it to give a merry jingle

Hanekoma, without turning, merely smirked, expecting it to be Joshua, and so he asked: "Forgot somethin', Boss?"

"…Hmm… no, I don't think so, 'Kitty-cat'," came a cold, almost cruel voice and Hanekoma froze.

The glass in his hands almost slipped between his fingers as he turned around slowly. And when he saw the person standing by the door, which was lightly pushed shut and into its lock, he paled, and even more as the person flipped the shop's sign to "closed".

"Hello again, Hanekoma Sanae. Did you miss me much?" the man chuckled out.

"…Kurasa…"


As Joshua passed the Miyashita park, he paused, feeling another shudder rip along his spine. He was suddenly reminded of something during his week in the Reapers' Game with Neku after getting the tracker from Sanae.

"…hold on."

"Hm? Is something the matter, Neku?"

"…What's with that blue Noise?"

"Blue Noise?"

Joshua knew from experience that Noise came in varying shapes and sizes, and he had been sure that there would never be a Noise that would give him pause.

But this one had.

"…Was that meant to scare me?" Joshua murmured softly to himself. "Well, that was quite the weak attempt if I do say so myself. Next time, try a little harder."

He allowed a small, mirthless chuckle as he started walking again.

As Joshua made to walk ahead, though, he stopped as he spotted someone up ahead. Someone he recognized…

Dark purple clothes of JotM hung loosely over slim limbs that had filled out over the past 5 years, and a pair of purple headphones rested around the person's neck. His hair was a darker color red than Joshua remembered it to be, but it still spiked back in the same style as it had when he'd been a teen, and his dark blue eyes watched across the city quietly. He seemed to be a bit lost in thought, but as Joshua was about to continue walking, Neku's eyes flashed to the side and he spotted the silverette, as though only just noticing him, and then he turned.

"…Joshua?"

'Well darn… this wasn't part of the plan…' Joshua thought to himself, but the thoughts certainly didn't show on his face. Instead, he smirked and waved cheekily. "Why hello there, Neku. Wasn't expecting to see you here any time soon."

A lie, and Joshua was sure they both knew it. Joshua had been avoiding Neku ever since the end of the Game, because Neku's life didn't involve him. He had never been part of that life, and even if he so desperately wanted to, it was impossible. He was Composer; mingling in the RG was taboo, and the last thing he needed was the Higher-ups getting one more thing to pin on him. But that didn't mean he wasn't aware of Neku's movements, and he knew how the boy had often gone toward Cat Street in hopes of meeting him or Hanekoma. He was just glad he had been able to get the barista out of the cafe to 'collect something' so that Neku didn't meet with him.

Neku's place in the UG was gone, and he didn't need either of them in his life any longer.

The redhead remained silent for a few long moments, and he just watched Joshua in silent contemplation, as though he wasn't sure what to do first. Joshua had a good feeling what he wanted to do the most, however, and he began mentally counting down.

'3… 2… 1…'

"You BASTARD!"

The blow to his jaw came just as Joshua had expected it to, and because of that, he was able to lessen the force of the blow somewhat, but he wasn't able to stop it entirely, hence why he stumbled backward a short distance.

"Ow. Now that hurt, Neku," Joshua mock-whined, holding one hand to his cheek.

"Serves you right!" the redhead snarled out. "Where the hell have you been the past five years?! If you weren't going to show your face anymore, why didn't you damn well erase my memories, huh?!"

"Aww, but I was so sure you didn't want to forget, dear."

"The he–?! D-don't call me that!"

Joshua merely giggled. It was just so easy to rattle Neku's cage (not to mention so much fun), but he knew that this wasn't meant to last. Meeting Neku could only be called accidental, and the Higher-ups really couldn't pin that on him. However, the least he could do was make it last, just for a little bit…


"How did you…? You were… h-how…" Hanekoma stammered as he almost scampered away when the redhead approached him.

"Dead? Oh no, Sanae… You should know, better than anyone, that I cannot be killed that easily… Even by an Angel such as yourself…" Kurasa said, slowly circling around the Angel, watching him like a hawk as he ran his elongated nails along the countertop. As he walked, however, his expression darkened suddenly. "Or… should I call you 'Fallen Angel', now?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hanekoma choked out, and he commended himself for not stuttering.

"Oh, don't start that tactic on me, Sanae… I have enough proof to back me up… in your own hand," Kurasa said with an icy smirk as he produced a small, black booklet.

"…! Where did you?! H-how did!?"

"Sanae, Sanae… you're such a litterbug… You always have been. I had no trouble finding all these reports you lost," the redhead chuckled as he tucked it away again. "And didn't I warn you last time not to leave so many notes? You'll only dig yourself a secondary grave…"

"…Yes… yes you did…" the barista admitted softly, now positioned firmly against th far wall. "…what do you intend to do?"

The evil smirk that passed over Kurasa's face just then was enough to make Hanekoma shake in fear. "Well… I was thinking of simply ripping off your head and delivering it to the brass up above as I was ordered… after I was done devouring the rest of your lifeless corpse, of course…"

Hanekoma gulped, his hands fisting by his side as the redhead's eyes promised him nothing but intense pain and torture. However, just as suddenly, the look was gone and Kurasa sighed in exasperation as he turned his bangs around between his fingers.

"That's what I was planning, anyway… Unfortunately, I promised I'd leave you in one piece and let you keep your position as Producer, which, if I may add, will not be easy, even for me, but what can I do? I did promise, and I always keep my word."

Shock, confusion, but most of all relief, washed over Hanekoma as those words were spoken and he allowed himself to relax his stance just slightly. Once he was able to breathe freely, he asked: "S-so… you're just… letting me walk?"

Kurasa didn't respond right away, watching him silently, but when he blinked, Hanekoma yowled when the redhead was suddenly right in his face.

"Did I say that?" he murmured, and Hanekoma choked as a single nail tilted his chin up to face the redhead properly, making him stare into those icy blue eyes with their slitted pupils. "I said I promised to keep you in one piece… and you can keep your position…" The barista tensed when Kurasa's free hand raked the nails down his side. "But I never said anything about 'letting you walk'…" One of the nails slipped under a fold and inched up his shirt and jacket, scratching along the skin and making Hanekoma let out a pathetic whimper. "I'm afraid… that's one freebie you haven't earned, Sanae…"

Unable to hold that icy stare any longer, Hanekoma shut his eyes tight and whined as those long fingers slipped along his stomach and inched their way up. His body trembled and he could feel his heart picking up speed to pump his blood through his veins as quickly as possible.

"I think… you understand perfectly fine what that means… ne, Sa~na~e?" Kurasa breathed out into his ear.

"Y… yes… M-Master…" the brunette choked out as his shades were removed.

"Good boy…" the redhead murmured. "So… just relax… and this might not have to hurt…"

Hanekoma could only whine in response, unable to work up the strength to push him away as those long, powerful digits got to work, the redhead's cold chuckle rumbling into his ear.


'…How did it turn out like this?' Joshua wondered to himself as he walked alongside Neku through the streets of Shibuya toward Hachiko. It was a bit confusing to him, but he wasn't about to say so, of course. They just walked, occasionally exchanging a few comments, and before long, they were at Hachiko.

Joshua paused as he looked around. It was a little hard to believe that this place would soon be overrun with Players searching for a suitable Partner. Of course, most people wouldn't be able to tell it was happening, unless you could see into the UG.

"Oy, Joshua," Neku suddenly mumbled, a small frown on his face.

"Hm? Wat is it, dear?" Joshua asked cheekily.

"Don't call me that!" Neku hissed, before his eyes flicked to the side. "Anyway… don't look now… but I'm getting the feeling like… like we're being followed…"

Joshua frowned a little at the quip, and listened carefully. However, he wasn't able to pick up anything out of place, so either Neku was joking, or…

"I think you're seeing ghosts, Neku," he joked casually as he twirled his hair around.

"I'm serious, jackass!" the redhead snarled. "I swear… someone or something has been following us since we left the Miyashita Underpass."

"Neku, dear, nothing is following us. You're just a little tense, that's all."

"For the love of–! Don't call me that! And I'm NOT tense, dammit!"

Giggle. "Could've fooled me."

"Grrrr."

Should you really be so lax now, Composer?

Joshua almost visibly tensed, as the voice almost seemed to whisper in his ear. It was a voice he remembered all too well and it was almost as though a bucket of ice had been dropped in his stomach.

Maybe… you should have listened to your dear, dear Proxy properly, Com~po~ser.

"…Josh?" Neku called out, frowning slightly in worry. "You okay there?" he added, waving a hand in front of his face. However, the Composer didn't notice it; he only had eyes for the shadows that writhed about by his feet like a pack of angry snakes.

'H-how…? He… he should've… should've been…!'

Ne… let's play a game, Composer.

A sudden gust of wind caused Joshua to gasp sharply and duck into himself against the rush of cold air, and several other people also yelped at the cold… but when Joshua opened his eyes again, Neku was nowhere to be seen.

"Neku…?" the Composer mouthed, looking around to try and catch a hint of red hair, but nothing.

And then…

Want him back? Then come find me at your 'playground'… if you can.

At those words, Joshua froze. For several long moments, he stood, unmoving, before he upped his Vibe and rushed off toward the Shibuya River. He didn't know how the Kyuubi had survived, nor did he care at that point, but he wasn't going to let the youkai get away with harming even one hair on Neku's head.


"He comes… this is your last chance…"

"…let him come…"

"…Very well."


He reached the Room of Reckoning in record time, and he was glad the Dead God's Pad had been empty, because he didn't feel like having to explain what was going on, and as he burst into the dark room, he panted briefly for breath, looking around quickly. And after only a brief glance, he spotted Neku, seemingly unconscious, seated within Joshua's throne, and he sighed briefly in relief.

'Good… looks like he's okay… but… where…?'

"Welcome 'home', Composer," crooned a familiar voice.

Joshua tensed sharply, but then he frowned as the voice's owner stepped out from behind the throne.

"Kyuubi…"

The beast that stepped forward was massive, lupine in built, with fur of a deep red color and icy blue eyes, twice as high as Joshua, and at least three times his size in length, not including the nine writhing tails that flowed behind him, black markings lining the fur in a mysterious pattern.

"I see you have not forgotten me," the beast drawled, and then it chuckled. "That's good… that will save us some time, ne?"

"…how are you even alive?" Joshua asked, and he commended himself on sounding as brave as he did, because he certainly didn't feel like it. "I… we saw you die!"

"Funny how that works, is it not?" the youkai chortled, its mouth arching up into a half smirk. "But because you asked sooo nicely… I borrowed a trick of an old friend of mine. Just a little something she called 'Phoenix Fire'."

The Composer almost–almost–tensed up at those words, realizing all too well what that had to mean; the Kyuubi had set itself on fire on purpose to create the illusion that it had perished, while in truth, it had merely been waiting for a chance to resurrect itself.

"…So that's how…" he said slowly as the Kyuubi began to descend the steps before the throne.

The fox chuckled softly then, as he shifted his stance just slightly. "So… Composer… You know why I'm here, don't you?"

Somehow, Joshua really wasn't sure how, he managed to keep his cool as he considered how to answer the question. But finally, he answered simply with: "Hmm… I can't say I do. Care to enlighten me?"

"Do NOT play me for a fool, Composer!" the fox roared out, and Josh had to commend himself for not jumping in surprise. "I know what you did! I know about the Game you played with your Conductor!"

The fact that Joshua managed to keep a straight face should've definitely been worth several dozen achievement points, since he surely didn't feel as sure of himself as he was trying to make the other believe. He wanted to swallow the lump in his throat to talk normally, but the fox would notice and would probably see right through him with it. Then again, what wouldn't it see through?

"Oh? So I'm not permitted to play a Game of my own choosing every now and again?" Joshua asked simply, and he was glad he could talk normally now. "Now that's harsh."

"Oh? And killing this child to aid you in destroying Shibuya without ever asking him anything is not harsh?" the fox snarled out as it nodded its head back towards Neku.

Now that time Joshua failed to hold in his look of surprise. He didn't know why he was that surprised, though, since the Kyuubi had obviously done its homework on the Game he had played with Megumi five years ago.

"You know why I'm here, Composer…" the Kyuubi said slowly, its mouth moving into a grin. "You know exactly why I came here…"

Of course he knew; Joshua just didn't want to admit that he did. The Kyuubi had sworn that it'd devour Joshua before long, and the thought alone scared him. After all, when a Composer was killed by anything other than a Player, if no new Composer arose within three days, their city would simply disappear. After all the trouble he had gone through five years ago with that Game, he could not allow a mere youkai to take his city away. He ignored the voice in the back of his mind saying that this was no 'mere' youkai, and spoke defiantly.

"So you still claim that Shibuya is corrupt? And you want to take it out on me now? Isn't that just… a little childish?"

"Shibuya is not corrupt."

The fox's words took him by surprise. He had expected a lot of things from the daiyoukai, but this wasn't one of them.

"Not anymore. I'm impressed that you actually managed to save this sorry excuse of a city… though the path you took to reach that goal…" The Kyuubi didn't bother to finish what it was saying as its face split into a truly demonic grin that almost had Joshua visibly shaking in his shoes.

The words that came from the fox's mouth then could only spell out disaster for Joshua and possibly all of Shibuya.

"Shall we play a game?"


Those who have read "Wishes" will recognize the majority of this chapter. In the next chapter, things will be going differently, however.