Somehow this thing got set on "Complete", but it's not. This story isn't going to be over 'till it has like 4-5 chapters.

***

Chapter Three: Guardian "Angel"

She never stopped to think that his following her was a good thing.

***

Shiki was walking home from Eri's house, a messenger bag slung over one shoulder, full of designs she had to start on later. Mr. Mew was tucked under her arm, and she had a pair of earphones in her ears, which obscured all sounds.

The sun was going down, and the Shibuya streetlights clicked on, one after another. People still crowded the streets, but thinned out as Shiki neared the apartment complex with her home in it.

She kicked a stray soda can, which clattered loudly along the now silent street.

She didn't hear the can, didn't hear the patter of footsteps behind her.

They got faster; then, someone grabbed her roughly and hauled her around.

Shiki had to no time react, someone knocked her over, snatching her satchel and-

Someone grabbed Mr. Mew.

She rolled over; trying to get to her feet, but someone kicked her back down. Her glasses flipped off, clattering somewhere. She opened her eyes, everything was blurry, and the pain wasn't helping, watching someone tall and thick set run off with her bag.

And Mr. Mew.

Who the hell steals a stuffed cat?!

She could get her bag back; Eri even had copies of her designs. The money wasn't even that big of a deal, she didn't have a lot. No, the most important item was the stolen Mr. Mew. The fake feline plush was handmade, and could not be replaced.

Was that her lack of glasses making her vision blur? Or tears?

She struggled to find her glasses, but even as she staggered to her feet, she knew it was too late.

Rain began to fall, clattering around her. She sank to her knees, hands clutching her face.

She felt angry, angry that she hadn't gotten up faster. But fighting here was different than the UG.

She took a deep steadying breath, ignoring her pounding heart. She had to find him. Somehow.

***

Shiki was back in her home at three in the morning, (she had never been gladder it was a weekend), and she had found no sign of the thief. Her parents had been angry, at first, for being out so late, but after hearing her story, they called the police.

Wasn't going to help.

Shiki went to her room, opening her door, and was met with the most welcome sights in the world.

One, her satchel was on her bedside table (wallet included), still full of the designs Eri had made. Two, the picture frame of her and Neku was fixed, the photo back inside.

And three, Mr. Mew was on the table.

Shiki gave a squeal of delight, the kind only girls can do, and she hugged her precious stuffed cat close. She sat like that for a while, just humming with happiness, tears blurring her vision, when she noticed the card.

It was a little white card, the handwriting so perfect and neat it looked like it was done by a computer.

It figures, dear Shiki. The one night I have a Game to attend; you go and get stolen from.

Shiki smiled, placing the note back down. She looked back to Mr. Mew, and realized something. Around his neck was a glint of yellow.

The gold necklace. She and Neku had given it to a pawn shop after she "broke up" with Joshua. It was back, the obsidian pendant gleaming, good as new, if not better.

She hesitated, and then removed the necklace from around the precious cat, placing it on her own head.

"Joshua." She stated, knowing he was nearby. True to form, he materialized on her bed, exactly where she had been sitting at a moment ago. She wondered if she had been touching him and unaware of it, since he was in the UG, and RG objects passed through those inside.

"You called?" A cat's smile twisted his face.

"Thank you. For getting Mr. Mew back. And fixing the frame, and-"

"It was my deepest pleasure, Shiki dear." He paused, raising an eyebrow, and then he giggled.

"What?" She demanded. Her opinion of him had been changed slightly, since he had cared enough to go hunting for the thief in the dark, at unholy times in the night, but that didn't mean she was trusting him fully yet.

"Your thoughts. You're really warming up to me."

"What? We're not in the UG!"

"That means little to me, as Composer my powers work perfectly fine."

She paled. "You can't…can you?"

"Maybe. Maybe not." He giggled at her expression again.

Can he really read minds?

"Possibly." He replied.

"You-you guessed. Right?" Shiki really hoped he was bluffing.

Joshua just stretched, crossing his arms behind his head. "If that's what you insist, dear. Here." He handed her an envelope, and the puzzled Shiki took it.

She opened it, pulling out a picture of the pair of them, walking down the streets of Shibuya, like they did after the arts and crafts shop incident.

It was amusing, the annoyed look on her face, and the self-satisfied grin on his.

Very amusing. Cute, actually.

She smiled slowly, she couldn't help it. "When did you get this picture?"

"Ah, that's my little secret, Shiki." He stood up, turning his back on her, walking a little to the door. "I should go."

Shiki hesitated, looking at the picture again. "Joshua?"

He paused, his back still to her.

"Thank you. I mean it. And…don't be a stranger, okay? If you actually enjoy my company, stop stalking me and hang out with us. And try to use the door?"

She didn't see that triumphant grin that spread across his face, giving him a rather sinister expression.

"Do you mean that?" He inquired, his eyes glittering with silent laughter while he still didn't look at her.

"Of course."

"I'll take you up on your offer, then." He opened the door and closed it behind him. There were no footsteps down the hall, the Composer had gone.

Shiki leaned back, looking at the picture. She smiled slowly, pulled out a drawer on the desk, and removed a rather plain wooden picture frame, a spare one she kept.

She placed in the picture, and then set it beside the one featuring her and Neku. Then, exhausted, she turned off the lamp on her desk.

She snuggled Mr. Mew, but one hand curled up to hold the pendant on her necklace.

***

Yeah. That's right. Review!