Stage 3 - The Connection

Sometimes it was difficult to believe that time could fly by as fast as it did sometimes, even when you were a Composer and, technically, had all the time in the world.

Or was that "especially"?

Either way, Joshua still had difficulty believing that it had been over a decade since Sanae had been taken away from Shibuya, and despite how he tried so very hard not to think about it, he just couldn't help himself from thinking about it. He just couldn't help himself; Sanae had been like a guardian to him since as long as he could remember, and he missed him dearly.

Sadly, just missing someone was not enough to get them back.

With a heavy sigh, Joshua leaned back against the light post just outside of Shibu-Q. Despite how time tended to fly, currently, the day was just crawling by, and despite the one spike in energy that Jin had pointed out, absolutely nothing had happened.

And somehow he had wound up in Shibu-Q, a stone's throw away from Udagawa, which he had been avoiding for the last decade so as to not be reminded too much of Sanae. Why his legs had carried him there he wasn't sure, but it only made him remember his old Producer all the more.

He sighed again and shut his eyes while leaning his head back against the post. Sometimes he wished he could erase his own memories like he could with Players.

"Ate mo naku samayotte ita (I was wandering without a destination)
Tegakari mo naku sagashi tsuzuketa (I continued to search without any clues)
Anata ga kureta omoide o (Making the memories you gave to me)
Kokoro o iyasu uta ni shite (into a song to heal my heart)"

As he heard those words being sung, Joshua blinked in surprise, and then frowned as he looked around. That voice had sounded rather close, but it wasn't close enough as though it was right beside him. With his curiosity piqued, Joshua pushed off from the light post and began his search for the source of the voice as it continued to sing unperturbed.

"Yakusoku mo suru koto mo naku (The days when, without making any promises,)
Kawasu kotoba mo kimetari mo sezu (without exchanging words or consciously deciding,)
Dakishime soshite tashikameta (you embraced me and sought me out;)
Hibi wa nido to kaeranu (those days will never return)"

The voice eventually drew Joshua into the damp backstreets of Udagawa, and though he had not actually come there since Sanae had left, this time, he simply kept going. There was just something about the song's words that drew him in. He wasn't sure if it was directed at a lover or at a close friend, because really it could be either one.

All he knew was that it was calling him…

Joshua slowly walked down the damp backstreets of Udagawa, and while, at any other time, he would have never come here after Sanae had left, the song continued to draw him in further and further.

And then he turned the last corner to the mural and he stopped in surprise.

Standing only a few feet away from CAT's mural, was a teen, possibly somewhere around 15, 16 at the most, with fiery red hair that seemed to stand on end in certain parts. He was dressed in only black as far as Joshua could see and he carried a simple duffel bag along his left shoulder. And he was definitely the source of the singing…

"Kioku no naka no te o furu anata wa (The you who touches my hand within my memories)," he sang, in a way that seemed almost distant while he continued to gaze up to the mural, "Watashi no na o yobu koto ga dekiru no (can still call out my name)…"

Just as the boy was about to move on to the next part, though, he tensed briefly and fell silent. After a few more moments, he turned around, blinking curiously with his head tilted sideways. A pair of dark blue eyes that were framed by black eye shadow regarded the Composer quietly.

In turn, Joshua watched the teen just as silently, his hands placed casually in his back pockets. Like that, the pair stood for a few moments more, before Joshua spoke with a small chuckle.

"No need to stop," he quipped, a bit cheekily. "It was just getting good."

The redhead tilted his head the other way and then turned around to properly face the silverette. "I hadn't actually been planning to sing…" he admitted as he reached up and lightly fiddled with his spiky bangs. "But… this place… I'm not certain why, but it just called to me." He allowed a small smile as he finished those words. "It's almost as though this place is telling me 'Enjoy the moment'."

That was a shocker; not many people these days recalled Sanae's old catchphrase since "CAT" had disappeared from Shibuya. It was becoming rarer and rarer and to find people who were susceptible to what remained of the great artist's words in the city.

This kid was certainly something else… especially when Joshua remembered that he had never tuned himself down to the RG.

"Hihi. You're interesting, kid," Joshua said honestly as he tucked aside a few strands of hair. "My name is Kiryuu Yoshiya. But you're free to call me Joshua."

The boy allowed a chuckle of his own and said with a half-wave. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Sakuraba Shintora. But my family and friends call me 'Shin'."

Jin was silent as he sat in a small booth at Sunshine, sipping his shake as he worked on the few notes he needed to before the Game started up, which included the appointing of a Game Master. The Players he had selected were good, but they were not exceptionally good that he needed to call in one of the higher ranked Reapers to play host. Still, it would require some planning and calculation to pick the right person for the job.

"…done already?" he asked suddenly without looking up to the person who had just walked over.

"Hi to you, too," Shixona muttered, sitting down with her tray and pulling out a notepad. "How are you?"

"Busy. What else is new?" he replied off-handedly, moving back from his notes to take a bite from his burger. "So, what did you find?"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking, partner-dearest," Shixona teased, smirking slightly. "Okay, so here's what I found: 1) there used to be two Sakuraba families in Shibuya, 2) one of the families left after their son died in a hit-and-run, 3) the second family, consisting of Sakuraba Reachi and Sakuraba Meiko had a son who died a few years later, 4) Meiko died 10 years ago because of a stroke, 5) Reachi died in a traffic accident a few months after his wife's death."

"…Those were the only Sakuraba families in Shibuya?"

"That's correct," she nodded.

Jin hummed softly, lightly munching on a fry. "…"

"What's going on, Jin?"

"…" Jin brought up one hand suddenly and then waved it sideways, which summoned a Wall that would prevent people from eavesdropping on their conversation. Sometimes it really paid to be Conductor. "There's a kid in Shibuya. Just arrived by train today. His name is Sakuraba Shintora, and he appears to be looking for his family."

"So?"

"Not done yet. He's able to manipulate his own Imagination and Music."

"Say what now?!"

"He doesn't seem to mean any harm… but the fact he can adapt his own Music to his surroundings makes him a possible threat…"

"That's crazy! Hopefully we won't have to worry about him."

Jin solemnly sipped his milkshake as he tapped his pen against the table. "…What about the kids, by the way? Were you able to find if they were Players?"

"No, unfortunately."

"…Names?"

"Sakuraba Sora and Sakuraba Neku."

When the other Reaper said that, Jin blinked in surprise as a jolt of… something… flashed through his head. "…I see…" he murmured softly, though he frowned darkly.

"What's wrong now?"

"…nothing…" Jin mumbled, but after several long moments of silence, he added: "…I hope…"

"All right, I trust you. Just let me know if you need anything else from me, okay?"

"Yeah, sure…"

Joshua, on a whim, treated the boy to ramen. He wasn't even sure why, but he did. There was just something about Shin that was so hauntingly familiar that it was almost scary, but, being the good actor he is, none of that came through on his face. Shockingly, Doi Ken's shop was not entirely empty when they arrived.

There were a few other people, but the most noticeable was the person sitting at the counter; a tall, rather scrawny man in a long black trench coat, black jeans… and a distinct lack of socks and shoes. His hair was long and messy, and when he looked over briefly toward the pair as they entered (possibly just out of curiosity) his eyes made it seem as though he were blind, they were just that glassy white-blue. After a few moments of watching, he turned away, however, and focused back on his own ramen.

Joshua could tell from the man's Music that he was not from Shibuya; it was out of sync with Shibuya, but not in a way that would generally be noticed much unless you paid attention. He was likely just passing through.

Shin asked for tonkotsu whereas Joshua took his usual shio, but something about the situation seemed… off.

Maybe it was what had happened before they got there…

"Say… do you go for ramen often, Shin-kun?"

"Not an awful lot. But it's one of my favorite meals, still. I'm a tonkotsu guy, though. How about you, Joshua-san? What's your favorite ramen?"

"…"

Mmm, ramen. I'm a shio guy, myself. Plain and simple. How about you, Neku? What's your favorite ramen?

"…? Joshua-san?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, Shin-kun… Me, I'm more into shio. Plain and simple."

"Bleh. Sorry, but that's not me. It's just… so bland and… and tasteless!"

"…"

How the hell can you eat that?! It's just… it's so bland and… and… well… tasteless!

"…Joshua-san?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. Guess I got a little distracted there."

Something about Shin's words just… hit him hard and he couldn't explain why. There was just something… wrong.

As they ate, Joshua could not help but notice the earrings in Shin's ears, and the pendant dangling around his neck, and he was a bit surprised that a kid his age actually had things like that. Let alone what they represented.

"So, Shin-kun… I noticed you're into CAT, hm?"

When he said that, Shin looked up with a mouthful of noodles, blinking in surprise before he quickly slurped up his noodles and asked: "Into what now…?"

"Hm? You've never heard of CAT?" Joshua wondered aloud. "Odd… considering you're wearing quite a bit of CAT brand there?"

"Um… am I?" Shin questioned, looking down at his clothes. "Dad got me these, actually… I'm not that into fashion so I dunno much about it…"

Joshua giggled. "The pendant and earrings, too, then?"

"Yeah."

"Hmhmm… Looks like your father may just be a die-hard CAT fan, Shin-kun," Joshua said as he pointed to the pendant with his chopsticks. "That pendant you're wearing is one of CAT's signatures. In fact, it's right on the doorpost outside if you noticed."

"I did notice, actually," Shin said, tapping his lip with his own chopsticks. "So CAT… is an artist?"

"Oh no, dear; artists create art. CAT does not make art… CAT is art," Joshua said with a smile, but as his mouth moved, it was against his will and words that he had never even thought of before spilled from between his lips. "They do artwork, clothes, even furniture. And that's just the start. Photo, music, video… CAT's an uber multi-talent."

"Uber" had never been anywhere in Joshua's vocabulary, but for some odd reason, it had just slipped out unbidden, as though it was only natural.

Regardless, it seemed he'd piqued the young boy's interest, as he watched Joshua in awe, before he shook himself out of it. "Wow… I never knew… that's… that's awesome!"

"Know what else is 'awesome'? That mural I found you at earlier? Also CAT design."

"NO WAY! Really?!" Shin cried out, but he immediately slapped a hand over his mouth and actually flushed in embarrassment. "Um… heheh… sorry…"

Joshua only chuckled. "Quite alright. Anyway, shall we finish up here? I can show you a bit more of CAT's work if you want after."

"Please!" Shin chirped with a big smile on his face, before he quickly dug into his ramen again.

As Joshua did the same, though, something at the back of his mind ached, and it took a lot of effort to not reach back and scratch at where it seemed to itch. Something about his own words had just… struck him as though he had either heard or spoken them before. But he just couldn't figure out from where that had been.

So he forced it from his mind and decided instead to focus on the moment.

Enjoy the moment, after all…

'Where did the time go…?'

That was the question that Joshua was asking himself as he walked into Dead God's Pad. He had just spent the rest of his day with Shin, simply walking around Shibuya and showing off bits and pieces of CAT's work, and the boy had been ecstatic about all of them. Just that morning, he had never even heard of CAT and now he was likely one of Sanae's biggest fans. Yet despite the dwindling amount of art pieces of CAT, there just hadn't been enough time to see it all.

And so, the pair split up around 8 in the evening, with a promise to meet the following day by Hachiko, and now Joshua couldn't help but wonder what the hell he was doing. He was the Composer after all. He should not be wasting his time with someone he's only met today, especially with a Game on the way.

And yet…

"…sir? Sir, are you alright?"

Joshua almost jumped in alarm, before he sighed and turned around. "Yes, Jin-kun, I'm fine. Just… a little lost in thought."

"…Sir, with all due respect, you've been standing there, staring at the fish for the past five minutes."

"…I have…?"

"You have, sir."

Well… that was awkward. What was he supposed to say about that?

…Nothing, that's what.

"So… were you able to find out anything about what you felt earlier?"

Jin didn't even bat an eye at the change in subject, and instead went along with the flow as though nothing was off whatsoever. "Yes sir."

"And…?"

"The one at the source of it is, as of yet, no immediate threat to either the RG or the UG. However, I intend to request Raijin to keep an eye on him regardless while her Partner oversees the Game as Game Master."

"Oh? You're making Fujin-kun the Game Master? This will be interesting."

Jin looked like he was tempted to roll his eyes, but he refrained from doing so. "Sir, you are well aware that-"

"Yes, yes, not his real name, I know." Giggle. "However, it's just too amusing of a coincidence, don't you agree?"

"…Not particularly, sir."

"Ah well. So… anything else you needed to share?"

"Not at this point in time, sir."

"Hmmm…"

Silence befell them then. Jin stood with his arms beside him, and Joshua with his hands absently placed in the back pockets of his jeans. The pair remained like that for a few long moments, as though waiting for something, and neither of the two was prepared to go first.

But finally, Joshua spoke.

"Jin… do you have time tonight?"

Jin didn't even blink in surprise at the question (he'd been expecting it, after all), and only nodded before he said: "Enough, sir."

"…thank you…"

'The wind here is nice…' Shin determined with a small smile as he lay splayed out along the roof of Pork City. With no other place to go, this was as good a place as any to sleep. Shin had only brought a small amount of money with him, and he wanted to save it as much as possible, and if that meant saving a few Yen on sleeping arrangements, then that was fine.

He sobered up as he realized his current predicament. 'This may be harder than I had anticipated… I wasn't expecting Shibuya to be so big…' He sighed heavily. 'How'm I supposed to find Mom…? I don't even know her last name… Stupid crow… giving me those stupid ideas…'

Shin rolled over onto his back and looked up to the moon high above him. There were no clouds, and the moon was entirely unhidden, like a large disc of stainless ceramic.

"…stainless moon…" Shin murmured quietly, and he reached up, as though he could reach out and touch it. "…Dad probably already figured where I went by now… I wonder if he's angry…" he whispered to himself. "…would he follow…? Or would he send Uncle Kamui… or maybe Uncle Ruka…" As soon as he said that, he paled and rapidly shook his head. "Actually I hope he doesn't send Uncle Ruka… he's scary when he's mad…"

For a long time, Shin remained like that, before he sighed and brought his hands together. "Henshin."

And with a poof, Shin moved along the roof and found a good hiding spot, where he curled up on top of his bag and proceeded to fall asleep. 'Hope Dad's okay… maybe I should've brought my phone after all… maybe…'

So I think that, to anyone having read Wishes, you'll have already figured out exactly who Shin is (though the name should've given that away already, I suppose). Question is; how's this going to pan out.

Also, some of you may be wondering what Joshua and Jin will be doing… well… do you guys really wanna know… or should I leave you hanging to be a jerk?