Well, I'd just like to say that I'm sorry for such a long wait. I blame the holidays, FFVII: Crisis Core, and approaching mid-terms. I'll save the rest of what I'd like to say for the end (PLEASE read the author's note at the end).

Disclaimer: I don't own The World Ends with You.


31: Future

"Hey Futoshi?"

"Yeah?"

"Where do you see us in the next thirty years?"

Quirking an eyebrow at his lover, the Tech stated, "You know, you ask really random questions. Wanna tell me what you think we'll be doing?"

"Well… thirty years from now I see me retiring from singing and telling our grandkids about what it was like to be in a band."

"That sounds… great. Wait, what do you mean 'grandchildren'? How's that gonna work?"

"Well, in this fantasy of mine, you got a sex change on your twenty-ninth birthday-" He was cut of by a not-so-gentle punch to the shoulder.

#32: Puppy

"Hey 777! I'm… back," the Tech announced, his thought process ceasing as he entered the living room of their apartment. Tilting his head, he gazed at the small creature that was staring curiously up at him. "It's a… puppy," he said to himself, feeling slightly confused.

The puppy eagerly barked in reply, moving closer to the man. Unable to resist the look that the small dog was giving him, the Tech knelt down and scratched behind its small ears.

"Futoshi, don't be surprised when-" 777 began, stopping once he looked upon the scene of the Tech and the puppy. "Never mind then."

"Where'd you get him?" The Tech asked, continuing to shower the puppy with attention.

"Found him on A-East. You know me, I couldn't just let a poor, defenseless puppy roam around the streets of Shibuya."

Rolling his eyes playfully, the Tech questioned, "So what are we going to do with him? He's got a collar, meaning he belongs to someone. We've got to find the owner."

"Yeah, I know. I just… kinda got attached to him pretty fast. You should've seen the way he was looking at me."

"Come on, we should do it now. We don't want to make the separation even harder," the Tech said sarcastically.

"Yeah, yeah," the singer grumbled.


"Excuse me miss, but is this your puppy?" The Tech asked politely, pointing over to 777 and the black pup.

The young woman shook her head. "No, Princess K has not seen in it. I'm as sad as a slug to no that I couldn't be of assistance."

"Uh… don't worry 'bout it. But thanks anyway."

Once the Tech was a safe distance away from Lapin Angelique, he muttered to his lover, "That woman creeps me out."

"I think you just have something against gothic clothes," 777 joked.

"Hey, stop!"

Exchanging quick glances, 777 and the Tech stopped at the sound of the high-pitched voice. Turning around, they came face-to-face with a little girl dressed in a light blue dress.

"Arashi?" At that name, the puppy in 777's arms gave a pleased yelp. "Arashi!" The girl squealed in delight.

"Guess this is your dog then," the singer concluded. "So his name's Arashi. You should really put that on the collar. How'd he get away?"

"We're getting ready to move. We were putting things in a moving van and he must've got away when I wasn't watching him."

"Well… be more careful with him," the Tech replied as he watched 777 hand the puppy over to the girl.

"Sad to see him go?" The Tech asked his lover as the girl and her puppy walked away.

"Nah, I knew it would happen. Do you… want a pet?"

"Maybe someday, just not right now. You're usually always singing, and I'm helping you out. Neither of us have the time right now."

"Yeah, you're right. But now you know what I want for Christmas."

#33: Midnight

"So… what do you think 2009 will be like?"

"Don't know Futoshi. Probably just the same as 2008."

"That sounds… somewhat boring."

"Yeah, I know it does. But… honestly, I don't really care about when a new year happens. It doesn't really matter to me, since I'm dead. But, what do you think about 2009?" 777 had said that in such a somber tone that it caused the Tech to frown, making him hastily add that question.

"I think it'll be good, for the most part."

"What won't be good?"

"Well… towards the middle, it'll be the one year anniversary of my dad dying. Think we could go visit my mom around then?"

"Sure, we can go. Is that the only bad part?"

"As far as I know, yeah. I can't think of any other personal tragedies. Can I ask you something though?"

"What is it?"

"When did you die?"

"… Why do you want to know that?"

"Why can't you just tell me?"

The two shared an uncomfortable silence. There was tension between them, which was not appreciated, and definitely not how they wished to start off the New Year. 777 had that in mind as he conceded, "It's towards the end of this month."

"Do you do anything on that day?" He had to force himself to refrain from saying the word "special".

"Not really. It's just a regular day."

"I see."

With that the two lapsed into a more comfortable, relaxing silence, until 777 leaned in a placed a kiss on the Tech's lips.

"Happy New Year, Futoshi."

#34: Break

"Damn it, damn it, damn it," 777 chanted as he quickly knelt onto the floor. He had been searching for a CD, throwing anything that was not it across the room. The bad part was, a shoe he threw collided with a lamp that had belonged to the Tech for a long time. Now, the singer was picking up the shattered remains to the glass.

"Shit," he cursed as a jagged piece cut his palm, blood trailing out of the wound.

"777?" the Tech called, turning on the bedroom light. "What happened to your hand?!" He asked in a panic.

"Nothing to worry about. I'm sorry, I accidentally broke your lamp!"

Walking over to his lover, the Tech carefully bent down, gently grabbing the bleeding hand with his own. "Come on," he began, grasping the singer's arm and hoisting him up, "go wash your hand. Wrap it up too, if it doesn't stop bleeding. I'll pick this up."

Reluctantly, 777 exited the room and went into the bathroom. After ten minutes, he emerged from the room, after he finally stopped the bleeding and wrapped it with bandages. The Tech was now sitting in the living room.

"How's your hand?"

"Fine. Did you pick up all the glass?"

"Yeah. So, what happened?"

"I was looking for something, and I accidentally knocked it over. I'm sorry, I know you've had it for a long time. I can get you a new one, if you want," 777 offered.

"Don't worry about it. I just don't like that you make it sound like you're less important than a lamp, because you're the most important thing I have. Don't stress out over little things like that, all right?"

"… If you say so."

"Now, come on."

"Huh, are we going somewhere?"

"I don't care that you broke the lamp, but I do need a new one. Make sure you bring your wallet."

#35: Grave

The Tech was puzzled. That was not something that normally happened. He usually had an understanding, no matter how small, about everything that was presented to him. But now, he was confused by his singer's behavior.

All of yesterday, he had been extremely quiet. Also at his concert, he seemed to lack the enthusiasm he normally felt. Or rather, the excitement he showed seemed… fake. He just seemed off, and the Tech could not understand why.

Now, the Tech was sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee and eating toast, waiting for 777 to wake up. It was a little after eleven, which was late, even by 777's standards. Now, the younger man was beginning to feel concerned.

As if to mock his concern, the Tech jumped slightly when he heard the water from the shower turn on.

Guess he's up now, the Tech thought, swallowing the last of his coffee. Twenty minutes later, 777 entered into the kitchen, fully dressed, hair spiked, but looking exhausted, which perplexed the Tech even more

With all that sleep, how could he still be tired?

"What is it?" 777 asked, tilting his head.

"It's… nothing. How are you? Hungry?"

"I'm fine thanks, but I was wondering something. Want to go somewhere?"

That question threw him off slightly, making him—dare he admit it—more confused. "Where?"

"It's a surprise," the singer replied simply.

Of course it is, he thought, resisting the urge to sigh in annoyance. "Sure, why not. When do you want to go… wherever we're going?"

"How 'bout now."

"All right."


"So… why are we here?"

After a short walk to the bus station, a half hour bus ride, and a five minute walk, the pair ended up outside an old, dreary looking cemetery, further confusing the Tech.

777 did not give him a response, just grabbed his hand gently and pulled him into the gravesite. The Tech was waiting for when they would stop. Who were they going to see?

Gravesites had always made him feel a little uneasy, just like how they had that effect on most people. He did not like wandering around a place that housed corpses. He knew that his lover was not too fond of them either, so he could not figure out why they were in one.

He was brought out of his reverie by 777 abruptly stopping. He gazed down at the headstone, then back at his lover. He was about to question him when the singer supplied him with an answer. "This… is my grave. Yesterday was the day when I had died. I know you wanted to do something to acknowledge it, so I thought about it all of yesterday. I figured… why not visit my grave."

"Can I ask… how did you die?"

"There's not much to tell. I was helping my uncle fix his roof. I'm somewhat clumsy, and I fell off. Too bad the house had three floors. Anyway, I fell off and because of the angle, my neck snapped. The worst part was, I lived for a little longer. I died in an ambulance. The people who came and got me were new, and they didn't know how to react when the driver went over a bump and jolted my neck. One of the idiots hadn't strapped a neck brace to me, and it fractured more, and that killed me. Little did I know, one of them was a Reaper, and that's how I got entered into the game."

The Tech was speechless. 777 had never divulged that much information about his life before at once. Now that he knew something that crucial about it, he was at a loss for words.

However, the singer seemed to pick up on that and kissed him on the neck. "Come on, the bus out of here leaves soon, and I'd rather not miss it."

With that, the two left, but the Tech was unable to suppress a small smirk. I wonder if he realizes that I know his real name now, he thought.


Well, there are three things I'd like to get to. First, I can't thank you guys enough for reading and reviewing. I got five reviews. Five! And I felt bad that it took me so long to write this, even with all of that motivation. That may not seem like much, but it is for this story. Could we maybe do that again, loyal readers? You guys would be the best people ever. And also thanks for the few people who added this story to their favorites list. It makes me happy to know that my story is appreciated that much.

Second, I'd like you all to know that if there's anything you'd like me to write, please let me know. We're getting close to the end (sadly), and I'd like to do something for someone. Just know that I'll only do it if it's something that these two would do, and I'm sorry to say that I don't plan on writing a lemon, so please don't ask for one. However, one that I plan on writing soon does have something to do with sex.

Finally, does anyone have any idea if this pairing could have a name? If anyone can give them one that makes sense, I'll dedicate a chapter to you and use that pairing name for the rest of my life (of course, I'd give credit to whoever made it up).

Now, I'm sorry for the super long A/N, but all of that needed to be said. I'll try and update faster next time. No guarantees though.