Chapter 7: Fate
Rated: M
Disclaimer: I do not own "World Ends with You"
Mr. Hanekoma POV
I can't get over the urge that Joshua has something planned for Neku. Why this kid out of anyone else. His interest in Neku has gone far enough. I need to put an end to this. I know Joshua will be by here soon, maybe. All I can do is wait in my shop until he gets here. While I'm at it I should retrieve the pin I have to give to Neku. That can save him from Joshua's mind reading. Before I could even step to the back of the shop I heard the door chimes go off. I turned to see none other than Joshua. No smirk this time. He carried a scowl on his face. He didn't look good at all. I knew what he wanted.
"You look sour early in the morning." He moved over to sit at the bar and smirked.
"Even when I'm at my lowest you never fail to make me smile." He glared at me.
"What are you up to?" I took a serious tone.
"Nothing." Joshua casually shrugged off.
"You're lying." I said and he laughed.
"Who said I was lying." Joshua shook his head.
"What do you plan to do with Neku?" I asked another question and he only stared at me.
"He's an interesting kid." I watched him make circles with his finger on the bar.
"You need to stop before this gets out of hand." I leaned in and he gave me one of his infamous chuckles.
"It's too late to turn back now." He smiled.
"You're not going to do this again. Last time was catastrophic."
"But it worked out didn't it?" We made eye contact for a long time. I kept quiet.
"But that's not what I came here for this early. Why did you tell Neku I was dangerous?"
"You haven't realized that you are?"
"I'm pretty sure I am." He rested his head on his propped up arm.
"End you relationship with him." His expression changed.
"I wasn't planning on staying with him for long." He closed his eyes. I'm probably raising his irritation level.
"Because I know what's to come next. You're only being nice to him to gain his trust. He fears you now. He doesn't know what you're capable of. I want you to stop this now before it's too late—" Joshua slammed both his fists on the bar before recollecting himself.
"The nerve of you, how dare you make me this angry in the morning?" He sighed and ran his hand through his hair before smiling. His personality can scare anyone. Luckily it was just the two of us in the shop.
"I'm warning you. What you're doing is wrong."
"And who's to stop me?" I grew silent once more. Shit this was bad. I scratched my head and tried to think of a plan that would counter his.
"I'll end it today." I looked at him and he had some kind of cheerful look.
"I'll end it, but not the way you want it to end." That face turned mischievous instantly as he got up and walked out the door. Today was not a good day.
Neku POV
Out of all days this was the slowest of them all. Class was so boring today. It was stressing me out. Almost all of the windows were open and I was still burning up. Today was not a good day for me.
"Psst, Neku." I heard a voice whisper to me. I looked over and saw Shiki smile at me.
"I forgot my book at home. Can I share with you?" I nodded and she leaned in close. Her hair smelled nice. It feels great being around a girl like this. What was I doing with my life? With Joshua? I could do much better than that. I chuckled to myself.
"Is something wrong?" Shiki asked unsure of my laughter.
"No, it's nothing." I shook it off and sighed. Then I thought to myself.
"Hey Shiki, do you want to hang out after school today?" I asked. Her eyes widened and her blush brightened her cheeks a light shade of pink.
"S-Sure." She nervously agreed and I smiled. I can turn this day into a great day. The sun was already out as much as it was burning me. I turned to look out the window and my heart almost leaped out of my throat. Was that…Joshua? His glare. Those eyes. I looked back at the front of the classroom then out the window to see that he was gone.
"Mr. Sakuraba, are you okay?" My teacher asked. I shook my head to regain my composure.
"I'm fine, sir." I said and we continued on with the lesson. I'm pretty sure that was him down there looking at me.
"Mr. Sakuraba, please report to the main office immediately!" The intercom went off. I looked at Shiki and then my teacher before I was excused.
Oh man, what if it's him? What if he entered the school? Can he really read my mind from a far? Can he see every action that I have planned? I arrived at main office and my eyes grew wide.
"Mom?" I caught her attention and she ran over to me and pulled me into a huge hug. She looked upset. Was she crying the whole time?
"Neku, I was worried about you. I thought you left for good." She said. I missed her too. As much as I do want to come home I have to get through Joshua.
"Someone by the name Hanekoma came by and told me to come see you this morning." Mr. H went to talk to my mother? How did he get my address? Something must be going on.
"He told me to give you this." She handed me a note. I felt something hard in it.
"Please come home today." She rubbed my face. I smiled and nodded to her.
"I'll come home today." She grew happy and pulled me into another hug before kissing my head. She wiped away her tears and laughed.
"So I'll see you when you get home." She gave me one last kiss on the forehead and left. I looked down at the note in my hand and opened it up. I leaned against the wall before I began reading.
Note
'Neku, within this note is a pin that can protect your thoughts and actions from Joshua. You must wear it at all times. DO NOT take it off. I tried talking to Joshua earlier, but it only angered him. I'm doing what I can with all my power to stop him. Whatever you do, stay away from him. You're in danger. Don't go anywhere near him. Your life depends on it.'
I have permanent chills now. This didn't feel real at all. It felt unreal that I was shaking to the core. It's as if he were right here breathing down my neck. It's like he's waiting for the right time to strike. This explains why I saw him earlier. I need to get back to class so I can take my mind off of this.
After School
Shit! I forgot about Shiki. I don't want to just change plans. She might get upset. I'll just take her out just for a little bit.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked Shiki and she looked really happy about this. She packed her things and we began walking together.
"So what did you have in mind?" She asked. We could go to a café, but I don't want to risk going to Mr. H and Joshua walks in on us.
"It's up to you really." I had nothing in mind. I should have thought this through.
"How about we take a walk around the park then you can walk me home." That doesn't sound bad at all.
"Sure why not." The walk was nice, and the weather cooled down a bit as the sun began to set. I bought some iced drinks just in case. I feel like she was a good match. To think I saw her as annoying. She's not bad at all. I felt comfortable without her even trying.
"What happened with you in class earlier? You looked freaked out all of a sudden." I laughed, but I wish she never brought that up.
"I thought I saw something and it spooked me." She laughed and patted my shoulder. I wasn't lying though. It was there.
"Imagination, probably?" She replied.
"I guess so." I wish it was but this is reality. This is a situation that is going to be hard to get out of. I guess our time was up when we left the park and reached the apartment complex she lived in.
"It was great walking with you. Maybe we can do this again."
"Yeah." I nodded and she went of into her apartment. Now it's time for me to go home. It's getting dark anyway. My phone began vibrating in my pocket.
"Hello?" I answered. The tension was building up inside of me. I didn't even check to see who it was.
"Neku are you on your way home?" I held my chest. Okay it was just my mother.
"Yeah, I'm on my way home. I just took a walk with one of my friends." I answered.
"Great. I'll see you when you get here then." She hung up. I continued walking. I was on a small bridge. The streetlights were coming on already. My phone vibrated again. I looked at it, but it was not a number I recognized. I answered anyway.
"Hello?" I started again. The line remained silent again.
"Why are you avoiding me?" I snatched my ear away from the phone and hung up. I looked at my phone and saw texts saying the same thing. How did I miss those? I knew it was him. Joshua is trying to get to me. I felt a hand touch my shoulder when I turned around quickly to attack.
"Whoa Phones calm down!"
"Beat you scare the living hell out of me!" I yelled.
"Sorry yo, I was just trying to say hi." I need to get home now and fast.
"Sorry Beat I'm n a hurry." I began to speed walk. I need to go. I need to get far away from here. I continued speeding and made a turn in an alley way to take a shortcut to my apartment.
"What's the rush?" I froze. Why couldn't I move? What was happening? Just before I could say anything, Joshua walked from behind me to look at my face. He ran his hand down my face and I shut my eyes tightly for what was to come next.
"What is happening? Why can't I move?" I struggled.
"I stopped time itself and you, but this is special in your case." He moved closer to my face.
"Let me go!" I yelled. He laughed.
"Did you have fun with Shiki today?" He asked and I grew angry.
"This has nothing to do with her now let me go!"
"Alright." He shrugged and I almost fell forward. Time still wasn't back normal. Everything was still frozen except the two of us.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He took a step forward and I began backing away.
"I was told to do so." I looked away.
"So Mr. H gave you that pin I see." How did he know?
"How do you know that?" I can't slip by with anything if he's around.
"I can't read your mind that's why." He stuck his hands in his pockets.
"I can't be here, I'm sorry." I took another step back.
"Understandable, though I came here to end it with you anyway." I looked up at him. Was this my ticket out of this mess? Was he really going to let me go that easily?
"You're ending our relationship?" It was still shocking.
"Mr. H wanted me to, so I'm going to do it." As great as this feels, I still had a bad feeling about this.
"But I'm not going to do it his way." Then what way does he plan on doing it?
"Let's just say with my way I wouldn't have to fret even though that's highly unlikely." He removed his hand from his pocket but he was holding an object. It was a gun! He fired a few shots at my feet as I fell to the ground. Why did my legs give out on me at a time like this?
"Farewell Neku, it was nice having you." He smiled. Shit, I have to go. This can't be happening. No, this can't be real. Joshua shot at me again, but the adrenaline rush made me get up and run as fast as I could. I didn't stop nor did I look back. I just kept running until I arrived to my apartment complex. I rushed to the elevator to press the button, hoping Joshua wasn't around the corner. I began to feel woozy. The world was spinning around me. I couldn't stop now. The elevator door opened and I hurried to press the button to my floor. Wait, hold on…..blood? I saw the blood I left on the button and looked at my body I saw a blood stain on the side of my shirt. He hit me. Was this it? No, I shouldn't think about it. I should let my adrenaline keep my mind off of it. But I can't. I was losing blood and my vision was getting worse. I shut my eyes for just a second before hearing the ding and the doors opening. I must make it. I have to. I can't die here. Not now. I managed to stumble towards my door before falling on it. My bloody hand print stained the door but I banged as hard as I could before sliding down the door. I couldn't hold on much longer. I'm going to scare my mother in this condition. I listened to the door being unlocked. The screams of my mother filled the hallway once the door was opened.
"Neku! Neku sweetie, hold on!" Those were the last words I heard before blacking out. I wish I could for you…mom.
