Oh look, I updated! Sorry for the wait... but this one's really, really long, so hopefully that compensates. (Oh God it took forever and killed me WHYYYYY) *sobs into forever* Also I went on Holidays and forgot to reply to a bunch of people (but having no internet or phone connection helped), so I will respond to all you amazing people eventually!
We finally reach the plot! Halleluja! You guys probably won't spot much of it, but it's there yay~
Thanks go to GintaXAlvissForever for betaing once again! (and for putting up with my astonishing lateness)
The siblings had shown up eventually, Beat spouting excuses and Rhyme looking oddly pissed with her brother. Joshua grinned and made some degrading remark, Eri had cackled and backed him up, Beat exploded, Shiki cowered, and Neku plus Rhyme had wasted valuable energy calming everyone down. In other words, it was business as usual. It was rather sad that normalcy involved a spat five minutes into the day…Neku had to wonder just how his life had gotten so draining. But they'd made it here in the end, the teen weaving through the isles of D+B with a scowl firmly set in place. Why was he so irritated at this early hour? One word: Joshua. Or more specifically: Joshua and Eri.
Eri was a literal bulldozer. She had knocked over about three displays, five racks and one disgruntled shop assistant in her quest for clothes, leaving absolute chaos in her wake. This was not what Neku had a problem with. Neither was the shopkeeper chasing after her with the intent to kill. No, what he had an issue with was how Joshua slid in between Eri and the angry assistant, promptly distracting them while Shiki hastily reset whatever had been destroyed. It irritated him. If she was going to rampage, the least she could do was listen to the lecture she earned afterwards! But as it stood the bubbly teen was gleefully oblivious, skipping through the isles with her best friend in tow.
A loud clang of metal rang out behind him, and Neku fought back the urge to wince at the angry squawk that followed. That made two assistants… Right on cue Eri breezed by, and right on cue Joshua waltzed in and struck up a conversation with the livid shopkeeper. Apparently Josh had been bored enough to become besties with every shopkeeper in existence. He'd even managed to become chummy with people he really shouldn't get along with… how he'd managed to befriend the Wild Boar salesman, Neku would never know.
A quick glance to the side confirmed that Shiki was indeed hurriedly placing scattered clothes back on the display, finishing precisely as Joshua waved the much happier assistant on their way. They were so well timed he almost thought they'd rehearsed it.
"Oh, hey Neku. Why are you looking so grumpy? I know shopping isn't really your thing, but…" Shiki trailed off as the Composer strolled over, his permanent half-grin set on his face.
"Why hello there. I hope you don't mind me crashing your party." Shiki nodded all too quickly, betraying her lack of comfort with the situation. Neku knew there was going to be some awkwardness to work through, but she didn't have to be so…obvious about it. It left the teen in a rather uncomfortable and irritated mood. Playing conversationalist was never his strong point, yet if he didn't speak up…
"Oh, Shiki. That's a nice skirt you got there." It was a clumsy topic change, and everyone knew it. Yet Shiki pounced on the chance like she found the newest fashions in a bargain bin.
"Isn't it?" The color and cut is just so cute! I was thinking Eri would look amazing in it, so I kinda picked it up without thinking."
"It'd look better on you."
"E-eh?"
Neku silently cursed Joshua's bluntness as his friend recoiled, eyes fluttering downwards in undeserved shame. Even though her jealousy had been dealt with, Shiki still had a mountain of self-loathing to work through, and Joshua wasn't helping any by complimenting her out of the blue like that! He needed to step in, to smooth over the conversation, to stop Josh from opening his oblivious mouth once more, but the Composer beat him to it.
"It's true. While it would look great on Eri, this color suits your skin tone better. Plus the cut would emphasize your figure and give you more of an hourglass silhouette." Joshua was stating this all so nonchalantly, not even looking at Shiki as he spoke. He was too occupied with a nearby shirt that had caught his eye to notice the poor girl's discomfort. It was painful to watch, but what could Neku do? He wasn't good at conversation, heck; he wasn't good with people in general. Surely Josh knew what he was doing. Surely he wasn't that oblivious…right? But then he remembered the Composer's attempts to play nice with him late in the second week, promptly realizing that Josh was maybe even worse with social interaction than he was, and attempted to jump in again. Who was he kidding? Josh was going to burn every single bridge without even realizing it!
"Hey-"
"Josh! What've you got there? Ooh, it's cute!"
Eri cut Neku off with the cheer of somebody completely unaware of what they just did, plucking the aforementioned shirt out of the bemused Composer's grasp. God dammit, how hard could it possibly be to get a word in edgewise?! But the teen's wrath was promptly ignored as Eri hummed and hawed over the shirt, holding it up to her best friends frame with a beaming grin.
"It suits you!"
"Er, um, thank you, but… I really think-!" Shiki could barely form a complete sentence, the clash of embarrassment and pride bringing tears to her eyes. Neku had well and truly given up by this point. Everything he said either didn't help, was ignored, or made things about ten times worse! This conversationalist lark was harder than it looked. He made the mistake of glancing at the glasses-clad girl, and seeing her in a shaking mess provoked him into action once more. He wasn't going to abandon his oldest friend (that was still alive, that is) to the fashion wolves! Maybe someone would actually listen to him this time.
"Oi, you two are really-"
"Oh, that top would look lovely with the skirt Shiki picked up."
"It really would! You heard him, girl. You have to try it on!"
"B-but! I know you two are just being nice, but please stop lying to make me feel better!" Shiki's upset cry was enough for Eri to finally catch on, her mouth clamping shut mid-flight. Joshua, however, was a different story entirely. Ooh, he looked pissed.
"Shiki? No offense, but I don't know you well enough to bother lying simply to 'make you feel better'. I am simply stating the facts. The color and shape would suit your figure and skin tone, and you would look genuinely nice in it. If it made you look like a lumbering hag that belonged in a sewer I would waste no time in telling you so. I suggest you look elsewhere for idle flattery."
...It was official; Joshua had the social graces of an elephant. It was all Neku could do to resist facepalming, groaning slightly as both Eri and Shiki stared with open mouths. What was that idiot thinking?! Didn't he want the others to like him? While he knew it wasn't necessary, he could still hang with Josh separate from the others, but…he liked being able to chill with everyone with once. Selfish, yes, but true. Ugh, he was going to have to do some serious damage control to bridge this gap.
"…Josh, I hereby declare you my sassy gay friend."
Wait what.
Neku had to make sure that he hadn't misheard, but one look at the joy on Eri's face confirmed it. Even Joshua was taken by surprise.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't deny it! That was just so, so…fabulous! Ooh, you have to check out this pair of jeans I found. I think they make me look fat, but the assistant won't tell me anything. Finally I'll get an honest opinion!"
And with that happy babble the Composer was dragged away, mild astonishment running riot on his face. Neku didn't blame him, he and Shiki staring after the pair and their shouts ("…since when was I gay?" "Really, don't even try to deny it." "That obvious?" "Fraid so.") with an odd atmosphere of confusion. Well, this was awkward… Hesitantly he turned to his oldest friend, taking in her shaken state with a wince in sympathy. That rant may have endeared Josh to Eri, but it had worked no such wonders on its intended recipient.
"Sorry about that. He…he means well." Neku put up lamely, inwardly cursing at the weakness of that argument. Well, how was he supposed to explain Joshua's way of thinking anyway?! If his trip to the Kiryu's had taught him anything, it was that the family's brand of logic was...twisted, to say the least. Shiki was just as unimpressed with the defense as Neku himself was, but she hid it well, offering her companion a shaky smile.
"Yeah, I know. Sorry for...losing it like that."
"No problem."
Really, he should leave it at that. Amends were made, Shiki was recovering, and Josh had been dragged somewhere where he couldn't do anymore damage. Yet Neku faltered for a few seconds, wrestling with an idea that was probably going to do more harm than good. She needed to hear it though...
"...You know, they were right. It would look good on you."
"Neku?!"
But he had already left, ignoring the bewildered exclamation behind him and swallowing embarrassment as spouting something so, so...sappy. What had gotten into him today?
"Oh, wow! That looks gorgeous!"
"I agree. Gold's a good color on you. Excellent choice, Eri."
"Heheh, stop it, you two! You're making me blush~"
Somehow they'd ended up in Sheep Heavenly, Neku's previous prediction of getting dragged everywhere coming true a lot faster than expected. He'd managed to break away from the newly dubbed 'fashion vultures' (Eri had blatantly refused to move from her new 'sassy' companion, Shiki was milling around the edges discreetly ignoring Joshua, and the Composer himself had been far too distracted by the new clothes that come out since he was last here to care) and found himself milling up the back with Rhyme, the girls plus Joshua's chatter a backdrop for their own, much quieter conversation. He didn't get to hang out with Rhyme much. Their age gap separated them for most of school, and it was rare to grab her by herself like this. Usually Beat followed her like a second shadow.
"Oh, what about this one?" Rhyme held up a bangle for closer inspection, smiling at her companion as he studied it. It did look like something Rhyme would wear, but...
"Won't your brother have a fit if you wear a bracelet decorated with sex symbols?"
"...Oh. Well, yes, he would." She sighed, placing the graphic bangle back with reluctance. Neku didn't think that even he could escape a beating for letting Beat's idolized sister buy something like that! So he simply pasted on an apologetic smile, directing her to the other, less suggestive pieces of jewelry.
"...You know..."
"Hmm?"
"Joshua reminds me of you, just a little. It's rather ironic."
Neku choked back his surprised start, but only succeeded in sending himself into a coughing fit. How the hell had Rhyme picked that up so quickly?! She just looked startled, for her part, scurrying over to pound him on the back. Obviously she didn't expect her words to have such an impact.
When he'd finally calmed down enough to stop trying to expel his lungs from his chest, Neku had to wonder just how Rhyme had become this perceptive. It wasn't like he and Josh looked physically similar, apart from the inherent lankiness they both possessed, and they both talked and acted differently. Hell, it'd taken Neku a while to notice the mental similarities! How had Rhyme picked it up in a matter of days? One of which Josh was shooting at them? The idea that she'd inherited it from her family was laughable; she had Beat for a brother, after all. Then again... maybe it was because Beat was such a dumbass…
"...Neku? You're staring again."
He jumped at the pointed statement, snapping out of his musings to find that he had indeed let his eyes glaze over. Oops.
"Sorry. Just wondering how you turned out so damn perceptive when you've got fucking Beat for a brother." Rhyme just grinned at the otherwise tactless statement, adjusting her beanie a bit higher on her head. Neku had learned that the gesture was Rhymes version of a knowing laugh.
"It's not as subtle as you think, you know."
"..."
Neku decided to ignore that, because he'd rather not think that he shared too many obvious details with a slightly deranged Composer. That would be...awkward. So he quickly moved the topic back to safer ground, ignoring the younger girls amusement at the sudden jab at Beat.
"Whatever. Still, my point stands. Beat is as aware as a brick."
She giggled at that, returning to the display with a smile still tugging at her lips.
"Is this bracelet any better?"
"It's nice."
"Mm, it is. I think I'll buy this one."
"...Let me."
"Eh? Oh no, I couldn't possibly-"
"No excuses, I want to do this. Besides, what guy would let a cute girl buy her own present?"
A bad attempt at a flirtatious wink was thrown in here, just to remind Rhyme that he was joking and wasn't really coming onto her. Lord help him if Beat ever misunderstood...but Rhyme was smart and understood what was happening; there was little danger in playing around in this way with her.
"...Darn, now you've pulled the gentleman card. I suppose I'll have to let you then." She was smiling though, and handed over the bracelet with a quiet "Thanks."
"Anytime."
Though it was only afterwards, when the jewelry was well and truly purchased, that Neku noticed one glaringly obvious point.
"...Oi, where's Beat?"
Beats location had come to light eventually, exploding out of the changing room adorned in various necklaces and a skirt. Apparently the girls had kidnapped him almost as soon as they entered Sheep Heavenly, Joshua binding him with a thought, laughing and commenting as the others forced the buff teen into various outfits...he really shouldn't be surprised. Put Josh and Eri in a room together and stunts like this were bound to happen. But they'd sorted it all out eventually, Rhyme placating her distraught brother with a bemused expression, while Josh smoothly talked his way out with the assistant. At least Joshua and Shiki seemed closer now because of their shared kidnapping. They were actually talking now, glory be! All sarcasm aside though, Neku found the chaos strangely nostalgic, and so simply observed it all with a slight smile.
"My, someone looks contented." Joshua sidled up next to him, footsteps falling in time as the group left Molco behind them. Just because the Composer convinced the assistant not to press charges didn't mean they had escaped being kicked out...Eri had not been impressed. Neku took a second to consider the implied question, staring up at the clouds that trailed above, before shifting his gaze back to the pavement he'd grown up on. Was that how he felt? Contented? He sneaked a glance over at Josh, and had to fight back a smile as satisfaction welled up in him like a tidal wave. Yeah, that was a pretty accurate description.
"Mm. That's because I am."
"Care to share why?" Neku snorted at that, not because he found the query stupid, but because like hell he'd tell Josh the truth about that! He didn't want Josh getting a bigger head than he already had...it'd probably explode or something. You could never tell with these ethereal beings.
"Like hell."
"Aww, boo." Josh didn't sound mad at all though. In fact, Neku could hear a glimmer of the same quiet happiness he felt in the Composers tone, and it soothed some bundle of nerves that twittered what if they don't like him? What if you're forced to choose between them? What if-
He quickly ridded himself of such thought processes; it wasn't like he was some nervous mother at a first play date! Ah damn...Neku could feel the irritation starting to build in his system, a far-too-familiar ball of anger starting to bundle in his chest. This...wasn't good. He needed a distraction. Unfortunately for the Composer, he was whom Neku saw first. In Neku's defense, Joshua was acting surprisingly relaxed compared to the guarded flamboyance he usually flaunted. It was hard not to poke fun at his sudden chilled attitude.
"I could ask you the same thing, actually. What has got you purring like the cat that ate the canary?" He teased, thumping Josh's shoulder in an unusually physical act of familiarity for the teen. The jibe didn't go unnoticed, and a smirking Composer replied in kind.
"Oh, just that I'm so close to my Dear Neku. Be still my beating heart!" The dramatic swoon that accompanied Josh's statement was quickly dodged, leaving the teen to fall onto nothing. At least, that was the plan, except Neku had overlooked the tiny fact that Josh was the almost-deity of Shibuya. So instead Joshua floated on his back for a few good seconds before flipping himself onto his feet, an exaggerated yawn and a smirk in tow. It was moments like these that Neku really hated the bastard.
"Asshole."
"Love you too~"
Grumbling, Neku focused once more on the road in front of him. He'd well and truly lost that round... oh well. He enjoyed these clashes with Joshua, and they let him blow off steam in a way that nobody else could. Even if he did often leave feeling more irritated than when he started. But like hell he'd ever let Josh know any of this! He did have some pride, thank you very much. So he let out an annoyed sigh, slowing his step to allow the Composer to catch up.
"You and Shiki seem to be getting along okay now."
"I...suppose. She's nice enough, and has a killer sense of fashion. I just wish she'd display some semblance of self-confidence! I have no time for people who cannot accept the truth simply because it does not fit their warped image of themselves."
Ooh, Joshua sounded irritated. Obviously he didn't have much patience for shyness. Though Neku could hardly talk, he didn't either. If he hadn't been forced to get to know Shiki, to meet the girl behind the sniveling insecurity, he'd probably have blown her off just as Josh was doing. It...just took time. So he just shrugged at the Composer's statement, looking over his shoulder at his friends lagging behind with a rare, fond smile.
"I thought the same at first. But it's just something she's working through, and Shiki's one of the best friends I could ask for. She...doesn't give up on people."
His speech trailed off into a curse as he was forced to focus on the crowd they shared the pavement with, weaving through the crowd that seemed to miraculously appear. Ugh, why was it so busy? He knew it was sale day, but...Neku had to bite back more profanities as the crowd jostled him every which-way, and he found himself wondering idly if Josh was still behind him. He didn't want to lose the petite teen in this rabble! Though he kept that particular observation about the Composer's height under wraps, assuming that any jabs about his slight frame would be taken as well as Neku himself took them: not well at all. Though it was nice to finally find someone shorter than him... even if it was only by a centimeter or two. When you were below average height you took what you could get!
Neku turned to check for Joshua's whereabouts, but was taken by surprise at the expression trying to break through on the pale teens face. Was that...longing? He followed Joshua's gaze to a cylindrical metal cage jutted out into the street, the crowds swarming around it, but what was truly interesting was that Josh was trying to hide his attraction to it. He hadn't bothered to keep quiet if he'd wanted to look at something earlier today...he found himself wondering just what was so enthralling. So Neku jogged up to Josh and grabbed his arm, pulling him through the crowds none too gently.
"What're you...?"
"You wanted to look at the cage, right?"
"...! I appreciate your concern, however I was only-"
Okay, now he was flat-out denying his interest in this...thing? It only served to fuel Neku's curiosity. Who knows, it could be some bargain bin that would send Shiki and Eri into a frenzy! Or something terribly embarrassing that he could blackmail Josh with later. Fine, so maybe his intentions for helping weren't entirely innocent, so sue him. But when he finally broke through the masses, Composer in tow, he was not expecting the tiny balls of fluff that greeted him. Were those...rabbits? He vaguely registered Josh doubling his attempts to pull away, spouting a near continuous stream of dialogue that boiled down to a dragged out way of saying 'let me go.' Joshua sounded angry, exasperated, and...embarrassed. Oho, like Neku would let this go now. His blackmail hunch had been right! Score!
"Really, Josh? Rabbits?"
"As I stated previously, I was merely wondering about the gathering point of the crowd! I have no interest in these...rodents." The Composer sniffed, but there was no hiding the slight tinge on the tips of his cheekbones. He also sounded a lot more formal in his speech than earlier. Was this Joshua speak for 'I'm so embarrassed I don't know what to do right now'? Neku decided to test his theory. For scientific purposes, of course. Not because he enjoyed tormenting his friend or anything- oh who was he kidding? Neku was enjoying this way too much.
"Well, this is a surprise. Let's go see if we can hold one." Neku yanked the teen forward once more, biting back a grin at the spluttered noises Josh was making behind him. Aww, how cute. Was Josh all flustered? It only encouraged the teen rather than sparking sympathy, so he waltzed up to the assistant and put on his best smile.
"Hi there. Can my friend hold one of the rabbits?"
"Neku! I said that I was fine." Josh hissed, still tugging at his arm in an attempt to break free. Neku didn't believe a word of it. If Joshua really didn't want to be here, he would've teleported halfway across Shibuya by now. This struggle was all for the sake of pride.
"Why, certainly! What color would the young man prefer?"
"You heard her Josh. What color would the 'young man' like?"
"I am so going to murder you for this."
"Yeah yeah, plan your revenge after picking the color of the damn rabbit."
"...White."
Neku smirked in victory as the Composer looked incredibly pissed off, embarrassment tingling his cheeks a lovely pale shade of pink. Oh my word, he was blushing. This was better blackmail material than he had hoped for! But all thoughts of cruelty melted away when the assistant handed over the tiny critter, and one look at Josh cradling it and trying to hide a smile with a scowl was enough to shoot down any nasty plans. He just looked so damn...cute. It was strangely awkward, like he was seeing something he wasn't supposed to, and found himself tearing his eyes off his companion with a cough.
He never thought that Joshua would be the type to go gushy over bunnies though...yet another tidbit to file away for later use. Hmm, maybe he should wave the others over? They had just dashed off into the crowd, after all, and Shiki would be working herself into a panic at their disappearance. But when Neku turned to relay his decision and got an eyeful of the Composer gently bumping noses with the rabbit...well, let's just say Neku felt a little selfish. The others didn't get to see this. This was special. So Neku just grinned and ruffled the rabbit's fur, ignoring the startled look he earned for his trouble.
"They're rather adorable, aren't they?"
"...Yeah."
"Though what's more adorable is that you have a soft spot for 'em." He was teasing, and the glare he received shown that it hadn't gone unnoticed. Like he'd let a simple stare deter him though! This was too good an opportunity to pass up, blackmail or no. Finally he could irritate Joshua for once, instead of the other way around!
"So? You gonna buy one?"
"Oh please. What on earth would I do with it?"
"It'd make a pretty awesome hat." And with that statement Neku swooped the poor animal out of Joshua's hands and dumped it on his startled companions head. What do you know, it matched Joshua's hair color! As if to prove Neku's point the bunny wasted no time in burrowing into the Composer's hair, probably hiding from the crazy orange haired teen.
"Heh, it looks like you've got rabbit ears."
"Just- just shut up." Joshua grumbled, vocabulary finally failing him as he delicately removed the animal, handing it back to the expectant assistant with haste. Ooh, Josh was mad. Somehow Neku wasn't bothered by this fact. Instead the teen simply placed his hands behind his head and grinned, waltzing over with an undeniable air of self-satisfaction. Josh looked less than impressed.
"Don't think I've forgotten what I said. I will murder you for this."
"Pssh, your life would be too boring without me." Neku was too busy congratulating himself to notice Joshua's final whisper, the Composer watching him wave the others over with a tiny, almost fond smile.
"...True."
"Good day- ah! A pleasure to see you again, M'lady!" Neku was not prepared for Princess K's burst of excitement, bounding over to Josh with all the enthusiasm of a puppy. Wait...'M'lady'? Since when was Joshua female royalty? The Composer just brushed off his questioning stare, returning her greeting in kind.
"Oh no, the pleasure's all mine, your Highness. How are you this fine day?"
"Splendid! Our designer has finally got a new line out, and I must say, it's almost as if it was made for you! You must let me have the honor of seeing you in it!" She babbled happily, not even waiting for a reply before dragging of a rather bemused Joshua. Neku almost felt sorry for him. He'd never seen her so...worked up. Man, obviously Josh looked damn good in the clothes here. Why else would the usually calm Princess K enter such a frenzy?
He quickly cut his musings short once he noticed Eri eyeing him, swiftly moving to the back of the store. Like hell he was going to let her change his wardrobe! The second she got close enough to grab his arm, it was all over...
Beat was nearby, thank the gods, and Neku hurriedly used him as a makeshift shield to avoid the fashion crazy redhead. Not even Eri would dare mention fashion near Beat! Besides, he hadn't had much of a chance to talk to his buff friend today. While it wasn't the most stimulating conversation, it was almost refreshing talking to someone too stupid to be dishonest. With this in mind Neku tapped him on the shoulder, frowning slightly at the uneasy expression he was met with.
"Hey. What's up?"
"N-Nothin', yo. Jus' thinkin'." Beat muttered, his eyes wandering over to the changing room where Joshua and the Princess resided. He seemed bothered by something. That in itself was a rarity, considering how Beat was usually so loud and intense. Neku stared at him, violet orbs unimpressed and searching, before he decided that he wasn't going to put up with any more of this crap and spoke.
"Don't give me that. What's on your mind?"
"Well... It's jus' that- that chick called Prissy kid 'M'lady'."
"Your point is?"
"Aw man, don' make me spell it out, yo..." Beat rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke, clearly less than comfortable with the situation. "J-Josh looks really...girly, ya know?"
Neku was still at a loss here. Beat wasn't making any sense dammit! Usually he cut straight for the point, it was odd for him to be dancing around the issue like this. This was so aggravating!
"Get on with it!"
"What if Joshua's actually a chick?!"
The sheer stupidity of Beat's panicked shout actually stunned Neku into silence. And here he was, wondering if his buff friend had a legitimate concern, but all it was involved Josh's obvious femininity?! A disbelieving glance registered the sincerity in his companion's eyes, confirming that yes, he was serious and yes, Beat was an idiot. Neku could feel a migraine coming on...
"Ugh, Beat? Josh is most assuredly male."
"How do you know that, yo? He could'a been a chick this whole time an' nobody'd know!"
"No, listen-"
"An' you have to have noticed those curves, man! Where's your proof? Gimme proof that Prissy Kid is a bona-fide bloke!" Beat was shouting now, drawing stares from the other customers while Neku tried to melt into the clothes rack. Getting harassed by his buff friend was not how he planned for today to go.
"Just can it for a second! You're too fucking loud!" Even Beat knew to shut up when he took on that tone of voice. "Josh is a guy, okay?! I refuse to endure these idiotic worries of yours any longer!"
"My my, what's with all the shouting?"
Neku whirled at the Composer's call, and had to swallow a start of surprise when Josh strode out in an intricate dress. He looked just like a girl...oh shit. One glance confirmed that Beat was drawing in breath, ready to shout to the rooftops about this 'proof' of Joshua's newfound womanhood, and Neku grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the store. If he was going to explode, he could at least do it out of Joshua's earshot.
"See?! See, I told you! He's totally a lady, yo!"
"No, he's not. Just because he looks good in a dress-"
"Too good, if you ask me! I need to go tell the others that you've got some crazy yandere chick on your trail."
"...Yandere?"
"Well yeah, she tried to shoot you, dumbass!" And now she's actin' all nice... it's suss, yo. You got yourself a stalker girl!"
"FOR THE LAST TIME, JOSH IS NOT A-"
"Ah!" Neku was cut off mid-rant as he felt a presence fall behind him, bumping into someone as he gestured angrily. Aww crap! He didn't mean to knock someone over. His fury was quickly forgotten as he raced to help the victim up, already spouting apologies.
"Oh, I didn't see you there. You okay?"
...Fine, so maybe not apologies. It was as close as he was ever going to get though, and the recipient didn't seem to mind, vaguely replying in kind.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry to make you worry." The girl took the offered hand and Neku pulled her up, running a quick check for any lost items that may have shaken loose in the mishap. The last thing he wanted was to be accused of stealing anything...wait.
"Don't I know you from somewhere?"
"Hmm?"
Now Neku remembered, finally attaching a name to her face. Great, as if this needed help to descend into awkwardness. Bumping into an acquaintance from school was just what he needed.
"Yeah. Rena, right? I'm Neku. We're lab partners."
Now it was the girl's turn to jolt, obviously feeling guilty for forgetting.
"I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."
You'd have to be an idiot to not pick up on the underlying subtext of because we never talk, let alone interact, and Neku was no idiot. Before things could get truly uncomfortable though who should skip out but Joshua, still wearing the same dress from before.
"So here's where you ran off to. We could hear your howling from inside, you know."
The smirk that adorned Josh's face spoke clearly of his knowledge of Beat's worries, and it was almost comical to watch the horror in the buff teen's expression. Well, that'd remove his fears quickly enough. Now there was another person in this recipe for social disaster... he supposed he'd better get this over with. With a sigh Neku turned to his classmate, the obligatory introductions on the tip of his tongue, but what he saw caused him to falter.
Fear.
Absolute, crushing fear.
Rena was shaking like a deer in the headlights, palms fluttering open and shut in anxiety. Neku thought she was going to pass out! You'd have to be completely heartless to ignore this level of panic, and so Neku reached out to her in concern.
"Hey, you okay?"
Her eyes snapped to him, wide and frantic, and she grabbed his arm in a clumsy lunging motion. What the hell was wrong with her?! Neku almost pulled his arm away, until he heard a voice on the point of sobbing hiss in his ear.
"Wh-what are you doing?! Run! He'll, he'll... he..."
She broke off mid sentence and thrust herself away, eyes fixating on Joshua once more. Obviously something was going on here...perhaps they knew each other? Though one look at the bemused expression on the Composer's face crushed that idea. Argh, Neku was so confused! The fact that she suddenly bolted with a choked cry only strengthened this feeling. At least someone found some amusement in it, Joshua strolling over with a raised eyebrow.
"My, is someone having girl troubles? I know that I look gorgeous, but I didn't mean to inspire jealousy. I do apologize~" He sang, flopping across Neku with a devilish grin. Wh- as if! He barely spoke to the girl! Talk about jumping to conclusions. The teen just snorted in response, brushing the grinning fiend off. Come to think of it, Beat was awfully quiet...Neku turned to his friend, expecting some expression of embarrassment, but instead had to fight back an overwhelming desire to groan at the starry-eyed Beat.
"Dude...she was amazing, yo."
It was official; Neku was going to hit something.
Finally, a chance to sit down! Admittedly they'd only stopped because it was starting to get dark (had the day swung past already?), but it was still an aching reprieve for his aching feet. So it was no surprise that Neku was the first to sit down, skipping his usual banter with Sanae. He was tired dammit! The girls were rather exhausting... especially since they'd warmed up to Josh by the sixth shop they'd entered.
The barista just raised a questioning eyebrow at the display, chuckling at the baleful glare he received, but letting the matter slide. He'd like to keep his head attached to his shoulders, thank you very much. So Neku just watched through half-lidded eyes as the rest of the bunch filtered in, observing the cheerful exchange of greetings one by one until Josh sauntered in. This should be interesting...
"Evening Mr. H. Your shop's as empty as always."
"...Oh, if it isn't the almighty Composer! Should I bow at your feet, oh exalted one?"
"Only if it helps you feel better about your empty existence as a barista." The smirk that adorned Joshua's face took all of the sting out of his words though, and Mr. H replied in kind.
" Ouch! Whatever you say, M'lady. Get that pasty tush of yours in here! It's been far too long."
That went...far better than expected, and Neku found himself frowning. It wasn't like he wanted them to fight or anything, but... Mr. H had been nearly adamant that Josh wasn't going to show up. Couldn't he act a little more surprised? Maybe even gape a little? Perhaps even come over and make some congratulatory comment about how Neku had proved him wrong?
Wait.
Was he seriously pining for a compliment from Mr. H?! Oh my god, that was just so many layers of pathetic. Neku found himself incredibly pissed at himself and promptly started gnawing aggressively at a stray fork, too busy berating himself to notice his actions. Okay, so maybe Mr. H was his hero, not to mention his art was the only thing that pulled him through a rough patch in his short life, but that was no reason to go all mopey for his attention! He was starting to act like those creeper slammurai fanboys.
...He still wanted a compliment though...
Neku increased his onslaught on the utensil in his mouth, the poor fork getting violently chewed on with twice the vigor of before. Unfortunately his odd behavior had not gone unnoticed.
"...Having fun there? There are better ways to combat an iron deficiency, you know." Josh stated, and the grin that followed as Neku dropped the fork with a splutter rubbed him all the wrong ways. Bastard! There were about a million nicer ways to voice that. Then again, if he did twist his words to soften the blow, it wouldn't be Joshua. So Neku just ducked his head with a scowl, unable to think of anything to explain his actions. Luckily Josh let it go with little more than a chuckle at his expense.
"Oh, relax Dear. Now we both know something embarrassing about the other, hmm?" Neku blinked at that. Oh yeah, the bunny thing. He supposed he could force his silence with that, but something in the Composer's tone was...different. Like this wasn't a simple blackmail exchange.
"Are you...are you offering to keep it a secret for me?" His tone perfectly captured Neku's disbelief, and it seemed to irritate his companion. Well geez, he hadn't meant to piss him off. It was just hard to believe that Josh of all people would willingly keep quiet about something that could bring great pain to his ex-proxy. Unless...maybe he thought…
"Of course, imbecile. Isn't that what...it's just common decency."
Now it was Neku's turn to grin as Joshua spluttered around the word 'friend', as if speaking it out loud would break something. This was just too hilarious! And...strangely cute. Poor josh sounded so lost... he really wasn't good at this 'being sincere' thing, was he? That was fine though, Neku wasn't exactly a master at saying what he meant either. So he simply leaned over and poked Joshua in the forehead, wearing a self-satisfied smile.
"You're not going to jinx anything by calling me a friend, you know."
"...! So Shiki, you haven't told me how you got into sewing."
The teen just laughed out loud at the sudden subject change, regarding the Composer with a smug expression as the pale teen focused on looking anywhere but at Neku. Man, he was feeling better already!
He left Joshua to his conversation with Shiki (he'd heard this tale many a time before) and left the table to seek out Mr. H, coffee the only thing on his mind. Neku supposed he'd been a bit spoiled when it came to caffeinated drinks, having his favorite blend on demand and at a discount, but he actually had a very good reason to satisfy his caffeine addiction, thank you very much. He was hoping to chat with the barista for a bit, thank him for the information that saved his life. If he hadn't been warned beforehand and brought his pin just in case...well, he'd be six feet under by now. So with that in mind Neku moved toward the counter, returning Mr. H's usual smile with gratitude.
"The usual, please."
"Comin' right up, Phones. Oh yeah, well done for not getting yourself shot."
It was spoken as a joke, so Neku replied in kind. It was usual for them, after all.
"It wasn't easy. We all know how stubborn Josh can be, especially when he's set on placing a bullet through your skull."
Mr. H simply snorted in response, working his machine with the ease of many years practice. Neku found it fascinating. To think that something as simple as pulling a lever required so much training...interesting. Now he knew how to get easy money if the need ever arose! With a jet of steam the barista finished, turning to his customer with a flourish reminiscent of the final brushstroke on a masterpiece. An odd analogy, but true. It was near impossible to not associate Mr.H with art.
"Come'n get it!"
Neku reached for the mug with a smile, but it was quickly replaced by a wince at the dull ache that pounded in his shoulder. Darn, not again...It had been sore on and off all day! Though he supposed he shouldn't have expected any different, considering he had a bullet lodged in there not too long ago. He couldn't expect Josh's healing to be the miracle cure-all he wanted it to be. His pain did not slip past unnoticed however, Mr. H frowning with mild concern.
"You all right there?"
"I'll be okay, just a little reminder of Josh's temper tantrum."
"Ooh, gotcha. Played pincushion, did ya?"
"Kind of." Neku agreed, still wearing a slight smile. "I almost regret handing him back his gun now!"
"...What?"
Something in Mr. H's tone made Neku freeze, eyes snapping up to meet the barista's with an element of surprise. What'd he say? He didn't get much time to ponder though as he was manhandled for the second time today, getting yanked across the bench top with nary as much as a warning.
"Phones. Tell me what happened."
All the playfulness was gone from the older man's tone, scaring the teen more than he'd like to admit. He'd fucked up. He didn't know how or why, but the suddenly intense atmosphere had him on edge...and wary.
"What? Josh just reacted badly, like you said he would. Nothing more."
Okay, maybe he was twisting his words a little, but he wasn't sure that he wanted Mr. H to know the truth now. He thought it wouldn't be a big deal. Heck, if he'd been none to fussed with Neku trying to choke Shiki, why should being shot be such an event? Mr. H was not pleased with this secretive response.
"Kid, listen to me. This is important. Did Joshua shoot you?"
"Why-"
"Did he shoot you?"
"No, he-"
"Neku."
"He didn't mean it!" He blurted, because he was scared, Mr. H was scaring him, with his serious eyes and firm grip. Was this really the same man that laughed everything off, took nothing seriously? Was this really Mr. H? The barista released Neku with a groan, barely noticing how the teen almost recoiled from his presence.
"Fuck...god dammit Josh!" He hissed, and for one lonely second he looked torn, miserable and tired. It only reinforced the gnawing panic in the teens mind. "I...need to make a call..."
"Mr. H!"
But he was gone, disappearing into the back of the shop with the resigned step of a reluctant murderer. Neku would be lying if he said he wasn't freaking out. He'd fucked up. Something was going to happen, something bad, and it was all because he'd opened his fat mouth. How could he be calm about this? Not after being able to relax with all his friends for the first time today, not after seeing Joshua indulge in a moment of childishness with the rabbits. He noticed the Composer's questioning stare coupled with Rhymes gaze as the two of the more perceptive in the group (one by position, one by nature) picked up on his distress, and felt an odd ache shoot through him at the sight. He couldn't look at them. He'd fucked up. But he flashed them a smile that wasn't really fooling anyone, sitting down once more, and placing his head on the table in a vain attempt to ignore the feeling that everything was going to blow up because of him.
He'd succeeded, for a while. The constant chatter and jokes his group provided soothed his nerves, convincing himself that maybe, just maybe, nothing would go wrong. Maybe Mr. H just had some really serious business to attend to, that Neku only reminded him of...? Relief is short lived though, and Neku knew it. So he wasn't surprised when Mr. H reappeared at closing time with four figures behind him, shooing everyone out except Joshua. He didn't make a fuss, didn't try to catch Mr. H's eyes. He just saw everyone else off with a smile and milled over to the entrance of the cafe. It was his fault, right? So it was the least he could do to wait for Joshua, maybe even defend him if needed. He really hoped he hadn't done anything too terrible... Like get the Composer in trouble with the higher-ups. With that sobering conclusion gnawing at the pit of his stomach, Neku settled down outside to wait for Joshua's reappearance.
Aww snap. Shit's about to go down yo. Erm, Reviews are adored and are a massive modivation boost! So Love something? Hate something? Just feel like a chat? Drop me a review! Thank you for reading~
