I thought I was going to have to write something just to keep up my (admittedly very loose) at-least-one-update-per-week schedule, but then I realized that I had these almost up last weekend. Also, my notebook is full of yet un-posted TWEWY. Oh god.

The title was too long for the chapter marker, so it's sekritly Dreams and Lies, and Somewhere Between, We Make Our Own Reality.

Warnings: Spoilers for the fight with Iron-face. Nothing else, unless you count an over-abundance of warm fuzzy feelings?
Pairings: Beat+Rhyme on the level of canon.
Rating: G
Notes: So, I can't have been the only one to have immediately thought Iron-face was a liar, right?

---

Before everyone is taken to the white room again, Beat receives a text. "It was never specified which of Rhyme's penalties was truly her entry fee. Figure it out before it's your turn."

Shiki and Neku are called into the room first, presumably returning to the realm of the living without a hitch. Beat gets called in next. He smiles for Rhyme and tells her he'll see her on the other side.

The Composer is wearing nose glasses, a samurai wig, and a sailor suit.

Beat is too nervous to laugh, his stomach doing flips and churns like there are Noise all straining to get out inside of him. He's sure he would embarrass himself thoroughly, though, in other circumstances.

"So, which is it, her love, or her happiness?" the Composer asks. His voice sounds slightly familiar, but Beat has bigger things to worry about.

Beat shrugs. "Dunno," he admits. "Iron-face said the memories were my fee."

The Composer seems to consider this, bringing a hand up to his chin. "I am unsure is Konishi should be taken at her word, especially given her betrayal at the last moment," he says at last. "Which would you prefer I return to Rhyme?"

Beat mulls this over, then shrugs. "Man, I can't pick what goes in Rhyme's head. 'S her head. You should be askin' her, not me."

The Composer smiles. "Very wise choice," he says. "I presume you wish to resume your life, as well?"

Beat nods, and light engulfs him.

Under the weight of Beat's heart and morals, the Composer could feel a deep desire for Rhyme to choose her memories.

---

Rhyme walks in next.

"There seems to be a discrepancy in the record-keeping for the entry fees," the Composer tells her.

Rhyme nods.

"You lost some of your memories, as well as your dreams. You have a choice of which to give up, because you ultimately lost."

Rhyme nods again. "The memories are of my brother, aren't they?" she says, at last. "He's Beat, isn't he?"

The Composer smirks. "I confess, I do not know."

Rhyme takes a deep breath. "I want the memories. Everyone used to say my dreams would change as I grew up, anyway."

The Composer smiled. "Very well." Light came down, swallowing Rhyme as memories of her brother--her Beat, returned to her. She had been right.