Shiro, Kuro
~ 30 Forbidden, Joshua x Rhyme ~
Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry that this took so long to get up. School has been kicking my butt. *sadface* But don't worry, because I'm not abandoning this story!
Theme 27: Touch
Shouts echoed from outside the room, footsteps frantically pounding down the hallway towards the door. Sadao muttered a curse under his breath, exchanging a quick glance with Reida. The two of them left the room quickly, the door closing behind them with a thud and leaving Joshua and Masayoshi alone in the darkness once more. Joshua sat in the darkness for a moment, his hands resting against the metal floor as he tried to make sense of what was going on.
There were footprints, yes, but they weren't…exactly human footprints. Noise? In the dark, it was hard to tell, and without most of his powers, he couldn't quite feel them. He closed his eyes, quietly scanning the area.
Yes. Definitely Noise.
The door rattled and his eyes quickly snapped open. Blue light flared on one side of the door and it swung open, revealing a small blond girl with blue eyes. He stared at her, recognizing her as the girl from the picture. His supposed girlfriend, if Sadao was to be believed. Looking at her—dressed from head to toe in Wild Boar—he couldn't quite see why. But there was…an air about her that intrigued him, if only a little bit.
Perhaps that was where this supposed relationship had started.
"Joshua…" she said, sudden relief in her expression as she saw him. He stared at her, not saying anything. The girl quickly ran over to him, hugging him briefly. He stiffened, not quite knowing how to respond to this invasion of his personal space before she let go, grabbing his chains with one hand. Blue light flared, breaking through the shackles with a loud snap. She did the same with the other one, her hands busy.
"I'm so glad you're alright," she said as she worked. His second chain snapped, and he got up as she moved over to his father, rubbing at his wrists with his hands.
"Bito-san…" said Masayoshi, turning towards her. "You came."
"It took me a little while to find the place," said the girl, giving Joshua an apologetic smile. "Sorry."
There were very few occasions where Joshua found himself at a loss for words, but this was one of them. What was someone supposed to say to a girl that may or may not have been his girlfriend, but that he had no memory of whatsoever? "…So…" he said, pushing himself to his feet. His tone was still teasing. "…I'm guessing you're Raimu?"
She looked up sharply from her work. "…You don't remember me?" she asked.
"I'm afraid I don't," said Joshua, tucking a lock of hair behind his ears. "But you have my Composer powers, don't you?"
She nodded mutely, a look of pain crossing her face for a moment before she quickly went back to work. "Yes. But there's no time for that. We have to move."
She broke the last shackle, helping his partner…no, his father to his feet. It was almost funny. He must have been twice her size, but he leaned on her, his expression strained. "I'm alright," he said, taking an experimental step forward. Raimu watched him with concern for a moment, before turning towards Joshua.
"We have to run," she said, quickly heading out the door. "Follow me!"
There wasn't any time to argue. Joshua nodded, following her out the door. The floor they were on was completely empty, although he could hear the sounds of effort and battle coming from the floors above them and below them. She stopped, staring at the floor above them with a concerned look on her face and muttering something under her breath.
"Noise?" asked Joshua with a frown, folding his arms and looking at her.
"Taboo Noise," she said, looking back at him. "Mr. H is up there, giving them a hard time. It won't distract them for long though. You remember Mr. H?"
"Of course," he said. Looking back, he should have been surprised about that. If not his Composer powers and his status as Composer, his memories of Mr. H should have been his Entry Fee. He supposed hindsight was always clearer than foresight. "Are you sure about that estimate though?" He smirked. "Minato's UG is rather weak."
"But Sadao Tsuji isn't."
He couldn't quite argue with that. Except that Sadao had a lot to learn before being strong in personality. They hurried towards the elevator. She extended her hand, blue light surrounding the button and pressing on it before they reached it. The three of them crammed inside, and Raimu quickly pressed the button as Reida appeared on the floor, her eyes widening in surprise as she quickly ran towards the door.
The elevator doors closed just in time and Raimu let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against the elevator wall and closing her eyes. Joshua turned to study her. Her face was pale, and there were dark circles around her eyes. "…So far so good…" he heard her mutter under her breath.
"You figured this out all on your own?" he asked her, his expression thoughtful.
She gave him a tired smile. "I had help, from Mr. H and Yuichi-san."
Yuichi…where had he heard that name before? He thought back to his death, remembering, if only briefly, a touch of white wings. Ah, yes. Minato's missing Producer. The doors opened and then they were running again, out the building beneath the tower and into the streets of Minato.
XxXxX
Rhyme ran as if her life depended on it (which, technically, it did). Her breathing came in ragged pants, her hair plastered to her face from sweat as the three of them rushed through the city, dodging Reapers and heading towards the station. Shibuya. As long as they got to Shibuya…She kept that in mind as she ran, her fists clenched. She tried not to think about the fact that Joshua didn't remember her, after all of this.
She would have time to worry about that later.
Shinagawa Station loomed in front of them, and Rhyme nearly cried in relief. She had studied the map many times before coming out here, but studying the map and actually moving through the city were two different things. She glanced behind her once to make sure that Joshua and Masayoshi were still following, quickly running towards the last car of the train.
If she timed it right…if she planned it right…
The doors were beginning to close. She took a deep breath, running onto the platform and jumping into the car. Joshua and Masayoshi followed, the door closing just millimeters behind Masayoshi's foot.
She took deep breaths as the train began to move, propping herself up on her hands and turning towards Joshua. He was lying on his side staring at her, a frown on his face as if he was trying to figure her out. Her hand reached out just briefly, towards him as her eyes filled with tears. Her hand fell against the floor of the train. She wanted to touch him, just to prove that he was there, but she couldn't do that. He might take offense…since he had no idea who she was.
"How touching," said an angry voice from inside the car.
Rhyme's eyes widened and she quickly scrambled to her feet. Reida stood leaning against the back of the car, a scowl on her face and her fists clenched. Her Reaper wings were spread out on either side of her. Rhyme quickly stepped forward, putting herself between Joshua and Masayoshi. Behind her, Joshua stood up, a frown on his face. Masayoshi stood up as well, putting a hand on Joshua's shoulder.
"Reida Rikushu," said Joshua. "Conductor of Minato."
The one that had hurt Kariya and Uzuki. Rhyme's eyes widened as Reida took a step forward.
"Unfortunately, you're little reunion ends here," she said, turning towards Rhyme. "It was a valiant effort, but you shouldn't have involved yourself in this in the first place."
"D-Don't come over here!" said Rhyme, blue light crackling around her fingertips. Feeble blue light, compared to the gold light that was surrounding Reida.
"Wow," said Reida, rolling her eyes. "I'm terrified, really. What do you think you can do to me?"
"I-I…I'll…" Rhyme's voice faltered, the light around her hands flickering out and nearly dying. She took a deep breath, forcing more power in her hands.
"You'll do what?" asked Reida, fixing her eyes on Rhyme. "Erase me? You who needed to be escorted by your Conductor just to get safely from your little hiding spot to that silly little café?" She scoffed. "You couldn't if you tried." She looked past Rhyme, turning to Joshua. "This was your grand plan? Putting your faith in this girl? You must have really been out of options."
Rhyme's eyes widened and she stepped back, as if she had been dealt a physical blow. Reida looked at her, a disgusted look on her face before she took another step forward, closer towards them. The train stopped at another station—the second stop, Rhyme noted, counting them off on her head. People walked in and out, unaware of the drama going on in the center of the aisle. Rhyme took a step back, and so did Masayoshi and Joshua.
"I…I can still do this…" said Rhyme. "I can still…"
"You can't," said Reida. "It's over. Give up. We won. If you give up now, I'll spare all your lives."
Rhyme swallowed, the light in her hands faltering as the train made its way to its third stop. She couldn't fight Reida. It would make sense to just give up.
"Please…" said Rhyme. "…Don't come any closer."
Emboldened now, Reida took another step forward. "You may be the Composer of Shibuya now, but we're not in Shibuya, little girl, and here, you have no power."
Rhyme stared at her for a few long moments, her eyes wide. Then, her arms fell to her sides, and she exchanged glances with Joshua. He gave her an approving look, understanding suddenly on his face. She gave him a small smile, before turning back to Reida.
"Are you sure about that?" asked Rhyme.
Reida's eyes widened and she quickly looked around, staring at the scenery outside the window. Shibuya Station neared, the train having already crossed the border into the city. Shadows rose up suddenly from the train around them, on either side of Reida. Kariya and Uzuki stepped out from them. Uzuki's expression was triumphant. Kariya looked bored as usual, twirling his lollipop around in his hand.
"I think the word we're looking for is…'checkmate'," said Kariya, smiling at Reida. "Long time no see."
Reida stared at Kariya and Uzuki, her eyes wide. She turned to Rhyme. "You bitch!" she shouted, her face contorting in anger as she lunged at Rhyme.
Rhyme quickly raised her hands, blue light flaring outwards from them and hitting Reida head on. Kariya and Uzuki lunged forward as well, striking at her. There was a flash of bright light and then when it cleared, Reida Rikushu was gone. Gold light hovered in the air behind her, rushing towards Rhyme and embedding itself in her skin. She gasped, her eyes wide as power flooded her.
The train stopped at Shibuya Station. Rhyme stepped out of it shakily, Kariya, Uzuki, Joshua, and Masayoshi behind her. Kariya patted her on the back as she walked, a grin on his face. Masayoshi was watching her, an unreadable expression on his. Even Uzuki looked pleased, and Joshua…Joshua walked behind her, where she couldn't see him.
Yuichi stood on the platform, frowning at them.
"Did you do it?" he asked Rhyme.
"Yeah…" said Rhyme, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I did it."
She still couldn't believe it. Her entire body trembled. It had worked?
"Good…" said Yuichi, nodding. "You know what to do now, I imagine?"
"Mm…" said Rhyme, turning towards Masayoshi and Joshua. "…Kiryu-san was killed in Shibuya, which means his entry in Minato's Game was illegal. So…as Composer of Shibuya, I can give him back his Entry Fee."
She extended a hand towards him, her brow furrowing in concentration. There was a flash of light, and then Joshua let out a small gasp, his hand going up to his head. Rhyme stared at him in concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Joshua waved her off, straightening up and turning to glare at Masayoshi. "…I'm irritating and a spoiled brat?" he asked.
Masayoshi turned towards him, a smirk appearing on his face that made him look so much like Joshua. "It's the truth," he said.
"And whose fault is that?" asked Joshua, folding his arms.
Masayoshi's smirk widened as he reached out, placing his hand on Joshua's shoulder. "You get it from your mother," he said. "But don't worry. We'll work on that."
"Joy…"
Rhyme waited until they were finished talking, glancing at Yuichi. "And…um…according to Yuichi-san, Reida was carrying the authority of Minato's Composer. Which means…since I erased her, I took that authority. So…I can return Joshua's Entry Fee and restore you both to life."
She held out her hand again, her expression uncertain as she faced Joshua. There was a flash of light, white light surrounding both Joshua and Masayoshi. When the light disappeared, the two of them were standing there in the RG. Masayoshi was looking around, confused.
Joshua, meanwhile, was looking straight at her.
"…Rhyme…" he said.
Rhyme shifted into the RG, tears in her eyes. And at that moment, it didn't matter that they were on a crowded station platform, with people surrounding them on all sides. He moved forward and kissed her, his arms around her waist as he pulled her close to him. Rhyme's arms went up, wrapping around his neck and clinging to him as if she was afraid he was going to disappear again. People stopped and stared. Masayoshi stared. The people in the UG stared.
Neither of them particularly cared.
Blue light, unseen by anyone except the people in the UG, surrounded them both, flowing from Rhyme into Joshua, renewing their pact and restoring Joshua's Composer powers back to him.
There was still Sadao and Takako to defeat. Still Minato to deal with. Still things to do and things to explain.
But at the moment, they were the only two people in the world.
Review Responses:
Randian Warrior 501 – Yay! You figured it out! Well, here's the continuation, and I hope this doesn't worry you too much! ^_^
The Dani-Chan Replika 2.06 – Yay, I'm glad! I didn't want it to be too confusing, so I'm glad that that chapter finally made everything clear. And yeah, Masayoshi cares for Josh, poor guy. XD Hopefully soon it'll be returned.
AntiSora – Thanks! I pretty much had to dig up my old notes to find out where I was going with this, and a lot of stuff had to be made up again and outlined again! Still, the story is winding down to a close, and I'm glad you liked it! It's just three chapters left to go!
WaterAngel-Alyssa – Well, it looks like both of them were planning. I hope you like this chapter, and thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them! Sorry that this is taking so long to upload.
iandin123 – XD Sorry this took so long, then. I know you were impatient, and I kept looking for the time to write this stuff down! Still, it looks like it's finally starting to look good for them! And I hope you like this chapter, thanks for the reviews!
Notes:
None in this chapter~
