AN/disclaimer: the following features an experimental writing style attempting to keep the manga-esque dialogue of the original game but also use descriptive paragraphs of traditional writing. It's also not affiliated in any way with Square-Enix, and this is a fan interpretation of a potential continuation of the original story.

And obviously spoilers from the original material.

—

Joshua: Day 3

Joshua awoke to a voice. An unflattering, almost patronizing voice. A voice he would have normally commended solely on how much hatred he felt towards it. One issue though: he was trying to sleep.

Rhyme: Yoshiya. Get up.

Joshua: Er- But- I was just starting to have fun...

Rhyme placed a hand on her head and sighed.

Rhyme: Please. Just get up...

Joshua stood up, wiping his pants clean.

Joshua: So, where is the starting point today?

The two observed their surroundings. They were at the station. Nearby was- something that wasn't there before...

A tall building. That was, as a matter of fact, under early construction. It was a large skeletal structure for what would become a new building.

Joshua pondered for a moment.

Joshua: Someone's compensating for something.

Rhyme: You think it's the reapers?

Joshua: Was there any doubt?

Rhyme: Not much.

Joshua raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

Rhyme: But then what is it here for?

Then the phones went off, signaling the daily mission. "Construct a vision by the station, 50 minutes, fail and face extinction."

The timer started. Rhyme flinched. Joshua didn't, having already grown accustomed to it.

Both players glanced at each-other. "Construct."

They both looked up at the large metal construction.

Joshua: Well?

Rhyme: Well...

Joshua: It looks worth investigating. No. 1 can wait for today.

Rhyme: So... Ladies first?

Rhyme gestured the way, a smirk on her face.

Ouch.

The two started their ascent up the large metal beamed construction. The noise count was, well, none. No noise were present. All that was, was a mild gust of wind as they scaled the tower. Ladder after ladder, they rose slowly.

Eventually, the duo were met with a large gap. They stood on a large wooden board that lay on one side, with another board supported slightly lower across the construction.

Joshua pondered.

Joshua: a much more physical mission today isn't it...

Rhyme: Is that a problem?

Joshua: Well-

Joshua: Never mind that, how are we going to get across?

Rhyme: How else? Jump, of course.

Joshua sighed, flicking a strand of hair out of his face.

Joshua: More work. My effort could be used... Elsewhere.

A mischievous grin formed on Joshua's face. Glancing at Rhyme. She sneered at him.

Rhyme: Y-yeah. Sure. How about I go first.

Joshua shrugged.

Joshua: Why not?

Rhyme nodded. She stepped back, bracing for the jump. She flinched when a sudden sound hit her ears.

Joshua: Wait!

Rhyme skid to a halt, flailing her arms in an attempt to rebalabce herself. She turned around in frustration.

Rhyme: What?

Joshua: Don't fall.

...

Rhyme: Yoshiya...

Rhyme: You're an ass. You know that?

Joshua: The absolute best!

Rhyme rolled ger eyes at the remark. She braced, preparing to tune out whatever Joshua will spout. She broke into a dash, leaping across the gap. She braced for impact.

Rhyme collided into edge of the board, the wood creaking and snapping slightly, gipping onto the edge with all her might.

Joshua: Rhyme?

Rhyme: I'm fine!

Rhyme pulled herself up slowly. When she regained her senses. She sat down, gasping, grabbing hold of her pendant.

Once Joshua made sure his partner wasn't going going to fall, he sighed, and braced for the jump ahead.

With a loud, high pitched grunt, Joshua leaped across the board. Upon impact, he tripped and rolled across the floor. The composer slammed his feet to the board before he slid to the edge. He sighed, and collapsed into a moan next to Rhyme.

Joshua: Heh- Refreshing-? Isn't it?

Joshua felt a hand smack the side of his face.

Once the two were calm. They climbed the next ladder.

On the roof of the construction site was one large flat wooden board.

It was quiet, the exception being the wind, gusting with dominance, bellowing as the only sound they heard.

Joshua stood by the ladder they had climbed up, starring out at Shinjuku. Mesmerized at the peaceful, quiet city. All while Rhyme finished climbing up the ladder.

Joshua: You know, you never did answer my question.

Rhyme pulled herself up, standing next to Joshua.

Rhyme: That was?

Joshua: How did you die?

Rhyme: ...

Rhyme: I'm... Still fuzzy as to how it happened...

Joshua: Well?

Rhyme lowered her head, mumbling to herself.

Rhyme: ...He wasn't there that time...

Behind them, a familiar sound echoed behind them. A small dog-like noise appeared. It barked at the duo.

Joshua and Rhyme glanced at each other.

Rhyme: Clearly this is a trap...

Joshua: Was there any doubt?

Rhyme: Ok. So we wait for the rest to reveal themselves. Then we strike.

A smirk appeared on Joshua's face as he flicked his hair out of his face.

Joshua: Whatever you say.

As they had expected: noise began to appear one by one. The two stood in the middle of the now creaking wooden scaffolding as the noise began to slowly creep in. Thankfully it was still pretty sturdy.

After a while Joshua flinched, glancing at his timer, "13:47." He then turned to Rhyme.

Joshua: Rhyme?

Rhyme: Yes?

Joshua: Why haven't we been sucked into our planes?

The two stood in silence, pondering the question. Eventually, the noise had crowded up.

Joshua: I think that's all of them...

Rhyme: You sure-

Rhyme froze her gaze locked. Joshua followed her sight. Neku and a short haired brunette stood on the other end of the scaffolding.

Joshua scoffed.

Joshua: Well well well- Look what the dead cat dragged in.

Neku ran through the volley of noise, pummeling as many that got in his way. His yell got more and more clear as he got closer. With a heave, Neku flung a card that shot through a large group of the noise. He skid to a halt in front of the two.

Neku: What. *pant* The. *pant* Hell.

Joshua: Honestly, Neku: we need to stop meeting like this.

Joshua's tone was only slightly sarcastic. The crowd of noise was holding the rest of his attention.

Neku flinched, looking around the crowd of noise. The trio heard a sound from the crowd.

?: Ahem.

All went silent, even the noise. Joshua turned to find a tall hooded figure, grabbing the young girl by the mouth with a single hand, hanging her over the edge of the building.

?: Hehe. Well now.

Neku: Hey. What are you doing?!

Her grin melted, bit of her sarcastic tone was prevalent.

She shrugged.

?: Ensuring your attention.

Her voice was deep and feminine. She pulled back her hood to reveal her long silky red hair, and her penetrating copper colored eyes.

Neku: Copperhead...

?: Well, you've heard of me. Tch. Just call me Mitaka.

Joshua: Very well. "Mitaka" mind telling us why you have one of our own captive?

Neku: "our" own?

Joshua scowled out of the corner of each others eyes.

Joshua peered into the girl's eyes. The presence of absolute fear plagued her. Joshua almost felt a sense of déjà-vu.

Mitaka let out a sigh.

Mitaka: I see then. You value this one yes?

Mitaka: As I said I. I require your attention.

Joshua: Well. A GM should be able to gain the attention of every player without taking hostages. Why do you need to go through such an effort anyway? Shinjuku sure is sloppy by comparison...

Mitaka: ...

Mitaka: "Yoshiya Kiryu" correct?

Joshua's grin had faded.

Mitaka: Yes. You have quite the reputation on you.

Rhyme stepped forward. Joshua noticed a look on her face much darker than what he had previously experienced from her. A look of pain and malice. But one of power and determination.

Rhyme raised a card at the GM.

Rhyme: Safely place her down, and leave us alone.

Rhyme: Please.

Mitaka: Is that a threat?

Rhyme shrugged.

Rhyme: Do you want it to become one?

Joshua felt the impact with that remark. He couldn't help but feel some ounce of pride.

Mitaka scowled. She looked at the girl tilted her head and smirked. She then turned her gaze back to the trio.

Mitaka: This one has a desperate fear of heights. Possibly due to her death? And The blonde girl over there, you have secret kept deep. And the queer boy...

If it wasn't for the tension in the air, Joshua might've been flattered.

Joshua: I assume you're referring to me?

Mitaka: But of course.

Joshua: Fair enough.

Joshua had a strange look of accomplishment on his face. Neku raised his eyebrow and starred at him. Joshua shrugs.

Joshua: *Honestly, the nerve of some people...*

Mitaka: Either way. I need to make an example of what I'm capable of. So the others will take me seriously.

All was quiet. The trio of players braced for any move the reaper might make.

Mitaka looked at girl within her grasp once more.

Mitaka: You said you want me to put her down?

Neku: Of course-!

Joshua: Shut it Neku!

Mitaka bellowed in laughter. She brought the girl back over solid ground. But Mitaka curled her arm around, and threw her over the edge.

The girl was immediately screaming in horror.

Neku: NO!

Both Joshua and Neku charged to the edge. Neku leapt off, seemingly in some bravely stupid attempt to catch her midair. Joshua stopped in front of Mitaka, phone in hand.

Joshua: I want to know something: how did you merge the noise's planes? That goes against the very nature of the noise living a dual existence.

Mitaka cocked her head.

Mitaka: Of all the things to ask, you ask me that?

Mitaka chuckled to herself. She snapped her fingers together. Even more noise appear.

Mitaka: I guess it doesn't matter anyway, i don't know what you talking about so I'll just be rid of you.

Joshua grimaced at the sight of the army of noise. Before he knew it, he and Rhyme were back to back.

Joshua: Damn...

Rhyme: Go any magic aces up your sleeve this time?

It suddenly donned on Joshua.

Joshua: Rhyme, do you have any spare cards?

Rhyme handed an extra slash card she had obtained from their previous fights to Joshua.

Joshua focused on the card, and what he wanted to do with it.

The card burned in his hands. His eyes flickered with a newfound energy.

Joshua: Rhyme?

Rhyme: What?

Joshua: Duck.

Rhyme ducked.

That feeling of axileration appeared once more within Joshua as he flung both his hands out. Dozens of miniature vertical pillars erected from all sides. Most of the noise were vaporized immediately.

Stragglers scattered around them.

A lizard noise charged.

Rhyme skid in front of Joshua, throwing a card at the noise. It surged through the noise and into a few noise behind it. The lizard noise was erased, while the group behind was damaged and staggered, but still kicking.

Joshua, with a familiar and welcome grace, twirled around Rhyme and threw another pillar, which faded much more quickly than he would have liked. His power seemed to be degrading again.

Joshua: We can't keep this up.

Rhyme: You mean you can't?

Joshua grimaced.

Joshua: Fine. Maybe I'm out of my element here.

Rhyme: You know: one day, I'd love to know just what your "element" is...

Joshua: Just finish off the noise.

With a grin Rhyme dashed towards the last few remaining noise. With a hop, Rhyme planted her foot in a frog and kicked off with a backflip. She twirled around midair turning back to the frog and threw a card that formed a boomerang out of pure energy.

The boomerang struck and erased the frog and hit the noise behind Rhyme. With the noise now staggered, she turned to relay an axe kick to the gut. She finished it off with an uppercut from the blade card.

The last noise, a lizard, lept over the carnage falling towards Rhyme. She sidestepped, and pulled out a new card. She proceeded to launch a flurry of blows to the noise all over. It was erased within seconds.

Rhyme turned to Joshua and Mitaka, who still standing off.

Mitaka: You know, even though the zones seem to be no longer important, sync rates are just as if more even more important now. Standing around doing nothing is certainly not helpful to either of you.

Joshua: Mitaka- Oh,sorry, I mean, "Copperhead." Need I remind you the precedence of self control of one's own authority? I think I should report you to Shinjuku's Composer, then we can see who has the sass in abundance...

Mitaka's grin faded. She snapped her fingers, and Joshua and Rhyme collapsed to the hard wood flooring.

Day 3: Questions