EBWY: Joshua Day 7
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 7
Rhyme opened her eyes to find herself underneath- something... It was dark. Her whole body felt like it was in pieces. The memories of yesterday came rushing back. She groaned.
Rhyme: Son of a *bitch*...
She could barely even speak. Dust coated her lungs, forcing her to gag and cough up as much as possible. Even that was extremely painful.
So. Mental recap. She had fought the game master, after Joshua gotten stabbed and bitten. Next thing she knew she was on the roof slam dunking Mitaka down the building. She fell. Beyond that, everything was blank.
Rhyme tried to wiggle, at least enough where she could find some light. She very quickly found one of her legs were broken and had managed to twist her other one up pretty good. Her arms managed to stay usable. Very sore, but usable.
She wormed her hand upwards hopefully towards light. Small chunks of drywall and dust would fall in her as she tried to poke through.
Suddenly, all around her, the entire structure began to creak. It hadn't collapsed entirely yet.
This was enough to send Rhyme into an anxiety attack for a multitude of reasons. Primarily that this meant the reapers in the building were likely still alive and searching the debri. Also that Mitaka wasn't far behind.
Or... Were they assumed dead? Rhyme was burried. Joshua might actually be dead. So it was possible that she had a chance to escape unnoticed. She wasn't concerned with the details at the moment. She needed to live through this first.
Not too far above she heard voices.
?: Keep searching, we might find the other one.
Rhymes heart stopped. That voice. It was Sun.
?: Ma'am, what about this one?
Sun looked over a battered and bloodied Joshua. He was out cold.
Sun: For the time being, keep him up here with the search team. I'll take the two players once all is said and done.
?: But what about Copperhead maam?
Sun: Don't worry about her. She's got her hands full with the other two players.
Rhyme knew exactly what that meant. It was mentioned earlier, if her memory served correctly.
Change of plans. Escape with Joshua, save Neku and Rikka, and beat the crap out of Sun.
Obviously it wasn't going to be easy. She had to figure out how to move first.
She rifled through her pockets for any sort of card this might come in handy in this situation. Only to find that most of them were missing. Only the vortex and a slash card remained. Neither of which were going to be effective without causing a racket.
Rhyme ultimately decided to try and dig around by hand. What else could go wrong? She dies? Her understanding is that she's already dead, just delaying the inevitable. She let out a deep sigh as she began to pull herself along and attempt to move the debris out of the way.
Joshua was very slowly reawakening. It was dark out. Probably past midnight.
Joshua: What-? What the-
Joshua stopped. He suddenly realized everything hurt. Even speaking hurt like hell.
He noticed Sunako walking around nearby with reapers crawling all around, looking for... Something... He decided to keep quiet, not being sure why Sunako was even t
here. Observing and gauging the situation would probably be best.
Sunako took notice of Joshua's shuffling. She approached.
Crap.
Sun got uncomfortably close to Joshua. She pulled him up and pinned him against the wall. She whispered.
Sun: If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down and shut the hell up. Ok?
Joshua: S-sur-
Before even finishing that response, Joshua was met with a punch to the gut and another whisper.
Sun: I repeat. Shut your trap. Now isn't the time.
Sunako sat Joshua back down. She was trying to put on a performance for the time being. Whether or not it was genuine, he had no clue.
Rhyme had made very little progress. But she eventually found herself under a pair of reapers who began talking.
?: You heard the composer will be addressing how off this game has been?
?: Really? That's the first I'm hearing about it.
?: Yeah, there's supposed to be an off day to sort out a bunch of the issues that have been happening recently.
?: When was the last time the composer was in front of anyone?
?: ... Good question...
?: I dunno, it just seems weird.
?: Right. No- i get it. I'm just glad the radio silence is coming to an end soon.
Rhyme was ready to pounce. She had a card at the ready. Although, she didn't know what would happen. She would likely bite the bullet in the process. Especially if Sun was against her.
She put card on the ground and let begin to spin. She braced, knowing exactly what was next.
The ground began to creak and shift slightly. Sunako and and reapers stopped dead.
Sun: What is that?!
With a sudden blast of wind, Rhyme flew into the air, throwing the reapers above aside.
Sun grew wide eyed at the sight.
Rhyme grabbed hold of the rafters above, finally getting a good look at the night sky. Taking a moment to observe the moon. It had been a week since she'd seen that.
She pulled out her slash card, yelling.
Rhyme: Let me leave alive and no one gets hurt!
The reapers give each other looks. They then proceeded to raise their guns towards Rhyme.
Rhyme: Son of a bitch...
Sun grabbed one of the reapers guns.
Sun: Stop you idiots! We need them alive!
Just then, Rhyme took notice of Joshua, who was looking beyond rough, almost like he was hit by a truck. Which, given her own circumstances, was fairly likely.
The reapers flourished their wings and charged towards the rafters. With only a free hand and leg, Rhyme had to take on an army of reapers.
Easy, right?
Three appeared from underneath at once on all sides, Rhyme kicked the one behind her, and swiping at one in front. From the side, however, a reaper drew a lead pipe and smacked her on the side of her torso.
Pain shot up her spine, as she twirled her non injured leg around and into the side of the reapers head, and follwed up with a swipe of her card. One wave down, about ten more to go.
Rhyme continued to defend her position. Meanwhile Joshua took advantage of his weakened appearance. He had begun to search for some way of accessing his power proper.
He observed Sunako as he focused, If she was really on their side, he wasn't sure why she was letting the reapers hound Rhyme.
Rhyme's grip was slipping. Between the accumulated sweat and the beatings from the reapers, she was going to fall sooner rather than later. But she sure as hell wasn't going to be anyone's prisoner. Another wave approached. Rhyme shared a glance with Joshua, and nodded.
Joshua whispered under his breath.
Joshua: Don't do anything stupid Bito.
Without much else in terms of options, Rhyme flung herself from the rafters, flipping the bird towards Sunako, who was suddenly panicing.
Sun: Oh no you don't-!
Sunako spread wings of her own and made haste. The two disappeared out of Joshua's sight.
Joshua was panicing a bit of his own. Not sure what was next for either of them. Finally, however, he felt it.
Joshua stood up shakily, and reached for the sky, where clouds began to part revealing a bright light. His eyes flarred to life with a white flame and he slowly with all of the effort a severely weakened composer could muster, he pulled. It felt like he was pulling an entire planet down onto them. Which wasn't too far off.
Sunako grabbed Rhyme who was now unconscious, presumably from all of the pain. She turned around to find a meteor coming down on the building, very quickly.
Sun: JOSHUA!
With a crash that easily would have woken the entire district, the meteor impacted. The creaking turned into crumbling as the building began to fall apart from the giant chunk of space rock that surged through the building, all the way down below the first floor.
Sun looked on in horror as reapers began to drop like flies. She desperately scanned for any survivors, including Joshua.
Sure enough, she noticed a very torn up Joshua, on the edge of the building that had fires lining the rest of the makeshift rooftop. He was presumably looking for her. She began to make her way towards him, dodging the debris and rocks that were falling.
A fire flarred behind Joshua, who, upon looking back, was jumped by a surviving reaper. The two of them fell.
Sun: No no no no-!
Sunako picked up the pace trying her best to weave around the falling debris. Meanwhile Joshua and the reaper shared punches and ultimately locked fists.
Joshua looked behind him to see the ground fast approaching. He closed his eyes and focused as hard as he could. Trying desperately to dip into that pool yet again.
At this point Sun had caught to the them, but was trying to keep up with the duos ever increasing falling velocity. She reached out.
Sun: Grab on-!
Joshua kicked the reaper off, knocking him into Sun and Rhyme, and went into a free fall. After another moment of panicking, his eyes flarred to life, but this time with much less potency. He stretched out and sprouted wings of his own, and began to steady his descent.
Joshua hovered across the ground, hit wings flickering in and out of existence. He broke into a roll once close enough, shackily standing up, and preparing for Sun to approach.
Sun, after placing the reaper on the ground, quickly met Joshua after landing. He was battered and bruised.
Sunako and Joshua exchanged glares.
Sun: Are you MAD?!
Joshua, with the flick of the wrist, threw a nearby bench towards Sun, who ducked onto the ground, out of the way.
Sun: What's your problem-?
Joshua forced the bench on her back, pinning her to the ground.
Joshua: I need you- to shut up-
Joshua gripped his head while trying to get a grasp on the situation. His entire body was burning from exhaustion. Ready or not, it was day seven. Joshua was still poisoned, Rhyme was out cold, and Sunako was likely not on their side at the moment.
Joshua: Why-? Did you sell us out?
Sun cocked her head, straining from the pressure.
Sun: How much of an idiot are you?!
She released her grip on Rhyme, letting her sprawl out on the pavement as she tried to unpin herself from the chair.
Sun: I'm- trying- to save you two-
Joshua: Oh yeah sticking your reapers on us is a sure fire way to help us!
Sun: They weren't my doing- Ask- Mitaka-
More emotions began to swell in Joshua. Ultimately he unpinned Sun, and out of frustration, shattered the bench on the nearby road.
Sun gasped for air.
Sun: I get it- You're worried about one of us turning on you. But there's been no indication that we might actually do that.
Joshua: Oh, you want a bet?
Joshua glanced at Rhyme, whk had began to shuffle slightly.
Joshua: You're a reaper. She's a player. Meanwhile I'm the one you're both supposed to hate-
Sun, still managing her breathing, raises an eyebrow.
Sun: What-? How about you give us a reason not to hate you?
There was a pause as Joshua's muddied mind tried to parse what exactly that meant.
Sun looked around.
Sun: We should find a place to-
A sudden explosion errupted behind them. They turned to find that top floors of No. 3 had finally collapsed, and were caving into the lower floors.
Sun: Shit- RUN!
Sunako grabbed Rhyme, placing over her shoulder and began pulling Joshua along. The three of them ran off to find a place to hide as No. 3 collapsed.
...
...
...
Sunako dragged Joshua and Rhyme into the abandoned music shop and inspected their wounds. Sunako managed a splint on Rhymes broken leg and guaged how badly poisoned Joshua was.
Sun: You're both lucky you aren't dead.
Joshua remained silent. He was still trying to recount what exactly happened over the past few hours that ended this badly.
Sun squeezed one of the entry points for poison on Joshua's neck and sampled the residue.
Sun: My god Joshua...
She smelled the poison and visibly recoiled.
Sun: Yeah- you're poisoned alright.
She tossed the sample on the ground.
Sun: Right- I'm not sure how much actually entered your body. But I can minimize the infection and pain with a psych of my own...
Sunako's voice trailed off as Joshua's memory slowly returned to him. The confrontation with Neku and Mitaka, how he had managed to interrupt her forcing the next day onto the two of them. As well as the ensuing battle. He also remembered a promise she made.
Joshua: Neku...
He stood up suddenly, startling Sun.
Sun: Hey- sit down!
Joshua: He's in trouble. Mitaka is going to fight him! He can't do that alone-!
Sunako forced him back into the chair. Which was easy enough since he was so weakened.
Sun: The day hasn't even started yet. You and Rhyme need to rest. Besides, you guys still weakened Mitaka substantially.
Joshua raised an eyebrow.
Joshua: How so?
Sun: I caught the tail end of the fight and- well...
Sun glanced at the still unconscious Rhyme.
Sun: You have her to thank. She's tough. Tough enough in fact, to land a blow that threw the GM into unconsciousness.
Joshua blinked. They were talking about the same person right?
Joshua: You mean-?
Sun: Yes. Yes I do.
The two remained silent as Sun tended to both the players wounds.
...
...
...
Joshua: So- what happened to Mitaka? Where did she go?
Sunako had begun bandaging up Rhyme. But she paused briefly, before continuing.
Sun: She left to reorganize. You all caused quite the fuss I have to say.
Joshua: Why would she just leave us?
Sun: I already said you weakened her right?
Joshua: I dunno. It just seemed too easy to get away.
Sun stopped and turned to Joshua with a blank stare.
Sun: For you maybe. I had to keep the reapers from gutting you both. Everyone is *pissed* at you two. Even being here right now, you've just made my life a living hell.
Joshua couldn't help but feel slightly bad for all the trouble. She did save their lives after all.
Joshua: Look-
Joshua tried to sit up, but slowed down once he felt that he was moving too fast. He grimaced.
Joshua: I'll- try and make it up to you for the help.
Sunako gave Joshua an annoyed look.
Sun: Just what do you have to give? Your a-
She stopped. Recalling the wings as well as the meteor from before.
Sun: You... Have a lot of explaining to do.
Joshua figured as much. He spent the next hour or so conveying more detail about his coming to Shinjuku, as well as filling in some of the blanks in regards to Rhyme.
Sun: Interesting. So you and Neku know-
Joshua: I killed him.
Sun paused. Simply starring at the idiot who just confessed to killing someone in front of her.
Sun: Could- could repeat that for me please? I think I'm more tired than I thought.
Joshua let out a sigh and rolled his eyes.
Joshua: I needed him in the reapers game about a year ago, so... Yeah. I shot him.
Sun blinked.
Sun: Um. Context?
Joshua: I'm Shibuyas composer. It's a long story, but I chose Neku as my... Subject... For an... Experiment...
...
Sun: I don't like those pauses. It sounds like you're not that sure as to what you were doing.
Joshua: There was thought put into the ordeal. It's just... It was messy. To put it lightly.
...
Sun: So, ah. Rhyme was murdered too?
Joshua nodded and pointed on hit head where she was shot.
Sunako took off Rhymes beanie to get a look at the scar. She starred in concern and began to gently rub it.
Sun: So. Composer huh?
Joshua: Given your responses so far, I'm surprised you're not freaking out.
Sun: it makes sense though. Between the powers, the god complex, and the control freak nature. You fit the ticket.
Joshua was slightly offended. But it did make sense. Composers had a nack for being high and mighty due to their position of power. He would know, he'd met a few in his lifetime. Hell, he was one.
Before either of them knew it, the sun was beginning to rise. Sunako did a double take once she saw the light.
Sun: Damn.
Joshua stumbled to his feet, still dizzy. He propped himself against a nearby wall.
Joshua: Sun, how many players are left?
Sun was quiet as she finished applying some gel to one of Rhymes wounds and wrapping it in a bandage.
Sun: More than anyone would care to admit.
Joshua: What does that mean?
Sun: I mean there are players that went missing. Not dead, missing. It has most of the higher ups concerned.
A thought suddenly hit Joshua like a truck. A reminder that a few days prior, there was a pair of players that scarred Mitaka.
Joshua: Those possessed-
Rhyme coughed herself awake. Filled with adrenaline, her darted her gaze in as many directions as possible.
Rhyme: Wha- wha- what-?
Sunako grabbed Rhymes shoulders.
Sun: Hey- you're ok. You're safe.
Rhyme took notice of Joshua, who's skin looked much more pale than normal, standing at the doorway, fists clenched. He was looking out into the streets, hearing strange noises.
Joshua: Sunako. I need to talk to you real quick.
Sun looked at Rhyme and back to Joshua. She sighed.
Sun: Sure. Give me a sec ok?
She patted Rhyme on the shoulder as she stood, and followed Joshua outisde where they conversed briefly.
Rhymes head was spinning to say the least. She looked around and noticed the piano that Joshua played with ease a few days ago. She hobbily stood and menouvered towards the bench.
Once seated, Rhyme tried to play a little tune from memory. It wasnt anything complex, just a little nursery rhyme she was tought years ago. Why did she quit again?
As she played, memories from Rhymes past trickled back. From her odd little adventures with Beat when they were both much younger, to more recent memories with her, Beat, Neku, and Shiki, all relaxing at a local restaurant, simply enjoying the world.
She smiled.
Rhyme: Existence begins with me, huh?
She slammed on the last keys and stood. Still with a smirk on her face she retorted.
Rhyme: Joshua you bastard.
Sun and Joshua reentered the room quickly at the slam of the piano.
Sun: Was- that you?
Rhyme nodded. Trying not to look at them.
Rhyme: Yeah. I just- felt nostalgic I guess.
Joshua: There can be time for games later. We think we know where Neku is.
Rhyme turned her head.
Rhyme: And?
Joshua pulled out his phone.
Joshua: Didn't you get the message?
It suddenly donned on Rhyme that, no, She didn't. She searched her pockets to find that her phone was missing. Presumably lost in the fall and getting burried in the rubble.
Rhyme: Crap. Well, I'm out of the loop.
Sun: Don't worry about it, we'll fill you in as we go. Come on!
Joshua wondered outside again as Rhyme limped her way to Sunako.
Sun: You- gonna be okay?
Rhyme grimaced as she limped.
Rhyme: No... But I'll manage somehow. Neku needs us.
Sun looked down in thought for a brief second, before offering an arm.
Sun: Come on, let me help.
Sun supoorted Rhyme as they began their trek towards Shinjuku station. As Joshua had mentioned, the only real way in or out of the destrict.
As the trio approached the entrance, they noticed how empty it was around them. Not a soul in sight.
Joshua: We should hurry. I don't want to know why it's so quiet...
Rhyme: Hey- Joshua-
Joshua stopped. He turned to Rhyme, shocked by what he just heard.
Joshua: What did you just call me?
Rhyme rolled her eyes, ignoring his question.
Rhyme: Neku's going to be fine. We'll make sure of that.
Joshua broke eye contact.
Joshua: R-Right.
As they entered, Rhyme again took notice of Joshua's pale skin. In fact, it was more pale than before. She turned to Sun.
Rhyme: Is he okay?
Sun frowned, she was still looking ahead.
Sun: Yeah. I think so.
Rhyme: That doesn't sound very confident.
Sun: Well- truthfully it's more complicated than that, but I'll have to explain later.
Rhyme furrowed her brow. What the hell did that mean?
They carefully walked down the steep steps to the Shinjuku subway station. It was dimly lit. Off in the nearby distance, as they walked down the first set of steps, Sun stopped, having seen a colleague of hers approach.
Sun: Hello, Serpent.
A man walked up the steps, he wore a hoodie and a mask over his face. When he pulled out his hands to stretch them to either side, Rhyme noted the bandages that wrapped them. They were almost inky, being dotted in black splotches of something. Similar bandages were wrapped around his eyes. It was difficult to make out, especially in the dim lights, but she could tell his skin was similarly colored. The man waved Sun off.
?: Please, with the formalities, just call me Zethube.
His voice was, familiar somehow, while also being extremely gravelly. He sounded friendly enough. Friendly with Sunako at least.
Zethube: So, what brings you band of misfits here?
Sun glanced at Rhyme and back to Joshua, who was gripping the railing of the stairs while starting Zethube dead in the eyes.
Sun: Nothing spectacular I guess.
Zethube: Heh. Right. I guess you wouldn't know about the events up in No. 3 right.
Without breaking a sweat, Sun smirked and nodded.
Sun: You know me. I hate trouble.
Zethube: Yeah. Sounds about right.
Rhyme could swear she saw him try and wink through the bandages. She cocked her head in confusion.
Zethube: You know, I did also see-
Zethube paused and pondered, considering his next words very carefully.
Zethube: Some- very, interesting characters back there.
He pointed back down the rest of the stairs.
Zethube: Must have imagined it though.
He shrugged, put his hands back in his pockets, and began to walk back up the stairs.
Sunako chuckled to herself.
Sun: peh- dumbass...
Zethube turned around once he reached thebtop of the stairs.
Zethube: Also, yes, that was a wink. Um.. Wink-wink?
Zethube shrugged again and mumbled to himself as he walked away.
Joshua let out a gasp of relief.
Joshua: What- the *hell* was that about.
Just then, the underground began to rumble, and a very distinct hiss was heard in the distance.
Joshua: Neku-
Rhyme: No...
Sun: Dammit, shut up and move!
The three struggled forward as fast as they could. It was a few minutes before they rounded the corner to see that not too terribly far away was Neku and Rikka facing off against a giant snake.
Rikka and Neku were in the air bracing for an attack, while the snake had purple- something, emitting from its nostrils.
Joshua's eyes widen at the sight of the poison.
Joshua: That's- that's Mitaka! We have to-!
It was too late, Neku had thrown a bullet card at Rikka, sending her off course. Neku was rearing up momentum for an attack, while Rikka summoned a chain to impail the copperhead snake. They collide, Neku is enveloped in the cloud of poison. They all proceed to collapse to the ground.
Joshua: NO!
Rhyme had a choice. She felt the card in her pocket. Joshua was already in a sprint, while Sun was slowly following with her. She pulled out a card, tossed it behind her and pushed Sunako away.
Rhyme: RUN!
Suddenly a burst of wind flung Rhyme towards Rikka. She broke into a roll as she approached the ground. Her legs were bruning with pain. The splint was also probably worse for wear. But nonetheless, she limped to Rikka.
Rhyme: Hey- come on, wake up!
Rikka groaned and coughed as she opened her eyes. She held the bullet card in front of her and frowned.
Rikka: D-d-d-dammit Neku!
Rhyme: Did- did you do it?
Rikka looked at Copperhead as her form shifted into what could only be described as a puddle of static. It shaped into a vague human form as it approached Neku, grabbing him by an arm and lifting him. She whispered something in his ear.
Rhyme: Listen, we have to finish her off NOW.
Rikka looked she was on the verge of a breakdown. But she froze, pulled out her scarf and observed the pins she had. Her eyes widened.
Rikka: H-hey, you can use psychs, right?
Rhyme: Yeah. I can. Why?
Rikka tossed her a few pins.
Rikka: I'm going to try s-something probably pretty stupid and unp-planned.
Rhyme: Trust me. I get it.
Rikka stood, walked forward, and focused. A chain formed straight across in front of her. Then, suddenly, it began to glow a familiar blueish aura and began to twist around her, spinning, gaining momentum. Rikka, with a strained expression, looked to Rhyme.
Rikka: Ice pillar!
Rhymes eyes widened at the realization of what was happening.
Getting back to basics, she put the pins on her beanie and summoned an ice pillar next to Rikka. It then broke apart, with ice shards then dotted the chain.
Rikka: Pump some b-bullet in here!
Rhyme: Wh-what?!
Rikka: Just do it!
Rhyme, with great hesitantation, took aim, and shot a round into the chain. It began to glow a deeper, more radiant blue.
Rhyme: What now?!
Rikka was already having trouble sustaining the massive psych. Not being sure what to do with it would cause massive issues.
Sun: HERE!
Out of nowhere, a pin is thrown towards them. Joshua catches it and quickly gives on over.
Joshua: This is just an average slash psych.
Sun rolled her eyes and yelled.
Sun: Give it to her!
Joshua looked at Rikka, who was desperately trying to maintain the psych. He tossed her the pin and began to try and keep the psych going himself. This wasn't a psych he was using, however, this was the power of a composer. It was even more draining given the poison and the fact that he really wasn't supposed to be able to do this. But he found it. The well that was mentioned back in the files of No. 3. Unfortunately for him, he also found out why he couldn't use it initially.
Rikka grabbed the pin and held it out in front of her. Joshua released the chain, having felt the pull. It then began to get sucked into the pin. Rhyme, Rikka, and Joshua all starred in amazement. Sunako cheering from behind.
Rikka stood dazed from the exhaustion and pain. Joshua and Rhyme shared a look.
Rhyme/Joshua: DO IT!
With a swift flick of the arm, the chain extended, launching into Mitaka, who threw Neku to the ground. Mitaka turned to see the group of familiar faces qlas she desintigrated.
Every immediately collapsed to the ground exhausted. Joshua struggled to his feet and ran to Neku.
Joshua: Neku! Come on...
Neku was pale himself. He was definitely poisoned. Rikka collapsed as well. Joshua looked at the two of them. Unsure what to do. Rhyme shook Rikka.
Rhyme: Hey- hey! Wake up!
Sun finally caught up with everyone. She frantically tried looking between the two players. While Joshua simply stood helpless.
Joshua: Dammit all...
Rhyme: Don't you have your healing powers?
Joshua: Not for something ofnthis scale. Especially not here.
He was already massively drained from that unconventional surge of power. Trying to use his healing on these two would basically result in him dropping dead instantly. He looked at his hands. They were basically white. His whole body was numb. He let out a sight, knowing what to do.
Joshua: Hey, Rhyme.
Rhyme looked up.
Rhyme: What?
Joshua grew a pained expression. Rhyme caught on.
Joshua: You have every right to hate me.
Rhyme: Shut up-! Now isn't the time remember?
Joshua smirked.
Joshua: That's the funny thing. It might not be the time, but it's probably the time I've got left. I can't let them- I can't let Neku die. Not this way.
Sun: Don't play hero dumbass, we can still-
Joshua: Sun, I already told you I'm a dead man. Remember?
Sunako froze. She looked away.
Joshua: This poison its-
He griamced.
Joshua: Nothing like I've felt before. I can't last for much longer. This physical form has already been stretched to it's limit. Fortunately, when they cut me off to my power, they had contingencies in the event it was used on their own. But at this point, we're too far away from any of the towers, and they don't have time.
Joshua knelt next to the two unconscious players and placed his hands on each.
Joshua: I'm going to do something stupid-
Rhyme: God- not again...
Joshua: I'll probably die. So Rhyme, I just wanted to say- thanks. And tell Neku that I saved him because I wanted to. Not out of some alterier movite.
With that, Joshua eyes lit up yet again. Burning a solid white. His skin began to light up as well, growing more and more pale as he bellowed in pain as color returned to Neku and Rikka.
Once finished Joshua collapsed to the ground. Sunako quickly stood and grabbed him.
Sun: No no no. Come on!
Sun could only stare at the decrepit face of the composer. It was like he had aged a century in a matter of minutes. She turned to Rhyme.
Sun: We need to hide.
Rhyme was tuned out for the time being. Eventually though, Sun dragged her along. As the two player faded into noise. She thought she heard Sun try and ressure her that they were all fine. But she knew. They had just lost their secret weapon. She felt that feeling again. Fear. It seeped deep in side of her. A lingering thought from a year ago.
She had been dammed to the reapers game...
Day 7: Rhyme
Week 1: Joshua