This was all his fault.
There was no denying that simple fact.
He should have fought harder...trained the Composer better. Prepared Him for the trial more thoroughly.
He should have argued in protest more fiercely at the suggestion to send his pupil into battle a week early.
He hadn't done any of those things, and Joshua was paying the price because he hadn't. Shibuya itself was paying for his mistake. His body ached with the consequences of his failure, and he weathered every spasm it put him through on occasion, counting it as penance.
"You're still blaming yourself, Phones?"
The voice was one he never heard in this hellhole. He didn't doubt the Angel came visiting on occasion, but he hadn't been conscious or home for any of those secret times. He clutched his knees up to his chest and turned away, eyes resting on the wall above the couch, refusing to fall on the figure dozing (presumably) there until the Barista knelt to brush ash-blond locks off a sweaty face.
"If anyone's to blame...it's me. I honestly thought he was ready. Maybe it was because...he believed so strongly that he was going to win, that somehow...he'd do it. He told me he was ready...so I told you. But...on some level I knew he needed more time."
The barista chuckled as he continued to fondly mess with the blond hair that never seemed to get dirty, despite Neku not washing it for at least a week.
"Josh was notorious for biting off more than he could chew. Especially when he was determined to make Reapers see him as a threat during his Games. Kariya beat him so many times, I lost count of how often I had to step in before he delivered the final blow. The Composer at the time had plans for him, and I was tasked that week with making sure nothing but Noise had any hopes of erasing him. A Reaper as powerful as Kariya shouldn't have been attacking Players on that day anyway, it was Day 3."
Neku permitted himself a snort "He even annoyed Lollipop to the point that he got himself attacked. Not easy to do...but this is Joshua we're talking about."
Sanae snickered "He was pretty tenacious. It's nearly impossible to piss off our current Conductor, but J always pushed until he snapped. Always leaped into battles trying to prove himself, make himself stronger...further his goal. Even in life…"
The Angel sighed and rubbed the Composer on the back, "Even in life he always fought, even picked battles I knew he couldn't win. But he was just so darn confident that eventually he did triumph. That's what I hoped would happen. He's done it so many times...I believed he would do it again."
"He was simply just too outpowered and outmatched, Hanekoma. That's all there was to it."
Neku felt the air grow hot and heavy, and he even caught a glimpse of the Angel's frightening, intimidating, and overpowering true form as his fists clenched and his teeth ground together. The electricity in the hovel flickered, and the entire atmosphere grew hostile around the simmering Producer as his eyes glowed and settled on the very unwelcome third party that had butted in. Neku backed away, struggling to breathe for a minute as the intensity of the Angel's veiled rage continued to strike everywhere at once.
"I would rethink whether this is a good time to start another session if I were you, Apollo Sarahara, as well as rethinking your choice of words."
Neku was surprised as the other Higher Being actually seemed to wilt under the Producer's gaze, yet composed himself and snorted. "Strong words to rebuttal the truth, Hanekoma. Though you cannot back them up without the Council's permission, I will honor your wishes because I'm in no hurry. As soon as you leave, I will resume my Kiryu's training."
"The Council made it clear I couldn't stop you at this time." Sanae growled, standing to his full height, putting himself between Apollo and the couch "However...they didn't say it wasn't permitted for me to give you a beat down when I deem it necessary. Given the sickly appearance of the Composer, I'm deeming it necessary if you dare try to inflict psyches on him so soon after the last session. He's exhausted. Starving. From his frame, it's clear you haven't given Neku nearly enough time to get him to at least a quarter strength before tearing him open again and again."
"There is a method, Sanae." Apollo started, but he was literally thrown backwards by the other Angel's stare, silencing him.
"A method that doesn't take into account...that he's in an RG body. Your 'method' will LITERALLY kill him you idiot! Let Neku have two days. Just two days to bring him back to at least 34 percent. Because if you keep pushing like this, Josh won't break...he'll be complete mulch. AND static. So, give him time. Or I'll make sure the Council knows exactly what caused his erasure."
Apollo sighed. Seraph had told him that Kiryu's erasure would not be overlooked. He certainly didn't want the repercussions of that, not to mention he wasn't looking to kill Yoshiya anyway. Just break him beyond repair. Reluctantly, the Higher Being retreated, leaving the plane and presumably the area.
Neku gasped for air as Sanae turned down his power and calmed his rage. The atmosphere seemed to breathe a giant sigh of relief, and the man himself took a deep breathe, wiping his brow and sighing. "Well J, Phones...I bought us some time."
"Us?"
"Yeah. The Games are over for now...Kariya and Uzuki seem to have a grasp on everything, and the old lady seems to have calmed her tantrums. For two days, I can stick around. Besides, if he's not being pumped full of Drains, Josh can actually connect and fix some of Shibuya's deteriorating symphony. He's done so while unconscious before, so there's no reason that he can't if his mind isn't being numbed."
The Proxy gave a deep sigh of relief "So...he can still compose as long as Asshole isn't tearing him apart. Good. This gives me time to get his strength up as well."
"Bingo!"
The Proxy went into the kitchen to prepare a hearty meal, and the Producer once again dropped to sit next to the sleeping (presumably) Composer, once again running fingers through the ash-blond locks.
Hang in there, son. We'll fix this...I promise.