(You was hidin' in my shadow!?) Neku and Shiki were unsure of how to respond to the information Joshua had given them. Joshua just stood there waiting for some kind of reply. (A thousand angels!? How much of the world is stuck in the Reaper Hierarchy…and more importantly, how much is looking to strangle our world under its thumb?)
"A thousand?" Shiki replied in shock.
"Well in the thousands." Joshua corrected. "Even I don't know the exact number. But given the scope and power that would be needed I can only estimate at the number."
"And I'm guessing that number is on the low end." Neku guessed. Joshua nodded.
"So how do we fight back?" Shiki asked and Joshua smirked.
"Like most resistances do. By staying low and making our move when we need to."
"You mean when YOU need us to." Neku corrected and Joshua sighed.
"Unless you'd like to be the one sticking your neck out to keep tabs on these world enders then yes." (Guess he's been keeping an eye on them for a while.)
"Just don't sacrifice us for a step-up on the enemy." Neku asked.
"Neku!" Shiki yelled in anger. "Don't be mean!" Neku grumbled before going quiet as Shiki just glared at him. (If you knew what I knew about him…)
"We're not going to let the angels turn our world into their own personal playpen. I just don't want to lose anyone I care about because we needed to get a leg up." Neku explained and Shiki's face softened slightly.
"I mean…I guess that's fair…but Joshua wouldn't do that." Neku looked at Joshua who stood there, stone faced. Neku found this strange given his usual carefree attitude. Neku took a closer look and noticed Joshua's eyes were focused on the door they had come through.
As though on cue, the knob began to turn, prompting Neku to move to protect Shiki as Joshua snapped his fingers, making the Neku clone vanish and the pad in the center turn off. When the door opened, a woman with black hair placed into a bun and wearing a full grey suit with a pencil skirt and a pair of heels stepped in. She pushed up her glasses over her light blue eyes and looked at the children in confusion.
"What are you children doing here?" She asks looking over all three of them. Joshua was the first to speak up.
"We got lost from our group and ended up in this room." The woman sighed in reply.
"Well, the group is in the special exhibit. I'll escort you three there." She motioned for the kids to follow her back out of the restricted area and back into the main museum.
Eventually they made it back to the main group who were looking over a model of Japan's first robotic spacecraft Hayabusa.
"Ah Hayabusa." Nina said with wide eyes, "It was the robotic spacecraft used to study the Itokawa asteroid that traveled close to earth."
"Really? That thing landed on a meteor?" Beat asked.
"An asteroid but yes." Rhyme replied.
"But don't those things move through space at…really fast speeds? Shouldn't it have missed?"
"That's the cool thing." Nina spoke up. "They launched it two years earlier and had the engines run for two years non-stop until it was in position to meet up with the asteroid!"
"What!? How could they have known where it would be two years from then?" Rhyme was the first to answer.
"Well you can typically determine an asteroids path by calculating-" At the mention of math Beat cringed a little.
"Actually…never mind." Rhyme just giggled and stood on her toes to give her brother a compassionate pat on the head.
"Well, someone is awfully excited." Joshua said brining everyone's attention to the trio that had just rejoined them.
"There you three are!" Eri said with a slight huff. "We thought we lost you guys near the entrance."
"My bad. Seems I couldn't find my way around the building as well as I thought." Joshua said with a simple chuckle. Neku rolled his eyes. (He plays the lost kid role way too well with Eri.)
"What did we miss?" Shiki asked.
"So much." Nina replied motioning to the entire space exhibit they were standing in. "So much knowledge of the stars."
"You like space travel?" Neku asked and Nina looked away bashfully.
"Kind of…something about it always gets me excited." (Considering your skills with mathematics I don't doubt stuff like this makes you excited.) Nina moved over and looked over all of the exhibits, her eyes following the progression of replica ship parts that were on display. As she did, Shiki moved over to Neku and nudged him slightly.
"Told you she knew what she was doing." Shiki whispered.
"She got lucky…but notice something?" Neku turned Shiki's attention to Eri who looked over various exhibits with a disinterested or non-engaged look in her eye, "Her intentions were good but friends are supposed to enjoy doing things together. Does she looked interested."
"No…but maybe that's worth the price to see a friend smile?" (…Maybe…I just don't want to see her neglect her own feelings in favor of those around her.)
They made their way through the museums various exhibits. From its exhibit on medical science to its timeline of technology up to the twenty-first century flip phones. Eventually they came to a human science section. Pictures of the human body and various workings were all around, with an exhibit on the human brain sitting at the very center of it all.
"Look Beat, it's muscle fibers." Rhyme said pulling the very bored looking Beat over to look at the muscle exhibit.
"Man, that's what's in my body right now?" Beat asked slightly surprised.
"Not that specifically."
"Your arms aren't that muscly dude." Neku said and Beat flexed his bicep, showing off the pulsating veins and tightened skin over his muscle.
"Come on, I got a gun show here!"
"How did you even get so muscley?" Eri asked.
"Hehehe, I've been boarding for years! You ever seen what happens when you take a sharp turn on a skateboard by grabbing a street light." (How did you not fall off your own board in that case?)
"Never would have thought that could be an effective exercise routine." Joshua said with a hint of genuine surprise.
"I don't think it is." Neku replied.
"Seems to work for muscles there." (Can that NOT be Beat's nickname.)
"Thanks man." Beat replied puffing out his chest in pride. "Yo, you ever need a good workout just grab a board and I'll show you how it's done!"
"No thanks. I'm more of a man of the mind than the body." Joshua turned his attention to the middle exhibit of a large human brain covered in small plaques with information on what part of the brain they were attached to.
"Neku, do you know what part of the brain controls our imagination?" (Weird question.)
"The frontal lobe controls our behavior so I'd guess there."
"While that is true, I was thinking a bit more specific. The neocortex controls our perceptions, cognition, motor commands, spatial reasoning and language. Without it we wouldn't be able to comprehend the world around us or even have a base to imagine with."
"And?"
"What? It's an interesting trivia fact. Without it, we wouldn't be able to understand the world. Isn't that fascinating?" (On some levels yes. But you wouldn't have brought it up without a reason either.)
Before Neku could reply, the sound of something snapping caught his attention. He turned to where the noise had come from and noticed Nina at a small display on DNA with a large double-helix replica over it…now hanging on one loose thread. (Shoot!) Neku rushed towards Nina, keeping an eye on the support and noticed as a shadow passed over it before the line broke. Neku dove forward, grabbed Nina and tumbled forward as the Double-Helix display crash to the ground where they were not a moment ago. Neku quickly got up, helping a rattled Nina who just looked at the destroyed display in shock.
"You okay?" Neku asked and she nodded still slightly shaken. Looking back, he saw Joshua was already examining the display as the rest rushed over to check on Neku and Nina.
"Oh my god! That was too close!" Shiki said in panic.
"It's a good thing Neku noticed it and got Nina before she was crushed." Eri added.
"What happened?" Beat asked. (Wish I knew.) Joshua stood up and held the support in his hand. He had a look of mild anger and Neku noticed why; the line didn't snap, it was cut by someone. (Does that mean that shadow was someone cutting the other support?) As the room had gone quiet due to the incident, Neku could hear the faint sound of heels against stone moving at a very fast pace. Neku looked back at the others to see the girls and Beat checking on Nina and decided to follow the sound. (Not just anyone can control shadows.)
As Neku rushed to follow the perp, Joshua was quick to join him. Both kept their ears open, listening to the footsteps continue to run, yet they were getting louder. Eventually they stopped, giving Neku and Joshua a chance to round the next corner and find the woman who they had run into previously leaning against a wall and fiddling with her heels, trying to remove them as she growled.
"Stupid heels! Useless stilts!" She eventually got the first one off, throwing it against the wall and leaving a small indent from her force of the throw. (That's no normal woman.) Neku and Joshua were quick to approach her, making the woman turn in surprise at the two boys. "What are you two doing here!? This is an employee only area."
"Maybe, but you're no more an employee than we are. Aren't you?" Joshua asked. The woman growled before loosening her second heel and throwing it at the pair, making the move to dodge. She took the opening and rushed past them, grey feathers falling out from under her suit coat as she did, "Seems they came out to play." She made a quick dive into the nearby door, passing the threshold and slamming it behind her. Neku and Joshua approached the door, finding it to be a basement access door.
"She's got nowhere to run down there." Neku said.
"Yes, but is it just a hasty move, or a trap?" The sound of a trap had Neku hesitate as Joshua moved for the door handle, "Doesn't matter now though, we can't let her escape."
The boys rushed down the steps, the light getting dimmer as they descended. When they reached the bottom, all they found was a stone room of pipes and boilers barely illuminated by a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. Neku glanced around the room, trying to focus in on the darker corners on the chance she could be blending in with the darkness.
"It's pointless to hide." Joshua spoke up, making sure his voice hit the entirety of the room. "And we're not going to let you slink out of here. So why don't you step out so we can talk face to face." It was very quiet as they waited for a reply. Eventually, the woman stepped forward into the light of the overhead bulb.
"I would have made it if not for those stupid heels." The tone of her voice hit Neku's ear differently than before. When they had first met her, she spoke with authority and a calm that carried the idea that she was in charge. But when he listened to her this time, it came across more aggravated and unrestrained, as though someone intentionally spat in her soup and smiled.
"I'm surprised you didn't just fly away angel. Or, do your wings not work as well since you fell?" The woman snarled at Joshua, the comment clearly hitting a sore spot for her.
"So you're not just any snot nosed brats. Fine, I can drop the facade." She removed her glasses, tossing them away before pulling the scrunchy out of her hair to let it fall down her back, wild and unkempt. She tore the sides of her skirt, giving her more freedom to move her legs before removing the jacket of her suit, followed by the collar shirt to reveal a red tank top before a pair of large angel wings exploded outwards before curling behind the woman and resting there. The wings themselves were a dull grey color that seem to emphasize a sense of uselessness, emphasized by the occasional feather that dropped from the wings, only for it to be replaced instantly by a new one in the same spot.
"I was wondering what that strange energy I felt earlier was. When I found you in that room, I just assumed that I was wrong. I'm very glad I wasn't though; means I have the fun of squashing some pests who decided to step a bit too far over the line."
"Then why did you try to take out our friend?" The woman smiled wickedly.
"I'm sure you can figure out why. The game is more fun with more players." Neku clenched his fist at this comment.
"That's no excuse to take someone's life!"
"Like I care what you think! This matter doesn't concern you!" Clearly tired of talking, the woman glanced quickly to her right before raising her hand and gripping tightly at the air. Neku suddenly rose form the ground as some invisible force had grabbed him by his shirt.
"What the-!?"
"Uppity nobodies like you can't understand what we're trying to do. But if you really want to know, then I'm happy to show you once your dead!" She swung her arm around, taking Neku in the same motion before she let her grip go, making Neku fly and crash into the far wall. He coughed and hacked for a moment before shakily standing up.
"Who…are you?" He asked trying to regain his breath.
"My name is Kabe Sobi-Sha." She answered stepping towards him and swinging her arm through the air. Anticipating it, Neku touched the stray Creepy Weepy Barrier pin only to have an impact hit Neku sending him flying to the side before falling to the ground (What is she hitting me with!?), "I wouldn't expect you to know my name, it's been years since anyone has actually used it…but I like my victims to know who I am before they die."
"Forget someone." Joshua's voice cut through before Kabe turned to see the boy still standing where she last saw him. "That's a neat trick you have. Controlling shadows, I mean." Kabe looked slightly surprised at his deduction, "Don't think I didn't notice your little sideways glance at your shadow on the wall, it wasn't very subtle." Kabe held her hand up. Neku looked at her shadow to see she had summoned long spikes. She swung her arm, sending them at Joshua's shadow before he ducked, sending them over him and into the darkness, disappearing entirely, "An interesting ability, able to pierce barriers since it doesn't hit the target but transfers through their shadow. Unfortunately, you only have your own shadow as a weapon." Kabe giggled to herself. Her shadow began to bend and change, moving around the floors and ceiling regardless of the light source, yet still tethered to her feet.
"It's too bad you can't anticipate what I can create from the shadows." Joshua looked over at the wall, finding a spire shadow rushing towards his. He weaved to the side but was still hit by the spire making him recoil.
"Ngh!"
"Ahahahahaha! Weaving won't save you here!" (Forgetting me won't save you!) Neku rushed up behind her, using his Black Uranus Pin to shoot a spire up. The spire passed through the woman as though she was made of nothing, making Neku stop in shock. (WHAT!?) Kabe just extended her hand again, grabbing Neku through her shadow before tossing him back at Joshua who was quick to catch him and keep him on his feet.
"I couldn't hit her with my pins." Neku said. Joshua held out his extended hand and had a loose pipe rise from the ground before tossing it at Kabe only for it to pass through her.
"She's impervious to physical attacks and psych attacks?"
"Guess the angles don't play around." Joshua picked up the pipe with his psyche again and aimed at the lightbulb, shattering it and plunging the room in darkness. "Better to cut off her shadow." (And leave us blind.)
"Please." Kabe replied through the darkness before a bright flash enveloped the room. When they could see again, Neku and Joshua saw the room was lit up better than before, yet there was no light source they could see…and her shadow was dancing along the walls, "I'm not stupid enough to not have the ability to make my own light when needed." She raised her hand again, producing twenty shadow needles along the wall, all aimed at the pair.
"Damn! What now?" Neku asked.
"Rgh! I can't think of a plan with her continuously on us." Joshua said slightly aggravated.
"That's why an overwhelming tactic works best." Kabe gripped her hand, and she twenty needles turned into forty. She swung her hand, sending them at the boys' shadow. All Neku and Joshua could do was brace themselves for whatever help that would do.
"Back off!" The familiar brash voice hit the pairs ears as Beat rushed in front of them on his skate board, he jumped up as the needles came close and they broke to pieces as they hit the shadow of Beats board.
"What!?" Kabe was in shock at what just happened. Beat landed and stood up with his board in his hand.
"Yo, what were you two scared of? She didn't even throw anything at you?" Beat asked. (Did his board block the attack?) Joshua chuckled.
"Seems your little shadow power has one little flaw doesn't it?" Kabe growled sending another set of needles. Joshua raised the steel pipe, aligning its shadow with the needles. They hit the pipe's shadow breaking apart into nothing, "Guess you can't do any damage to objects." He flicked the pipe forward and Kabe flinched for a moment. "Beat, swing your board." The pipe went through Kabe but was followed by her face snapping to the side as a bright red bruise was prominently on her cheek. Neku looked and found Beat had swung his board, making his shadow hit Kabe's.
"Her weakness is her shadow!" Neku said out loud and the color on Kabe's face drained and her smile faded. (Bullseye.) Her face changed to pure rage.
"LIKE THAT MATTERS! I WON'T LOSE TO SOME KIDS!" Shadows of spires and needles filled all of the open light space as they could, cornering the three boys as Joshua held up the pipe to whip around and catch any incoming attacks as Beat did the same.
"Man, this hag really has a temper." Beat said offhandedly.
"I AM NO HAG YOU URCHINS!" The attacks intensified. Joshua and Beat kept up the blocks as Neku thought of what they could do to stop her. (We can only hit her shadow to do damage, which means one good hit should be enough to do her in…but it's going to take all three of us.)
"I have a plan guys!" Neku said and Joshua gave a smirk as Beat gave a cocky grin, "Beat, destroy as many of her attacks as you can. Aim your shadows with those or at least aim wildly at the air and floor."
"I'm on it!" Beat jumped it, ridding his skateboard through every attack and smacking what he could notice.
"How big of a beam can you make?"
"Big enough to cover the floor it its shadow." (Good to see you've caught on.) Joshua got up, holding his hand out to send one of his light beams across the right side of the ceiling.
"You won't be able to hit me with your shadows if I can control the light!" Kabe shouted. (I know, but our shadows aren't the issue.) Neku used his black Jupiter, sending a cascade of lighting bolts all over the room to make a zigzag of lighting shadows that made Kabe start to Panic as her shadow was running out of places to run.
"Beat, now!" Beat rushed in to hit her shadow as it ducked under his strike, the line of her shadow moving only slightly as it couldn't move onto the ceiling or the floor, leaving it on the same wall as Beat's shadow.
"No…I won't lose to some kids who are in my way!"
"Prepare to get BEAT!" (Ugh.) Due to her panic, Kabe physically bended to avoid his strike. (NOW!) Neku let the lighting go and shot forward a flurry of force rounds from his Black Venus Pin. When she got back up, she was too late to adjust her shadow, and was pelted with the force round shadows before being finished by a Black Uranus Spire. She stood there for a moment dumbfounded before collapsing to the ground defeated.
Neku gave a long sigh of relief as he collapsed to the ground. (That was not easy.) Joshua dispelled his beam of light and Beat gave a huge cheer of victory.
"YEAH! Nobody's stopping us!"
"That was still too close for comfort." Neku said.
"Agreed." Joshua added. "Her power was not something easily predictable. Luckily we had our own unpredictable piece." Joshua looked at Beat who grinned proudly.
"Hell yeah! Nobody expects the Beat!" A low groan and growl had the boys turn to see Kabe look at them in pure rage.
"This isn't over. When we meet again, I WILL kill you." The light suddenly died completely, leaving the boys in the dark as Kabe disappeared. They heard her footsteps go up the stairs and gave chase, but once they came out of the basement level and back onto the main floor hallway she was gone.
"Damn. She got away." Joshua said with a tense look.
"Who was that?" Beat asked.
"A fallen angel." Neku explained. "She tried to crush Nina with that DNA strand."
"We gave chase when we heard her footsteps…but how did you find us?" Joshua asked turning to Beat.
"Yo, I saw you two bolt off in a hurry. After making sure Nina was doing okay, I followed. Lost ya for a bit but then a giant flash of light came from behind a door." (Must have been her ability to light up the room. Not very subtle on the start-up it seems.)
"Well we owe you one. Your skateboard gave us the information we needed to take her out." Neku said making Beat start to gloat. Neku turned to Joshua, "Still, she ended up tougher than either of us were expecting."
"I wasn't giving these traitors enough credit. Seems that there are some in their ranks that are cleverer." (And odds are that was just a lackey.) Neku gave a weary sigh and Joshua snickered.
"Let's just get back to the others. I think that was enough crazy for the week."
"Really?" Beat asked. "I could go again!" (Of course you could.)
They made their way back to the Human Science section where their friends were sitting nearby as museum staff looked over the accident. As soon as Shiki caught sight of them she gave a small gasp and the girls rushed over.
"Where did you guys go? We were so worried!" Shiki said and Neku scratched the back of his head avoiding eye contact.
"Sorry…we ran to grab someone to help." Neku said, his eyes drifting to Eri. Shiki gave a small pout before turning to Joshua who made a butterfly motion with his hands and the pout disappeared.
"Well…as long as you guys are safe." (Seriously, having to dance around the issue with Eri and Nina is harder than it should be.) Neku turned over to Nina.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yeah…just a little shaken is all." Neku smiled in relief and she gave a small smile back.
"I'm sooooooo sorry it turned out this way Nina…I just wanted to help." Eri said looking disappointed with herself. (…Ah, damnit.)
"Despite the accident this wasn't too bad actually." Neku said and Eri looked over at him in mild surprise.
"I actually had a lot of fun." Rhyme added.
"It wasn't so bad. Little too much learning for me but I found a way to deal." Beat said nudging Neku. (Could you be any less subtle?)
"It was fun." Nina said. "Thanks for this Eri." Eri gave a big smile and hugged the small girl.
"Of course! I'm glad you had a good time." As Eri had a tiny cheering session Shiki tapped Neku's shoulder. She gave him a big knowing smile and he looked away bashfully.
"Any reason you did that?"
"I don't like to see my friends sad." Shiki just giggled and Neku's face got redder. (I could do without this girl seeing right through me all the time.)