This work deals with death and suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

Beat never really understood why people liked Hachiko so much.

He watched a couple of parents happily explain to their daughter the legend of Hachiko, how he was a dog who came back to find his owner in the same spot every day, even after his master had been dead for years. Always coming back, rain or shine, to wait for a meeting that never came. Yadda yadda yadda. Who cares? It was a dog that just didn't know about death. Sure, it wasn't its fault or nothing. But seeing people fawn over that silent canine made him want to blow up at them. There are so many more people- real people, not dogs- that show more grit every day just doing their jobs. And where are their statues? Huh?

"It's not about grit, Beat." Rhyme had once told him, that gentle amused smile on her lips. "It's about… love that gets left behind."

Beat ground his teeth and turned towards the crossing, shaking the words out of his head as he slipped the black headphones from around his neck into place. The comforting drum rolls and harsh guitar chords drowned out the sounds of his memories and the people around him both, leaving him with just his path forward. He almost forgot to stop at the edge of the curb into the street, glancing up just in time to remember to look up at the signal lights. That had been one of his favorite parts of the UG, honestly. He never had to wait for traffic, or anybody else in his way. It's something he still hadn't quite gotten used to again, even after three years.

As the light shifted and the crowd around him pushed forward, he pushed forward to the front, shouldering through any gaps in front of him. The Reaper's Game. The three weeks of hell that had nearly ripped his sister away from him. It had been so damn close. Hell, he wasn't even sure if she even counted as alive for more than a few days of it. But he had pulled her out of erasure. He didn't let her die, no matter what, even when it was hopeless. He still found a way.

Not alone, of course. Hell no. He let out an amused snort as he passed by the Seibu storefront, ignoring the posters for clothes and remedies. No, he wouldn't have known what the hell to do if he was left alone. He had so much help. From Rhyme, Shiki, Mr. H. Even Pinky and Lollipop, in their own messed up way. And… Phones, of course.

He found himself instinctively glancing around, his eyes searching the shadows cast by the tower of Cadoi City. He'd been looking for Neku for so damn long by now. Scouring every back alley, side street, nook and cranny. He knew the district better than anyone by now, with how often and how intently he had paced its streets. But he had always come back bitter and empty-handed.

His thoughts wandered back to that day 3 years ago, to when they had just gotten out of that messed up fake noise world. Hearing Rhyme's voice on that phone had sent waves of relief through him. Seeing her crunched between a shark's jaws again had been… awful. Beyond words really. But literally right after knowing she was okay, he watched the friend he had just fought beside vanish in front of his eyes. Why couldn't he have done anything? Why was he never able to save his friends?

Tower Records loomed over him as he pushed past the entrance, grinding his teeth and putting out enough anxious hostility to make the thinning crowd shift to give him space. He was close now.

He steps into Miyashita Underpass and slows to a stop at a particular section of the barrier between the street and walkpath. The place where he had first tried to save Rhyme, and just killed them both. When they had woken up after those three weeks, it had been difficult to settle into a world where no one even seemed to remember they had died. But they had done it. And things went back to their shitty old ways pretty quickly too. He was fighting with his parents, leaning too hard on Rhyme. He knew she didn't like him over her shoulder all the time, but he just couldn't lose someone else. And then Neku vanished, and it all got worse. He was gone all the time, throwing down at the drop of a hat whenever he was home. He could feel Rhyme trying to push him away as she started prepping for college. She had actual prospects at least. But he hadn't even bothered applying to any schools himself. He jumped from job to job, never sticking around one for more than a few weeks, which had only been making his parents more irate. Shiki had tried to help at first, but she couldn't. Not really. She was hurting too, and now she had an actual business of her own. What right did he have to pull Rhyme and Shiki away from actual futures?

Beat lowers the headphones from his head, replacing the fast-paced rap he was listening to with the quiet ambiance of cars and the city a couple blocks away. He knew he didn't really belong here in the RG. All he could ever be was a screw-up. No talents, no smarts. But in the UG he could actually do something, you know? Be someone. Or try to be.

Beat steeled himself. No. He knew exactly what he had to do now. He had been ignoring the most obvious place to look this whole time, and there wasn't a chance in hell he was just going to let his friend go. All he needed to do was take the plunge.

After all, he'd died once before already. It wasn't so bad.

Beat waits for the roar of a heavy engine rolling up from around the bend. He sucks in a deep breath, letting his tunes calm the shiver in his hands. As soon as he hears the van approach, he vaults over the protective barrier, his hand lingering for just a moment before he runs forward, eyes hard and set on a future he thinks he needs to fulfill.

It hurt a lot more this time.

A boy with unnatural white hair watches the tragedy unfold, waiting with anticipation as the screech of tires fills the underpass. His stare is unblinking, not even flinching at the sickening impact of meat and metal. And as bystanders begin to scream and shout for assistance, his thin lips curl up into a satisfied smile. He whispers an unheard murmur among the newly sprung activity in front of him.

"Another piece into place…"

Joshua turns and walks away, quickly disappearing into the crowds of his city. The board was almost set, now. It was time to begin the game anew.