It was Tuesday.
Rhyme was so nervous, she felt like throwing up.
"I'll pick you up at six."
Well, now she knew what the Composer of Shibuya was going to pick her up in. Unless his fortune gave him less-obviously-filthy-rich vehicals, which she wouldn't put past him at all, she would have her very first limo ride.
"Yo, Rhyme!"
There was another complication. Getting ready without Beat suspecting a thing.
"In my room, Beat!" She called, lacing up her light lavender skirt.
It shouldn't be too dfficult, her brother wasn't that savy.
"Have you seen my—BWAAAA! Rhyme...You're all...beautified n' stuff! There a dance at yur place o' learnin' I don't know about?"
Then again...
"I'm just going to the concerto, Beat." She said with a grin "It's not that fancy, is it? My skirt?"
Her brother shrugged "I don' know about no fancy stuff, Rhyme. I'll take you though. I gotta pass by the auditoranium on my way to the skate place."
"Auditorium, bro, and thanks, but I already have a ride. There's...a new kid at school. Offered to drive me."
Beat nodded "Aight. I'll see you then. Listen, if this new kid mistreats ya, I'll pound em into the pavement, yeah? You don't let no one mess with you, Rhyme!"
She flashed him another smile and gave a thumbs up "Count on it!"
The minute Beat left the house, Rhyme let out a sigh of relief.
TWEWYTWEWYTWEWY
"Park here, Kariya. I'd rather not draw attention in this part of Shibuya. The Music here is very angry, and the notes she harbors even more so."
"That Composer speak for 'this is the bad part of town, I don't want to get mugged'? Because seriously, boss, we could have taken the Volkswagen. Or the Plymouth Fury. They'd have drawn a lot less attention."
Purple eyes flashed white for a moment in the mirror, a pale eyebrow raised slightly "Are you sassing me? Raimu deserves more than to suffer a ride in that beat up death machine you rescued from Sho's junk heap, and the Fury is possessed by Noise and prone to homicidal urges. Neither one would do for this occasion."
"I'm just sayin' that maaaaybe bringing the Cadillac to this part of town wasn't really the best choice if you're wanting discression."
"It was the only black vehical not a mile long with dark tinted windows and a relatively low profile, and I was not about to make Raimu explain to Daisukenojo why she was suddenly carted off in a stretch limo."
Kariya thought for a moment. "Yeah, that would be very cartel of you."
"...Just retreave Raimu, Kariya." The Composer sighed.
"Don't you wanna woo young lady's heart? I mean it's customary for the date to meet the girl at the door."
Joshua snorted, putting his fingers to his head.
"Yes, my loyal Conductor...send walking money into the middle of the Hood where most of the mortals scrimp and fight over ten dollars and kill for twenty. Do use your head for more than ramen and bean paste, would you?"
"All right, all right."
While his Conductor walked a block to retrieve the anomaly that was Raimu Bito, Joshua pondered his current situation.
His heart pounded every time he thought of her. Yet he just...he still couldn't grasp why. Nor did he understand the anxiousness he felt when she wasn't with him. He'd found himself distracted during his meeting with Uzuki about Game business by thoughts of little Raimu, if she was safe, if she got enough to eat...
If her parents were treating her right.
He worried for her, like he worried for Neku, especially now that his Proxy had an abusive uncle who was back in Shibuya. Joshua had actually heard about him from the Composer of Paris, and how he was responsible for half the Players in her last three Games. But his worry for the younger Bito surpassed that for Neku...
And he couldn't explain why!
Then, there she was...white shirt with lavender accents...her short hair sans beanie reflecting the moon's light beautifully, a light lavender pleated skirt reaching to about her knees.
She was breathtaking.
Rhyme smiled nervously as Joshua got out and opened the door for her.
"You look ravishing, Raimu dear." He said breathlessly as he took her hand and helped her get in. He then got in the opposite side and remarked
"You look positively astonishing in lavender."
She blushed
"Thanks. So do you. I mean, I've known your choice of shirts but...I've...never seen you in a suit before. It's good on you. Is that Dragon Couture?"
"Only the best for you, Raimu dear." He said with a hair flip and a grin.
Kariya muttered something in the corner of his lollipop that Rhyme couldn't hear, but Joshua heard and scowled, whispering "Just shut up and get us to the concert hall, Kariya!"
The Reaper snorted and pulled out, heading to the concerto.
Joshua still could not fathom the strange tightness in his gut, when the light from the streets of Shibuya hit Rhyme at exactly the right angle. His breath caught in his throat, his heart rushed in his ears...but the warm feeling he expected would follow...it just didn't come.
It never came. But he was yearning, begging for just a taste of it...just for tonight! Let things make sense for one night...
