As Rhyme worked, Joshua observed.

He was quite curious about the young Bito's passion, it was true, but mostly, he was there to observe how her Music reacted to that passion. If he saw any discrepancy or heard a sour note, he would make adjustments accordingly. Rhyme had Noise particals in her Soul still, though the girl didn't realize this fact, and that often interfered with her Music, sending tweaked bass tones into her rather high melody, where they got tangled quite easily and had to be separated immediately, lest they became an issue.

Joshua was in the middle of untangling one such tone, when he felt something rubbing on his leg. Looking down, the boy snickered and returned to his task. Rhyme chuckled and scooped up the smoke-grey ball of kitten, stroking it affectionately. Her Passion shone brightly, nearly blinding the Composer, but he smiled.

"You seem to be very fond of these creatures." He said with a hair flick "I'm a dog person myself. Suprising I know, since I usually hang around Cat Street. No, Raimu, I much rather prefer dogs. They at least obey their masters, while cats are aloof, and impossible to train. You can tell them to fetch, and they instead litter your doorway with dead things."

Rhyme giggled softly "Smokey likes you, though." She said "You know, some legends say that cats have connections to the afterlife. Maybe she knows you're actually from the UG."

"Perhaps" Joshua said with a twinkle in his eye Rhyme couldn't help but blush at, though she couldn't fathom why.

"If um...you like dogs, maybe you could help me with a few things in the kennel?" she offered timidly, not wanting to order him around.

Joshua's eyes lit up like a little boy's, and a wide grin spread across his face. "Raimu, I would be ever so pleased to help with whatever you are doing in the kennel."

Rhyme led him to the room filled wioth dogs of all breeds and sizes. Joshua took one look and had to suppress the urge to squeal his happiness. There were so many here! Fat ones and thin ones and shorthairs and longhairs...even one who looked surprisingly like Neku.

"Look at all of them! I knew Shibuya had lots of strays but...this is amazing!"

Rhyme looked on as the Composer of Shibuya went to every single cage, purple eyes shining in delight. She had never seen him act...well...so human before. Joshua had some degree of humanity, but he often kept it buried under a superiority/God complex, only allowing Rhyme and Neku see past his supremeness into the person he no doubt used to be while alive.

The girl's ponderings were interrupted by a creaking and a loud slam. "Joshua? Joshua no! Shiro is dangerous!"

The ash-blond giggled. Not his usual condescending noise, an honest to goodness heartfelt giggle. His reason? A pure white Akita dog had him pinned to the ground and was licking his face.

"Dangerous, my dear Raimu? This softy?" he said between licks "Proposterous!"

"You...you imprinted him..." thje girl concluded.

"Nonsense! Imprinting, though it has immense uses, rarely effects animals, as it requires thoughts, which, smarts nonwithstanding, beasts do not usually possess. At least not at the same level as humans. Now I could, being Composer, manipulate the instincts of a particular animal so it associates calm, and kindness with my scent and appearance, however, in this case I did not do so."

"Begging your pardon, but that's impossible. Joshua, Shiro was gong to be put down next week because he's a killer. Not even I could feed him without a prod."

Josh stood, Shiro wagging his tail and panting happilky as his head tipped upwards to follow the blond's ascent. As the Composer scratchged the bear-dog behind the ears, he hmmed in thought.

"This softy is why there were three extra Players last Game? So," he turned his full attention to the dog at his feet "You're Kujo then. My, my, you have quite the reputation, my furry friend!"

Shiro let out a happy bark, and Josh pet him again. His purple eyes searched Rhyme's own, and found that she looked far too sad for his liking. The distress she felt over this poor beast's fate would definitely not do.

"Raimu." He said thoughtfully, "As you can see, this dog is no monster. Perhaps if I were to rescue him, he would best serve another purpose with me as I stay in the RG. I only can rely on my Gate Reapers for so long, since they must alterate between my mansion and the Dead God's Pad. Having a dog whose sole loyalties are to me and me alone would solve one problem."

"But he'd be useless against UG agressors, wouldn't he?" the girl asked timidly, daring to second guess the most powerful being in Shibuya.

"A fair point. Perhaps having Luc stay at his post at the Estate is a wise descision in this case. Although some dogs are able to sense unseen threats and warn their masters accordingly. Shiro might be one such dog. Point nonwithstanding, this creature is far too endearing to simply be euthanized. As Composer, I pardon him from his crimes and will take him into custody to live his life happily."

The smile that spread across Rhyme's face was worth every chriticism Kariya uttered as the dog was loaded into the car on the way home.

Joshua shushed his Conductor by promising him three free bowls of Ramen if he agreed to shut up. The redhead readily, and eagerly, complied.