Joshua was furious.

He was beyond livid. The reason?

Rhyme's Song was screaming in panic. She was terrified and crying, and lost. She was in Shibuya, there was no need to feel lost for someone who was born and raised here...unless something was blocking her vision.

The Composer grit his teeth in barely controlled rage. The only explanation for that note to be in Rhyme's Song was a blindfold. Yoshiya Kiryu knew only one reason for a blindfold. He knew that reason very, very well, being the sole heir of an insanely rich legacy. He had experience with that accursed fabric so vast it could fill a library.

The person he was beginning to cherish had been kidnapped.

There were no words to describe his utter fury right now. His eyes grew white, and Imagination leaked off his body like steam as a note of pain was suddenly thrust into Rhyme's melody. He clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ground together, and a sneer replaced the usual smirk as skinny fists clenched tightly.

"Who dares?!"

TWEWYTWEWYTWEWY

"You have no idea what you've done, Reggie."

Rhyme yelped as a fist backhanded her, and Reggie's harsh voice spat out bitterly

"Shut up! Ever since that prissy no good came back to Shibuya, he's been getting all the attention! He even stole the spotlight from me. Now me and my friends are gonna break his skinny neck. Maybe we'll break his hands first, just to hear him scream. I'd like to see him play without them, as he claims he can do."

Victor put out a smoke on her arm, and chuckled mockingly

"That softy...he'd rather run like a coward than land any kind of blow. This'll be cake. Ziran, did you send the note?"

"Um...well"

"How the hell are we supposed to trap our prey if he has no idea where to go?! Idiot!"

As a smack was heard, Rhyme scowled "Don't you worry. You took me. He'll be here."

Oh, he would be there all right. The girl couldn't imagine how he'd explain how he knew where to find her without exposing himself. But he would come, and it wouldn't be a pretty sight when the Composer of Shibuya unveiled his bared fangs. After all the trouble he went through reviving her, he wasn't about to let her get injured again. Rhyme was pretty sure Joshua was ten kinds of pissed off right now. The air around her was alight with an energy that screamed danger, and the Noise plane was in total chaos. Shibuya was trembling as well, the usual bustle she heard outside wherever this was, was tense and angry.

"He'll come. And you all will be sorry. You poked the sleeping dragon. What do you think will happen next?"

A warm, wet tongue licked her neck, creeping up her face until it finally broke contact. She shuddered, more in disgust than actual fear as Victor's slimy voice answered in her ear

"I honestly can't wait to find out, little Rhyme. You'll find out with us. When he gets here, I'll take the blindfold off so you can see his final moments!"

The girl's reply was cut short by the smell of rotten eggs, and smoke. The captors were sent into a state of chaos as the sprinkler systems suddenly went off without warning, drenching every one of them to the bone. A haunting, creepy moaning echoed through the room, and the bullies screamed as the windows suddenly shattered. Rhyme was actually under one, but not one shard so much as landed on her. The building was in a state of panic when the door crashed open, and a haughty chuckle filled the room.

"So this is where you were hiding Rhyme. Poor choice, fellas. This particular warehouse has been haunted for years. I'd leave, if I were you, before the ghost makes an apearance. Legends say she's quite cranky, especially towards males. After all…"

Joshua's voice grew dark and cold, Rhyme alone noting the warning in his tenure. She smiled. The Composer was indeed pissed.

"...Her boyfriend did murder her in this exact room."

An inhuman shreiking filled the stunned empty space, and feet were heard scrambling for the exit, the boys sending "We'll get you yet, Kiryu!" "I'll wring your neck later, punk!" behind them.

A soft touch was all it took for the darkness to be lifted, and her bonds to be disintegrated. As she took in her surroundings, Rhyme noticed the other occupant of the room.

"I thought I recognized that shriek!"

The 'ghost' flipped her hair and Joshua snickered "Thank you, Uzuki. I trust you enjoyed yourself?"

"Damn right! I can't wait for these idiots to become Players so I can whipe them out! Also, that promotion?"

"Is yours, as I promised. Thank you, dear."

Rhyme couldn't help herself. Daring to be bold, she wrapped her arms around Joshua's skinny frame in a quick, harmless and innocent hug before releasing him and trembling slightly.

This caused him to stiffen and be paralyzed for abut three minutes before returning the gesture, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as if to comfort her shaking body. It felt...right.

"Raimu, I'm here. I swear, they will pay."

Rhyme sighed "Please...don't hurt them, Joshua. I know they kidnapped me...but...just please. I know what you're capable of. Please not this time...Composer."

A giggle shook his chest, and a devilish smirk lit his face as he gently raised her chin with a finger

"I promise, little Bito, I have no intention of extracting my revenge through blood. At least not this time. No one can save them if they apear before me in the Game, however. But here, in the RG, I will vow not to utterly obliterate those I feel deserve to play. My gun is holstered, for now."

Joshua didn't understand the look of adoration Rhyme threw at his purple eyes, but he would forever swear that it made him feel eight thousand times taller than he actually was...real height accounted for, as well.