Trust Me Coda

How They Met

Rhyme's PoV

"Raimu… you're reading the Shiver series? What if I started calling you 'Ringo', since that's what Cole calls Sam in that series? You both have names that begin with 'R', yes?"

…Somehow, Rhyme just knew that this was Joshua who had suddenly appeared beside her and was asking this question. Even though she'd never met him before and had only heard horror stories from Beat, Shiki, and Neku. Because who else would so brazenly come up to her and ask such a question? As if he'd known her whole life and she owed him an answer for reading such bad literature in his eyes?

Blinking at the ashen-aired boy here at Molco, while she waited for Beat and Neku to get their Tin Pins that they were shopping for, Rhyme couldn't help feeling a little incredulous here. "Really? You make yourself known to the Player you just randomly bring back to life even though she didn't win—which must be a huge deal—and that's what you have to ask? Honestly, I expected more from you, Joshua—if you don't mind me calling you that—from what I've heard about you."

Joshua chuckled at this… which Rhyme saw as a good sign, and as a hint that he wasn't angry that she wasn't poking fun at him and wasn't going to turn her back into a Squirrel Noise again. But he still seemed to want to want to insult her, however, she noted with a frown on her face. "I can't believe you're reading something like Twilight. I expected better from you, Raimu."

Rhyme really wanted to let Joshua have it here. She did (and usually she was such a nice person, too!). Because first off, where did he get off insulting her literary choices? And why was he being a creep, anyway?

But deciding to be the responsible little sister that Beat had always looked up to her for, Rhyme smiled and decided to be the bigger person and extended a hand Joshua's way for him to shake… which he did very reluctantly, as the sun seemed to get in his eyes. "Why don't we just start over here. I'm Rhyme, and who are you?"

"…I'm Joshua, I suppose. Though I really don't know if I want to play along here, dear Raimu. Though I guess I'll bite, and give this to you… Why are you reading Inkheart? You are reading that series at the same time as that horrible Shiver series, right? Actually, that is a good question. Do tell."

That was the first question Joshua had asked Rhyme when they met, when he came to see her in Molco when day when she was reading outside in the beautiful sunlight, waiting for Beat to come back out and join her after he'd bought some new Tin Pins.

Rhyme had turned around to happily tell the stranger why she was reading the book, because she loved having conversations with people about literature, but then she was met with the look of who could only have been the Composer of Shibuya, based off Beat, Neku, and Shiki's descriptions of him, in order to keep her safe.

"I-" Rhyme suddenly stammered here. Because she was suddenly afraid of Joshua, as memories of what Beat, Neku, and Shiki had said came back to her. She was afraid that her reasons for reading this particular saga might upset him, and he might even strike her down for them. What to say here, then? Rhyme panicked. Or maybe she shouldn't say anything?

"Do you like the fact that Mortimer and Meggie don't believe in gods?" Joshua filled in her silence, smirking, as he played with a strand of his hair.

And Rhyme really thought that she had done something to offend him now—and that he might actually murder her in cold blood, like he had Neku—so she knew that she needed to find her words, and do something to make amends towards her savior.

So, taking a deep breath, Rhyme tried to do just that. "Even if I did… it wouldn't be because of you, Joshua. I know you're somewhat god-like. I just think it makes sense that those two characters would think legends about gods are all just stories, since they surrounded themselves with literature."

"…Hmm. And perhaps it does, Raimu. Perhaps it does."

Joshua was sitting beside Rhyme now; he had simply been standing before. And curiously… he was sitting rather close to her—not like a lover might; not quite that—but he also wasn't at all caring about her need for space. And he stole Rhyme's book from her before she could even blink, and flipped it to a certain page (it didn't escape her attention that he left the Shiver sequel, "Linger", alone. He must have really hated that book for some reason, which made it even weirder that he did, in fact, start calling her "Ringo." Though Rhyme oddly didn't mind. Perhaps she was too nice). "What do you think of Dustfinger having a thing for Mortimer's wife?"

Though Rhyme could tell that that wasn't the question Joshua had wanted to ask; and she told him as such, as she gingerly tried to take the novel back from him. "If you think I'm reading this because of the Game… I'm surprised you don't ask if I think characters getting pulled into the fictional Inkheart world, is like Players going into the UG when they die. Joshua… can you be honest, and not make this all about tomes right now, and tell me what you really want with me? I'm sure it's not this. Honesty is always the best policy, right?"

"Hehehe," the might-as-well-demi-god laughed, as he put his legs over Rhyme's… not in a sexual way. But in a teasing one, as if he was showing he was comfortable with her and didn't understand social norms at all. "I suppose it is, huh, Raimu? That being said… I came to visit you, because I did think you forgot who so kindly brought you back to life, and wasn't thanking him. And because I wanted to see if bringing you back to life was worth it… fortunately for you, I certainly think it was."

That was certainly a lot to process! And there was a part of Rhyme that wanted to slap Joshua for thinking she owed him gratitude for not playing with her life, while another side of her wanted to grovel in gratitude at his feet for what he had done for her and Beat (Rhyme knew Beat never would have ever gotten over it if she hadn't come back. So, she almost appreciated Joshua more for his sake than her own).

Rhyme also wanted to know how, exactly, she had proved to Joshua that she was "worth it"… and if she could do anything to ruin that idea in his head. Though hopefully not!

But before Rhyme got the chance, Neku and Beat were leaving the store to join her, and Joshua was disappearing, with the words, "We'll meet again, Rhyme, and talk for real. I promise," just barely heard in her ears.

…

And Rhyme and Joshua did meet up after that… a few times, actually. He showed up to one of their group hang-outs, where they'd decided to make pocky, and ended up helping Rhyme with that (when everyone else went to get sauces), when it was clear she was a disaster in the kitchen, she thought…

And then one time when she was at school… and they'd doodled some together, while they'd sat on the green—getting grass stains—and then after that, at a dance, weirdly enough (that Rhyme thought Joshua had only gone to because it reminded him of his deceased parents. She, however, had been forced to go, because her parents had been trying to make more of a girl out of her. And they'd danced together, as Joshua had reluctantly told her some of his backstory before he stomped off).

But even with all of the mixed feelings and signals… the two of them had fallen in love. But neither one of them were fools. And they knew if they really wanted to be together, Rhyme might have to die for it to happen—which made things taxing for them, too—but even with that… they had found happiness.

One of their best times being when Rhyme let Joshua brush her hair, and she ended up relating a story to him that she thought she'd never tell anyone.

"For the longest time… I actually didn't know how to brush my hair. At least not fully, to be able get all the tangles out, that is. I think that's why I kept it short for so long."

And thankfully, it showed just how far they had come, that Josh did not mock her for this. Instead, he began massaging her shoulder with one hand, while continuing to take care of her hair with the brush in the other. "Is this because you're autistic? I've often wondered if that's why you're so smart. And sometimes, autistic people have a hard time doing normal, every day things, and can almost need caretakers for them, but do genius things to make up for it… and there's no shame in that. You just see the world differently."

"Yes," Rhyme admitted, placing a hand over her heart now, and leaning back to kiss Joshua on the cheek once. And he leaned into her gesture, she noticed, smiling. "It took me a while to figure that out. But I think it's the answer. And I'm not ashamed of it anymore. Even if I hadn't figured out how to style my hair… I wouldn't hate who I am. Especially since, in so many areas, I am a genius, as you say… And thanks for saying that, Josh. Though I swear I'm not fishing for compliments here."

Joshua "hmmed" at that, almost like he didn't believe Rhyme (though she knew he was just acting). And she thought about bumping him on the head… but then they turned to face each other and both burst out laughing. And they somehow found their way into each other's arms, too, with Rhyme's back against Joshua's chest and his chin on her head.

"As if I think you'd ever do something as selfish as 'fish for compliments,' Raimu," Joshua told her, rolling his eyes.

"Hey! I'm not that selfless now, I'll have you know…" Rhyme protested. "But in all seriousness," Rhyme pretty much hummed here, "can we stay like this forever, Josh?"

"Yes, dear," he promised, starting to remove her clothes, so they could tenderly make love. "I think we can."

…

But their happiness wasn't meant to last.

Joshua had angered the previous Composer of Shibuya (Jeffrey), who he actually hadn't killed (and who had instead ascended to become an Angel), and the current Setagaya Composer (when he had murdered the old one accidentally… when he'd been fighting the hold Composer of Shibuya to become the new one and had erased Setagaya's, when he'd been standing right on the line that separated Shibuya from Setagaya, and Setagaya's Conductor had had to step up). As, if he wished it, he could be both the Composer of Shibuya and Setagaya.

Because of that, the Conductor, Rinoa(1), who had stepped up as Setagaya's Composer had always feared that Josh would try to take their throne.

And Shibuya's former Composer—who had been an elder to Josh, somewhat like Sanae, who Josh had forced to ascend, lest he kill him, and Josh didn't want that—was afraid that he would try to become Composer of both places and become even more powerful than the Angels, perhaps.

And there was even more to the story than that.

And they wanted revenge on him.

And to do that, they murdered Rhyme… they actually locked her in a meat cellar, so she would freeze to death. By the time Josh and Mr. H found her, she had already been fading away. And Joshua had then done something that no Composer or Angel was supposed to do (and Rhyme had found all of this out far too late), which was go back in time one day so he could save her… But it had had its consequences.

Josh had targeted the Composer and Angel's loved ones so they'd know what it was like to lose the one they loved, and maybe leave Rhyme alone… but in seeing this hatred and destruction from Joshua, for no good reason in her eyes—and thinking that maybe he was the monster she'd feared all along—Rhyme had broken up with him… and doomed Joshua to fall to darkness even more.

But things hadn't ended there, either.

Because of course the Angel and Composer wanted to try and steal Joshua's powers back. Of course they did. And thankfully, Joshua had had the good sense to come clean and explain everything to Rhyme a week before everything went down, so they could try to plan for the worst accordingly.

Joshua had stayed in the Room of Reckoning, and the Composer and Angel had sent quite a few Conductors and Reapers after Josh.

And Josh, after everything, was too heartless to really fight back. Partly because Rhyme was being horrible in not telling him she loved him and that they were of course going to get back together, she knew, but it was all too much and she needed a bit more time to process here.

And honestly, as it was, Rhyme was afraid that with the way Joshua was acting, even he and Sanae together wouldn't be able to win against these Reapers and Jeffrey and Rinoa when they made their appearance. Which was when she came up with an idea.

"Sanae," Rhyme begged now, as Joshua and her world was falling apart (and how much of her world was in Joshua, she realized now. She loved him so much! And she was foolish for ever having doubted him and risking this. But Rhyme knew that if she told Josh this now, it wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't affect his morale, as he would think she was just lying for him), "can you fly me to where Joshua first became Composer and put me into the UG there?"

"I can…" he allowed. "But you'll be vulnerable without your Partner, Joshua. Though I suppose I can stay and help you for a moment. What are you-"

"Actually, it's the fact that Josh and I are Partners in every sense of the word that I'm counting on."

So, Sanae held Rhyme in his arms, and flew her out of her Shibuya River and up, up, up into the sky and further away from Shibuya and Joshua—and how Rhyme prayed to him that she was making the right choice here—and closer to Setagaya.

Once there, the first person she saw was Rinoa. And of course she would be here and wouldn't have left yet. Rhyme could only hope that she could make a big enough show to get the bigger threat, the angel, to show up here, too, and not just this sniveling girl with the stiff upper lip.

"Where's Jeffrey?" Rhyme demanded, as she wasted not even a second and sent lightning flying Rinoa's way with her pin in hand.

And the blonde with the near white hair (gosh, was she blonde. And maybe her hair had even gotten lighter with her Composer powers. And perhaps that had even led to her becoming as entitled as she had? Would Rhyme become the same way if she chose this fate, she feared?) didn't waste a moment in sneering at Rhyme for her efforts and sending earth magic her way with her own pin.

And though Sanae tried his best to dodge it, the rippling earthquake sliced Rhyme's left leg open a decent amount as they moved and she cried in pain.

"Nowhere you need to know, girly. You should know this is above you, anyway. You only ever learned how to use just one psych, didn't you? What are you going to do with just lightning?"

"The key, though, is being clever with it," Rhyme challenged, sending a blast right at Rinoa's heart, as Sanae got them to the ground and desperately tried to heal Rhyme's leg. Rinoa shrieked in pain. And Rhyme felt bad for having guessed right, that even in death the arteries and joints that would have hurt you if injured while alive, would still hurt you badly if touched in the afterlife… But she had to save Joshua, so she didn't have time to worry about it right now.

"Rhyme, as silly as it is, Angels can't use healing pins like Players can," Sanae whispered to her now, reaching into a bag he'd been smart enough to bring with him to look for gauze to try and wrap her leg in. "I guess who or whatever's even higherup than us feels we'd be too powerful if we could use magic as well as pins. But if I use some of my powers here healing you, I may exhaust myself so I can't help you and J later."

Rhyme was about to tell Mr. H that it was fine: that while she was in a great deal of pain right now, she had figured that that would be the case for a lot of this, and had tried to mentally prepare herself to be able to withstand it.

But, of course, the real deal was something else entirely. Rhyme found herself biting her lip quite a few times, so she wouldn't start crying, and so that Mr. H wouldn't feel horrible upon seeing it.

But before she could get the words out, Rinoa had already recovered and was running headlong at Rhyme with a sword pin. And Rhyme just barely whipped her own shield one out to try and be able to parry. And she was able to dodge a few strikes. And she was amazed that she was able to do just that, as her knees tried to buckle under her weight, for Rinoa was unfortunately right that Rhyme wasn't the best Player.

And as such, Rhyme eventually lost hold on the shield psych, and had to attempt the lightning psych once again, to try and use as a defense… which was more than faulty, since thunder in her hand hurt her, as well, but it was better than if an enemy had been throwing it at her, or if she'd just been being hammered on by Rinoa's attack.

"Stop. Please, stop!" Rhyme cried out. "I know we can reason about this, if we just talk!" Rhyme had of course come here planning to erase Rinoa and Jeffrey if it came down to it—as she doubted they would give her another choice—but Joshua had changed so much for the better in loving her. She knew that he would give up being the Composer, and just return to the RG to be with her, if they gave him the option (though she knew he, as well as her, would hate the idea of leaving Shibuya to these monsters). But they were so out for blood, Rhyme doubted that they would see reason, but she would try, as her face started to bleed now, and the night sky took on a yellow color because of this intense light show.

"Rinoa, we don't have to do this! Just get over your hate for Joshua and stop! You all partly brought this on yourselves, you know, by destroying his family and perceiving him as a bigger threat than he is. He didn't mean to get the power of two Composers, so…"

And here Rinoa tipped her head back and laughed uproariously at Rhyme. Sanae, bless his heart, flew to Rhyme now and got her out of some of the line of fire. She knew he couldn't interfere here much (as Producer, and since then it would be like he was trying to become two Composers plus an Angel), but he could still defend her some. "That's rich, little girl," the blonde whispered now, while looking at her nails that she had bitten to the quick. "I've been told a lot of lies as an elite. But I think you've been told even more for being in love. Clearly someone who once thought of destroying all of Shibuya is on a power high and wants that power… I almost feel bad for you for believing his lies. Step aside, little one, and Jeffrey and I won't erase you for your infuriating Partner."

"What's most of all infuriating is murdering someone's parents in cold blood, just because he can see the UG as a child, and you think he will be a threat to you. It's not infuriating. It's cruel, cold, disgusting, and inhumane. Especially since you two destroyed Joshua's parents through beheading. Beheading! And then what you did to Rhyme..." Sanae said the words that Rhyme had so desperately wanted to here, as he bravely stood in front of her to protect her.

His voice was furious, and Rhyme couldn't blame him for that in the slightest. She was furious about what they had done to Joshua's parents. And Sanae had known about this longer than Rhyme had, and had had even longer for this to make his blood boil.

But at the same time… his body language wasn't hostile. He had a hand outstretched towards Rinoa, as if trying to tell her it wasn't too late for her to end all this hostility and make amends, but Rhyme in her heart of hearts knew she wouldn't take the olive branch.

And she didn't.

She started shooting fire at the two of them now.

And then, Jeffrey appeared from the Higher Plane.

Rhyme really only knew about him from what Joshua had been able to tell her of the Angel. While he'd been able to use some magic to show her some memories he had of Rinoa, Josh wasn't powerful enough to do that for an Angel. But he was as she would have expected: someone carrying a war hammer, and desperately trying to look stronger, for having been born with a "weak-sounding" name, perhaps.

"Yoshiya really sent his girl to face us and do his job?! Get out of the way, girl, or I'll squash you flat!"

"His name is Joshua," both Rhyme and Sanae countered now, as Rhyme rolled out of the way of Jeffrey's hammer and then Sanae helped her get out of the way of roses that Rinoa had tried to aim at her, like she was Tuxedo Kamen or something.

"No, it's not," Jeffrey argued. At which point, Rhyme just glowered at him. How had Joshua ever been close to this guy? It was clear that whatever love they had once had was long lost. And also… why were they standing having a discussion here, while these two were trying to kill them? Rhyme almost would have rather had the violence without the aimless talking, thank you very much!

"It's Yoshiya!" Jeffrey continued on, much to Rhyme and Sanae's annoyance. Rhyme continued to glare. Rinoa looked at them with a gloating look on her face, as if she thought all of this was true, too. And Sanae, seeming annoyed, and sensing a break in the answer, fished into his bag and started eating coffee beans. "Which sounds like 'Yeshua.' And even though everything about him was a load of bologna—and 'Joshua's' parents only named him 'Yoshiya' so he'd fit in Japan better, when they really wanted it to just be 'Joshua'—the name on his legal documents being so close to 'Yeshua' still seems to indicate he was made for great things. And I can't stand for that. For that reason, he must die."

"And so must you, for calling him 'Yoshiya!'" Rhyme yelled furiously, charging at both menaces now.

And it was with her rage for everything they had done to Joshua—and them not even respecting his identity and wishes for his name now—that she finally snapped and put her full plan into effect. Rhyme pushed the two of them onto the line dissecting Shibuya and Setagaya and stood there herself.

And she then thought of Joshua, and their bond in every way: how they were eventually Partners in the Game, but also Partners in every sense in the word (she remembered the time he had tried to seduce her by touching her back. And she had had her clothes on, and really it shouldn't have had a large effect on her at all. But since it was them, and they were so bonded, it had. It had).

Eventually, she and Joshua would marry… and, legally, what was his would be hers (in the eyes of the RG, at least. But Rhyme was banking on that being enough here). And so, she chose to be Composer of both Shibuya and Setagaya like he had the right to do, and encased herself in lightning.

Rhyme absolutely shook with power, but did not feel like she was losing herself, and she erased these two like it was the simplest thing in the world. With a snap of her fingers.

And Sanae breathed the sigh of relief that Rhyme herself couldn't right now, because she still felt horrible for her actions, and somewhat at a loss with this power.

But finally… it was done, and these two's hate for Joshua would never touch him again.

And the followers of these two should have been giving up now, if they sensed an all-powerful Composer was coming their way and Joshua would finally—finally—be safe.

They would all finally be safe.

Crying, as she began flying back to Shibuya now—her city, for the time being—with Sanae by her side—Rhyme told her companion, "Let's get back to that kid, who needs us more than anything."

And Sanae laughed, flying closer to her, so he could wrap an arm around her shoulder. "You got it, R."

He'd officially adopted her into the family.

And Rhyme grinned. "The more the merrier with the letter nicknames, huh?"

And honestly? She couldn't have been happier?

…

Once Rhyme made it back to the Room of Reckoning, she instantly wanted to run to Joshua and wrap him up in her arms. He definitely looked the worse for wear. Even more than she did right now: Probably because she was the Composer of Shibuya at the moment, and Setagaya, and thus that massive energy was healing her.

But she knew that she couldn't.

To do so now, would make Joshua look weak, while he was still surrounded by Reapers, surprisingly, and any one of them could make a move to erase him now, if they weren't careful.

Rhyme did settle on yelling to him, "Joshua, I love you… and I'm sorry for everything. If you'll still have me, I'll be with you and marry you!" however.

And never had she been so tactless and reckless, perhaps. But she thought if it would do the duty of giving hope to one that had been so without hope before—the one she loved most of all—she would happily look silly.

And Joshua caught Rhyme's glance from across the room then, and he smirked at her: he was gazing at her as though she was the big man on campus for being the Composer of two areas right now, and she supposed she technically she was. And for now, that was enough and would have to do.

There also might have been lust in his eyes, but she was not focusing on that now. No, she wasn't!

"So, as you can see," Joshua said, flipping a strand of his fabulous hair, as he stood atop his throne—even as a mere Player now—and looked down at the Reapers below him, as if they were mere insects. "My Partner and I have a million schemes up our sleeves. Go now, if you don't want to be erased like your superiors were. There might even be a promotion in it for you social climbers, if you act accordingly. Hehe."

And since most Reapers were angling for the spot of Composer, and would want it now that that spot would soon be open in Setagaya (once Rhyme let that power go, and gave Joshua his proper title of Shibuya Composer back), they didn't have to be told twice.

Rhyme could barely make out that one of the Reapers was redheaded with blue sunglasses… that another was a bigger man with long black hair, and that the strongest one seemed to be a dark-skinned little boy, who actually seemed about to help Joshua, rather than hurt him, she could see now, as he'd been leaning towards him with healing energy in his hand…, before they were all flying away, leaving Rhyme, Joshua, and Sanae alone.

"Joshua, I can give you powers back right now, if you want," Rhyme whispered, the moment that everyone was gone. And she found herself by his side before she could even blink, hating how he was slouched over and injured like this. "Because if you steal something, you spend your whole life trying to keep it, and-"

Really, Rhyme had no idea why she'd said just that. And perhaps that was why she had quickly cut herself off. She didn't mean to keep Joshua's powers, of course. And he knew it well, too. It was just one of her silly adages that had come out of her mouth. And now, more than ever, did Rhyme hate how she seemed to say them at the drop of a hat.

She was about to try and back pedal and defend her position here—while Sanae guffawed at her lack of grace in the background… which was kind of like how her and Joshua's whole relationship had started, huh?—but Josh actually seemed amused by her words, and moved in to kiss her as he laughed.

And it felt so good to kiss Joshua again! Rhyme found herself thinking, as she found her lips moving with his and their bodies becoming nestled together. Even without his Composer powers right now, loving him was like loving starlight, and Rhyme now honestly had no idea how she'd ever planned on giving any of this up.

"Hold onto them for now, dear," Joshua told her, looking into her eyes for a long time and looking for nothing, something, or everything. Rhyme wasn't sure which. "I'll get them back soon enough, I know. But if you're really going to become an Angel for me… it might be nice for me to fully understand what you're giving up. And for you to try your future kind of power out, too. Anyway. What you did was so clever, Rhyme. I'd say I was proud of you. But I would have never expected less of you, Raimu. Of course you would just come up with the most genius plan to save the day. That's just who you are.

"…But if you don't mind, Rhyme. I think I'm going to take a nap right now. My body needs to heal. And it's been a long time since I've really needed to sleep, so it might be nice to try it out just once"

There was a part of Rhyme that couldn't believe that Josh didn't want to sleep with her, or at least cuddle, now that they were finally back together again, and after everything they'd just been through together. But finding that she was at least mentally tired herself, Rhyme thought that that was the best idea in the world here, and curled up with him on his throne, and closed her eyes.

Joshua's laziness wasn't the worst thing in the world, really. Sometimes, it could even be inspiring.

…And soon, the two of them felt another body joining them, as well. It was Sanae, Rhyme knew. And Joshua woke up for a moment at that, to glare at him. But Sanae just puckered his lips at Josh, and then just leaned in ever closer to Josh and Rhyme, so Josh gave up and went back to sleep.

If Rhyme had to guess, Sanae wasn't really exhausted—and truly couldn't get exhausted—but perhaps just wanted to cuddle the two of them after everything that had just happened, where he might have thought he might lose two of his favorite kids. Or maybe he was messing with them some. Or just wanted to spend time with them here, if he was going to have to go back to the Higher Plane for a little bit, to sort Jeffrey's mess out.

And Rhyme was more than fine with that. She completely loved and trusted Sanae and saw him as a part of her precious family, that she was so glad to have now.

So, in the arms of two men she loved more than anything… even as a sort of god that really didn't need sleep, Rhyme slept well, and felt like she was home.

And really, she was. She knew that she was.

Some Months Later

Joshua's PoV

"Rhyme… are you sure you want this?" Joshua asked now, looking at this girl who truly looked like the sun and might as well have been the sun to him.

And usually, he hated the hyperbole. But how else was he supposed to feel after she had recently saved him as expertly as she just had? He just… loved her so much. And Josh was no longer afraid to think the word anymore. It just seemed like a simple truth to him, like how he would also gladly annoy Neku until the day the former-Player died.

And it was for the reason that Joshua adored her so much, that he was willing to let her go, if he thought there was even the slightest chance that her being without him would make her happier than being by his side would.

Josh seriously doubted that she would take him up on the offer to refuse him. In fact, as she stood above him now, about to ascend, she looked at him incredulously for voicing these thoughts and he chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets.

Rhyme had been standing on a raised platform, preparing to ascend. And though she didn't have to actually be "up in the air" in order to do just that, she was putting on a show like she did have to. Clearly, she had been hanging out with Shiki and Eri too much for being so dramatic now… but Josh wouldn't have had it any other way. He was glad she was becoming louder in voicing her desires.

As Rhyme gently stepped down the stairs to reach Joshua's level now—in a room that might have been a wedding dress fitting area in another life—and he held her hand to help her down the steps, Joshua expected her to tell him one of her favorite sayings, perhaps. That a problem shared was a problem halved, so of course Rhyme would be helping him out this way.

But instead, Rhyme laid a gentle hand on his cheek, beamed at him with crooked teeth, and explained her vision to him with the most sky-colored eyes that Joshua had ever seen. And it was hard not to get lost in both and choke up a little.

And Joshua did choke up some. Because it was too much. All too much. After he'd been tortured as he had—and been left by Rhyme for what he'd thought to be forever; though he understood well why she'd done it. Oh, did he ever—to see and feel such grace. This kind of love was more than what his parents had ever given him, definitely.

"Joshua," Rhyme whispered, her palm curling against his cheek and finding a strand of his hair there, too. And oh, when she unintentionally brushed her fingers through his lock of hair that way, it was good. So good. "I love you. I love you so much. I have for a long time now… And you know this—being able to read my mind and all, you creep," and Rhyme giggled at the last thing she said, so Joshua would know that she didn't truly mean the end part of that sentence.

And Joshua was certainly glad that she did. Because while he suspected it—and could have even gleaned it himself by listening to her thoughts, like she'd said—it was still better to hear it from her, in what, perhaps, truly was some kind of wedding here. "So… of course a part of me was always going to make this decision. But becoming Producer of Shibuya, as Sanae gets promoted so he can look into some of the Angels' corruption, allows me to protect the city I love. It's the best of both worlds. I can still be in Shibuya plenty.

"And, eventually, I'd die again and have to make this sort of decision, anyway. I'm just speeding up the process. And since I defeated Rinoa and Jeffrey… it's like my body's already begun to ascend, you know… So, I will happily do this, if it means you don't have to be alone anymore. Trust me." And Rhyme perhaps smiled wider at him than she ever had before. It was in her eyes, too, as she took his hand.

…"Trust me," there was the lesson Joshua had wanted his Players to learn in his Game. It was what he had desperately hoped that Neku would, perhaps, to give him reason to save this wonderful place that Shibuya was. And, yes. Joshua did see Shibuya as wonderful now.

How could he not? In this room they were in, there was a large picture window just behind Rhyme. And Josh could see the green of Miyashita Park spilling in. He could see a man walking his dog… and a girl helping a little old man across the street… as well as all the beautiful multi-colored flowers that were starting to grow in the Spring here, that none other than Neku and Shiki had stopped to smell in this moment (though he suspected they might have also been giving Rhyme another subtle goodbye).

Shibuya—no, the world—really was a beautiful place. And Joshua could finally see it now, because of people like Rhyme, Sanae, Neku, Shiki, and Beat. And he wasn't afraid to live life anymore. Rather, he wanted to make up for all the time he'd lost and he knew that this was a good place to start.

"…I do trust you, Rhyme. I love you. And I thank you for trusting me, even though there were times I didn't deserve it." There had been times when Joshua had been pretty abusive to Rhyme during their relationship—or at least unhealthy with her—and he hated himself for it.

But Rhyme understood it as being because of the trauma he'd gone through. And how he'd never really been taught how to love, as his parents had thought he was a freak for being able to see the UG. But he'd finally figured it all out. And he could make up for the past, by loving Rhyme better than she'd ever been loved every single day. It was the least he could do for someone who had treated him so selflessly and opened his eyes and soul.

"Joshua, you do deserve it. I promise you. It's not your fault you've been hurt. And there's so much good in you—good that I've ever seen—that's growing every day, and I love to help that flourish. It's my own personal garden, and I'm happy to be a gardener… But we're talking about things we've already hashed out plenty of times. Hehe. Are you ready to go?"

"Has there ever been a time I haven't been ready, Raimu?" Joshua quipped.

Rhyme swatted his arm for that, but it was all in good fun. They both laughed.

Joshua extended his wings then, so he could begin fly towards the Higher Plane, just above them.

And Rhyme watched him… and remembered when she'd been Composer just a little bit before, and drew upon that knowledge and power (even the intense love she'd felt then) so she could do the same thing. And she, too, grew wings, and joined Joshua as they flew about in the sky.

She would always join him, and stay with him forever.

Joshua's PoV Towards the Start of This Story

Though Joshua would never admit it to anyone but himself after having met her… there was something about that Raimu girl, that he couldn't put his finger on.

But she was interesting. And fun, perhaps. And she challenged him.

And his clairvoyance kicked in now—preparing to tell him some things, if he wished it—but Joshua pushed it back.

He would rather have the mystery.

Whatever was going to happen with Rhyme, he thought he was probably in for a wild ride with her… and as someone who had always liked fun that others might deem as weird, Joshua knew that he wouldn't change it for the world, as he watched her gleefully join her brother and Neku now, with their Tin Pins in hand.

Author's Note: (1) NOT Final Fantasy VIII's Rinoa. I just chose to name her that for reasons I don't entirely know now, but it's not FFVII's Rinoa. Sorry for any confusion that might cause.

And it should be mentioned that I don't hate the Shiver series. LOL

I hope you all enjoyed:)

And if anyone remembers "Trust Me" from ages ago, are you glad it has an ending now? Let me know!

And happy reading!

And happy TWEWY days, now that we finally have a sequel! Hopefully we might get a third game, too!

Dedicated to Liz, Dina, and Nicole, if you're still around (heck, Saro, too. Because even though you never read "Trust Me", none of this would have been possible without you, dear), and everyone else who loved this story. I'm sorry I couldn't end this in the best way possible (with all the chapters together here), but I'm glad I finally ended it. Thanks for everything, guys! You're seriously the best!