Neku trembled in both fear and rage as he leaned back against the fridge, arms crossed as he glared at the crouching monster before him. Even now, the youth knew that Anoku was waiting for the perfect opertunity to slam a fist or a foot into his stomach, or strike him repeatedly with his belt. His only relief was knowing that Joshua was watching, and the Composer would not allow harm to come to his proxy while his sharp, purple gaze was fixed on the two.

"So." Anoku started "You decided to stick to your studies. Good job, you see? If you had quit like you wanted to-"

"Cut the crap." Neku growled "Tell me why. Why can't you leave me the hell alone?"

"Because I have no other choice!" The man hissed, "You think I wanted to come back to this trasheap of a city, Neku?! I left this cesspool for something greater. I made something of myself, which is more than I can say for you!"

Neku balled his fists "I'll become famous one day, and you'll be left regretting those words!"

"I've no doubt, but not the way your foolish, teenage mind wants it to happen. Tagging, art, music...its all the same. Worthless. But I'm offering you a new dream chance. You'll be rich, successful! Ladies will swoon at the mere mention of your name. Real men will take you seriously..."

He reached for his nephew's hand, but something compelled him to stop and drop it to his side. He tried stepping towards Neku, but his legs refused to move. He tugged at his collar, clearly he was more nervous than he should be.

"Look, kid, I know I was rough with you before, but it was to toughen you up! You were pathetic back then, Neku! I tanned your hide to make it like leather. I punished you because I knew you could do better than you were doing. All I ask is you give me this one chance, do me this one solid!"

"I hate you." The teen said venomously "You tore me down so low I shut the world out just to get away from you. Why the hell would you think I would be happy working under you?!"

"Look, Neku..." Anoku pleaded "Please just consider it. Think of all you stand to gain. You really like being trapped in Shibuya?"

"Shibuya's my home." Neku stated firmly "I'm not trapped here, I live here. My life is here...my friends are here—"

"You don't have friends!" Anoku scoffed "Party of one, that's you. That was always you."

"Unlike you, I changed! I have friends now. We meet at Hachiko almost every day. Even Josh comes...once in a while."

Anoku threw back his head and laughed "Really?! Already friends with the richest CEO in Tokyo? MY Neku...already being devious. Maybe I was wrong. You really are ready foir the cutthroat world of the rich and famous. Keeping your friends close..."

"What did you think he was doing here? In my apartment?" Neku snorted "He doesn't just drop by anyone's flat, you know."

"Well honestly he looks like he got the shit beat outta him...but I wasn't going to say anything." The uncle muttered under his breath. "But thast's hardly the point. Neku, you can become great you know. You already have one hell of a connection."

Neku sighed "I don't want to be CEO of a firm, Anoku. I wanna be my own person, live my own dream. I wanna tag, and draw...and design. I want to live for the moment, not be styfled in some office building."

The man breathed a heavy sigh of disappointment.

"You were my best choice, Neku. If I can't convince you with reasoning...I'm going to have to force you the hard way."

Neku raised his eyebrows and immediately took several steps backwards. As soon as he moved, Anoku dove for his throat, but something tripped him and he fell to the ground. Furious, he took out a switchblade and threw it at his nephew's back. He suddenly yelled as the weapon simply slipped out of his hand and stabbed him in the foot.

"I'm getting clumsy in my old age. Neku please...please help me out on this!"

Joshua cleared his throat loudly "I take it, Anoku, that your nephew refused your offer?"

Defeated and cowed, the madman was forced to relent.

"Yes."

"Fret not, there are other options, as I've stated before."

"I just...wanted him to have a successful future."

"And he will. After all, " Joshua looked at Neku pointedly "No intern of mine ever was anything less than successful."

"The HELL?!" was written all over Neku's face, but all he said audibly was "Say whatnow?"

"As innovative as I am, Neku, I find myself lacking in the PR department. Most of my jingles are well and good, but I need someone with artistic prowess and non-linear thinking to run the department. Advertising is a very fickle beast that needs the kind of person that can actually be creative. Keeping up with the trends and marketing go hand in hand."

Anoku looked at his nephew and his eyes widened. "Yoshiya...are you stealing him from me?!"

"Not at all. I am proposing a simple transaction. The mentor program is not cheap. You need an heir, and Neku refused. You say its for his future, but he threw that opertunity away. I simply offered him a new one, and offered you the chance to get what you want. In exchange, you cut ties with Neku and end your persuit. His future is assured to be successful. And so is yours. From my standpoint, everyone wins. Including me."

Asoka was speechless. He had forgotten how cunning most of the Kiryu clan was in business, and it looked like Yoshiya was following the tradition. He couldn't say no, lest he look like a fool.

"All right Yoshiya." He said in defeat "You have a deal."