"Hey...Mister H?" Neku asked as his Uncle left and Joshua instantly ran out of energy an passed out, "If I strangle him now, will I have to become Composer?"

Sanae chuckled "That is usually how it works, Phones. Although I fail to see why you want to throttle him, he just got you out of a sticky situation."

"As usual, he ALSO put me in a much worse one! I don't want to be his intern! Big company crap is exactly what I'm avoiding in my future! They suck the creativity right out of you. I'd think you'd know, CAT!"

"Ah, but they usually aren't run by the one person who gives Shibuya her creativity to begin with, now are they, kiddo? I'd say that you actually got the sweetest deal out of all of this, wouldn't you?"

Neku couldn't argue with that, of course. The barista had a very good point. Joshua would want him to be as free as he wanted to be with his art, because that would keep Shibuya alive. As the Composer, it went against his very nature and responsibility to styfle the people he released back into the living world for the sole purpose of spreading Imagination. Being in control of basicly half of Shibuya's resources didn't change that fact.

"Alright" he sighed reluctantly "As long as I can keep doing my own projects...I suppose I can humor him."

"That's the spirit, Phones!"

The Proxy groaned halfheartedly before turning his attention to the dozing Composer. Joshua certainly did look much better than he had been lately. His breathing wasn't as hitched, and his overall appearance looked healthy.

But there was something going on under those pale eyelids. Something he couldn't quite put a finger on, yet something that felt all too familiar.

"Mister H?" he asked tentatively, "Do you honestly think Apollo honored our deal?"

Sanae looked at the teen curiously "Apollo may be many things, Phones, but a bad sport isn't one of them. He'll keep our bargain. He swore not to come near Josh again, and he'll honor that. Besides, the Council finally decided I was right, and called him back up to undergo his own trial for using two Forbidden Psychs during the Battle for Supremecy. They aren't happy, so it's a good guess he won't be visiting this plane any time soon. Why do you ask?"

Neku pointed to the sleeping, tossing figure on the couch "Because something isn't right with him. It's like every time he closes his eyes, he has nightmares. Something is off. I just...feel it somehow."

Hanekoma paused to listen to his surrogate son's Music. As Producer, the angel could tune in to an individual's song at will, though he couldn't manipulate the melody like the Composer. He frowned slightly as he confirmed what the teen was suspecting.

"There's definitely a sour note or two in his melody...almost as if he's out of tune. But that should never be an issue for the Composer. Not that it isn't possible, but unless something happened to change his very core, it shouldn't be a problem...Phones?"

Neku had begun to chuckle, putting a hand on his forehead in relief

"That explains it, then. Josh just had a major change to his core, Mister H...he regained his ability to love! Of course he's out of tune, he just got a new note in his melody and it's gotta be trying to fit into the song. I have a feeling he has to rearrange the whole damn symphony to make it work."

Sanae was about to answer when Kariya phased into the RG, a grim look on his normally relaxed face. Hanekoma noticed instantly that the Conductor wasn't there for a social call.

"Kariya?"

The redhead sighed "I know the Boss is kinda stuck here, and in no condition to fight but...there's been a Challenge."