"A Challenge? Now?!" Hanekoma asked "How is that even possible...Didn't we just finish a Game?"

"Yeah, but see...it's not from a Player. Seems someone was mighty sore about not being promoted to Conductor." The orange spiked head cocked, and he winked an eye.

Sanae groaned "Uzuki. Terrific. As if J doesn't have enough headaches right now, one of his most powerful Reapers just had to initiate the Challenge procedure "

The Barista sighed heavily, turning pitying eyes to the figure dozing fitfully on the couch. "I'll wake him. Such a shame too...he's trying to get re-tuned."

"Hey, I feel you, but rules are rules...even for the Composer." Kariya said with a shrug, touching his lollipop to his lips before once again consuming it.

Neku sneered and stepped inn front of Joshua "Uzuki's stronger than him right now. He'll be erased! Come on, this is hardly a fair fight, Mister H! There's gotta be another way to settle this challenge thing!"

"There is, actually." Mumbled the body on the couch, his gruimpy tone telling of his displeasure at being interrupted from both his nap and his re-tuning his melody. Sanae shook his head and sighed, his eyes expressing how sorry he was that his son's adjustment had to end.

"Oh?" Kariya asked curiously "Do enlighten us, because oin all my years I've never heard of an alternative for a Challenge, Boss."

"What about my reign has ever been like that of the many Composers you worked under, Kariya?" the purple eyes danced with a dangerous cunning everyone present was well wary of, "I, as usual, am equipped to handle this challenge unorthodoxally as well. Though I only heard of this particular occurance happening elsewhere. As far as I know, Shibuya's Composer has never entered a Challenge by proxy."

It took ten seconds for Neku to comprehend exactly wjat the ash-blond had just spewed out.

"Say...WHAT?!"

Joshua giggled, flipping his hair "Why Neku, you didn't honestly think that just because your Games had ended with me as the victor, that your duties and status as my Proxy had ended!"

"Well...yes actually." The former emo spat out "You didn't need me anymore, you got what you wanted!"

"And it never occurred to you that I kept calling you my Proxy even after you came back to life?"

"I thought it was just a nickname! An inside joke between friends! A leftover title!"

The Composer laughed, shaking his head "I never thought you were so naïve, dear, dear Partner! Although it is all of that and a few more, your title as my Proxy stands until you either become my Conductor...or my replacement and everything it entails is also yours...including taking my place in the Challenge, should I not be able to compete. Now is an excellent example of when I need you."

Neku narrowed his eyes "But that would require me to go to the Room of Reckoning. That requires me to actually be in the UG." He scowled and pointed an accusing funger at the smug looking skinny brat on his couch "And THAT was something you swore not to force on me again!"

Joshua raised his hands in protest "If you'd just calm down a minute, I will explain everything nice and easy. First of all, yes, you're correct. The Challenge takes place in the Room of Reckoning, and you will be required to enter the UG. HOWEVER..." he said over his proxy's loud protests "You will not have to die in order to go to that plane of existence. Not in this case."

The teenager felt his ire melt away and he took a deep breath, letting it out slowly in a sigh of relief. Seeing as he had the teen's full attention, the Composer continued his explination.

"To enter the UG without first ceasing to exist in the RG, one must raise their Vibe to the frequency of that plane, and hold it there until one's task is complete. It really is quite simple, and easy to move back and forth between the two planes once your Vibe gets second nature to tune. You already have a higher-than-normal Vibe, so the process should be less tedious."

Neku sighed "Ok that's one problem solved. But Josh...I may be your proxy, but without a partner I won't stand a chance against Pinky!"

Joshua threw bacvk his head and cackled "Dear Neku...you never give yourself enough credit! You are no mere Player anymore. You're a living soul that was chosen by myself to stand in my place in a Battle of Supremecy! There is a reason living souls arre considered Illegal Players, you know, and its nt just because they're alive. It's because they're powerful. Too powerful for my Reapers."

"So I have an advantage. Isn't that cheating?"

"As the Composer, I usually always have an advantage, dear. I'm the Composer. I have powers far beyond anything even the Conductor can even fathom. It's supposed to be impossible, or near impossible, to erase me. At least from the Players and Reapers' perspective. Even the Conductor deems it folley to challenge the Composer until they are assured victory. Of those of you in this room who could do so in normal cercumstances...there is only Sanae...and you."

This last caught Neku off guard.

"No way in hell am I even close to your level, even as handicapped as you are right now."

"Neku." Joshua said, his smirk replaced by a rare serious frown "You single-handedly punched out a Higher Being with your bare hands without the aid of a Strength Boost pin. Your Music is so powerful it wrapped my own in its embrace and protected it."

His eyes narrowed and his voice became extremely solemn, not a teasing note in it as he said sincerely,

"Neku Sakuraba, you are, right this minute, powerful enough to erase me with your song alone. And you aren't even fired up at all."