TWEWY: A Fall Into Honor:
This story is about how Joshua became the Composer. The story is from Joshua's point of view, and others if the story needs to. This is a prequel of the game The World Ends With You. TWEWY is made by Square Enix. This is a FAN FICTION and not the real prequel. Enjoy.
Here's the second part of the mission.
Week 1, day 5:
Chapter 22: Bird of Shade:
They got back to the Scramble Crossing without any trouble, except Ayumu was still exhausted.
He was panting softly almost like a dog, it was a bit cute to Joshua and he couldn't deny it. And his face had sweat roll down his face, glazing his skin as it shined in the pale sunlight. Not so cute, Joshua hated sweat.
Joshua stood there calmly as Ayumu panted "Over way." he pointed towards the way to the Statue of Hachiko and panted more "Next Noise, over way. Now go…"
"Hold on a minute, Ayumu." said Joshua in amusement, he rubbed the top of Ayumu's blond and golden tipped hair "Now tell me, why are you so engrossed by the mission so suddenly? I can only guess that this would be something that would spite you?"
Ayumu stood there emotionless allowing Joshua to ruffle his hair in the noogie, "Important… mission…"
"If only you had your emotions." sighed Joshua as he looked at Ayumu with a weak smile, "Then you would be complaining about doing the missions for 'soul game something idea', hehehe…"
The taunt went unchallenged making Joshua feel uneasy.
Joshua shook his head sadly and grabbed Ayumu's shoulders gently "Please… You know you are already exhausted and…" Joshua poked at the faded part of Ayumu's chest with one finger and was appalled when it went partly through "You're hurt still."
The blond was dead silent, his eyes wandered past Joshua towards the sky.
With another sigh, Joshua murmured to him "We'll rest up for a minute or two, alright?"
Ayumu nodded quietly.
After resting a bit they went off to the next location.
Ayumu stayed silent as Joshua led again. Of course Joshua would understand if he had wounded Ayumu's pride or something, but since Ayumu had no emotions... he had no idea why he was silent.
By the time they got to where the dog statue (Hachiko) was, Ayumu shook his head "Not here, Josh. Over way."
This time he pointed towards the West Exit Bus Terminal district that was close by and Joshua sighed, "Alright, tell me when we are near the Noise Ayumu."
Ayumu did a nod and they once again went towards their destination.
But as soon as they neared the entrance Joshua heard his phone ring, in a flash he took it out and looked at Ayumu "Lead the way, I'll follow behind. Okay, Ayu?"
"Not girl." after the comment Ayumu ambled ahead while Joshua opened his phone up while walking after his half brother.
A voice from the phone spoke "Joshua?"
As Joshua followed Ayumu he replied to Rei "So, thanks for giving back my clothes Rei. Did you always have that black satchel?"
"Of course I did!" her voice sounded annoyed, "You and Blindy didn't see it because I always had it under my jacket."
Joshua giggled a bit before he replied amused "Must hurt to carry it that way, Rei. So that's where you kept your clipboard."
They entered the district and Ayumu still led them "Yep. My satchel doesn't really match my attire so… What else could I do? Imagine if some RG or UG people sees me in a clashing blend of clothes. Gah! It would be a nightmare for what events would come in order."
"I see…" he was still amused by how she was overreacting.
"Plus!" her voice grew sly and cheerful, "I had no way to carry my clipboard without it. So… I see that you are no longer mopey and soulless, Aleck."
Joshua face-palmed himself as he held his phone with his other hand 'She had to call me by Aleck again…'
After a few moments he replied "Yeah. It was boring just being depressed and silent, it kills me."
"You almost killed yourself so-" a yelp of surprise on the other end of the phone call was heard before Joshua heard her partner Izo coldly growl, "What she meant to say was erased. Sorry about that Aleck, but she can be pretty dense as always."
Joshua heard Rei scream "Hey! Give me back my phone, Izo! I'm not dense."
"My mate, you are." remarked Izo aloof on the other end.
Rei spoke again "Gah! You could drop it!"
Izo coldly retorted while Joshua giggled a bit "Does it look like I am going to drop it Rei. Feh, you act like a tyke still."
"Just gimme it, Izo!"
"Forgive Rei," Joshua listened fondly as he sidestepped to avoid a lamppost, "The main reason we are calling you is to make sure you don't act emo again."
Joshua blinked as he spoke politely the best he could to contain the irration of being insulted "Emo? Did I really act like that, Izo?"
"You were acting like you lost all your happiness in the world, summed enough for you?"
"Very descriptive." remarked Joshua politely as he saw that Ayumu halted then stared at him blankly, "It sums it up, all clear Izo."
It took a second for Izo to reply coolly "Good. Here's your phone back, Rei."
After a moment Rei spoke crossly "Grr… Izo, you better not have made it dirty. Ah, okay Aleck. How are you doing with your mission?"
Suddenly Ayumu pulled the phone away from Joshua slightly and spoke into it "Got to Noise next. 'Bout to final one to erase."
Joshua heard Rei speak shrilly "Great job, Ayumu! You kept him from killing himself again."
"Erased, Rei…" said Izo coldly on the other line.
After what seemed to be Rei scolding Izo she piped "Anyways, we still need to beat the other Noise too. How amazing is it that we have different missions today, huh?"
"It might be good to talk about this tomorrow," mused Joshua as he saw they had 30 minutes left, that never meant that they were in a rush but Joshua wanted to erase the Noise as swiftly as possible "So, we'll see each other about this okay?"
"Ok, see ya Aleck!" the phone call ended and Joshua closed his orange phone with a amused giggle "They act like siblings."
"Aye." said Ayumu with a nod, "But are nix true siblings."
Joshua grabbed his chin and pondered 'Being adoptive siblings… Who knows what relationship they go through? I'm glad that I have a brother… No, a half brother…'
A twinge of sadness made him look down, was his brotherly relationship with Ayumu limited because they were half brothers? He felt as though sometimes Ayumu was a true brother despite having different mothers.
Did it even matter if they were not half brothers, but just brothers?
The questions in his head made him confused so he focused on Ayumu "Is the Noise here?"
Ayumu nodded before he explained, "Noise over way, there's way. Can we erase quickly, Josh? Don't want to wait, longer."
With a warm smile Joshua replied, "Alright, I guess that we can get some time to relax before the next day comes. Won't that be nice, Ayumu?"
The petite blond nodded and his pewter eyes studied Joshua's eyes "Nice…"
They both walked together past a genetric red hoodie Reaper, when Joshua heard Ayumu's footsteps halt he turned around "Ayumu?"
Ayumu was staring at the Reaper who gazed at him; right away the Reaper spoke nervously "Um… Could you stop staring?"
It took a second for Ayumu to look at Joshua before he walked over, Joshua waited for him before they went towards the place that Joshua knew as the Station Underpass.
The rushing of water was amid in the darkened small area; the water was so dark blue that the darkness made it look like it was a river of black with darker grey ripples. Strangely Joshua felt an urge explore here for some reason, he had no reason of why though.
This baffled him.
As Joshua blinked he suddenly saw a great grey owl that was large, not so much as the Eagle Noise. More like half the size.
Even though Joshua knew it was a great grey owl, it had the plume of dark grey with paler blue grey for other parts of its feathers. And it had sort of like a black tattooed veil trailing in the wind behind it on its neck. It had glowing dark amber eyes and had an dark orange beak.
Before Ayumu or Joshua could say anything it hooted harshly with a pitch of shattering glass and ice embedded in it while all its feathers ruffled, it seemed very hostile compared to the reaction the Eagle Noise gave.
Joshua let out a cry of pain while Ayumu did nothing but stare at it.
Then the blinding lights surrounded them, symbolizing it was time for battle.
The Owl Noise ran at them with its wings spread out far as it could and let out a hoot of rage, Joshua still had his ears ringing as he swiftly dodged it before using his Windy Whirl Pin.
When it hit the Noise, the Noise seemed unaffected by it.
'Why didn't it work?!' Joshua widened his eyes in disbelief as the Owl Noise went straight for him again.
When it neared him he tried his Transflaration Pin, but it didn't work as well. This action allowed the Owl Noise to lash out at him while beating its wings on him. Then it flew up in the air and opened its beak, it let out a beam of swirling dark light making Joshua cry out in more pain.
Before Joshua could endure more pain, a golden yellow twister pushed the Owl Noise out of its hover.
He turned to see Ayumu run up to him as he spoke calmly "Negitive Noise. No affect."
"Huh? What do you mean by 'Negitive'?" asked Joshua but before he got his answer the Owl Noise let out another beam of swirling dark light, this time Joshua dodged it and he grunted, "Why aren't my Pins working?"
There wasn't time to ponder because the Noise tried to attack him again with the beam of swirling dark light again.
He had to keep his focus on the battle for now.
And he didn't want to fight with his fists. Because… well because it didn't seem sanitary or even human to him.
'Why should people fight with their bare hands?' wondered Joshua as he raced away from another assault from the Owl Noise, his lavender eyes sparked and blazed with anger, as he knew he had to find an option soon. Or this Noise would erase both of them.
Ayumu was busy fighting the Owl Noise, he sent warped area twisters at the Noise and it winced from each attack. For the moment, Joshua felt pathetic that he was dumping the responsibility of fighting to Ayumu.
He had a feeling that Ayumu would get erased, that made him feel like his stomach churned.
A vision of Ayumu getting erased in his head made his heart tear in desolate.
'Mighty, typically Positive.'
'Positive? What does that mean, Ayumu?'
'Means close fight.'
'Close fight?' thought Joshua as he gasped in horror, Ayumu was hit by the Noise's attack and didn't have enough time to counter the next.
For a minute Joshua felt his world crash as Ayumu was hit again and he saw golden yellow particles drift from his body, tears welled up as he screamed "Ayumu! No!"
Blindly he charged at the Noise and summoned the Psyche of his Breezifreeze Pin as it used its beam of swirling dark light, the shield of hail protected him and he sent it at the Noise like a hailstorm. Again he saw the Noise absorb the attack and it used its attack again.
He got shot in the chest and he was blown back on contact, searing pain engulfed his chest and he grimaced. He frowned through gritted teeth as he clenched his fists, "My attacks aren't working… Why...?"
Fury boiled in him as it went to attack Ayumu again; this time before it could aim its attack dead on Joshua flew at it and clasped its neck. He held on tightly as the Owl Noise struggled from him choking it, finally it opened its beak and shot the beam at his face.
He stumbled back and collapsed backwards as he wailed out in pain, again it hit him and he kept screaming in sobs. Suddenly he saw white particles float from him and he watched horrified. Was he near the point of erasure?
Very soon his throat went raw from his sobs and screams, he coughed uncontrollably as he held and rubbed his throat to try to lessen the pain.
The Noise was about to attack him again, when a twister hit it again.
It looked at Ayumu who still had light particles drifting from him "Don't 'tack, Josh. Fight me."
Joshua screamed out hoarsely "Don't-"
The Owl Noise seemed interested in Ayumu so it flapped its wings and flung itself to him, it opened its mouth to fire a beam at Ayumu.
Tears rushed down more rapid as he watched Ayumu fight the Noise, he only had one Pin left to try, but he doubted that it would work.
He lifted his hand up weakly and used his Star Blight Pin, there was only a shred of hope within him that it would work. Once the pure white beam of brilliant sparks of light hit the Noise, it hovered in the air unaffected.
"No…" whimpered Joshua, as his eyes were bloodshot from his heavy pouring tears, he clenched his fists before he slammed them at the ground in dread "We can't win… We can't win…"
All that coursed through his head was images of Ayumu getting erased and the time he found his dead body flashed millions of times, he felt like his heart was being ripped from his body then impaled countless times.
His head spun and his thoughts darted through his head while not making sense.
And, he bleakly watched as the Noise hit Ayumu again.
"Josh… Help…" called Ayumu weakly without emotion, he collapsed with a thud making Joshua tremble from the chain of events "Negitive Noise… Positive attacks… Use… Positive… Atta-" Ayumu's head drooped from where he held up to look at Joshua "Positive…"
"Ayumu…" Joshua trembled more as he let out a cry of distraught "AYUMU!"
The world and events around him stopped, he felt as though he was back in the darkness of erasure, but this… was different. He knew it was different.
His tears seemed like an endless river, he saw only the tears form a puddle around him in the darkness.
They were white tears.
Pure white tears…
The same color as his aura, Joshua was pretty sure of it.
"We can't win…" repeated Joshua as doom seemed to smile down upon him, "We can't win…"
The puddle started to enlarge.
'Maybe I should have stayed in erasure…' thought Joshua hopelessly as he lowered his head and pressed his face to the ground, he couldn't stop sobbing 'Ayumu shouldn't have gotten me back for this… Only for me to lead him and me… to our erasures and fades… I'M SO STUPID!'
He felt the cold puddle of tears soak into his skin, 'I just… I just wanted to save him… if there was a way for him to be happy… I rather fade for him… I want him to live a good life… I wanted to bring back his emotions… his commutation with people… He… he doesn't deserve this!'
This was worse than finding out the truth of Ayumu's speech and emotions.
'I wish… I wish… I wish there was a way for me… to save him… Anything!' Joshua felt numb from despair, 'I need Ayumu! I love him too much! Why am I so pathetic that my brother is going to be erased?! I don't want him to get erased… I need something to fight the Noise… yet I don't… I need-'
'Mighty, typically positive.'
'Positive? What does that mean, Ayumu?'
'Means close fight.'
'Negative Noise… Positive attacks… Use… Positive… Atta-'
'Positive…'
'-a close range pin!'
Joshua trembled again but he twitched as he heard a torrent of water nearby, probably the river. But it never sounded so close or clear before…
Weakly he raised his head to widen his eyes in alarm as a swiveling white mass of water was forming in front of his face. It rushed around in too many directions in a sphere as the water became the normal color, but the pure white aura surrounded it. Joshua saw that the puddle of tears was moving up as though a waterfall was reversed.
He noticed that his body was surrounded by the same aura.
Before he could think he flinched as the water suddenly moved faster and faster until it grew smaller and smaller. Then suddenly a flash of white light blinded him.
The next second the sound of rushing water was gone, and the water was gone.
There was only a tiny object.
It was… a Pin?
An aqua blue Pin with the emblem of different ranges of shades of blue swirls in the form of a bird's eye view twister.
Slowly it fell.
Joshua caught it.
Then the next second Joshua was back at the Station Underpass.
His bangs concealed his eyes as his head was hung; he got up gradually as his bangs glided out of his face to reveal the fierce blaze in his lavender eyes.
The Owl Noise was charging up a beam positioned to finish Ayumu, who was now sitting with his knees spread on both sides staring at the Noise in silence.
Ayumu closed his pewter eyes.
Right away Joshua felt energy flow through his veins and the new Psyche of his new Pin exploded into effect.
He felt rapid rushing water against his whole body and he clenched his fists, energy went through him as he ran forward to find that he was almost skating on water. Before the Noise could launch and finish Ayumu's existence, Joshua rammed into it.
Instead of no effect, the Noise crashed into the nearby concrete wall as it made a hoot of pain. Joshua didn't give it petty time to recover as he skated over again to deliver thrashes.
It couldn't get away before he kept using new Psyche to hit it repeatedly.
Each thrash was fluent like water and fast as water.
And Joshua didn't stop.
Every time the ability would end, he would use his Breezifreeze Pin to block the Owl Noise's beams. Once the Pin was ready to be used he started up the Pin's Psyche again after that.
Soon, he thrashed and saw that he was thrashing at empty air. And light particles were drifting and dispersing.
He defeated and erased the Noise…
Joshua stopped and stood still until the water surrounding his body disappeared into blue particles.
He stood alone for awhile, silent, and amazed at what happened.
'Did I… Did I create that Pin?' thought Joshua dumbfound as he blinked slowly. What just happened seemed irrational, queer, and wonderful at the same time.
Only a single thought crossed his mind 'This Pin… This Pin is the Thrash Splash Pin…'
After what seemed like 5 minutes, he looked at the timer.
It wasn't there.
Joshua let out a suppressed sigh of relief, 'Thank… goodness…'
"Josh."
Upon hearing his name Joshua spun around to see that there was now barely any light particles of erasure present with Ayumu.
Ayumu was about to speak again but he halted mid speech as Joshua embraced him.
Both of them were silent except for the soft weeping of Joshua.
"I-I'm glad I didn't lose you…" wept Joshua and Ayumu did nothing but close his eyes.
5 minutes later…
Joshua decided it was time to just relax until the next day.
So he and Ayumu slowly left the Station Underpass, Joshua didn't feel so happy until this moment of time. He was being too mopey before.
Exhaustion weighed his every step, but he knew it was worth it.
He saved Ayumu.
Ayumu was trailing behind him, blinking once and awhile in silence. And Joshua had a good feeling that he was thinking about the battle they just had.
The Reaper from before turned around to look at them "Oh! Its you two." he chuckled a bit before he mused "I saw your battle, you did very good. Especially with making that Pin, I've never seen a Player who was able to do that."
"Well thanks," said Joshua with a smile, "I never thought I could make that Pin either."
The Reaper nodded as Joshua walked past him, after what seemed like 10 seconds he turned around to face the Reaper again.
Ayumu was still standing there in the entrance to the Station Underpass. This worried Joshua so he started to walk back towards Ayumu, as he stopped he spoke "Ayumu…?"
His young half brother didn't answer.
He was staring at the Reaper for a long time and Joshua again breathed "Ayumu? Are you okay?"
Again Ayumu didn't answer, but then he moved slowly towards the Reaper.
This scared the Reaper because he was edging away, "H-Hey! W-What are you doing?" Ayumu halted as the Reaper edged away a bit more and the Reaper spoke shakingly "S-Stop scaring me! What is he doing?"
Joshua couldn't speak; no sounds came from his mouth as he widened his eyes.
The next moment made Joshua let out a choked cry "Ayumu!"
He quivered a bit as he saw Ayumu raise his hand then uttered the words "Fade." before he could do anything his whole body froze and he couldn't move a muscle. Golden yellow aura surrounded Joshua's body.
The only thing he could do was watch or speak, but he had no will to speak.
Blinding lights filled his vision then the area of battle appeared.
The Reaper was still trying to back up, but he had no time to react because Ayumu was already sending warps of the area at him. Ayumu seemed to ignore the Reaper's cries of mercy, and in a manner of seconds, particles of light drifted into the paling sky.
Ayumu had erased the Reaper.
And the hold on Joshua, left.
The younger blond stood there silently and looked at him.
But then, before Joshua and Ayumu knew it. Ayumu was clouted back and landed on the ground roughly.
Joshua took deep breaths as a overwhelming emotion of rage waved over him and a red haze lifted. He stood stunned as he looked at his fist, the one that clouted Ayumu.
For awhile Ayumu lay there in silence when Joshua shrieked "You erased him! You erased that Reaper! Why!? Why Ayumu why!?"
Joshua couldn't take it, he wanted a good reason of why Ayumu erased that innocent Reaper.
The words the younger blond spoke fueled Joshua's anger "I had to."
Right away Joshua stalked up to him and grabbed onto his collar, he lifted Ayumu up easily in the air and growled shrilly "Why!?"
"I had to," repeated Ayumu without emotion.
"You erased a Reaper! He had nothing against you Ayumu, but you still erased him. Why did you? Tell me!" by now Joshua had his fist raised, ready to clout Ayumu again, but as he tried to do it he stopped when it was inches from his younger half brother's face. Already he had clouted Ayumu, and he could see it now since Ayumu had a crooked nose that was already faded a bit.
"I had to."
To be continued…
Hope you enjoyed the chapter…