She watched him train rigorously hour after hour. She observed him pouring over notes he'd taken on the Noise, the Reapers, even routes to various places in Shibuya like a man obsessed. She lingered by his side as he arranged his pins, fingering those granted by the Composer himself and clenching both his fist and his jaw.
She watched him, and felt the pit of guilt in her stomach grow like a black hole. She left him then, to go upstairs. To go to the scene of her crime, and gaze at her handiwork. To lay eyes on the victim she wronged.
He looked like a corpse in that bed. Her hands trembled as she gazed at his lifeless body. She had done this to him. He was already suffering, and she had made it worse. It was only now that she realised how much worse. The pale skin looked almost translucent, the bones appeared ten times more fragile, and the rising and falling of the weedy chest was barely noticeable. Most times, there would be a rasping noise coming from a dying throat, but the being tucked in the bed made no sound, not even a whisper of a gasp. It frightened her a little.
Yet, she still felt justified in taking the actions she had.
"Do you now."
The sudden voice made her jump and clutch Mister Mew to her chest. The fact that she recognized the speaker did little to comfort her, as he was very close to her victim, and not at all thrilled with what she had done. The fact that he could take permanent action against her also fueled her anxiety, and she shrank back from his gaze, meekly looking at his feet as she addressed him in a squeak.
"Mister H."
The man slowly walked to the bedside and sat sideways, one leg bent and resting on the mattress, while the other supported his weight from the carpet. His eyes were soft as they gazed at the figure in the bed, his touch gentle as he felt the sweat-damp forehead and brushed away the limp ash-blond locks. He then rested his hand on the skinny shoulder, a sadness entering his tone as he sighed heavily.
"You honestly feel he deserves this fate, Shiki Misaki?"
Her eyes continued to droop, "Well...I…"
"Be honest now." His hand clutched the thin, cold fingers of his boy, "Don't hold back."
The girl decided to think a minute before answering. She got her thoughts in rder, and finally came to a conclusion.
"Maybe not this exact fate...but he should atone for what he did to Neku. That wasn't m,y main reason for what I did though, it was because if I helped Apollo, that beast would let Neku go! That's all, Mister H, honest! I wanted to help Neku...I didn't care what I had to do."
"Or who you had to hurt." The barista's tone was saddened and a whisper, his fingers tightening around the chilled hand, "I'm not just referring to J, kiddo. Your actions cut Neku as well, and me. "
Sanae looked at the body on the bed in sad fondness, a wistful light peeking out from his shades and he let loose a small smile. "I'm more than Josh's superior. I've known him since...oh, before you were born. This 'monster.' as you label him...I watched him grow up. It was hard for him, believe it or not. He was rich, yeah, but he was also skinny, and frail...and for a while too naive for his own good. I saw him thrive, encouraged him to enjoy the moment, despite his world wanting him to just cease altogether. I watched him live, kiddo. Not just that but I helped him as well, guided him, encouraged him. I watched him learn, create, imagine, grow. I was there to witness his first piano recital, I was there when he composed his first symphony. I witnessed his frustration of being the only one to see into the UG. I was there...when he ended it all, desperate to change Shibuya for the better because the current boss man was tearing her apart and J alone heard her wailing and it made his soul yearn for the pain to end."
Shiki was quietly cowed as the barista continued, her shame ten times worse than it had been earlier. She sank to the floor and stayed silent.
"I was there for all eight of his Games. I was there to watch as he ascended to the throne of Shibuya, and finally made the changes he needed to make the District shine again. I was there, Shiki Misaki, when the Composer battled the Conductor for the fate of Shibuya, and I was there when Neku Sakuraba did the impossible and made him change his mind. He changed his mind...because he finally found a friend in the unlikeliest of circumstances, in the most unlikely person. I heard...then later saw, through his memories...I saw him get tortured for days because of what he'd allowed to happen, for what he'd done, during the Long Game." he hesitated "And for what I'd done."
He stood, hanging his head as he knelt over the body on the bed "And now I watch...as he slips away from me for the second time...because you decided that he hadn't been punished enough. That somehow, Neku would want J's life in exchange for his own freedom."
Hanekoma shook his head and stood right next to Shiki, his tone not changing as he murmured softly "Maybe you best look at things from his perspective. Joshua isn't a monster, Shiki Misaki. He didn't deserve to be treated like one. Next time, I'd be very careful about whose world you shatter, because your own might get pierced by the shards."
The man left, leaving Shiki to ponder his words.
TWEWYTWEWYTWEWYTWEWYTWEWY
He looked absorbed in his preparations, but he knew she had gone. He had no time to ponder why, and he needed no reminder of the stakes he had set. His breath came in short bursts as his palms began to sweat. His mind was made up, yet he was nervous and unsure.
As he readied his weapons, his hand brushed Holy Light. His breath hitched, he grasped the small round metal and gripped it hard, teeth setting in a determined sneer. He had no time to waste on his nerves! It was time to finally put this nightmare to rest, and he wasn't about to falter now. Not when the stakes were so high, and not when he had the power to save a friend from a fate worse than death and erasure combined. Bringing the Composer-level pin to eye-level, he swore under his breath.
I will save you. Just be patient, you prissy bastard.
"I see you're preparing hard, Neku Sakuraba."
The teen's hackles raised noticeably, a growl was in his voice as he didn't even bother turning around to face the vile creature who'd intruded into his ready space. "The hell do you want? Get lost, I'm busy."
"So I see!" Apollo chuckled, observing the teen's pin lineup. He doubted these were all of the Proxy's weapons, but it wasn't a bad setup, he had to admit. "Hmmm, not a bad strategy build. As your opponent, I applaud such creativity. As a previous Player though, I can't say I understand your logic behind not having a healing pin in your lineup."
"Don't need one." The answer was clipped "I'm not going to make nice, so get outta my face."
Apollo chuckled lowly "You really are his proxy. Next thing I know, you'll be telling me my 'music is foul.' or some such thing."
Neku stood, gathering his pins "I can't hear your music but if your breath is anything to go by, I'm glad I'm wearing headphones. Now, for the last time, get the hell out. I've nothing to say to you until the Final day, asshole."
As the teen stormed off in search of something to store his pins, the Higher being did leave, but not without tossing a glance to the corner of the room and smirking.
"I am in for a good fight, it seems. Prepare him, Hanekoma. Prepare him well."
