A/N. Six is supposed to be an unlucky number... rawr. I plan to do a little epilogue thing... other that that, THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER. Finally.
I haven't finished my Game yet... so sorry if this doesn't match up with the big reveal at the end or something... if you feel the need to correct me, at least try to do it with minimal spoilers.
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Chapter Six
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Rescue
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A green and black tornado tore down the hallway of the hospital, long thin legs propelling her forward with the speed that only desperation could offer. Somehow, she felt that if she didn't get there in time, Neku would die. After all, the paramedics said he was technically dead for over a minute. That had been one of the worst few minutes of her life... all she wanted to do was collapse in his arms and tell him she loved him.
Her body had other ideas, however. The stress of the day had taken its toll on her stamina, and Shiki was instead forced to lean against a wall to regain her breath. Realization and recognition of the faint voices on the other side flickered through her dulled senses.
"...t' see you still breathin', yo. " Beat's accent was unmistakable. Rhyme's soft melodic voice followed. "Nothing would have been the same without you. How DID you survive, anyway? "
Neku gave a weak chuckle that sent Shiki's heart racing again. "I got a little help. "
...xxxxxxxxxxx...
Neku's fall came to a sudden and very unexpected stop as he landed on something warm and slightly soft. His eyes opened- white light blasted across his vision.
Am I in... heaven?
The 'ground' beneath him moved and spoke after a moment; a voice that was far, far too familiar. "It's raining men! Hee hee... "
"Crap. Hell it is. "
Neku rolled to the side and let Joshua get up. The silver-haired teenager was smirking (as usual) and looking exceptionally creepy. Of course, this was helped by the fact that there was a fine spattering of blood across his shirt and face, and his violet eyes were looking a little more evil than usual.
"I'm insulted, Neku. Aren't you glad to see me? " The Composer's voice was deadly sweet, like poisoned honey.
"Why did you BRING me here? I'm not in the mood for your games! " Neku's voice almost broke at the end.
"Good, because I'm not here to talk games. You're here because Heaven didn't want you, and Hell spat you back out. I'm here because you shouldn't be. You are SUPPOSED to be alive right now. But you just had to be a hero... again. " Joshua shook his head. "Satoshi wasn't going to hurt Shiki, just try to. Then I was going to kill him, you and Shiki would get back together, and everyone wins! "
Here he chuckled. "Except Satoshi. "
He sobered up again. "Heroes never win, Neku. They sacrifice. So you sacrificed your life just to LOOK like a hero when I had everything under control. I told you I was going to jack Shibuya... that doesn't limit me to the UG, you know. "
"So... that's it then. I'm done. Stuck in limbo for all eternity. " Neku closed his eyes, panic of inevitability threatening to rob him of sense.
"Not quite. "
...xxxxxxxxxxx...
"So... the insane sadist jus' sent you back? Jus' like that? Nothin' else? Dude...He so has something else planned. " Beat was scowling with thought. Rhyme smiled slightly. "Well, I'm just thankful he saved your life. "
"Yeah... and I plan to really live this one. " Neku paused, ruminating. His thoughts were quickly brought to an end at the sigh of a raven-haired girl standing in the doorway, brown eyes large and glassy.
Rhyme's blue gaze bounced from the pale boy on the bed to the equally pale girl in the doorway. Subtly she nudged her brother towards the doorway, keeping her face totally blank as both Bitos vanished from the room.
Neku looked away, grey eyes filled with a forced blankness that indicated the turmoil behind them. Shiki's stance wavered, then she gave in to the calls of her heart and collapsed at the side of his bed, tears and words mingling in the sheets as she cried into his uninjured shoulder.
"Oh, Shiki... don't cry. Please don't cry. " His tone was soft- she relished the sound she thought she would never hear again. He scooted to the other side of the bed carefully, patting the now empty space beside him, all the while never letting his eyes leave her face.
She sniffed and slid on the bed to lay beside him, trying her best to force a smile and failing. At length she gave up and buried her face in his chest, trembling violently. "Thank you, Neku…for saving me. "
"Hey... don't worry about it, ok? Call it even. " He succeeded in smiling even as he felt his own resolve flutter like a feather caught in the wind.
Shiki let go of him after a few moments passed, and blinked as more tears rolled down her face. "I'm s-sorry... I just can't seem to stop. "
Gaze still held captive by the depth of her eyes, Neku gently wiped her cheeks. Three words...8 letters... that was all that held him back from kissing the only person he had ever wanted to be with- the thought of which had brought him back from the brink of death. A promise... a pledge... and the hardest thing in the world to say.
Joshua's words sounded suddenly in his mind. "Yes, Neku, Life and Fate do suck. We always will hurt the ones we love... the ones we shouldn't hurt at all. And we always will know the right thing to do the moment it becomes too late. But that's why we have forgiveness and second chances. So we can correct our mistakes to the best that we can and never do them again. Have fun living, Neku, and don't let her slip away again. "
I've learned my lesson this time... life and love are always worth the pain.
Suddenly, Shiki felt herself pushed lightly on her back, then Neku's lips were pressed against hers, sending a thrill down her spine. She had thought the mild warmth she got from being around Satoshi was love- in comparison, the golden-eyed boys affections were cold and grey. Once, she may have wanted Satoshi... but she needed Neku.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, lips moving in perfect sync. Forgotten were the pain and suffering of only minutes before. They didn't matter. All that mattered now was that they we together.
Neku pulled away first, panting for breath- his eyes burning into hers. "I love you, " he breathed.
"I love you, too. "
Then he caught her lips in another rapturous kiss. She ran her fingers through his silky pumpkin-colored spikes, loosing herself in the moment and savoring the feeling of his warm body so close to hers.
At last, they paused for breath, Shiki sliding her hands down to his chest and Neku brushing the bangs gently out of her face, gazing at her lovingly with eyes that seemed just a tiny bit bluer.
It would take time, and the road before them was not smooth and clear… but the two broken hearts would mend.
"Thank you, Shiki... for saving me. "
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