Songs and Poetry

Life

"This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, and Love to complete your life."

Rhyme situated herself on the roof of her apartment home. The city lights stretched out in front of her from between a gap in two taller buildings. The wind was cold, but the two buildings on either side of her blocked out most of it nicely. The moon was out, and it's single star companion that stubbornly outshone the city lights, refusing to be blocked out. She smiled; wrapping her hands around herself, pausing only to turn on the small stereo that was beside her and turned the volume up as it began to start.

A sort of techno pop song, (she never knew which), began to play. She leaned back, eyes closed, as she enjoyed the solitude. Her parents had argued again with Beat, but he made her promise to leave him alone just for a little bit, he'd come back, he said. She trusted him, (he probably went over to Eri's, which he had been doing more and more often strangely), and waited.

She sang along, fingers tapping the stone wall she was resting on.

"Let me go, gravity, what's on my shoulder? 'Little by little I feel a bit better'. Let me know, set me free, I feel a bit older, just once more 'till the breach, dear friend once more…"

Rhyme wondered where Joshua was. She missed him. He hadn't come by since his unusual quietness a few days ago…Maybe he had a Game?

"Wake up, leave your hesitation. Wake up, time for us to realize. Wake up, show appreciation. Wake up, time for us to realize…"

The song changed into another one, and Rhyme sighed, drawing her legs up to her chest. This song was steadier, and slower, the voice softer.

"There may not be an answer to this too. Why the sky is blue, is the change in me all true?Now that you are next to me,I have no fears and all I know is that I want to be with you…"

Her heart lifted, unable to stop a smile from creeping across her face, because she felt someone's breath touch her ear.

"That song matches you much better."

"Joshua!" She said happily. He smirked, and stood still as she hugged him. "Was there something wrong?" She asked, raising her head to look at him.

His violet eyes glimmered. "It's all fixed now." He sat down, casting a disdainful glare at the stereo. She laughed, sitting down beside him.

"Not a fan of love songs?"

"Not personally, dear." He twirled a strand of her hair around his finger, and Rhyme was surprised to see she wasn't blushing or embarrassed in his presence anymore. She timidly entwined her fingers with his, and he didn't look at her, but returned the gesture.

"Rhyme, can I change the song?"

"You'd do it even if I said no?"

"Of course."

"There's not that great radio reception around here." She replied, stifling a giggle, since she wasn't sure exactly what he listened to. She had a very educated guess though. Joshua's lips twitched as he smiled.

"You honestly believe I listen to that?" He sounded offended, gesturing to the radio, but his eyes were playful. He looked so much better, like something had been removed from his chest, but Rhyme was observant enough to sense his…nervousness?

He removed his phone, clicking away at it, before a disk materialized beside him. He placed it in the stereo, closing the cover and pushing the button before putting his phone away.

"Is that phone your psyche?"

"Perceptive. But I'm not saying."

He smiled as a classical song started up, (as Rhyme guessed), but it was unlike anything she had ever heard. It…swirled around her, almost as if she could touch it, and she smiled, closing her eyes at the violins, harps, singing chorus…And to her surprise, an almost hidden "rap" beat to it that she liked.

She opened her eyes in surprise to see Joshua had stood up, facing her, offering her his hand. She didn't get it at first, and then she gasped.

"I-I can't. Please don't."

He twitched his fingers, smirking. "Try it. Just once."

There was a pause, and then Rhyme blushed, taking his offered hand. His fingers were cool, but that may have been the weather. He helped her to his feet, then took her hands, eyeing her with a crooked smile that was almost charming except for the fact he was doing that annoying giggling.

Oh whatever, it wascharming.

The music continued to play and Joshua led her through a dance. Rhyme was paranoid she'd step on his expensive "Pegaso" shoes, but she didn't. Not even when he directed her, his soft voice the only thing she was listening to, through a diagonal glide, several slow turning portions, and finally ending with a spin.

He picked her up easily, whirling around before placing her back down. He bowed low, and Rhyme laughed nervously.

"That was bad, right?" She lowered her head, but Joshua gently tilted her face up and withdrew his hand.

He then smirked again. "Not at all. You didn't make a single mistake. What a fast learner you are, Rhyme." He giggled again, and then took the CD out.

"Did you make that?"

It vanished in a flash of white light. "Yes and no. I composed the symphony but Sanae actually got someone to play it."

He sat down and she sat next to him. "What's it called?"

"Rhythm and Rhyme." Joshua replied smoothly, eyeing her with his customary grin.

"It's a unique song."

He hummed in response to that, obviously pleased, and she was reminded heavily of a cat. Rhyme laid her head on his shoulder, looking at the sky.

"I don't think I'll forget that dance anytime soon."

"Likewise."

"How long have you known to…?" She asked curiously.

"A very long time." He chuckled. Then he said unexpectedly, "If I never met you, I wouldn't like you."

Puzzled, Rhyme let him continue.

"If I didn't like you, I wouldn't love you."

She realized he was reciting poetry again, for her benefit. She felt warm inside and he just continued, his elegant voice weaving through the words like fingers through a harp.

"If I didn't love you, I wouldn't miss you. But I did, I do, and I will."

She laughed, and he brushed his hair from his face, smirking. "Thank you, dear. I'll be here for all eternity." There was a hint of sadness in his voice now, but a smirk replaced it. He averted his eyes for a moment, and then looked at her again. "Well, not all eternity. I have to stop being Composer at some point."

"But you're not going to go easy." It wasn't a question.

"Of course not, it's impossible for me to release anything easy."

He laughed, but his tone had changed, and she was about to sit up to look at him until he wrapped an arm around her to hold her still. "Raimu…"

Uh oh, he had said her real name. "Is something wrong?" She asked gently.

"Not at all." Joshua faced her now, trailing his fingers through her hair before resting it on her cheek. She leaned into his hand, smiling, wondering what he had to say.

"Raimu, do you love me?"

Such a simple sentence, with only five words, but a meaning that conveyed more than any book, movie, or anything else in the world. The deep, emotional meaning to it shook Rhyme to her core, since she knew Joshua rarely opened up like this.

She knew the pause was too long, she knew it looked bad, but she was stunned. Finally, she gasped out before he removed his hand, "Of course."

"Then there's something we need to bring up before we move any farther." Joshua's voice was serious, his face expressionless and still. "I'm dead, dear."

"I know." She said simply.

"What do you say to that?"

"I don't know. It doesn't change anything." She promised.

"Naivety." He scowled, but she thought he sounded pleased. "I love you not only for what you are, but for what I become when I'm with you." He smirked like this was amusing news. "Love isn't just what you make yourself; it's what you make of others. I think only you could bring this part out."

She didn't know what to say, she just smiled as he leaned forward to kiss her, closing her eyes and leaning into the kiss. When they finally broke apart, Joshua asked her another question.

"Raimu, do you want to spend forever with me?" His amethyst eyes shone into hers, and she could see…a lot of his character in their depths. Determination, intelligence, but he was genuinely serious when he said he loved her.

Before she could answer, Joshua, who had been still holding her, flinched, then shrugged. "It was bound to happen anyway." She swore his ear had twitched, like a cat did when it was annoyed. Or when it heard something.

Rhyme was about to ask what when the door opened, and Beat came up, flanked by Shiki and Neku, followed by Eri. The door slammed into the wall and Beat stomped forward, still unaware of how loud he was, probably disturbing the neighbors.

"Yo, Rhyme! Guess who came to visit-holy crap! Le' go of my sister!"

Eri surprised everyone by grabbing Beat and succeeding in holding him still, though she almost fell over. "Calm down, Beat!"

There was a pause, and then Shiki began to panic.

"Oh my God! Why didn't I see this sooner? Oh em gee! O M G! O-"

There was a smacking sound, then Shiki blinked, rubbing her cheek as Neku glared at her, then directed his death gaze at Joshua.

"What was the slap for?" Shiki pouted.

"That was a high five to the face, dear." Joshua giggled, and Neku pointed a finger at him.

"Damn it Josh! I told you leave her alone!"

"You knew, man?!" Beat roared, lunging again and this time it took both Eri and Shiki to hold him still.

"I was hoping he wouldn't break his promise, you rat bast-"

"Tsk, language. Children are present, Neku."

"ARGH!"

"C'mere, Rhyme!" Beat ordered, and she blinked, looking guiltily at Joshua.

"Only if you want." He told her, winking while he toyed with her hair, gently pulling the strands, which caused Beat to scream like a maniac.

"JOSH!" Neku darted forward, and Joshua planted a kiss on Rhyme's lips again before vanishing into thin air.

"No more, Rhyme! Stay away from that ass!" Beat was still furious, with no sign of calming down. "He's manipulative, (Did I say that right?), that guy's a murderer an' a liar-"

Rhyme blushed, looking at the ground. "You're wrong." She mumbled quietly.

"Wha'?"

"You're wrong about him. He's not like you think." Rhyme stalked past her friends and brother, walking away.

~***~

That night, Rhyme got a message on her phone. She rolled over in bed to read it.

I don't personally care what they think.

Rhyme smiled; too tired to write another message since it was almost four AM.

That night, though, she tried to decipher what he had said to her. Joshua's voice echoed in her mind.

"Raimu, do you want to spend forever with me?"

Yes, yes she did.

But not in the way he was suggesting.

~***~

Er-I've edited this from my original idea, because it wouldn't work now that I thought about it. And…the next chapter is the last. I might do another Joshyme if you want…The next chapter is a lot more interesting, I swear. Okay?

'K. Good. Now, I'd like to thank everyone that has reviewed and added this to favorites. I've seen some people with this on favorites, but haven't commented. Feel free to! Or not.

I'm so glad; I just noticed some of my stories are in communities. Awesome.

Yeah. Review, if you will. Slow chapters are needed to get to the climax sometimes. The climax I'm really pleased with, actually.