Title: Carpe Diem
Pairing: Joshua x Neku
Rating: NC - 17
Summary: After a year of undisturbed peace, a freak accident drags Neku Sakuraba back into the hectic and dangerous UG. This time, however, the stakes are higher not only for the fourth-time Player, but the Composer as well.
Comments: Joint 'fic between Caitlin ( feverishlove on LJ)
and myself. Prepare for a decently long fic, 'cause we're probably already 6 or so chapters in, and still going.
WARNING: Joshua and Neku start out IC, but start drifting slightly OOC as the fic goes on.
--oo0oo--
Chapter Four
Quattuor
"Well, you are teenage boys... at least you are..." Sanae muttered back to Neku, finally putting his cigarette out - only god knows how many he went through just during today's plethora of obstructions. "I oh so hate to interrupt the honeymoon, but I think I found a way to get us out of this mess."
"And you right back into one much more severe..." Joshua seethed, sending the older man another death glare. "What is it?"
"Well, it's only a hunch... but during the time when the Composer breaks a rule, Angels directly ensue in combat against the offending party - Which would technically just be me and you. The way the Angels are able to overpower a Composer is simply this - Reapers can't touch the Angels. The Composer is neither human nor Reaper, and I'm an Angel myself. We're basically the only ones that can touch them. This is their way of making sure we can't turn the tables. "
"And this is good news...how?" Joshua asked in a mocking tone.
"Well, we have Phones. He's not a Reaper, but he's is on a level of higher frequency now that he's dead, so he can attack the Angels as well. I suppose the same could be said for the other Players,
but... sending them in would be suicide since they neither have the loyalty to you, nor as powerful as an Imagination. The very fact that Phones has played your Game three times has greatly increased his power."
Neku sighed. Sounded like he was being dragged into another little twisted game. He glanced down at his hand, frowning at the lack of a timer. He sighed some and closed his eyes. Was he really going to have to fight angels now? Wouldn't that lower his chances of getting into heaven when he actually did die? He paused and glanced between his partner and Mr. H.
"Where does this leave me when this is all over? When the Angels are done spearing Joshua and you? Do I just become alive again or get erased because I'm impure or something?" he wondered and looked to Joshua rather nostalgically. He was hoping that the silveret would quip back with something along the lines of 'you'd stay with me, of course'.
Something like that...he didn't know why, but it made his cheeks heat. Staying with Joshua in this area between life and death...why didn't that sound so bad?
"Your soul won't become tainted fighting Angels, Phones. They may have certain rule over the properties of death, but even if you're dead, you're still human. Fighting for what you believe in won't hurt you in the slightest. Sure, they'll probably be sore about it for a while, but your soul will be just as bright as ever." Sanae gave Neku a reassuring smile, rubbing the back of his neck in a slightly nervous fashion. "Can't say the same thing for the Boss and I though...There's a good chance we'll get turned into Noise."
"But we won't. We'll bash their vindictive little skulls in, and I'll help Neku throughout the rest of my Game so he can return to his friends in the RG." Joshua sat up, before leaning his back against the couch in a more comfortable position, hands sliding in his pockets. Sanae wondered for just a moment when the boy pulled his pants back up, the very thought wasn't exactly attractive, so he didn't dwell on it. "Simple as that."
"Boss, you certainly are something else..." The Producer groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. There was no way Joshua couldn't comprehend the severity of the situation... why on earth was he so full of himself at such a crucial point?
Neku sighed and ran his hand awkwardly through his hair. Fighting for what he believed in? And what would he be fighting for exactly? His right to live or...what? Or was he fighting to keep Joshua safe? He didn't really find that last option too appealing, but at the same he did. Joshua had always been the one to save his ass, so perhaps it was time to turn the tables and help out the silveret.
"He's right," Neku spoke up and looked to Josh with a grin. "There's no chance you both will fail. If they try to get either of you, well, Josh and I will teach them a lesson," he answered with a smirk and relaxed against the couch with Joshua, tossing the other boy a soft smirk.
Joshua returned the smile with a bit of a laugh, obviously wanting to reply with some sort of witty retort like he always did, but held it back and simply shook his head. Perhaps this was a good thing, after all. He knew Neku hated the thought of being unable to do anything, and that's just the sort of feeling he'd induced upon him in the three agonizing weeks that took place nearly a year ago. Perhaps he owed him at least that much.
Sanae was silent for a moment, staring at the two on the couch, physically closer than they ever dared to be before. "So..." The Producer mused aloud, placing a hand in his pocket, giving his boss an oddly strained look. "Did you rape him to get him to fight for you?"
"I didn't rape him!" Joshua snapped - and like that, the brief moment of understanding he shared with Neku was brought to an abrupt halt. Thanks, Sanae.
"Rape me?!" Neku shouted after a two second pause between Joshua's snappy comeback. His gaze shot over to Sanae with a perplexed look in his eyes. Then again, he had been moaning so damn much and Sanae probably figured that he would never submit to Joshua to begin with, or help him...so rape seemed possible, he supposed.
"If he had raped me I would have gashed his eyes out," Neku went on to say in an angry tone, eyes narrowing at his idol. ' Besides...he couldn't rape me even if he trie- Ah god...I did not just think that about Josh... '
"Oh, you would, would you?" Joshua's eye twitched, finding that statement both comforting and extremely aggravating. Not that he'd really try to... well, not now anyway. Would he? No, he probably would. Maybe. Goddamn it. Try not to say anything. Try not to make this worse-
"If I had wanted to, I could have done it crippled and blind." He replied with a nasty little smirk. Well, that was smooth.
Neku rolled his eyes. "I'd have broken every limb in your body if you tried to rape me," he muttered, putting much emphasis on the word 'rape'. He glared and folded his arms to his chest stubbornly before peering back over at Josh and mumbling under his breath, "wouldn't have been rape no matter what, anyhow, so drop it."
He turned back to Mr. H and kept up the pissed off and annoyed facade.
Sanae looked at the two boys as they sent halfhearted glares at one another, wondering if he really said something he shouldn't have. "In any case..." He coughed, leaning back against the counter. "Joshua, you should probably return to the River to heal while you still can. I thought the wound you got from the Angel's arrow would have completely dissipated by now, but it appears I didn't get it out as quickly as I thought."
"I'm fine. Taking Neku to the River would be risky, and I'd much rather stay here to make sure he's safe." Joshua replied stubbornly. "How do you even know I'm not completely healed?"
"You didn't get up to punch me in the nose when I walked in."
"...Touche. But I'm still not going."
"And why would it be risky for me?" Neku demanded as he looked back to his partner with a cocked brow. "I can hold my own too, you know. Just because you both are in the business of saving my ass doesn't mean I can't help out once in awhile," he pointed out logically and absently toyed with his hair. He didn't like being the weakest in the room. Ah nope. Nope, nope, nope.
"And besides Josh, you need to heal. Can't have my partner flaking out on me and dying off, now can I?" he questioned and tossed a look back at Joshua, the slightly detectable, soft undertone present.
"There's a good chance Angels could take over the River at any time. I know you can hold your own, Neku," Joshua began, giving him a complicated look that spoke volumes of how he simply wanted to order Neku to do whatever he pleased, but was also wanting to give him the freedom he deserved, and (though he would never admit it) could certainly handle. "But-"
"Jus' let him come, Boss. If you're well enough to argue, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to patch you up." Sanae spoke, sighing inwardly at how stubborn Joshua was being - even more so than usual. And that's saying a lot. "Phone's isn't some damsel in distress. He's a big boy. C'n take care of himself."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you, Josh?" he mumbled under his breath quietly to his partner. "Me as some poor defenseless sap in a dress calling out your name." He got up and shot the other a quick, amused look and turned back to Sanae with a determined look etched all over his face.
"I'm coming whether you want me to or not. Just tell me what I need to look out for and what to do if something bad happens," Neku stated with a determined look, standing idly by the couch on Josh's side.
"Mm perhaps I would... just not in the way you're implying." Joshua smirked and stood up, wincing slightly as he placed a hand to his chest. "Let's hurry and get this over with."
"Yessir." Sanae stepped forward to put an arm around his superior's shoulders to help him walk if he so needed his assistance, but stopped in mid-reach, and instead grabbed the door. He figured if the Composer really needed an arm over his shoulder, he'd prefer Neku's.
Oh god...Now Joshua had installed countless images in Neku's head. The brunet quickly shook these thoughts away and watched Mr. H. Perhaps he knew what ties the boys had now? Neku wasn't certain what was going on between them, because neither really vocalized entirely what the hell they were thinking or feeling other than desire...
But it had been enough. "Don't bitch," Neku warned under his breath with a sigh as he cautiously hooked an arm around the Composer's shoulders as Mr. H had attempted to do. He knew Joshua was prideful...but this was an excuse to touch each other as well. Hrm.
"I can walk on my own." Joshua said firmly, as if boasting - but he didn't make any effort to tear away from the hold Neku had on him. God it hurt his pride to have others see him like this... but at the same time, he wasn't all that opposed if it meant being this close to Neku. He made a mental note to thank Sanae when he would get the chance - right after he punishes him for interrupting them on the couch.
Mr. Hanekoma lead them to a separate room and lead them through a hidden entrance only visible when one scanned the area with a Player Pin (or in Joshua or Sanae's case, probably magic), and down a long hallway that seemed to melt into absolutely nothing; but as the trio walked, light became more and more frequent within the dark walls - before they took one last door into the Room of Reckoning.
"...There was a shortcut?" Neku asked in disbelief. He looked between the boy that he had partially in his arms and then to Sanae with a look of utter disbelief. Joshua and he had gone through a damn sewer...everyone had with him! And this entrance was there all along? He twitched some and said nothing more, his arm instinctively tightening around the Composer's shoulder protectively--but he'd never admit that out loud to anyone.
"More like an emergency back door. The pathway we just took is much more unstable than the other way around." Joshua chuckled, unable to help himself as he caught sight of the look Neku had plastered on his face. "Still, it's safer than wandering out in the open." He pat Neku on the back before letting go, walking over slowly to the center of the room, facing the three pillars with a relaxed sigh. He already felt better being this close to his throne.
As he stepped forward, a white mist clouded his footsteps, before an ethereal light began to wrap around his body, at one point becoming so bright even Sanae had to look away momentarily. Completely encased in the shining ribbons, the light began to die down - and in the place Joshua stood was someone much taller, though still with his distinguishable silver hair, a white shroud covering most of his features. Slowly the figure turned, a hand coming up to once again lay against the wound at his chest. "I shouldn't be long." He spoke - the voice definitely similar to Joshua's, but older and didn't quite have the girlish tone Neku had become accustomed to hearing. "There's no commotion around the River... hopefully we didn't catch anyone's attention." The second time he spoke it became apparent there was a definite echo lacing his words, and an almost melodic tune, something familiar and warm... something that breathed as Shibuya did, changing and flowing together with its spirit.
Neku felt his entire body heat. How could someone as girly and frail and scrawny looking as Joshua be so powerful and transform into that? He stood there, eyes wide as he watched Joshua with confusion. He couldn't help but stare with wide, and rather appreciative eyes. The voice was nice, yes, but no matter how annoying Joshua's true voice was, he found that he preferred it over this one for reasons unknown. Maybe he was just accustomed to Josh's voice.
At any rate, Neku remained a good distance away from the center of the room, not wanting to intrude and needing to sort out his own thoughts before they took control of him. What exactly did Joshua mean to him?
"It's impolite to stare, Neku." Joshua grinned, somehow enough of his features visible to define his smug look. "What? Stunned to see I'm actually not the scrawny little feminine boy you so lovingly point out to me?"
Neku twitched some. "Wasn't staring at you," he mumbled, obviously lying. He averted his gaze and coughed some. God damnit...Joshua always knew how to just sneak into his mind and get the better of him.
"Can't say I blame him, Boss. Didn't really give him any warning." Sanae couldn't help but laugh, stuffing his hands back in his pockets and walking over to an adjacent pillar to where his Composer was standing.
"What? And miss a chance to tease him? You must really not know me that well, Sanae." The ethereal form chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah, mock it up, Joshua," Neku murmured and folded his arms to his chest. "Just so you know, you look even girlier like that." But so god damn beautiful and hard to stare at without shuddering. Yeah...about that.
"Mmm, I think Neku doth protest too much." Joshua replied with a giggle, but with his lower voice, it didn't quite sound so girly. He took a step forward, before he blinked out of existence, only to reappear beside the now shorter boy, prodding at his cheek. "Oh, and don't pout it's so unbecoming." He said in a sing-song voice.
"Not pouting. I don't pout. Pouting is for weak people," he murmured and eyed Joshua with a cocked brow. "And you, you can't seem to keep your hands off me," he joked and eyed the finger poking his cheek, debating whether or not to bite it. He decided against it in the end. Didn't want to be Composer-food.
"Mm, can't say I disagree with you there." He grinned, ruffling up his hair a bit in a rather... condescending manner. Ohh, if there was anything he loved about this form, it had to be the little fact that he was much taller than Neku now. "Funny, now that I think about it..." The Composer mused out loud, walking back towards the center of the large room, his footsteps somehow entirely silent, like they weren't really touching anything at all. "You're the only Player to see this room in about... 300 years, would you say Sanae? It was such a long time ago."
"Mm, give or take a decade." The Producer shrugged off his question like it was no big deal. "Technically, Beat and Shiki saw it as well, but they can't remember it." That was such an odd week, really... So may rules were broken in so many ways. At least none of them prompted an army of Angels to come forth.
Neku glanced about the room, peering at the walls and whatnot curiously. It was so large and just...beautiful. He sighed contently and looked back to Joshua with a somewhat smirk on his face. "I'm only seeing it because I'm the Composer's 'favorite'," he hummed and then added on an almost whisper, "…and apparently sexual interest..."
He didn't mind either, but for some reason, he desired more than just those two. Was he becoming greedy?
"Of course," Joshua replied back with a chuckle, turning to sit at the large throne in the center of the three enormous pillars. It was uncertain whether or not he heard the last little bit Neku said to himself. "My unfortunate little toy, but nonetheless my favorite."
Neku stalked up and over to where Joshua was, not wanting to let the boy, in his eyes, out of his sight for too long. "You sound pleased over that fact," he murmured with amusement as he eyed Joshua. "...Is this form supposed to heal you or something?"
"In a way, yes. When I'm not in the RG, keeping a 'Player' form actually takes a little bit of energy to uphold. It doesn't make a huge difference, but when we're in a tight situation like this, anything, no matter how small, helps." He replied in an even tone, smiling just barely once Neku took his place beside him. "Don't worry, I'll change back once I'm done healing."
"When we head back...I want to talk to you about something," he murmured quietly after Joshua's explanation. He coughed afterwards and leaned lazily against the nearest pillar, waiting patiently. His stomach churned though, despite his facade of a calm demeanor.
The silver-haired Composer merely blinked at his quiet reply, watching him as he took a step back to lean against the pillar beside his throne. He only replied with a nod, a little curious as to what his partner had in mind. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, concentrating on the rhythm of Shibuya, trying to detect anything out of the ordinary. Uzuki was still trying to find Neku and him, but it seemed as though she was starting to catch onto something... apparently one of the Reaper's descriptions of them both triggered her memory. Neku was not an easy person to forget, after all that happened during those three weeks.
Kariya was still trying to contact him any way possible... no doubt he learned quickly what the Angels' appearance meant. It was too risky to inform him just yet, though... he'll just have to wait until the time comes.
Explosions were still frequent, causing the UG to shift and rumble much like miniature earthquakes, but thankfully nothing too terribly suspicious has happened in the RG. Once the Angels decide to get serious though, he wasn't sure how that was going to end up.
"Hm. Someone's tried breaking the seal at the entrance to the River." Joshua said after quite some time of silence. "They gave up apparently, but it concerns me someone even tried in the first place."
Neku ran a hand absently through his hair. He wanted to talk to Joshua about so much but he knew he'd be limited in the alone time he got with the Composer. He wanted to talk about what the hell those kisses and favors meant, why Joshua had put his own existence on the line, and why he seemed so different around him. Not too different, but a lot softer in his constant harsh words. He hadn't grown 'soft', Neku knew, but there was a notable difference. Or had that always been there, steadily growing?
He sighed and shook his head. There were more pressing matters right now. Like trying to keep Mr. H and Joshua safe from the 'Angels' . He found the concept hard to believe but here he was, dead, playing a Reapers' Game...so he supposed anything was believable.
"You don't think it was Uzuki, do you?" Sanae asked, glancing over at the Composer with a raised eyebrow. "She could have been trying to find Kariya."
"No, I don't think that's quite Uzuki's style. She'd probably just sit there and bitch for a few days before ever really deciding on something." Joshua mused in an oddly serious tone. It didn't bother him really, he was quite used to seeing the pink-haired Reaper fumble about with a lot of things, though she was surprisingly good at getting things done one way or another. "The Angels may have tried to get in, but didn't sense my presence in here and stopped before getting anywhere."
"Wouldn't surprise me. A lot of them dive head-first into things in the UG, overconfident because so little can harm them here." The Producer shrugged, but continued to stay on guard.
Neku didn't like what he was hearing one bit. His mind was still focused on Joshua and his inner struggle, but he did hear a good bit of what the two were discussing. He had caused a lot of trouble for the pair of them. ...And that was when Neku decided what question he'd ask his partner. He sighed and closed his eyes briefly, allowing the expansive room to swallow him whole in his mind.
Joshua and Sanae continued to talk, if anything to keep the disturbing silence at bay. They knew basically what they were going to have to do... but how, and when, was a completely different story. It'd be great if they could hold their hiding place in Wildkat for a few days to refine any sort of strategy, but even that may not be a possibility.
There was a pause from the both of them as Joshua looked up, blue eyes blinking as if he tried to focus his sight. "Something's coming." He whispered, standing to his feet and grabbing Neku by the wrist, pulling him over to the exit they came through earlier. Sanae didn't ask questions, feeling the same sense of foreboding that seemed to swallow the entire room, running quickly at Joshua's heels.
"It's an Angel. I think they finally found a way in." Sanae whispered back, backing up as he waited for the Composer to retreat first, the white ethereal light that once encased his body fading in a fine mist, before he changed back into his Player form, still holding Neku tightly, as if afraid if he let go, he'd lose him. Thankfully his Producer was able to get them through the doorway and sealed it, leaving them to only hope the Angels couldn't sniff out their trail.
Neku's heart had stopped beating during that moment of confusion. He had noticed the changes in both demeanors even before a word was spoken, even before his wrist was grabbed. He hadn't allowed himself to think, breath, or anything of the sort on that walk that seemed to take forever back to the cafe through the 'secret' pathway. Once he was sealed back in the warmth of Wildkat, he inhaled deeply and brought his free hand to his forehead, trying not to allow the rush of thoughts to cause an implosion.
"Will we be okay?" Neku asked after a moment, tossing a glance over to Joshua. He was a bit relieved that the other was back in his normal form. 'Never thought I'd see the day to say that I was glad to see Joshua's body...'
"I think so..." Mr. H said quietly, but still watched the door like he was expecting something to force it open at any moment. "We were quick... although now we've lost the Room of Reckoning. No doubt they'll figure out we were there, and keep a sentry posted there."
"No matter," Joshua stepped forward, letting go of Neku's wrist after they finally began to calm down. "I finished healing. Just in time too, from the looks of it."
Neku nodded and looked between the pair with a sigh. "God...and I thought death was enough," he murmured and stared down at his wrist, almost...sad to see the connection go. He inhaled deeply and then glanced back up. "Can I sit down anywhere? That whole thing has my stomach all messed up," he murmured quietly and flexed his hand awkwardly. If the Angels did come...god, he didn't want to see what they'd do.
"Of course, Phones. Let's take a seat up front." Sanae offered, leading them back to the front of the store where he pulled a few chairs out for them.
As they walked, Joshua uncharacteristically watched Neku cautiously, concern in his voice as he finally spoke up. "You scared?" His question was barely a whisper, and no longer harboring any sort of mocking or condescending tone.
Neku looked back to Josh, eyes trained on him for a moment. He debated lying but thought better of it. "Honestly?...Yeah, I am," he murmured and stuck close to the Composer, debating when to bring up what he wanted to talk to him about.
Joshua smiled in reply, but this time, meant no harm from it. "It's okay," He replied softly, his hand sliding over Neku's, fingers intertwining for a few moments. "I'll make sure you get back to the RG."
As quickly as the moment came, it left. Joshua retreated his hand and acted as if it never happened, walking over to join Sanae at a small Victorian-style coffee table. "I think the best we can do now is wait... try and think of something before we rush in." The Producer spoke, leaning back on the small booth that leaned against the wall. "We'll know way ahead of time once they start trying to deactivate the seal around this shop. Might as well think of a strategy."
Neku watched the hand depart, his eyes trained on it as it left. Joshua's words filled his head as he watched the other depart as well, headed over a few feet away. His hand tingled from the brief, affectionate touch. He was still having difficulties accepting that it wasn't teasing or lusty or...anything.
'And where will that leave you, Josh? Here in the UG, constantly attacked for saving me?...I'll never get to see you, or hear your annoying voice again. ...Maybe I don't want to go, ever thought about asking me?..' He winced somewhat and took a seat a table away, lost in his own thoughts. He knew nothing about strategies.
--oo0oo--