Author's Note: Hey, Guys! Alright, so I think this is the quickest I've ever updated anything. Ever. This chapter has been a rollercoaster to write, so I hope you like it. I apologise in advance for any spelling or grammar errors, I've read over it so many times checking for them but I'm almost certain some have slipped through. Thank you to those who have supported this story already. I just hope I can deliver.

Dislaimer: I don't own The World Ends With You

"Hey, open the door. Why'd you just run off? You're happy, right?"

"Let me in, we can sort this out. We can get through this."

"Just talk to me, Josh."

"Please."

The crack was growing. Bowing slightly at the fault, the ceiling creaked and crooned under the strain. As if it were crying for someone, anyone to save it from itself. Joshua liked that crack; could empathise with its plight.

Prickling needles of pain littered his spine where the wood of the door had made his back sore. The carpet beneath him was warm with his body heat. Finally, his breathing had retuned to norm and his tears had ebbed away. A tongue darted out from between his unbrushed teeth to moisten his chapped lips. How long had he been sat there, pressed against the door of the WildKat spare room? The curtains had darkened merely a few hours ago but other than that he had no recollection of time. Eye sockets burning from poor sleep, his limbs felt dead beneath him as he stretched out.

It had taken what felt like a lifetime, for Neku's yelling and begging and weeping to cease. Joshua had given no reply. He'd locked the door, fallen against it and tried to ignore the noise. To ignore the claws that tugged at his heart at the sheer pain streaming from Neku. But Neku had hurt him! Neku had been the one who shut him out and lied to him and was breaking up with him...except he wasn't breaking up with him. He had shut him out and lied to him to keep the proposal secret. He had written those notes, not to break up with him and crush him, but to be romantic. But how? Why? Nothing made any sense, and yet it made perfect sense. The way Neku had been acting, the secrecy. It all made sense. Except it didn't. Why would Neku want to marry him? Sure, they had known each other for a few years now but Neku was still younger than most when it came to marriage. They were constantly at each other's throats. They rarely had a conversation about anything important, just useless small talk. Joshua wasn't even alive! It would never work!

"Boss, you better cut it out or I'll come in there and make you." A bash against the door was followed by a string of curses. The floorboards groaned under Sanae's weight. Joshua's head shook with the movement. Even through the door, he shied away from the barista. "What do you think you'll achieve doing this? It's been over two days and the kid's barely moved or eaten. You trying to kill him, Josh? 'Cos that's what's happening." It had been that long? Joshua could faintly hear the rise and fall of what he assumed to be Neku's snoring. He had sat outside the door for two days, waiting for Joshua to come out? Joshua had sat on the floor for two days? He felt suddenly sick.

"Maybe he'll see sense and leave. Take his ring with him." Rather than scorn him, the Producer chuckled.

"What, you don't like the ring?" There was shuffling as the barista sat down, his voice coming from behind Joshua's left ear. "It's a funny story about that thing."

"Hey, Mr H." The cafe door shut with a click behind the ginger as he shrugged off his jacket and sat down at the counter. Sanae was busy refilling the bean grinder attached to the coffee machine, his gaze fixed on the appliance.

"Heya, Phones. Josh is away at the moment, should be back later though. I'll bet he'll come see ya then."

"Oh, yeah, he's coming over tonight. I'm actually here to talk to you." The barista cocked his head as he finished what he was doing. Shifting to face the other, he took note of Neku's unease. As if the younger had something plaguing his mind.

"How can I help, kid? Coffee?"

"Sure." Neku worried at a loose thread on his sleeve, tugging and twisting it between his fingers as Sanae grabbed a set of cups from the cupboard. "As you know, Josh and I have been a thing for a while now."

"Five years August, or so Josh tells me."

"Yeah, that's right. Surprised he remembers actually." A blush dusted the ginger's cheeks as he thought of Josh rambling about their anniversary to his Producer. He had to have at least mentioned it for Mr H to know the date by heart.

"Oh he remembers, if you asked him I'm sure he'd know the exact date that the two of you met. But, I highly doubt that's what you want to talk about. So stop stalling Phones and get to the point. You're freaking me out."

"Sorry, I was just wondering if, you know..." Neku trailed off mumbling into his collar. A steaming mug of coffee was placed in front of him, urging him to meet the Sanae's eye.

"Didn't hear you, Phones. It can't be important if you won't say it outright."

"Would it be okay if I asked Josh to marry me?" His words were rushed and slurred and shouted in his need to get them out before his nerve faltered once more. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he slumped in his seat and ducking his head. "What I mean is, will you give me your blessing?" Mr H gaped for a moment, shocked. As comprehension filtered through, he chuckled loudly and grasped at his chest.

"I'm touched you thought to ask me but I'm not Josh's dad or anything. It's not my place to give ya any blessing." He slammed a hand onto the bumbling youngster's shoulder, jostling the cup in his grasp. "But I'll be rooting for you, kid. Now let's see the ring you're going to give him. If you're asking me for permission, I'm assuming you're going to do it soon." Neku blinked. A self conscious laugh escaped through clenched lips as he rubbed at the back of his neck nervously.

"I haven't got a ring yet. I don't know what kind of thing he'd like, and I can't ask the girls for help since they would tell him by accident or just make everything uncomfortable by dropping hints to get me to do it sooner." Taking pity on the ginger, Sanae shook his head. He began replacing the things he had used to make their drinks, subtly shutting up shop.

"You got your wallet on ya?"

"Yeah, why?" The Producer reached across and wrenched the mug from Neku's hands, ushering him onto his feet and toward the door.

"We're going shopping."

"So I drag Phones down to the jewellery shop and were there for hours. And I mean hours. They were trying to shut up shop but the kid just wouldn't have it. None of the rings they showed him was good enough but he had no idea what he wanted." Sanae chuckled, shifting position as he sat. "I still don't know what he was looking for exactly but then he saw that ring he gave you and his face lit up like nothing I've ever seen."

"Why'd you pick that one, out of all of those ones we saw? It's nice and all but why that one?" The door swing closed behind them as they left the store, planning to return to Cat Street. The sun hung low in the sky and the late afternoon air clung to them, all heavy and humid.

"I don't know, it just seemed right. It just reminded me of him, you know?" Neku scratched at the sweat on his neck. His hand pawed at the ring box in his pocket.

"Absurdly expensive, yeah that's Josh alright." They both stifled a chuckle at that. Mr H glanced over at Neku with his brows furrowed. "Don't worry too much ok? He'll say yes, maybe in a complicated and highly condescending way, but he'll say yes. I know how much he cares about you." The ginger's eyes stared at the pavement below, his shoulders shrugging with casual indifference.

"It's not that I doubt how he feels, it's that I wonder if I can do this. I never imagined myself getting married, not after all the relationships I've seen fail. But I love him and if stability will show him that, then I'll walk down that aisle quicker than anything." Sanae ruffled Neku's tresses. He laughed and slung his arm over the sulking smaller male's shoulder.

"That's good to hear, glad you're continuing to expand your horizons," he gripped Neku's shoulder sternly, "but if you hurt him, or betray him in any way, I will kill you. I'm not letting some kid put him through any more pain, you hear me Sakuraba? I can, and will, obliterate you. Deal?"

"Deal," Neku's voice was flat, unwavering and unperturbed, "but for the record, I'm not the one who helped a maths fetishist attempt to murder Josh. So before you get on your high horse, look in the mirror."

"I like you, Phones." Sanae released his grip, the embrace becoming more relaxed once again. "Josh is in good hands. You'll definitely put him in his place."

"I'm not here to control him, not that anything to stop Josh when he gets his mind set on something." They laughed and returned to the cafe where Neku would relay his plan for the proposal. They had it all planned out.

"Everything was meticulously planned and kept secret from you. If you found out, Neku thought he'd freak out and not actually ask you or it wouldn't be romantic enough for you. I tried to tell him it wouldn't matter but he was set in his ways. You two have that in common." Joshua tugged at some loose strands of carpet as he took in what he had just been told. The muscles in his forehead ached and twinges from frowning. "You're the strongest person I've met by a long shot, so seeing you like this is really a testament to how much you love Phones. But love's a two way street, you've gotta meet the kid half way here. I know you don't understand what you're supposed to be doing, no one does, but you more so. You ain't never had anyone to love you and that's my fault but.."

"Oh, please. You don't understand anything." The barista all but growled with irritation. If Joshua just kept going, held his nerve slightly longer, he might leave.

"Really? Then do explain? What ain't I getting here?" He had no response to that. He couldn't explain but no lies came to him either. He tugged at his hair, scalp sore and throbbing.

"I don't know! Okay? Nothing in my head makes any sense, it's just unintelligible noise to me. I hate that right now my goddamn throat is seizing just at the prospect of talking. I hate my voice. I hate myself. That's all I know." Throat now raw and breathing uneasy, he clenched his eyes shut. Waiting for the oncoming scorn or retort. Waiting for a response.

Nothing.

"Mr H left."

"Oh."

"What about me? Do you not understand how you feel about me?" Neku's voice was haggard, worn thin, on the other side of the door, "I love you, you know? I never told you but I've always loved you." His head made a thump as it hit the door, his eyes traced the ceiling as he tried to ignore the breathing behind him.

"You think I don't love you too? You think I don't love you so much it hurts? Its excruciating." A sheet of paper slid under the door, poking into his leg. Neku had noticed how his voice had cracked, how his tongue seized over his words. Neku was giving him an out. Letting him communicate on his own terms and not force him to use his voice. Joshua silently thanked Neku for that and hated himself for needing such measures.

'Loving me hurts you? Am I so bad to love?'

'Yes...no. Never.'

He slid the paper back under the door, waiting for Neku to take it. He wasn't finished though. Some things, Neku deserved to hear from his mouth, not written on a page. "You want to know why I ran away? I had the whole thing figured out. You were sick of me, had moved on and loved another and we're just casting me aside because why wouldn't you? I had all but come to terms with it. I thought you were leaving me. I thought it was the end. I love you, so I was letting you go; letting you fly free from me toward the life you so deserve. I was making my way back here to tell Sanae they'd need a new Composer. I was planning on erasing myself. On having Sanae erase me since I can't do it myself. But, then you asked me to marry you. What was I to think? Everything had been completely wrong. I just lost reality completely. It was the feeling you get with the muzzle of a gun pressed to your skull." There was a pause. Not even a breath came from the other side of the door before the paper stabbed his thigh once more

'I know the feeling.'

The moment where the fear and the betrayal and the anticipation builds up inside you. The promise of pain without the relief of it. That was how it had felt. How it still felt. Why Neku deserved better. Another note followed the other, this one covered with scratched out responses that Joshua could hardly make out. The message Neku had finally decided was good enough, made Joshua's hands shake and his mouth dry.

'Marriage isn't necessary, we don't ever have to get married. It's just a piece of paper at the end of the day. I only asked since I thought it would put you at ease.'

The ink was blurred where tears had fallen.

'I thought that, if we were married and it was legally binding, you'd see that I wasn't going anywhere. That I wasn't going to leave you. But it seems I went the wrong way about it.'

Neku choked and shuddered behind him. "I'm sorry." Forgoing the paper and using his cracking voice, Joshua responded.

"Never apologise to me, Neku. You know that by now."

"I do, but I'll still keep saying it. I'll keep saying it until you see that I mean it." A thump was heard as Neku turned and pressed his forehead to the door. "I'm right here, please, just come out. I don't want to lose you. I'm here for you." Joshua could here the plea in his voice, it had been there a lot over the course of his confinement. The silverette barked out a cold laugh as he finally realised what a fool he had been. Neku realised how he had made Joshua feel and was willing to make up for it. The ginger was willing to regain the trust he had lost and work to better their relationship. He had only ever wanted to make Joshua happy but had just not realised how damaged and stupid Joshua was. The only thing holding on to all that was hindering them, the only thing holding them back, was Joshua. Hiding was a habit he had perfected over time. A defence mechanism honed with use that made his words barbed with condescension and laced with poison, just to shield him from attachment that would inevitably lead to loss. But that was only holding them back. Neku was willing and waiting to communicate and move forward, he need only meet him halfway.

"Neku, get away from the door."

"I'm not going anywhere and nothing will change that so don't even try."

"Fine, fall on your face then." Joints cracking and straining as he turned, he opened the door. There was Neku. Balancing on his forearms as he stopped himself falling onto his face. Joshua had warned him to move.

"Josh, I'm so..."

"Why that ring? Why were you adamant that it had to be that ring?"

"Well, nothing about us is traditional so I knew it couldn't be a gold ring. But then I saw the ring and," he dropped his gaze to his hands as he pawed at the floorboards, "the silver reminded me of how your hair looks when we sit watching TV late at night. Shiny and silky and just so unreal. And then the gem looked just like your eyes. It made me think of waking up next to you, the sun peaking through the curtains and making your eyes sparkle." His eyes peeped up at Joshua from under his fringe, "It's stupid but I don't know. It made me think of all the things I love about you and my life with you. It seemed fitting that they should be what seals our future together."

"Give me some time, I have a lot of things to think about. I just need to...I just need-" Neku nodded at him solemnly, understanding without explanation. He turned and trudged down the stairs. Joshua slid the door shut and slammed his eyes shut. What was he doing? He couldn't even begin to unscramble what was within swirling within his mind. He splayed out on the floor, itchy carpet irritating his skin. He flailed his arms for a minute to try and release even an ounce of the lethargic agony within him. Whack! His elbow stung where it had struck the bed frame. Joshua sneered at the furniture as if had actively sought to hurt him. Not that it would surprise him. His blinking eyes caught sight of a single box wedged beneath the metal frame. He snatched it from its resting place and fumbled to open it.

Tears threatens to resurface at what lie within: a Polaroid picture stared up at him. The image showed two teenage boys; one with tanned skin, black hair and a youthful magic to them. The other was a short and silver haired with a wistful smile that was u mistakenly genuine. The back of Mr H's head could be seen within the shot where he stood behind the counter of the cafe. It had looked the same back then as it did currently. Joshua skimmed his fingers over the surface of the picture, it had been so long ago. Another life. His partner was dead. Not erased, just dead. No doubt ready to be reborn soon. He had died not long after they had survived the Game. It had been Joshua's fault. After beating the game, Joshua had struck a bargain with Sanae, planning on hacking the game. Planning on ascending to Composer. His partner had tried to stop him. Had tried to interfere. Joshua hadn't known wha he was doing. He wasn't in control of the powers he had inherited along with his Composer status. He had killed him. The smile he had depended upon, would never grace the world again. Because Joshua had been a fool.

The silverette turned over the image and written there were the words:

'Love is based on trust, on mutual respect. All relationships are stem off of that. Good luck, my friend. I'm sure there's a guy out there you'll put up with your ugly mug for the rest of their life.'

A laugh careened through his clenched jaw. Even from beyond the grave, he was still lecturing him. His sad smile fell as his thoughts turned to Neku - trust was out of the window as soon as they had met. Respect was something that Neku had earn to re his first week as Joshua watched him accomplish each mission and slowly come to trust his partner. Joshua had ruined any kind of relationship their week together had conjured when he had revealed himself as the mastermind behind the game. All trust was broken. Respect obliterated.

Yet Neku hadn't shot him.

The closest he had been to finding the rest he longed for, hadn't been granted to him. If it had been anyone else, he would have been erased that day. But it had been Neku holding the other fun. Sanae, Megumi, Minamimoto, anyone else would have shot him and taken his place for their own gain or to stop Joshua's tyranny. But not Neku. The hiding and the lies and insults had done nothing to deter the ginger teen from his resolve to not shoot him. He didn't trust him. He couldn't forgive him. Yet he couldn't kill him. Joshua still could quite grasp what had happened that day, he doubted he ever would. Doubted even Neku understood. He'd spout some nonsense about trusting you partner. Joshua had never been one to expand his horizons, preferring solitude. Less chance of being betrayed or hurt. Though he had been hurt and stabbed in the back, regardless. Betrayed and hurt because of his actions, because of his reclusiveness and narrow mindedness. Because of his enclosed world. By saving himself, he was actually hurting himself. The Game was restricted to only the areas within Shibuya but Joshua's consciousness had been restricted to only his own head! Why had he never thought of it like that before? Neku was trying to help him. Neku wanted to stand beside him and help to expand his world. Neku wanted to save him.

Leaping to his feet, he galumphed down the stairs and into the street. Rain pelted him as soon as he left the sanctuary of the cafe. His shirt gained translucency as the water made the material cling to his every movement. Hurtling past people and oncoming traffic, his eyes scanned the area for a shock of orange hair. The lights and neon of the city cast a sickly glaze over the area

There.

Neku stepped out of J of the M with hands in his pockets, hood up and face melancholy. Joshua darted over to the other, his feet struggling to keep up with his racing heart. The silverette tugged on Neku's coat, urging him to turn to face him. Blue eyes looked at him with apprehension and confusion. Joshua was grinning as sheer joy rolled off of him. The rain tumbled through his hair, plastering it to his face.

"I'm an asshole." Neku looked at him as if he'd sprouted wings or lost his mind but Joshua just beamed at the ginger. His jaw ached from the smile and a laugh occasionally bubbled from him. "I'm an asshole, Neku."

"Yeah, I heard you. Josh what are you on about?" The ginger frowned, shaking his head, "Seriously, just stop messing with my head. I can't take much more of this, I love you but I can't keep hurting myself for you."

"That's it though! I understand now, I'm an asshole because I keep getting hurt. I keep getting hurt because my world is so small. I always thought it was me against everything because it was! I let no one in for fear of being hurt but hurt myself by making myself be alone! My method of coping with the world became the thing keeping me out of it!" Sifting his fingers through the curls stuck to his cheeks, Joshua twirled some strands between his fingers as he fixed Neku with a look of pure love. "But then I met you and everything changed and you showed me what could be and though that terrifies me, I want nothing more than to expand my world with you helping me. If you'll still have me."

"That makes no sense." Joshua's smile shrunk and he blinked the rain from his eyes. "That is the most ridiculous thing I think you've ever said," Neku chuckled, his shoulders dancing, "but I can't say I'm surprised by anything anymore. After such a romantic speech, I'd be a fool to say no." The silverette's eyes widened. "That means yes, dear." This was real. Nothing had felt so real. Lighting cracked through the sky above their heads, thunder tumbling behind. Leaping into the warmth that was the other's chest, Josh cried and he laughed and smiled and he was just so relieved and happy. Oh god was he happy. Neku hugged his torso and spun him a circle for a while. Joshua nuzzled their noses together, their breath warming their now cold faces. Neku's breath was short and pulse racing beneath his touch.

"I love you, Neku Sakuraba."

"I love you, Yoshiya Kiryu." Neku could feel the dimples on Josh's cheeks as they kissed. It was a chaste but nevertheless passionate thing. It was as if the rain was washing away the worry and strain from earlier, leaving them with joy and ease. Neku's fingers trailed through silver hair, it was heavy with moisture as he used the ends to flick Joshua in the nose. Josh crumpled his nose at the ticklish sensation before ripping himself away from Neku to let out three consecutive sneezes. He didn't even care if he got a cold, he was happy to stand out there forever. But Neku had other plans as he plucked up his hand and pulled him back into WildKat where they proceeded to get warm and curl up on the sofa. They cradled each other as they sobbed and laughed, until the sleepless nights evened their breathing, relief lulling them into dreamland.

They awoke to the still raging storm. The sound of rain against the windows was oddly comforting, the exterior cold making the warmth of each other all the more enticing. Neku watched on adoringly as he traced the shell of Joshua's ear with his fingertip. The silverette still asleep beside him. A hand bat at the offending finger as the silverette burrowed into Neku's side to escape the touch. The ginger pressed a small kiss to the crown of Joshua's head. Crooning, Josh's breathing quickened as he began to stir.

"G'morning, angel." The blush that stained the almighty composer' cheeks was worth the punch to the ribs he received.

"So, Neku: where's this ring that sparkles like my eyes?" As if to punctuate his point, Josh crawled on top of him, face only inches away. "Do you enjoy staring at my eyes, Neku? Does my silky hair just make you want to swoon?" Joshua hooped him on the nose playfully. "I didn't know you thought I was so stunning, dear. I'm flattered, positively melting under such a gaze." The ginger male rolled his eyes and pushed the other off of him. Joshua heaved himself to his feet, clambering out of the back room to the store cupboard. He threw things haphazardly as he rummaged. Neku bit at his nails as he cocked his head in curiosity.

"What are you looking for?"

"The pollyfiller, there's a ceiling that needs fixing," Joshua leant his head back, looking at Neku upside down. "Care to help me, my dashing fiancé?" Neku grinned, the last of his tears spilling from his eyes. He wiped them away as he flicked his fiancé's nose.

"I'll go get the step ladder."