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Chapter 2: Conducting Homesickness

Often, Koki would reflect on the changes that have happen to him. While he looks unaffected, questions of 'what ifs' constantly plague him. He only has to look into a mirror to remember why he's here and how he got there.

Screams. Fire. Demonic Red.

Arriving in Shibuya was never his intention but he figured that it was better than the alternative. When the Composer strikes a deal with him, he can hardly say no. Because all Koki cares about is going home. While it was ultimately his choice to die, to gamble on the future, he still feels cheated and it isn't the first time or the last time that he's cursed the situation. In hindsight, he should feel relive that the Composer has a sense of humor otherwise he would be rotting in the depths of hell right now.

Still it's hard to adjust but he isn't a genius for nothing. This body is awkward and doesn't move the way he wants it to move. It frustrated him greatly that he lacks so much speed and no amount of training seems to make him go faster. First Gear is the closest he gets to his previous speed. His appearance still throws him off and every morning Koki expects to see a different face in the mirror. It is just other price to be paid.

Then there was Yashiro.

The jury was still out on what exactly Koki define his relationship with his partner. Her fiery temper and almost brash personality remind him so much of another red head he knows to point where it hurts. She did tend to exasperate him. Honestly though, just because it looks like he's doing nothing does not mean he is. Unlike Yashiro, Koki knows how to be at two places at once. Not to mention the only reason why he doesn't want to move up higher is simply because, the higher one goes the easier Shibuya chains one to this world and doesn't allow one to return and Koki wants to return to his old world.

So he sits on a bench in Hachiko's park, watching as those kids he met three weeks ago hang out. He watches Neku's blue eyes light up in laughter and remembers the pair of blue eyes he left behind and feels the guilt that accompanies with it.

Koki says nothing as he feels the Composer materialize next to him. He had known the young man had been watching him even though the powerful Angel was on a different frequency. "I need a Conductor," his boss says. Straight to the point, that meant this was quite serious. Koki knows full well that the Ruler of Shibuya loves to play games but if he's ever straight to the point then you better pay attention. Still he says nothing.

"You fit the requirements. You already know who I am and you have the power to back it up."

Koki continues to remain silent. It's true. While he considers himself to be a mere shadow of his former self, he knows when comparing to the standard Reaper Power Scale he's off the charts. But Koki chalks that up to his former self growing up in amidst of war, bloodshed and had enough power to take down over 300 men in a single flash. He's certain that if others from his previous world ended up here, they would be same. Perhaps that's the good thing that there aren't many from his old world here.

"I much rather have Neku as my conductor... but I don't think he would appreciate the offer."

Koki resisted the urge to snort. No, he highly doubted the younger boy would appreciate it at all. Maybe, if Joshua had been a little nicer. Koki wasn't blind, the blue eyed headphone wearing boy was stuck somewhere between a possible crush to absolute hatred. Given the fine line between the two, it wasn't any surprise. Part of Koki had really hoped it would have pan out that way because (at the risk of sounding like his sensei) Joshua really needed to get laid. Having Neku around would, well in a lack of a better explanation, balance Joshua out, like the anti venom to Joshua's almost poisonous nature. But Fate had other plans. It certainly didn't help that Joshua in a rare moment of honestly, had confided in Koki that his definition of love had been screwed up as a child and that he's been told over and over again that his way of expressing love are a little... extreme. Koki would give it a few years. If it was one thing, his boss was insanely stubborn. Poor Neku.

"Three years. I'll reduce your sentence to three years, return you to your former strength and even cut the sentence of that student of yours so that you both can return at the same time. Of course your original appearance will return as your powers."

At those words, Koki's head snap in the direction of the Composer, his eyes widening slightly in disbelief. "What's the catch?" he demanded.

Joshua shrugged. "No catch. I have been feeling generous lately. Though, I would appreciate all attempts to convince Neku to succeed you before your three years are up." Translation: I want him to like me.

At this, Koki openly stared in shock. The world must be ending. His boss was being nice! Neku must have a bigger impact on the Ruler of Shibuya then Koki originally thought.

"You could just apologize to him," Koki finally offered coming out of his shock. The blank look on Joshua's face tells him that he has his work cut out for him if his boss doesn't even understand how to do that.

"Fine," Koki says with a sigh. Yashiro will be upset, but that's okay. He's use to females with violent tempers. Still, three years then he can go home. Koki's heart races at the mere thought.

"Good." Joshua then smirks and continues, "And get rid of this lazy persona of yours. I don't need lazy Reaper Kariya Koki as my conductor. I want the man who manage to impress me, I want commanding presence of Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō, the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato as my conductor."

Minato merely grinned.

Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō = Konoha's Yellow Flash

Yondaime Hokage = 4th Fire Shadow

So… how many of you saw that coming?