Sometimes, he'd rather be left alone.

When that happens, there's nothing she can say to console him. It's because he's so happy at the same time. He's smothering his sorrow with his relief.

Neku, Day 4

"Want to go to Udagawa?"

Neku is startled by Rhyme's sudden suggestion. He stops sipping his can of coke and looks at Rhyme, almost as if he is seeing her for the first time.

"What for?" he asks, quietly.

Rhyme knows that if Neku wasn't already dead, he would be dying of curiosity. Yet for the last few days, he has been hesitant to speak about what is on his mind.

They sit inside the cool, air-conditioned confines of Shibuyuku's Sunshine. Rhyme figures out that the Taboo Noise cannot enter any shops and so inside, they have been safe from erasure.

Rhyme is starting to get worried.

"We don't know what the Game Master is up to," she explains to Neku. "We haven't been getting any mission mail since the second day. The Taboo Noise are running amok and there's all those trash heaps around town."

Neku nods and grimaces.

"And there are more mysteries," Rhyme continues thoughtfully. "Like Joshua and why he doesn't have a partner and why he has memories of you lying dead in Udagawa."

There. It's out in the open now. Neku is visibly shaken by the thought that someone so connected to his death is walking Shibuya's streets. As for Rhyme, she thinks of the boy she met at WildKat and she wonders if maybe, just maybe, he is the thread that binds all of the answers together.

Neku speaks up. "So you're saying we might dig up some dirt on this Joshua if we go to Udagawa?"

He doesn't seem very optimistic, so Rhyme smiles for him.

(He's doing this all for Shiki.)

They don't quite make it to Udagawa without any detours.

When 777 approaches Neku and Rhyme about a missing microphone, Neku is spectacularly unimpressed. Rhyme, on the other hand, quips, "One good turn deserves another!"

Neku scowls, looks at 777 and then at Rhyme. When his eyes fall upon his partner, he notices her hopeful expression, and something in his demeanour softens.

"Fine, let's help the guy out."

They're at Udagawa now, and it feels like there's a crackling sort of electricity here, even though they're in the back streets. Rhyme likes Udagawa; it's a street that bursts at its seams just like the rest of Shibuya, but it does so at its own pace. People work more slowly here – Neku and Rhyme sprinted on their journey but now that they are at their destination, time feels like it's slowing down. Neku's eyes are drawn to the CAT mural at the end of the street, and Rhyme can understand why this is the place he died. Udagawa feels so Neku.

Rhyme thinks this, yet there are also other things on her mind.

She nudges her partner. "Look, over there!" she whispers. "Isn't that the Game Master?"

There is no mistaking it. The current Game Master Minamimoto is striding imperiously around the street. In the backdrop lies yet another striking example of his interesting taste in art.

"The Grim Heaper!" Neku breathes. "What's he doing here?"

Rhyme wordlessly places a finger to her lips. Neku falls silent and the two of them watch as Minamimoto scribbles something over his trash heap, all the while muttering mathematical jargon under his breath. When he is satisfied with his work, he leaves, not without yelling into the megaphone he pilfered from the Phone Booth of Love as he does so. Rhyme is glad they got that situation sorted out, but there is a more compelling mystery afoot here.

There has to be a reason for this, Rhyme thinks. Maybe the reason why Minamimoto is ignoring his duties is because he has dreams. Intellectually, Rhyme can understand that.

No less than a minute after Minamimoto leaves, Joshua arrives seemingly from nowhere. He walks up to the trash heap, peers at the scribbles and casually fiddles with his cell phone.

Neku can restrain himself no longer.

"Hey, you!" He's on his feet and Rhyme watches in alarm as he stomps over towards Joshua. "What are you doing here? Who exactly are you?"

Joshua does not appear too frazzled. "Tee hee, it's good to see you, Neku dear."

"Can't say the same for you," Neku replies tartly. "Now just answer my questions!"

"I will, I will. I hope you don't keep that face up or you'll get wrinkles early."

Rhyme cuts in before Neku can find a blunt object to hit Joshua with.

"Joshua, do you remember me? I was in Mr. H's café."

It is Neku's turn to watch on in bewilderment. "You know this creep?"

Rhyme nods stiffly.

Joshua laughs.

"We're acquaintances," he says. "Tell me, Rhyme, are you still looking for the Composer?"

And Rhyme says, "I've already found him."

She doesn't actually know the Composer's identity for certain is but she's had strong suspicions for a while that Joshua is connected somehow. He's friends with Mr. H, who has his own fair share of secrets, and he's been able to interact with the UG even though he's not really a Player or a Reaper.

Joshua's reaction will confirm everything.

He smiles, and that's how Rhyme knows he's seen right through her. She gulps. She's never quite felt this sensation before…

"So zetta slow!"

Rhyme is startled. That wasn't Joshua's voice.

It is Minamimoto, and he strides into view with what can only be described as a maniacal grin on his face.

"Can't believe it took you so long to work out," he says.

"Wh-what?" shouts Neku. He's grabbing the sides of his head again, cringing as if he has a migraine. "What's going on here?"

Rhyme bites her lip. She's only a simple player; she's felt increasingly out of her depth when it comes to the Game, but never as much as she does now. "You're after the Composer too!"

"Heh," smirks Minamimoto. "You insignificant fractals. Like I'd ever team up with you. I'm a prime number!"

"So wait," says Neku. "The Composer… it's Joshua?"

What what what what.

But Rhyme is not too surprised.

Joshua shrugs. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag. You weren't meant to find out this early, Neku."

Neku has sprung to his feet. "C'mon, Rhyme, we have to take this creep out!"

This is it this is it.

Minamimoto erupts into laughter.

It feels demeaning to Neku and Rhyme, and they turn to glare at him in unison.

"You worthless tetrahedra have zero chance of winning!" Minamimoto declares. "Think he's just another Noise? He's the Composer!"

It is strange to hear a warning from a high-ranking Reaper, especially from someone as arrogant and self-absorbed as Minamimoto. Rhyme thinks: could this pale, thin boy they're facing reallybe that strong?

"We still have to give it a try!" Neku shouts to her. "What about Shiki and Beat?"

Right, right, Rhyme thinks shakily. She can't give up. Beat wouldn't do that, and he's the one with the dream.

She summons her chakrams and draws herself up to her full height.

"On the count of three, Neku…" she whispers to her partner. He nods firmly.

"One…"

"Two…!"

Before her lips can form 'three' there is a blinding flash of light.

Rhyme can feel no heat against her skin, just a pure burst of energy. She feels no sensation of pain but for some reason, she can't keep steady on her feet. It's enough to knock her off her feet and leave her gasping for air.

(oh no oh no oh no)

It takes only a matter of seconds for Rhyme to force her eyes open, but it's too late. Joshua is gone.

"Zetta slow," Minamimoto cackles, with a shake of his head. "So zetta slow!"

He doesn't even bother erasing them.

Author's note: If you liked Minamimoto here, read my Minamimoto-centric oneshot: "Pi-face's zetta wonderful maths class" -shot for shameless advertising-

Talking about the story here, I think Rhyme being Neku's partner in the second week would change quite a few things. You probably might not agree with how I've told the story here, but at least it's more interesting than a retelling, eh?

Two more chapters after this!