The sun surged through the storm-ridden skies. The city seemed to shake off the slumber of despair, waking up and humming in harmony with the birds that seemed to remember they could sing. The crowds thinned, arguments and fights ceased almost magically. Shibuya was rapidly improving in mood, the Noise retreated to their own plane, even those controlled by Reapers, as a surge of pure positive emotion tore through both the UG and the RG.
Neku was bowled over by the force of the wave, and looked up from where he'd face-planted to observe the change in feel. He only needed ten seconds to look at the RG citizens around him and feel the overall vibe of passersby, to realize what this sudden change could mean.
Dropping the crepe he'd been carrying, the Proxy rushed to Cat Street, feet pounding the pavement as he tore through the crowds and dashed through the door to the cafe like a tornado crashing through a glass house. His legs pumped , nearly buckling as he tore up the stairs, onto the second floor, down the hallway, to at last breeze through the door to the sick room.
The sight that greeted him left him floored and silent for a full ten minutes.
Rhyme sat rigidly on the side of the bed, tears of pure joy flowing without restraint or shame, her hands clasped over her heart as she stared, as all of them stared, at the body on the bed in silent, potent awe and a relief that was so powerful it sucked the air from Neku's lungs.
Joshua's body was glowing an ethereal aura of pure imagination, his hands twitching and his breathing normal. He looked like he was in bliss instead of in agony, his hair blowing in the pure power outlining his being, and from his back….
The proxy felt his knees buckle, hand over his mouth as he collapsed to the floor. Shiki was in almost the same position, tears flowing out of her like waterfalls as she sank even lower, head touching the floor as her hands gripped the carpet, guilt washing away as she continued to sob her regret and happiness.
From his back sprouted large, beautiful, white wings.
"He's home." Hanekoma rasped, emotion closing his throat as he sank next to his boy, reaching out to stroke a pearly flight feather. "She brought him home!"
Neku gasped and held that image in his head. He held it tightly as his fighting spirit rose to a boiling point. He clenched his fists and turned to the figure lurking and seething by the doorway, the shadow he cast not even registering to anyone else in the room filled with light.
"This is what I'm fighting for." Neku snarled "You don't stand a chance."
Apollo put a hand on his chin, his eyes sparking in rage at this setback. He didn't think Yoshiya had that much left to give. He'd been betting on it when he entrusted the girl with the sheers. Yet, the Being had tasted true victory in his headspace, when Kiryu had stumbled into his mind. It clearly wasn't over yet.
"The battle isn't over, Sakuraba. This tiny bit of hope you've found is insignificant in the grand scale of things, so do not get cocky."
Neku snorted and turned back to the glowing being on the bed. "Keep telling yourself that, Apollo. Because where I'm standing...the victory is already ours."
"Shall we get back to it, then?" The Higher Being taunted, stretching "You've taken a long enough break."
The proxy seemed to ponder something, and went to the still-awestruck Hanekoma, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning in to his ear, whispering conspiritively.
"I've had enough. Can't we just skip to the end? The final level?"
The Producer chuckled, "Chomping at the bit are we?" He stood up and put a hand on the back of his glowing boy, a look of fierce determination in his eyes as he looked into the blue orbs of the teen.
Neku stared at him, the frustration clear in his body language. "You could say that. I'm ready to put this to rest. Josh needs it to end, and I can't take much more myself."
Hanekoma nodded, but frowned "As much as I'd love to just start the final battle now, Phones...I can't. It takes time to ready the arena for that intense of a match, and truth is, I don't think you're ready. Plus, the Game so far isn't over for the week, and more than you and Apollo are playing it."
"But Mister H.-"
"—Now hold on, I wasn't done yet! The Game isn't over. You have one more day, and then you can think about preparing for the Final Battle. I was going to have you two face another week, but I can't imagine either of you actually cooperating with that scenario under the circumstances. Therefore, it is within my rights as Producer, to declare that after tomorrow, both contestants have exactly one week to prepare. That's all I can give you, Phones. One week, then the Battle of Supremacy will begin!"
Apollo and Neku locked eyes and each snarled. One expression was fierce determination, the other was a hungry desire for total domination.
"Bring it on!"