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Joshua was perched on the Statue of Hachiko, people watching from the safety of the UG. It was in the middle of the typical down-time between Games, and his Reapers were off playing Tin Pin and eating ramen.

Suddenly, a swarm of Noise headed his way- a pack of Wolf Noise with a few stray Popguins in the mix. Fear and Guilt. What a common blend. It was missing the usual Anger to it; Joshua casually started looking for Grizzlies.

White wings suddenly erupted from the swarms of Noise- beating air and beasts alike as a black-haired man half-flew, half-ran to Joshua, quickly jumping from the RG to the UG.

"Mr. H? " Joshua leapt upright, his hands tingling as he prepared himself to attack anything at any moment. "What happened? Are you ok? "

The producer was gasping for breath- instantly, Joshua laid his hand on his friend's shoulder and let loose a bolt of healing magic. Sanae pushed him away, and the blue light fizzled and died as Joshua stopped the flow. "Don't waste that on me... " The cafe owner panted.

"It's not a waste, Sanae. "

"It is when you're going to need it more than I do. " Quickly but clearly, he explained all that Masaki had told him, ending with, "I know you think you can kill Masaki, and you can with my help, but It's not just Masaki. It's the whole of the Highground. You need to get out of here. "

Joshua turned his back to the fallen Angel, white body shimmering slightly. "No. "

"Joshua... "

"I'm not the only one in danger here. Rhyme and the rest can't defend themselves against this. I will not abandon them. They're... my friends." He gave a slight, merciless laugh; the grim logic and intelligence that lurked beneath his cavalier exterior showing a glimmer of itself. "Just a year ago, I had no one except you. My own brother had turned against me... now... I have everything. And everything to lose. "

Joshua paused, scowling as his mind raced for answers. Sanae kept quiet.

"Never figured you to be a hero, Josh. "

"I learned from the best, Sanae, " here he smiled, as if with some secret joke. "Besides, only by allowing strangers in do we find new ways to be ourselves, " the Composer mused. "Now, I've got an idea, but we've got to hurry. Sho's on his way here, and just because I've shown him mercy doesn't mean he'd show me the same. "

"What makes you think- " Sanae stopped, letting the ever-changing emotional currant wash over him. He picked up on a flicker of hatred and longing for vengeance, headed their way. "Oh. "

"Masaki can't afford to get her hands dirty, no? " Joshua smiled grimly. "We can't talk here. Follow me. " With that, he teleported away, leaving Hankekoma to fly in his wake.

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