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Four Years Ago

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Stars sparkled in the cold night sky, just pinpricks of light being blurred and faded by the brightness of Shibuya. Rhyme was seated on a bench, head back, looking at the stars. This was not an uncommon thing for her to do, for it was only by staring up into the endless reaches of sky that her own troubles and sadness seemed small.

There was a tingling sensation on her right side, then the air shimmered and a teenager materialized beside her, calmly sipping something hot from WildKat cafe. "Hey, Rhyme. "

She tensed up slightly in surprise, relaxing almost as quickly only to tense up again as the one who had stolen her first kiss gave her an casual violet glance. "How are you doing? " he continued, as if he hadn't just appeared from literally nowhere.

"Fine, " she managed to reply as she tried to collect her composure beside the Composer.

"I see, " he replied, tilting his head back to stare at the stars as well. "Then why are you attracting half the Noise in Shibuya? Call my definition of 'fine' old fashioned, but my 'fine' doesn't involve such... such... misery, " he ended at last, keeping his gaze on the sky.

"I wish I had dreams, " she said at last, drawing her legs up onto the seat beside her and wrapping her sweat shirted arms around them. "My parents are sending

me to a private school outside of Shibuya at the end of this semester so I can 'pursue my dreams'. But I... " here her voice wavered, "I don't have any dreams. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I can't stand the thought of disappointing them. How could I tell them that I- "

She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentance, instead resting her chin on her knees and letting a tear slide down her cheek.

Silently, and a little awkwardly, Joshua wrapped his arms around her cold shoulders, pulling her closer to him in silence. Not until the last tear rolled down her cheek did he let her go and wipe it away, tilting her head up to look her in the eyes. His violet gaze was solemn, seeming burdened with something, but the affection that poured out was genuine.

"Don't tell them, Rhyme. Your dreams will find you- I'm sure of it. Trust me. Everything will work out in the end. " With a sigh, he stood up and walked away to be swallowed up quickly into the crowd, and to leave Rhyme on her bench.

/--\

Joshua sighed as he let the crowds envelop him, slender body dodging through the masses as he made his way towards Ugadawa. A hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Hey. " Hanekoma's voice was low and concerned. "Are you ok? "

"Always the father, aren't you, " the teenaged boy remarked to the cafe barista. "I'm fine, or I will be. Rhyme's family is sending her away, just like I suggested. Neku and the rest- are they safe? "

Hanekoma sighed. "Yes. Joshua- Masaki isn't one to give up. She won't rest until either you and everyone you care about is dead, or she is dead. "

"That's why I'm getting them out of here while I can. "

"Joshua- " Hanekoma took in a deep breath. "Dealing with Masaki is dangerous in and of itself. You can't expect to run and not have repercussions. "

"I know. "

"Do you? "

Hanekoma grabbed Joshua's thin shoulders before he could turn away. "I've stood by and watched you risk the lives of two sets of Players on a hunch; I've watched you put your Soul on the chopping block in the name of revenge; and I've watched you bet the fate of a city on the Imagination of an anti-social teenage boy. But I'm not going to stand by and watch you throw away the lives of the only people who have ever really mattered to you because you think you can outsmart the Highground. "

"Look at me, Joshua, and tell me... tell me you won't let that happen. Tell me you'll cut your losses and surrender if you can't win against her. Tell me... you won't put your pride above your love. "

Purple eyes met brown eyes for a long moment, then Joshua shrugged of Hanekoma's now-limp grasp.

"We'll see, won't we? "

Then he was lost in the crowd.