A/N. I want everyone to take a dozen virtual brownies to Jestry. Now.

Because without her, this story would A- Be 22 times worse than it is, and therefore B- Be deleted from the site and I would deny ever having written it and C- Um...... uhhhhh.... she's so awesome. xD No, really. I love you, Jestry. ^^

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Chapter Nine

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Trail of the Sinner

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Light flashed, and the stars seemed dim in the blue glow as Joshua teleported and landed lightly on his feet in the West Exit Bus Terminal, brushing shimmering white hair out of the way. Absently, he noted how nice it felt to be back in the UG. How nice it felt to be back home.

Pull yourself together, Joshua scolded himself. You don't have time for reminiscing.

Closing his eyes, he scanned the area, wincing as his mind adjusted to the downpour of thoughts, sifting through them as he tried to find the thoughts of the girl most dear to him.

There. Rhyme.

He recognized her Soul, felt it's presence, and before he knew it he was running for the Shibuya River.

His sharp violet eyes landed on the blonde, lying and gasping on the ground of the RG on the other side of the shimmering UG Wall while Masaki stood by and watched Sho press a gun to the back of Rhyme's neck. He dropped to the RG, if only to let Rhyme know he was here.

She was in pain. Because of him. He dragged her into this mess- and he would be damned if he didn't get her out.

"Masaki. " The Composer's voice was hard and flat and unforgiving as the concrete they stood on. The Angel with the blood-stained wings watched him coolly as he spoke. "Your fight is with me. No one else. "

"I know. " She smiled. "And this, " she hauled Rhyme up by her hair, eliciting only a wince and a tear from the battered and exhausted girl, "is the key to victory. "

"There won't be victory for you. " Joshua pressed his palm against the wall, waiting for it to melt. It shimmered, then the blue light fizzled and spat sparks of pain onto his face. Behind the mesh of solid shadow and dark light, Masaki smirked again.

"That's a Highground Wall, pretty boy. You're not gonna make it through. So why don't you just sit back and watch your girlfriend die. Or would you rather run again? "

"Let her go, " Joshua demanded, cold even when so much hug on the sadistic whim of an evil Angel.

"I don't think so. Since I can't kill you twice, this girl will pay the price for your folly. She certainly looks the part of the sacrificial lamb, doesn't she? "

Light flashed behind Joshua. "Masaki! " came the challenging shout.

Four sets of eyes turned to the newcomer, half of those bright with relief. "Mr. H! " Rhyme gasped.

Hanekoma forced a smile to the bleeding, injured teenager. "Hey, Rhyme. We'll get you out in a second. " The ex-Producer poured golden energy into the barrier, and the threads of power shivered, cracked, and began to crumple.

Masaki hissed as she vanished into the shadows of the Trail of the Sinner. "Sho, hold them off! " Even as the Barrier fell, the Tabooed man pounced, grabbing Joshua with his tatooed arms and tossing him across the Underpass. Hanekoma blocked the math fanatic's next sally, white wings spread as he cried out to Joshua, "Go, Josh! Get Masaki! "

The Composer needed no further urging, and ran down the dark sewer tunnel on silent feet. He could feel his anger and fear building, and a pack of Grizzlys and Wolves start to follow him, then he erased them with a flick of his wrist. He didn't have time to worry about mindless bits of Noise.

The Trail of the Sinner was dark, and deep, and empty, a soulless place if there ever was one. In the jagged shadows, he made out the flash of a red-stained wing, and lashed out with a bolt of blue. The Angel screeched like an injured rabbit, then was on her feet, using Rhyme as a shield and pressing her gun to the human's throat.

"Try that trick again, Yoshiya. Go ahead. "

Joshua pulled out his own gun. "I'm offering you one last chance, Masaki. Let Rhyme go. "

"How much of a fool do you take me for? I let her go, I die. And I have no intention of doing that. "

The darkness suddenly exploded at Sho and Hanekoma burst in the tunnel, the Grim Heaper aiming his gun at Joshua as the Fallen Angel struggled for control of the weapon. Three gunshots rang out.

BANG.

The first bullet came from Sho's gun, snatched by Hanekoma, and drove itself in Masaki's shoulder.

BANG.

The second came from Masaki, and lodged deep in Rhyme's chest.

BANG.

The third smashed it's way through the head of the Composer.

This shot came from Joshua.

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