Title: Stolen Recollection
Genre: Friendship
Summary:"I've been watching you, silly…". For Neku, that was just one of annoying quotes from Joshua, but to the composer, it's more than what ears could hear. Maybe he needs to keep it all to himself…
This one took a very long time to finish, thanks to my full-of-lesson brain…and if it's bad…my apology… -_-
Disclaimer: Errr….I was getting tired of saying TWEWY doesn't belong to me…
…
Ch 7: Joshua
"What is your name, Stalker?"
The pale teen furrowed his brows upon hearing those words coming from Neku. He growled at that, causing the boy to show him puzzled eyes. As much as Neku wants to know Stalker's name, his older friend doesn't look anywhere near happy to hear him babbling about that kind of stuff.
"Neku…" he drew a heavy breath, "…I am merely a 'Stalker', and that is simply my name…"
"No it's not…" he replied, "Stalker is a nickname…I read it, you can't dodge…" a mischievous tone in the little boy's voice. As if it's not threatening enough, he put his hands on his hips and tried to emulate Stalker's usual grin. The outcome was somewhat…laughable.
(Imagine, Neku doing Joshua's signature grin, but give him chubby cheeks! Got it?)
"Hee hee hee…if you're trying to threaten, you failed miserably…" the teen chuckled.
"That's not fair…how did you know my name? I never told you…" grumbled Neku, hands still crossed in front of his chest. A cocky laugh came out from Stalker's lips.
"Everything I do and say is just, Neku" he answered, "…and I just happen to know everything"
Neku clucked his tongue, "it's only fair for you…" he said. For a second, Neku saw Stalker's face turn gloomy, but it was replaced with another proud smile.
"Come on, it's just a name…" whined Neku.
Considering that he never requests anything to anyone beside his mom, Stalker should answer him and by answer, he MUST give an honest answer. He nearly formed a wide smile when Stalker's lips moved, but it stopped when the teen put his fingers on his lips and said,
"It's a s-e-c-r-e-t…"
…
Sanae rubbed his head, looking around the room with bewildered look. Then he promised to himself to make J clean up after today's game end. How could he find the thing he's looking for when every single thing in here seems to jumble together, like there's been a heavy storm?
"Where should I start looking…" he groaned as his hands moved to clear at least a path for him to walk.
His sight caught an out-of-place white envelope sitting on the composer's messy bed. 'That's weird, J rarely gets any letters since he's already dead…' the producer mused. Curious, he took the envelope, examining it and wondered to open it or not…
He shrugged, "Won't hurt to look."
Ripping the edge of the envelope he found one folded letter. It was starting to make him nervous, 'Heck, J won't be angry…' he told to himself. He dragged the letter out, opened the fold, and started to read it thoroughly.
…
Joshua was intrigued by the fact that this little kid hadn't given up on trying to make him spit out his name. Two hours has passed since this boy asked him for the first time. While he was busily helping Neku to finish his homework, the boy kept repeating the same question about his name over and over again, disturbing his mind from working properly. Every few minutes he'd ask the exact same question again…and again…and again…
"Pleaaseee…."
Puppy-dog eyed Neku whimpered as Joshua for who-knows-how-many-times shook his head as another refusal. His name was personal and he doesn't need another person to break his privacy after Mr H. Besides, who likes telling something that has given them so much pain?
"Not telling…" he sang.
And once again, Neku scowled, throwing his gaze back to his homework book.
…
Wings slowly faded from his back and vanished, leaving no trace just like they always do. He walked through the white hall and bowed in front of the throne. An angel with two pairs of wings leaned forward raised his hand, telling him to stand up. His long sleeved robes gleamed, and moved along when he put back his hand on his lap.
"What is it that you came to seek, Hanekoma?" His voice was soft but stern.
"It's about the composer of Shibuya, Your Highness…"
The angel raised his eyebrows, "…Your composer? What is it about him?"
The dark-haired man shook his head, "Nothing…but is it true, you asked him to ascend? Become an angel?"
That question didn't faze the angel, he rested his chin on his hand and replied, "We did…but sadly, he refused it…" he said. "His great soul is wasted for only a little thing such as Shibuya…"
Hanekoma rolled his eyes to the side; a glare of just-as-I-thought came across his face. He bowed down, gesturing a thank you and stretched out his wings, "Your Highness, it's not a 'little' thing…" he smiled, "…but it's a den of souls…"
Leaving his words to be thought of, he flew back to where he was supposed to be.
…
School was the most boring thing in Neku's life…now. He paid attention to the lesson, understood it and got a normal mark. Not so great, but not so bad as well. That way, he could avoid any attention from any teacher. Being normal is something that he's excellent at. What point was there to become the center of attention?
Not like today, the worst day ever known to Neku. Why it became the worst? Ask one of his 'specialties'.
That, my friend, is rage.
It all began when the go-home bell in his school rang and Neku's teacher asked them to stay for a while longer. She announced that they would be holding a class meeting tomorrow in which students gather and have lots of competitions against each other. They chose Neku to compete in the marathon, thanks to Bito's constant ranting about how fast Neku is. Rather than CHOSEN, Neku would say that he was FORCED to.
"But, Miss…"
"Neku, you WILL have fun tomorrow, trust me!"
'This isn't FAIR!'Neku yelled to himself. His temperature rapidly rose, his cheeks turned rosy red. If he was one of the characters in a comic an angry puff would come out from his head. What made him angrier is that no one disagreed about it.
That didn't end when he went home. THAT Bito followed him, asking him to go home together. Neku didn't answer, but the blonde boy took that as a yes. Then, he talked and talked, causing Neku's ears to turn red. It was like pouring oil onto a blazing fire of rage. That's what philosophy would say about this unexpected thing.
Neku heard a "SNAP" from his head and hissed, "Shut up…"
The chain broke; he had reached his limit of patience. Bito, feeling the pressure on Neku's words, wisely locked his mouth. Neku rarely speaks in a rude manner. He rarely even SPEAKS.
So when he does speak, especially in such way, Bito guessed that won't be good, 'aight?
"You think I'm happy to be chosen?" Neku said. His fist was trembling, clenched, holding his fury. Bito reluctantly nodded. "NO!" the orangette snapped. "I hate being chosen…" he said, "…it makes me feel burdened…"
"No, it's…"
"SILENT! I don't want to hear anything!" Neku raised his finger, pointed it toward Bito, "…I hate you…"
Bito felt 'something' was pressing against him hard to the ground. He resisted, but the more he resisted, the more it pushed him. There was nothing he could do when his body was slammed to the ground. Frightening…scary…he couldn't think of any words to explain it. Shivering in fear, he looked up, trying to find Neku's face. His mind was screaming, ordering him.
'RUN! RUN! MOVE, LEGS! RUN!'
But his legs didn't move a bit, something was strangling them to the ground. His voice was blocked out, he couldn't say anything.
'Help…'
Again, he tried to look up, but before he could see Neku, his sight was faded.
…
The light quivered, calming Neku. Softly, it soothed the raging notes coming from his soul and healed the wound it had caused him. His negative aura shrunk into nothingness while his soul went back to its usual vibe. Music around him got back its usual rhythm, its notes leaped back to their original places after being misplaced by the boy's vibe.
He opened his eyes, Stalker was there, standing and…glowing.
What a beautiful light…
"Neku!" Stalker called, banishing the light surrounding his presence, "…you hurt?" he checked the boy for a scratch. When he found none, he sighed in relief. Slowly, he carried Neku on his back, "Let's go home…" he whispered. The boy wrapped his arms around Stalker's neck, burying his head into the teen's soft locks. And sniffed…
"I hurt…a friend" he said between the sniffles, "…he won't forgive me…"
"Oh, I believe he will, dear."
Neku stopped sniffing and squeezed Stalker's shirt, "But…I…"
"Nothing I say ever wrong, Neku…" cut Stalker. He turned his head, finding Neku, teary eyed. "…Trust me…"
Neku caught an honest and confident look in Stalker's eyes unlike the teen's usual eyes which were dull and grim. The gleam makes Stalker's eyes more alive.
"I can't trust someone whose name I don't know…" Neku laughed, wiping his tears.
Stalker held out his phone, pressing some buttons, "Stubborn, aren't you?"
Neku saw a blur and then his bed. He was home…but how? He stared at Stalker, asking for an explanation. The teen didn't answer, he only put Neku gently to his bed.
"Sleep is the best medicine…" he pulled the blanket over the boy, "…and tomorrow will always be better than today…"
"I still don't know your name Stalker…" said Neku, refusing to sleep.
Stalker closed his eyes, this is his limit, if Neku tries to…
"..Pleaseee…"
With a sigh of defeat Stalker whispered, "…Joshua…"
"Jo-shua?" Repeated Neku which was answered by a nod from his older friend. Neku smiled and he said the name again to himself, "…Joshua…Joshua…". His laughter reverberated as he said it for the fourth time.
"Is it that…funny?" Stalker flushed. He'd never been called that many times…and it was weird when someone did.
"No it isn't…" Neku, still smiling his never-ending smile, "…but when I hear it, I feel warm, in here…" he put his hand on his chest.
…
My last update before the exam, I might not update for a week or two…thank you for reading and waiting…Love you all readers! :D
And if you get bored of me saying "Please review…T_T" then, Review, pleaseee…