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…
It finally reached December! The end of the year! At least I'm free now! ^o^
Disclaimer: Would anyone believe if I said TWEWY belongs to me? No?
…
Ch 8 : That Light?
Clearing his throat, the composer repeated his question of, "Are you messing with my things again, Sanae?"
Sanae grinned sheepishly, "Can't hide anything from you, eh, J?"
Joshua rubbed his forehead, he wasn't angry, beside, sooner or later, his producer would find out about that letter. That reminds him of how impatient the higher plane is…
"Want some?"
The composer shook his head when he saw a mug filled with dark coffee. He wasn't in the mood for coffee. Every time he came here, it was always coffee that accompanies him with his own thought. Maybe he was getting a bit too bored to choke down more caffeine.
"Relax, the angels won't force you on what you don't want! I mean, hey, they're alive, too, aren't they?" calmed the dark-haired man.
"You're the only angel who will say those things…"
…..
"I told you, you're too lenient, Sir!"
"Watch your language, Nesda…"
A pair of grey wings moved, Nesda Bylt, wasn't happy with the verdict they ended up with. One of the angels tapped the desk rhythmically; his four wings folded to his back didn't budge. Two female angels were busying themselves with their own decision.
"Fheite you agree with me, don't you?" Nesda loudly said. His wings trembled with every word he spit. Fheite didn't answer, there was no answer that could please both sides.
"Lord Whyttier, what's your last decision?" he asked.
Long white hair nodded, "Four head angels, I hereby declare," he glanced at each of their eyes, "…leave the composer alone…"
A shout of disagreement was heard. Ignoring all of it, he left the meeting room without any plan of calming the situation he had made.
….
Is it pure dumb luck? Neku was too happy to even think about it.
The class meeting was cancelled; a heavy wind blew, hitting the school and its surroundings hard. The students had to stay inside all day. Hearing the wind smashing the windows and trees made Neku smile. He doesn't need to compete anymore. While the other students were ranting about how boring this day was, Neku was in the corner, eyes scanning the school courtyard with a pleased look in them.
Still, he couldn't help but stop to think about Bito's absence today…
Bito's parents said that their son caught a terrible case of flu and sprained his ankle. Knowing the truth, Neku wisely chose to lock his mouth. Nevertheless, he might ask Joshua what really happened yesterday to Bito.
*Sniffs*
A crowd got bigger, surrounding a girl from his class. She was crying, crying so hard that Neku was interested. She cried and cried until one of the students came and patted her back, trying to calm her down.
She sniffed, "My…my…key..k-keychain is gone…"
Keychain? The crowds buzzed. She cried again, "…it's a…a keychain from m…my… d…deceased fa…fathee..father…" more sniffles came out from her mouth.
Before Neku knew it, he had already said, "Where?"
The girl went into deeper cry, "…Somewhere…outside the school…" she sobbed, "I mi…might have dropped it..o-on my w..way to school…"
Neku bit his lips as he replied, "I'll go look for it!"
While the whole class gasped, Neku covered his mouth, stunned at what he just said. Rather than gasping, the girl's eyes lit up, she looked at Neku, "Re…really?" her tears stopped pouring out.
No turning back, he couldn't take back his words. Neku nodded, "…Y..yep!" the girl wiped her tears and smiled.
"You can't go outside!" shouted one student. Everyone nodded, agreed. The wind was still smashing the windows, there was even cracking sounds coming from the crash. The sunlight was completely blocked out, and Neku almost regretted his offer.
The girl didn't say anything as Neku put on his coat and ran for the front door, but when Neku glanced back, he could see her lips whispered a 'thank you' to him.
…
"Really?"
Sanae covered his ears, J's reply was too loud to his ears though he is relieved to hear the news as well. One angel had just came by and reported that the high angel council had chosen to leave 'the composer of Shibuya' alone without any attempt to convince him to become an angel. When the angel flew back, both cheerily went frantic around the café. For once, Sanae was happy his café rarely gets visitors…
Joshua glanced at his phone, "Ah, I should be on my way now!"
"Where to?" the producer asked.
The composer merely smiled as if that will answer the question. His fingers playfully twirled his silver locks, "Somewhere…" he whistled. The door opened, the world welcomed him with a heavy wind blow, knocking him from the door.
Startled, Sanae quickly caught him, and barely crashed to the counter. Wind slammed the door with a loud thump, forcing it to close. Joshua wiped his lap, stood up, mumbling a 'what the heck?' He didn't expect the heavy wind to be that bad, bad enough to be able to knock him out.
That made him more worried about that boy…especially with an odd feeling flowing inside.
Don't go out, please…
"You still goin'?"
Nodding, the pale teen walked outside. As the wind caught up to him, his body shimmered, forming a taller glowing figure, walking against the wind.
…
It's really hard…
Neku nearly couldn't breathe. The wind slapped his small body relentlessly. The thick coat he'd been wearing didn't do much to hold the pressure. Three times already he was knocked over from the street. Standing up after his fourth knock out was far from easy.
C…old…
Teeth gritted hard, trembling, shivering, he almost couldn't stand. Question of why popped into his mind. Why did he go in the first place? Why? Why, why, why? Was he trying to show-off…he couldn't even bring back the keychain! He held one hand in front of his face, trying to block out the wind from hurting his eyes.
….I'm…a…afraid…
Maybe…he should just give up…running back to the school? That might be the best option…but…but…why…he…won't move back? Neku didn't know why…his legs won't run back to school, they keep moving onward, piercing through the wind.
It's there…the keychain is near…
Like they knew…Wait! Neku caught a spot of light between the soft grasses. He crawled carefully and grabbed the light. It's the keychain! He shrieked in joy, stroking the red keychain to make sure it was indeed, the keychain. All he needed to do now was just to dash as fast as possible back to school. That was the plan…before he lost his balance, and rolled on the steep wet grasses.
Ah, no! River, again?
Fearfully, he clutched the keychain between his arms and shouted,
"He…Help!"
…
What a pain…
Light emanated from his back, forming a pair of static wings. A pair of white reapers' wings spread as he leaped, flying across river banks.
"I really hate working up a sweat…" he groaned.
He braked when he noticed a lump getting pulled by the fast river current. 'Not again…' he sighed, taking a sharp turn below toward it. This time though…he couldn't help him without being in this form. His usual form would only be a nuisance with this bad weather. Should he find Neku, he wished the boy had passed out…
And he reached for it…
…
It's all white…
There's nothing but white…what…has happened?
He fell for the second time into the river, right? Again…and in such bad weather…he doesn't have chance to survive…does he? So, this is…heaven?
…ake…p…ake…up
Whose voice is that?
Wake up…
Angels? Mom? Who? His eyelids slowly opened, it's still the same scenery. White, nothing else…but it's warmer…it's more…comforting…more to a light than nothingness. But why…he'd seen this light before? He DID know this light! Same place…same accident…same light.
Back then when he fell to the exact same river.
…
Joshua was relieved when he knew Neku didn't swallow much water. His life was safe, only a few cuts and scratches whether from the wind or from several pointed stone beside the river. Thing is, Neku's alarming reaction every time he tries to heal the wound. When his cold hands touched the boy's warm flesh, Neku would cringe in pain.
After a few yelps from Neku and few twitches from him, the wounds were healed. He carefully carried the boy, putting him on his arms, his wings wrapped protectively around Neku's body. Using his teleporting power would hurt this boy's frequency so he walked to Neku's home.
Neku's hand moved, reaching for something to hang into…to make him feel safer. That's when he reached Joshua's wings.
A common knowledge for reapers and angels: that their wings are far more…err…responsive to a pat, rub, or worst, a touch. That's why every single reaper and angel could hide their wings. Because when someone dares to touch them, the reaction will be…urgh…
Simply put, they hate it when someone touches them…
A chill was sent down to Joshua's spine when he realized that Neku not only touched them, but also tugged them! Patient…patient, J…hand shaken, holding back from forcefully 'making' Neku release his grasp. Unbearably annoying…he shifted his gaze toward Neku who seemed to enjoy tugging his wings. To his disliking, he couldn't possibly hide his wings right now, or that would wipe out the comfort tune the boy had formed. Good, because that tune returning Neku's normal vibe from the after-effect of his vibe.
Funny, he could feel the child's vibe when usually he never feels human vibes due to his extremely high vibe. His producer was right.
The bad side of this is, if Neku kept tugging, this will probably become the longest day ever…
…
For a month or so, I have a lot of free time. Not idea, though… Sorry if it started to look crappy…_
Thanks a bunch for reading! If it's good, continue reading, please. If it's bad…-_- *bows nervously*