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…
I'm getting busy this holiday…that's weird…
Disclaimer: Goodness, they aren't mine!
…
Ch 9: He is Not a Human
"Neku's gone?"
Twitching her eyebrows, Neku's mom rolled her eyes toward her living room's couch. "No..he's here, safe and sound" she answered. Checking her boy, sleeping peacefully on the couch, snoring softly. "He's asleep, mind if you ask him tomorrow? Yes, of course…"
She put down her phone, sighed.
"…Neku…"
What exactly has happened to you…
Neku mumbled, his palm clenched over his chest. Inside it is a shiny red keychain…
…
Sanae was wiping washed dishes when his doorbell jingled. Without looking up to see, he said plainly, "How's the boy, boss"
A sarcastic laugh was heard. "Good question…" Joshua sprawled over one of the available chair. Brushing his fluffy hair aside, he started to rant
"That boy really is reckless…" he tilted his head, "…he better not die because of it…"
"Ya started to sound like his bodyguard, ya know?" Sanae chuckled, shoving his wiped dishes inside the kitchen rack. Ignoring Sanae's reply, Joshua shut his eyes, thinking of his next visit for the boy.
…
He sighed, leaning his head on his hand, staring blankly. This wasn't like him, daydreaming in the middle of the day.
"Heya!"
He jerked up, his hands moved to his usual combat pose. A pair of red eyes blinked as he shyly put down his hand. "What's wrong, Fheite?" the red-eyed angel spoke, she glared at Fheite quizzically.
"…Even that Joshua is one of the composer in my sector, I still can't fathom his action" he said, "…one of the brightest, yet he still devoted himself to one small city…"
She remained silent, for she, too, doesn't understand the weird composer action neither the reason of their head angel to side with him as well.
"Look, we have one angel to accompany that composer, he'll report anything he knew about the composer's action…" she finally answered, "…all we could do now is wait…"
Fheite nodded, though what was circling on his mind is, Sanae's words
Shibuya…the den of souls?
…
Sparkling eyes staring in awe were the first thing that greeted Neku when he went to school that morning. He held out the keychain proudly and gave it to the girl who can't stop thanking him. For as much as he hates being the center of attention, this time, Neku doesn't mind when his friends hugged him. He doesn't whine when another child tousled his orange locks.
Maybe, it wasn't as bad as he thought…being cared by people.
…
Joshua likes it more when Neku was surrounded by kids his age. Or bunch of brats with the same age. Not when the kid gloomily scribbled anything inside his notebook in the corner of the room, alone.
"Grow up well, Neku…" he whispered, hoping the wind carried it, "…so you'll become a fit successor to my throne"
Wind did carry his message, but to no one except the composer's ears. That's better than for it to vanish…unheard
…
Playing with his thumb, Neku repeated his teacher's question once more inside his head
"Who helped you, Neku?"
There's no way a kid could find his way back home with such limited range of vision, such powerful wind, or the slippery road. Just, NO way…Impossible.
She sighed, Neku still pursed his lips, unwilling to part it, to form words to quench her curiosity. Dealing with this kid was not her specialty. Two reasons, one, Neku rarely speaks when no one asked him, two, he smiles when his friend smiled or laughs when his friend laughed.
"I don't…know…"
And that's the only answer she got after hours of persuasion.
…
Although Neku has grew fond of being with his friend, that didn't include his teacher. Especially after she asked one simple question.
"Who helped you?"
Honestly, Neku doesn't know the answer, it could be some random guy passing by, or cops, or superhero…no, scratch the last one. He only knew that whoever helped him resemble Joshua. Or it could be him. But, with a build like him, there's no chance for him to drag Neku out of the current.
Or…
Yep, this was the only thing came across his mind. After all this time, meeting Joshua, being helped by him, every weird thing that the teen did, everything that only his imagination could offer, something that he feels whenever Joshua visit him, one thing did fit him. He's not an angel like Neku believes before. He's far too free…too real to be an angel
Thinking about it makes him smile, yeah, he must be right about this.
Joshua is NOT a human like him…and he knows he's right
…
"Your order, Sir?"
It should have been those weeks when players increase in number rapidly. A month before December. People rushed around, trying their best to finish their jobs quickly so in the last month, they could relax and enjoy the snow. Some unlucky people would get into accident and die. Or if they're lucky, they won't die, just went straight into the hospital.
Yet, the snow also helps. A few days after the heavy wind, snowflakes began to fall and covered Shibuya in white, cold coating. Several places were so slippery, adding numbers of victims.
"Fine…I thought we could avoid this situation…"
Megumi bowed, "…Cancel the game?"
"Please, do…" Joshua nodded
…
Snow has fell since three days ago, school's yard was full of children playing snow fight, building snowman, or just staring at it. Anyway, their exam has finished and no sane child would sit inside the class and do nothing. Neku was no exception.
He enjoys everything including the snow. He took part on the snow fight and even promised Shu to build snowman together everyday after school.
This morning their teacher came with a message that Bito has resigned from school. He'll attend another school, same with his sister's. He couldn't say good-bye to them because of the flu.
Deep inside, Neku thought it was his fault…
…
Darn it…I let days slipped off without write any of my idea. The timeline's a mess…
Sorry…T_T