I recently took more science class than language and now I've to pay the price…They're giving me headache and lots of idea block…Nice job, me
Furiookami: I'm blaming myself for the writing mistakes. Let's just say I'm not good at Grammar. I take the idea into the bank though…thanks
Kanrei: Nope, Neku's the one with the headache. Joshua didn't have one.
Disclaimer: Let's just say it's never mine…
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Ch 17: CAT
CAT
The mysterious artist roaming in Shibuya. Cat was reported as an anonymous street artist whom recently filled Shibuya with his so called work of arts. Youths praised the beauty of his or her art, but adults ranted about how the artist dirtied the city with street art. Colorful, light, and perfect, CAT's arts are known for speaking freedom.
For Shu, the art itself is great. He introduced CAT's work to Neku who quickly grew attached to it. It's funny to see Neku smiled in front of the very first CAT's art Shu showed him which Neku rarely does these past years. Yeah, Neku has changed significantly since that day. No one knows what has happened or maybe they didn't really give a care. They simply avoid him, pretending he's not there.
But it's not in Shu's nature to leave his friend, best friend if he's asked. Aside from Neku's despicable behavior, Shu still likes the orangette. Not that Neku replied his kindness…the only reply Shu could get is that Neku is slightly softer and respectful around him, very slightly, barely visible if you're not Shu. At first, Neku hates the friendly act Shu gave him, but when all the scolds he spat were ignored by the teen, he let him be. After years, he grew to like him a bit. Though, he can't exactly put Shu as a 'friend', more like a 'close classmate'.
Shu also acts as an information source whenever Neku wants fresh rumors about CAT and said artist's new arts. He knows when to leave Neku. Times when Neku chooses to shut himself from the world. He respected Neku's wish to be left alone, that's also why Neku allows Shu to sit beside him, talking and trying to make him speak freely.
Other students are already used the sight of Neku and Shu conversing by themselves. Some of Shu's friends grew jealous of the proximity and spread lies about him. When it reached Neku, Shu took 3 months to bring back Neku's trust. That's the first and the last everyone ever heard of such lies about them.
When Neku's absent from school, others asked Shu of how he could stand Neku's nasty personality. Shu always smiles and replies,
"I can't stand a lonely person…"
There's only one thing that he's afraid of. It's CAT, the artist. It is one of the reason Neku still befriend him. What will happen if CAT disappears? Will Neku leave him? He never asks, for the answer scares him. He could only enjoy this moment, when Neku still stays as his friend.
…
It's just as he planned.
He rolled his sleeve, sighing. The smell of paints reeked from the cans strapped around his belt. Pulling a wide brush, he dipped it slowly toward the red paint. With a delicate move, he made a thin red line across the board. His left hand dipped another brush to the white paint, tracing the red line. He put the red-painted brush between his teeth and took a black paint.
"This one…1-4, 1-3, 2-3, 1-2…" he swiped the brush across the gap created by the red and white line.
His hand made its work, quick and precise as it danced on the picture that slowly formed. The color changed, from red to white, to black, to green and almost every single colors he have inside his set of cans. When all of his brushes are tainted by the color each of it was used to, he stopped working, looking at the result, "And…2-1, 3-1, 3-4, done!" he huffed, "…that took time…"
"I'm impressed…"
He startled, pointing his brush toward the direction of the voice. A young teen was smirking at the wall which he just painted. "Ah…you're also here?" he replied, throwing the brush into the empty can. The teen chuckled, "Well, I'm here to see you working, of course…"
"Well, just as you ordered me," he shrugged, "…I put the strongest one here so it should be attracting more talented people…"
The teen shook his head, "Nope…"
He arched an eyebrow, "Huh?"
"You'll see when the time comes…" the teen gave him a mysterious gaze
…
Shu twisted his route home a bit. He never comes to Udagawa, especially this late, but with the whole news of CAT's new arts being drawn in here, he just has to go here. Whether it's true or not, it's better if his eyes see it.
That's when he caught a glimpse of that 'thing'.
Calling it an ordinary art would be an understatement, it was worthy enough to be called a GRAND masterpiece. He blinked, mouth agape, speechless. Nothing could come out from his mouth, even a tiny "Wow…" or a simple praise. The only thing passed through his mind is that his friend would definitely like this thing.
…
"That's weird…"
Megumi re-read the report in his hand, carefully skimming each word. At the last sentences, he adjusted his glasses, "What's with this report…" he put the paper on the desk.
Bright souls are increasing in numbers. Continuous negativity growth, stray noises and even a used taboo noises decals. The number of the victims from possessive noise is also increasing. Most players have great ambitions, but they were dragged by negativity. Few reapers even get possessed and most of them were eliminated by strong players. Permission to live are being underestimated, the game's players are growing in number.
It's his own report, for the composer, and he hesitated after the last sentences and even more reluctant after he read it all over again. This report's true, he noticed all of this when three from four reapers he sent came back. The fourth reaper never comes back, eliminated perhaps.
What will happen to this city if such things continued to happen?
He slowly tore down the report, deciding to write a new one. Give the city time…it will change…probably
…
Stunned
He was stunned at the sight of the HOLY masterpiece. The color, the graphic, every line, colors, details, everything seems to fell at their perfect spot. His hand patted the rough surface of the drawing, smiling softly. Shu watched him in silent, also smiling. He's proud of his founding. It made Neku happy at least. Even that he felt, deep inside that he'd be abandoned if it's not for this CAT's drawing.
He wished in silent that everything will go on like this, forever…
…
"I know you're evil, South!"
It's another meeting for the angel, and of course, another trouble. East, West, North, and South, every single head of the sector are present. Few other high angels are also attending as audiences. High above them all, sitting in the honored throne is their one leader. The one voice who decides who's right and who's wrong. Every entity refers him as 'Master'. The head angels call him 'Lord' Whyt.
He is a wise one. Everyone respects him even that he's not the ruler of the whole world. He always has the right answer to everything, and most of them also call him as the judge of all.
"It's been years…and I changed…I am NOT what you've thought about"
Whyt could handle his own problem. He manages to rule the four head angels, he solves all the problem they told him. But he did not expect that the past will come after him again. When he let one mistake stayed the way it is. It came back for revenge, cracking the shell of the peace agreement between the four sectors of world.
"Then, how could this happen? If you said that it's not your sector who pushed theirs to his?"
Ah, South, the watcher of the South Pole, Asia, and Australia. Stubborn, but he would never do what they accused him of. He saw him changed, to a better person. It's gradually, but steady. There's the energetic West and the enigmatic North. Both are the one who blamed South about this problem. West, the looker of America and West part of Europe. The observer of North Pole and the rest of Europe, North, whose personality never ceases to confuse others. And the center of the problem revolves around the keeper of East sector, who has gone quiet after the charge's been read.
"That's not me!"
He stayed silent a few seconds to watch the argument. West, shouting every blaming word she could find and South denying all of it.
"Quiet…" he raised his hand. All eyes rapidly looked at him, both arguers swallowed their words and watched. Whyt looked at each of his angels, they are all expecting something that would solve all of their problem from his mouth. By all means, he has none, but this chaos has to be stopped.
"Look at us…We're angels! But only one problem could make us forget our dignity as one…" he took time to see their reaction, "…I won't blame anyone for this terrible turn of events nor would I say that no one is guilty…"
"But how about the city then? Shall we ignore the threats?"
Agreeing murmurs buzzed in the middle of the audience. "No…we shall not…" he replied. For the first time in the room, East looked up to the honored throne with sharp glare, "…By any means Lord Whyt…I'll take all the punishment…" he determinedly said.
Whyt shook his head, "No, you're not the one to blame," he vividly exclaimed. East averted his gaze again and back to his silent self. "But, East, prepare yourself…" Whyt continued. His sight fell on the audience,
"…For you might lose a city…"
…
I am so slow at updating…maybe will be slower, or faster that depends on how my teacher moods. Will they give more assignment or will they let us free? But expect me to update next week…