Finally, at long last, the end has come! No, wait, it sounds like I'm happy it ended! Well, not happy, just really really…relieved. Since I can't finish my other story (which I don't want to mention at all. Don't ask a thing about it, please…) I'm glad that I can finish this one! Thank you for all the reviews and favs, and, of course, alerts! May we meet again somewhere in another story!
Disclaimer: *Copy & paste my previous disclaimer here…*
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Chapter 20: Connected
He rubbed his eyes. They must be failing him, yes, obviously they were broken. No, they aren't. They're good as new. Nothing's wrong with his eyes. But why? Why is he there, standing before him? With that smug smirk like usual and fingers twirling his ash-blonde locks.
"Seriously, Neku, I must thank you…" his tone hasn't changed. Still the same cheery and full of arrogance like he remembers. He walked toward him, smiling widely. It's like déjà-vu, when he was partnering up with him in his second week.
Joshua. His supposed-to-be-dead partner is alive.
Neku stole a quick glance at his other partners, Shiki who was clapping her hand around her own mouth and Beat who was trying to conceal his shock expression, but failing miserably, ended up with his jaws hanging open.
"Joshua?"
That's Neku's voice. Even Neku can't believe he still can speak in such situation. Whereas Joshua seems to look like nothing has happened to him. Nothing like being engulfed in a flame and turned into ashes. It's just like, he's been there all the time, waiting for a grand entrance to bask in their shock stares. Neku won't believe his eyes. Not this time.
"You've played well…I was right to choose you…"
At this, Neku snapped. Screw Joshua and his plays! Right now, he wants the truth! What has happened? How could Joshua be alive? And why can't they earn their rights to live again? They've beaten the damn conductor to pulp, what other condition they should meet just for their lives? Why everyone couldn't just tell him everything? About the composer identity, about the reason he's there, about Joshua sudden appearance, about CAT, about every single thing that has swirled around his mind, making him almost insane.
"You see, Neku, I…am the composer of Shibuya…"
It was in seconds that Neku was given the answer. The answer to his entire question is simple. One sentence from Joshua and all of the big puzzles inside his mind shifted and clicked into their right place. He could see the answer as it was clear. Very clear.
The composer of Shibuya, shrouded in mystery, with his own purpose, his own intention that no one knows or will understand. That person, who was behind of everything is his partner, whom he has trusted with his live. Something inside him was hurt, more than any physical harm that noises could afflicted upon him. It's hurt.
He felt betrayed. He felt lied at. He felt angry.
How could he trust this guy?
And…how could it hurt more than when he saw Beat joining the reaper or Shiki confessing of her true nature? How?
Pain…he felt the pain, too.
What's wrong with him? What's wrong?
…
Whyt had to check it all over again, before he called East and South to his chamber that day. That fateful day when angels posted near Shibuya has reported the same thing. Something is taking place in Shibuya and it doesn't look good, at all. The wise leader has summoned the angel whose hand is tied to the city as well. Sanae entered the chamber, with exhausted glare at all of the angels present.
It's the second time he was being summoned here. The first time is when he was declared as 'fallen angel' for his crime of making taboo noises decals and that is something that happened some time ago, he lost track of dates after that. Whyt voiced out that he is grateful of having Sanae here, but the other two leaders growled their own gratefulness.
"Do you have any idea of what is happening right now, in your city?"
Not this…Sanae massaged his head. He did know of what take place in their city, heck, he even knows the cause. Admitting it means confessing his crime and that's the least thing that should happen in his day. First, it was Megumi's fault. The crazy conductor think that when no one thinks differently, everything's gonna be fine. No, he is so wrong. The reason of Shibuya's existence is to become the place where people could clash their mind freely thus resulting in many new ideas to improve the city. If you changed the whole citizen into dolls who think the same thing all over again, they'll crumble Shibuya's reason to exist. Sure, not everyone is good and they lured negativity, but that's why they have different minds! Everything in the world has already balanced. All we could do is to wait for the balance itself do justice.
Second, while it is the conductor's fault, he is not entirely innocent as well. While he found the conductor idea to be a faulty one, he supported it, as he was also desperate to protect this city as well. He didn't want it to be destroyed by the composer even that it cost him to betray his composer. Sho was his ally. He taught the maniac how to make taboo noises and how to tabooed himself, though he's imperfect and needs Sanae's help to be revived through decals.
Anyway, the composer hasn't found him out, but the angels have. He admitted, he wants to be punished for his sins, but not now, when Shibuya is on the verge of collapsing. So, what should he say to these angels?
He decided, perhaps…it is time to be judged and it is time to let everything go according to the flow of world's will.
…
Cold, the weapon is cold. His fingers shakily coiled around the hilt, with the index on the trigger. He was trembling from the mixed emotions inside, angry, shock, sad, and hesitation. Yes, he is angry, furious at his friend. He's shock to know that in a minute or so, one of them will die. Sad…he's sad for only one of them will live and yeah, he hesitated between live or die. To be killed or to kill.
If he died, his friend will live and Shibuya…not.
If his friend died, everyone will be alive even Shibuya, but no one will have any idea how to recover it back.
How could all of this be his burden? Why should he, of all people be the one who bear it? For all he knows, he's the least salvageable person in Shibuya. A closed up human who won't do anything for the city, won't sacrifice his life for her. And the composer seems to know it…
The composer…his friend…it all depends on the next bullets. Whose bullet is that?
For all Neku care, it will not be his…
…
East wasn't pleased to find out about the little game between the composer and the conductor. They played with the fate of their own city in a game. How dare they? Didn't they know that if it ends in the destruction of the city, even the angel plane would be affected? Everyone in the world will be affected? One entire city, gone in a night. How many alternate worlds will be destroyed? How many lives will vanish? How many planned future will change into nothingness? How many bright souls ended in vain?
But it's useless to scowl at Sanae as he is only plays a little part of it…
He can only depend and bet the future of this world at the composer's hand.
…
What has he done?
What drives him here? What has driven him here? To this state…
To the state when he wanted nothing but bring destruction to his own city
And now, all of it has vanished into thin air. All of his desire to shatter it all has gone. Replacing it is a guilty feeling churning from his stomach. Someone changed him, no everyone that he met change him. From his conductor acts that surfaced purely by his love for Shibuya and to Sanae's uncertainty while taking his order these past few weeks.
And to this boy that he owed an apology. A big one that is.
"Sanae…am I wrong to…do this?"
Sanae shrugged at his question, "That depends on how you see it, J…if it's good in your eyes to shut down this city, then, do it…"
His shoulders drooped, "…I've made a mistake…" he shook his head and slapped his cheeks, "…I shouldn't have befriended Neku back then…" he glanced at the three teens laying on the floor.
"What? Do you mean, phones?"
Joshua knows his producer doesn't recall it, "No…never mind…" he sighed, twitching his finger up. Three bright lights. Those three have bright souls and exceptional songs. Gentle, alluring harmony from the girl, Shiki. Upbeat and spirited tones from Beat. Complicated but soothing melody from Neku. Another light popped out, unwilling to be forgotten and Rhyme's cheerful notes hummed shyly.
Such a pity to snap these songs off. Such a pity to snap those in the city who still have these kind of songs.
Right now? To be frank…he can't do it
A month ago, maybe he could, but now, he can't…
Neku really affected him. Little Neku back then or big Neku in front of him. That boy changed him like he changed himself.
From the innocent little Neku, who always so shy and stutters. The time when he thought he has found someone who could prevent him from the foresight he's afraid of all that time. A boy whose future he has destroyed by his simple egoistic will to make him his successor. And also a teen who he killed for Joshua's own selfish game.
Oh, how he wish to turn back the time…back to when he hasn't met the boy at all. Back to when he was in 'the game' as players not composer. Probably the mistake that he ever made is to take the composer's throne…or maybe the biggest mistake he ever made is to exist…
In his own way, however, he's glad that he became the composer. If it's not because of it, he'd never met Neku. He will never know what an interesting friend Neku is. And he'll be lonely again, maybe he'll kill himself again to enter 'the game', win it and gain his life only to be killed by himself again. Suicide isn't an elegant way to die, but he did it to end his life on that day.
Yeah, it was snowing, so no one would be suspicious that he died of suicide. The building's roof's also quite slippery and anyone would said that he accidentally slip and fell from the 34th story (which is the roof). And it's Christmas eve, the day when everyone's so busy with shopping lists for their Christmas day. Any child of twelve could be up in the roof, curious and bored. They could walk in the roof and slipped, fell down the building.
That's why he's quite sensitive in Christmas…
Maybe he's just exaggerating things, but he also remembers that day when he appeared so vulnerable in front of Neku…so honest yet drenched in lies. No one has such memory but him. It hurts, really hurts to know that Neku has forgot about it. He wants him to remember! But it will hurt Neku…to gain such recollections about him. Neku will know that he has lied to him…and how will he re-acts? That is something that even his 'sights' can't see.
There's also one more catch…
They already said that when Neku gained back his memory, so do his vibes and the negativity threats around him…
So he let him be…
It's the least thing he could do to protect Neku and his friends. And it's his fight to make Shibuya a world in which everyone could live in anything but negativity, free to do what they think is right…
A world where Neku…no everyone could smile
This, he kept in mind firmly
…
Nothing's change in Shibuya
Not a thing, like he has suspected it will. Same old street and same person crossing the street. It still looks the same. The only thing that changed is that he's not alone anymore to walk in it. He has friends! Something he hasn't had for years since…that guy's death.
Enough of that, he sounded cheesy when dealing with that kind of thing, especially after he died…ask Joshua how many time he has died.
Oh, dear god, does Beat really has to shout that loud, and how could Rhyme waved her hands beside him like her brother doesn't have the loudest voice at all. But he still ran toward them, smiling (at this he frowned a little, but smile again) and greeted them both. With Rhyme skipping in spot, saying that Beat has forgot about today's date and rushed out of the house, Rhyme in his arm, flailing and laughing.
That morning, Beat wore his pants backward.
Neku laughed and blurted out that Beat is a dumb-hole in which when the blonde boy grabbed Neku and pinned his neck while his hand made a hitting-like motion toward the orangette's head. Rhyme said that Shiki will be there in a few minutes because she was talking with Eri about their new plan for custom-designed t-shirt.
Just in minutes, they heard a shout and turned around just in time to see a girl hugging a black doll, smiling sheepishly and fidgeting a little with her glasses. She looks nervous, but quickly relaxed when Rhyme tapped her shoulder and smiled.
"I…it's g..ggood to see…see you guys!" she stuttered out timidly.
Well, any days couldn't be better…
…
"Do you think they'll remember?"
It is his question which brings a frown to Sanae's face. His composer never cares for mortal, that is something normal for them, angels and… let's just say, higher being. The light flickered a bit, signing that somehow, the composer is slightly amused by his perturbed face.
"Maybe…phones will, I can't figure out how others are thinking, they ain't that close with you…" replied the producer who was still confused by the odd question
He glanced back at the four friends who were laughing, joking with each other. They looked fine without him, he isn't needed. It hurts but relieving. He's no longer a part of their lives anymore, he won't make anything worse for them. And he'll be alone again, at last…
"Anyway, J, it's their world, they can do anything they want with it…"
Joshua was giving him a complaining look. Though he may appear older, the 'complaining' look still held the same pout and curvy line made of his lips. And although he looks all high and mighty with the glorious light surrounding himself, his pouting look is just as cranky as a teen might put on.
"So, we should just leave 'em at that…to let 'em choose the future themselves and-"
When Sanae turned around, the composer has gone, leaving only a trace of lights in his former spot. Nice, typical J to be a selfish and stubborn composer like that. Rubbing his rough stubs, Sanae spread out his wings, feathers stretched widely, some started to fly off and turned into wind.
"Some people didn't take no as an answer…"
…
A great relief flooded inside the whole angels in the emergency meeting. They've considered assaulting Shibuya for the composer's head, but thankfully, somehow, the composer changed his mind and put off his desire to end Shibuya. Thus, this news has been music to every angels ears especially, of course East who can't stop putting this wide, silly grin across his face. Secretly, South has been thankful as well. Both North and West are un-affected, telling the other leaders that that's how it supposed to end. They weren't surprise that the tiny composer –that's how North called him, much to Joshua's protest of the unnecessary nicknames- couldn't bring himself to destroy such 'lovely' -again, this was North' doing- city. West nodded solemnly and said, the composer hasn't off the hook, yet and might be punished for breaking the rules, but everyone's too happy to discuss about it and she promised, she'll bring it up on the next discussion.
Whyt only laughed, continuously said,
"That's just like him…I should've known it!"
…
"How's your day, J?"
It's an ordinary day in Sanae's café when Joshua paid the shop a visit. Usually when the owner put a close sign in the front door and rejected Neku's pouting face. The day when Joshua can freely go around inside the shops, commenting about Sanae's un-tidiness which was clearly spread across his work-room.
As usual, he was sitting on his seat (the chair he always sits on whenever the 'ordinary day' came by), sipping on hot chocolate (he stopped drinking coffee after Sanae gave him a dark coffee without sugar and flipped over when his face twisted) while watching his producer grinding some newly-arrived coffee beans.
"Bad…I never thought having no conductor is double-work for composer…" replied Joshua, squeezing the mug in his hand, "…how's yours?"
Sanae gave the grinding machine a wry look as it chose to stop working half-way, "The angels expected me to tell 'em everything which is annoying. They said, they can't choose my punishment if I don't spit out the truth…" deciding that it's the best way to fix it, he hit the machine, "…I told 'em countless time that I already admitted everything…they just won't listen…their loss…and I bet you wanna know how's Neku, huh?" the machine trembled, making a weird sound before it completely shut down.
With that, Joshua jerked up, his purple eyes staring at Sanae, "Did I miss something?"
"No…he's still the same, asking about your whereabouts and sending suspicious glare when I said I know nothing…"
Clucking his tongue, the teen sneered at the answer
"Oh, and J…don't give me that look…you're up to something aren't you…god isn't the punishment from the angels enough? They warned you, key!"
"If you put it that way, Sanae…" he sang song, "…I might just do something"
Peeking over from his grinding gizmo, the dark-haired man gave a long sigh.
And just like any good father would advice, he said, "Don't get into trouble…"
…
Neku looked up, and made mental letters.
It's silly, yes, mental letters are silly, but that's the only way to put his mind at ease. He doesn't know why it does, perhaps it's because he enjoyed it or perhaps it's because he knows, no one would know who the message is being sent to.
Idiot…he started with that word, always that or he can't think of anything to resume his letters. He tried a simple 'hello' or greetings, but he ended up scrunched up for thinking of a word that suits his receiver. When he thought of nothing, he use 'idiot' and everything came out naturally from his mind.
Happy that I've been sending you letter? Well, big chance that you are out there, maybe is laughing at me just outside my room. I've had chills when I turn at corners of the streets, like you could just spring up and surprised me to death. Mr H told me he knows nothing of your whereabouts and that's inconspicuously a lie. He sucks at lying. Or is it me, good at guessing.
You know, why does no one remember you? They remember the game, but they only knows you as a friend (who will never appear before them anymore) not as the great –sorry, I can't stop emphasizing on that one- composer of Shibuya? And how could I be the only one with this knowledge?
I said I trusted you didn't I? You made things better and hates to admit but if I wasn't inside your stupid little game that past weeks, maybe I won't have any friends like I have now. Though some of them is stupid –I mean Beat-, but they are nice friends. And even that you killed me twice, you're also my friend…but, no…you are not forgiven, yet…
Neku snorted…he's beginning to sound cheesy and it's creeping him out.
Screw that! If you don't show up in our meeting three days again in Hachiko, I won't forgive you forever!
Now, he sounded like an angry teen girl, trying to threaten her friend with childish, immature threat.
Whatever, just come…three days, Hachiko…
And just like his last letter, he wished that guy would come
…
Oh, no…I haven't finished, there's prologue in the beginning, of course there'll be epilogue! Okay, thank you for reading, guys!