Wishes
Stage 3 - The Game
When the Game started on Saturday, Joshua couldn't help but feel as though something was off. Not in a bad way, though, but still off. Just the other day, he had felt as though his heart was beating a little bit off its usual pace, and Shibuya's Music had sounded… different, somehow.
But now he felt just fine, and… he could only barely remember feeling… like something was… was…
"…what was I thinking about, again?" Joshua murmured softly, holding his head and frowning in slight confusion.
The thought from before had completely disappeared from his mind, as though he had just been imprinted by someone. But he was the Composer, and he had over a dozen mental barriers around him to prevent himself from being scanned or imprinted. The only reason Neku had been able to scan him during that second week was because he had allowed him to.
"…" Sighing softly, Joshua shook his head. 'Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. If it's important, I'll remember eventually.'
The silver-haired Composer watched as the Players had finally begun scrambling their way toward Hachiko to find a Partner to help them survive the oncoming week. Several dozen of them were killed off before they could form a pact however, reducing the number of Players to a measly 16. It then took them a small while before they were able to finish the mission, which was to reach 104 before the hour was up.
"…Looks like I missed the first day, huh?"
Joshua tensed and whipped around in surprise. "N-Neku? Wh-why are you… wait… what happened to you?"
"Don't get me started…" Neku mumbled, reaching up and holding a soaking wet handkerchief to his face, wincing as it touched the ripped skin under his eye. "Gah… damn, that stings!"
The redhead was dressed in the pitch-black and silver kimono he usually wore when in 'Kyuubi' mode, minus the eye shadow, ears and tails, but it was left open halfway and it had been ripped at a few places. As though…
"…Bit off a little more than you could chew with your fights, dear?" Joshua chuckled out.
"Don't call me that!" Neku snarled out as he dabbed the wet rag to his face, before pulling it away once he was sure it wasn't bleeding anymore. "And like I said, don't get me started…"
The silver-haired Composer merely chuckled, though he was repressing the urge to frown openly at the Kitsune's appearance. It was clear that Neku had been in some kind of fight, but getting that information out of the fox was going to be difficult, he knew. He had to wonder how Neku had been able to fight against anything inside Shibuya without Joshua knowing about it.
"…So, any interesting Players down there?" said fox questioned suddenly as he moved over to lean forward on the railing.
The silverette allowed a dramatic sigh. "Not at this moment, I'm afraid. Why? Hoping for some excitement?"
"Maybe…" Neku mumbled softly.
"…if I may ask, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"Felt like it and didn't feel like it," the redhead answered without really looking up.
"Hmm…"
Shrugging the matter off, Joshua leaned forward beside the Kitsune to watch the rest of the Players arrive. The timer might've disappeared, but it was still required to reach 104 or things wouldn't progress at all.
"…ne, Josh?"
'…uh-oh… I don't like the sound of that…' "Hm?"
"…Shall we play a game?"
"Heyo, Phones!"
Blinking, the redhead looked up from where he had been crouched down to retie his shoelaces, and allowed a smile as the blonde shouting for him came over on his skateboard. "Hey, Beat. 'Sup?"
Beat kicked up his board when he reached the other man and allowed a chuckle. "Heheh. Well, tomorrow's Sunday, so Rhyme and me were thinking of calling everyone in for a lil 'reunion, yo."
"Heh… sounds fun. Where you guys planning to meet? Same as usual?"
"Yep! We're meeting over at Hachiko at 10! So ya better be there, too, yo!"
"Wouldn't dream to miss it… Though seriously, you could've texted, yanno?"
"Yeah, 'bout that… wanted to talk to you before that, yanno yo?"
"Hm? What's wrong?" the redhead queried, sounding genuinely worried.
"Well…"
"…a game?" Joshua asked slowly, unsurely.
The last time the Kyuubi had said that particular phrase, Joshua had walked right into Neku's hands and set himself up for a punishment he would not soon forget. So it was no wonder he was hesitant to take up Neku's 'offer'.
"Yes." The fox pushed off from the railing and turned to Joshua, a solemn look on his face. "Just to spruce up this Game a little. Unless you actually believe the current Players can top those three weeks, ne?"
No, they couldn't. There was no denying it; there would never be any Players on the same level as Neku, Shiki or Beat had been. That was practically impossible. Then again, the stakes had been a little higher than normal at that time.
"…What kind of game?" Joshua asked carefully. He made a mental note to refuse the game at the slightest hint of trouble; he did not want that night from two months ago to repeat itself.
"No need to get all hostile on me," Neku chuckled out, leaning back on the railing. "It's just a game in which we bet on the winner of the Game. Like horse races."
"In other words… gambling?"
"Hmm… something like that."
That was even more of a reason for Joshua to not like the chances. While he was fine with playing games, actual gambling was something he really didn't like. There was a reason why gambling was considered addicting, after all, and Joshua was not about to be addicted to anything… not anymore, at least.
"I think I'll pass on this one, Neku," he said calmly.
"Oh? Even if I told you the winner would be allowed to make the loser do anything he wanted to?"
As much as Joshua wanted to say that he was not playing, though, Neku's last words caused a small spark of hope to ignite in his chest. "…anything?"
"A~ny~thing," Neku said slowly in a half singsong voice, a small smirk on his face.
"…really?" he asked slowly, his rational mind screaming at him to just say no and be done with it.
"Really really."
"…" Joshua's mind was torn between accepting the game upon hearing the 'prize' and just flat out turning Neku down. However, the more rational side of his mind was losing against the side of his mind that wanted to utilize this to keep Neku away from him for the rest of his (after)life.
And finally…
"…okay. But on one condition."
"Do tell," Neku said calmly with a small shrug.
"During the duration of the Game, I want you to not come anywhere near me."
Neku looked at him with a slightly startled look, before he snorted and let out a bark of laughter. "Really now? Well, fine. I can live with that… however, I have a condition of my own to add, then."
"…wh…what's that?" Already, Joshua was starting to regret his decision.
"I won't touch you like that, but you'll have to 'pay' for it."
"How is that fair?" Joshua demanded, already knowing what he meant by 'payment'.
"If not, then your condition will be invalid."
"Urgh…! T-then… I have another condition!"
"Oh?"
"When delivering 'payment'… you're not to do anything!"
"Oooh. Well, fine. In that case…"
Like that, they spent the next hour going over about half a dozen conditions for their game.
"…Ah. I see. Soo… you wanna introduce him to the others?" the redhead asked curiously.
"Well, yeah, I guess," Beat mumbled rubbing the back of his neck. "Dude's got no one else… plus, I think his foster parents put 'im in the wrong school, yo."
"That so? What makes you say that?"
"Um… that's kinda hard to explain. But anyway! I'm dragging him along tomorrow! So try not to start a fight, a'ight?"
"Heh. Wouldn't dream of it."
After briefly knocking their fists together, the two men parted ways. Once Beat was out of sight, the redhead sighed softly.
'Well, at least I won't be bored while Master is busy. Right; time to get a move on, then.'
"…Agreed?"
"Agreed," Neku said with a small smirk. "So… any idea of their first 'actual mission'?"
"Hihi. You should know that that's not for me to decide, dear."
"Stop calling me that," the redhead snarled out. "But fine. So, different question; you know what you want if you win, yet?"
"Hmm… How 'bout you leaving me be from now on? Or would that offend you somehow?"
Neku hummed in thought, before he shrugged. "Fine. I suppose I can live with that. Though if you do win, would there be objections if we still met up every now and again?"
"Neku…"
"No ulterior motives, I swear. What I meant by that was just hanging out with the whole gang for once, that's all."
"…Alright. That's acceptable, I suppose." Joshua paused briefly to steel his nerves, since he already had a feeling he knew what the response would be. "And what would you ask for if you win?"
The smirk that played along Neku's face made Joshua gulp in worry. "Hmm… why don't you take a guess, ne?"
"Forget I asked…" Joshua mumbled. He really didn't want to think about it too much, but it did make him all the more determined to win this game.
'I can't lose… I won't…!'
The next morning, at 10 AM sharp, Joshua touched down upon the rooftop of 104, and for once, he was actually dreading the moment the Game started. He moved over to the edge of the building as he tuned down to the RG, watching the people far below him go about their lives, unaware if the Game that was about to unfold right under their noses, or the one that was happening right on top of that one.
The basic rules for the game between himself and Neku was simple; at the beginning of the Game, they would take guesses on which pair would be able to clear the mission first. If they were correct, then they would win one round. If no one was correct, then the round would be considered a draw. The person to get 3 points over the next five days (they had decided to not count the last day) was declared the winner.
"Here already?"
Joshua almost jumped at the voice, before he sighed and turned to Neku as he walked over from the doorway. "Only just. No homework today?"
"Nah. I finished everything last night," was Neku's response with a light shrug. "Did they start yet?"
"No, not yet." Joshua resisted the urge to bit his lip, since he knew what would come next.
However, Neku didn't say anything as he stood by the railing to look out across the city. Of course, Joshua knew why; that was part of their agreement, after all.
So, after taking a deep breath and gulping down what was blocking his throat, he marched up to the redhead, grabbed him by the arm, spun him around — and promptly locked their mouths together, his hands on the side of Neku's head to both keep him there and to tilt his head down (since he was taller than the silver-haired Composer).
And Neku made nary a sound. Hell, he didn't even move. He only opened his mouth enough for Joshua to slip his tongue in. Josh was sure his face was a bright red from embarrassment, but he didn't dare open his eyes to look at Neku to confirm. That was the last thing he needed…
However, Neku kept himself to the condition they had set yesterday in that he would not do anything and wordlessly accepted the required 'payment'.
When he finally pulled away, Neku remained standing with his eyes shut. He only opened them once Joshua had stepped away from him.
"…That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked calmly.
"Well… I… I guess not…" Joshua was not about to say that it had felt more than 'not bad'. Last thing he wanted was to give the Kyuubi a bloated ego.
Without saying anything else, the fox turned back to the city, leaning forward on the railing and merely staring ahead of him. Joshua watched the redhead for a moment, before he joined him at the railing. And like that, they staid silently, until the Players were brought back to awareness somewhere in Shibuya.
"…Game on…" Joshua murmured, for more than one reason.
At the same time, a solemn redhead made his way across the Scramble and arriving at Hachiko one minute past 10. He wasn't the first to arrive, however; Rhyme, Shiki and Eri were already there. Beat was nowhere to be seen, but he had expected that.
"Ah! Neku! Over here!" Eri cried out, hopping up and down and waving her arms excitedly.
The redhead laughed as Shiki attempted to calm Eri down, while Rhyme only smiled at him as he approached. "Heya. Guess Beat's running late, huh?"
"Yeah. He said he was going to arrange something, but he didn't say what," Rhyme said calmly, though she did appear slightly worried about her big brother. "I wonder if he's okay…"
"It'll be okay, Rhyme," Shiki said as she adjusted her hold on Mr. Mew. "It's Beat we're talking about. I'm sure he just got a little distracted."
At those words, Rhyme seemed to relax. "Yeah. I suppose you're right."
"YOOOO!" Beat's voice suddenly called out as the blonde in question weaved his way through the crowds to reach his friends. "Whew! Made it!"
"What took you so long?" Eri demanded with a huff, her hands on her hips, until she realized that Beat had been dragging someone else by the wrist. "Hm? Who's he?"
'So… this is the one Beat meant, huh?' the redhead thought absently as he watched the other boy Beat was still dragging along.
He had shortcut hair that was a light brown in color, and a set of empty green eyes watched them silently. He was dressed in cargo pants and sneakers, a tight, sleeveless shirt with a black leather jacket over it. He also had a pair of fingerless gloves and a simple army cap, and he was quite well-built. He obviously exercised quite regularly. The last notable fact about him was the collar strapped around his neck, an inverted cross dangling from the buckle.
"Heheh. Was getting to that," Beat chuckled, pulling the other boy forward a little more. "Gang, this is Akataiyo Jin. We go ta the same school."
"Oh! Well, nice to meet you, Jin—can we call you Jin? I'm Eri, and this is Shiki," the redheaded girl said with a bright smile. Shiki shied away from Jin just slightly, though she did manage a smile from behind Mr. Mew.
Rhyme allowed a smile and a giggle of her own, before she spoke. "Nice to meet you, Jin-kun. I'm Rhyme. Beat mentioned you a few times in passing, I think."
The youth who had taken Neku's looks was not surprised that Rhyme might have heard of him before anyone else; Beat kept in touch with her a little more than he did with others, so it wasn't so strange, really. However, as he watched Jin's expression, he couldn't help but feel like something was off.
'…ah, I see…'
"Pleasure," he said finally. "Name's Neku."
"…" the brunette merely stared them all down, his face completely emotionless. But after a while, he turned away with a small snort. "…whatever."
"Dude, c'mon! Don't be like that; today'll be fun! You'll see!" Beat said jovially, putting one arm around the other male's shoulders.
'…how nostalgic…' the redhead thought to himself, watching wordlessly as the youth didn't even bother to react. 'He's almost the same as Master was before the Game… I wonder why…'
"A'iiiiiigggght!" Beat suddenly cried out, startling about half the group (Rhyme saw it coming and Jin didn't even react). "Let's get going! Time's a-wasting!"
With those words, Beat rushed ahead, dragging Jin along by his wrist, still, making the other blonde stumble after quickly. The others laughed and hurried after quickly enough.
"Are those two married by any chance?" Neku asked after a moment, watching one of the teams running through the streets of Shibuya with speeds that were unmatched by any other pair of Players.
"Why, as a matter of fact, yes. It seems they had some ties with the Yakuza, and that got them in a spot of trouble."
"One that got 'em killed, I bet… so why're they here?"
"Saa…"
At the moment, Neku and Joshua were gauging the different Players that were in the Game before making their decisions on who they believed would win. And Neku appeared to have taken interest in the 'married couple'.
"…Are there more couples who get stuck in the Game?"
"More often than you think."
After a moment longer, Joshua hummed as he came to the grim realization that this couple might not survive until the end of the week. They were good… but their Partnership was lacking in more ways than one.
"…So, you decided yet?" Joshua asked after a moment.
"…Yeah." Pointing a bit absently, Neku said: "Those two girls running out of the shop there."
"Hm? Not going for the couple?" Joshua asked teasingly, though he was, in fact, genuinely confused.
"They're not going to last," Neku said solemnly. "You wanna bet on 'em, be my guest, but I'm not risking it."
That was unexpected. Joshua had been almost certain that Neku would go for the married couple, given how much he had been watching them. Oh well.
"Hmm… alright. In that case, I think I'll go with the two brunettes running to the mission site."
"If you wish…" Neku murmured, keeping his eyes on the crowd.
And then they fell silent as they watched the Players run about through the streets of Shibuya, desperate to finish the mission and insure that they would not be erased. Of course, Uzuki and Kariya were mixed in between as well, deploying Noise and making things a little harder on them.
"…so are there many married couples popping up in the Game?" Neku asked suddenly.
"Normal couples, every now and again, but married couples… Not so much…" Joshua sighed out. "In fact, most adults don't even make it into the Game."
"They don't?" Neku asked, looking to Joshua in actual curiosity. "Why not?"
"More often than not, they lack the Imagination you need to play. They usually think that the Composer's 'offer' at a second chance if they win the Game is a joke, so they tend to demand us to stop it."
"…so they don't get in the Game and just go straight to wherever it is they're going, huh?"
"You got it. There's always exceptions, of course; people who still cling to the hope of their deaths being undone. Others write it off as a visual dream they're having, which is good, since that means they at least kept some of their Imagination left."
"I see… Are there those who don't even get your 'generous offering'?"
Joshua ignored the sarcasm as though he didn't understand its meaning and chuckled. "Why yes, there are. For one, mass murderers or serial killers get an instant ban from the Game."
"Can imagine why… wouldn't want more of those guys on the streets."
"Hmhmm."
Again, silence befell them and they just watched the Players for a little longer. But once again, Neku saw fit to speak up.
"Were there ever married couples who made it to the last day?"
Thinking about that question for a moment, Joshua debated on what to answer. Finally, though, he decided he may as well tell the truth.
"Once during my reign thus far… Unfortunately, they got erased by the Game Master at the end."
"Ah."
"…Sad."
"Huh?"
Joshua wasn't sure what had possessed him to speak up again, but now that he had, he might as well finish the thought. "When they were erased, they left their five-year-old son behind. And, if I'm not mistaking… he saw how his parents were murdered."
"…You're right…" Neku said slowly, turning back to the crowds. "That is sad…"
Silence once more fell over them, but this time, neither of them spoke again.
Joshua was thankful for the silence, actually, since it gave him some time to think. It had been almost 17 years already since that couple had made it to the final day, and Joshua had actually been looking forward to seeing them (just a little, of course). Even if only one of them could be brought back at the end, at least the boy would've had one of his parents back.
But it never came to that…
The Game Master of that round had been particularly strong and had been hell-bent on getting a promotion, so he had not pulled any punches whatsoever.
Not a single Player had made it to the Room of Reckoning during that Game…
Joshua had not gone to see their child after that. He just couldn't bring himself to do it… it reminded him too much of…
"Mother! Father!"
Joshua tensed sharply at the sudden shout ringing through his ears. 'Oh god no… no no no no! Not now! Please! Not now!'
"Joshua! Run! Get away! Run!"
"Noooo! Mother! Father!"
The Composer clutched his head in both hands, panting as he shut his eyes tight, struggling against the voices in his head — one of them being his own. Because of this, he completely missed Neku's voice calling to him, didn't see the redhead turn his way, or the worried look on his face as he reached out to place a hand on his shoulder.
The touch triggered something inside of Joshua and he jumped away, screaming, startling Neku to the point where the Kitsune backed up.
Joshua was pale, even more so than usual, his body was trembling, his breath coming out in short gasps and his eyes wide like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He couldn't stop himself as he backed up, and then collapsed on his knees, clutching his head tightly as he struggled to keep himself from openly sobbing.
"Get away, Joshua! Run! Run as far away as you can!"
"N-no…! No, please no! Father, no!"
"Ma… make it stop…!" he choked out through the pain now rushing through him. "Please… make it stop!"
…screams…
…cries…
…blood…
…so much… blood…
Suddenly, Joshua was pulled forward, drawing a startled cry from his throat. He fell against Neku's chest (who had settled on his own knees in front of the Composer during the time he wasn't looking) and the Kitsune had his arms wrapped around the shorter male's shoulders, keeping his close as his head rested on top of Joshua's. For a moment, nothing was said, and Neku merely held him, almost tenderly, and Joshua was tempted to pull away, but his body would not work with him at that moment.
So it took him a few minutes to realize just what Neku was doing and to start struggling to get loose. "N-Neku…! Let go! Th-this isn't what we—"
"Ssshh…" Neku didn't release him as he spoke, though he moved one of his hands to entangle it in Joshua's hair. "I'm not planning anything… this is just to help you calm down. Nothing else…"
"I-I don't want your pity! Let me go!"
"This isn't pity, Josh."
"Well whatever it is I don't want it!" Joshua cried out, still trying to push off from Neku's chest.
"Maybe…" Neku murmured in thought. "But it's what you need, isn't it?"
"What's the diff—"
But before Joshua could finish the question, Neku tilted his head up a little… and placed a soft kiss upon his temple. Just a simple touch, but it shut him up almost immediately.
He allowed himself to be pulled back against the Kitsune's chest, his head placed right over Neku's heart. He could both hear and feel the organ's powerful, steady beat through the Kyuubi's ribcage, resounding in his ear and setting the rhythm that his own, erratic heart had lost. The Composer of Shibuya remained deathly silent, only listening to the beating of Neku's heart, and he found himself feeling almost… nostalgic as he let his eyes fall shut.
…do-kun… do-kun… do-kun… do-kun…
Without even being aware of it, Joshua calmed down enough to the point where he was about to fall asleep, but he clutched to his consciousness like a drowning man clinging to a life preserver. But gradually, he couldn't stay awake much longer and he fell under, lulled into the darkness by that steady beat beneath his ear…
"Hush, hush now… it's okay… it's alright now…"
"B-b-but… M-my mother and… father… they… they're still…!"
"Ssshh… I know it's harsh… but you can't help them anymore…"
"N…no… please… let me go…!"
"Sshh… it's okay… I'm here… everything will be okay…"
"…lies… you're lying… it… it's never… going to be…"
"…What's your name?"
"…K-K-Kiryuu… Yoshi…ya… but… M-Mother and… Father call me… Joshua…"
"Joshua… listen to me… your parents told you to run… because they wanted you to stay alive… you still have your whole life ahead of you…"
"B…but…"
"Ssh… Just listen to me… I know this world seems cold… and uncaring… but we're all struggling in our own way. We all have things in our past we want to forget… but it's those things that shape us into who we are. You're still alive because your parents wanted you to live. Not just for you… but for them, as well. If you die, their legacy will vanish from this world completely and then no one will remember them. Is that what you want?"
"…! N-no! Ne-never…!"
"Then you have to live. Do you understand? Live. Not just for yourself, but also your parents. Stay alive… and live."
When he opened his eyes again, Joshua found himself looking up to the skies, and by the stance of the sun, it was somewhere around late-noon.
"Finally awake, huh?"
Joshua blinked and tilted his head, before he paled and shot up, realizing he's been laying with his head on Neku's lap. "Wh-what the hell were you do—?"
"You dozed off, and you seemed comfy enough," Neku said casually, sipping from a can of what looked like soda.
"…" Joshua didn't bother to respond. He merely looked away with a small frown.
"…Oh, you win this round, by the way," the redhead said suddenly, without really looking up. "Congrats on that one."
"…eh? They… finished already?" he asked slowly, turning to face Neku.
"About an hour ago, yeah. Was close, but whatever." At this point, he fell silent to sip his drink. "1-0, huh?"
"…"
This wasn't what Joshua had been expecting. He hadn't expected the daiyoukai to be so… lenient, about his loss. Then again, it was only the first day of their game, meaning he still had the chance to catch up, but shouldn't he be a little more… angry?
However, Neku quietly remained where he was, occasionally sipping his drink and staring ahead of him with a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a long moment of silence, Joshua finally sighed softly and leaned back as well, just watching the city from where they sat. They said nothing to each other. They merely sat and watched, soundlessly, and Joshua couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen now…
'…How strange…' the redhead thought to himself, watching the group of friends and the only odd bird in the group as they played a bunch of fighter games. Well, his friends were playing, Jin was just sitting by, hands in his pockets and staring ahead of him wordlessly. 'He says he doesn't want to be here, but for some reason he's still here… Why's that?'
He also noticed how Jin carried a shoulder bag with him no matter where they went. The blonde wouldn't let the thing out of his sight for even an instant. Even now, as he sat, it rested on his lap rather than at his side.
Actually… now that he thought about it… didn't he…
"…" After a moment, the redhead reached out and picked up a coaster from the small stack they had prepared on the table he was sitting on and then pulled out the pen he always kept in his breast pocket, just in case. 'It's a good thing Master lent me some of his Imagination before sending me on this mission…' he thought, flipping the coaster to its blank side as he pulled off the cap from the pen with his teeth.
Wordlessly, and without looking up, he began to draw. Those seeing what he drew would state it looked almost like CAT's work, but not quite there. Which wasn't too surprising, given that CAT had been his inspiration, after all.
He could spot the brunette looking over without moving his head, but he kept his focus on the coaster he was drawing on, taking great care not to mess up anywhere. That was the downside of drawing with pen, after all.
Just as he finished with the picture, though, Jin reached over without a word and snagged a coaster of his own. He looked to the young man in silent question, but Jin didn't even bother to look up as he pulled out a pen of his own from his bag and began drawing as well once he'd removed the cap.
Allowing a small smile, the redhead turned back to what he was doing, before reaching for the next coaster.
"…it's getting late," the Kyuubi said suddenly, rising to his feet. "I should be going."
"Aww, already?" Hihi, you wound me, dear," Joshua giggled out.
"Don't call me that… and anyway, shouldn't you be heading back as well?"
"…" Joshua gave a long, exaggerating sigh as he stood up. "I suppose you're right. Wouldn't want Sanae to worry now, would we?"
"…Sanae?"
Joshua blinked at the change in tone from the Kitsune and looked over. The redhead was watching him with an empty expression that almost gave Joshua the shivers. "Hm? Is something wrong, Neku?"
"…no." The redhead shook his head in response. "Nothing's wrong… I'll see you tomorrow."
And with those words, the Kyuubi was gone, walking out the door leading back down to the streets of Shibuya.
Though Neku's behavior from just a second ago confused him, Joshua decided not to question it and tuned up his frequency, before taking off for WildKat.
As he went, however… he hoped that this 'game' of theirs would end soon. He wanted this entire thing to just come to an end so that it could go back to how things were supposed to be.
"…I'm back, Master."
Neku looked up from what he was doing and allowed a small smirk as the redheaded figure who had impersonated him to hang out with Beat and the others walked into the apartment. "Ah, Ichi. So, how did it go?"
"It went well, Master," said the other redhead politely, even as he reached into his pocket. "That boy your friend mentioned to me yesterday… he has potential."
"Really now?"
"Yes, Master. Here." Silently the person across from Neku held out a simple coaster, its once blank side turned black almost entirely because of the amount of drawings on it. "This is his work."
Curious, Neku accepted the coaster — and nearly dropped it in surprise. Not at what he saw on the coaster, but from what he felt coming from it.
"…Amazing… he actually poured his Imagination into this little thing? Huh… not consciously, I'll bet, but still impressive."
"Master…" the other male said. "This… was only one of the pieces he made today."
"…! …how many did he make?"
"A little over twenty, I believe… he draws quite fast, so I lost count after a while. I apologize for my negligence."
"I see… this was his first?"
"Last, actually."
"…"
Neku fell silent and only stared at the images drawn on the coaster. For a long time, the Kyuubi only watched quietly, before he asked: "Why did no one notice someone with his Talent before?"
"Two reasons, really; he moved out of Shibuya when his parents died, to go live with some relatives, and he didn't get back until a year ago, and then there was the fact that he's blocking it."
"…Blocking it?"
"That was the impression I got, yes. He seems to prefer being alone, but he doesn't reject others either. I think he's just confused about what it is he really wants."
"…or maybe… hmm…"
"…Master?"
Neku allowed a slow smirk to cross his lips. "This game… just got very interesting…"
A/N: Akataiyou Jin is an OC, and he plays a bit of an important role much later, not right now. "Akataiyou" means "Red Sun", btw.
Was going to make this stage go up to the end of the game between Neku and Joshua, but it turned out to be longer than I expected it to become. I'm already working on the next chapter, which should be a little more 'spicy', for those of you itching for some action.