Wishes
Stage 16 - The Guide
Joshua was used to time passing in the blink of an eye to him. He was used to blinking once and finding that a few years had passed. As it was now, though, it was only a few weeks. However, he couldn't say they had all passed by like a blur.
He still remembered the day after their… "experiment", as Neku had called it, and he remembered that he had never been so embarrassed in his whole life. And of course, Neku wasn't the least bit affected by it. Though Joshua had been a little surprised to hear something about the collar…
"Huh… looks like Niisama used Imprinting on this thing…" Neku mumbled as he lay on his back, holding the collar between his fingers above his head where he lay.
"…Imprinting?" Joshua asked slowly, watching the redhead beside him with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity on his face.
"Guess so…" the redhead said softly. "Hmm… guess that explains why Kamui never had problems with that,"
"…what does Kamui have to… ! W-wait… you mean…!"
"What? Not my fault Kamui gets himself in trouble every time…" Neku mumbled, as though it was nothing new. The redhead sighed softly, and then tossed the collar aside, where it was snagged in midair by one of his tails to be put away. "Well whatever…" he said then, and promptly rolled over and pulled Joshua up against him, making the ashen haired boy gasp. "Deal with it later…" he grumbled, his eyes already shut. "Too late to bother with this…"
"Um… uh N-Neku…?"
"Shuddap…"
Joshua snapped his jaw shut and fell silent, his ear pressed up against the Kyuubi's chest.
…do-kun… do-kun… do-kun… do-kun…
Joshua sighed softly as he sat, leaning back against the headboard of his own bed. Thinking about it now, it made sense… Ruka did seem to be the type to be very controlling. Well, when he was angry, at least. And it would explain why Kamui was constantly so fearful of the silver-haired Kyuubi, and Neku, too, he supposed…
But that hadn't been as embarrassing as what Joshua had said shortly after…
"…Neku…?"
"…wha part of shuddap dun ya get…?"
Joshua smiled softly at the slight slur, before he sobered. "Neku… stay?"
"…huh?"
Joshua had half a mind to repeat exactly what Neku had just said, questioning himself what the hell he was even saying. However, as it had already done the rest of the night, his mouth moved before his mind had the chance to catch up.
"When your… when your 'job'… is over… will you stay?"
"…"
The lack of response made Joshua anxious, though whatever for, he wasn't sure. He almost wanted to ask again, afraid that Neku might've fallen asleep, but…
"…Why do you want me to stay?"
Why indeed?
"…I… I don't know…" he admitted, not daring to look up. What had possessed him to ask that? He knew that there was no way Neku would stay… but… he just felt like he needed to ask. "Just… I want you to stay… with me…"
"…Joshua…"
"…please…"
"…" Neku sighed, softly, and wordlessly coiled his tails around the Composer. "…you know I can't, Composer…"
"…I know…"
He knew, but he still asked. He didn't understand why, but… he still wanted him to stay.
So, he wrapped his arms around Neku and shut his eyes. "…sorry… just… forget it…"
"…Josh…"
"Just… stay… until morning… please…"
"…alright…" Neku murmured, resting one hand in his silvery hair. "…oyasumi…"
"…oyasumi…"
Neku had kept his promise. He had stayed with him the whole night, until morning. They hadn't spoken of what they had done the day prior, as they never did, but, for some reason, Joshua couldn't let it go like he usually had. He didn't say anything of it, though, and neither did Neku.
But afterwards, things became… different.
Neku didn't call him out as often as he did before anymore, and instead, Joshua sought him out by the end of a day. Sometimes nothing happened, and sometimes something did happen, but Joshua had no idea what triggered it. The strangest thing was that Neku seemed almost, well, empty whenever they were alone. He'd be sitting around listlessly, just staring out the window and seeming to see things only he could see, and barely responded to anything. It had started out as a light thing, but it had gradually begun to escalate, until Joshua could barely get any type of response from him.
The only time he showed anything now was when they were together… well, "intimately", he supposed was the word for it, which was urging him to repeat those few precious moments where Neku actually looked at him.
Joshua sighed, snapping himself out of his own thoughts, and looked outside through the window. He was supposed to meet everyone by Hachiko, since they were going to some sort of concert that Rhyme apparently won tickets to. Honestly, he wasn't feeling up to it, but Neku had called him with the invite, and he hadn't dared to say no. Who really knew what he'd do if Josh didn't show up despite how he had barely done much of anything as of late.
He sighed, and stood up. "Well… I may as well go face the music…" he said with a small, mirthless chuckle as he walked out, passing the alarm clock on his bedside table…
Just as the clock struck 11:15 AM on the 2nd of November…
"Almost thought you weren't going to show," Neku chuckled as Joshua walked over.
"Hihi. Wouldn't dream of it," the silverette quipped cheekily, twirling a lock of hair. "Others not here yet?"
"Ah, give 'm a bit," the redhead chuckled out.
"YOOOOOO!"
Upon hearing that shout, both Neku and Joshua allowed a smirk. "Speak of the devil…"
Beat and Rhyme weaved their way through the mass of people and were upon the two boys in a matter of moments. Beat and Neku knocked their wrists together in greeting, while Rhyme gave a chipper "Ohayo!" Shiki came next, with her trusty Mr. Mew, of course, and Eri arrived only five minutes after, and she started her ring of greetings by kissing her girlfriend right on the mouth, getting a few mock wolf-whistles from Neku and Beat, while Rhyme and Joshua giggled. And last but not least was Jin, who didn't look any different than normal, which wasn't even so surprising. Of course, he remained silent as the others said hello, but he did give Rhyme a quick kiss before Beat could attempt to thwart him.
They remained talking for only a little bit, before they started for Dogenzaka, planning to grab a bite to eat before they headed for A-East.
As they walked, though, Joshua watched Neku closely. Maybe he was seeing things, but the redhead seemed almost… apprehensive. As though he knew something no one else did, and it was something he didn't like. Soon enough, they were walking at the back, and Joshua dared to ask.
"Something wrong there, dear?"
No response. Meaning that it was definitely not pleasant.
"…remember what I said before?" Neku suddenly asked lowly.
"Hm? About what?" he asked in return.
"…what happens when you try to save a life."
Joshua blinked once, unsure for a moment, but then it happened…
A girl's cry made them all look up, just in time to see a little girl, possibly no older than 5, maybe 6, chasing after a ball as it bounced onto the road… just as the lights turned red.
The cars got green, and a truck, which hadn't seen the girl, hit the gas…
The girl caught her ball and laughed happily at having secured her ball…
No one of the group had the chance or time to shout in warning, either to the girl or to the driver… for the girl wouldn't be able to react in time, and the driver wouldn't hear them…
Jin moved before anyone could say or move and ran toward the girl without a word spoken…
The girl looked up, confused, as Jin grabbed her under her small arms and then turned and threw her toward the others, out of the truck's path…
Neku quickly darted forward and caught the girl before she could fall…
Jin tried to jump out of the path as well… but he didn't have enough speed or time…
The truck's grill slammed into him and his body of flesh and bone was no match for its iron exterior…
There was a sickening crack… then a crunch… then a screech as the truck tried to lessen the impact… but too late…
A scream followed the collision as Jin's body was catapulted through the air to land several meters further away onto the cold pavement…
Another crunch as first his shoulder and then his head collided with the asphalt…
Jin's cap hit the ground a few seconds later, right in the forming puddle of its owner's blood…
Joshua only stared at the sight as all around him people screamed and shouted for someone to call an ambulance, having only eyes for Jin's motionless body. The brunette's eyes were still open, but they were half-lidded and glassy, unseeing as blood rolled out from the corner of his mouth and from the gash in his side. The girl that Jin had thrown their way was deathly silent, shaking in Neku's grasp as she stared at the body that could've been her, her fingers clutching the ball that had inavertedly caused the accident to happen tightly to stop her trembling.
If you save one life… you'll kill another instead… For each life you save, another innocent will be killed…
"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-WHAT THE HELL?!" Beat shouted out once the majority of his shock and speechlessness had been sucked away. "Wh-why did that just—?! DUDE! No way!"
Rhyme couldn't even get a word out, her entire complexion pale as a sheet as she had her hands clasped over her mouth in horror, staring listlessly as more and more people came out to see the accident that had just transpired. Shiki and Eri couldn't move an inch; they could only stare in shock as Jin's blood continued to pool out onto the asphalt, his cap soaking it up and turning a deep black because of it.
Joshua briefly shut his eyes and tuned his senses in to Jin's own Music and droning out everything else.
Jin's Music was fast and frantic, meaning he was alive, but he certainly wouldn't be for long if nothing was done. With every drop of blood leaving him, his Music would begin to lose stability until it simply shattered and fell silent. Usually, dying people who were involved in accidents would struggle to keep their Music in one piece… but Jin wasn't even trying.
He was just… letting it come.
By the time that the ambulance arrived, his Music was already on its last strings.
"…You see now, right?" Neku said suddenly, making Joshua look over. The redhead had a silent, forlorn look on his face, but his eyes were solemn and distant. "If you wish to save an innocent life… another will be killed in place of the one you saved… And more often than not… that life will be your own…"
Joshua couldn't say anything in return, and instead turned back to face Jin's body as the paramedics lifted him onto the stretcher cautiously. His eyes, however, remained staring ahead of him, empty and ever unseeing… until they slipped closed as his Music ended with a quiet discord, just as he was placed into the ambulance.
"…how did you know?" Joshua asked quietly as they sat along the edge of the 104 building.
They had abandoned going to the concert after the accident, and had waited for several long hours before anyone cared to inform them that Jin had died on the way to the hospital. They had only lingered for a few more minutes after before they had all split up.
"…that he would die today?" Neku asked slowly, and Joshua nodded. "…I heard it." He waited a few more moments before clarifying. "I don't know why, or how, but I've always been able to 'hear' a person's approaching death. With some people, I hear it sooner than others, but…"
"…I see…"
They fell into silence for a while after, neither really knowing what else there was to say.
After several long moments, though, Neku asked: "Is he playing?"
Joshua considered if he should answer truthfully to that or if he should lie, but he had a feeling Neku would know if he lied. So in the end, he nodded. "I asked him to play, and he agreed. …Were you the one who's been teaching him?"
"He asked, I answered."
"Ah."
Silence.
The pair just remained where they were, leaning against the ledge and staring blankly ahead, their sides almost touching with how close they were sitting, but neither of the two spoke about it. They had been up on the roof for so long, the sun had begun to set, and the first stars appeared above them, though the lights of Shibuya chased them away almost entirely.
As the sun completely disappeared, they shifted until they were laying upon the roof, staring up to the heavens wordlessly. The few stars that were visible did only so little to distract Joshua, though, and he found his attention being drawn by the Kyuubi lying next to him.
I'll probably be leaving Shibuya behind.
"…Neku…?"
"…yeah?"
Joshua tried to work his mouth, but found that he couldn't do it. Whatever he had intended to say, it wasn't coming to him. Which was why he chose a different approach.
With a small sigh, he rolled over so that he could lean over the Kitsune and look him right in the eyes, and Neku silently let him. For a long time, they just stared silently, before Joshua moved in and connected their mouths together, resting his weight almost entirely on his forearms. Neku didn't even attempt to move away, and instead brought up his hands to rest them upon Joshua's sides, slipping up along his back to his shoulders.
Joshua refused to pull away for at least a good few minutes, breathing through his nose to regulate his breath, and even when he pulled away, it was only for a moment to readjust and breathe before he dove right back in. Whatever for, he didn't even know, but he couldn't find it in himself to stop.
He breathed the fox's name, finally daring to rest his body weight upon the redhead's, but not enough to make it seem like he was trying to pin him. And all the time, he remained watchful of Neku's heartbeat. It pounded against his palm, faster than normal, but nowhere near as erratic as before. Yet it was also a sign; he had to tread carefully, for this was new not just for him but also to the Kitsune, and for the redhead, it had to be absolutely frightening.
Slowly, he pulled away, and whispered: "Stay…"
"…we… discussed this already…" Neku got out, but he shook his head quickly.
"Just this week…" Joshua breathed. "Until the week ends… stay… please…"
Their mouths were only an inch away from each other, and they were staring each other down with half-lidded eyes, one pair pleading, the other almost unsure. But finally, Neku let his eyes slide shut and he released a soft breath, as though in resignation.
"This… could be the last time…"
So Neku knew that Joshua was planning on making Jin his Conductor... Somehow that didn't surprise him as much as it should've.
"Yeah…"
"…I thought you'd be happy… seeing me gone…"
'Yeah… funny how that works…' Joshua thought to himself. Two months ago, he would've been thrilled at the prospect of seeing Neku gone. Now… he wouldn't dream of seeing him leave.
"I… I thought so, too… but…"
He placed his forehead to Neku's, letting his own eyes slide shut. Silently, he remained where he was, breathing softly in time with Neku, their hot breaths mingling.
"…Stockholm Syndrome…"
"…huh?"
"…that's what you humans call this type of situation… right?"
Stockholm Syndrome… an occurrence where one comes to care about the person who has tormented them, whether it was physically or mentally. Something that appeared to have struck Joshua as well…
"…yeah…"
Silence followed for a long moment in which Joshua and Neku merely remained as they were, both of them lost in thought about one thing or another. As the silence continued, Joshua carefully reached for one of Neku's hands and linked their hands together softly.
"…what happens after…?"
"…when you have a Conductor again?"
"…yeah…"
Neku didn't respond immediately, but finally, he lightly squeezed Joshua's hand, before he whispered: "I'll be leaving Shibuya behind…"
"…and… what happens to… to 'Sakuraba Neku' then… Kurasa?"
That was who he really was, after all; the real Sakuraba Neku had been stillborn, and the Kyuubi no Kitsune known as Kurasa had merely taken on his body as his own so as to watch Joshua as he struggled with Shibuya's ever growing corruption. His body was that of Sakuraba Neku… but his soul was that of a powerful daiyoukai called 'Kurasa'.
"…Sakuraba Neku… will steadily cease to exist…"
Joshua's grip tightened briefly, and he almost gasped as a stab of pain ripped through him. He ignored it in favor of asking the questions he both feared and needed answers to.
"…isn't that… cruel?"
"…in a way…"
Joshua remained quiet then, unable to form any words around the chunk that was now lodged in his throat. The Kitsune remained equally quiet, one hand still placed along Joshua's shoulders, the thumb moving in small circles along his shoulder blade.
"…I don't want you to go…" the Composer managed to whisper out then, as he moved to hide his face in the fox's neck.
"…I don't have a choice, Composer…" the Kitsune murmured softly.
"…I know…"
He knew… he knew… and yet he couldn't help it… yeah… Stockholm Syndrome at its finest…
"…stay…? Just for the week…?"
"…just this week…"
Joshua nodded slowly, gently squeezing Neku's hand. He held on tight, as though this would prevent him from leaving, even though he knew it wouldn't. As he lay there, however, he couldn't help himself as his body seemed to be instinctively responding to the daiyoukai.
"…Neku…" he whispered out, shifting his head to slowly kiss the redhead's throat, making Neku gasp softly. "…I… I want you… I want you… so much… please… please…"
"…J-Joshua…"
"Please… just… I don't… please… please…"
His heart was pounding, but Joshua wasn't certain if it was out of fear or lust, but he was hoping for the latter, as Neku raked those long nails down his back, making him whine wantonly. A litany of pleas rolled off his lips, and he pressed down slightly harder onto the fox, pleased at hearing a soft groan from the redhead's mouth. And then he whined as Neku nipped on his earlobe and all along his own throat.
"…not here."
Joshua could only nod as he was easily lifted up from the ground, held up in Neku's arms, and he whined as their cocks ground together, wrapping his legs around the Kyuubi's waist and whispering his name. He didn't even notice when Neku snapped his fingers and summoned a portal of darkness that he stepped through, taking them away from 104 and into the dark room that they had been to so many times before.
He was lowered onto the bed, and he whined as Neku joined him, locking their mouths together again. Neku's hands slipped Joshua's shirt off slowly, which made him break the kiss briefly to toss the garment aside, and also allowed Joshua to feebly tug at Neku's shirt.
When they were both shirtless, Neku moved in to kiss the Composer again, and as their chests pressed together firmly, Joshua couldn't help but whine. He moaned out the redhead's name amidst their kiss, with his hands placed along the other's shoulders, pulling him as close as he could manage. But just then, Neku moved and they were suddenly on their sides, though still as close together as before.
"Neku…?" he breathed out when the Kitsune pulled away, only to groan as the redhead attacked his neck and throat.
"…I can't stand… being touched…" Neku murmured, so softly that Joshua had to strain to hear it. "…but… maybe… I… if I…"
A small smile played on Joshua's face as he understood. He moved his head down and began to copy what Neku was doing to him, but softer, more gently, than Neku, who almost seemed ready to rip the very skin off his neck. When Neku's hands moved along his arms, he let his hands do the same, though his touch remained ever gentle, though a little unsure, the opposite of the fox's powerful touch that almost burned him.
"…I… I don't… know what I'm doing…" Joshua admitted slowly, whining softly when Neku dragged his elongated nails along the Composer's back before he tried to copy it as best as he could. "…t-teach me…?"
"…no…" Neku mumbled softly, but before Joshua could complain, he moved forward and lightly bit down on the silverette's earlobe. "Follow my lead."
Joshua couldn't help himself; he smiled as he lightly nipped on the other's ear, as he murmured, a soft, gentle mockery of their time in the Game;
"Screw that."
The next week came and went at a leisurely pace, but to Joshua, it all went by too fast. He went to see Neku every day once the Game had concluded for the day, and the Kitsune would always welcome him into his arms every night. Joshua would watch Jin's progress throughout the Game, but by the end of the day, when he stepped into the little apartment, it would all soon be forgotten. Sometimes they talked about Jin, of course, but sometimes, they never got to talking at all.
One thing he had been able to let slip, however, was that the Officer he had appointed as Game Master for this run was the very same who had, long ago, erased Jin's parents when they had played, but really, it wasn't all that important to him. He lost interest in his own words soon after, and Neku didn't seem to have been all that interested either.
Sometimes nothing would happen, but sometimes they would make out, first on the couch, before moving to the bedroom to continue. And every day when they did, Neku would try to push himself a little further, but he would instinctively pull back at the last second, and Joshua still wasn't sure what to do on his own, so he'd relinquish control and let Neku do whatever he wanted.
Joshua sighed softly.
Today was Day 7 of the Reaper's Game. Meaning it was time to see if Jin could succeed where his parents had failed; defeat the Game Master.
Jin and his Partner weren't exactly what you could call "friends", but they trusted each other with their (after)lives, and they had been able to best every mission thrown at them, where all the others had soon succumbed to the weight of the Game and were soon erased. Jin and his Partner were the only ones left to fight the Game Master. Meaning if they failed, it would be a draw with no decisive victor.
And so, Joshua waited and watched as the pair rushed from the Scramble Crossing all the way to Miyashita, taking out every Reaper that stood in their way and never really stopping for long. He merely watched as the pair of Players finally reached the final hurdle that was stopping them from winning; the Game Master.
"Show me, then, Jin-kun…" he murmured to himself. "Show me… if you have the strength to become my Conductor…"
Neku watched the world outside his window for a long time, wondering to himself how things would go from here on out. He knew Jin was good, especially since he was a Borderwalker, but you never knew with life. It'd always find a loophole somewhere to exploit…
"Gimme all your loooove
Gimme all your loooove"
Neku froze. He had set that song for one number only, and he'd hoped he'd not have to hear it while he was there. Nevertheless, he picked up (slowly) and answered: "Kurasa…"
And then he fell silent, merely listening, and occasionally answering.
"Yes sir. I'm almost done. … No sir. Shibuya is no longer corrupt. … With all due respect, sir, he should have never been appointed Composer so early. … Sir, it would have been the same had you given a child control over a carriage. … I understand, sir, but I see no reason to do so. … No sir. I wouldn't dream of it."
He moved away from the window to sit on the couch, acting casual, while in truth, all his muscles were drawn taut like a bowstring. He listened wordlessly, repressing the urge to reach for his bangs to turn them between his fingers or to bite his thumb nail (two nervous habits he had yet to grow out of).
"…Sir, I don't see why–… Well… yes, but that doesn't mean–… I'm just saying that–… I understand that, but I–… No, I wasn't implying–… No, sir. … Yes sir…"
Neku held his head, resisting the growing urge to either groan in annoyance or whine softly in worry. This conversation wasn't turning out pretty, and it could only get worse and worse, he knew.
"Sir, I understand the need to–… I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, sir! I'm merely saying–… I know, sir, I just–… Sir! Please! Just… just give me some more time! At least until tomorrow. Please… … Twenty-four hours is plenty, sir. Thank you. … I understand, sir. … Yes sir. … Will do. Kurasa out."
With one firm, resolute push of the button, Neku groaned and dropped his head down on his knees. "Damn it… damn it all straight to hell and back…" he mumbled to himself.
"Master…?"
"Are you alright, Master?"
Neku blinked and looked up curiously. "…Oh. Ichi… Hachi… you heard, huh?"
The pair of doubles slowly nodded, before they moved to plop down on their knees in front of the Kitsune out of respect. They sat in silence for a while, before Hachi spoke up first. "Those were the Higher-ups… right?"
"Yeah…" Neku murmured, leaning back and rubbing his temples. "I knew this was coming… doesn't mean I'm gonna like it, though…" After a moment more, he sighed. "…how'm I supposed to tell the Composer 'bout this…?"
Ichi frowned a little, looking down to the ground in thought, before he shut his eyes. "…Quickly, Master," he said solemnly, drawing Hachi's gaze to him. "He will learn one way or another… it would be better to just be honest to him. …I believe so, at least…"
"…Yeah…you're right…" Neku mumbled, sighing heavily. "One way or another… it'll end either in blood or in tears… and while I don't like either option… I think the latter is the better choice."
Both Dolls nodded slowly in acknowledgement. They had nothing to add, but no objections, either. Silence befell the apartment for a few long minutes, before Hachi chose to speak again.
"Master… about tonight… what… what do you wish to do?"
"…Good question…" Neku murmured. "…Tonight… might be the last time…" He paused, leaning his chin on his knuckles, and then he sighed. "Shit… I'm pathetic, huh?"
Neither of the Dolls responded to those words, appearing almost lost in their thoughts, before Ichi suddenly frowned.
"…Master… I… may have an idea…"
"…Hm?"
They wiped the floor with the Game Master.
That was the only description that fit how the pair of Players took out this Week's Game Master – Nanbu Kishiogi.
And now, they were brought forth to the Room of Reckoning, where Joshua would be forced to deliver his final verdict. Jin already knew, of course, that only one of them would be allowed to go back to the RG. The question now, however, was which one of them would return home…
Jin was the first of the pair to regain consciousness, and he blinked only once, before he placed his hands in his pockets and glanced around the room. His Partner took a few moments longer, and when she had regained her senses, Jin asked her simply, without looking her way: "…You awake?"
The girl nodded, before she frowned. "Yeah, but where are we?"
"…this is probably the Room of Reckoning."
"What do you mean by that?"
Joshua allowed a smirk and decided it was time to make his presence known to them. "Very good, Jin-kun," he said, his voice automatically switching to its 'omnipotent' tone, which made the pair look over to him. "I almost forgot you're a little more informed than most."
Jin looked up disinterestedly, while the girl—Shixona, as the brunette was called—looked at him cautiously. "Who are you?" she asked him.
Jin, however…
"…You got a problem with that, Composer?"
"Composer?!"
Joshua giggled in response to Shixona's startled gasp of his title. He wasn't surprised by her reaction; he'd seen it plenty of times before. "Oh no, I have no problems with that whatsoever, Jin-kun. However… did you care enough to inform your dear Partner about the ending, hm?"
He hadn't; Joshua already knew that Jin had never mentioned to Shixona that only one of them would be given a second chance. Which was confirmed when she asked: "What do you mean?"
"…does it matter?" Jin said solemnly. "We're the last Players who were playing and I've already decided what I intend to do, anyway…"
"Hmmm… really now, Jin-kun?"
"…Would I say so otherwise?"
"Hihi. I suppose you wouldn't."
Of course, it wasn't strange that Shixona got fed up with their 'mysterious' exchange, and eventually she demanded: "What's going on?!"
"Oh, it's very simple, Shixona-chan…" the Composer said casually. He knew that Jin wouldn't explain it to her, so he decided to just go ahead and do it in his stead. "The number of Players being returned to life… is 1."
"What?!" she yelped.
"…That's how it is," Jin confirmed solemnly.
And naturally, this seemed to worry Shixona greatly. "How is it decided as to who goes back?" she asked.
"…What's there to decide?" her Partner asked suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not going back."
"Why?!"
The question had come barely a second after Jin had told her he wasn't planning on going back, and it made Joshua chuckle, before he spoke casually. "It seems your Partner never had the desire to receive a second chance. Quite unusual, I must say…"
"But, Jin…why don't you want to live again?" she asked, utterly bewildered by her Partner's decision.
"…why would I?" he asked in return. "And what does it matter?" Turning his head to face her, he said simply: "You should be happy you're going home."
"Yes, I should be happy, but there's more to it than that!" Shixona exclaimed. "Seriously, life is more than just a passing fancy, it's showing what you're made of, and proving that you're not some nobody who should just be passed by in the streets!"
"…and?" Jin asked once she had finished, watching her solemnly. "What's your point? You may have someone waiting for you… but there's no one like that for me. I've no reason to return, and even if I did, I've no desire to."
"But… Jin…" Shixona protested weakly.
"Hihi. If I may…" Joshua said finally, drawing their attention again. "Since your Partner is unaware, Jin-kun, I'll explain what happens to those who have not won. Agreed?"
"…Do what you must," Jin grumbled.
Joshua merely smiled and began to explain.
As the week came to an end, though… there wouldn't be a single Player returning home to the RG…
"I know it's your first day… well, night, Jin, but I don't suppose I could leave things to you for a while, could I?" Joshua asked with his normal cheeky smirk on his face. "I have something I need to take care off."
"…It's fine, sir," the brunette said solemnly, though he reached back to lightly move his black Reaper wings back, still not completely used to them, yet. They were larger than those of the average Reaper, indicating his high rank, but other than that, very little had changed about the Borderwalker. "I can manage things for the time being."
"Good to know. Oh, and feel free to have your dear Partner help out if you're having trouble, okay?" Joshua teased.
"…Sir, with all due respect, we aren't—"
"Hihi. I know, Jin. I'm only joking," Joshua laughed softly. "Well, then, good luck, Jin."
Jin merely saluted as Joshua turned and walked away with one last wave. Joshua had taken a peek at Jin's memories from his childhood before the start of the Game, and as it had turned out, the Borderwalker-turned-Conductor had actually been a soldier-in-training when he was 16, which explained why the new Reaper insisted on addressing Joshua as "sir". That must've been drilled into him so many times, that it had become part of his very personality.
The most astounding thing about Jin, however… was that he felt most comfortable in his skin when he was actually following orders. Actual praise for completing his "objective" made the brunette feel both confident and satisfied, while admonishment could turn him into whipped dog if one wasn't careful, and that wasn't something Joshua had seen an awful lot of in his life. He'd heard of such cases, but seen? Not so much.
Joshua quickly shook the matter off and sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked up to the sky, up to the full moon high above him.
"…"
"Kura-niichan! Don't go!"
"Joshua… let go."
"No!"
"Joshua…"
"Don't go! Don't leave me alone! Please!"
"…"
"Don't… don't go… don't you leave me, too… please no… please…"
It was a full moon then, too, Joshua remembered then, the snippets of conversation slipping into his mind unbidden. It was a full moon when Kurasa left little Joshua on the doorstep to his grandparents' house. Left the small human boy with his human family. He remembered vaguely how he had cried and screamed and kicked and punched, saying he refused to leave Kurasa's side…
But…
Joshua sighed heavily. He wasn't sure what to think about the Kyuubi anymore. And to make matters worse, he wasn't sure just what Kurasa—Neku—thought of him.
What, was he just a "pet" or something? Was that all he was to him?
He resisted the urge to sigh again as he approached the Kitsune's apartment.
'Tonight could… would… be the last time…' he thought to himself, his finger hovering mere inch away from the bell. He hesitated for a long while, as though there was something horrifying waiting for him, before he pressed down firmly.
It took a while before the door was opened, but when it did, the person opening the door was not who Josh had been expecting.
"Hachi? Wasn't expecting to see you," Joshua admitted, and the silver-haired double merely tilted his head briefly, before he stepped aside to let Joshua in.
"I apologize. Master was feeling rather… what's the word?" Hachi began as Joshua took off his shoes and he closed to door. "Unwell… So he decided to lay down and rest a while. He requested Ichi and myself to look after the apartment until then."
"I see…" Joshua murmured, though he almost frowned in worry at what Hachi had just said. "And where is your… 'Master' now?"
"I believe he stepped through the portal," his double confessed. "He has left it open for you."
"How nice of him," the Composer giggled. "Well… don't let me hold you up any longer," he added as he walked further into the apartment.
Hachi watched him go, before he pulled out a small strip of paper from his pocket and threw it at Joshua. The charm connected harmlessly with the silverette's back, and faded through the material, disappearing from view. '…I hope your plan works, Ichi…'
Finding the portal was easy, and stepping through it was also easy. Getting used to the darkness beyond, that took a few seconds. When his eyes finally became accustomed, he soon spotted Neku's still form resting on the bed, and from this distance, he appeared to be fast asleep.
Joshua allowed a small half smile as he slowly approached the slumbering Kyuubi. He was laying on his side, his hands resting beside his face, and one leg was pulled up, the other bent just a little, putting him in a half-fetal position. This made the redhead seem much more vulnerable than he no doubt was.
Quietly, he sat down on the bed, and the mattress dipped beneath his weight. He remained quiet for a long time and just watched Neku's sleeping form for what had to be minutes. He looked so relaxed, so at peace… Joshua almost didn't want to wake him…
"…he hasn't noticed…" Ichi murmured, from where he lay on the bed, in the exact same position as Neku, Hachi sitting by his side.
Hachi allowed himself a small smile of his own as he reached over and wiped the redhead's bangs away. "Okay, then, Ichi… I admit, that was clever…" he whispered, but then he frowned in worry. "But… are you sure Master will be…?"
Ichi slowly, almost sleepily, opened his eyes and looked to Hachi. "It'll be okay…" he whispered. "It'll be fine…"
"…Joshua…" Neku murmured sleepily, after he had blinked his eyes open when Joshua had moved Neku's bangs out of his face.
"Hihi, evening, dear," Joshua giggled out.
"Don't call me that…" Neku growled, and Joshua only giggled again.
However, they soon sobered up again, and they just watched each other, seeming to realize that all of this would soon be coming to an end. Joshua was absently running his fingers through Neku's hair, making sure to not accidentally touch his scalp, and Neku wordlessly let him do so. Joshua couldn't say why, but something felt almost different, though when asked about it, he wouldn't be able to respond what was different, or why.
When the urge to kiss Neku became too great, Joshua caved in and bent down to gently kiss the redhead, wishing absently for this to be alright. And when Neku kissed him back and brought up his arms so as to pull the Composer closer, Joshua sighed happily, now burying both his hands in Neku's hair. They rolled until Neku was below Joshua, and only then did Joshua move back.
"Is… are you okay? I mean–"
"–if Master panics, then…" Hachi began, but Ichi reached up and placed a finger to his lips.
The redhead stared him down evenly, before he murmured: "It'll be fine… just–"
"–stop talking… just… stop talking…" Neku mumbled, before he moved his hand to Joshua's hair and tilted his head up, drawing Joshua into another kiss.
The Composer hummed softly in confirmation to the words without breaking away, beginning to move his hands along the Kitsune's sides, paying close attention to the sounds Neku was making, just in case. But so far, all that slipped from the redhead's mouth were soft moans and whines of pleasure, urging him to keep going.
Joshua reached out and slipped his hands under Neku's shirt–
–gradually moving it up. "Ichi…" he murmured as he moved to place kisses along the redhead's throat, drawing a long moan from his mouth. Hachi resisted the urge to groan as he broke away entirely to remove Ichi's shirt. "I don't–"
"–want to hurt you…" Joshua murmured, moving his fingers along Neku's collarbone. "We don't have to–"
"Yoshiya…" Josh immediately shut his mouth in response. "…if this wasn't okay… you'd be erased by now."
The Composer blinked, before he chuckled. "Yeah… I guess so…" he whispered, before he moved to suckle along Neku's throat, making the Kitsune groan and move his head to the side. Joshua merely smiled and started to trail kisses down to Neku's chest, before he latched onto the fox's left nipple, using his hand to tease the right, which made Neku gasp briefly in surprise, just before he whined as Josh teased the nub with a flick of his tongue. This made Joshua smirk as he pulled back briefly to pull his own shirt off, before he went back to what he was doing, switching his attention to the right nub and beginning to suckle on it.
Neku's soft cries made Joshua smile, and slowly, he ran his hand along his bare side until he reached the edge of the Kitsune's loose pants. He paused there, hesitant, and glanced up briefly–
–to look into Ichi's white eyes. "…Are we really doing this, Ichi…? You know what happens if…"
"I know…" Ichi breathed out, even as Hachi flicked open the button of his pants. "But it's Master's wish… so we–ah!" The redhead choked on his words as Hachi slipped a hand inside to palm his cock. "Ha… H-Hachi…"
Hachi gulped softly, finding himself unable to stop now that this was really happening. His rational mind was steadily losing against his own desires, and he found that he could care less. He reached out with his free hand and–
–slipped the annoying article of clothing aside. Joshua wanted this to last, not just for himself, but for Neku's sake, as well. He couldn't even begin to imagine what had to be going through his mind right about now. That was why he slowly stroked the Kyuubi's need, whining as the fox moaned out his name, over and over, before he slipped down and took his Proxy's cock in his mouth as far as he could. He moaned when Neku's hand threaded through his hair, silently urging him on.
And Joshua had no intention of denying him.
The Composer of Shibuya hummed as he bobbed his head up and down steadily, making sure to suck loudly whenever he lifted his head, drawing the most exquisite noises from Neku he had ever heard. He ran his hands along the redhead's thighs, tenderly moving the pads of his fingers along the skin… and there he paused, unsure.
Slowly, he pulled away, ignoring the small whine from the fox. "Neku… h-how do I… I mean…"
He knew how Neku did it, sure… but…
When Neku gave him a slow, weary smirk, Joshua was worried for a moment, before there was a tap on his shoulder. When he looked over, he was a little surprised–just a little–to see one of Neku's tails, holding out some sort of small bottle out to him.
"Use that…"
Joshua actually flushed crimson as he realized what the bottle contained, but he nodded nevertheless and lightly tugged it loose from Neku's tail. Then, slowly–
–he unscrewed the lid and let some of the contents spill onto his hand. After making sure his fingers were thoroughly coated, Hachi carefully moved up one of Ichi's legs and placed his fingers at the redhead's entrance.
"Ready?" he asked softly, barely a whisper.
Ichi took a few deep breaths, before he nodded once and said: "Yeah… do it."
Hachi nodded in return and slipped the first digit inside, though he paused when Ichi tensed, almost in alarm. "Ichi…?"
"I-it's okay… it's… just a little… cold… that's all…"
Hachi smiled softly, but his orange-yellow eyes still shone with concern for the other Bunshin's sake. However, he knew better than to press and instead only slipped his finger out and back in slowly, listening to the soft gasps Ichi let out and searching for any sign of discomfort, before he finally slipped in another finger. Ichi briefly tensed, but he quickly relaxed again.
'Where is it…? Dammit, why does Ichi make finding it seem so–'
But before Hachi could finish that thought–
–Neku let out a sharp, startled cry as his back arched up and Joshua almost pulled away, thinking he'd hurt him, but the fox's tail wouldn't let him and snagged his wrist, keeping it in place. It took Neku a few seconds before he was able to find his voice again, and even then, it was almost like a whine.
"Th… there… r-right… right the… there…"
Finally understanding what had happened, Joshua smiled and moved his fingers in again, pressing down on the Kyuubi's sweet spot, making the fox cry out again as his tail began to flail about uncontrollably (which Joshua found rather amusing, though he made sure not to mention it… for now, at least). After a little more gentle prodding, Joshua slipped a third finger, turning them slowly to properly stretch him.
"Ah… hah… Y… Yoshi… enough… please I… ah! Oh Goddess above… please!" Neku wailed out then, and Joshua paused.
"Are you sure?"
Neku didn't speak; he merely nodded with his eyes firmly shut.
Joshua nodded, more to himself than anything, and reached for the lube again. He scooped up a small handful and coated his own cock with it, biting his lip to prevent himself from doing anything more, before he moved forward and took hold of Neku's hand. The Kyuubi still had his eyes shut, and this made Joshua frown as a thought came to him.
Neku had kept his eyes shut last time as well, and maybe that had been the cause of his fear… because his body would instinctively recall the pain that came with being under someone else's control. But if that was the case, then there was only one real way to deal with that…
"Neku…" he murmured, running a hand through the fox's hair. "Neku, dear, open your eyes. Look at me…"
For once, the fox didn't react to the endearment, but he did (slowly) open his eyes, the vertical pupils dilated so far that they were almost circular.
Joshua held his gaze for a long time, before he whispered: "It's just me… kay? It's just me… I know it's probably hard… but I need you to trust me…"
He wouldn't blame Neku if he didn't trust him; in fact, he was expecting him not to. Who would, after all? With all that Joshua had done… After almost erasing Shibuya… would anyone–
"I trust you…"
Joshua blinked, and he actually stared in surprise, but Neku merely squeezed the hand that was holding his own.
"I trust you… always have… I can't forgive you, but… I never stopped trusting you…"
Immediately, Joshua knew that this wasn't the Kyuubi talking; this was solely Sakuraba Neku, his Proxy…
"Neku…"
It was all he could get out, even as he made Neku wrap his arms around his shoulders. He breathed softly for a few moments, never once breaking eye contact, as he moved in position. Neku's nails dug into his back, not enough to hurt, just to prepare himself for what he knew was coming. Joshua took one final breath, and then he moved.
Immediately, Neku's nails dug in harder and the fox froze up with a sharp gasp, forcing Joshua to stop, briefly. When the daiyoukai was able to relax, the Composer pressed on slowly, forcing himself to go slowly, for Neku's sake. And when he was finally seated fully inside of Neku, he stopped, gritting his teeth tightly together to keep himself from mindlessly pounding into the redhead,
Neku was… tight. Very much so. And Joshua knew that it had to be terrifying to his Proxy, had to be painful. That was why he refused to move, remaining where he was with Neku's nails finally breaking through the skin on his back, drawing blood.
When Neku suddenly moved, Joshua gasped sharply. "Ne-Neku…! S… stop… m-moving…! If-if you keep d-doing that–"
Neku merely smirked and, without warning, hooked his legs around Joshua's waist, drawing him close and making them both moan.
"Ne… guh! N-Neku…! Please…! I… I don't want–aaaAHHH!" Joshua cried out as he felt something brush down along his spine. "D-don't y-you–oh god!" Joshua cried out as the Kyuubi's tail was suddenly shoved inside of his own entrance, the tip flicking back and forth teasingly.
"Then move… baka…" Neku murmured softly, a small smirk still playing along his face.
Joshua couldn't possibly say no, not with the surge of pleasure that shot up along his spine just then. As he pulled out however, he moaned as the Kyuubi's tail slipped at the exact same pace. The Composer almost didn't dare, but he moved anyway, and he couldn't stop the whine that came from his throat when Neku's tail did the same thing.
"Nrgh…! Hah… ah… ah… Ne… Nek… uuu…"
This was so him… Submissive yet dominant at the same time, guiding Joshua every inch of the way. He–
–moved steadily, wailing as Ichi's tail moved inside of him at the same time. Hachi couldn't even speak; all that was able to come from his mouth were soft, pathetic whimpers and quick gasps for breath. Gradually, though, Hachi began to move faster, his pace almost desperate as he moved down to connect his and Ichi's mouths.
Hachi moaned out Ichi's name when they finally broke apart, balancing his weight on his forearms with his face hidden in the crook of the redhead's neck, while the other Doll groaned and clung to Hachi's shoulders as he sucked, licked and nipped on the silverette's throat.
But just then, Hachi shifted angle just a bit, at the same time as Ichi's tail, which–
–caused both of them to let out respective cries of rapture, though they were mostly muffled by the other's neck. Joshua tensed a little when he felt Neku's sharp teeth digging into the juncture of his neck and shoulder, but he shook it off quickly and slammed into Neku again. This caused his Proxy to release a fever-pitched moan, and Joshua wailed as his tail struck that same spot inside of him at the same time.
So lost in pleasure, Joshua didn't even notice that Neku's fangs were digging in deeper and deeper with every thrust, only just not piercing the skin. But when Joshua reached out and wrapped his fingers along Neku's neglected manhood, the Kyuubi–to instinctively stop himself from yelping–bit down, breaking the skin and drawing blood.
Of course, Joshua noticed that, but he was too far gone to care, as he too bit down on Neku's throat, though his much shorter fangs were unable to break the skin there.
"Ne-Neku… I… I… oh god…! Ne… ku!"
"Yo… shi… ngrh! Oh Goddess…! Yoshi… ah… hah… Ah! Y-Yo… shi… ya…!"
Joshua wished for it to never end, but he knew (too well) that everything had to come to an end. He wasn't sure how much longer they lasted, but when he felt his end approaching, he bit down so hard as he suppressed his shout, he actually drew blood.
The last thing he heard, was the fox's muffled whine, before they both collapsed.
15 pages… damn. Sorry 'bout the length, but I wanted to fit everything into one chapter.
Two things; first of, I want to thank "Night-the-Dragon" for helping me with the Jin's Game Partner.
Secondly; I'm still working on Jin's story of his week in the Reapers' Game, and the scene with Jin, Shixona and Joshua at this point is written in advance before the end of the story is reached. Therefore, it's highly possible that it may change at one point. Not overly much, but you get the point.
Anyway, with that out of the way, this story's about to reach its conclusion, but I'm considering the endings… What I might do is make two separate endings, of which one will lead into a third installment. But I'm still thinking on that, so I might do it, and I might not…
Hmm… decisions decisions decisions…