Wishes
Fandom: The World Ends With You (TWEWY)
Pairing: Neku/Joshua
Setting: Post-game, takes place after "Purification"
Summary: Joshua knew he would regret making that promise with the almighty daiyoukai, but he wasn't counting on the complications that followed it.
Stage 17 - The Decision
"Kurasa, listen very carefully, because this is very important."
"Huh…? What is it, Niisama? I have to go or I will–"
"Yes, dear, I know. And this will only take a minute. Whatever happens out there during your missions, do not, under any circumstance, bite anyone in their neck."
"…why would I even want to bite anyone there?"
"I will explain that when you get back. Just promise me you will not bite anyone there."
"…Very well. I promise I will not."
"Good. Very well then; off with you, now."
Neku silently opened his eyes again, and reached up to turn his bangs between his fingers. As he did, he looked down to the slumbering Composer, half-curled up against his side. His brother's words still echoed through his mind, even as he reached out and rubbed his neck.
Or more precisely, the bite mark that Joshua had left there.
'…this wasn't supposed to happen… this was never supposed to happen…'
As he ran his fingers over it, he sighed softly as he realized it was not big enough to be really noticed. It'd be well hidden under his collar if he dressed properly, which he was expected to do, of course. So no one would look up at him hiding his neck.
Joshua's, however…
Neku sighed heavily as he reached out and slowly ran his fingers along the deep bite marks along said boy's neck. They had already healed, so that was not the problem, but hiding it until the mark faded was going to be difficult. Unless he wore turtlenecks, which wouldn't even be so strange in this weather, but even so, it could prove to be difficult.
"…ah whatever…" he murmured then as he stood up, wordlessly picking Joshua up in his arms. He was a little sore, to be honest, but he could deal with that. It wasn't so far to get through the portal, so it was fine, really.
He reached his little 'garden' within a scant few moments, and he wordlessly stepped into the spring and settled on his knees while lowering the Composer into the water as well. Joshua only groaned as the warm water touched his weary body, but he did not wake. Neku shook his head with a small sigh, and proceeded to wash them both with his tails quietly. He wasn't looking forward to what would happen if anyone found out that he—
"Hey Kurasa! You busy there?!"
Neku almost jumped in alarm, until he realized he recognized the voice (and its Chinese accent). "Xian… what're you doing here?"
The blonde-haired boy in question merely grinned cheekily from where he sat under the largest cherry blossom tree. His hair looked to be about chin length, but he had a single, thin ponytail hanging down his back that ended somewhere below his ribs Neku knew. He had sharp blue eyes that shone in amusement, and he was dressed in simple Chinese-styled silken clothes. The only thing that made it obvious he was not human was the long monkey tail that rested on the ground beside him, its tip flicking back and forth in amusement.
"Heheh. I came to see you. Why else would I be here?" he asked casually.
"…I know you better than that, Xian. Why are you here?"
"Geez, touchy, aren't you?" the boy chuckled out, before he stood up and jumped over across a couple of rocks positioned in the hot spring, finally perching himself on one that was about three feet away from the Kyuubi. As he did, though, his expression turned serious. "I heard what the brass demanded you do… you really gonna go through with it?"
Neku refused to look at Xian, and instead focused on what he had been doing before the blonde monkey had made his presence known. "…What kind of question is that?" he asked finally. "You know I don't have much of a choice."
"Wasn't it you who said there's always a choice?" Xian countered immediately, making Neku flinch sharply upon having his own words thrown back in his face. "'Those who say there's no choice…'"
"'Are just afraid to make their own decisions', I know, I know…" the redhead sighed out. "Either way, if I want this damn timer removed, I have to give them what they want."
"Even when you clearly don't want to do it?" questioned the blonde.
"…"
"Dude, if you don't want to do it, why don't you just say something like… hmm…" Xian paused for a few moments, before he grinned and stood up. He took a deep breath and then called out: "'Get off my case, douchebags!'"
"'Douchebags'? Really now, Xian?" the Kyuubi chuckled. "You know that if I called them anything but 'sir', they'd have my head."
Xian chuckled. "You kidding? You and your brothers hold the highest rank of any of them hierarchically speaking. Your grandmother'd never approve of them taking your head. She'd probably set their bums on fire."
"Or thundershock them… whichever she feels like at the moment," Neku chuckled, before he sighed and leaned back against the edge of the spring. "…Doesn't change the facts, unfortunately…"
Xian was silent for a few moments, watching the Kyuubi a little longer, before he plopped down on the rock again. "…You did change…"
"Huh?" Neku blinked and looked over to Xian, who seemed to be lost in thought (not something seen very often with him).
"I spoke to Ruka earlier today… and he seemed to think you'd changed…" He paused to shake his head with a shrug. "Of course, I was skeptical… but, I have to admit, you did change. The Kurasa I remember would've never given up like that when faced with something like this."
"…that so?" the redhead asked in a bored tone of voice. "Then what would the 'Kurasa you remember' do?"
"Well… why not pull a Loki, eh?"
"What does the Norse God of Mischief have to do with–…" Neku blinked, twice, before a small smirk formed on his face. "…You know what? That could actually work."
"Cool," Xian said with a full-out grin, leaning back on his arms casually. "So… see-oh-as… that's the kid you mentioned before, right?" (*)
"How did we get on that subject?"
"C'mon! Humor me for once, will ya?" Xian laughed out with a silly grin, lightly tilting his feet left and right. "Haven't seen ya in half a century. I'm allowed to ask a few questions, right?"
Neku merely sighed and shake his head in exasperation. "Even if it was… what's it to you? Were you planning to steal him?"
"Nah. I doubt I could," the blonde chuckled. "You'd probably string me up by my tail if I tried."
"Yes, I would."
"Hehe. Knew it." Xian's grin shifted into a small smile, one that Neku rarely ever saw on the monkey's face, but before he could question it, he climbed back to his feet. "Anyway… I'll leave you to your own devices then. I gotta get back before Li notices I ran off."
"Again? Heh… you'll never change."
"Heheh. Maybe not. Be sure to visit later, okay?"
"If I can find the time."
"Good enough. Zai-jian! (**)"
"Ja ne."
Xian waved and then bounded off again, and Neku merely shook his head with a chuckle as the monkey boy jumped up the sakura tree. Once he had left, though, his expression sobered up.
"…I changed… huh?" he murmured softly, looking down to the slumbering Composer. "…I'm starting to think that change might've been a bad thing…"
"…ke up… wake up, Composer!"
Joshua groaned and turned on his side in slight annoyance. "Five more minutes, Sanae…"
There was an annoyed sigh – and then the blankets were yanked off of him.
"Gah! What the he–…Neku?" Joshua got out when he realized it wasn't the barista, but the Kyuubi no Kitsune who had just abruptly woken him. That in itself was rare, but to make the situation even stranger, the fox was dressed in his black and silver kimono. "Something wrong, dear? It isn't like you to wake me."
"Save the banter for another time, Composer," Neku said solemnly, without even batting an eye at the endearment. "I've something to discuss with you."
The expression on the redhead's face was enough indication that whatever they needed to 'discuss' was serious. Very serious.
Wordlessly, Joshua got up from the bed, noting he was already dressed (one of the Kyuubi's tricks, he believed), before he followed the redhead to the living room. The fox set himself down on one of the chairs, and placed his hands on his knees, his back straight and up against the back of the chair, his expression blank and seemingly uncaring. A little apprehensively, Joshua took a seat on the couch and waited for the Kyuubi to speak.
He didn't.
"…So… what is it you wished to talk about, dear?" he asked, hoping the nickname would break the tense atmosphere somehow.
But it didn't. The fox shut his eyes briefly and took in a deep breath, which he released a few moments later. And only then, did he look up to face the Composer.
"…The Higher-ups have demanded of me I finish my mission and return."
Joshua could not speak. The words had come so suddenly, they had left him completely speechless. Only after a full five minutes of staring was Joshua able to speak. "…when… when do you have to go?"
"Today."
"T-today?!"
"I was able to obtain twenty-four more hours to complete my final objective, and then I am to return." Neku's expression did not shift in the least, and his tone of voice was solemn, curt, and to the point.
"…oh…" That was all Joshua was able to get out. Another five minutes passed before he was able to ask: "What… is your last objective?"
Upon that question, Neku shut his eyes and lowered his head to rest his chin in his throat, seemingly in thought. But finally, he raised his head again and said solemnly: "To deliver the Higher-ups the head of the Fallen Angel of Shibuya… Hanekoma Sanae."
"Achoo!" Sanae sniffled a bit and rubbed the back of his neck. "Huh… guess I'm coming down with something…"
"…wasn't aware that could happen to Angels…" came a solemn voice from the other side of the café, and Sanae chuckled as he looked over to the Conductor in question who had spoken.
"Hey now, just coz we're not humans doesn't mean we can't get sick," the barista chuckled out, though, of course, Jin refused to respond to that as he worked silently.
Sanae merely chuckled as he set several cups on their respective shelves, just as the door opened with a merry jingle.
"Morning," called a familiar voice that made the man smile and turn around.
"Yo, Phones. How ya been, huh?" he asked as the redhead walked inside, and even Jin looked up as he did.
"I've been doing alright," the young man said with a smile before it fell and he looked around. "Josh isn't around?"
"Nah. He went out for a while. Should be back anytime, though," Sanae said with a chuckle.
"Ah. Oh well," the redhead said with a shrug as he walked over and plopped down on a seat opposite of Jin. "…busy, Jin?"
"…hm."
The redhead merely rolled his eyes with a small smirk, but as he did, he glanced over as the café's barista continued working. He immediately spotted the white, untouched envelop on the counter, sealed with a blotch of red wax. It remained where it was, and while it seemed to give off the feeling that it was important, Sanae seemed intent on ignoring it.
"…"
"You… wh-what…?"
Neku didn't bother to repeat what he had just said and instead waited for Joshua to regain his thoughts enough to ask the more important questions.
"But… why?! What has Sanae done?!"
"…It is not really a matter about what he has done, though that is also of importance, but it is more about what he has not done," Neku said solemnly. "As he is the only one who outranks you as Composer, at least half of the responsibility of your Game with Kitaniji Megumi falls upon his shoulders."
"But he tried to stop me!" Joshua protested, recalling how his Producer had objected to the very idea of betting Shibuya's existence in a Game only because Joshua had believed it to be corrupt. "Doesn't that count for anything?!"
"He tried… and he gave up." Neku's voice had gone ice cold when he spoke those words, and Joshua actually shivered. "How many times did he try to stop you? How many times did he tell you to reconsider and find a different solution to fix Shibuya's corruption?"
Joshua was about to open his mouth, but he shut it almost immediately as the words made him think. How many times had the barista told him he was better off finding a better solution? The longer he thought about, the more he began to realize what the Kyuubi was getting at.
"…once…" he choked out. "…just… once…"
Neku didn't even blink at the news, as though he had already known (and perhaps he actually had), and merely waited silently, as Joshua softly spoke again.
"When I… when I said I was playing a Game… with Megumi to… decide what happens to Shibuya… he said I had to stop…" he mumbled. "…I didn't listen… I told him it… was my decision… and… he… he…"
"…" Neku watched him for a moment, before he shut his eyes and reached into his kimono. "There is a second reason why…" he said as he produced a simple black notebook and placed it upon the coffee table, sliding it forward to the Composer. "It is best if you read this yourself. I have marked pages that will be of interest to you."
Joshua wasn't sure what to expect when Neku produced the small notebook, but he wordlessly picked it up from the table. He already knew that he wasn't going to like whatever was in there, but the look on the Kyuubi's face made it obvious that, whatever was in it, he had to see it.
So, after taking a short breath to calm himself, he flipped open the booklet and leafed through it, until he reached what Neku referred to as the "marked pages" and began to read.
"As is common knowledge, all Games in the UG take place under Our supervision. However, this particular Game is saddled with a nigh-unbelievable set of extenuating circumstances, catching the attention of the Higher Plane. Thus, I shall be taking a more hands-on role this time, as detailed in this report.
The core differences in this game are as follows:
1: its role in plans for Shibuya's destruction,
2: the Composer's absence from the UG,
3: the resulting limitations to his powers, and
4: the Game being played by a proxy."
"…this… this is…" Joshua choked out softly, but Neku didn't let him finish and merely said: "Keep reading."
Unable to refuse, Joshua continued…
As the pages continued on, steadily, Joshua realized they were all just notes that explained the RG, UG, and even the Reapers' Game. There were even entries depicting Neku's progress as Joshua's Proxy. It wasn't anything new to him, but he read through them anyway.
But then…
"Today, an alert was handed down: the discovery of a Fallen Angel.
A Fallen Angel is one who has broken the Angel's code-a criminal. Their crime: revealing the secrets of Taboo Noise refinery to the Game master, Minamimoto.
Minamimoto knows the Composer's RG identity (secret even to the Conductor), and has chased him to the Realground. The Fallen Angel may also have supplied him with this information."
Joshua wanted to speak, but Neku merely repeated his earlier words before he could so much as utter a single syllable, and so he continued to read.
"Despite being a complete outsider in the wager between Composer and Conductor, he stands to hinder the Composer greatly. It is entirely possible Minamimoto may rise to the office of Conductor before this wager has been decided."
"So…
What is the Fallen Angel's goal? Dominion over the underground? Retribution against the Angels?
Whatever the case, we must carefully monitor Minamimoto's actions and stay vigilant against this Fallen Angel."
"…Meanwhile, Minamimoto has not issued any missions. The Reaper elites must be alarmed as well. Perhaps this is more of the Fallen Angel's influence…"
"The second reason the Fallen Angel may have targeted him is his lack of loyalty to the Reapers' organization and his preference for solo action."
"Just what did the Fallen Angel tell Minamimoto?
Perhaps no one will ever know."
"Anything that might interfere with the Composer and Conductor's wager must be avoided at any cost. I will personally neutralize Minamimoto's sigil."
"Even people who believe they share a connection are not truly connected. They must actually make contact, clash, and learn about others through their foreignness.
Differences should not be denied; they should be accepted and enjoyed.
People must realize this if Shibuya is to be spared from destruction."
And then he reached the final pages… and Joshua felt his breath hitch.
"I entered the parallel world and contacted the Composer. Unexpectedly, he seemed to be enjoying his stay. In fact, the reason he had not contacted me was because he was too busy playing Tin Pin. I made him promise to meet me at the Shibuya River. In the meantime, I need to hide out so as not to meet myself in this world.
Usually, Angels existing as multiple entities within the same world poses little problem. However, mine is a somewhat…special case.
You see, I am the Fallen Angel who taught Minamimoto how to refine Taboo Noise.
Minamimoto owes his successful rebirth to the corrections I made to his flawed Taboo refinery sigil.
I must hide in Pork City for fear that my alternate self in this world may report me on sight.
Minamimoto is my backup plan to ensure Shibuya's survival. If the Composer does not change his mind, this unique city will be lost.
I must prevent that at any cost.
Thus, I've deemed it necessary to cross the boundaries Angels usually respect. I happily accept the stigma of Fallen Angel for this cause.
Well then. It's about time to meet him…
After calling the Composer and hearing his cheery voice, I feel as if my shadows fall even darker.
But darkness has always been husband to light. I sincerely hope that someday my sins will be judged justified.
I still hold faith that they will. Now, and forevermore…"
"…Sanae…" Joshua choked out, clutching the booklet so tight he could've ripped it in half. Neku chose not to speak in response and merely waited for Joshua to collect himself again. That in itself took a while, but finally, he was able to speak. "…is that why…? Because he…"
The Ninetails chose not to respond to the half-formed questions, opting instead to regard Joshua wordlessly. He remained like that for several long moments, before he shut his eyes and spoke.
"It did not have to be this way."
Joshua blinked and looked up to Neku, but the fox still had his eyes shut.
"There were other ways… other choices he could have made to prevent Shibuya from being Erased. Ways that did not involve Minamimoto or Taboo Noise. There were as many ways as there are stars in the sky…" At this point, Neku opened his eyes, but his gaze seemed almost… disappointed. "Unfortunately… he chose to walk this path and, in a way, condemned his very being."
The Composer remained silent after those words had been spoken, until the silence threatened to overwhelm him and he spoke again. "But… why were you sent to bring him in? Shouldn't the Higher-ups—"
"All their summons have been ignored."
"…what?"
"I am sure he did not tell you, but Hanekoma has already received numerous summons from above to properly explain his actions. All of these have gone unopened and unanswered." Both his expression and his voice remained solemn as he spoke, as though all emotion had been sucked out of him. "Had he simply gone to meet them, this could have been easily avoided. Sadly, he chose to not answer them and to remain in Shibuya instead."
"…so… if he had chosen to go… you… wouldn't have been forced to kill him, huh?" Joshua asked slowly, lowering his head as he dropped the booklet he still held. Neku's next words made him snap his head up again, though.
"…When did I say I have intent to kill him?"
"Wha…? But you said…"
"I only said I was to deliver the Higher-ups the head of Hanekoma Sanae. I never said I was to separate it from the rest of his body, did I?"
"Well… no… I just thought…"
The Kitsune shook his head once, before he said: "Either way… you know what I have been ordered to do, you know why the order has been issued, and you know what I intend to do… so…" At this point, he looked Joshua straight in the eye. "What will you do about it?"
"Wha…?! Why me?" the Composer choked out. When Neku refused to answer, Joshua clenched his hands into fists as anger began to boil inside of him. "And… what does it matter?! You'll take him away from here no matter what I do or say!"
Neku shut his eyes briefly. "I cannot deny that I will do that…" he agreed, before he opened his eyes. "But that does not mean your choice in unimportant."
"What does my choice even matter?! The outcome will be the same either way!" Joshua argued.
"Wrong."
"…huh?"
"Have you ever heard of Schrödinger's Cat, Composer?"
"…you mean the quantum physics experiment about alternate worlds?"
"Yes."
Of course he knew that theory. A cat is placed in a soundproof box with a bottle of poison gas and a piece of radioactive material. The radioactive material has a 50% chance in an hour of emitting a pulse that can shatter glass. Meaning that in the span of one hour, there is a 50% chance that it can shatter the bottle, which will, inevitably, kill the cat.
After an hour, you are allowed to open the box, but not before answering a simple question:
"Is the cat alive… or is it dead?"
Joshua remained silent after the single word had been spoken, but Neku continued on regardless. "Composer…"
"…Yes?"
"Let me make it easier for you; In 10 seconds, whether you decide or not, I will leave for WildKat to complete my mission."
"What?! H-how is that—"
"You have two choices to make;" Neku continued, undeterred. "Option 1, you can speak to the Producer and convince him to go meet with the Higher-ups on his own accord to prevent potential difficulties."
"That… that's an option…?" Joshua breathed out.
"Yes… though I will of course be forced to accompany him to ensure he truly goes. People can say they will do one thing and do something else entirely, after all."
"…and… option 2?"
"Option 2… you can attempt to stop me, and I will have no choice but to go through you in order to complete my mission," Neku said, his voice cold and emotionless.
"…those… are those the only choices I get?!"
"If I gave you the choice to choose from every option available, I would run out of mission time," the Kyuubi said solemnly. "Do note, if you choose not to make a decision, I will leave for WildKat, as I said earlier. So… consider your options well, Composer."
"Neku, seriously—"
"Juu…"
"…!"
"Kyuu…"
"H-hold on just a—"
"Hachi… Nana…"
Joshua shut up immediately and froze in slight horror upon realizing that he was running out of time to make the decision that would decide the fate of his own Producer, and Neku continued on solemnly, expression unchanging.
"Roku… Go… Yon…"
The silverette bit down on his thumbnail, and he felt cold sweat beginning to run down his forehead as he ran through the two options as quickly as he could.
If he spoke to Sanae, he was certain he could persuade the Angel to meet the Higher-ups of his own free will, but given the severity of his crimes, would he be able to see Sanae again after this? Wouldn't the Higher-ups simply Erase him as punishment? Creating Taboo Noise… or at least telling how to make it was… well, taboo, obviously, he knew. It wasn't called that way for no reason, after all…
"San…"
Option 2… was that even a valid option?! Stop Neku? How?! He couldn't do it 25 years ago, not 5 months ago, and definitely not now, even with his powers not suppressed.
Yet… if he summoned his true power, maybe Sanae could reach him to assist him. Or maybe Jin would be able to do something… because surely, the brunette would notice the sudden shift now that his abilities were able to keep watch over all of Shibuya.
But… was it worth it…?
"Nii…"
Both options had ups and downs, and they also had the chance of failing miserably.
Option 1 - He could convince Sanae and make him go on his own, but he would not know what the Higher-ups would do in response to that, and if he failed to convince Sanae and the barista refused to show, Neku would jump in regardless.
Option 2 - He could try to stop Neku to keep Sanae in Shibuya where he would be safe, and, if it came down to a fight, perhaps Sanae and/or Jin could come to his aid against the fox demon, but if Neku activated the seal on the Composer's wrist, Joshua wouldn't have the slightest chance to fight back.
Where did that leave him…?
What was he supposed to choose?
The result of his choice… would it really matter?
Until the box is opened… the cat is both alive and dead.
Until you make a decision… everything that can happen next remains a possibility.
'What… what should I do?!'
"Ichi…"
That last second as Neku prepared himself to say "zero" seemed to last forever, as Joshua clutched his head in despair while the pros and cons of the different options were weighed against each other.
And then, a split second before Neku could speak, he opened his mouth and spoke…
(*) "See-oh-as" is how I pronounce "COS", which basically means "change of subject".
(**) This is, I believe, how it's pronounced/written… but anyway, Xian just said "Goodbye". If I'm wrong on how it's written, please let me know, since I know even less Chinese than I know Japanese…
Right; finally figured what to do about the ending(s), brought about by me playing 'Virtue's Last Reward' (which is where I learned of Schrödinger's Cat, too, actually). Joshua's decision will determine the outcome of the story.
Option 1 will bring the story to a (near) permanent close with a very slim chance of a sequel.
Option 2 will be the less pleasant ending, but will set the stage for the story to continue in a third installment.
About Xian… let me put it this way; if I get stuck in a game/anime, and I'm working on stories about something different, I have to make a reference to it. It's how I ended up making a crossover between Dragonball Z and Chrono Cross… ("Riding With The Dragons", which I'm still in the process of completely rewriting).
If you can guess who Xian is supposed to be based on, get yourself a cookie of your choice… or you can make a fic-request if you so wish, though if I can manage the request is another matter altogether.