Maybe- and it's a harsh thought- maybe, this was Joshua's last act of human confliction.

And maybe he was well aware of his life ticking away.

He was being given twenty minutes.

Cat Street was well a fifteen minute walk away. Ten minutes if he was fast.

He could hear his mother calling after him- and he ran faster until the sound was drowned out.

Cat Street was getting closer. He could make it. He could-

This is all but a memory. Something that will make Joshua smile ten years after.

This is just a figment of a sick mind. A mastermind. A god.

This is a particular moment.

A girl with glossy satin hair watched him curiously from the middle of a snowy road.

Her eyes were blank, as usual.

Her freckled face was still- all except for a smile gnarled into her lips.

Joshua stopped. She still had that shiny red lipstick on. She might've even been wearing the same clothes- but Joshua could not recall what they were, exactly.

Her curls floated around her face, which glowed eerily under the street lights.

"What do you want?" Joshua spat, feeling strange without his regular personality hanging around him to make him alight.

"You are truly something, child of Angels." The girl giggled, her eyes staying completely blank. "But you can be such a fool."

"What?" Joshua asked warily, stepping back. Persephone stayed in the middle of the road. White flurries stuck to her glossy blood hair.

"How fast can you run, Yoshiya?" Persephone asked, her voice sounding giddy. She looked up at the sky.

"Why?" Joshua stared at her.

She looked back at him. Her blank eyes brightened, and her mouth twisted into a wicked smile.

Joshua stared at her. He heard a scream from not so far away.

"Why is it me?" Joshua whispered, staring at girl clad in blood. "Why?"

"You're wasting time." She mused.

"What time? I have no time." Joshua could feel a smirk rising to his lips.

"Not your time." She chortled, turning, skipping away.

"Not… my time?"

It dawned on him. Someone had screamed.

And he had ran away from the person who had been following him.

Joshua spun around, and began to run back.

But he was too late. He heard a gunshot- and a cry.

A faint yell was heard. And feet shuffling. Joshua stopped, hiding behind a building, watching as Neku ran swiftly, and quickly down the snow coated roads.

When did he get so fast? Joshua shook his head, coming out of his hiding spot. There was only a crumpled figure in the road.

Shit. Joshua ran over to his mother, not so shocked by the fact that she had just been shot.

"Mother?" Joshua bent down, shaking her a bit. Her eyes flickered upward. To Joshua's surprise, and wide smile rose to her lips.

"Joshua…" She whispered, raising a shaky hand to the pale boy's face. "My dear, little Joshua…"

"I'm sorry." Joshua said, traces of guilt etching across his face. He took hold of her shaking hand. "I didn't know you were going to come after me. If I did…"

"Joshua," His mother wheezed, "I'm just… so happy, I could… s-see you one last t-time."

"Mother…" He shook his head.

"N-no." She shook her head, "You shut up, now. I-I talk now. Just let me talk."

"Okay." He whispered, eyes wide.

"Now- now, Neku's gone running of, Joshua. And I will not loose a son tonight, y-you got it? You are going to get him and yourself safe." The woman pressed something cold into Joshua's hand. "You hear me?"

"I hear you," Joshua said- voice cracking a bit. "I hear you, momma."

"Good…" She smiled, her dark brown eyes sparkling with tears. "That's good…"

Joshua had never felt as human as he did that moment.

It wasn't a human confliction.

It was a human emotion.

Emotions.

His soul wept, as the woman's breathed not. His heart broke.

He never knew just how much he had loved that woman.

Joshua stared at the small trinket his mother had placed into his hand.

It was her locket. The beautiful little thing, silver and lovely, and it was perfection. It burnt his fingertips.

Joshua looked back at his lifeless mother, and stared at her glazed eyes. Their glassy look sculpted from marbles. Joshua laid his fingers on her eyelids, bringing them to a close. Joshua's eye watered, and he brought her head closer to him, and hugged her.

He couldn't remember to last time he had given the woman a hug.

He kissed her hair, and laid her back down.

Neku couldn't last much longer.

And Joshua had a small handgun in his pocket.

If he needed to, he'd use it.

He stood, and listened. He could faintly hear yelling.

It was all he needed, really.

His mask was regenerating.

Joshua ran, clutching the small necklace, flying through the snowy, abandoned streets. No one was killing his brother tonight.

Neku had been cornered into an alley a block away. Joshua stopped, and watched.

"You will stand still!" Hiroko cried, point a gun at the young boy's head. Neku stared at the gun with awe.

Joshua wasn't sure what kind of awe it was.

"Leave the kid alone, Kokyuu," Joshua said, waving his hand, "He's not worth the time."

Hiroko spun around. He was a normal looking man- dark hair, dark eyes. He was wearing a pinstripe suit and a navy tie.

"Yoshiya Kiryu?" He snorted. "We meet at last."

"Hoo-rah ." Joshua laughed, his voice soaked in sarcasm. "Now, if you don't mind- let him go."

Hiroko rolled his eyes. "So foolish."

"Yep." Joshua giggled, "You're point, Hiroko?"

"You have been living with this boy for five years," Hiroko laughed, waving his gun. Joshua raised an eyebrow. "And yet, you know nothing of him. You know nothing, boy! Nothing! You are a worthless worm!" He cackled, throwing his head back. "Do you not see what this boy is?"

"Is he a future ladies man? That would be wonderful to watch."

"Oh, will you stop that?" Hiroko snapped.

"I do not know what you are referring to." Joshua said innocently. He glanced at Neku. The boy was staring blankly again. Joshua's stomach churned as he thought about his mother.

"That! That… insanity you speak in!"

"I'm only mimicking you, all crazy one."

"Yoshiya Kiryu…" Hiroko said. He laughed, and shook his head. "You just don't see it, do you?"

"I'm going to say no…" Joshua said, smirking.

"Your brother."

"Yes, I see him. He's about five, tiny, looks a bit scared," Joshua laughed, "The usual child."

"Unbelievable."

"Just let him go home." Joshua sighed.

"What home? He has no one to go back to."

"Our father is still alive. Regrettably, Neku can live with him."

"So you think." Hiroko sneered.

"What?" Joshua stopped. Duh. Why not kill off the whole family? Leaves less witnesses.

Joshua glanced at his brother. Neku blinked.

"He's just a child."

"He's a Seer, Yoshiya."

Joshua's head snapped in Neku's direction at that note. Neku's head had also whipped in a different direction. He stared at Hiroko in shock.

"How did you…" Neku shook his head.

"Please, child. I have my own Seer. She's quite the token, too."

"Pervert." Neku muttered.

Hiroko glared at the child. "Hold your tongue."

"That's fascinating…" Joshua whispered, staring at Neku.

"Yes, it's rare to find one Seer in a decade, but finding two- it's very rare."

"So," Joshua said, clapping his hands together. "Before you kill me mercilessly, do you mind if I consult my brother under my mother's dying wish?" Joshua asked, batting his eyelashes.

"I'm just going to shoot you, so cut the crap. If you have to go talk to him. But you only have three minutes, and counting."

"Whatever you say, Composer." Joshua sighed, walking around the man, and to Neku's side.

"Hello." Joshua said, bending down so they were eye level.

Neku stared at him. He launched his arms around his brother's neck, and Joshua could feel the boy's tears on his skin.

"He killed momma. I didn't see it… I didn't…"

"Yeah… Neku, I have a plan, but it's a long shot," He whispered, "There was something about the Composer's power. I think I might be able to…" Joshua shook his head.

"W-what?" Neku asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Nothing." Joshua said, giggling slightly. He stood up, pulled the locket around Neku's throat, and clasping it shut.

"Right-o, mum." He mimicked Persephone.

"Get on with it." Hiroko sighed.

"Impatient?"

"Very."

Hiroko raised his gun, and pointed it at the pale boy. "Don't take this personally," Hiroko said, pulling back the safety. "I just really don't like you."

Joshua pulled back the safety on the gun in his pocket. Work. Joshua commanded. Please, just work.

He pulled out his gun, and pulled the trigger.

The Composer blocked the bullet.

And shot his own gun.

Joshua fell. Just as he knew he would. He could see a glowing gold light.

It was not Heaven.

Joshua's whole being was being re-created. He could see the Angels. They watched patiently, as Joshua became Shibuya. The Composer.

Joshua now knew everything.

He sat up, eyes wide with realization. It was as if everything that was to be known was inside his head. The immense power was thrilling. He couldn't help but feel hyped about it. It was amazing. The power he had.

And then he spoke. It was against his own will, but the words flowed out of his mouth all the same.

"By order of the Angels," Joshua said, a bit appalled by his own voice. He wasn't speaking. The Angels were. "You, Hiroko Kokyuu, have been accused of illegally using a Seer to change the outcome of Fate. Your punishment if found guilty, is thirty-seven years in purgatory."

Joshua tried to hide a smile. He completely failed what he was trying to do, but this worked better.

Hiroko stared at Joshua in shock. "No… the Angels… Angels- no!"

"By order of the Angels, the next child of Angels will take roll as Composer of Shibuya. Yoshiya Kiryu may rule as he pleases, as long as he follows The Law of All respectfully. He may change the game in any way, shape or form, and choose new Reapers." The Angel in his voice said. "You will be held on trial for your crimes against the Fate, Hiroko Kokyuu. Your Seer shall be given the choice of leaving Shibuya and living on as a Spirit, or becoming reborn."

"I choose to be Reborn, Angel."

Persephone had appeared, maybe a few minutes earlier. Her eyes were sad.

"So be it." The Angel said. Hiroko disappeared in a flurry of lights, the panic in his expression never leaving.

The Angel left Joshua to watch Persephone fade away.

She smiled slightly. "Well, see you sometime… Don't go making too many mistakes."

"Right." Joshua giggled, giddy on power.

"See you when I'm older?"

"Probably not, but… I should probably thank you for those warnings."

"Yes…" Her voice was distant. Joshua couldn't see her anymore. She had faded completely away.

Joshua sighed, and turned to Neku. He stared after the girl.

"She was like me." He observed.

The Composer watched his brother. He did not speak.

"Joshua?"

There were sirens in the distance.

"Joshua?"

The Composer stepped closer, and knelt down. "Sorry. You don't know me."

Neku stepped back. "What?"

"You have no idea who I am."

"But-" Joshua took hold of the boy's head, placing his hands carefully on his temples, and he watched as Neku's eyes rolled upward.

"Your name is Neku Sakuraba." Joshua said, remembering a teenager from the Game having that surname.

Neku's mouth was agape, as Joshua drained his mind of any memories of family, friends, anything from the past five years. He left only the necessities.

Neku fell, unconscious.

Joshua stood, and turned to face Sanae Hanekoma, who had been standing there for a good part of the last five minutes.

"Make sure he gets good foster parents. I don't feel like having to check up on him. After all, he isn't my brother anymore."

Sanae stared at him. "Josh, you're insane."

Joshua smirked at the man. "I am." He began to walk out of the alley. "Sanae?" He asked, turning around.

"Yep?"

"Would you like to be my Producer?"

A dark brown haired girl trembled with cold. Her lips had turned a dark blue. In her shaking hands, was a little silver locket. It was an ice cube in her numb hands. The cool metal pressed against her skin, and she shook her head.

"You have to be joking!"

He smiled at her. "Afraid not, dear."

Shiki stood, waist deep in dark, icy water. Her dark hair was plastered to her face, and her glasses had gotten lost when she had dove into the lake to retrieve the silvery locket.

"I'm telling Neku." She said, shaking her head, and wading her way to shore.

"I can't let you do that."

Shiki glared at the Composer, and clutched the locket tighter.

"Why not?" She hissed through chattering teeth.

"Because he is not my brother any longer."

"Just because you took his memories away, doesn't mean he isn't your brother anymore!"

"I've masked and re-masked myself too many times for me to be that same Yoshiya Kiryu. I'm a different person, Miss Masaki, and so is he. Plus, there's a chance he might die from the massive trauma taking his memories away did to him. Resurfacing them, my dear, Shiki, would be a blood bath."