The World Ends with You Too

[Art]

Art commissions are being made for this fic.

They were made for the purposes of this RP and commissioned by me. Thanks to Blue Wind for working on it. His profile can be visited on the link.

To see the art based off the story you must add a period for any place you see (period)

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The Final Day: Part 3

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Charon in Greek Mythology was the ferryman. Son of Nyx and servant of Hades. While the world of the Reapers wasn't one of gods, there was indeed meaning to the name. Charon was no servant of Hades. Nor was he born from any womb, deity or not. Charon was made long ago, before what humans knew as life began. Charon was a demon. His old name taken away from him when the angels learned war. It's strange. Humans always seem to take credit for inventing war. It existed long before the first man drew breath. He watched humans. They rose, fell, thrived, rejoiced and finally died. He didn't like watching them. In his situation it was unavoidable. Humans were everywhere and he supposed it was no fault of their own they were so ignorant. Humans couldn't see past the physical plane and lived relatively short lives. Whatever truths humans learned were lost in generations. Even in the modern day where communication thrived there seemed to be no small part of ignorance. It seems human managed to find a way to retain no information in the information age. Still, there were some remnants of those who tried. Perhaps if they had more time on the world they lived in or more spiritual awareness. Some could feel some small fragment of spiritual power, some were spiritually aware and even went so far as to attempt communicating with spirits.

In every culture on earth you'll find religious doctrine with common roots. It always begins with a human seeking answers. And in the process of a human seeking answers. It allowed for all sorts of spirits to give answers. Charon knew demons well. Often they'd mix in truth with tiny bits of lies. Like a tiny amount of poison in a container of water. They'd shapeshift, they'd tell humans what they wanted to hear and some even tried to explain to them the constant war between heaven and earth. It's strange. How close a human could get to understanding before they died. Often when humans had prophets they were idolized. In every culture you can catch a glimpse of a human who found spiritual understanding. But at much the same time it seemed the purest and simplest flaw was human reasoning.

Humans loved to muddy up whatever truths they understood. Religious doctrine while mostly unchanged was deliberately misread for the sake of gaining power. Holy figures were confused with kings. Humans had a built in need to follow something. It seemed cruel. That humans were built with a curiosity that could never be assuaged. Still, in their stories of the past you'd often catch glimpses of the truth. Angels and demons were indeed at war. But everyone had different names for them. Charon hated his name. It was based on a fairy tale of hell. Hades? Hell? Gehenna? Sheol? Abaddon? Netherworld? Tartarus? So many names and stories for it. It seemed strange that so many cultures agreed that such a place existed and yet none could seem to describe it. It is because it was described to them, nothing more. They were right about one thing at least, there was fire. Charon had seen those fires. Charon bathed in them long ago savoring their touch and drawing in the endless agony around him to make him strong.

How strange it was to be working for the angels. Humans often confused angels for their friends or allies. Although in truth angels were as close to any ally as humans could ever have. The angels did in fact protect humanity from a great many forces. But despite all their protections few angels had any real love for humans. Yet humans often portrayed angels as something a demon would appear as. Something beautiful, something winged, something bathed in light. True angels were scary. They had such anger and longed for combat. They had burning eyes and seeing their true form could cause physical harm to a human. Faces of beasts, bodies of creatures, wings and burning eyes. Burning crowns and swords that could make a human go blind from the light. In his humiliation he fought against the angels. He felt their blades and their longing to tear him apart. They chained him, beat him and watched him squirm before their master.

"HIS NAME SHALL BE CHARON."

Rules.

That's the only thing that ever kept demons alive. The angels and demons had a common creator. The one that bound all of them to rules. The one that separated the planes and spent his days creating new forms of life. Charon had ever known one dimension and reality since the Fall. In that respect he and the humans were similar. The creator sat above all the planes, constantly creating new life and new possibilities. In a way, it was cruel. It was this creator who made the world. Who could have at any time remade the world into perfection with a breath. Not the Director mind you. Not the Composer. This creator had only ever been challenged once by one of his archangels. It was almost as if the archangel knew the creator wouldn't destroy him. Charon was certain. That the creator only cared about one thing. His own entertainment. Yes, all life and all beings were just his toys. Even the demons were just actors playing the part of villains for his story. He let them survive. He banished them from heaven and across the planes. He remembered the fall. Charon lost his name and his purpose. Human must have pretended that there was a war in heaven. That there was some debate or argument over who was right. No, there were few words exchanged. The creator could feel who was with him and who was against him. He was cast out. And when he fell it was as if injustice had given him new purpose.

Charon swore to destroy this prison he was thrown into. He decided to break apart whatever the creator made. He wanted to unmake that world. His purpose was simple then. He wanted to destroy. He would have done anything to hurt a human. And now? He was doing everything in his power to save. Not out of love or any such thing. But out of the chains that bound him. The angels purposed him to their own ends. And once again. This game with the noise was just another form of entertainment for the creator. A Director was the highest angel of a plane. Every plane had a Director. From the Director power was given to humans. He chose humans to be as gods among vermin: Composers.

Like Charon, Composers were given access to heaven's power. But unlike charon they were human. It seemed strange to be walking around humans. To step next to them and they not take even the slightest notice. To eat as they did and to communicate using utterances of the mouth. Charon was working for the angels now. A demon of terrible power now stood at the door between the Deepground and Shibuya. The only thing between the hear of the Noise and the surface. The noise looked at charon with terror. Yes, even Noise knew what Charon really was. He smiled at them as if welcoming them to try to cross. The door was open. Yet no Noise took that invitation. For there were other ways to reach the surface. Slower ways, perhaps. But even the Noise knew not to test a demon's cruelty. Even hell had Noise and these Noise knew nothing of negative power.

Then Charon looked ahead in the distance. His eyes seeing the far distant battle between the humans and the Noise god Cacophony. At first he scoffed at the humans attempts to survive. Then he kept scoffing. Finding the very idea that they could win ridiculous. Cacophony was the enemy of the Director. Humans would not look upon him and step away.

Yet they remained.

Charon was quiet a moment. As if the Noise saw a chance to leave while he was distracted they came at the door like a massive flood. His eyes shifted from the battle to the Noise. Then the entrance to the door burned with black fire. And behind the black fire a barrier. The Noise that weren't immediately burned and destroyed were met with the eyes of a monster. His clothes started to flake off his body. What at first seemed human with a cross scar on his chest morphed into a monster. A leather winged molten skinned humanoid. His face caught somewhere between a man and beast. His body became molten metal and his fingers became golden claws. Around his body were chains that decorated him like an adornment. In a frenzy he let out a roar. Then with his still open mouth he pointed his face towards the coming waves of Noise. A seal appeared in front of his mouth that launched a beam of angelic and demonic power. Instantly obliterating all that touched it. The Noise died that touched it and exploded. Causing Noise near them to die. This continued.

More and more Noise came and Charon became more and more fierce. But he relished this combat. He let them come. Some Noise he devoured and some Noise he let flee. Finally he let out a pulse of power and blew back the coming Noise. They stopped their advance. He looked ahead expecting the humans to be obliterated. But there they stood. And he saw what the humans saw.

"Timer?"

Cacophony had a timer on his hand. Charon's eyes couldn't be fooled it was indeed a timer. Then Charon shifted back into a human. Suit intact. He came from a crouch to a stand. He spoke outloud as if someone could hear him, "The Director has placed a Timer on Cacophony. It appeared the moment he took aggressive action against the humans personally."

It started to make a little sense to him. "I believe that Cacophony planned to kill them using their own Noise. When they appeared to be winning the battle he attacked Neku Sakuraba in order to break their spirit. However this cost him time on his timer. Neku saw the Timer before he was thrown into an unconscious state. Then the remaining humans had to continue the battle against the Noise. Finally they have struck down the Noise of the Composer. Currently they face Cacophony. What are you seeing humans?"

XXX

Heaven was silent. Hanekoma looked down through the cloudy glass at Shibuya. It was impossible to properly see what was happening, but for an angel? They could see everything from this Zenith. Their vision stopped at the Deepground. There was no way to be sure how the battle was going. All they could see was the Noise of Shibuya spreading and dancing. Pulsing with excitement. Waiting for permission to destroy.

Next to the Hanekoma stood the Director. He also looked down. But unlike the angels he could see the battle below. His voice boomed despite the fact it was soft.

"BE READY."

For what? Being the obvious question hanging silently in the air.

The Director's hand began to charge. Gathering a mixture of spiritual power and rage. The Director drew from an infinite source and his eyes gave intention. He was charging up an attack that could turn Shibuya to ash. He focused intently below.

The Agent asked him, "Are you going to destroy it all?"

The Director looked at him and did not answer. The gold eyes seemed to glow a little at the question. Then back to the city.

The Agent turned to the beings of light behind him. Shapeless and their true form blurred by cloud and light. "Prepare for the worst. Ready yourself to reign destruction down upon this pitiful world."

His silver eyes flared and sent out a burning aura from his eyes and mouth. Even Hanekoma nodded in understanding. His eyes also began to burn with light. Behind the clouds were countless burning eyes. They stood in ready attention. Heaven still stood silent but ready to unleash hell.

XXX

"He's got a timer on his hand!" Neku shouted and huffed.

Heads turned, eyes focused and widened. It was a timer, just as Neku said. One not put there by the Composer.

Rhyme just guessed, "Did the Director put that on him?" That was about the only person who could put a timer on Cacophony if anyone.

Cacophony's face shifted noise seal and color to give a pondering sort of of face, "The Director? A reasonable thought. Do you imagine he forced it upon me? Do you like to pretend that your angels have any power here? It could be stated as truth that every millenia you humans surprise me. Even this alone merits congratulations. No allow me to clarify what some of you have already figured out. The Director and I are in agreement. I placed this timer on myself. But this? This timer you see is hardly any sort of peril."

He put that timer on himself?

Beat growled, "You've got more shit in you than an outhouse."

"My dear humans. You are all on a level so beneath me you could not understand your own depths. It does not matter what you think or believe. The reality you can observe is so insignificant, yet more than you could ever hope to comprehend, even if you had infinite lifetimes. It does not matter if you believe my words or not. Yet these words shall be spoken all the same. It is as if I am speaking to ants and trying to explain their purpose in the world. But fear not, for I am generous. I will make one more offer. I make this offer even to the Composer. Should even one of you step down, I will allow all present here to live. I will allow you to live your happy lives in completion. You may breed, care for your young and teach them the values you hold dear. If even one of you would but pledge not to raise a hand of opposition against me again. This I vow."

There was no vow he could make that they could trust. Even so. You had to wonder if he really meant it. You had to wonder what the real objective was. Did the Director really care if they died? What were they supposed to do? Kill Cacophony? How?

Weiss was the first to step forward, "I will not relent."

"I give no heed to you, spawn of the Director. The offer was not extended to you."

Cacophony pointed at Weiss. A single finger extended instantly into the chest of the white haired male. After it did so it negative energy shocked him to a point of near obliteration. He fell to the ground.

Cacophony kept his finger in Weiss but did not feed any more energy into it. Joshua stepped forward next, "Shibuya will not bow to the Noise."

"It already bows, it is you who fails to see it."

Cacophony used his free hand to send a single finger bullet through Joshua's chest. Just as with Weiss he overloaded him with Negative power that dropped him to the floor.

Rhyme and Beat stepped forward at the same time.

Rhyme began, "Not now, not ever."

Beat chimed in, "You hear the lady, up yours Noise man! We'd rather live our lives proud of what we did!"

"Then die on the ground."

His using different fingers on his hands he impaled them through the chest and lifted them of the ground before overloading them and they fell.

Kotori just stood where she was, "I will not throw away everything."

"You throw away your life. It was all you still possessed."

She was pinned to the floor and electrocuted by negative power.

Nanami tried attacking Cacophony to save her. "No one would take this deal."

"Do not be certain."

Thanatos stepped forward hands in his pockets, "I sure as hell ain't doing it. Hurry up and shock me. I'm feeling like a masochist."

Unlike the others Cacophony did not have a response for that one.

Sure enough they were both pinned down by his free fingers and slammed together before shocked to the ground.

Finally there stood Neku. His head bowed. He took a step forward and lifted his darklit energy barrier. Normally it would protect him from all attacks, but even he knew it wouldn't stop Cacophony. His eyes were as fierce as the day he fought Kitaniji. "Not me, not Shibuya... not anymore. I'm done being dragged into fights I don't want to be in. This is one I want to be in. This is the last one I'll ever be in."

The Noise seal covering Cacophony's face twisted again. He raised his arm and his finger extended like a bullet.

Cacophony pierced him in the heart. Neku gripped his hand around the negative spike and gave Cacophony a look. One of a beaten dog that just wouldn't stay down. Cacophony was going to have to put them down. Cacophony was going to have to put them all down.

The Noise god let out a shriek. It sounded like thousands of cries of frustration and moaning all around them. His power surged at this rampant display of human stupidity.

"Enough of this maddening charade! Enough! You have proven to me beyond all doubt that humans have no need of salvation! Let them be a monument of the nonexistent! All shall die! Your parents! Your children! Every generation of man shall die! I shall unmake this world!"

He sent another surge of Negative power. All of them let out cries, yet Neku still stood. Cacophony twisted his face into one of rage and insanity. Thousands of cries all yelled at once and Cacophony intended to surge power into these humans until there was nothing left.

They cried at first. The energy tore them from the very fibers of their being. Enough power to instantly obliterate all fragments of life. Then a pause.

Neku still stood. Gripping on to the finger that still ran through his heart. He should have been erased.

Cacophony looked. They all should have been erased. There should have been nothing left of them.

"Why do you remain?"

Weiss started to stand too. Stumbling at first then standing. One by one they all rose. Cacophony felt panic for the first time. "Speak! Why do you remain! The angels have no power here! The Composer's power has been forfeit! There is no reason you should yet be!"

Then he felt it. Another power source. Not one from the angels. One from Shibuya. As if Shibuya was a body rejecting a parasite. The ceiling around them began to crack. This was the Deepground. This was the heart of Shibuya. That's when it made sense.

Joshua opened his eyes. His aura shifted. With a wave of his hand, beams of Composer power came falling down from the sky and crashing down on Cacophony. This had no damaging effect on Cacophony, but it became clear now what had happened.

"You lost the clash." Joshua said. His Composer power had been returned.

Humans did not yield. They were supposed to yield. So many before them had yielded or died. Now even in the face of obliteration their precious Shibuya protected them? No not just Shibuya, Soul power from all nations seemed to gather in retaliation.

It mattered not.

Cacophony withdrew his fingers. He had no intention of holding back. Lost? No, not yet. He intended to erase them. It didn't matter anymore. Not rules, not boundaries. They were going to be removed from all memories. He was going to destroy them. He would do everything in his power to erase all memories of them afterward. He destroy the ground they walked and the loved ones they held dear. He would do it with glee.

Joshua pulsed and surrounded himself in white light. Neku in much the same manner in orange. The two of them had Composer powers. Almost as if they were partnered and the power split in harmony between Shibuya's greatest.

Cacophony extended his wings and his hands reshaped to claws. He flew through the beams Joshua sent at him and slashed through the Composers pitiful protective aura. As he did bits of real blood could be seen on his fingertips. Neku crashed into Cacophony with his barrier and began punching at the monster drawing power from all of Shibuya with every blow. The Noise god felt nothing. Just ever increasing irritation.

He slashed at Neku with his wings and his claws. Finally jabbing into him with an hand charging it with negative energy and flinging him at the others. Instead of crashing into the floor he stayed afloat. Upon closer inspection no one was standing where they were laying before. From every direction he was being attacked. By combining their strikes they hoped perhaps to do some damage? Even if all of the power of Shibuya were liquified and fired in his being. Cacophony would not be destroyed. So why were they trying? Noise symbols appeared and fired blasts. Each seal appeared and created a blast so large it was impossible to dodge. Sending all of Shibuya's champions to the platform they once stood.

He teleported and grabbed Joshua by the neck. Then another teleport and he grabbed Neku by the neck. He threw them to the platform as well.

"Die together! Be buried together! Let all of Shibuya be erased with this!"

He wasn't joking, he was going to blow everything to hell. He gathered the power of the Noise and let loose their fury. A single beam was fired. The power in it was unimaginable. It was as he promised. He intended to erase Shibuya.

In perfect sync. Every single one of the surviving Shibuya champions activated their fusion pin. Merging all of their Soul power into one. The Composers worked as a catalyst. As if to spite him they fired their response blast.

Yes, a combination of everything that Shibuya had to offer fired directly at Cacophony. He almost wanted to laugh. In fact he did laugh. They didn't get it. He was still a god. It didn't matter if they gathered power from the rest of the world. He readied his blast to meet with theirs.

One might guess they would have been evenly matched. Going back and forth. It wasn't going back and forth. Cacophony was pushing forward little by little. He could feel them draining. He could see the heart of Shibuya darkening. Losing what little life it had left. The place they stood started crumbling. The twisted buildings and bridges started falling apart.

Closer and closer.

He lost focus on his timer. It ticked away faster and faster with his every aggressive action.

The beam was getting near them. He almost toyed with the idea of weakening the blast to watch them squirm, but no. Their suffering would bring him no satisfaction now. He sought obliteration. The end. Nothing less. The beam neared. The ceiling cracked more and more. Shibuya almost had nothing left. The place was falling to pieces. The Deepground was being torn asunder, but not yet destroyed.

"A fitting end for the Clash."

The blast finally reached them. You couldn't hear them in all the madness. Cacophony was so fixated on them that he did not focus on the breaking ceiling above him. The cracks shattered like glass as then there was light. He had done it. His attack connected. There would be nothing left of Shibuya. Everything was going to be erased with that one attack.

"INDEED. A FITTING END."

It was a soft booming voice. Between Cacophony and the champions of Shibuya stood the Director. Both hands in his pockets. Light shined down from the ceiling. Cacophony looked up to see angels crashing down all over the Deepground. Like meteors crashing down upon the earth. Winged figures in human form. The strongest of them had burning crowns and burning swords.

The Director looked back at those who fought Cacophony. He looked at them with a light smirk. Almost pride. "GO. LEAVE THE NOISE TO THE BURNING ONES."

They would have ran if they could. But they couldn't even be sure they were still conscious. They awoke one at a time. Eyes opening to Hanekoma. He touched their foreheads one by one. He was wearing a white suite instead of his usual attire. His glasses barely hid the burning eyes behind his forehead. Unlike the others, he had no wings. "We gotta go chief." He said to Josh.

Hanekoma had to purge the Negative contamination from their bodies, no easy task to do quickly. It would have taken days to heal them all fully. But for now he needed to heal them just enough so they could run away. They needed to get out of there. They needed to get to the door.

Hanekoma did as best he could, but even if they couldn't run well, they could move now at least. It seemed Shibuya had protected them from erasure. He touched Weiss last of all, "Run and don't look back." He told Weiss. Hanekoma started moving ahead and almost instinctually they followed.

Neku had trouble focusing. But that was an issue when you had to watch your step. The pathway back to the door was being broken apart. The whole Deepground city was being torn to pieces by angels and Noise. As he ran he could see a beautiful winged woman with a golden crown obliterating countless Noise. Then in the other direction a figure of light without even a proper human disguise. Neku's eyes hurt looking at him and he looked away.

Hanekoma told him, "Sorry, we were kinda in a hurry. We didn't have time to all get changed."

Nanami asked in a meek voice, "What are those? Those are angels?"

Some of them were pretty like the descriptions. And some were terrifying and impossible to describe. They were like beasts or creatures that didn't exist. They spoke in tongues no human could ever know.

Hanekoma kinda shrugged, "I can't really tell you much about the spirit plane, rules and all."

What was all this? How come they never saw anything like that before?

Their pathway was blocked and whatever bridge they had before was gone. Hanekoma paused in confusion on what exactly to do about it. "Uh..." He started looking around. "Try not to look around too much. Looking at Seraphim isn't healthy. Umm hey kiddo, think you can lend a hand?"

Neku and Joshua were both Composer right now. The power split between them. That being said, something as simple as making a bridge would have normally have been an easy task. But they were both barely drawing any power at all from the now gravely injured Shibuya. They made a bridge of black and white and Neku groaned as they did. They both fell to their knees and huffed. That's when the Noise started coming. They were defenseless as they were. And even under normal circumstances it would have taken them a while to deal with so many. There was truly limitless Noise. All flying and attacking in a panic. Cacophony just to spite them must have ordered his Noise to destroy them.

As the Noise surrounded them, blasts from all directions came down from heaven. Hanekoma knew those beams. The Agent arrived. He barked orders at nearby angels, "Hold them back here! Don't let any of them pass." The Agent made a motion and a couple of angels came down. A mix of male and female. None of them except the Agent had burning crowns. "Get them out of here." He said to his subordinates.

The angels nodded and each grabbed some of the humans. They didn't have time for bridges or paths. They needed to get out before the Director and Cacophony really went at it. Hanekoma couldn't fly but he could run really fast in his Noise form. He jumped and darted across buildings carrying Neku and Joshua while the other angels carried the remainder of the group. The only one who wasn't carried was Weiss. He felt this odd feeling in his chest he couldn't describe it. One of the angels that was going to pick him up was cut off by a massive wave of Noise. The Agent scoffed in annoyance and grabbed Weiss personally. He had been planning to face the Noise personally here. But no matter. The humans weren't going to get out fast enough as it was. With sword in one hand and Weiss in the other arm he started darting and catching up to the other angels. He had to spin and cut several Noise along the way.

Weiss still had a feeling he couldn't describe. Some twist in his stomach. Fear.

A wall of Noise stopped the Agent from advancing quickly. One of the burning ones came crashing down and made an opening. The Agent used that to fly through. He called down pillars of light to make quick work of some of the coming Noise. "Why are they after you so much?" The Noise didn't bother the others. They were flying ahead uninterrupted.

Cacophony came crashing out of one of the buildings. Or more specifically through one of the buildings. His gaze fixated on Weiss no one else.

"I will cause you pain Director. I will strike where the most damage will be done."

The Agent was fast, but Cacophony could teleport. He zipped around Cacophony but was struck by one of Cacophony's claws. The Agent groaned but kept flying. The Director appeared and punched what must have been the fires of creation into Cacophony. It made one thing clear: Cacophony wouldn't be a god for long.

The door was right ahead, Charon opened the gates so that the humans could run through. The angels couldn't stay. They flew off to deal with the coming Noise. Each making sure the massive waves of Noise never reached the doorway. All that was left was Weiss. The Agent started flapping. One of his wings was gone but that didn't seem to stop him from flying. He was getting there if a bit a slowly.

Cacophony struck again. The Agent attempted to block with his blade, but the force drove him downward to the abyss below. But Weiss was not falling with him. He was flying towards the door. He was thrown at just the right moment. He was going to make it to the door. Cacophony extended his hand all ten fingers. Weiss was getting closer and closer to the door. He could see Nanami's face smile at him. He smiled back at it. But almost as if he expected it he didn't let out a cry of pain when all then of Cacophony's fingers impaled Weiss. Nanami's face twisted to one of horror. Weiss smiled as best he could while being impaled he kept smiling as negative energy ran through him. "I'm glad I met you..." Then in tears he said one more thing, "You made me believe in humanity again."

Thoughts fluttered of Weiss. It was instant similar to Nanami's own life flashing before her eyes. But instead of her life, it was merely week where she first met Weiss. She hated him at first. He was cold, distant and even hateful. But then little by little he changed every day. Even the memories that annoyed her started to seem happy. Teasing her at the coffee shop. The time he had the condescending smile when she guessed something wrong. All the times she wanted him to feel and he just failed. The next week he didn't even know who he was anymore. She was the only one who believed that Weiss even was anything real at all. When the Agent used Weiss as a means to scheme Shibuya's end he had the opportunity to kill her, but did not take it. That was Weiss. And again when the Director made a demand that if Nanami was erased he'd destroy Shibuya, again... it was Weiss. Sure, she hadn't know him long and sure, people say she was way out of that little man's league... but even so.

She remembered the final moments of him saying goodbye. Her giving him that one last kiss.

Then Cacophony split all his fingers up causing Weiss to be graphically torn apart. Using negative power and pulling him apart from 10 different directions. There blood and static. Every bit of Weiss vanished. Cacophony was doing this to hurt the Director one last time.

Her body started moving on it's own. Her brain shut down. Nanami let out a cry trying to fight her way back outside the door but she was held back by Thanatos. The doors shut in front of her. Weiss had been saying goodbye before, because somehow he knew he wasn't going to make it through this. He knew that sooner or later hew as going to have to rejoin the director. That's why he said goodbye first. But it seemed he wasn't even going to make it to the door.

Nanami started thrashing as others held her back. Thanatos shouted to Charon, "Shut the door!"

Everyone saw it, yet Nanami was the only one who seemed to think that this was wrong. Weiss was one of them wasn't he? He was supposed to live too wasn't he?

She thought of him saying goodbye. Why was he saying it? How was he so sure he'd be destroyed? How could he have known he'd be destroyed here? He couldn't. There was no way he could have predicted this death. But then Nanami saw the Director coming. The energy from Weiss returned back into the Director and empowered him. Weiss was part of the Director's soul. He was part of the Director's power. Eventually that power had to be returned. Even if they all escaped Weiss would have eventually had to merge back with the Director sooner or later.

But none of that mattered right now. None of it.

She fell to the floor and yelled his name. But no one could hear over the sound the the door slamming shut.

The Director was whole now. His white aura became gold. Every bit of his Soul was now present. Even a small fragment made the greatest difference. The fire in his hand was complete now. A golden spark that could shatter the world if need be. Whatever speed Cacophony had over him previously was gone. In his hand was the fire of creation. He wasn't just going to save Shibuya, he was going to kill the Noise god once and for all. He had intended from the beginning to rejoin Weiss back into himself in order to defeat Cacophony, but it seemed that Shibuya kept him alive until the bitter end. No matter. Cacophony had done his work for him. And yet... In this moment of sure victory he felt saddened.

He was going to Erase the master of Noise. He grabbed Cacophony in the face. Then he began to punch the monster over and over with the golden fires of creation. Each one shattered pieces of noise seal off of him and burned it away. The pieces that shattered tried to break off and impale the Director, but they burned before they touched him. Cacophony's wings tried slashing but they were broken off upon impact. It tried to dig claws into him, but with his free hand he punched off his arm. Then his other arm. Each burning away into nothing. Finally he pulled back his hand and drew all the power of the Seraphim around him. Then with one single final blow all the Noise in the Deepground erupted into flame.

Everything erupted into flame. There was lightning and fire. The door that hid the humans rattled and the lights around them went dark.

The Director's voice changed. To one far less booming. One of that of a human. "Withdraw." He said. The Director had a single tear in his eye. It was as if a piece of his soul wanted to cry. "It's over."

He looked up and in Weiss voice and gold eyes, "It's finally over."

XXX

Three weeks later

XXX

Have you been at work and just mentally checked out? Pretty much everything you needed to do was done and you were just trying to look busy until the end of the day? Basically you'd just drive yourself crazy looking for something else to do. At this point Joshua was going through exactly that. The shop was pretty spotless. At this point he wasn't just wiping tables he was wiping UNDER them.

Really he expected things to be dirtier under there. Oh well. Hanekoma grabbed his coat and glanced around, "I should have hired you ages ago, kiddo."

Josh poked his head out from under the table, "Well until recently you hadn't really had a reason to hire me. You know being Composer and all."

Hanekoma leaned over the counter and looked down at the boy, "Well... don't worry. They're probably going to pick you again from what I've been hearing upstairs."

Joshua started using the sink the clean out the rag, "Whether or not they pick me to become Composer or not, it could be a few more weeks of living like a human. So I best play the part as best as I'm able. Thanks for the job by the way."

Hanekoma looked around the shop. He probably could have hired an assistant a long time ago. Honestly with all his writings he never really had time to look after the shop as much as he'd like. "We go back. Honestly I'm surprised you didn't ask Neku for a job. Even without your Composer powers you're wasted cleaning tables." Joshua may have been an asshole, but he was still brilliant and knowledgeable in a lot of areas.

Josh didn't think even Hanekoma really believed that, "Generally it's not good practice to ask for a job from a man when you killed his wife."

Hanekoma looked at the ceiling a moment and thought that a fair point, "He'll forgive you. No real harm came from it."

Joshua waited for Hanekoma to laugh.

He eventually did, "Sorry, I just wanted to see you try and ask him."

Joshua already knew what would happen. Knowing Neku he'd probably throw Joshua down a flight of stairs. Joshua also knew himself, he couldn't resist the temptation to tease Neku which would probably cause him to go find Joshua at the bottom off the stairs just so he could drag him back up and throw him back down again.

That's when Joshua lost himself in thought. He'd actually done a lot of wrong in the process of saving pretty much all of Tokyo. In a way he'd understand if they didn't make him Composer again. He took gambles, gambles that could have cost them everything. He killed and he erased. Honestly thanks to what happened with Cacophony, the system could be redone, the Reaper's game that is. And even Joshua couldn't be sure just what kind of game it could be warped into now.

"Have you given any thought of what you'd do if they didn't name you a Composer again?" Hanekoma asked. Knowing this might be a sore subject.

Joshua did actually, "I've been Composer for longer than most have been alive. Composers are bound to the land they protect. I'm not bound anymore. I'd want to see the rest of the world as best I could. I'd want to travel and meet others on equal footing."

Hanekoma asked, "Would try to make the world a better place?"

Joshua was still smug. He gave that confident smug grin, "I think I've done enough of that, thank you. I just want to see the rest of the world. Call it a vacation if you want."

Hanekoma understood, but at the same time he couldn't help but suspect Joshua was up to something again. It wasn't even based on any logical reason or evidence. It's just he was always used to Joshua scheming, but seeing him now? It's like he didn't have a reason to scheme anymore. "I'd miss you." Hanekoma told him.

Joshua put down the rag. Walked up to Hanekoma and much to Hanekoma's surprise. Joshua hugged him. He HUGGED him. You didn't need to know much about Joshua to know he didn't do that sort of thing often, "You were my guidance, you were the angel always telling me what I should do. But now? While I'd miss you. If I left I'd never forget everything you taught me."

Hanekoma counter, "What about the advice you deliberately ignore?"

Joshua let him go and shrugged going back to his usual self, "Nobody's perfect."

Just then Neku came in. Not happy either. He came in a huff. Irritation and a gaze fixed on Joshua, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He said slowly and with a tiny about intend to do harm.

Joshua dried the tables he wiped and guessed, "Well at the moment I'm wiping tables."

Neku rushed over and grabbed the smiling Joshua by the shirt, "We both know I wasn't talking about the tables! Rhyme! What the hell did you think you were doing with Rhyme?"

Joshua grabbed Neku's wrists and twisted just so Neku would have no choice but to let go. "I simply asked her to go to dinner with me. That's all. Leave it to the lady to decide."

Neku leaned in with a death glare, "You're doing this to mess with me, aren't you?"

Joshua playfully said, "Not everything is about you Neku. Sometimes you need to look past yourself and see what other people want."

Neku wanted to choke him. "You're saying this is about something you want? I'm not kidding Joshua if you mess with that girl, I'll kill you. And you should pray I kill you before Beat finds you."

Joshua sighed, Neku didn't get it. "I know you would Neku. But my goals aren't always sinister I asked her to dinner because I wanted to talk to her. Despite the fact I was able to bring her back when I was Composer I wasn't able to salvage her price, I probably never will be able to. But at least I wanted to tell her what little I was able to find out about it."

Neku was surprised, "So... you're not actually trying to make a move on Rhyme... you're just trying to help her?"

Joshua smirked, "Also I do love messing with you, it's true. But no. Out of you, Beat and Shiki all of you have seen me as a monster. Don't think this means your wrong. But... I'm not Composer anymore and I don't have to be a monster anymore. The other reason I asked her to dinner was because I wanted to visit with someone who doesn't see me as a stranger or a monster. I suppose it is selfish in a way."

Neku squinted. "You know Joshua... you almost made me doubt there for a moment..."

Joshua was curious, "Doubt what? That I'm not so heartless as you imagine?"

Neku shook his head, "No... you almost made me doubt you were gay for a moment there."

Joshua went back to wiping tables and smirk, "Messing with you isn't as fun as it used to be. I suppose I can tone teasing you down a little. Even so. I'm not so sure you would go so far as to call it a date."

At that instant a chair was thrown through the shop window. Not from inside the store, it came from outside. The chair flew at lethal speed to Joshua. Joshua despite having masterful reflexes still got hit by the incoming chair. He blocked as best he could with his arms but fell to the ground wondering if he broke something. Through the window jumped Beat. Making the face only an overprotective older brother could make. He wasn't here to Joshua, he was here to kill Joshua. "You gonna die little boy." He said.

Ah, apparently he caught wind of Joshua asking Rhyme out to dinner. Whoever told him just inadvertently killed Joshua. Beat grabbed another chair and intended to finish his work. Before Neku and Hanekoma both dived in to hold him back. "You gonna die!" He yelled.

Hanekoma spoke first, "Beat he's not asking her out!"

"He's still gotta die!"

Neku tried another approach, "He's going to tell her what he knows about her price."

Beat was still in a fury, "In exchange for what?! I'll bash you good little boy for sniffing at my sister!"

Joshua tried next, "Beat, you can come along."

Beat stopped. "Eh?"

Ah, confusion. That tactic worked better than actual reasoning. "If you need proof it's not a date then you can come along. It should be fine." It probably wasn't fine, but it would keep him from being killed.

Beat kept holding the chair not sure whether to kill Joshua. "But... he's gonna mess with Rhyme like he messed wid everyone else, right?"

Joshua got up. It seemed like Beat was calm enough to see reason now. "No Beat... I'm not doing this to mess with her. I'm just trying to help a little before I leave."

Rhyme came rushing in, "Beat!"

She tackled her brother to the floor as he held the chair. Shiki came running in shortly after doing a quick bow, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry when Rhyme told me I kinda... shouted it. Beat heard from the other room."

Joshua guessed the situation, "Basically let me see if I can piece this together. I asked Rhyme out to dinner? So Rhyme, you were distraught about this and you told Neku. Neku in his wisdom came racing here to demand answers out of me. Rhyme didn't get any advice from Neku so she tried asking Shiki. Shiki in her terror exclaimed that I asked Rhyme out. Beat upon hearing that... came racing here in an effort to kill me? That about right?"

They all looked at him and blinked. Well he wasn't Composer, but he could still piece things together pretty quickly. Joshua shook his head then looked at Rhyme, "That's why I said not to tell anyone."

Rhyme countered, "Yeah, but if you were in my situation, wouldn't you be worried enough to tell your best friends?"

Joshua shook his head, "I had hoped you would have lasted another hour or two."

Shiki went ahead and asked, "So why did you ask her out. Not that I'm complaining. I've been trying to convince Neku you weren't gay."

Neku wouldn't hear that, "No, he's still gay. He's just asking Rhyme out to help her out and to screw with us some more."

Rhyme went ahead and asked, "Hey Joshua, just curious. Are you gay, straight or bi?" This argument had been going on for ages, she wanted it to be over just so she'd know how to think.

Joshua made a quick clap, "I'd prefer just to keep you all guessing!"

Neku and Beat made an annoyed expression. They both nodded at each other in agreement. It was better just to beat than answer out of him. Neku reminded him, "You know I still haven't forgiven you about killing Shiki..."

Joshua took a step back as they took a step forward, "Oh will you drop it, she didn't really go away. You just needed to go a couple of days without her memories was all."

Beat took a step forward, "I need to know what you're intention are with my sister... If my dad were here he'd kick your ass... so I'mma do it for him if you don't talk. Which is is? Gay, straight or bi"

Seeing how Joshua's life was on the line he had no choice but to answer, "Alright. Fine... the truth is-"

Suddenly all of their phones rang. All of their phones rang. Neku and Beat were staring him down wondering what the truth was. Shiki and Rhyme while not threatening Joshua were still curious at what he'd say. They needed to know.

Hanekoma looked at his phone and told them all, "Pick up your phones. The Director's calling."

Neku looked at his phone but ignored it for now. "Answer!"

Joshua smirked, "As you wish." He answered the phone. "Joshua speaking. Oh hello Director, how are things? Uh huh? Really? Oh well the others should pick up their phones."

Joshua smirked at them. For the moment he was saved by the bell. Shiki answered her phone next and listened, "Neku, I think it's really the Director. But he's talking to Joshua right now..."

Others answered and everyone who opened their phone heard the voice of the Director. He was talking to all of them simultaneously. Responding to their words as they spoke, not a recording. He was actually talking to all of them at the same time.

It was kinda like Weiss except it wasn't. It sounded older and more formal. He asked them each by name to come to park as soon as they could. He wanted to speak to them personally and that he would be waiting for them at a nearby park. He didn't say where exactly.

Then all one by one he hung up with them. Even Hanekoma had his own phone call. After Hanekoma finished his phone call, "Duty calls. Lock up for me chief."

He threw Joshua the keys and vanished. Joshua didn't really see the point seeing how there was a broken window anyone could just crawl through. "Guys I'll have to continue this later. The Director most likely chose a new Composer if he personally is in Shibuya."

Beat blinked, "But wait... I wanted to know if you was gay."

Joshua started pushing them out the door then locked it behind him, "I know you did. But it can wait."

Neku rolled his eyes, "We all know he's gay."

Shiki went ahead and said, "I don't. I still think he's straight and just likes messing with you."

Rhyme went ahead and offered a suggestion, "He could be bi?"

Joshua told her, "I could be."

Beat leaned in, "So you're bi?"

Joshua shrugged, "I said I could be. I could also be any number of things."

Before Beat felt the need to punch the crap out of him his sister got in the way. "You've hurt him enough for today."

Beat rolled his eyes, "Look Rhyme, you're my sister and you can date anyone you want."

Rhyme seemed to think that was mature, "Well I'm surprised you're saying that-"

"Except him. It can't be him. If he dated you I'd have to kill him."

Joshua offered, "I did say you could come along if you wanted."

Rhyme shook her head, "No. I'm sorry, but I'm not OK with that. I said I would go to dinner with you and you said we'd talk about what you knew about my price. I wanted to talk to you about it in private. Beat you need to understand that this is important to me."

Beat whined, "But does it have to be Joshua? Dis kid's a maniac, Rhyme."

The area was full of construction. While it wasn't major. There was a massive earthquake that hit Shibuya. Most likely this was the work of the angels. It wasn't exactly like they needed to cover up much, but there was still a lot of damage and car wrecks around the city. Physical evidence and people's memories all claim that there was an earthquake. Hell they probably made a real earthquake too. But despite all the damage, people had never been happier. There were no Noise. It was like people were breathing clean air and smiling about it. It was refreshing to have no Noise around. Everyone was helping one another from what it looked like.

It was like Shibuya was experiencing a euphoria after having it's sickness removed. Everyone earned it, Shibuya might well be the best place on Earth to be. It was hard to find any Noise. Not even a bit of Negativity. Whatever the angels did down there it worked. Hell Shibuya wasn't the only place experiencing the effects. It was as if all at once the whole world was becoming a better place. But still there were things left unsaid.

Joshua went ahead and tried to change the subject, "Neku... how's your mom doing?"

Neku didn't know how to answer, "Adjusting. She hasn't been in the real world for so long that she's going to need a new identity. We don't know what all we're going to have to do. But I'm introducing her as my aunt."

Joshua told her, "It's possible to revive someone after being dead for so long, but it's not possible to get everyone to accept it. For example she's going to look like she did when she died. She only looks like she's about 30 or so. But she should in her 50s. Making up a new identity is easiest."

The problem was she didn't want a new identity. Neku sighed, "She wants to see dad. But..."

Rhyme guessed, "There's no way to convince him of the truth. And even if you told him..."

Neku nodded, "It'd be painful. Knowing what she had to go through. Knowing that he forgot about her all these years. It's better just not to tell him."

A scowl was sent in Joshua's direction. He sighed, "I did what I could. I saved you both from erasure, that's the best I could do. I couldn't bring you both back after she lost. Even the Composer follows rules from time to time."

Neku sighed, "I wasn't trying to put all this on you right now... But..."

Joshua nodded, "I know, it's hard. She's going to have to cope with not being able to tell people the truth. She's going to have to make up a new identity, but for us? We'll know who she is. That's enough right?"

I mean it should be. But it still kinda felt unfair to her. Shiki looked at Rhyme, "Anything new about Nanami?"

Rhyme frowned, "She didn't take Weiss being gone well. At least she's talking about it now."

Neku frowned, "For a while she didn't speak at all. Then she acted like she was happy. She kept going like nothing was wrong. That's the part I hated the most. The part when she'd smile to my face."

Joshua commented, "Sometimes we smile when we don't want to. Weiss' was strongest when he was pacted with her. Nanami didn't know how to feel and she probably still doesn't. We all pacted with Weiss at the end. Even he knew he was going to die. He was going to disappear and return to the Director regardless of what happened. I didn't fully understand who he was until the very end. He was like us, human. He's what the Director would be as a human. I never really accepted him as a human. I thought he was an angel at first, then I thought he was nothing. Nanami knew from the beginning that he was human. Her soul touched his and to me it seems almost cruel the Director would do such a thing to her or to himself for that matter."

Neku knew why, "Cacophony. He did it to defeat Cacophony. He personally didn't want to do it, but it didn't matter. He was saving her and all of us in the process. He changed his point of view like Joshua back then. He wanted to destroy Shibuya then he ended up doing everything in his power to save it."

Shiki hugged Neku's arm. She felt for Nanami, she did her best to compare it to if Neku died when she was a girl back then. It was a dreadful thought. The fact she was hugging his arm reminded her that he was here with her and that she wasn't a little girl anymore.

Rhyme thought about it, "We've all gone through a lot, but Shibuya's saved now. For the better I think."

It was at this moment they made it to the park. Waiting there in the center was Thanatos. Smoking a cigarette and looking up at the sky. The color blind guy just looked up at the sky. He reached up and tried to touch it. "Funny... it's almost as if it has color now." He had a military bag over his shoulder. Everything he owned must have been in that bag. He looked over to see Neku coming.

"You guys are slow as shit."

Beat walked up to him and offered him a fist to bump. At first Thanatos chuckled. Then he took a long inhale of his cigarette before accepting the fistbump.

Neku spoke up, "How's your life been, haven't seen you since... well since then."

Thanatos nodded, "Yeah well... My life's taken a turn for the better. I've gotten a sponsor back home. Some anonymous sponsor gave enough cash to start my own art studio."

Neku sounded impressed, "Wow, someone must have been really impressed with you."

Thanatos rolled his eyes, "I know it was you asshole. But the fact you kept yourself anonymous meant that you didn't want a thank you."

Neku smirked but didn't really respond.

"Either way... thanks. You helped me out. I don't care if you want it or not. I owed you a thank you. Looks like you did OK for yourself. Darklit seems to be thriving despite the disaster."

Shiki did a half smile, "Well... Neku pulled a lot of strings to lessen the damage. Turns Darklit is going to be just fine despite all the 'earthquake' related problems."

Beat noticed his bag, "You leaving man?"

Thanatos nodded, "Was just about to get a plane ticket. This place is too positive for me. All this happy smiling shit is getting on my nerves."

Now it was at this time that Kotori approached. She looked around nervously wearing some of Eri's brand of clothing. She looked like she was wearing a hat and scarf to hide her face as much as possible. She looked at her phone and then back at Neku, "Did the Director call you as well?"

At that instant 3 men approached. 2 suited men and one wearing brandless shirt and jeans. It looked like Weiss in a way, but it wasn't. It was the Director. Behind him was the Agent in a white suit and Hanekoma in a black suit. The Agent frowned and Hanekoma smiled.

The Director spoke using Weiss voice, only it sounded a little more mature. "I called all of you. I wanted to see you here in this place. I wanted to see this place for myself. I wanted to also thank you in person for the deeds you have done on our behalf."

Thanatos picked up his bag and began to walk away, "You're welcome."

The Director stopped him from walking away, "Words alone would not suffice as thanks. To you, Allen, you will find your loved one where she died. She waits for you there."

He stopped walking for a moment he looked back. "What did you say?"

The Director simply added, "You may go to her."

Thanatos stood there a moment. Then he muttered to himself, "Aya..." He dropped his bag. That bag that had everything he owned. He dropped it without a second thought and he just started running.

Beat called out, "You aren't sticking around?!"

Thanatos called back, "Would you?!"

Guess no one would in that situation. The Director was able to resurrect people who had been dead for a long time. He turned his attention next to Shiki. The Director stepped up to her and extended his hand resting it on her head, "It'll be a girl."

Now for Shiki she immediately felt her eyes widen. She felt that holy power go into her and rearrange her on the inside. It didn't hurt, it felt like every pain in her body was being removed little by little. Her friends didn't understand at first. She never told Beat nor Rhyme. Shiki couldn't have a baby, or she was told she couldn't. She couldn't tell Neku and she wanted to so bad back then. She was going to have a child just as she hoped. She was going to have a girl and Neku was going to smile at her when she did. She felt tears come to her eyes, but said nothing.

"Yoshiya Kiryu, step forward."

Joshua did so, but was unsure of what the Director would do. "By my orders you will be named Shibuya's Composer in the coming days. It was by your actions this nation was saved. Despite your gambles and crimes, I see you as a fit Composer once again. Will you stand as Shibuya's Composer once again?"

Joshua gave a quick bow but he surprised everyone, "No, not yet."

Everyone looked at him, "You see, Director. I wish to travel the world to see other sights and not be bound to Shibuya. I wish to have time to collect my thoughts and expand my horizons before I take up the mantle of Composer. Is this acceptable."

The Director was quiet a moment then nodded, "There is no need for a Reapers game as of now. There will be a time when Shibuya needs you again, when this happens you shall return?"

Joshua nodded, "I shall."

The Director extended his hand and Joshua shook it. Upon doing so power flooded between them, "Then you shall be named Composer. Go where you wish, but return. As favor to all present I shall add that none of you shall be forced into a game ever again. Not by Joshua and not by the Noise. There shall be no retribution for what you have done. You shall all prosper, consider it so."

That was basically informing Joshua not to drag them into anymore games. "Raimu Bito step forward."

Rhyme stepped up and the Director handed her a pendant. It was an old bell pendant she thought she lost. "Your price. You wanted to be a musician. You loved music you wanted to compose and entrance all with the beauty in your mind. So you shall. It was difficult to retrieve your price. But it is done. You shall your dreams once again and you shall live them."

It was as if all the pain of not knowing a part of herself was returned to her. It was as if that void and emptiness was filled. She could remember it all. She could remember everything. She immediately felt a smile on her face and let out an excited squeal.

"Daisukenojo Bito."

"WHAAAAA!" Beat wanted him never to say that name. The Director stopped a moment.

"Beat." The Director said. "You shall live your life without injury."

Beat didn't get it, "Eh? What's the big deal about that..."

Rhyme had to tell him, "Um Beat? You're a skater and you get into fights all the time."

Beat still didn't get it, "Yeah I know... What's the big deal about not getting injured."

Rhyme tried to put it another way, "It means no matter what you do or how reckless you are you're always going to leave unharmed."

Beat realized something. "You mean... no matter what I do... I'm not going to get injured..."

The Director nodded, "Nor die. You shall live a long life until the day your quiet death comes."

Beat got excited, "I'm going to do all the most dangerous tricks known to man and ain't shit going to happen to me HA!"

Kotori came next. She waited a moment unsure of what exactly he intended to do.

"For you. At your own wish, all those you wish to know you shall know you. All those you wish to understand what you've been through shall understand. If you go to your husband now, there will be no need to hide who you are and no need to feel any shame. He will believe you as will all you wish to know."

It was a simple thing really. Just letting someone believe what happened to her, but it's what she wanted now. It's what she wanted more than anything. She could talk to her family now, tell them what happened without a word. She could live her life however she needed. She didn't need to lie to them or make up a story about who she was, they'd just believe her.

"Thank you." Kotori said calmly.

The Director looked Neku, "Neku Sakuraba. You are already blessed, but still I wish to ask if there is anything you would want of me."

Neku thought about it a moment. Then he came to a conclusion. He came up to the Director and whispered into his ear his request. Too quiet for anyone to hear.

The Director raised an eyebrow, "That's all?"

Neku nodded.

The Director pointed at Joshua and the clothes he wore shifted into a woman's dress. He wore heels a lady's hat and high heels. The Director even changed his underwear. Neku started laughing. He pointed and laughed. And laughed.

And laughed.

Joshua didn't laugh, "What did he ask for?"

Neku stopped laughing long enough to say, "You gotta wear a dress for a week."

Of course... why did he expect any different. Joshua shrugged, "Could you at least throw in a better purse?"

Everyone was silent. Another purse appeared. Joshua dryly said, "Much better."

Silence.

More silence.

Then Neku started laughing at him again.

Rhyme was annoyed, "That seems... petty..."

Shiki rolled her eyes, "Neku you're the only one who thinks that's funny."

They both turned to see Beat laughing his ass off. On the ground laughing, trying his very best to take a picture with his phone."

During this the Director ignored them. "As for you Hanekoma. I will grant you a request as well."

Hanekoma's was simple, "Just being Producer is fine."

The Director didn't seem surprised, "If that is your wish. Then you shall remain Producer. Your wings returned to you and your station returned. All violations forgiven."

The Agent gave a quick bow to Hanekoma. There wasn't any glower or special effects. Just simple acknowledgment was all that seemed to happen. Just like that he had full access to his power again.

The Director added, "Charon has been released for his service, but he has been sent to a place far from here. You needn't expect to see him again."

Before the Director actually left he waited a moment. One more person needed to be addressed. Behind him waiting was Nanami.

She asked, "Could we have Weiss back?"

The Agent rolled his eyes and just said, "No. The Director needs all of his Soul where it is."

The Director held up a hand to silence him. "Nanami. This is not a light request."

She understood that, but still she asked, "Can we have him back?"

Then there was silence a moment. The Director shut his eyes and told her flatly, "It's possible. But he will have memories of his own death nor will he have any access to my power."

She didn't care. She just waited. The Director turned and faced the others. "Thank you all for your service I must return to the Angel plane. We part and I am certain there will not be need to meet again. You fought well champions farewell."

With that Hanekoma and the Agent both walked away. The Agent vanished and Hanekoma just went back to his coffee shop. But the Director just seemed to be standing there with his eyes shut. Then as if all of his power left his body. As the Director left the body fell to the floor. Face first into the dirt. There was quiet.

Then Weiss gasped for air. He began hyperventilating and looking around in a panic. After flailing a bit he finally stopped as if he came out of a seizure. "Did I die?" He said shaking.

Nanami leaned over and hugged him, "No. No you didn't."

He looked up at her and gave not one of those fake smiles but a genuine one. That was all he could do before he passed out.

XXX

Smoke, ash, fire and brimstone. The negative power in the air was as if it were smoke. It was thick and visible even to human eyes. The ash that lightly fell gave it the impression that it was snowing. Falling beautiful and free until it touched the burning ground. Fire embraced and licked all around you with every step. Brimstone was the feeling of the floor.

The hellplane was familiar to Charon. It's sight and smell were pleasant. He walked quietly to a spot that looked no different from any other. Then he was met with a pair of eyes. Then another pair of eyes. Then another and another. Until all at once thousands of eyes watched him.

"... you return..."

Charon spoke to them. "I have been freed from the Director's bindings. For my service against Cacophony, I have earned my freedom. As of now I am no longer bound to his will, nor do I draw his power."

A whisper, "... a trick..."

Charon took off his suit jacket then finally his shirt. Revealing only a scar to the naked eye. He looked like had suffered fatal wounds, but they were now scars. There were no chains or angelic marks. "I have been released."

Another whisper in a low rasp, "... why return?..."

Charon dressed himself and removed his glasses, "I wish to open the hellgate. I wish to begin Armageddon. I believe it within our reach. You! You who call yourselves Fallen! You who call yourselves demons! I speak!"

Thousands of eyes became millions of eyes. Red, blue and black. It did not matter the color nor could you count the true number. The eyes all watched Charon. Hissing with a mix of glee and disdain. They growled quietly until at last a leader of sorts appeared. Before Charon was another demon of the Hellplane. In terms of how he looked, he was no more impressive than Charon by human eyes. But in the eyes of the demon it was quite different. Charon fell to a knee at the sight of this ancient demon. His voice was powerful, but quiet. Almost like a mixture of a whisper and power. "I speak for the Fallen. I speak for the Demons of the Hellplane. Who do you speak for?"

Charon responded, "I speak to all who may hear my cry. I have watched the Noise god Cacophony fall. I have watched as they tore the boundary of heaven and Deepground."

The other demons started to lash out in anger. But they were silenced when their leader began to speak. His eyes were glowing black and yellow, "I take no joy in this human victory. Humans have no worth or value to us. Recount for all time how powerless humans are."

Charon told the demons something that made them gain interest, "I believe humans are the means by which we may finally open the hellgate. It is humans who are capable of this. I have seen it."

The demons began to hiss quietly to one another. Their leader walked closely to Charon. "Can you offer any proof of this?"

Charon put on his glasses and nodded, "With your permission I would like to test the humans. Should this test please you, there is a way for humans to open the hellgate. For if the hellgate is open..."

The leader seemed uncertain, but Charon seemed to have a plan of sorts. Test the humans? Why? Of what were they capable? Ridiculous. But the carrot Charon offered? If there was even the slightest chance that humans truly capable of opening the hellgate? He would be willing to send legions of demons to the cause at the slightest chance of that possibility. "Listen well. I will allow you to test humans as you see fit. But know the eyes of the Hellplane are upon you. Show us what you have seen in humanity. What human would you wish to test?"

Charon said flatly, "Neku Sakuraba."

The head demon gave some thought to the situation. His eyes looked up to a sky you could not see beyond the ash and smoke. "The Creator has spoken that if war between Heaven and Hell should ever take place... that he would cast this creation of his into the fire. You may not test Neku Sakuraba, this has been spoken. No power on heaven or earth will change it. So how do you propose to test Neku Sakuraba while he is under the protection of the Director?"

Charon answered with a light smile, "Testing him in this realm is impossible. I ask that I go to another dimension. A place where there are no such angelic protections. It is there I will see his power for myself. We must see if humans have the power to open the hellgate. I will show you what I have seen by trial of combat. Neku Sakuraba will either face me or know death."

The demon told Charon, "Go. You have my blessing. Take the path to another world. Find Neku Sakuraba and test him. Test him as he was tested by the Producer. Unleash your full might. Hold nothing back. See if these humans shall know victory or demise. Know that I shall be watching. Know that HE... shall be watching."

Charon bowed and smiled, "I shall go. In time, I believe even the light-bringer would find joy in what is seen."

Then without another word or another thought. Charon left to traverse the beaten path of hell. From there he could come out anywhere and in any dimension. All he need do was wait until the angels looked away even for but a moment.

"Hell is coming."

XX xx XX

Rhyme was understandably reluctant. At first she stuttered. Unsure of how best to answer.

"Table for one or two?"

After a moment she answered. She looked OK, probably dolled up a little too well. She expected to dust off that party dress sooner or later. It suited her, sure. But... she never imagined Joshua would be the first one to see it in use.

"Two. Is there a Kiryu here?"

At first he wasn't sure who. He started to check his roster before she said.

"He's in a dress."

He stopped and guided her, "This way ma'am."

The waiter nodded and escorted her with a hand. It was one of those nice places. Honestly the thought crossed her mind once or twice what she was doing there. Then Joshua awaited her at an empty table. It seemed he was waiting for her to arrive before he ordered.

"You came." He stated with a half smile.

Rhyme nervously nodded. Joshua stood as she sat. You'd think he was the gentleman sort if you didn't know better already. Although Rhyme sat fairly tense. Even for a date.

"You wanted to talk?" She didn't bother her little neatly folded cloth napkin.

Joshua nodded. Still wearing the dress due to the fact Neku and the Director put that 'blessing' on him. Despite the otherwise humiliating event he carried himself on like it didn't bother him. That didn't stop him from coming there to see Rhyme. But really he might have just been there for his own taste in food. The question on her mind was simple. What now?

Joshua scanned the menu and seemingly picked an item at random. Probably wasn't really there for the food. Rhyme herself didn't care either. She just ordered some lobster bisque and waited for the waiter to walk away.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"About that..." She said. Still focusing on that dress he was wearing.

"Hmm?" He looked up from the menu. Completely ignoring the fact she was staring at his women's attire.

"Well... what are we doing here Joshua. Don't you have some Composer things to do or something?" She almost sounded mean there without meaning too. Probably because of the dress? Was it bad if she wondered if he was wearing his dress more confidently than her?

Joshua took it with a sigh, "What we're doing here is having dinner and talking a little. The subject might jump around a little, but I wanted to talk to you about your price."

Rhyme blinked and weakly said, "The one the Director gave back?" Just now she started to look at his face.

Joshua nodded, "Although I guess it's an empty point... I wanted to tell someone the truth. The truth about your price is this. I couldn't get it back. Even with all my Composer power, I couldn't find your price. If you or Kitaniji hadn't been erased I could have retrieved it."

Rhyme asked, "You tried to get it back?"

Joshua kinda put some explanation into this. Although it still had a bit of vague seasoned into the explanation. "Composers have nearly infinite Creativity and Imagination. Essentially we gather our Soul from both Shibuya and from the Director. Although we have all this power you need to know what you're looking for to bring something back. When your price was taken it was taken by Kitaniji. As Composer the amount of prices taken per game far surpasses my knowledge. When you were erased the only one who could have access to your price at that point would have been Kitaniji. Since he was holding on to it until you were done. But when he was erased your price was lost. Even if I were to bring you back to life, there wasn't a realistic way to return your price to you. I asked Hanekoma, he said that even if I brought back Kitaniji... an option I had no intention of bringing to light. I still couldn't have found your price. If I knew what your price was or if you had known what your dream was that you were missing, I could have found a way to recreate the same dream you had. As things stood, it was simply impossible. Even with limitless power, I can only pretend to be omniscient."

Rhyme listened quietly blinking a bit every now and then. A little more than she needed to. Almost as if something was scratching at her. "I didn't know you tried to get it back."

Joshua nodded, but he didn't seem happy that she understood. "I wanted you to know that I tried, but at the same time I'm really the reason you lost it. While it's true I wasn't the cause of your death and it's true I didn't personally bring forth your erasure, I felt compelled to return what was lost to you. But sometimes you can't always return everything."

Rhyme just said it, "It wasn't your fault. And you didn't strike me as the guilty type."

Joshua nodded and raised his glass of water to that. "Glad you noticed. Part of the reason I wanted to talk to you was because you understood."

"Understood what?"

"Well... In my profession there are three types of people. Those who walk all around us who know nothing about the Reaper's Game. Those who know of the Reapers game and without hesitation would fall to bended knee to the Composer. And those who hate the Composer. You're none of these three types."

Rhyme would hope so. "Well you can be pretty intimidating. Anyone who knows who you are is either a Reaper or a former player."

Joshua put his water down and rested his chin on the back of his hand, "And players... directly or indirectly have been scarred by my actions. It only causes them further rage to learn I don't have a single regret about what I did to them."

Rhyme almost forgot how arrogant Joshua was. Her bisque arrived, but she wasn't going to eat it just yet. "You do have regrets though. As much as you pretend not to be you're still human."

Joshua took a bite out of what appeared to be halibut. "Right now? I'm human. I'm finding myself at a loss for words mostly. It's been years... I haven't been human for most of my life. When you're Composer you have control of yourself. You don't have those stray thoughts that creep up on you. You don't have dreams that you can't explain. You don't have regrets or those impulsive decisions you make without the slightest clue why you did it."

Rhyme started to get it now, "That's why."

Joshua gave himself away. He took another bite of halibut. "Yes, I suppose it is. I asked you here tonight because I think I wanted someone to know. I wanted someone to know that on some level or another I really am sorry for what I did. I killed Neku and I killed his wife. By my hand. Your brother fought against me and watched me betray Neku. Your brother, Neku and Shiki saw me at my absolute worst and all of them have scars on some level or another. I wanted to talk to someone who understood."

Rhyme took a guess, "You didn't want to be judged?"

Joshua took another bite of Halibut, "Well you've heard me out. I was going to try to bring your price back one last time, but it seems the Director beat me to the punch. I guess that leaves just one question... Why did you show up?"

Rhyme looked around. Not really sure how best to answer. "Well." She wasn't really too sure. "You asked me to meet you tonight."

Joshua clarified, "The carrot I offered was assisting you with your price. You didn't need to come here tonight, you have your price now. So that leaves me to wonder, why is it that you arrived?" He gave her that cold gaze.

Rhyme let out a bit of a sigh, "I don't know. I was a little curious. What could the former Composer want with me."

Joshua nodded, "Curiosity? Is that all?"

Rhyme smiled almost in a challenging way, "What about you? You're becoming Composer in a few weeks. Is there a reason you waited for me? I didn't have a real reason to show up."

Joshua nodded, "I suppose if I had to say... The reason I waited for you was because I hoped you'd show up anyway."

Silence.

The waiter walking by noticed Joshua finished his plate. But Rhyme? She hadn't touched her food. He didn't ask about it just yet, because he could feel some sort of tension at the table.

Joshua asked, "Were you hoping I'd be waiting for you?"

Rather than answer she took a spoon and sipped cold bisque. Then she took another sip. Then another.

"How's the cold bisque?"

After a long sip she said, "Surprisingly OK."

So she finally wanted to build up some courage to ask.

"Joshua I was told to ask you. By Neku... And my brother... And Shiki... And well... everyone."

Joshua sipped his water and let the waiter take his plate.

"Are you umm... gay?"

Joshua stopped sipping. He sighed then blinked, "It's going to be a complicated answer." It didn't help he was dressed like a woman right now.

Rhyme felt on edge, "Complicated?" What sort of disturbing answer was that.

"I became Composer at 13. I didn't even hit puberty. After I became Composer I didn't have any sort of sexual desire. You don't feel physical attraction like everyone else does. You don't have any sort of sexual need, so... I guess I can't really answer that question."

Rhyme felt her eyes cross, "You don't know? You don't know if you're straight or not?"

Joshua sipped his glass in silence.

"What about all those times you were messing with Neku?"

Joshua answered, "Although I couldn't feel sexual need, I still found it amusing to mess with him. Still, that doesn't exactly mean I'm straight either, does it?"

Rhyme was annoyed. She muttered under her breath, "The world may never know..." That question had been itching at her forever and this is the best she got?

She sipped her water and looked at Joshua again. He was looking at her right?

She asked him straight up, "Am I attractive?"

Joshua looked at her then a smile slid across his face. "You're beautiful."

"What do you like about me?"

Joshua looked up and down at her, "At the moment? I'm going to have to go with the embarrassed look on your face. You've an adorable blush."

She got up. She thought she could take it but she couldn't. Rhyme had to go. Right now.

Was he playing with her?

Joshua made a comment as she walked away, "It's almost as cute as Neku's."

Then she muttered, "The world will never know." For now she labeled him Bi and walked away.

XX xx XX

It had been a while and it still bothered him.

Joshua wasn't invited. Not entirely surprising, but all the same he couldn't feel some small amount of hurt by the fact Neku didn't invite him. At least he could have discreetly done it, or maybe Shiki could have sneaked him a discreet invite? It wouldn't really be that hard to just text him the address or something. Sometimes though Neku had a bit of a mean streak.

Joshua sighed and found himself thinking that today was the wedding again. Instead of course on his Reaper business. He double checked his passport and photo ID. Honestly it was probably a better fake than a real ID. Hanekoma even made it seem a little bit worn just for that final touch of legitimacy. He put both in his pocket and seemed to be packing his suitcase just a little faster than he needed to.

Kariya entered the room with Uzuki. They watched Joshua pack his bags and it seemed he was too busy packing to even waste a breath on a hello.

Uzuki muttered, "Well at least this is the right hotel room."

Joshua smirked, "Yes, I'm glad you both made it." In another moment he was through packing. One little rolling suitcase and he was pretty much set.

Kariya took out his lolipop, "So what's up? I didn't think a meeting with the Composerman was going to involve helping him pack his bags."

Joshua smirked and rolled his bag to the door. "It won't. I'm leaving on a trip, I don't know how long I'll be gone. In short it'll be up to you to handle the Reaper's game while I'm away."

Kariya raised an eyebrow, "You're not looking to win any awards for your work ethic, are you?"

Joshua let out a little chuckle then shook his head, "By my rank as Composer and the powers granted with the title, I name you my Conductor until such time as death or demotion. Take this honor with pride and stand."

Kariya crunched down on his lolipop and kept his eyes shut a moment. A mix of irritation and confusion went over him, "Firstly... I've been standing the entire time... Secondly... Why are you making me Conductor?"

Joshua answered both, "I prefer to speak in formality when doing promotions. Usually the Conductor kneels in the presence of the Composer. And the reason I made you Conductor is you're the best person for the job."

Kariya's eyes crossed, "Umm... yeah... no."

Uzuki looked around, "What about me?"

Joshua was quick to tell her, "You've been promoted to officer class Reaper. Starting next game you'll be assisting Kariya with the Reapers game. After all that's happened most of my Reapers have been given a second chance at life. Also I'll need a new set of staff. Pretty much a lot of recruiting in preparation for the coming Reapers games."

Uzuki felt a little tear of joy run down her face. There wasn't a tear of course, she was just delusional. "I'm. I'm promoted?" She gulped down pure joy a moment and her expression was that of a little girl with sparkling eyes, "I'm an officer?"

Kariya sighed, "Yes, Uzuki, you're an officer. But what I don't get is why am I Conductor. Shouldn't you be strong arming Sho into helping you again?"

Joshua would have thought of Sho by now. And with crossed arms he pretty much summed it up, "Can't find him. Also he's going to try to kill me now that he's loose. Let me know if you find him. My number is in your phone."

Joshua started to leave. Just like that.

Uzuki wanted to know, "Wait! You're just dumping all the work on us?!"

Kariya sighed, "So where are you in such a hurry to?"

Joshua motioned to a postcard. A postcard from London England. "The Composer in northern Europe is doing some rather unethical experiments. Something that has all the Angels worked up. Thought I'd take a look."

Uzuki wondered, "Wouldn't that be... well risky? You don't have your Composer powers there, do you?"

Joshua smirked, "I'll be fine. And so will you two."

The door shut. And then silence.

More silence.

"Screw him." Uzuki moaned.

Kariya just chuckled and walked to the window, "Well... we've got a lot of work ahead of us, but... How about I take out out to lunch. You know, to celebrate?"

Uzuki sighed, "Ramen sounds good."

XX xx XX

"This bridesmaid dress isn't too bad." Rhyme was kinda proud how well it suited her. She gave the mirror a twirl. Then after a sigh she muttered, "I still need to find a boyfriend."

At which point Eri surprised her by poking her head in the mirror's point of view, "If you ever need help finding a boy, just ask."

Rhyme squeaked and turned. "You heard that?"

Eri raised an eyebrow then turned Rhyme back to the mirror. "Look at yourself. If you really want a boy you need to try to practice smiling. You want to look approachable. Boys get the bitch act every day."

Rhyme looked confused, "Umm... What?"

Nanami poked her head in, "And if you really want a particular guy, you can always research them a little. I can help with that. Weiss likes it when my hair's up for example. Neku likes it when Shiki's hair is down. Beat likes highlights."

Out of curiosity Rhyme asked, "Did you ever find out what Josh likes?"

Eri and Nanami said at the same time, "Men." Only partially joking of course.

Rhyme sighed in defeat. She didn't tell them about the date. But she just muttered, "He's bi."

Eri blinked. Nanami swooped in to look Rhyme right in the eyes, "What happened?" You weren't allowed to just say that without getting some sort of response.

Rhyme just kind of had to admit, "I uhh... I went out on a date with him?" As you might expect you couldn't really play that off as something of disinterest.

Eri blinked again. Nanami just shook a bit, "What happened?!"

Rhyme excused herself quickly, "Look it was a just a bit of dinner..." She didn't want to talk about it and yet somehow she still managed to bring it up.

Eri demanded to know, "What happened?!"

Rhyme was turning pink from all the attention, "Well... umm... he said I was beautiful. And he thought my embarrassed face was cute." She deliberately left out the part where he tried researching how to get her price back. She also left out the part where she listened so long she didn't eat her lobster bisque until it was cold.

Eri and Nanami looked at one another. Eri pointed out, "Well... it is cute. Did he say anything else?"

Rhyme felt interrogated, "Mostly we just talked. Nothing serious."

Nanami double checked outside and motioned Weiss to come over. "Did you know about this?!"

Weiss blinked, "What?"

Nanami was frustrated, "Even without your Director power, you're really observant, did you know Rhyme went out on a date?"

Weiss looked inside the tent to see Rhyme blushing. "Oh? With Josh?"

Nanami was mad, "You knew?!"

Weiss rolled his eyes, "Well I'm not exactly Sherlock Holmes. But that's about the only person you'd be making a fuss about right now. Did she find out if he was gay?"

Eri answered, "She thinks he's Bi."

Weiss nodded to the air, "Makes sense." Although really it seemed like a lazy compromise at the time considering they weren't really sure. Although it wasn't like anyone would argue with that kind of logic at this point.

Nanami pulled Weiss back to her, "Do you know what Josh is up to now?" Why was she asking him? Weiss didn't have a history of being in the loop of what Joshua was plotting.

Weiss calmed her a bit, "Nanami we need to focus on the wedding. And I told you. I don't have any information about the angels or any extra info on Joshua." He wasn't the Director, that was a one time deal.

Nanami had him figured though, "No... but you can still see on multiple planes and detect the Composer right?" Well that she had him on. He still had the ability to sense multiple planes and spotting a Composer was about as easy as spotting a lighthouse in open sea.

Weiss nodded, "I suppose I can." He shut both eyes he was doing a scan without a player pin. And it was pleasing to know just how few Noise were in the area. He extended the range really really far. He wasn't in the city area. They were having their wedding on a cliff still on Japan. A well decorated cliff but the fewer the people the easier it was to scan.

Nanami's eyes narrowed, "And with your ability to detect the Composer... can you tell if he's here?" Nanami had some secret fear Joshua was going to show up and make a mess of things.

Weiss felt a bit of sweat, "Well... not that I can tell. But if Joshua wanted to mask his presence he could."

Nanami hoped Joshua wouldn't ruin the wedding. "Do you think he'll show up? To the wedding?"

Weiss shrugged, "Well... I don't think so. Last I checked he left Shibuya."

Nanami sighed a little with relief. "I thought he might try to make some sort of elaborate entrance..."

Weiss kinda figured Joshua might try something today, "Well... I don't think he'll show up. What's got you so worked up anyway?"

Nanami motioned over to Neku. He was nervous. He had the full blown pre wedding jitters. Shiki probably had them too. His mom was giving him some advice in whispers. "I just hate seeing him this worried. Could you go tell him Joshua won't show up or something? It'd make him feel better."

Weiss nervously said, "But I don't know that for sure..."

Nanami just wanted him to calm everyone down. If Neku had that closure, he'd feel a lot better and the whole wedding would go a lot smoother. "Just tell him Joshua's still out of Shibuya. He's less likely to freak out if you do."

Weiss thought about it and nodded, "Yeah. I think you might be right." Even a bluff might give him some comfort. Neku was really edgy. Shiki was too, but at least she was better at faking it.

Hanekoma stopped Weiss from walking away. "Hold on there, boss. I'll tell him."

Weiss smiled, "Hanekoma, do you know where Josh is perchance?"

Hanekoma did of course, "He's in London, doing an investigation on the Hellgate. He's coming back tomorrow. Although knowing him I wouldn't be surprised if he was watching from the sidelines."

Nanami sighed, "That's what was worrying me. Do think he'd mess with Neku today?" Nanami put a lot of work into helping plan this thing. She just knew Joshua could throw a monkey wrench in it.

Hanekoma told her flatly, "I'm pretty sure not even Joshua would ruin the wedding, but I could see him showing up. If anything he'll make a short appearance at the end."

That's when a round of applause turned their attention elsewhere.

It looked like a quickly thrown together obstacle course for some sort of a motorcycle daredevil. Although upon closer inspection there were spots to grind and ramps for flips. It didn't take long to figure out who it was for.

Weddings by their nature are a little tense. The amount of planning and effort that goes into them. Both families are a little on edge. The ever lingering question: will it last? But no one would ask it out loud. It's just one of those things that the mother and father worry about. The bride and groom? Usually they're shaking about different things. The groom usually is a nervous wreck hiding behind a suit of confidence. The bride on the other hand wants everything about her to be perfect. Just for today. It's the one day she wants everything to be perfect. There's talk about who's paying for what and usually there's a lot of under the table arguing. Lot's of smiling and cheer. It's genuine too. Because despite all of the behind the scenes stress it really is one of life's greatest pleasures. And for those who are stressed? All one needs to deal with that is a proper distraction. Usually there's music, there's art and in this wedding? They had Beat.

Beat stepped out on top a very VERY large ramp. Music blared and heads turned. Beat was smiling like an immortal. He grabbed his facemask and twirled it around. He slid it stylishly across his face and gave a few fans some reasons to cheer. Then after he became skullninja he went down a straight drop down the ramp and gained speed that even those who had no interest in skateboarding had to look. He went up into the area doing a number of flips and tricks that probably didn't have legitimate names.

He caught onto a pole twirled let go land on a downward grind. From the grind onto one of those U ramps. It toned down a little for a while. He just kept doing tricks milking the moment for all it was worth. Then at last he went down one final jump ramp. Rhyme seemed to be waiting for this. She had in her hands a bridal bouquet and with her she brought Shiki's mother. Who was this plain looking lady. Well dressed and more than a little surprised at her daughter's wedding celebration. Rhyme led Shiki's mom to stand at the end of a red carpet. Rhyme trotted down the red carpet with a bridal bouquet and when she reached a little spot marked by tape she looked where Beat was. She had to practice this a few times. She tossed the bridal bouquet up in the air. Beat right on time barely managed to catch the bouquet. He went to a sliding stop on a red carpet, barely managing to keep his board from tearing up the red carpet. He came to a complete stop in front of Shiki's mom and extended out the bouquet in expectancy for the woman to take it.

You'd have to be completely soulless not to cheer at that.

That show was Beat's wedding present, he spent weeks preparing for it. He handed Shiki's mom the bouquet when she wouldn't take it. People cheered again. "Take this to Shiki, please."

He took off his mask and revealed a sweaty face with a little bit of red now. He needed a drink of all varieties right about now.

XX xx XX

Joshua was dressed much nicer than usual. He had this stylish grey and white suit. He took steps up what appeared at first to be a building. But the more he walked the more he realized where he was. "Tower bridge? It seems I'm not the only Composer who placed themselves by a river."

Tower bridge was a somewhat iconic landmark of London. It's the world famous bridge that often gets confused in name with London Bridge. The walkway itself isn't anything special, but it was commonly used by prostitutes and drug trade back in the day. Seems like they cleaned it up a bit.

There was an Indian guy in a muscle shirt guiding him, "I didn't think there were any rivers in Shibuya."

Joshua shrugged, "The Thames is bigger. But at the end of the day it seems you can always find Composers by their rivers. When do I see the Composer."

The Indian guy told him, "The Composer will see you, when the Composer sees fit. I for one... see no reason to meet audience with you."

Joshua chuckled, "It's your job to be uptight. You're a reaper."

Yes, the Indian guy was a reaper. London had it's own set of reapers and it's own game. The game was decided upon by the Composer. But officers could be anyone who lived in London. Joshua looked over the view while he waited. Now begged the question what would they do? If the Composer was smart... and Composers usually were. Joshua would get an audience. But if Joshua didn't play his cards right he could end up... well dead. Although he had a few carrots to offer. Composers didn't often make deals. Especially not in person. So this was uncalled for.

Fortunately Joshua happened to be the king of uncalled for.

The Indian guy returned. "The Composer will see you. My apologies Yoshiya Jiryu. Wait a moment and you'll be met. The Composer wants to apologize in advance for the excessive show of force."

Ah, so it seemed he was famous. Not that it mattered. He had hoped that without his Composer powers, he would have been harder to notice, but the reapers found him pretty quick. So quick in fact he just might make Neku's wedding after all. If he had free time he wanted to at least show up at the end just to say he was there. Still it was about time he asked London's Composer a few questions.

It looked like demons were plotting, doing research into the Hellgate. Joshua was here to figure out just what sort of measures London's Composer was taking to stop it. One of the Composer's jobs was to deal with foreign threats like this.

Upon reaching the top of the bridge there as a bit of a walk. Wind was strong on top of bridges. As he walked he passed Reapers of all sorts. Young old, men and women. In terms of reputation. London's Composer was second only to Shibuya's. Although seeing the number of Reaper's at London's disposal he had to wonder if his own reapers could have held their own. Perhaps once. Back when he had Kitaniji on his side. He might have had equal footing, but right now it seemed they far surpassed the rest of the world in Reaper power.

An old man with a scar joined him. "Thank you for bringing him, James. I will take him."

Joshua was a little impressed. This old guy was up there with Kitaniji or Sho Minamimoto. He would have loved to see just what other pawns London had at its disposal.

Joshua had to keep walking a while. The bridge was long. Long enough to surprise the occasional tourist. The elder gentleman was definitely the Conductor. Although Joshua wouldn't have too much spotting a Composer. Even with powers suppressed a Composer was easy to spot.

The bridge lit up, guess it was that time of evening. Tower bridge had a hydraulic system that lifted every now and again. But right now? It shouldn't have had a reason to raise the bridge. "The bridge needs to be raised to enter the Composer's estate. Pardon my absence. The Composer wished to speak with you in private."

Joshua thought it closer to being: exchange threats in private. Joshua nodded and shut both eyes before taking a step past the river. As he walked he started leaving the physical plane and entered the realm of the Composer.

Every Composer had a place hidden away. Joshua's own pad was stylish and fitting of Shibuya. London had it's own Composer, so obviously the décor was a little different. But really when you boiled down to it they all were comfortable places. London had more of a mixed architecture. The pad was a mix of classical and modern. While the walls were made of white stone and windows of stained glass. They had all sorts of electronics littered around the place. Multiple screens with hundreds of screens. This Composer apparently liked to multitask. It appeared that from here you could see anything in London. He touched the TV, one of the little screens magnified to full screen. He smirked. The hundreds of tiny images were all functional cameras. He had to steal this idea for himself.

He turned his attention to some stairs. He felt the Composer on the second floor. So Joshua went up the stares and ignored what would marvel common folk. He'd seen all sorts of things, it was hard to surprise him.

Atop the staircase he could feel the Composer's power. He was getting close. At a rough guess, he had to say this Composer was a little weaker than him. Just barely. Probably one of those muscle bound men like Hirashi who had way too much power for their own good.

It wasn't a muscle bound man. It was a 100 something pound girl. At a guess she might have been 20 or at least that's how old she chose to appear. She was a pretty little black haired thing and wore a slick red dress. Although the only unattractive thing that stood out had to be that expression of distaste. Joshua was good at smiling, she seemed to be good at frowning.

"Joshua." She said.

"Morganna." Joshua replied.

After a brief pause she walked over to a small bar and started fixing herself a drink. And depending on Joshua's manner, perhaps he could have one. "There are three reasons you could have come. Two of the three choices will result in your death. So Joshua why have you come?"

She made herself a martini, then she poured Joshua one. She supposed he could have a drink to think his words over carefully. Very VERY carefully.

Joshua stepped a little closer. As he didn't need to think over his words. He had long decided what he was going to say. "Then let us hope for both our sakes that I'm here for the right reason. I came here to offer some minor amounts of assistance."

Morganna let him have a glass, but she didn't seem like she decided if she was going to kill him or not. Given the situation this would be the time to kill the Composer who had power that rivaled her own. Although Joshua was known for being sly and difficult. While all Composer's were arrogant, Joshua was a prodigy, but at times he seemed to lack experience. She supposed she could forgive his lack of manners. But not the fact he didn't get to the point?

"You enter my home like a thief. And as all thieves are eventually caught, as so with you. Thieves often lie about their reasons for entering a home, do they not? If you were truly here to help me a simple message would suffice. The fact you are here already makes you a criminal in my eyes."

Joshua took the martini. Not his favorite drink honestly. It was dry and bitter. "Criminals usually come when they have something to steal. Pray tell you've noticed."

She drank a little and gave him a moment to answer. "Speak quickly Joshua or I will smite you down."

And she wasn't kidding. Considering where she was standing and where he was standing it would have been easy. A Composer outside of their territory was only a little stronger than an ordinary player. Granted they had abilities that could keep them hidden, even from enemy Composers. Right now Joshua was at his absolute weakest while Morganna was at the height of her power in her territory. Despite this Joshua wasn't afraid.

Joshua took a drink then his eyes narrowed, "The demons. There are demons wandering your London. I have come to offer you some minor amount of assistance against them. Although you knew all about them, I'm sure."

There was a chance she didn't know. But in information warfare it would be better for her to play it off as if she had it handled. "If you have come now to tell me that there are demons in my London, then your words are slow and useless. Your help would hold little value to me."

Joshua told her after finishing his drink, "They intend to open the Hellgate."

Morganna's eyes pulsed. They turned a bright red and she lost her pupils. As her eyes pulsed did the force of her power sent Joshua flying back against the wall. She did this rather purposely as a show of force. She did a catlike walk towards him. Like a predator who already caught her prey. She finished her drink and set it down on a tray. With one eye burning red and the other burning blue she grew more, not less, intimidating. "The demons cannot open the Hellgate. Even a Composer as young as you, should know this. No, you more than any should know this." She pressed him harder against the wall with her energy.

He smiled, "Then tell me why they're going to try."

She didn't drop him. He still was being pressed against the wall by her aura. Yet he still had that fearless little smile on his face. "A cocky little shit, aren't you? I suppose if you're going to help me, you'd best explain how you intend to make yourself useful."

Joshua's eyes narrowed, "Now now, Morganna. We both know you're not going to kill me right now."

Morganna smirked for the first time. "Why might that be, little boy?" She seemed to almost be playful with her words.

Joshua looked down at her still pinned against the wall, "Why? The repercussions that follow, Morganna the red." She hated that name. He was taunting her.

Morganna slid him down to her eye level. At which point she removed his suit jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt. She seemed to keep her eyes fixated on his. Just barely open enough to let him see the glow in her eyes. "Repercussions? Let's see... you could be referring to the Angels? Doubtful. Even they know their boundaries where you do not. Or perhaps you mean the Americans? Spiritually they're weaker than they've ever been. Their people have grown lazy, bored and angry. Much like their Composer. The rest of the world doesn't give a warm piss about what we do. So pray tell, what repercussions?"

She finished unbuttoning his shirt.

He told her, "Your opponents are the demons, not the rest of the world. If you kill me now, you'd lose a valuable ally against them. Even if you currently have the strongest territory in the world if the demons put their pieces on the board you're going to need every bit of help you can get just to keep London from being turned to ash."

It seemed she enjoyed what he said, "The demons... Yes I suppose a battle between the Angels and the demons would be the end of all of England now wouldn't it? I suppose the Director is watching what happens next very closely. But are you saying you'll help me against such terrifying demons? Will you be my knight?"

Something was wrong. Very wrong. She removed his shirt. Then she pressed herself up against him. Her eyes just barely open she whispered in his ear, "Whatever am I to do with you?"

Joshua shut both eyes in thought, why was she acting this way now. What did he miss? What he said should have been a que to put him down. But from what it seemed he had no intention of doing that. If she wasn't interested in his help, what then? Using him as a bargaining chip? With who? No... not a bargaining chip then. If she killed him the Director would respond by making Neku Composer. Despite everything that happened, Joshua knew he could take care of Tokyo. But why? At best that would just make her an enemy. The other Composers would likely cut all alliances they might have had. Despite all the talk. If she killed him here and now, it wouldn't gain her anything but enemies.

As things stood she had no reason to hold him now. He wouldn't make a good bargaining chip to anyone and he was most useful as an ally back in Shibuya. If she wanted any chance at defeating the demons her best option was to let Joshua go. Not just that, be quick and polite about it.

Unless...

He was foolish. He was VERY foolish. He told her with his eyes on the ceiling, "You're already enemies with the rest of the world aren't you?"

She rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "There's the smart little boy I've been hearing about."

Joshua weighed his options. Not many. He sighed, "I'm not going to tell you. I'm not going to tell you where to find the Director."

She giggled and kissed his neck, "And what if I made you behave, little boy?"

Joshua's eyes scanned the room. That's when he saw the proof he needed. Charon. Charon was staring him down. The fact Charon was here meant the worst possible scenario had come true. Charon told her, "I would kill him now. He's going to be a problem if you leave him alive."

Morganna put her hands over Josh's wrists and told the demon, "Leave us."

London's Composer had already sided with the demons. She not only knew about the demons, she was the one who let them in. She was working with them. And if that was the case... No, there was no way out of this. He didn't have his powers and if she had demons backing her in the shadows that complicated things. The angels were going to have their hands full. Especially if the Director wasn't given reason to act.

Charon stepped away quietly, "If you do not kill him, he will escape."

Morganna didn't seem to care, "And so what if he does? What will you do little boy? If I freed you would you run back to Shibuya? Would you tell them some vile things?"

Joshua chuckled a little bit, "Who knew you could be such a temptress? So what does this make me? A temptress' plaything? I'll do my best to enjoy myself."

Morganna backed off a bit, but kept him pinned to the wall. "Here you'll stay. I'd rather think of you as a decoration. An adornment to my wall. Far from the angels prying eyes. Yes, here you'll stay. Although you need to be a little to the right."

She shifted her eyes right and he slid helplessly to the right. Joshua wondered if he could get a message to Hanekoma. He couldn't send a message from a Composer's pad. That was their own personal realm. So basically he was screwed, if he stayed where he was. And quite possibly screwed in more ways than one.

He couldn't reach his phone. But when he shifted focus back to Morganna he could see she had done more than kiss his neck. She stole his phone. At the moment she was attempting to look through it. Even with her Composer power she was having trouble getting the phone to work. Hanekoma had a defense measure or two should another person try to access the phone, but at the same time he probably didn't make the phone to hold off a Composer.

Morganna tapped at the phone a bit more before she was locked out. "I see your Producer lives up to his reputation." She said with the frown returning to her face. She put the phone on the table and eyed Joshua up and down.

Joshua joked, "He's such a nerd when he wants to be. It's chore using my phone when I don't want you looking into it. You might have your Producer look into it."

Morganna didn't seem to consider that option. She left the phone where it was and filled herself up another drink. The ice was getting thin. After taking a comfortable seat she waited a moment. "You know... if you were to give me the password into your phone, I could make it worth your while."

Joshua eyed her up and down, "I'm sure you could. But I don't think that would be in anyone's best interest right now."

Morganna sighed, "Fine... Merlin?"

Her Conductor appeared. The old gray man had a scar. He wore clothing akin to that of a butler. That name? Merlin? As in that old mage?

Morganna told him, "Could you find someone capable of hurting our guest?"

The old man nodded, "Any particular type of torture required?"

"Someone who likes hurting people, it could take a while."

The old man nodded and vanished away as quickly as he appeared, "As you wish, my lady."

She looked at Joshua's phone again then instead shut both eyes and rested her head back. While she did this she considered her options. She could kill Joshua, but he had information, a lot of it. Which lead her to question if she could make him join her. There were good and bad ways to make Joshua join her, but as smart as she was. She knew that Joshua was a Composer, he wasn't going to willingly abandon his territory. The fact that he was Composer gave him inhuman levels of control of his body. Which left her one option.

Hurt him until he was in pain enough to let something slip and there were ways of looking into even a Composer's head. Of course... this would have been a lot easier if she had her Producer's help. She took another sip of her drink and looked up at Joshua. Then she looked down at his phone only to notice that his phone was missing.

Her eyes opened fully then scanned the room. "Charon!" She barked as she stood.

A sword was raised to her neck. This blonde white and gold dressed decorated soldier held it to her neck. That blonde guy was holding Joshua's phone. With the sword to her neck the soldier quietly asked, "Put him down Morganna."

She smiled sweetly, "It's good to see you again, Uther."

Uther was DEFINITELY the producer. Even without his Composer power there was no mistaking it. And like all Producers, he was an angel. "What are you doing Morganna?"

He already knew and she knew he knew. She stepped a little closer to him knowing he actually wouldn't cut her with that sword. She practically walked into the path of the sword until she embraced her Producer. "Sweet Uther. I want to open the Hellgate. I want what I lost, Uther. I want what the angels took from me."

There wasn't long to look at Uther. But he was like Hanekoma in the sense that he seemed young enough for a young man to approach him. But old enough to where he seemed experienced. It might have been the uniform or just how he presented himself. But Producer's just had a way of making themselves seem older than they looked.

Uther looked at her sadly. Almost like a father looking disappointed at a daughter. Joshua saw much of the relationship he saw between himself and Hanekoma. Except theirs? It seemed almost intimate. The way he looked at her and the way she looked at him. All the little things added up. Were they more than Producer and Composer? Was that allowed? Probably not. Joshua never had to worry about that sort of thing.

Uther kept his sword to her neck and reached for Joshua's phone. "You're not going to get back what you lost. Not by siding with them."

Morganna stepped closer. Then closer almost touching the sword. "Uther... it's not about sides anymore. It's about something much simpler than that. I know I can't forgive the angels and I know despite you being one... You can't forgive them easier. Give me the phone Uther. At least be on my side."

He thought about it.

But he held up Joshua's cell phone and tossed it to Joshua. He wasn't going to catch the phone being pinned down as he was. But as the phone was flying to him Uther managed to open a portal of sorts right behind Joshua. Joshua slid through the portal and his phone was flung out with him.

Uther didn't have long. He was soon ambushed by Charon and smashed into the floor with a fist of black and red smoke. Charon looked up just in time for the portal to shut.

The Composer seemed to be pained by the sight of her Producer, but none the less she wasn't going to stop now. "I'll have my reapers find Joshua."

Charon muttered, "What about this one?"

Uther looked up at her. He was in pain.

Morganna looked at him a long time. Then looked away, "Erase him... Make sure the Angels won't be able to put him back together."

Joshua seemed to have another guardian angel of sorts. Much like Hanekoma betrayed Joshua when he was wrong. It seemed London's Producer was doing the same. Although unlike Hanekoma, he paid a price for it. Joshua couldn't waste this chance. He ended up on the streets of London. Then he started running. He dialed his phone quickly then spoke into the phone, "Hanekoma! By my order as my Composer I need you to summon me immediately back to Shibuya. I'm a target of London's Composer."

Hanekoma started walking away from the wedding. He didn't get to hear anything else, the phone went dead after that. But they didn't have long. He needed to summon Joshua now. And the fastest way to do that was to get some help. "Weiss, Nanami! Emergency!"

"What's up?" Weiss asked.

Nanami didn't ask a question she just got dragged along. Hanekoma drew a perfect circle in the ground and told them. Channel all of your soul power into this circle. I need to complete a summoning ritual. Joshua will die if we're not quick."

Honestly part of them thought this was a joke. They wanted to shrug that off as some ridiculous joke. But Hanekoma's face was genuine. This wasn't a joke. This was the real deal. Weiss put his power into the circle as best he could. Nanami joined in shortly after. Honestly the easiest part was building up enough energy to summon someone. Nanami and Weiss did that no problem. Hanekoma did the more difficult part: tracking Josh and using the circle on the ground as an anchor to summon him.

With a flash Joshua appeared at Neku's wedding. As he did he passed out. He fell the the floor and luckily none of the guests saw him. There was one lingering question.

How did his suit jacket and shirt come undone?

XX xx XX

Thanatos was enjoying his trip back to America, although to be honest? Japan was far kinder to him than America. Despite everything that's happened he'd almost forgotten that people were better mannered in Japan.

Given the situation he was going to miss those bastards. Hell he would even go back to Shibuya if they needed help again. Granted it'd have to be pretty serious to get him away from his girlfriend.

"It's weird. Things have changed a lot." She said.

Thanatos chuckled, "Barely. Next time I bring you back to life I'll make sure to give you a handbook."

They walked through the streets of New York. This was his new home. It didn't look like they'd be doing much driving. Worse than the traffic was finding a parking spot. New york was thick and full of life, but it wasn't quite as full as Shibuya was. Although as he looked around the city he noticed somethings he didn't before. Some of the graffiti was recognizable.

Thanatos muttered, "You've got to be shitting me."

It looked like a CAT drawing on the wall. Well it was the same style, but it definitely wasn't CAT. Aya looked at it, "What is it?"

Thanatos looked at a guy with a can of spraypaint. "Who drew this?"

A short little black guy smirked, "Why, you like it?"

Thanatos rolled his eyes, "No, this looks exactly like something I saw in Shibuya."

The guy stood up, "Ouch, so you don't like it?" He was wearing a lot of brands, all new. Branded hat, jacket, pants and shirt. Then he had a number of accessories all branded. "Might have to step up my game if I want to compete with Shibuya."

Thanatos just now caught what he meant, "Are you a Producer?"

The short little black guy stood up from his bag. His eyes turned with interest. "You were a player?"

So he was a Producer? If that was the case than that graffiti was his. Thanatos was pretty sure he didn't want to get involved in any more Reaper crap, but at the same time he couldn't help but ask.

"I was a player back in Shibuya. I just got through fighting a lot of Noise. Not really in the mood for any spiritual shit."

The Producer smirked, "You help beat Cacophony?"

Thanatos shrugged, "I guess."

The black guy got up and took off his hat and hood. After a good look at his face you could see that his hair was white, his skin was this caramel color. Mostly he wore white colored items with a mix of red here and there. "If you're one of the heroes of Shibuya then we're in your debt too. By reputation has the very strongest Composer. And as much as it pains me to say it Hanekoma could probably teach me a thing or two. Call me Leo. Anything I could help you out with?"

XX xx XX

The nervous twist of the stomach.

Shaking like an earthquake inside while your hands remain perfectly steady. You're freaking out, but you're smiling anyway. Then your father takes your hand. He looks at you and you look at him. With a gentle step you go forward. Compulsion fills you. You want to make sure there's nothing wrong with how you look. That those unreasonable expectations be met. That's a little how it felt.

Shiki was getting married. And despite all the craziness inside of her. She stepped forward with a stride of confidence. Her eyes looking forward. There he was waiting for her. Try as he might, it was difficult for him to hide the excitement. She looked around and her family was there. Her mother gave her those flowers. Her father keeping station as her guardian until she was passed to her husband. It was an old tradition. The passing from the father's hand to the groom. But it was tradition because it was beautiful. Your father is your first protector and your husband is your second. While she approached she couldn't help but look around at the mixed feelings of awe.

Rhyme was trying and failing not to cry.

Beat nudged Weiss, "You think mine will be that cute?"

Weiss somehow earned a spot near the best man. "I know mine will."

He was shushed by Eri. Who by the way was practically jumping inside her head. It was almost like her little sister was getting married. She made one of those low cheerful squeals. Just barely able to be heard, but not loud enough where the music didn't drown it.

With an outstretched hand Neku took his wife. He stepped before their preacher. Who by the way was Hanekoma. Hanekoma was an angel and he was not only licensed to wed, but he knew them personally. So pretty much you'd have a harder time finding someone more qualified than someone who works directly for heaven. "Dearly beloved." He began.

You ever notice how everyone tunes the pastor out? Yeah... the words don't matter much. You hear them, you understand them, but all that matters is that feeling in the air. It's a tense one, but it's nice.

As tempting as it is. No one tells the pastor 'hurry up'. Well... no one here did anyway. Hanekoma added in some personal touches to the vows. "Does anyone have a reason why these two should not be wed? No? Didn't think so."

Joshua chuckled in the back. His suit cleaned up well enough. Gray and white was a good color for him. And he had intended on wearing it to the wedding if he made it back in time. He just didn't expect to be heading back quite so soon... and in such a desperate hurry.

Hanekoma looked at them both after a long pause. "Fine, we'll get to the good part."

"I, Neku Sakuraba, take you, Shiki, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

He had to practice that all of yesterday. And to get all the little rehearsals down. Shiki had a much easier time saying it.

"I, Shiki Misaki, take you, Neku, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."

Hanekoma said it, "You may kiss the bride. And as often as you like."

Apparently there was no surprise that he took him up on that.

There was applause. Kotori cried and her former husband took her hand. They were back together at last and even though things were different they were still good.

Beat let out a howl of approval. Everyone kept clapping. They earned it. If anyone earned it, they did. Finally after a moment they looked back to the audience and the ceremony was over.

Next came the feast.

Fast forward 20 minutes. And things cooled down, but the aura didn't change. It was a time to be happy for a reason.

Beat was talking to Eri, "Well it took a lot of practice, but I didn't get as hurt as often as you'd think."

Eri told him, "Just don't get to thinking you're immortal."

Beat neglected to mention that the Director basically told him he'd wouldn't get injured or killed for a good long while. Sweet perk. "Well... either way."

Eri asked him, "They didn't throw the flowers yet, did they?"

Eri had a point. They didn't throw the flowers. Beat gave a quick call out to Shiki, "Hey! Neku! Shiki! We need to do that flower tossy thing!"

Of course they had to have their wedding games. So Shiki went to the edge of the hill and let a little flock of ladies perch themselves ready to catch it. So She tossed it in the air, when the wind blew the little flowers far beyond where she meant to toss them. Beat without hesitation. Dashed forward, jumped midair and caught them. Only to realize that he had just dove off a cliff.

Rhyme let out a distressed yell, "BEAT!"

Heads poked out to look where he landed. Luckily there was some water and he yelled back up, "I got em!"

Neku muttered, "Well he's fine."

Shiki remembered, "Didn't the Director say-"

Neku nodded, "Yeah. Yeah I guess he did."

Phones buzzed and it looked like Thanatos wanted to send Neku a text.

The text read:

Sorry I missed your wedding Neku. Aya and I want to wish you the best. And I don't mean to brag, but we got a hookup hear in New York. We're both on Mt. Rushmore and I fully intend to bang Aya on top of Mt. Rushmore. Keep in touch. -Thanatos.

Weiss cocked his head, "I never thought of that... Doing it on top of Mt. Rushmore. He must have met the Composer of New York."

Nanami was a little surprised, "Well... I guess they're doing well."

Rhyme was still looking down at her brother. "How is he going to get back up here?"

Joshua stepped forward to volunteer some assistance, "Congratulations to the happy couple. My apologies for arriving without invitation."

Neku was in too good of a mood to be mad, "We knew you'd come anyway."

Joshua smirked, "You know me well." He tapped some buttons on his phone and Beat teleported back up next to them. Composer powers rock.

Hanekoma approached and apologized if he was interrupting something. "Josh, I'm getting a lot of chaos in the angel plane, what's happening in London."

Joshua sipped a drink and smirked, "Nothing you need to worry about. It's being handled."

He was deliberately down playing it. And Hanekoma knew that, but he understood why.

Joshua asked, "Business aside I want you both to know, that if you need anything I'm just a phone call away. And you have my solemn unbreakable promise not to involve you in any further games. That goes double for Neku."

Neku caught Joshua by surprise, "We forgive you."

Joshua cocked his head, "Oh? I wasn't expecting that."

Shiki continued, "We talked about it... and... out of all the things you did. You did them for Shibuya. And... despite all the risks you took. You're the reason we're together."

Weiss added, "And he's also the one who brought you both back to life the first time."

Nanami reminded him, "But wasn't that Joshua's fault-"

Hanekoma stopped her, "Anyway! The gangs all here and we need to get some of that food."

Beat moaned, "Man I never did have good food at a wedding."

Shiki whispered, "We have curry over there."

Beat ran off, "Bitchin!"

Weiss had to thank Neku, "By the way I never got the chance to thank you for the job."

Neku didn't seem disappointed, "Yeah... who knew you were such a good architect."

Weiss clarified, "Oh I wasn't. The Director just made me the world's best architect before he left. He thought I might need a job."

Neku muttered, "And all the worlds architects all banged their head on a desk. Still, glad you're doing ok. You move in with Nanami?"

Nanami smirked, "We're roommates."

Weiss added, "With benefits."

"Hush." She said.

Neku took Shiki by the hand, "Shall we?"

Shiki daintily grabbed her dress and walked with her husband.

Eri went for some curry, Rhyme went for something a little less spicy and it's not like she was short on choices.

While they walked away. Hanekoma spoke to Joshua.

"Glad you're back safe."

Joshua smiled. He didn't respond immediately.

Hanekoma sighed, "The Producer of London has been erased. You know anything about that, chief?"

Joshua grabbed a drink and told him rather carefree, "Things are different now aren't they?"

Hanekoma didn't get his meaning. "Different from when?"

Joshua sipped, "Six years ago. Shibuya was saved. It was saved from me. And everything turned out alright then too."

Hanekoma nodded, "There were repercussions upstairs too."

Joshua nodded, "I remember. But now things are different. It seems that after all that happened and after all that hardship they're finally going to get their happy endings."

Hanekoma chuckled, "Yeah you don't get many of those these days. There's usually some melancholy darkness to every ending or worse they don't even bother trying to make an ending."

Joshua kept looking at Neku and his friends. All of them were precious to him too. "I'm not going to involve them in any more games, Hanekoma. They're not my pawns anymore. I think for right now I'm going to focus on rebuilding Shibuya. And I'm going to change the game a little I think. Something better..."

He was lost in thought.

Hanekoma chuckled. "You were right. Looks like Shibuya changed. If Neku can change, so can Shibuya."

Joshua nodded, "This time there's no repercussions upstairs."

Hanekoma drank to that. But he had one lingering question. "When are you going to tell them about London?"

Joshua looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. "On another day."

XX xx XX

Week 3: The Final Day

XX xx XX

[Authors notes: It's been a long ride, but this is the end of the story. Before you guys ask, YES! This is the end. If anything I will make a separate story TWEWYT: Another Day. I talked a little about this before, but it would be mostly comedy. I have no idea when I'd work on that. I just know it wouldn't be anytime soon.

I'm not declaring my story complete just yet. I'm going to edit some old chapters, pretty it up and then declare TWEWYT complete. Naturally I'll need all the support I can get.

Special thanks to MaxAxil for assistance with this chapter. And to all that helped me edit my story. Even the early chapters. Especially the mid chapters! Thank you for your help and don't think I wont' still need it. I have some editing to do starting with week 3. Then probably some more on week 2. When the story appears polished I'll declare it complete.

Or at least when I go, "Eh... good enough."

Until another day. If you have any questions, comments or just want to have someone listen to your sales pitch, send me a PM. My email is theworldendswithyoutoo(at symbol)live(period)com .

For those of you interested, I also have some ideas for some other fan fictions that I personally can't use, but would like for someone to have them. If anyone is interested in this send me a PM.

-0er0 out ]