Disclaimer: The World Ends With You and all affiliated characters do not belong to me.

Written backwards. Read it both ways for the complete story. For full effect, listen to L.E.S Artistes by Santogold.

I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up… as I fall with him.

Neku is so- so everything, really- so everything as he falls, falls, falls, his eyes leaking water that couldn't be tears, he's just as happy as I am, I know he is. He falls and falls and falls and I think I hear some sort of shout that can't be a scream come from behind me or where he's falling or… everywhere, really. Those shouts are everywhere, loud and soft all at the same time. My hand is still poised so, was poised so elegantly in front of me on his back.

"I… I did it, Josh, I know I did but I just can't, I just can't believe that-"

Please, Neku, such petty little things, really. "You didn't do anything wrong, Neku dear, you won't have to worry about her anymore."

His wrists are bleeding- cherries, strawberries, red against white and blue, crimson flowers, and he just looks so so beautiful as he stares at me, that water going down his cheeks.

"You're so happy now, Neku."

"You're out of your mind- why-why're you like this- Josh, you're fucking scaring me-"

And I walk towards him, he's staring out at something, not noticing, never noticing, too lost in his little mindset that he actually did something wrong.

"Then come and kill me, dear, come and stop me~"

"LET ME OUT, YOSHIYA, I SWEAR, I'M GOING TO FUCKING--"

The lock of a door, the sound of pounding fists on a stark white door. She deserved to be pushed in there- she hurt him, she HURT him and I couldn't let her hurt him more.

"You can't visit him the way you are, you're just being stupid, stop it-"

"I can do what I wish, Shiki dear. You did what you did, didn't you?" Fake smiles, hands grabbing her collar, watching her eyes flash- she clearly doesn't get that I'm in a good mood, I don't wish for anyone to ruin it.

"You can't! You can't! He's out of his mind, j-just like you- Joshua, please, you're just being so stupid!" She attempts to plead.

"Then I'll go save him."

"You're- no, it was just frustration, I didn't mean for things to go the way they did- Joshua, you don't need to get involved in this, it doesn't involve you-" Her hair is over her eyes, her naked form is twisted underneath covers, Neku is long long gone and my happiness just isn't deterred by this, no, not at all.

"So, you're too busy thinking about how mindshattering the sex was to not know that he's on the brink of a cliff right now? Is that it? He tends to have that effect on people, I've noticed." My lip curls upward.

"J-Josh- what're you doing here- Neku's gone, he was here but he's…"

"Oh, Shiki, Shiki dear. You… you can be so stupid sometimes."

And smoke curls, happiness forms as it twists and curls so nicely against a morning sky, sending me to a place where I can just lie back and relax; it will be worth what I give up- I can stand up for the things I believe. I was there for myself, not to know them, I don't need anyone else.