CHAPTER: three

Joshua Yoshiya Kiryu never remembered November to be so damn cold.

“That’s what you get for wearing a skirt, Josh.”

Neku walked alongside the shivering pale-haired Composer. The red-haired teen wore a smug grin as he took a long sip from his mug, indulging in the savory taste of hot cocoa. Joshua, on the other hand, was hugging his arms tightly to his body over the long sleeved shirt he was wearing. The Composer was, once again, wearing a skirt with leggings. His lanky legs trembled as they walked side-by-side, not really paying much attention to the world around them. After a few more moments of suffering, Joshua looked up and over to Neku, pale violet eyes shimmering with danger.

“I should just change the weather,” Joshua stated through gritted teeth, his pale hands clenched in his sleeves.

“You could, but you won’t,” Neku pointed out with a knowing shrug. The teen continued meandering down the sidewalk, not even looking to the Composer he was speaking to.

Joshua frowned. “You don’t know that, Neku,” he stated sharply.

“Changing the weather will prove you have a weakness to the cold,” Neku explained and took another sip from his beverage. “And you hate weaknesses, right Josh?”

Joshua’s eyebrows knitted together in frustration. During the past two months, Neku had somehow managed to learn him inside out. The red-head knew all his little quirks, all his pet peeves, and even worse, his weak points. The information bothered the Composer exponentially but he could do nothing without risking punishment from the Higher-ups. Neku was safe…for now.

“Cat got your tongue, Josh?” Neku questioned as he finally passed a glance over to his cross-dressing friend.

“Shut up,” the Composer stated curtly, darkly, and all around tremblingly. His gaze averted and settled upon the upcoming intersection. “Whose brainless idea was it to traverse to the mall on such a cold day as this?”

Neku snorted slightly. “Uh…Shiki and Eri and you came up with the idea.”

Joshua frowned, again. “I had no part in this idiocy. I despise the cold, Neku.”

Neku sighed, slightly aggravated now. “Stop complaining. You’re really starting to act like a girl when you’re not even trying,” he teased in irritation and quickened his pace.

Joshua’s eyes burned with rage but dulled after a moment. “Why thank you, Neku~ I’m such a great actor, am I not?”

Neku rolled his eyes and looked to the Composer once more. “Yeah…keep telling yourself that, Josh. Just because these past two months have gone smoothly doesn’t mean you’re going to succeed. There’s still a hell of a lot of school to go through.”

“No problem,” Joshua purred, poking his fingers together lamely as he resisted the urge to shiver. “It’s such a boring feat for someone as remarkable as me.”

“Are you really that cold?”

Joshua blinked in surprise at Neku’s sudden, off topic question. “No.”

“You’re lying,” Neku sniggered slightly.

“No, I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. Stop lying, you’re cold and now you’re just being an ass about it.”

The Composer cocked a brow and allowed his stiff shoulders to slacken. “And what if I am? Ridiculing me is just going to get you one step closer to erasure, Neku Sak—” the Composer warned.

Before Joshua could finish his statement, a jacket was slipped onto his shoulders. Once more, the Composer was rendered with only the ability to blink. His gaze drifted down and onto his torso that was now covered with a jacket from Jupiter. Pale, skinny fingers traced over the windbreaker before toying with the zipper. At last, Joshua’s gaze wandered up to Neku who was a few feet ahead of him, walking briskly, now jacket-less.

“…It’s too big on me,” Joshua stated bluntly and quickened his velocity to catch up to Neku’s side.

Neku rolled his eyes. “I’m surprised it doesn’t fit your ego.”

“This just proves that you’re, indeed, fatter than me,” Joshua purred in amusement, voice a fraction softer.

“No, it proves that I have more muscle than you and that I’m not just bones, Josh,” Neku retorted with a shrug and stole a glance at the Composer. The Composer was so preposterous sometimes. “A thank you would suffice, you know.”

“Why should I thank you for something I didn’t request?” Joshua pondered and rubbed under his chin thoughtfully.

Neku blinked and shook his head in dismay. “Because it’s only human to thank people when they go out of their way to help you without asking,” he grumbled and shoved his hands into his cargo pants’ pockets.

“But you didn’t go out of your way, Neku. You were wearing the jacket~” Joshua pointed out with an airy giggle.

“Asshole,” Neku muttered in defeat, lowered his gaze, and once again sped up across the street towards the mall.

Joshua blinked a few times, watching the headphone clad teen disappear into the crowd. He knew where the ‘gang’ was meeting, and he knew he’d find Neku there, probably pouting. Neku had such a bad attitude and such a horrible lack of humor-and a bad temper to top it off. The Composer sighed and fretfully dragged one hand through his hair, the other coming to rest on his hip. As he stood there, debating whether or not just to return to Neku’s home, however he couldn’t help but be overcome by the smell of Neku’s jacket.

xxx

“Josephina…is that…Neku’s jacket?”

Shiki glanced accusingly at the pale-haired male, her arms folded to her chest. Her black stuffed cat remained tightly in her arms, nearly crushed to death. After a moment, one arm fell away and up to her glasses to tilt them slightly, eyes scanning shrewdly over the jacket. She blinked and then allowed her gaze to drift back up to the smug “girls’’’.

“It is his,” she stated and then proceeded to giggle. Her pale hand slipped from her glasses and over her mouth, attempting not to die of unforeseen laughter.

Eri, who had earlier been discussing a sewing technique with Rhyme, looked up from the table she and Rhyme were seated at. The red-head stared at Joshua and then Shiki, unable to understand what was going on. The fashion-trendy girl turned to look at Rhyme who was grinning boldly, as if she had understood the reason for Shiki’s incessant laughter.

“She’s wearing Neku’s jacket,” Rhyme provided with a gentle smile.

“Oh…” Eri responded and twirled a strand of red hair on her finger before exclaiming, “Oh!”

The teen jumped up from her seat and scrambled a few feet over to where Shiki and Joshua were. At once, Eri developed Joshua in a hug, squealing similar to Shiki. “So you two are dating?! Oh my god, I’m so happy! Shiki and I were waiting for this moment! It’s so obvious Neku likes you. Oh god…” She released her grip to stare at the blanching Composer. “…So tell us, is he a good kisser?”

Joshua’s face turned from ghostly pale, back to a soft pink. The Composer attempted to keep his eyes from narrowing, not wanting to blow his cover. “You’re mistaken,” he stated slowly, inching his way out of Eri’s hold. “Neku and I are nothing of the sort. He simply gave me his jacket to borrow because I was cold…”

“Well duh,” Eri giggled and slung her arm protectively around Shiki’s shoulders. “A guy only does that when he totally digs you.”

Joshua arched a brow skeptically. “I assure you Neku feels nothing of that sort…”

“You’re so blind,” Shiki sighed and looked to Eri. “So they aren’t dating…that’s disappointing.”

“I know,” Eri huffed and looked over to Rhyme. “They’re not dating!” she called.

“Do you have to tell the world?” Joshua questioned, biting down on his lip to keep himself from erasing the three girls. He had a short temper as it was, and it seemed that today these three were hell-bent on testing it.

“We’re just teasing,” Shiki assured and reached out, gently placing her hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Neku’s never taken an interest in anyone, so we just assumed that, considering all the time you two spend together, you’d eventually get together.” She winked.

“…No,” Joshua stated bluntly and shuffled his hands into his pockets, gaze averted.

“You’re just as bad as him,” Eri sighed dramatically.

“’Just as bad as’ whom?”

Neku appeared on scene, jacketless, and obviously cold. His face was ghostly white and his body still shivered a bit. Joshua stared at him rather curiously. Neku had come into the mall first…so why was he the first one to find Neku’s friends? It made no sense. Joshua decided not to dwell on the idea for that much longer. Neku always had been the cryptic puzzle.

“Hi Neku!” Eri greeted and waved at him, trying her best not to combust into laughter.

“…What’s up?” Neku asked apprehensively, walking over to stand beside the Composer, refusing to make eye-contact.

“Oh, nothing,” Eri assured and nudged Shiki in the side, who offered a nod.

“…That’s reassuring,” Neku grumbled and rubbed the nape of his neck. “Well uh, sorry I’m late. I forgot I had to pick something up for my mom, so I had to take a detour before I met up with you guys.” A pause. “Beat’s not here?”

“He didn’t want to go shopping,” Eri sighed, disappointment drenched in her voice. “I told him it’d be fun, and that he could hang out with me, but no…Sometimes I wonder…”

Shiki blinked and inched closer to Neku. She tugged lightly on his sleeve and raised herself up on her toes to murmur into his ear, “Eri likes him.”

Neku nodded knowingly. “I figured as much. I think Beat likes her too,” he murmured back.

“What are you two whispering about?” Joshua interrupted, brows creased.

“Nothing that concerns you,” Neku muttered and shrugged aimlessly.

“Neku, be nice,” Shiki nagged, frowning slightly. She uneasily toyed with her shirt for a moment before looking back up at Neku. “Will you guys mind if I drag Neku over to the pet store with me? I need to buy chinchilla food and my mom hates when I walk around these places alone…”

“That’s fine,” Eri reassured before she meandered back over to the table to finish her discussion with Rhyme.

“All right,” Shiki responded and looked at Joshua. “We’ll be back shortly.”

“Have fun,” Joshua answered, almost lilting the words rather teasingly. Shiki didn’t seem to catch on, but Neku did. The red-head bristled, grabbed Shiki’s wrist, and began dragging her away from the small group.

Joshua sighed heavily and flexed his hands in his pockets. “Neku,” he muttered histrionically before turning to look at Eri and Rhyme whose gazes were locked on him. “…What?”

“Oh, nothing~” Eri assured and got up. She slunk back over to the Composer and draped an arm around his shoulders casually. “Do you trust us?”

The question caught Joshua off guard. He had known both girls for over two months now…but the element of trust had never occurred to him. He blinked a few times, debating how to answer. Truthfully, he only did trust Neku, but he figured the level of trust Eri was inquiring about was so low that it wouldn’t prove fatal. With a sigh, the Composer nodded distantly.

“Good,” Eri grinned and caught Joshua’s hand in her own. “Because…Rhyme and I are going to help you with Neku.”

Joshua instantly regretted his answer.

xxx

“Neku, why are you so uptight around Josh?”

Shiki cradled Mr. Mew carefully in her arms as the pair ambled quietly down the right-side of the mall. Neku, who had seemingly been misplaced in thoughts, glanced over at the brunette. His blue eyes instantly met her soft ones and he couldn’t help but wince.

“Shiki…”

“You like her, don’t you?”

Neku blenched automatically. “No,” he stated defensively.

“Neku, don’t lie to me,” Shiki urged with a frown. “Trust your partner, right? Trust me, okay? If you like her, I won’t say anything. Not to Eri, or Rhyme, or Josephina. I promise,” the brunette explained.

“It’s not that,” Neku murmured and uneasily rubbed at his arm.

“Then what is it?” Shiki pried, instinctively holding her stuffed cat closer.

“It’s just that…She’s…Jewish, you see. And my family is big on the religion. My mom’s a huge roman-catholic and she doesn’t like me dating anyone outside of the religion so…” Neku trailed off, sheepishly shrugging his shoulders.

Shiki snorted under her breath. “You are not religious, Neku.”

“My mom is,” Neku retorted stubbornly.

“No, she’s not. I’ve known your mom almost as long as I’ve known you. I’ve never once seen her yammer on about religion. You guys don’t even go to church. Sorry, come up with a better excuse,” Shiki answered, waving her free hand dismissively.

Neku mentally cursed the brunette and looked out to the crowd surrounding them. “I just don’t like her like that, Shiki.”

“Liar,” Shiki huffed, shaking her head. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have crafted that lie.”

“Okay fine,” Neku seethed and lifted his hands up to his hair and proceeded to pull. “So what if I like her?” His heart clenched at that statement. Like Joshua? Like a boy? As if! He was just saying that so Shiki wouldn’t keep bugging him that was all!

Shiki smiled knowingly. “You gave her your jacket. She likes you too.”

Neku shook his head, defending himself. “No, she doesn’t. Hell, I don’t think I even like her that much. She was cold and I had a jacket and she kept complaining so I just shut her up. Big deal. Shiki, please don’t pry.”

“Why are you so against dating her?” Shiki persisted.

“Because….” Neku growled and looked away, wincing.

“Neku?”

“Shiki,” Neku breathed and closed his eyes. “Shiki,” he began again, “Josh…Josh’s…there’s a problem, see. Josh is…”

“A boy?” Shiki hummed and continued walking innocently, toying with Mr. Mew’s ear.

“What?!”

Neku’s face paled and at once caught up to Shiki’s. The red-head stared accusingly at the girl, face now a dark crimson. Shiki looked to him momentarily and offered a knowing laugh. “What? Do you really think I was that dense, Neku? Of course I know Josh is a guy.”

Neku’s gaze dropped to the floor, laughing uneasily. “I uh…well uh…why didn’t you tell me you knew?”

“Because it was up to you and Josh when you were going to get around to telling me,” Shiki reasoned and patted Neku on the shoulder. “I know Beat doesn’t know…but I’m not sure about the others. I don’t think they do.”

“Good,” Neku sighed. “…Josh made a bet, and if he doesn’t have the student body convinced he’s a girl the entire year, he loses.”

“Ahh…” Shiki nodded and looked to the nearing pet store. “I promise I won’t tell,” she answered and tossed her best friend a smile. “You can trust me.”

“I know I can,” Neku answered and smiled gently, still a bit shaken up.

“Oh,” Shiki paused, looking back over to Neku. “So, do you like him?”

Neku turned a million shades darker, pushed away from Shiki, and stomped into the pet store wordlessly. All Shiki did was laugh, shake her head, and follow. A woman’s intuition was always right.

xxx

When the group of friends finally met back up again, it was at Mus Rattus. Eri, Rhyme, and Joshua were all clutching bags tightly to their bodies when Shiki and Neku returned, a small bag in Shiki’s hand. Neku looked distantly around at the group, unable to help wondering if any of them knew Joshua’s secret. He sighed to himself and looked down at his feet, listening to Shiki and Eri eagerly chatter about some sort of cute shirt in the store. Rhyme was looking at something and Joshua…where had Joshua just wandered off to?

Neku’s gaze lifted after a few moments and settled upon the Composer in the distance. Oh, he was just over at the counter talking to some guy…wait, some guy? Neku bristled as his gaze washed over a tall brunet male, dressed into employee clothing, happily discussing something with Joshua. Neku had seen the shopkeeper before (during his weeks of the Reapers’ Game). He remembered the boy as kind and attentive (not overly kind, as most of the shopkeepers got around him and Josh), but now he wasn’t all that sure.

“Neku, what’re you staring at?” Rhyme interrupted Neku’s befuddled thoughts. The young girl tugged on her friend’s sleeve.

Neku looked down at her and offered a small smile. “Oh, just clothes.”

Rhyme sighed and followed the path Neku’s gaze had earlier been glued upon. “Oh, Josh,” she stated and nodded. “Are you upset with him?”

That was right…Rhyme knew as well, she was the first to admit that she knew. Neku shrugged. “Not really upset. We’ve just been off today, that’s all.”

“Ah,” Rhyme answered and laced her hands innocently in front of her. “He seems to be enjoying himself.”

“Yeah…” Neku trailed off as he watched the brown-haired shop keeper laugh and lightly smile at Joshua. Neku tore his gaze away and looked down to Rhyme. “See anything you want?”

“Hm…not really,” she admitted and shrugged. “I usually shop with Beat at his stores.”

“Oh,” Neku answered and nodded somewhat before looking back over at Joshua, eyes slightly narrowed as the Composer actually smiled back at the shopkeeper. He felt betrayed. But more so, he felt hurt. Joshua had never, ever honestly smiled at him before, and here he was, meeting a complete stranger, and actually smiling. Neku felt dislocated.

“Neku?” Rhyme asked, looking at him worriedly.

“I’m…heading back home. I don’t feel well. Can you apologize to Eri and Shiki for me?” he requested, hands shuffling into his pants. He gave one last, deceived look to Joshua before beginning to walk to the exit, not waiting for Rhyme’s confirmation.

Neku knew that he was acting immature and overreacting, but that didn’t help the anger settle. He had managed to keep Joshua’s lie going for two months, and all he got in return were snide remarks, mocking giggles, and barely a pat on the back. And what was even worse was that every single human being that believed Joshua was a girl also believed that he and Neku were going to end up together. The red-head shook his head in fury as he excited Mus Rattus, his weekend trashed beyond repair. He understood why he felt so mad…it was legitimate…but there was something he didn’t understand, and it bothered him.

Why did he feel so jealous?