} New Days, Old Times {

[Joshua]

The pale-haired boy's lips quirked. "Because you don't like what I've put you through? I will admit, you dealt with it for far longer than most. Many before you have just given up hope, but you didn't..." With too much stealth for much detection, Joshua slipped an arm about Neku's shoulders. But he didn't hold it like a lover's--which Joshua was not--it just hung limply like a close friend's--which Joshua was still not. "I wonder how much of that I created~?"

Joshua's body had been exposed to too many sensations over the years for him to react to the nuzzle he'd been half-expecting. After all, the way Neku was acting right now indicated that anything was possible and Joshua should be prepared for just that. Still, it was odd--exactly how much had Neku been exposed to people? Maybe little enough that being in this kind of close proximity warranted this, although if that were the case Joshua couldn't imagine why more hadn't occurred between the ginger-haired boy and Shiki.

"What are you doing~?" he asked hypocritically, probably mockingly enough to get Neku riled now.

[Neku Sakuraba]

Neku glanced off again, frowning a little more once he heard Joshua speak. He was parcially right, but there was...more to that. Things that didn't even have anything to do with the blonde himself.

But sometimes, he'd relax...and forget. Much like he was half doing now. If Joshua was silent, he'd be more content then annoyed in the slightest. Though when he felt his arm around him loosely his frown lightened up a little. HIs hands where soft...

"Just don't ask." he whispered quietly, sighing, "I don't feel like moving." Neku offered flattly, closing his eyes again. He wasn't really thinking that it was Joshua there, it was just someone. A heat source. There was nothing wrong with that...right?

[Joshua]

Neku was just plain acting bizarre and Joshua wanted to say so, but it was too...interesting. What could be pushing him this close to Joshua, of all people? If anyone, he'd expect Neku to run to Mr. H with his insecurities. "I don't feel like moving" didn't seem like the kind of strong dismissal Neku would normally offer to Joshua, either, even if it definitely sounded like him in any other case.

Ah, well. If Neku didn't want to talk about something, it was little use arguing. All Joshua had really managed in the past was to get him riled, but that didn't seem to be working right now and sending the orange-haired boy away in a huff was less productive than giving him what he wanted in this case. So Joshua fell silent, for once, and let their occasional, slight movements be the only ripples in his thoughts.

[Neku Sakuraba]

Neku couldn't help but let the small smile twitch onto his face. Joshua didn't give a snide remark, and he just let him sit there. Nuzzled up against him in silence. His own pale hand hesitantly reached to touched the Composer's creme hand.

He contently brushed his hand over it and massaged it slightly. They where soft...and kind of nice feeling. Maybe he wouldn't mind said hands on his body...he shook his head slightly. What on earth was he thinking?! He'd possibly gone mad...

Or maybe it was just the springs making him this way. That was an option.

Though he sighed a little, again looking thoughtfully at his hand. It was weird how he could be so gentle at times..it was weird, to be honest. But he kind of was liking this.
Oh god, that sounds too gay... his thought to himself with a small sigh.

[Joshua]

Joshua rolled his eyes heavenward when Neku started toying with his hand. Ah, irony. That fate would dangle the very thing he couldn't have in front of his nose wasn't new. But if he really wanted what Joshua knew Neku thought he wanted, he at least deserved to know the risks.

So Joshua shifted, drawing his arm tight and pinning Neku's shoulders to the rock while he loomed suddenly close. "You know, Neku..." he mused lightly, toying with an orange strand. "I've noticed something interesting." He moved his lips to Neku's ear suddenly, hot breath against the lobe. "You're displaying signs of human attraction," he said in a tone far deeper and more sultry than his usual one.

Just as quickly the closeness was gone, but Joshua didn't let up on his hold or stop playing with the strand of hair, eyes wandering Neku's jawline almost dully. "Isn't that curious~?" he asked, his voice light and airy again.

[Neku Sakuraba]

Neku's breath hitched as Joshua was suddenly so...close. What was up with that...? He blushed as he felt the hot breath on his sensitive ear, it felt so...different, "...I-I am not..." he mumbled, glancing away. He never was experienced with, as Joshua put it, 'human attraction' and such like that.

But...men and women where suppose to be together. Not two guys, right? It was making Neku so...so confused! What was he suppose to do? He looked up at Joshua a bit meekly, "....I don't know..." he mumbled under his breath.