I buttoned up the final button of my blouse and smoothed out the skirt I was wearing in the floor length mirror, satisfied with my look that provided others with a professional aura. One week had passed since the battle with Nikolai, and more conversations about that time were brought up from Neku and his friends, mainly about Mr. Hanekoma and I, and about the Higher Plane. Shiki wanted information on Nikolai's trial, to which I told her I would tell her what I could. Word still hasn't come in about whether to let Neku and his friends continue to know about Mr. Hanekoma being a Producer or not, and I could only assume that today, at Nikolai's trial, I would know.

Taboo Noise hasn't been spotted since Nikolai had been taken by the Higher Plane and the Reapers that had followed him in the first place vanished and haven't been seen.

Distracted by the thoughts swirling in my head, I failed to notice the ash-blond boy who walked up behind me as he wrapped his arms around my neck from behind as I glanced in the mirror and looked into his violet eyes.

"Is today really the day? Took them long enough to set the times, huh?" Joshua said as I felt him lean forward and plant a kiss on my cheek. Even that small action caused my face to turn a light shade of rose pink as I smiled and leaned into his embrace as I held up a hand to hold his arm.

"It's only been a week Joshua. That's not a long time," I said as I turned around and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Hmm, I guess you're right. I mean, I was with you after all," Joshua hummed as he placed a forehead on mine gently, as if afraid I was going to break. "I thought we had a rather enjoyable week together, since we're officially dating. You have no idea how long I waited for this."

"Then why did you wait? I would've dated you awhile ago, had you asked."

"I could ask the same of you dear." I shrugged and cupped his cheeks with my hands as I leaned in and kissed his lips softly before pulling away, as he held my hands in his. "Besides we're going to have to go there together. Me, you, and then Mr. H of course. Hopefully the trial doesn't take up too much of my time. I can think of better ways to spend my free time right now."

"I'm afraid to know what you're thinking to be honest. And if it happens to involve me, that just makes me... What's the word? Fearful and anxious?"

"I think you mean excited and looking forward to it. I would be," Joshua teased, although there was most likely a hidden truth to those words that I didn't want to find out about. I brushed my fingers over his shoulder where it was wrapped in bandages, though it was concealed behind the cloth of his shirt. "I don't need these bandages anymore. Mr. H just insisted that I keep them on for one more day, since the injury was from darkness, which takes a slight bit longer to heal." Joshua turned and walked away as he sat down on the edge of my bed. he unbuttoned his usual light gray button up as he slid his sleeve over his shoulder, revealing the bandages underneath. As Joshua made an attempt to pull them loose, I giggled, seeing him getting nowhere. Leaning over to the vanity, I grabbed a pair of medical scissors from when I had changed the ones on my leg and walked over to Joshua as I leaned over and gingerly cut the bandages as I unwrapped them from his body, showing the scar on his shoulder. I trailed my finger over it as Joshua's body tensed up slightly from the contact on the skin.

"You were like a mummy, all wrapped up like that," I commented as I picked up the cut bandages and turned to leave as I threw away the trash and replaced the scissors on the vanity.

"Your leg doesn't seem to be any different. I see you're still wearing that necklace." Joshua said as he held his hand up to the necklace around my neck as he ran his fingers over the smooth surface of it.

"Of course I am," I said as I tilted my head slightly to look at the (f/c) birthstone as I held Joshua's hand and felt the smooth surface of the necklace. "It feels like its been so long since you got it for me. I wear it because you got it for me."

"But I also got you some dresses from Lapin Angelique and you don't wear those," Joshua retorted.

"For a good reason I don't," I said and motioned towards the doorway. "Shall we head out? I'm sure Mr. Hanekoma is waiting for us." Joshua nodded his head as we left my room and I pat my pocket to check if my phone was there. It was. I walked downstairs, Joshua following closely behind as I saw Mr. Hanekoma leaning against the counter as he seemed to be checking some papers over as he flipped through them in his hand, skimming over each one. His eyes glanced over towards us.

"About time you both got down here. Well, you two ready?" Mr. Hanekoma asked as he stuffed the papers behind the counter.

"What were those?" Joshua asked. Mr. Hanekoma raised an eyebrow.

"Someone's extra nosy today. They're receipts for some stuff I ordered. But we've got to go."

The three of us tuned up our frequencies and moved into the Higher Plane as my wings appeared in a flurry of light, as did Mr. Hanekoma's and Joshua's. The moment we appeared inside of a house, I knew it was my own.

"It's very clean in here," Joshua said as he looked around.

"Thanks," I said. "It's probably a little dusty though from me not being here.

"Oh, so this is your house," Joshua confirmed, seeming to make a note of it to himself.

"Yeah, I live here, and my neighbor is my best friend," I said as I unlocked the front door, closing and locking it once the other two had exited. "The trial isn't taking place far from here, and we're somewhat early so we can take our time."

The three of us walked on the sidewalk in an awkward, yet seemingly comfortable silence, each of us in our own thoughts about what could happen at the trial. What made my heart race the most was wondering what state Nikolai would be in.

"Hey! (Y/n)!"

I turned as my name was called and saw Solaris running towards me as she was shoving a bundle of papers into a satchel around her shoulder, trying desperately not to let any papers fall out. Once she had finally snapped it shut, she turned towards me and smiled as she placed a hand on her hip, before she finally noticed I was with other people once her eyes glanced over towards them. "O-Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't even notice you two. I'm Solaris Elenora, (Y/n)'s best friend," she introduced herself as she ran her hand through her head, laughing slightly to herself.

Before either of them could even open their mouths to speak Solaris gasped as she looked at Joshua who seemed confused by her sudden outburst. I placed a hand on my face as she took in a deep breath, ready to talk our ears off for an hour about something.

"Wait! I know you! (Y/n) had mentioned a lot about you. All good things. All good things. She was talking about you when we were talking about our-" I placed a hand over her mouth, as her words became muffled.

"Solaris, no. We don't speak about that," I said as I waited for the nod of her head before I pulled my hand away from her.

"OK, OK, I get it. You're just embarrassed to talk about it. I understand so don't worry. But, Joshua, right?" Solaris cleared her throat as Joshua motioned with his hand.

"You're the one who said (Y/n) talked about me. You should know," he said.

"Of course. If I hear that you mistreat her in anyway, or if I hear that you have done anything to her that she doesn't like then just be aware that I will know, and I won't hesitate to come down to Shibuya," Solaris threatened to Joshua who smirked and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything that she wouldn't enjoy. Besides, do you mind elaborating on what you would do if something happened to her?" Joshua asked as he leaned on my shoulder.

"Don't do anything and I won't have to elaborate. But it was nice to see you all, but I have to go back to my job. My break is about to end. You better text me this time (Y/n). You forgot last time. And good luck at the trial, this entire plane is going nuts over it."

"You can text too you know. And if I don't meet this Flynn person soon I'm going to stalk you until I do," I said as she smiled and rolled her eyes, giving us a lazy wave as she turned down the street, walking off.

"Your friend is just wonderful," Joshua said as he took his arm from my shoulders.

"She's really overprotective."

"She seemed nice. A bit overworked, that's all," Mr. Hanekoma said as he led us towards the Room of Judgement where the trial was being taken place.

......

"Nikolai Kaiden, are you aware of the crimes hung above your head for the actions that you committed through the use of others?"

The Archangels sat on pedestals high above everyone else as Nikolai stood before them. Chains bound him to the stand he was at, ensuring that he could do no harm with the lack of imagination flow through him. He stayed quiet looking down at the chains around his wrists as Angels stood at the ready around him, ready to strike him down if he made a wrong move or attempted to harm someone else.

The Archangels seemed to understand that they weren't going to get any answers out of him and proceeded with their trial.

"Your former Angel title has been stripped away because of your actions and you are now branded as a Fallen Angel, exiled from the Higher Plane, as your imagination will forever be suppressed to ensure that no one else will have to suffer and to keep the balance of the Underground, which you destroyed. Explain what your goal was with Shibuya and the Composer."

"... it was her fault," Nikolai seethed through clenched teeth as he glanced towards me. "It was all because she wouldn't listen to when I tried. You know what she possesses. The knowledge of sigils and she has the books. It was her damn mother who refused and left me with her, who didn't have any knowledge about it. I knew that she was close to Shibuya and in touch with the Composer and it's Producer. I could break her that way." Nikolai laughed that generally turned into mad cackling that sent chills down my spine as I nearly recoiled at the echoing sound of it in the room.

"(Y/n) (L/n), please come to the stand and describe the events that have happened to you involving Nikolai Kaiden."

I walked over from where I was glancing over at Joshua and Mr. Hanekoma one last time before I walked over to a platform and looked up at the Archangels as each of them looked down at me.

And I began to retell what had happened.