Writer's Block is a pain in the ass. It ruins everything! I haven't been able to write a single, decent story for quite a while. But then, I saw it. There, in the Majin Tantei fanfiction. A brilliant idea . . . the cure for writer's block!
The idea here is to take your favourite pairing, character, whatever, set your music on to shuffle, and write a story based on each song that comes up. I chose to write about Shiki and Neku, seeing as how I've been addicted to WEWY for about two months now.
So, here's the first installment. Seven music-inspired fics about the cutest couple to hit the UG.
Disclaimer: much to my chagrin, I do not own WEWY or any of the characters associated with it (though I really wish I could own Neku). Nor do I own any of the songs mentioned in this story, nor the bands that play them.
[WARNING! MAJOR OOC ALERT! WARNING! BE PREPARED FOR SAPPINESS TO THE NTH POWER]
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Limbo
inspiration: To Conceive What is by Give My Regards
--
He'll get me out, she thought. She kept running his words over and over again in her head.
"You're Shiki, no matter what you look like."
"It's a date."
She had total confidence in him. She floated in limbo, waiting. It's only a week, she told herself. One more week 'til I get out of here.
And you'll be at Hachiko, waiting for me.
Right, Neku?
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Respect
inspiration: Respect by Aretha Franklin
--
"Come on" she glared at him. He shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No way. I'm not gonna say it. OW!" She had hit him. He rubbed his arm, frowning. "What was that for?"
"You are being SUCH a jerk!" she yelled. "Why don't you just admit it? It's not that hard. Or are you too much of a MAN?" She turned away from him. "Whatever. I'll see you around, Neku."
She felt arms wrap around her suddenly from behind. He held her tightly, possessively, and she couldn't help but smile.
"You're right. I would never have made it out of that first game without you. And I DO respect you, Shiki. More than you know."
She turned back to him, still snuggled in his arms. "There. That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"
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Improvement
inspiration: Of All the Gin Joints in the World by Fall Out Boy
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"You wouldn't like me if you knew what I was really like." Shiki hung her head. "I'm not good enough for you, Neku."
He grabbed her shoulders. "Do you honestly think I'd care? Shiki, before you, all I wanted was another chance at life."
She looked up at him through her lashes. "And now?"
"Now I just want to be wit you, no matter where we are." He grinned. "I'd call that an improvement, wouldn't you?"
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Changed
inspiration: The Good Left Undone by Rise Against
--
Neku hated Shibuya. It was loud, crowded, busy, annoying, frustrating, inconsistent, and just generally headache-inducing.
Except for her.
When he'd first met Shiki, he'd hated her, too. Her extra-cheerfulness, her love of the city he loathed. 'The Stalker' got on his nerves.
But then . . . things changed. Just like the ever-shifting Shibuya, his perception of her began to evolve. He saw her in a different light. She was a single flower in a field where only weeds could grow.
She held his hand as they walked, the bustling of the Scramble Crossing a pleasant soundtrack.
"Neku . . ." she began. He looked at her, and she blushed. "I've been wondering . . . why me?"
He raised her hand to his lips and smiled.
"I've lived among Reapers for so long that I know an angel when I see one."
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Erased [WARNING! CHARACTER DEATH]
inspiration: World Away by Emery
--
"This is what you always wanted, isn't it, Neku?" She was fading, her skin translucent, her voice thin.
"NO!" He tried to grab her hand, but it slipped through his like air. "Don't! No!"
"You said so yourself . . ." she whispered. "You told me to go away. So I am."
"Not like this. God, NOT LIKE THIS!"
But she was gone.
"Congratulations. You've won the Reaper's Game." Neku spun around.
"Give her back, Shades!"
The Reaper shook his head. "Not possible."
"Then erase me!"
Kitanji looked confused. "But you've won. It's what you want."
"No. SHE'S what I want."
Shades shrugged. "Fine."
I'm sorry we fought. Shiki, I'm coming for you. I love you.
And he faded.
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Blame
inspiration: Your Fault/Last Midnight from the musical Into the Woods
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"You realize this is all your fault, right?"
Neku gasped. "You're blaming ME? But I . . . I never even TOUCHED that pin!"
"Exactly! If you'd evolved it, then this would never have happened!"
"You should have tried to use it in the first place. You can only use that pig, remember?"
Shiki glared at him. "Mr. Mew is NOT a pig! But anyway, YOU told me this pin wouldn't do anything!"
"Because that's what Princess K told me, okay? She said it wouldn't work unless it evolved, and there are more important pins to deal with right now."
"But . . . am I STUCK like this? I mean . . . I can't get it off, no matter what I try!"
Neku didn't even bother to hide his smirk. "Well, I think you look rather cute as a Gothic Princess."
She slapped him.
"That's the last time I buy an appearance modifying pin from Lapin Angelique."
She stalked back toward A-East, a chuckling Neku following in her black-laced, ribbon-adorned wake.
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Gratitude
inspiration: A Thousand Suns by Hey Rosetta!
--
Hands grabbed him from every side, touching, patting, and holding him. A chorus of voices filled his ears, shouting, whispering, crying out to him, all the same words:
"Thank you Neku! Thank you so much! You saved us. All of us!"
He smiled at them, nodding, trying to acknowledge them all, to say "you're welcome" without words.
Sota and Nao stood in front of him, grinning. "Thanks, Nekky!" Nao hugged him, hard. "If it weren't for you, we'd all still be in limbo."
"Or still players." Sota added. "Thanks, man."
"It was nothing." Neku smiled back, feeling a wave of affection for both of them engulf him. He leaned in toward them. "Have you seen —"
They stepped back, grinning even more widely, and the world seemed to fall silent around him. There she was, her hair dark, her clothes rather frumpy, but her eyes glowing, her smile radiant.
He ran to her, lifted her in his arms, and spun her around as she laughed with pure, unabashed joy. His headphones fell off his ears and smashed on the pavement, but he didn't care.
"Thank you," she whispered, when he set her down.
"No, thank YOU." he whispered back. She looked up at him, confused, and he kissed her cheek gently. "For giving me something to fight for."
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AND SCENE!
Now, I've always wondered what happens to people that are taken as entry fees. So I'm just operating under the assumption that they get sent to this SUPREMELY boring place where the float around for a week, called Limbo. Awesomely inventive, isn't it? I'd be a master pin-wielder for sure, with my Imagination.
Hope you like it! There will be more, as I try harder and harder to break out of this funk my writing's been in lately.