Ah... something that came to me in the middle of the night. It's 1:10a.m. as I'm writing this. Don't blame me if it sucks, I'm tired as hell.

I have butterflies in my stomach. I'm so nervous... I know I can't chicken out but in a way I want to. How will they react? How will he react?

I ran a brush through my hair, just making sure it doesn't look too bad. I never bothered growing my hair. I don't have the patience to look after it or the skill to work long hair into a decent style.

Getting dressed... make sure I take Mr. Mew! I have to take Mr. Mew or they won't recognise me...

I straighten up and look at myself in the mirror. I feel happier when I look at myself now. Sometime during the Game my self esteem got infinitely better. I don't see myself as ugly and bland anymore and I care about what people say a lot less. I am Shiki and if anyone doesn't like that, well that's their problem. Not mine. I don't need to change myself just to satisfy others.

Knowing this... It's a good feeling.

A feeling I never experienced much before the Game. As frightening as the Game was, I've got to admit... it did me some good.

I smile to myself, trying to summon up some courage. I can do this - there's nothing so scary about it.

I give my skirt a little tug to get rid of a wrinkle in it, grab Mr. Mew so Beat, Rhyme and Neku can tell who I am, and set off for the statue of Hachiko. All the way there I'm wondering if I've got the right place, the right time, all that sort of thing. I know logically that I have, but somehow I always end up worrying about these things. I'm not really thinking about Beat and Rhyme. I'm thinking more about Neku. At some point during the Game I ended up falling for him, and if he hates how I look now, I don't know how I'll cope.

I can see them from a distance, and my heart gives a little leap. For a brief moment I actually consider turning back, but how can I do that? It's really not an option.

I tuck Mr. Mew firmly under my arm and make my way up to them, feeling a little tremble in my knees as Rhyme spots me first and beams. Beat smiles too and I put a hand on Neku's shoulder - he's facing away from me and doesn't seem to have noticed me approaching yet.

As he turns around he's already smiling, but as he sees me and recognises me, his grin just widens further. I've only seen him smile once or twice, and it's honestly one of my favourite sights. It lights up his face. He's got a lovely smile. As I see it now, I promise to myself that I will do absolutely everything I can to see that smile a lot more in the future.

I personally like Neku's smile a lot. :P It is a nice change from his normal gloomy expressions! Reviews are appreciated.