So sorry for being late!

Disclaimer: I don't own TWEWY.

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Her short orange hair bounced up and down just above her shoulders. Her long legs and slender body twisted and arched with grace and ease. Her blue eyes widened in surprise as she sees a photographer snapping every move she took. Her face went red with embarrassment as she clumsily tried to block the camera. She-

Neku's hands trembled with anger as he read the little "poem" he received after the shoot. "...Is this supposed to be a compliment?"

The boy finally gotten used to the outfits, but to his surprise, he hasn't reach the point of wearing dresses yet. Not that he wanted to. It's been six days. The closest to a dress or skirt was a skort. Part skirt and part shorts. The skort was too short for his liking though…. Bad memory…Thank god for the shorts.

This time, Eri's new hellish outfit consist of a dark blue tank-top and a pair of beige capri pants.

Eri tapped her chin thoughtfully as she looked at the mysterious poem. "I didn't show anyone any pictures, though. This is rather quite odd."

"You're a horrible liar, Eri." Neku seethed, glaring at her accusingly. The pink-haired girl glared back at him indignantly. Shiki quickly stepped in.

"Neku, Eri has nothing to do with this. Because the time when this came in, she was still taking pictures of you. There is no way she could've be at your mailbox at the same time. Wow, whoever wrote this is really good at writing. You might have some sort of admirer or stalker, Neku."

"That's im-" Neku's voice came to abrupt stop before realizing. Oh, Joshua, you didn't….

The orange-haired boy apologized quietly to Eri before saying good bye and heading out of the house. He walked briskly to Cat Street and slammed the door open of the WildKat. Sanae jumped slightly in surprise before greeting Neku puzzled. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Neku groaned in agitation before demanding to see the pale demon immediately. Then, as if, on cue, the said demon came waltzing in, acting innocent.

"Why hello there, dear Neku! Missed me already?" Joshua purred in contentment. Neku stomped forward and grabbed Joshua's collar angrily.

"What's with the piece of shit you sent me?!" He thrust the piece of paper into Joshua's face. Sighing, Joshua pushed Neku away with a finger before looking offended and handing the paper back to an angry Neku.

"Really, Neku, don't get so mad. That was supposed to be a compliment. After all, you did look quite good in your little outfit." Joshua replied quietly, smirking. "Look how pretty you look here." With a flick of the hand, a photo appeared in the Composer's hands, capturing the humiliating moment. Turning bright red, Neku reached desperately for the photo only to miss and nearly fall on the table. Teleporting behind the orange-haired boy, Joshua put his cell phone in front of Neku's face teasingly before raising it beyond the boy's grasp.

"You bastard! You said, you'll help me! Now, you got Eri and Shiki thinking that I have some kind of stalker or admirer!" Neku yelled out angrily. Sanae sighed and leaned again the counter. It's their little arguments again. Well, Joshua prefers to use the term, "lovers' quarrels."

"Neku? Please try not to destroy my café." Sanae sighed lazily. "Control your anger."

"You better listen to Sanae, Nekky.~" Joshua nudged Neku in the chest. Letting out an angry 'hmph,' Neku quieted down.

Hopping on a table, Joshua waved the insult away with a dismissive hand. "I won't help you unless I get something out of it."

"Am I that boring?!" Neku retorted back. Giggling, Joshua laced his fingers around Neku's neck before whispering in his ear.

"Quite foolish, dear. You never cease to amuse me. Ever. It's just that if I just help you dead on, it will be quite boring. Besides, dear, my games consist of sacrifices to get something. In your case, it's your dignity. I will gladly sacrifice that to win and make games more interesting. So, please bear with it, kay?"

Blushing at the close proximity, Neku roughly pushed Joshua back. "You're selfish, you know that?"

"And you're stubborn. As one of my game pieces, you have to follow what I say. I knew that you would react to it violently. That's why I didn't tell you. Besides, you got benefited too. This saves you the time for searching for a boy to show those dastardly pictures."

"Yeah, it does. But that doesn't mean you have to spy on me! And I'm not your pawn!" Neku's fists clenched in anger. Ignoring it, Joshua continued talking.

"Shut up and listen, dear. Oh, by the way, that reminds me! I also bought something for you." Joshua hopped off the table and strolled into the storage room for a few moments before coming out with a bag. Neku peered at the face of the bag.

"Le Grand?(1)" Raising a confused eyebrow, Neku stared Joshua who smirked knowingly.

"Josh, I swear, I will kill you and if you bought ladies' underwear to mock me." Neku said, gritting his teeth. Joshua look taken back for a second before smirking again.

"Well, I didn't but thank you for the suggestion. I'll make a mental note to that."

"What? No!" screamed Neku.

"Hee hee."

Reaching in the bag, Joshua pulled out a….

"….Is that a wig?" Neku blinked in disbelief and confusion. "Why did you buy a wig?"

Sighing in frustration, Joshua held the wig and fingered one of its sleek and silky locks. "You are so dense, Neku. It took me awhile to find a wig that was your exact shade of hair. It's for you to use when you're in public cross-dressing. Your hair, to me, is too wild and stubborn like you. Not that I mind, of course."

Growling, Neku took the wig reluctantly and examined it. The wig was orange like his and was long. He hate to admit it but it did look natural enough to look real. "Thanks….Josh."

Letting out a soft giggle, Joshua put a hand up. "No need to thank me. I did make a promise to you."

The orange-haired boy soften at Joshua's sincerity. Joshua smiled pleasantly in understanding. "You'll need it so no one would recognize you."

Nodding in understanding, Neku took the bag and placed the wig carefully back in the bag. Joshua cocked his head to the side. "However, Neku…"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me that after this bet, you'll wear it again just for me?" Joshua said, blinking his eyes in a pleading and innocent way. Neku twitched his eye in disturbance and shoved the wig back into the Composer's chest.

"Fuck you."

"Love you too, Nekky!" the Composer giggled back, giving a short and cute wave which was replied by a growl of annoyance.

"Thank you for making me change my mind. You just bought this to mock me!" Neku growled affronted. Joshua only smirked back in response.

Neku left the café, leaving the bag of hell behind. Maybe, he should try the wig on when he get home. Stiffening, Neku stopped in mid-step. Was he really becoming that feminine? Oh god, heck no! Slowly during his walk, he began to sink back into depression a.k.a. emo mode. Why did he have to suffer from this? If he knew this would happen, he would've brought Josh along to take his suffering instead. After all, Joshua was even more girly than him. That boy had the spunk. The attitude. The voice. The hair. His body can somewhat pass as a girl. Now, all he needs is some boobs. Wait, since when was he ogling Joshua's body?! Turning crimson, Neku shook his head to free that thought away. He didn't say anything! Ugh, he really need music now.

The boy headed towards Dogenzaka. He was really in the mood for ramen. Where was Shiki when he needed her?

Too lost in his thoughts, he wasn't looking where he was going and bumped into- "Neku?!"

Looking up, speak of the devil, the familiar brown-haired girl appeared in his view. She had a small bag and as usual, Mr. Mew in her arms. Adjusting her glasses, she gave him a friendly smile. "Hey, Neku…"

"Hi, Shiki." he greeted back.

"I never expected to see you here. Oh!" Shiki slammed a fist in her palm and smiled again. "Since you're here and all, can I treat you to some shio ramen?"

Neku blinked and glanced at the sky. It looked like it was two o' clock. Well, he should be-growl…growl….growl…

Shiki giggled and pointed to Neku's stomach. "Well, I take that's your answer."

Shrugging, he nodded and went inside the ramen shop with his friend. As promised, Shiki paid for both of their meals. Neku dug in eagerly as he savor the taste of his bowl of shio ramen. Shiki ate her own bowl quietly before coughing to get Neku's attention.

"Eri is really happy, you know." she started. Neku let out an annoyed huff in response as he set his chopsticks on his bowl.

"Evil bitch she is…" he hissed.

Shiki let out a soft giggle and continued. "Well, she might be evil but she has her reasons."

"Which are selfish."

"Not actually."

Neku blinked, now interested. Didn't Shiki already told him that Eri just needed a model otherwise she would be doomed to oblivion.

"Umm, Neku?…."

"Hmm?"

"Those reasons that I told you…that wasn't all…" she trailed off.

"Huh?"

"It's true that she was a bit selfish, forcing you into this massive ordeal but she's desperate. Ever heard of Shibuya's Fashion Designer School? It turns out….she got a scholarship there."

"Well, good for her."

"However, even with the scholarship, she still doesn't have enough money. So, she took a job at the Q building to try to earn money by working part-time there. However, in order to work there, she had to send in some of her designs to impress them. Unfortunately, our former model quit on us because she was moving. You're the one who really caught her eye, though."

"I see…"

"So, please don't hold any grudge against Eri. She's not doing this for personal enjoyment." Shiki begged.

"Is this all?"

"Huh?"

"You should've told me before. Idiot." Neku said quietly.

"Neku, I-"

"I would've took the pain much easier if you told me. You really thought that I would mind because she needed to use me to get money to get into the school of her dreams? Idiot."

Shiki beamed softly before placing her hand over Neku's. "Thank you…Neku."

"Tch, save your thanks. I don't need them. All I want now is to win that stupid bet that idiot number two made."

"Hey! What am I, then?" Shiki exclaimed offended. Neku crossed his arms and hid his smile under his collar.

"Isn't it obvious? You're Idiot 1." he drawled arrogantly. She reached over the table and hit him lightly on the head to reprimand him.

"Don't call me that!" she complained before laughing with Neku joining in shortly after. Shiki was a really good friend that he was lucky to have.

They finished their meals, paid their bill, and left the place.

"You're not complaining as often as you did before. Gotten used to it, Neku?" she teased lightly; her stuffed animal in her arms shook as if to laugh in support.

"You wish." Neku answered, crossing his arms.

"Anyway, thanks, Neku."

"Whatever." He waved a dismissive hand.

It was then when Neku finally took notice the bag that was in Shiki's hands. "What's that?"

"Huh?"

"Your bag."

Neku pointed his finger to her bag. Shiki's hands fluttered like white birds as she reached for her bag and then she giggled. " Oh, this." She reached into the bag and pulled out a small green bottle. "Well, I bought some hairspray so I could flatten that demon hair of yours."

"I see." However, the boy secretly thought, 'What's wrong with a wig, though?'

"So, I'm using this tomorrow on you, kay?" Shiki waved the bottle.

"Yeah, sure."

"Bye, Neku."

"See you tomorrow, I guess." Neku scratched his head sheepishly.

The orange-haired boy turned to walk away; he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, and Neku?"

He turned and looked at her. "Huh?"

"The time changed. Come by tomorrow at my house at two instead of nine. Cut you some slack?"

"Thanks, Shiki."

Neku walked home quietly. He glanced towards the sky for a moment. It looked like it was three-thirty now. Soon, his house appeared in his view. He fished out his keys and unlocked the door. Mumbling a greeting to his mother, he head upstairs. That is, before his mother stopped him.

"Oh, Neku!"

Stopping in mid step, he turned and peered at his mother from the railing of the stairs. His mother looked back at him with her hands on her hips.

"What, Mom?"

"You got something in the mail about an hour ago from one of your friends."

Neku narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Is it from Beat or 'Sanae'?"

His mother shook her head in response. "Nope."

"Who then?"

"Rhyme."

He blinked in disbelief. Since when was Beat's little sister sending him presents. "Rhyme?"

"Yes, it's in your room. Be sure to check it."

He pulled on one of his orange spikes in thought before answering. "Uh, sure."

His feet carried him to his room. He twisted the doorknob opened and sure enough, perched on his bed was a brown package. He walked over and threw himself on the bed. He glanced at the address. Again, sure enough, Rhyme's name was printed clearly on the package. He reached for it and examined it. What could Rhyme possibly give him. Sighing, he ripped the brown packaging off to see a white box. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. Clothes. Shrugging, Neku removed the lid of the box only to scramble away in fear with the lid.

"The hell?!"

In the box lie a set of women's blue lingerie. Not to mention, revealing. Neku's eye twitched in disturbance. This was definitely NOT Rhyme. When he lift the lid from the floor, it was then when he noticed a piece of paper stuck to it. He could already guess who gave this mocking gift to him on the tip of his tongue. He ripped the paper off the lid and scanned through it.

Hello there, dear. I bought this for you right after you left the café. Hopefully, you could put it to good use. Hehe. It could benefit you as well as adding a little amusement for me. By the way, I chose blue because it was the same color as your eyes. However, if you don't like it, I could always go for pink instead. I like pink more. Feel free to care it with love.

Love, Joshua.

P.S. You know you want to try it.

Anger was a word that cannot describe how Neku felt. He did not know what to feel. He felt so many things. Embarrassed. Pissed. Confused. Betrayed. However, what he did know was that Joshua was a dead man.

The next day…..

Spray. Spray. Spray….

"Oww, my eyes!" Neku yelped, squeezing his eyes shut and covering them with his hands. "Watch where you spray the damn thing! Why can't we just buy some wig?!"

Shiki's hands fluttered in panic as she set the bottle down. She apologized profusely before asking to see it. "Neku, remove your hands. You need to wash it out. We can't buy a wig because it's more expensive."

Neku removed his hands from his face shakily and opened his eyes for a mere second before shutting them again. Shiki sighed in frustration. Quietly, she demanded sternly to stop acting as a child and open his eyes. Opening his eyes halfway, Neku's face met a wet cloth.

"This should help. Just keep that on your eyes and it should wash off."

While he pressed the cloth on his face, Neku couldn't help but complain. "I should've went to Sota's to fix my hair not you."

Rolling her eyes at his childish comment, she put her hands on her hips. "Please, Neku. You know that asking Sota for help is against the rules."

After a few minutes, Neku removed the cloth from his face and wash his face for extra good measure at the sink. When he look up, his eyes widen in shock. He put one shaky hand on the mirror and blinked in disbelief. In the mirror was a "girl" with short and spiky orange hair in a tight long-sleeved shirt and casual jeans.

"Is that….me?"

Shiki looked into the mirror and back at Neku before grabbing the hair spray on the counter. Her eyes read the description of the bottle and nodded. She rubbed her chin in thought, pushing her glasses up. "Wow, this does really work."

She put the bottle down and reached for a dark hat lying on the hamper. She beckoned Neku towards the toilet. Sighing, he sat on top of the toilet seat and waited for Shiki to put the hat on him. To both their surprise, the hat slid on his head with ease. She didn't bother putting much make-up on Neku since they both came to a compromise that Neku would cooperate with her and the hairspray if he didn't have to put on the make-up. Taking a deep breath, Neku twisted the bathroom doorknob open and faced Eri.

Following her postures, Neku crossed his arms and tilted one of his legs back, looking past the camera in a placid manner. His eyes were blank without feeling making Eri partially mad yet happy. At least, Neku wasn't arguing with her anymore. Smiling, she walked over and helped him place his feet where she wanted them to be. Neku winced mentally at the angle of his foot, it was nearly twisted all the way to Sunday. It didn't help that he had boots with high heels on either. Was she doing this to torture him? Slowly, he inched his foot from the desired posture to allow himself some pleasure and ease. Unfortunately, Eri, you could say, an imitation of a hawk. It wasn't long before Neku heard her crowing once more.

"No, don't you dare move that foot, Neku Sakuraba! Lean back more! Relax a bit more to look natural! Come on already!"

Neku growled under his breath and struggled to follow her postures without complaint. Stupid Eri and her Spartan regime. One agonizing long hour later of dislocating his joints, Neku's painful torture finally ended. Shiki, standing in the back, giggled in amusement as Eri stomped towards Neku and hit him on the shoulder. She reprimanded him for being so difficult and stubborn. The brown-haired girl to see Neku's hand twitching for a slap but did not move. Poor Neku.

That night, Eri's words haunted Neku in his sleep, making him squirm in unease and anxiety. That woman.

Also that night….

Eri lazily crossed her legs and peered in the newspaper. "The brands changed."

"Eh?" Shiki looked up from her sewing when Mr. Mew's tail recently came loose. The thread weaved and tangle around her fingers as she fidget.

"Turns out….Lapin Angelique and Natural Puppy are the two top brands." Eri stated with a devious gleam in her eye. "Perfect timing too. You already got 'it' ready, right?"

"Yup. It's in the closet already." Shiki replied absent-mindly before untangling the thread from her fingers.

The next day….

Neku was speechless. He glared at the offending piece of thing. It was almost as offending as Joshua's little "gift." He knew this day would come but it was much worse than he thought. He turned to Shiki and Eri and threw them a look that asked, "Are you serious?"

They both nodded in unison. He stared at it as the "thing" glared right back at him. Gingerly, he picked the "thing" up by two fingers as if it was contaminated.

"You have got to be kidding me." Eri came over and patted his back in sympathy. "Don't worry, it'll be only us that see you. So, your pride would be okay. I'm sure Shiki would buy you some shio ramen after this."

"But-"

"Come on, Neku. It's just the first."

"But it's embarrassing!" Neku glanced anxiously around the room and pointed at the window. "Close that window, then. I cannot allow anyone to see me like this!"

The pink-haired girl glared at him and put her hands on her hips. "….Fine. Just put it on already."

"Why you-" Neku was getting angry now. Shiki hurriedly pushed Neku and covered his mouth before he could scream ballistics. She shoved him into the bathroom and sighed. She turned to her friend only to see him sulking on the bathroom seat.

"Why, Shiki, does it have to be this?"

She grasped both of his hands in an assuring manner. "Unfortunately, yes. You have to wear this dress."

Neku's head snapped up and glared at her. "But, tell me why does the dress have to be based off a freaking maid costume!"

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1. Don't ask. The first thing that popped into my head.

Err, so yeah. Neku is going to wear a dress that looks similar to a maid costume. Most likely, Eri chose Lapin Angelique over Natural Puppy. So yeah….Review please!