A/N: Honestly, I totally don't think I have a shred of TWEWY fetish left in me. I've moved on, and this fanfiction still isn't done. That's kind of bad. I won't give up on this though. xD

Hopefully this explains why even though they kissed in the last chapter, it doesn't mean that everything's over. They still have a few chapters to work out things. It's getting closer to the end though. (:

He strides ahead of me now, that slender silhouette of blue and orange. Slivers of light silhouette his figure in a corona of molten gold, setting the tips of his orange hair on fire as they flicker in the setting sun.

He turns towards the alleyway that leads to Hachiko, and my feet automatically follow. Like the grains of time that can never be turned back, my steps propel me after the boy. I can't stop.

"Wait up," I call, my own voice sounding pitifully small and annoying even to my own ears.

He hasn't said anything, and I don't understand anymore. I don't know what to do with this silent Neku who doesn't talk back.

"Shiki, Neku!" Rhyme's high pitched voice rings out in the small plaza, shrill and excited.

Beat's voice echoes hers, rumbling like a wave as it overlaps with his sister's. They run towards us, arms out stretched. Their faces are plastered with smiles and relief so joyous that their elation is tangible in the air.

"Where were you?" Beat scowls at us in mock anger, but the twinkle in his eyes belies his outraged expression.

"Uhhhh… busy dying?"

Beat winces. "You too eh?"

"You too?" Neku narrows his eyes in disgust. "Oooh, Josh, I can't believe you…"

Rhyme shrugs, her little mouth turning down at the corners as she blinks between at the conversation that has arisen. She doesn't want to dwell on the past, as tragic as it may be. Seeing Beat crack his knuckles, and Neku scowl again, I'm inclined to agree with her.

"It's okay. We're all alive." I call out cheerily, but from their vehement ranting of Josh and the murderous stares, I can tell that this conversation is not going anywhere happy, anytime soon.

"Ahhh boys." Rhyme sighs to me. She turns her back on the outraged pair and raises to stroke Hachiko's stone muzzle.

"Ahhhh, losers." I sigh back dramatically following her lead as I tear my eyes away from Neku's profile, and trace my finger along Hachiko's elegant jaw line.

"I feel a little sorry for Josh though. Everyone runs away from him. Maybe he feels lonely. Maybe that's why he wanted us to stay with him." Rhyme purses her lips pensively as she stares at the stone statue. She won't meet my eyes.

"Maybe." I echo doubtfully. "But that doesn't make it right. He could come here anytime he wanted to. He didn't have to keep us in his little world any longer than necessary."

"Maybe." Rhyme repeats, the word echoing like an old ball that has been tossed too many times.

At a loss for words to say to this introspective young girl, I turn back to Beat and Neku, who are bickering about the best way to deal with Josh.

"I'm going to run him over with my skateboard!" Beat exclaims confidently, sliding one foot along the board's smooth surface.

"You'd kill yourself in the process." Neku scoffs, not unkindly.

Rhyme sighs loudly, and rolls her eyes, dragging me back to Hachiko's regal form, and leaving the squabbling boys behind.

"Mmmm, so how's did your one on one bonding experience with Neku go? Did anything happen?"

Rhyme mutters the question in my ear, but I flinch nevertheless. It she were Eri, I would have smacked her. But Rhyme looks at me with such innocence in her sparkling blue eyes that I can't find myself blaming her for anything.

"No." I say a little defensively, my mind drawing up the memories of the final hours of the UG against my will. We were comfort-kissing; clinging to each other for the pure sake of comfort. I'm not sure if it really meant anything, and I'm too wary of this topic to think more deeply. I'll only end up disappointing myself anyway.

"Why are you interested in my non-existent love life anyway?"

"You guys are just both so stupid and cute in your stubborn denial. That's all."

"Did you just call me cute? Well, I guess that means you're adddddorable…" I drag out the last word sarcastically, smirking as Rhyme covers her ears in horror. Our conversation degrades from there, as we start teasing each other with the worst insults we can think of.

It's a nice way to escape from everything, from the trauma of second reaper's game, from any pesky thoughts of Neku. Our silly banter may be immature and pointless, but no one wants to be serious all the time, especially after the overwhelming serious-ness that just happened. A brain can't stand to be serious all the time. At least, mine can't.

It's getting darker.

Casting a critical eye at the sun that is slowly slipping over the horizon, I realize that our frivolous respite must come to an end. It's okay though, because this time, we have all the time in the world to get ourselves where we should go. This time, we're free at last.

We say our goodbyes, and walk off towards our respective homes. Rhyme and Beat leave us, and I find that Neku has fallen in step beside me. He shoves his hands into his pockets, plodding along in the classic Neku-slouch as silence reigns between us.

Dude, that's so bad for your back, stop slouching. Gee, aren't you glad that's over with? Man, you and Beat are so bad at plotting cruel and unusual deaths. Hey look, stars!

I'd say anything to break the silence. As my mind runs along the possible lines, all things that I normally would never hesitate to say, I wonder why I can't talk. I part my lips, watching my breath fog up in a wispy puff in front of me, and try to make my vocal cords work. They refuse.

Maybe it's because all these statements are just small talk. Maybe because, deep in my mind, I know that these trivial topics are not what I want to broach.

Even so, I surprise even myself with my bluntness.

"Did it actually mean anything?"

Oooh crap. And now I have officially screwed up any chance at resolving this in a normal fashion.

"Did what mean anything?" Neku answers carefully, his pronunciation dangerously clear for someone who has been muffled by an oversized collar since the beginning of eternity.

I sneak a peak at him, seeing two glowing eyes that reflect off the lights off the lamps above. Perhaps it's a bad time to appreciate his physical physique, but I can't help noticing his determined expression, his large expressive eyes, and his tall slender frame.

"Umm. You know, when we…."

Silence. Neku isn't going to save me from the agony of pronouncing this word.

"Kissed?"

The last word comes out meekly. I don't want to say it. It makes my sentence complete, which makes my question complete, which means that I can't postpone this silly thing any longer. I wonder why I even bothered bringing the subject up. My brain and mouth can't communicate with each other.

"Oh."

Neku is thinking; thinking thinking thinking, as we stroll along the sidewalk. I am fidgeting; fidgeting fidgeting fidgeting, as I wait for his response. It's nerve-wracking. I'm not even sure what I want the answer to be? Yes? No, that's too scary, too sudden, and as nice as it is to think about, reality is much more intimidating. No? No, that's too resolute, too unalterable, and the future might as well have shriveled up and died in that case. That was just a bad question.

"I don't know, honestly. It was kind of I need all the support I can get so I don't have a breakdown kind of thing. You know?"

"Ahhh."

"Sorry I can't give you a straight answer… I don't want to give you false impressions."

"It's okay. I can handle the truth." I try to shrug nonchalantly. I think. I hope. Flexibility Shiki. Isn't that what you were hoping for?

He shrugs back. "The truth might change."

It's scary how quickly the darkness comes in the winter months. The sun has faded from the sky, leaving me colder in more ways than one. I breathe a sigh of relief as I finally reach the familiar wooden doors of my house. Light shines outwardly, illuminating the windows with a cozy yellow glow. Home.

Neku catches my sleeve, as I'm about to scamper up the doorsteps. He doesn't touch me in any way, and yet my heart still does a nervous flip-flop.

"Hey. We're still friends okay?"

"Alright."

He lets go of my sleeve, and like a frightened deer, I bolt up the stairs, fling open the door, and dart in. Doubt twists in my gut as I slam the door shut, and lean against it, suddenly drained of all energy.

Isn't this what you wanted Shiki? Admit it, you'd be freaked out no matter what he said. That was probably the best answer he could give you, considering the circumstances.

I don't know what to think anymore. I shouldn't have kissed him back in that mysterious room of reckoning, where all logic flies out the window. I shouldn't have asked that terribly direct question so soon after said event happened. And I definitely shouldn't be thinking so much, caring so much, as I do now.

Mom gives me a confused stare as she walks past my slouched figure.

"Eat dinner, Shiki."

"What, I don't get a lecture?"

Truthfully, I'm not sure how long I spent in the UG. Everything, from our supposed "deaths", up until now, has been a blur. How long did we spend in the actual UG? How long sprawling unconscious until Josh decided to revive us? How long spent with Neku, in that strange strange room, angsting together and doing things that I am beginning to regret?

Apparently, not long enough for Mom to miss me.

I plop down in my chair and began to shovel food in my mouth, relishing the sweet, salty, and even bland flavors as they mix into a homogenous mess in my mouth. Warm and comforting, the food travels down into my stomach, where it stays like a solid pillow.

The lights cast a merry glow on the white walls. Beside me, my two parents chomp happily on their own meals, their expressions filled with love as they occasionally add another morsel to my plate. I breathe in the fragrant aroma of the good food. All the sights, scents, and sounds of home are beginning to make me cry a little. Despite the fact that Josh is a sadistic freak, despite the fact that I no longer know where Neku and I stand, and despite the doubts and regrets that continue to plague me, I am content.

This is my world now, for now, for later, forever, never to be forcefully ripped away from me again. Perhaps some obstacles still need to be straightened out and put in their proper places, and maybe I still have a few challenges to tackle, but it's okay now. They'll get sorted out eventually. After all, I have all the time in the world.