To Fight Again

Under brown columns that faded up into part of a cherry red ceiling, Neku Sakuraba kissed Shiki Misaki's neck at this very moment, not because he wanted to sleep with her at the moment—or anything like that—but because in some ways, he thought there was no better way to say, "I love you."

Some certain words were spoken by Neku—almost whispered, for how nervous he was before he got a handle on himself—and then this, "I'm back, Shiki... and I'll always be with you now. And I'm so sorry I ever had to leave you."

Shiki's dark brown eyes, almost black, scrunched up then, as she fought back tears and said her own words. And for a moment, Neku thought that she would really be upset by his plight here. But though she was certainly that, it was something else that was making her eyes mist here. "And, Neku… I'm sorry I had to somewhat become a jerk to find you again, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. And maybe it's destiny that I ended up like that." Shiki put her hands behind her back and looked off to the side guiltily, and it was somehow so much worse than when she had been in the Game but also better.

Neku knew that Shiki was referring to how she had become a Reaper in order to find him, and had apparently become bored at the proceedings while she waited. And while Neku understood why Shiki would selflessly despise herself for getting close to disliking other people like he once had, he could never blame her for it.

Really, he wanted to thank her for putting herself on the line for him once more. And hopefully, if things did pan out, he'd have forever to make her feel cherished.

"Chic, it's fine. Really. I probably would have done the same thing to get you ba-"

But Shiki was already cutting Neku off, as she strode away from the altar and went down some stairs, with him hot on her heels. "Neku, I didn't like the Players who didn't have a clue. And really, I think that was because my past self wouldn't have had a clue without you. But even if it was me being all self-conscious again, it was still awful, Neku. I feel awful."

"...No more awful than I did after I tried to strangle you, I'm sure," Neku unearthed his greatest regret yet again. And how he loathed talking about this, and reliving it again in such a way. The Neku of now would have never wanted one of his first memories with the love of his life to be something so despicable, since he'd been the worst person in Shibuya back then. But if it made Shiki feel any better now... he'd gladly deal with all of that.

"Neku..." Shiki sang his name, seeming to be as in awe of him as Neku was of her. And it was with that, that she finally seemed secure enough to lean forward and give Neku his wedding kiss. Because, yes. This was exactly that: a wedding.

After they'd finally found together again, Neku and Shiki had decided to get married as soon as they could, in the remnants of Shibuya. And that was why they were the only ones here right now. Everything was such a mess right now, that Neku's friends could have easily already been erased or hiding out somewhere else. But it was probably best to not think about any of that right now…

Nearly all the pillars that had once held up the church were torn down and laying amidst the couple's feet... there was a hole in the ceiling, and even the pews were somehow torn up.

It really was a hideous place to have a "wedding" in, even if they had been pressed for time. But Neku and Shiki ended up laying on the filthy ground together, anyway, as they held hands and looked up at the sky. Neku imagined that they'd had their wedding at Wildkat with all of their friends, but had just embarrassingly slipped on some coffee and fallen down. Maybe Shiki was pretending that they were laying in some lovely flowerbed together, in the kind of Honeymoon they deserved.

But people didn't always get what they deserved—the two had learned that long ago—so they would happily settle with this… even if it was Neku's turn to be doubtful now, it would seem.

"Shiki… do you think it's a good idea that we just got married during the end of the world? Isn't it pretty much asking for us to die? I don't think I exactly thought of that when I popped the question, but I still wouldn't change this for anything," Neku spoke solemnly. He then took Shiki's right hands to his lips and placed kiss after kiss there, being so glad that he could finally touch her again after so long.

And Shiki, despite everything that had happened, and held her hand with her Mr. Mew inscribed wedding band to her heart. "But we've always been good about beating the odds, haven't we Neku? So, believe that we can now!"

And this was why Neku Sakuraba had fallen in love with Shiki Misaki, wasn't it? Because even in the direst situations, she could see the heart of things.

Surely, she was right—like she had been about most things—Neku allowed. He bonked her nose once—to which his girl laughed—and called her "Stalker" for the last time ever, before adopting a more serious attitude again.

Neku held Shiki's hand tighter, helped her to her feet, and prepared to fight with her by his side once more.