How long have I been walking? It had gotten to the point that my legs were moving on my own, I couldn't feel them. My heavy eyes gazed around, the streets were dark but my mind was darker. My entire body felt heavy and all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and sleep forever. I don't remember the last time I felt tired. I've long gone forgotten the feeling and I didn't miss it.

At least I wasn't in pain.

After walking for some time, I propped myself against one of the buildings. My breath was rugged and dry. My legs were shaking and I couldn't focus on anything. My vision was blurred. No one was around me due to it being so late at night but I knew better.

I needed to hide.

I wasn't too far from an alleyway and I knew it wasn't the safest place but I needed to rest. I felt like I was going to pass out at any second. I slid down next to a trash can, letting my head rest against the metal. I looked at my hands through the darkness, they were not healing. Did I push myself too far? Will I not return to normal? The thought frightened me.

I felt the night breeze touch my burnt flesh. I didn't feel the cold but it left me feeling bare. I gazed around, noticing a tattered old cloth. Reaching for it, I wrapped it around my small frame. It offered little coverage but it was better than nothing. I must look awful. If anyone was to see me, they would surely run in terror.

I tried to not think of anything. The only thoughts in my head were leaving me feeling worse. I felt my eyes grow even heavier. I was silently praying that when I woke up in the morning, I would return to normal. That all of this was a dream. I wanted nothing more than to wake up on Tomo's tattered couch. To see his fat cat glaring at me. I wanted to see Takashi's smile again. More than anything, I wish that I could go back to the time where Mother loved me. Perhaps, this was all a terrible dream and I was five years old, sleeping in my comfortable bed.

I heard the sound of a heavy metal door opening. Don't tell me this alleyway is being used? A bright light shines next to me and I tried to disappear into the darkness. I hugged my body as close to the wall as I could. I was too weak to move.

Please, don't see me.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" A cheery deep voice said.

Oh god, let this all be a nightmare. My eyes continued to grow heavy and I tried my best to keep them open. If I was caught unconscious, it would be the end for me. I peeked from the side of the trash can, seeing a tall figure heading this way. They were holding onto a large trash bag. I held my breath, hiding to the best of my ability. I heard them opening the lid and throwing the bag in. With a loud thunk, I heard the figure walking away.

My mind was so hazy I couldn't tell what was happening to me anymore. I tried to lay my head back but I was to dizzy. Instead, I ended up falling forward. My body landed with the thump, causing the person to look my way. I silently cursed in my head. Through my blurred vision, I saw bright blonde hair. It couldn't be...

Tamaki?

That's all I can remember as my surroundings became black.

"Mommy!" I cried desperately, trying to wipe my warm tears with my sleeve.

I was young and sitting at my desk in my room. I was dressed in a pink gown with my hair pulled back with a bow the same color. Mother was standing before me, her left arm holding onto Seika, who was a newborn. I could only see her brown hair poking out of her blanket. Mother's cold eyes glared down at me, wanting nothing more but for me to stop crying. She looked tired and irritated.

"I told you, Mommy wants you to be smart. People don't appreciate dumb children." She snapped.

This caused my tears to flow even harder. Why was mommy acting like this? Why was she yelling at me so much and she looks so mad. Why doesn't daddy say anything?! I began pulling on my hair, not knowing what to do. My tears were making mommy even angrier but I was so confused.

"But I don't want to study! I don't like it!" I choked through tears. I tried to approach her, my arms wide open. I was begging for comfort. I wanted mommy to hold me like she would whenever I would get upset. I wanted her to whisper loving words into my ear and tell me that everything was going to be alright.

With her free hand, she pushed me back by my forehead, "Don't make me repeat myself, child." She walked around me, pointing at my desk. "Now, you are going to sit down and read. You are going to read until dinner and from now on, you have to make A's in school."

I was a B student.

"But... I don't wanna read. I wanna watch Crayon Shin-chan."

She chuckled, "That reminds me, no more TV. That just makes children unintelligent."

That's all it took for me to snap. I fell to the floor kicking and screaming. I looked like someone had stolen all my toys or if I was being grounded for a month. either way, I looked like a mess. I didn't like that mommy took my TV away. I didn't want to read. I wanted to sit in front of the TV with daddy and watch Crayon Shin-chan. Then, mommy would call on us for dinner and we would all sit around the table. I would tell them a story of what happened that day at school and they would tell me a tale of their own.

This was something I wasn't used to.

Why was mommy acting so mean? She's never talked to me this way before. For being so young, the only thing I could do was cry and scream. I didn't know what to do and I didn't like how mommy was acting. It left me confused and upset.

"Sit up right now!" She yelled at me.

This was the first time I've heard her yell.

I sat up like she demanded, trying to stop crying but it only made it worse. I looked at her through blurry eyes and tilted my head as she raised her hand. What was she doing?

SLAP!

I shot up instantly. I gasped for air as I desperately tried to breathe. What was that dream? I tried to brush it off as I wiped my eyes. That dream... That was the first time Mother hit me. From then on, it only got worse. I tried to forget my nightmare, not wanting to worry about it anymore. Then I realized something. Where was I? I tried looking around but it was pitch black. Not even a star was shining.

I tried to get up but only fell back down. My body was still trying to recover. I wanted to call out for help but I couldn't see what the state of my body was in. I couldn't tell if I had recovered. That's when I heard a noise not far from me. I began to grow nervous but kept quiet.

"Let us see here..." I heard a mumble. Wait... I know that voice.

"Nekozawa!" I called out.

"What?!" Then I heard something shatter on the ground.

Then, all the lights in the room shot up together. I was surrounded by candles that burned brightly, it left the small room feeling ominous. It took me a bit to realize I was in Nekozawa's club room. I wasn't a fan of this place and right now, this was the last place I wanted to be. I didn't feel or look good at the moment. I didn't want to be looked down on as some kind of test subject.

At the end of the room, in front of a large black bookshelf was Nekozawa. I was left shocked. Was that Nekozawa? The man before me had striking blonde hair. If I hadn't have heard his voice, I would have mistaken him for Tamaki. The thought left my chest feeling heavy. He wasn't wearing his usual robe and was dressed in a fast food uniform. He had dropped some kind of small vile, to which he cursed under his breath for having slippery fingers.

I didn't know what to do or even say to him. I was worried that this person wasn't Nekozawa and I had imagined I heard his voice. However, I was in his club room and it made me feel more confident it was him. The man sighed as he tried picking up the glass before he looked at me. I was met with bright blue eyes. I could only sit there as he approached me.

"I'm glad you're awake." He smiled.

"Yea..." Was the only words I could muster. He then realized I was blown back by his appearance.

He chuckled, a slight hue painting his cheeks. "I...Don't usually look like this. I would like it if you didn't tell anyone."

I nodded, "Of course..."

"Thank you." He then returned to pick up the glass, "I was going to apply more of my potion to your skin. What happened? When I found you, you looked like a burnt corpse."

He couldn't have been more right.

I took this chance to look at my condition. I had bandages wrapped all around my body, minus a few parts were I saw my skin had healed back. This left me feeling relieved as I sighed. I had a big blanket around me as well, which left me feeling embarrassed... Nekozawa saw everything... Even if my body was burned. I tightened the blanket around me, no longer wanting to see my condition.

He came back to m side with a new vile, it was filled with a white liquid. He reached for my hand but I shot back. "Come on, I won't hurt you." I was reluctant but I gave him my hand that was still burned. "It's gonna be okay." His words gave me little comfort but it was nice of him to try. He lifted some of the bandages, putting the slimy substance on my tender skin.

"Thank you." I breathed.

He cocked his head, "What for?"

I hated talking sometimes.

"For helping me. I don't know what would have happened if I was left in that alleyway." I managed to say. It was true. I ended up blacking out and anyone could have found me. My gaze lowered as my mind turned dark. I felt it. That small but annoying idea. Deep inside me, I felt like I wanted to be left behind. Like, if I was found by the wrong people. Maybe, I would have never woken up again.

Nekozawa noticed me pondering, "May I say something?"

I simply nodded, "Yes?"

He got up after fixing my hand. He went to the left side of the room where there was a cabinet, opening it, there was the dark cloak he always wore and a black wig next to it. He grabbed the cloak, handling it like it was fragile. "I've noticed some things when I decided to change myself." He brought the cloak over to me, "I didn't like who I was. I didn't like the people I was around and I didn't like the world I was living in."

His words were similar to mine.

When I was alive.

"I wanted to run away from it all." He sat down, crossing his legs. "But how could I? What could someone like me do? I was a spoiled rich kid, living in a world where I always got what I wanted. Yet, I wasn't satisfied."

"Why were you unhappy?" I found myself asking. I didn't know much about him, nor what his home life was like. I did know however, it wasn't like mine. He seemed more stable. He seemed much stronger than I was.

"Even to this day, I couldn't tell you why. I don't even know myself." He placed his thumb under his chin, "Perhaps, I was unhappy with how I wasn't living like I wanted too. I was playing a role my family wanted me too."

His words were so similar that it was starting to worry me.

"You didn't... you know?" I barely spoke above a whisper.

"No, I didn't kill myself." He reassured me.

I lowered my head, relieved but also feeling even more alone. What if there was a chance he was like me? If he was, I wouldn't be so isolated. Nekozawa grabbed both of my bandaged hands through the blanket, "I changed myself, Hara. However, I've learned that not everyone can." He was referring to me.

It made me feel worse.

Silence took over the room until he spoke, leaving me speechless. "You're the most amazing person I have ever met."

I was shocked at his statement. Did he really mean that? I haven't been the best person to him, I've even yelled at him before. How could I be the most amazing person he has ever met? I was the most average person on the planet. Maybe, even the most uninteresting. Nothing about me stuck out. I could easily blend into a crowd, starting from my looks to the core of my personality.

He continued, "I've never met anyone like you."

"Well... I don't think there's anyone who's in the same situation I'm in." I replied.

His blue eyes shined brightly, "I meant that you're amazing because of how strong you are!" Again, I didn't know what to say. "No one could handle what you're going through. I'm so blessed to be able to meet someone like you. Even if the world shuns you, I'll always think that you are a miracle." He was using his weird Nekozawa language, but I think I knew what he was saying.

I must be strong. Who could handle this? I killed myself but here I am, going day by day the best I can. Even though it may be rough, but I'm still here! My face brightened up and he smiled in return.

"You're right." I said, "I wasn't able to change back then, but now, I've never felt more like a person. I've become someone who can smile and I managed to stick up to Mother!"

"That's great!" He wrapped his cloak around me, putting the hood over my head. I could only smile as I pushed some of my growing hair out of my face. It had burnt off from the fire but it was growing back at a rapid rate. He noticed my body healing quickly, "Looks like you're turning back to normal." He was fascinated by how fast I healed.

"Honestly, this is the first time I've ever felt normal."