If I told you what I did last night would you still be able to look at me with those eyes and smile at me with that smile. If I told you what I did last night would you still want me to come over to your apartment to teach you how to play Magic or let you help me with the homework that I’ve only been telling you I need help with so I have an excuse to spend time with you? Would you hate me with every fiber of your being, like so many people do when it comes to the ‘terrorists’? Would you shun me like the senshi do or would you just look at me and see your friend?

It’s crazy; this whole need for acceptance thing. I could probably lie back on one of those nice couches, kick my feet up and start to tell you where it all began, but it would take forever and I’m sure that a lot of it is deeply rooted in days long gone by. It’s who I was back before you and I ever met; back before I met a lot of people, when I was just that kid. Don’t get me wrong, I was cute, but I wasn’t the go-getter or the center of attention either. I was just… That kid. Or the boy. Nothing special.

Now?

Now I’m Rikard Colby; the guy everyone loves… Or loves to hate; whichever. Most of the people who know me can’t deny that I have a certain dynamic; a way with words, a winning smile… But what does it matter? What does any of that matter when you just can’t seem to find the one. Yeah, yeah. I know. Sappy s**t ahead. Watch out. There’s likely a reason why I’ll be crumbling this piece of paper to bits and tossing it into the deepest, darkest recess I can find once I’ve finished with it. Hell, I might even go out and see if I can find a youma to feed it to, that’s how bad this s**t is.

Has it sunk in yet? What I was doing last night? I figured the mention of a youma might…

Guess what? I’m one of them. You haven’t seen me on the news yet, and hopefully you never well. Although I’m sure that even if you did see me you wouldn’t recognize me; that’s what they all tell me, at least. They say there’s something that protects us; gives us a secret identity so we don’t go about compromising ourselves when we botch things. Funny, isn’t it, how most kids go through their entire lives wanting to be a super hero with a secret identity… And then one guy comes along and finds me one night and bam, it’s like I’ve been bitten by a radioactive spider.

Minus the whole climbing walls bit.

And the shooting string.

And a few other things…

Right. So I’m nothing like Spiderman (probably a good thing) and I doubt I could give the Goddamn Batman a run for his money, but I could sure as hell play a game of cards with any of them, provided they know how to play Magic.

I belong to the Dark Kingdom. I’ve sworn my allegiance and earned my rank and now the only place to go is up. The only time to go is now.

Will it matter, in the end, that this is who I am?

Will it?