Blood. Blood was everywhere, surrounding Ran in a pool of thick sticky liquid.

It smelled like copper and salt, burning her nose as it flared at the unwelcomed stench. Across from her stood a man, his face shrouded in darkness, and his silhouette somehow clear on the blood that now pooled around her feet.

He was laughing, a maniac laughing that seemed sickeningly filled with joy and sorrow.

"Who is it?" she demanded, her voice braver then she felt. "Show yourself."

The man laughed harder, clutching his sides, as if he had been told the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh Ran," he said, chuckling as his laughter died down. "You crack me up! You kill me!" He clutched a hand over his chest, as his insane smile grew. His brilliantly white teeth gleaming through the darkness.

The awful stench grew and Ran felt feint as the man pulled his hand away.

Blood dripped from his dark hand and seeped through his green shirt, staining it a rusty brown and red. He started laughing again, bringing his head down to stare at his hand.

Ran waded through the now ankle deep substance, trembling with fright.

"Sir?" She asked, almost uncertainly.

"Oh, you just kill me," he chuckled. He raised his head, and familiar eyes stared into her's, and his face came into light.

"Who knew how literally, huh, neechan?"

A shining switchblade suddenly appeared into his left hand, and he raised it over his own heart. "Don't worry," he purred soothingly. "This blood of mine will wash away," tears flowed from his eyes filled with madness, "and it won't matter once were both dead." Like a flash the knife delved down, and dug down into his chest and imbedded itself into his heart as she screamed.

"Heiji!"

Then Ran woke up.