Author's Notes: Sorry for this rather short chapter. Had a horrible writer's block after the last chapter's cliffhanger, didn't know how to continue it from there. But I figured out stuff! Anyways, this chapter won't have much romance, but I promise next chapter will! Enjoy! -Tulleh Oh, and did you guys find the hidden Konoha No Sekai Jijou reference to the lyrics?

CHAPTER FOUR: UNCONTROLLABLY VIVID

The man from Shuuya's nightmare was now standing in front of them, his yellow eyes glaring into their cores. This horrible feeling spread throughout both their bodies as the man walked closer to them, dragging himself across the floor with a menacing and psychotic grin painting his face. He was laughing at their fear, and for a second it was as if he had lived through this moment before, when it wasn't a dream. But that couldn't be possible, right? Nobody had the power to turn back time. Out of the corner of his eyes, Kano spotted poor Tsubomi, her eyes widened in fear. This was the exact expression from his nightmare she had had. He had a bad feeling about this. Instinctively Kano held back his arm in front of Kido, to shield her from any danger, though he knew he didn't stand a chance against this creature towering above him.

Tsubomi grabbed his hand tightly, not letting go any time soon. She felt tears start to form in her eyes. 'Pull yourself together! You can't cry at a time like this, not in public, not in front of him. You made a promise!' she told herself, though it was helpless. She was trembling in fear. But the way that Shuuya was protecting her still made her light up a little, although she knew that she would rather be hurt than have him hurt. And he thought the same thing, as the man closed in on them, an expression that just screamed 'I will make you die a painful death' in their faces. As Kido felt her eyes turn red in an attempt to dissapear, the man broke out into laughter. "Hahahah! Hah! Yes, JUST like that! Show me the horrible monster that resides in you, thay by now IS you! You foolish humans, thinking you own the world because of those snakes. But, the queen will want them back you know. And you of all people should know that," he pointed one of his long, slim fingers at Kano, who instantly dropped his mask, to reveal a horrified Kano. It hurt Kido's heart to see him like that. Perhaps she even liked his lies now. Ignorance is bliss.

'This was lovely. Way better that I could've imagined, to see those 'poor souls' suffer like this. It was almost too hard to keep in my laughter, this was the best! Oh, and especially now that they have this unusual strong bond between them, it will be even more amazing to shatter and watch it all fall down into pieces that can never be glued back together. Ah, I wish somebody could see this. That Kano boy, he really has been stupid. Utterly foolish, an idiot to say it out loud. He should've run while he could, and gotten the rest. But, that would have been too easy for me now, wouldn't it. I like to see them run, but they know that there is no escape in the end. Heh. Now, to the final act, where I can see the queen set the actors on stage again. Now, to end this. Perhaps I should be more creative with their butchering... A gun would be too favoring. This knife should do.'

Kido watched in horror as the man reached down on the table and picked up one of those knives used to eat very posh meat with, the sharp and very long ones. Shuuya shuddered as he recognized it. So far, the only thing missing were the other's bodies, but he was happy that that horrendous detail was missing.

'This can't be happening. That was a dream, a nightmare, nothing more! It feels surprisingly real, that dream, but it cannot have been. The resemblances stop there... Please, tell me this wasn't a vision. I don't want to die. I don't want her to die, I just want to keep on living in our happy days forever. Things were going so well... I hate her to see me like this... But it is like our powers are weak in front of this man. Nonexistent, even. But that cannot be true, because our snakes can only dissapear once we die... N-no, that won't happen. I won't let it happen! He won't hurt me... and especially not her... She has to get away alive'

By now, all the other customers that were in the cafe had left with a spooked expression. A few had even called the police discreetely, and some even had the nerve to peer through the windows a little. The monster dressed in black closed in on them, still retaining the grin. "What's the matter? Are you afraid? Powers not working, hmm?" he teased, enjoying how they suffered. It was truly scarring for life. Therefore Kano moved completely in front of her, shielding her entire body with his own. If only one of them got to live it should definantely be her.

'What is that idiot doing?! Is he... Is he protecting me? I should be protecting him, as the leader of this, although I'm petrified! I mean, has he really thought this through? Not that he ever does, but I at least expected that much from him... But he is brave for standing up like this... He is strong...' She mentally slapped herself. 'Stop it, Tsubomi! Now is no time for day dreaming about Shuuya. Save him, already! You can't let him take any blows, he's too precious to you. It'd be worth dying for, besides, everybody is made to last, but surely not last for very long.'

Sirens could be heard from all around outside by the time the man leaped out towards Kido and Kano with a devilish smirk, his eyes turning from this screaming yellow to a bloody red. He must have a snake too. "Heheh! Afraid, you small fools!? Say your goodbyes, maybe a kiss? Oh nevermind, you won't have time anyways. This breath is your last." he smirked at them, before stabbing towards Kano's shoulder with the blade, which was singing as it flew through the air. Kano's reflexes were fast as he ducked. Though Kido was completely unprepared as the knife sunk into her stomach, the man letting the knife stay there before taking his leave.

There Tsubomi lay on the stone floor of the cafe, a bloodied knife in her stomach and the pool of blood around her slowly growing larger with every second. Her eyes were getting blurry as she caught a glimpse of Kano leaning over her, and policemen bursting in through the doors behind them. 'At least he will live to lie another day,' she thought, as her mind blackened out and she was thrown into a deep unconsciousness without a Shuuya there to help her through.