(INTERLUDE)
Please, he prays, eyes closed tight as he feels himself falling down in the dark. Please, let this be over now.
The familiar hustle of a crowded street slowly surrounds him, again. Lifting his eyelids feels like trying to lift twice the weight of the world, but somehow - he has no idea how - he manages.
And wishes he hadn't, of course.
No one is looking at him.
o
Shiki.
Shiki.
They took her, again - of course, but of course, Neku, did you really think they'd let you both go this once if you just asked ?
You did, didn't you.
You never learn, you absolute fool, do you.
o
Mission mail comes — Minamimoto's mission, too painfully obvious to pretend otherwise — and Neku pushes to his feet and tells himself he's not shaking.
It's hard to catch his breath, but somehow he manages this, too, gasping for air and not completely choking on it. Breathe in, Neku. Breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out and you can do this, you can get through this if you just breathe.
Start running now, you know where to, and just... don't look around. Just don't look and you'll be fine, just fine.
Just breathe.
(CALLING)
