My legs stopped moving and I was about to call for help when something appeared in front of me. It wasn't the inside of the bar, I was outside as it was snowing. At first I thought I was alone, but then someone called me name. Just at I turned I was sprayed with red and watched a figure crumple to the ground at my feet. My heart froze in my chest when I recognized the crimson hair before me.

"Mi-koto?" I choked out.

He rolled onto his side only to stare up at me with lifeless amber eyes. Everything around him was growing red; his shirt, the snow, even his black coat had taken a red hue.

I wanted to fall to my knees and throw myself over him and try to make everything okay. I couldn't move though. My limbs were shaking and my heart had started drumming against my rubs. I thought for sure I could help him, but I just couldn't move to do anything.

"All you had to do was save him," a voice echoed. "But you got him killed."

Something tore out of me at that moment. My eyes clamped shut against the horrid scene as I let loose a scream. I wasn't sure if I yelled legible words as I cried out all the pain that had built up. I didn't know what else to do other than scream and weep for the dead man in front of me.

"Nao-chan!"

I knew that voice. My eyes flew open to see wide worried brown irises staring right at me. It was Totsuka, he couldn't see Mikoto like that.

"Totsuka-kun, Mikoto he's de-," I tried to say but he covered my mouth.

"Nao-chan, he fines," he said.

Totsuka removed his hand and stepped to the side to reveal Mikoto standing behind him. I felt a sob hitch in my throat as I threw myself at him. He was alive, not dead at my feet. My hands knotted in his shirt as I let the sob out against his chest.

"You're alive. Thank god you're alive!"

"Nao-chan, what happened?" Totsuka asked.

I couldn't find the words to answer him. All my strength went into clinging to Mikoto to hold onto the fact that he was alive. The warmth of his body heat was so reassuring that it brought more tears to my eyes.

"Nao-chan?" Totsuka called.

Something touched my back and without warning I was being thrown over Mikoto's shoulder -for the second time that day. At first I thought he was going to dump me on the couch, but instead he took me upstairs and to his bedroom where he dropped me onto his bed. For a moment it looked like he was just going to leave me there, but then he sat on the edge of the mattress with a heavy sigh.

I couldn't stop myself from grabbing the back of his jacket as proof that he was still next to me, still breathing.

"Are you going to say anything?" he inquired.

I moved closer to his back feeling the inhuman warmth that came off of him.

"I saw you die," I replied in a small voice.

"Is that all?"

"No," I hiccuped.

I didn't want to tell him about hos I thought I was the one who killed him. I didn't even understand what had happened.

Mikoto waited for me to say more, but I couldn't bring myself to say the words. I buried my face against him back as another fit of tears broke free. During that whole time Mikoto didn't complain, or leave. He stayed silently at my side allowing me to cry myself stupid. When I had calmed down some he had laid down on the bed and let me cuddle against his side. Of course he fell asleep first, but I wasn't far behind him.

When I awoke my eyes felt dry and puffy, yet that was my last concern. I was alone in Mikoto's bed and he was nowhere to be seen in his room. I launched off of his bed and practically flew down the stairs to the bar where everything seemed to be normal. My bloodshot eyes searched every face in the room, but when I couldn't find Mikoto's I felt sick. Was I going to turn around and watch his corpse fell to the ground again? Was I going to be covered in his blood once more?

"Good morning Nao-chan," Kusanagi said.

He looked to be in a good mood despite yesterday.

"Where's Mikoto?" I asked desperately.

"He hasn't come down yet," he replied.

My stomach twisted. "He's not in his room," I said turning on my heel.

Just as I was about to charge up the stairs I collided with something like a solid wall, but it was warm and smell of smoke and laundry soap. An arm wrapped around my waist to keep me from falling backward, and as I gazed up to apologize and thank whoever I ran into my heart just about stopped. It was Mikoto. He was fine. He was standing right in front of me.

"Thank god," I breathed out.

I let my forehead collided with his chest as my racing pulse slowed and the terror that had been weighing heavily on my chest disappeared.

""Thank god,"" Kusanagi repeated. "What happened yesterday?"

Flinching away from the memory my hands clenched onto Mikoto's shirt.

"Don't worry," Mikoto replied.

I felt his hand pat my head and part of me felt better. My hands loosened on his shirtfront as I glanced up at him. His expression was the same as always, but I could have sworn there was a gleam in his eyes that vaguely resembled concern. Was it for me? I selfishly wanted it to be.

"If you say so King," Kusanagi said.

He let the subject drop as Mikoto made his way to the bar. I followed closely behind him, and took the seat to his right.

My heart would pick up if he was out of view for too long and anxiety would course through my veins leaving me with the feeling of complete helplessness. The feeling continued for an unbearable three weeks.

I stayed at Mikoto's side whether it was just to hang out at the pub, out to settle a dispute in the city, or at night where I slept right next to him. He didn't voice any complaints, but I just knew I was being a bother. I restricted his leisure lifestyle, interfering with the cat-like freedom he would never admit that he enjoyed.

By the beginning of March I had talked myself into pulling away from Mikoto's side. I had to return to my borrowed spare room, and try to help out Homra any way I could without hindering them. As I began my plan my stomach was strongly against it, but I had to push through, returning to how I used to act around Homra.

"This is a surprise," Kusanagi said.

He was working behind the counter like always, serving Ana a red drink. I dropped onto the stool to her left as I released a long exhausted sigh.

"Did you let Mikoto off his leash?" he joked.

"I didn't have him on a leash," I countered.

"Then what would you call it?" he challenged.

"An episode," I said.

I rested my chin in my palms as I stared at the pattern of the wood on the bar. My foot tapping against my stool as my anxiety grew from the distance.

"I lost it there for awhile. I'm good now, I know what I'm going to do from now on," I stated.

"And that is?" Kusanagi inquired.

"Don't worry about it, you guys are stuck with me," I stated.

"We're happy to have you Suzuki-san," Anna said.

Turning to the small girl I smiled and said, "Thanks Anna."

She grinned back which did calm me some.

As I turned back to the bar I was startled to see a cup of coffee sitting in front of me with a happy Totsuka. Taking a breath I nodded to my friend before reaching for the white mug.

"Thanks," I said.

"Why are you up so early?" Totsuka asked.

After a sip of perfectly sweetened coffee I said, "Figured I's get my work done early."

"Special plans for tonight?" he inquired.

"Not particularly. Why?" I replied.

Totsuka wiggled his eyebrows as he stepped back towards the kitchen. Arching a brow of my own I sipped at my coffee.

"Do you understand what that meant?" I asked Kusanagi.

Shrugging he said, "Not a clue."

"Tatara-san has plans for tonight, and he wants everyone to be here," Anna said.

"What sort of plans?" I asked.

"I don't know," Anna answered.

"I hope it's more cake. It's been a while since Totsuka-kun's baked a cake," I commented.

"I doubt that's it," Kusanagi said.

"I can dream," I huffed.

I milled about the bar until Mikoto finally got up, mostly to reaffirm that he was still there and fine. Once I saw him sit down I retrieved my errand list from Kusanagi and left to do the shopping. My heart was like an anxious drill against my ribs as I put more and more distance between Homra and I. My legs felt shaky as I walked and my hand kept twitching to grab my phone, but I reminded my self that Mikoto was going to be fine. He was strong and a King. My constant hanging around him wasn't going to change that he could easily take on just about any person.

When I got back to the pub I handed my haul off to Kusanagi who took it upstairs, while I made my way to the couches. Mikoto was sitting in his usual spot with lit cigarette in his hand. Over the weeks I had gotten use to sitting right next to him, but now I took the open seat across from Mikoto on the other couch. I had to keep my distance, the last thing I wanted was for him to hate me.

I was only sat there for a handful of minutes before I glanced over at Mikoto to see him with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. He was staring at me with half lidded eyes that gave one silent order.

Getting back up I moved around the coffee table so I could light Mikoto's cigarette. Once it was I pulled back to return to the other couch, but I found myself yanked down onto the cushion beside Mikoto.

"Woah," I gasped.

"Don't move," Mikoto said with an exhale of smoke.

Brushing my hair out of my face I felt my heart throb with a warmth equal to the sensation his touch left behind on my arm.

"Okay," I said.

Shifting my posture I pulled my legs up and crossed them as I intertwined my fingers together in my lap unsure of what to do. I was happy to sit next to Mikoto yet I didn't know why I was there.

Across the room I could hear Kusanagi snicker, "Good puppy."

"Shut up," I growled at him.

With a smirking laugh the bar owner turned his back to me as he arranged the bottles on the wall.

Crossing my arms with an annoyed huff I slouched on the couch as I leered at the empty ashtray on the coffee table.

"Stupid ascot prick," I grumbled.

From beside me there was a deep quiet scoff that took me by surprise. Glancing up at the smoking redhead I understood what happened, and my mood immediately brightened.

Mikoto had laughed.

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