Izaya pulled Shintaro by the wrist as the upstairs erupted with sound. "There is so much I want explained to me right now!" cried Shintaro, struggling to keep up but having to keep up anyhow because he was being dragged. His lungs and legs were screaming in protest. "Where are we even going?" Opening a sliding door, leading to the outside, Izaya pushed Shintaro out onto the balcony. "Wha—? You know this is the second story, right? Who is that floaty girl following us, huh? And didn't you say that it was Twelve who did this? Is he okay? What is going on?"

"I want answers too," frowned Hanyuu disapprovingly, crossing her arms in protest.

"Wait, wait, blood?" Shintaro looked at the balcony; at the red drops on the ground around him. He looked up to a shattered window two floors up and swore he saw a familiar face quickly turn away, pale in the darkness of the falling night. "Ah—wait, was that—?"

"I want to try something, Shintaro-kun," said Izaya, stepping towards him on the balcony.

"O-oh yeah? Well you didn't answer a single thing of what I just asked you, you know—"

"Just trust me," said Izaya, stepping closer.

"Okay, but—" And Izaya shoved Shintaro to the railing and sent the NEET toppling backwards and over the ledge. The jerseyed boy took in a huge gasp – he tried to grab for Izaya, the railing, something, but to no avail. He saw the floating girl – Hanyuu? – with her hands to her mouth. The broken window high above him was dark and empty. As he felt himself falling, time moving in a crawl, he wondered idly if this was how Ayano felt when she jumped.

He thought he saw Izaya smile in satisfaction. I probably shouldn't have trusted him, huh? But as he closed his eyes, he felt a jerking sensation as a cold body rushed into him, gripping him firmly. His eyes flew open to see that Konoha was holding him midair. They landed on ground without problem. "Konoha!" he exclaimed, and his android friend gave him a gentle smile.

When the albino set him down on the street, he looked wildly around for who should definitely be with him: Roppi. Maybe even Kaneki! But had his eyes lied to him; was Seidou somewhere above? He felt weak with his relief and apprehension coming together.

He was right in thinking that Roppi would be waiting to greet his eyes, because there he was, glaring daggers at the balcony where Izaya had apparently already disappeared. "What the fuck?" Roppi hissed. "What a jackass!"

"Ah…" A boy with brown hair swept back on his scalp scratched at his cheek sheepishly. "Shintaro, are you alright?"

"Ah— Shinichi?" the NEET asked blankly. He pictured him catching Roppi in the air as he fell from the building their group had stayed at on the very first night. He remembered his kind voice amongst the otherwise cold group he'd come from. Was he the only one left, now? "I remember you – thanks again, but um… Why are you…?" He pointed confusedly from the partial parasite to the bitter Roppi, confusion swarming his comprehensive abilities.

"A lot happened," Konoha explained.

"Yeah, stories are for later," Roppi said bluntly. He jerked his thumb to the direction of the torn-up street. "Kaneki's out with Hide and Rin to try and find Shirazu and Akira and the rest."

"I'd like to join them as soon as possible," added Shinichi, and Shintaro nodded hazily. So much was happening at once… He was a teensy bit overwhelmed.

"Um… Is Seidou with you too?"

Roppi's eyes were boring into him; he shrunk and wilted under his gaze. Something told him he was wrong. "No. Why?"

"Is he around?" inquired Konoha.

"I-I don't know… I thought—well… never mind."

"Perhaps we should wonder about that after everyone is out of the immediate danger they could be in," said Shinichi, and Roppi grudgingly agreed.

"Let's go," nodded Konoha, and Shintaro was pulled along once again.

"Wait…" The NEET tried to tug back at the android, somehow stop him, but his own weak self was nowhere near capable of stopping an android with inhuman strength. "Wait—wait!" They slowed, looking at him in perplexity. "Konoha, you can't go in there… You can't confront this kid – you could get possessed again…!"

Konoha blinked at him, vague concern touching his face.

"I kinda figured they were involved, all things considered," Roppi sighed harshly.

"Um?"

"Konoha can stay back with you and Roppi," Shinichi suggested to Shintaro, and Roppi frowned at him. "I can go in and make sure your other group members are out of the buildings. From there, we can run."

"No way – I'm going in to help," frowned Roppi.

"Maybe it is best to stay back this time," said the android quietly, and Roppi scowled, festering silently.

"Er, I mean…," began Shintaro, but Shinichi only smiled at him.

"It'll be alright. Kaneki and Rin are strong, and Hide is very smart. We'll evacuate everyone as quickly as possible."

"O…okay," Shintaro said weakly, and he, Roppi, and Konoha watched him go. "Oh, guys…"

"Yeah, what is it?" asked Roppi distractedly, while Konoha gave a, "Hmm?"

"Just…" He slumped. "I'm so insanely glad to have you back…"

Roppi brought a sleeve to his mouth to hide his ever-so-slight smile. "Save the cheesy reunions for after we're out of this mess, okay?"

"…Okay."

When Shirou and Akira heard Shirazu's shouting, Shirou immediately whispered a 'Trace on' as Akira got to her feet abruptly. They hid in a small, dark room on the first floor. "Akira," he frowned to her, his voice low, "you're injured. You shouldn't be walking."

"That's ridiculous," she answered, her jaw set. Without a word, she took off her heeled shoes and gripped her quinque handle firmly in her fist. "I'm not losing my teammates in this battle. I understand that the goal of the enemy is to separate us, and that's exactly what I let him do. We're going to save Shirazu right now. There is no question. After we secure his safety, we'll go to Shintaro as quickly as possible."

"But you shouldn't—" His argument was cut off by a banging sound. Their heads whipped in the direction of the door, which was shaking on its hinges as somebody continued to bang on it. Shirou immediately tried to step in front of Akira, but she refused. The wood splintered as their seeker smashed their way through, revealing themselves as not a threat but a friend. Kaneki's eyes widened in relief as he saw Akira and Shirou waiting for him.

"Are you both okay?" the half-ghoul asked urgently, running towards them.

"We're fine," said Akira curtly, while Shirou cried out, "Her leg's hurt!" She frowned at him.

"We'll tend to that as soon as we can," Kaneki said with a nod.

"Yo, you find somebody?" called another voice, and Akira blinked in surprise.

"Any luck?" added a female voice that made Shirou go rigid.

"Tohsaka-chan?" he murmured, and Rin and Hide both poked their heads in to see the results.

"Emiya-kun?" she exclaimed in awestruck confusion, and he ran to her.

"Tohsaka-chan, I'm so glad you're alright! Are you hurt at all? Ah, what happened to your arm?"

She jerked her arm away from him. "It's fine," she snipped, and put her hands on her hips. "Since when are you here? I cannot believe…!"

"I was so worried knowing that you were involved too, you know…!"

Hide, in the meantime, approached Akira with warmth and curiosity. "Yo, Mado-san! You're looking great!"

"Ah… Nagachika-kun… It's good to see you," she bowed her head, then looked to Kaneki. "Kaneki, Shirazu is a floor above us. Something's happened – we need to go to him as soon as possible."

Kaneki nodded his head shortly. "Shirou, take Hide, Akira, and Rin back out."

"I want to join you," Akira told him seriously.

"You're injured; you shouldn't fight straightaway."

"Ah, wait," said Shirou, raising his hand. They looked at him. "I don't think you should go alone, either, Kaneki…"

"I'll be fine," he began, but as he spoke the ceiling began to fracture. Fear spread through him like cold tendrils.

"Everyone, out!" snapped Akira as Kaneki scooped her up and got them both out of the way of the collapsing ceiling, the dark-clad hero descending from the floor above.

Without hesitation, Shirou jumped in to fight, A-ya dodging to the side and smiling as the redhead sliced at his ebony cape. The possessed one stepped towards Kaneki whilst dancing around Shirou's attacks. "You're the only one left," he spoke ominously, and the look on the half-ghoul's face made A-ya's expression contort in joy. "Ah, what a King of Tragedy you are! It tastes—so—good!"

Kaneki had already let Akira back down, his face hidden behind his hands. "How could you… Could—you…?" His kagune was unfurling like knobby, scaled fingers from his back. Shirou joined him at his side, a short sword in either hand. Rin had her injured arm outstretched in preparation to shoot curses in the direction of this eerie boy. Akira had her chimaera quinque at the ready, her whip facing the enemy. Hide waited behind them all, observing in apprehension, his mind searching for something he could do to help.

"It really is too bad," said the demon, tilting his head. "For there to be five of you now… Very unfortunate. Definitely not what we wanted, was it? Too bad." He laughed a bit before lighting the room with the rising voltage of his power. He attempted to rush straight through the group only to collide with Shirou Emiya, his red lightning clashing with the boy's teal electricity. "Get out of my way," they hissed, trying to knock him from his path only for Shirou to retaliate, now with Kaneki at his side. This is undesirable,they thought, and backed up as Akira joined in the attack and red static spheres of hatred flew at them from Rin. Clicking his tongue, A-ya feigned a right, then bolted left and shot straight into the wall, breaking through easily and opening up his fighting area. Having managed to make it around to their backs, the possessed one considered going after the blond human hanging behind them all. Before they could make their split decision, the partial parasite Shinichi Izumi charged through the hallways and slid on the floor, skidding to halt as the four fighting A-ya beforehand poured back out of the room, ready to attack. Shinichi had faltered upon full sight of the enemy. There was a weighted pause.

"Ah…" Shinichi began to deflate, his eyes filled with distant sorrow. "…Is that you, then, A-ya…?"

A smile crossed the boy's tormented face. His mind flickered with memories of their alliance, back before... before...

"Ah… Shin…ichi… Looks like a fresher wound than it should be – your arm, that is. How have you fared without your little parasite? …I—I mean… It… sure has been awhile, Shinichi…" He began to laugh, his mirth distorted. Corrupt.

"A-ya…"

Rin hesitated under Shinichi's recognition of this guy. Shirou paused, and Kaneki followed suit.

A-ya only continued to laugh, and laugh, and laugh… Without another word, he fled the scene, leaving the six of them behind. Silence filled the spaces between them all. No one had anything to say. It wasn't until Kaneki murmured Shirazu's name that everyone came to. The half-ghoul immediately left them, jumping through the hole in the ceiling where A-ya had arrived. "Get everyone outside," he called to them distractedly, and they all began to stir.

"I hope everything turns out," said Hide, rubbing at his head. "Though it sounds like it didn't end well…"

"Maybe we should head out for now, Rin," Shirou uttered, sounding as though his thoughts were far from them all.

Shinichi, watching the way Akira stared fixedly at where Kaneki had disappeared, approached her, offering his hand. "Do you want to join him? We can meet the other three outside."

She stared at him silently, her eyes flat, lips parted slightly as she tried to put together all of her thoughts. She couldn't seem to come up with the right words to answer him. Perhaps she hadn't even quite processed his offer at all.

"I'm Shinichi Izumi, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you." Lowering his hand, he bowed to her.

"Akira Mado. I… Yes, I'd like to see him."

"I can help with that," Shinichi smiled. Shirou, Rin, and Hide all nodded to them to let them know they understood. They began heading out, and Shinichi picked up the CCG officer as best and safe as he could with his single arm, jumping up into the hole and taking her to where Kaneki, Shirazu, and even Suzuya were waiting for her. Shirazu lay between the two standing, and Suzuya and Kaneki faced one another, both unsure of whether the other was an enemy or not.

Akira signaled to Shinichi that she wanted to walk, and he put her down gently.

"Mado?" Suzuya asked blankly, tilting his head at Akira. She opened her mouth and closed it, silent. "You look kinda different. It's your hair, I think."

How strange. How surreal, to see him from the past, too. "We have a little bit of a time gap, Suzuya," she smiled at him, and he blinked.

"Time… gap?"

"Yes…"

"So this person… is not a threat, then?" asked Kaneki softly.

"No. And Suzuya, this person is fine too," she assured the other officer. The scythe was hesitantly lowered. Kaneki's kagune was cautiously dissipated into nothing.

"Is it that you're working with A-ya…?" asked Shinichi tentatively, stepping towards Suzuya.

"Uhh…" He took a step back. "I… don't work for anybody. I don't gotta. I work for myself." His eyes flickered to Akira. "For now… I, gotta go." Turning, he began to run away. He looked back only to grin at Akira and say, "Don't worry, I won't go after you, Mado! I'm not gonna hurt you, 'kay? Bye, now~" With a wave, he jumped down a flight of stairs and disappeared from sight, his childish laughter becoming distant as it faded away.

Now that Suzuya was gone, Kaneki at last looked to Shirazu, lying on the linoleum floor beneath them. His blood pooled around him, his eyes hazy, appendages crooked on all four sides. He was smiling lopsidedly, his sharpened teeth showing. Kaneki knelt beside him, and Akira joined him, expression solemn. A breathy laugh escaped the fallen one, his position shifting slightly as he turned to look at the two kneeling beside him. Shinichi remained respectfully apart from them.

"Kane-kun… ya made it back, after all…"

Kaneki put his hands on Shirazu's torn chest, his face shrouded. "Don't speak. We'll get you the medical bag; it'll be fine."

"We won't leave you here," Akira added, her assurance firm but kind. She took Shirazu's hand and squeezed it. He smiled weakly.

"I'm just glad… I was… a little scared, all alone… you know…? I don't… want to be… alone…"

"I'm sorry for leaving you all," Kaneki whispered hoarsely.

"Kane-kun…"

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'm so sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Glassy mandarin eyes looked, lost, to the tears that were spilling from Kaneki and onto his marred chest. "It's okay… you don't need to be—sorry or nothin'… I'm just glad… you… made it back… I… Hey… Uh, Mado… Shit, Akira… my sister… would you… take care… of…? And my teammates back home… I…"

"I will." Akira was composed, her jaw tight.

"You can tend to them when you make it home," said Kaneki. "You can see them again. You will see them again."

"You have—no idea how much you've done for me… Kane-kun… Sassan." He began to smile, his own eyes leaking and spilling down the sides of his face, one trail tripping to the floor softly. "Could ya kick Roppi in the face for me…? Or maybe Seidou? I never got to… Ah… both of you…"

"You're going to be okay, Shirazu," Kaneki told him desperately. "You don't need to say anything like that, okay?"

"It's… not like… I… wanted to die… you know? But…"

"Stop that, you're going to make it…!"

"…Thank you."

"Shirazu—" Kaneki turned quickly to look at Shinichi. "Find Shintaro and get the medical bag immediately! We need medical attention for him as soon as possible!"

"Kaneki," Akira spoke softly, putting a hand on the half-ghoul's shoulder. Shirazu's eyes had closed. Shinichi wasn't moving, just gazing at Kaneki with that distant look he tended to have.

"Shinichi, you need to go now! If you don't hurry, he'll—"

"He's dead," Shinichi said flatly.

Kaneki's words stuck in his throat. Choking up, he clutched at the fabric of Shirazu's jacket. Both his and Akira's head were bowed. A shadow settled over the two of them. They knelt there in silence, only the sound of Kaneki's choked weeping audible. Another had passed into the night.

A-ya met up with Suzuya and Izaya apart from the uniting groups nearby. Suzuya was as odd as ever, and Izaya was just as sharp. A-ya was hazy; he felt like he didn't fit right into his body anymore. Upon Izaya's offhanded remark that Twelve was missing, A-ya immediately answered, "I will go find him." Without any further discussion he left them. They looked at one another. Suzuya was suspicious about Izaya's furrowed brow, but the informant only shrugged. He wasn't going to tell that sadistic kid that A-ya might be going off to kill Twelve if he was too terribly injured.

And A-ya did find him that way, half-sitting as he leaned with his side to the wall and his entrails spread messily around on the slippery linoleum. The terrorist's blood was scattered and smeared about, and his warm eyes were glassy, reflecting the still-blazing conflagration that he had created. A-ya stepped up to him with hazy eyes of his own. "You know," he said, "you look a lot like someone I know." His voice was so quiet; it almost didn't make it through the fog of Twelve's consciousness – especially with the sounds of crackling heat around them. It did, though, and he looked with some coherence to the fourteen-year-old. "His name was C-ta." Unable to bring himself to speak, Twelve only smiled at him. A-ya looked to the ground, scattered with blood and glass. His expression was distant, perhaps sad. "I guess you'd have to be an older version of him… Hah… Twelve, you're… so helpless…"

Twelve didn't question the tears that spilled, or the way he hid his face in his hands and tried to shove all the feelings back inside. He didn't question when A-ya wiped at his eyes and began shakily picking up Twelve's insides and handing them over to the terrorist, as if he'd know what to do with them. "We'll see if we can do anything," A-ya said quietly, once the full length of Twelve's intestines had been gathered. The terrorist blinked as A-ya carefully tried to lift him up, cradling the nameless nineteen-year-old in his tiny fourteen-year-old arms. "I'm jumping now," he warned him, and from there he leapt down into the dark and back to the group that awaited them.

Seidou Takizawa listened to the hushed voices rising from the city square far below him, sitting with his back to the railing bordering the rooftop that he'd sought refuge upon. His eyes were closed. He didn't want to see anything. There was only sound. He heard little welcomes and soft expressions of praise or of gratitude. Her voice, distant and cold… Maybe distracted, the apparition at his side corrected. Maybe masking pain. His voice, insensitive and whiny. Fatigued, his apparition added. Regretful.

There was Roppi's voice, as dull and irritable as ever. Something was wrong – why was it that he sounded so much different than he remembered?

I hate them, he thought. Why aren't I…

How could he have possibly thought in the beginning of this stupid game that he could become a leader? How could he possibly think that any of them could think he was anything but a loser? Even now, they were looking down on him. Even the loser Shintaro thought of him as 'loser.'

"I'll always be a failure," uttered his apparition, and Seidou's lips parted in disgust.

"You'll always be a failure," he answered. "Me, I… I'm a success. Exactly… what they wanted…"

"Isn't that's what's failing them now?"

Seidou didn't answer, the ends of his fingers pressing into the tops of his eyelids. Jealousy's thorns pierced him, though he did not recognize them as they were. In response to their consequent wounds, he thought again: I hate them.

The news of Shirazu's death was a statement so heavy that it almost didn't reach Seidou, not at his vantage point. The sounds of their communion quieted. He silenced them entirely with his hands to his ears.

"I think ya should say you're sorry 'n stuff…," Shirazu suggested wearily. "Properly, to Shintaro. He's your teammate, y'know?"

"Not anymore."

"I wanna look too," Shirazu said stiffly, running to him in the morgue. "I wanna remember 'em, like you said. I shouldn't not look because I don't wanna. No, I mean… like, that's exactly why I should look, you know? 'Cause they deserve it."

He did not open his eyes. He did not uncover his ears. "What does it matter?" Seidou echoed Roppi. "They're already dead. You're already dead."

"Seidou—man, is that you?"

"…No, it's really not." He released his ears to silence and pulled his dark hood over his head. "I'm—a reaper… Hehe…" Burying his head in his knees, he grew silent. So did his apparition.

So did Shirazu. Seidou supposed he'd never speak again.