The rain feels so cold. Like ice-cold needles piercing her skin with every drop falling down from the thick clouds. But there is another cold emerging from deep inside of her, and it tastes like fear. Is this the end?

Sina wanted to be strong, wanted to stand up against his apathetic manners for once, because she was angry – and still is – and it was just right to show him. He might not be the most experienced when it comes to relationships, but even for someone like Chishiya, it means not only to take, but to give as well.

Sure, he has given her many things lately. And it's fine if he doesn't want to talk about his past for now. Yet he didn't have to be so blunt about it!

She ruffles her soaked hair and shouts out angrily. Why does loving Chishiya have to be so difficult at times?

It doesn't matter where she goes, because Sina can't see clearly anyway. Even without the tears constantly streaming down her cheeks, the rain would make it impossible to make out anything further away than her outstretched hand. Not that she'd know where to go. Waiting for Chishiya at the game venue is not an option, because Sina can't face that man right now without the danger of punching him into his face. And going back to the caravan doesn't feel right as well…

Will he come back once he's done clearing his silly game? Will he agree to talk about what happened and set things right again?

It is Chishiya, after all. He is not that kind of person to follow somebody around. What if pride will keep him from returning… what if he has put her behind already?

Facing him again like this isn't a good option anyway. Sina needs to calm down first so she won't say or do things she might regret later. Right now, the rusty cars covering the street are taking the hits and kicks from her, and Sina doesn't care that her knuckles are turning brightly red and that her foot starts to hurt with a throbbing pain. The pain is the fuel she needs right now, the physical ache as well as the incomprehensible pain inside her chest.

Sina barely realizes how the markets and shops give way to a park, how a neat bridge leads her over a small river and how the broken pieces of a blimp have caused a school to collapse with parts of a Clubs flag still clinging to a swing next to the building.

A stray dog crosses her path, not really bothered by the cold rain although it appears as wrecked as Sina feels. Its fur is dull and tauted, and the ribs are clearly visible under its skin. It growls at her, but it is a weak noise, proving that the animal is more afraid of her than the other way round.

"This is all I have to spare… Sorry if it's not what you prefer to eat," she whispers as she pulls out the fruit and nut mix and rips the bag open before placing it on the ground before her. She doesn't feel hunger right now, and thus takes a few steps back so the dog can approach the offer with a safe distance to her.

It sniffs at the snack that is already soaked with rain, but starvation forces it to empty the whole bag within mere seconds. Sina doesn't wait for it to finish but instead continues her aimless walk to nowhere, and she can't help but think about Chishiya. Has he been able to clear his game already? Does he think about her like she thinks about him? What will he say to her when they meet again?

Even without the rain, Sina would not be able to see the Jack of Diamonds blimp anymore. And the sound of its explosion would not reach to her either, so there is no way to find out about this for now. But she feels so cold that she can barely move any longer, and maybe it's time to search shelter somewhere from the rain.

Just… where?

Sina is sure that somewhere around here, she'll find an apartment that she can break in to easily. Some unlocked door, a destroyed window maybe… And if she's lucky enough, there will even be some canned food.

A gust of wind pushes her forward, causing her to almost stumble over the ground. It sounds almost as if the wind calls her name, and Sina laughs dryly at that thought. Is she going crazy already?

But there it is again, someone calling her name. It sounds far away, almost completely going under in the rain, yet she can hear it a third time. Sina turns around, part of her hoping that Chishiya managed to find her after all and is now calling her to go home.

The streets are empty, and Sina can see no face inside the windows above her head… The voice calls again, louder and more determined this time so she finally is able to make out the direction where it's coming from – the Meguro cinema.

It's a ways to go to the shelter I've found yesterday, you know? Just search for the Meguro cinema if you want to come for a visit.

Kuina.

Sina's legs start to run long before her mind realizes who is waving for her in the entrance of the once brightly lit cinema. As she throws herself into the arms of her tall friend, feeling how she pats Sina's back while she huffs complaints about how she soaks her clothes as well, fresh tears emerge from Sina's eyes once again.

What started as a reunion-hug quickly turns into a gesture of massively needed comfort, and Kuina continues to pat her back and whisper soothing words to her for a while longer. Just how does she manage to be there every time something goes wrong between Chishiya and Sina?

Keeping the grip on her shoulders, she pushes Sina a bit away to look into her face. "Honey. I have SO many questions! But it's no good when you die from a fever, so we'll make sure to get you some dry clothes first, hm?"

Sina nods and wipes her nose with the sleeve of her soaked shirt, and Kuina leads her into the lobby of the cinema, which is sparely lit and even appears a bit creepy with all the dark corners and shadows. She catches sight of a couple of lounge chairs decorated with pillows and blankets and some clothes here and there, and it's obvious that this is the corner Kuina has chosen for herself.

Battery-operated lamps are the only source of light, but it's enough to see most parts of the lounge corner. The empty popcorn bags and beer bottles have been thrown away far enough to escape the light beams, but a decent smell remains.

For a moment, Kuina's dreadlocks disappear inside a bag almost as huge as the woman herself, and without even looking at Sina she throws out a towel, some fresh underwear and basic clothes that won't fit at all, but at least they're dry.

Getting out of the wet clothes is uncomfortable and the air feels even colder on her skin now, but at least Sina has the towel to wrap into. If only she could have a hot shower and throw the towel over the heater so it would be warm and comfy the moment she stepped out of the water…

"I've seen this face often enough to know that those are Chishiya-tears. So what has that bastard done this ti- oh?" Kuina turns around at the end of that sentence and stops at the sight of the freshly bandaged wounds and reddened skin around them.

Sina follows her eyes to see what has startled her and shrugs. "The King of Hearts. We ran there to escape the King of Spades, and I have been electrocuted and had a near-death experience, but we managed to clear the game." It doesn't sound too confident at all with her shaky voice and the sobs interrupting her speech, but her thoughts wander on to what happened after the game, causing her lips to turn into a bittersweet smile while Sina pulls over a black top.

Kuina kneels down next to her and lifts her chin with her hands, and her brown orbs spark with curiosity while she expects Sina's teary eyes. "Hold on. There's more behind that grin. You wouldn't grin after remembering the King of…" she slowly exhales a breath and leans back on her heels. "you did it. For fuck's sake, you did it!"

It feels so good to slip into dry socks, even more because they're a bit fluffy, and Sina tries to avoid the gaze of her friend while her face reddens. Kuina huffs and chuckles mockingly.

"Is he so terrible at it that you come here in the pouring rain, crying and sobbing, just to bitch about him with me?"

Now it's her turn to laugh and box Kuina into her shoulder. "Of course not! I… we…" It's hard to summarize everything that happened afterwards into a few words. "We talked about our future, you know – if we will live together. I started to ask about children, which apparently is a total taboo issue for him. He refused to talk, I refused to stop asking, and then…" Kuina hands over a tissue to her and only then Sina realizes that the tears have started to fall again. "He told me to stay if I can accept that he will never be a Prince Charming, or to leave if I can't."

Kuina stares at her with perplexed eyes and shakes the dark dreadlocks before she grabs her wet clothes and puts them away so they can dry. "And you left?"

"Obviously." Sina sighs and hides her face behind her hands. "I was so mad at him! I couldn't stay there just like that, so I had to leave! Maybe I panicked? But it wasn't fair! We have come so close to each other lately, and a relationship does not work with someone just taking while the other doesn't stop to give."

As soon as she is done with hanging up the clothes, Kuina drops down on the seat next to her and wraps a blanket around both of them. She rummages through something next to her again and pulls out two bottles of beer and reaches one to Sina after opening them.

Sina makes a grimace at the bitter taste of the warm and stale liquid, but Kuina doesn't give her time to complain. "Since when has Chishiya ever been easy to handle? Be honest to yourself, sweetie! You knew from day one that he will never be that guy to gift you roses and chocolate. And still you did everything so you could stay near him. Why not this time?"

There is no doubt in her words, and Sina knows Kuina is right. Chishiya has been nothing but honest to her, and he didn't tell her to leave. He offered her to stay, with the premise that she'd stop complaining about who he is.

"And on top of that," Kuina continues," I do think he has given back some things to you. When I first met him in the Beach, he would have never been the guy to share a caravan with someone and let them hug and kiss him as they please. But once you stepped into his life… he slowly changed."

She takes a gulp of her beer, not minding the taste at all, and puts her arm around Sina's shoulder. "It started when he woke me up in the middle of the night so I could comfort you. Remember that day?"

Sina nods, since it'd be impossible to forget that night. Although she didn't know he actually sent for Kuina – but thinking about it now, why else would she approach her at the pools in that time of night right after Sina was experiencing an emotional meltdown?

"He cares for you. Yes, he's an asshole and definitely the worst person on earth to handle his feelings, but he has them. So let me ask you now: do you still love him?"

This answer doesn't need any considering time. "Yes. Of course I do!"

From the corner of her eye, Sina can see a satisfied smile on Kuina's face. "And do you think you'll be able to handle his sociopathic traits?"

Sina can't help but snort at this. He will never change into a completely different person. There might be things he will never tell her, situations that will always be difficult for them. And still…

"I want to be able to." It's a mere whisper, but it feels just right to say it. "Even though he will never be that Prince."

"You know, honey… There's a point both of you have been missing." Kuina extends the half-emptied beer bottle inside her hand as if it would help to prove her point. "Chishiya might not be charming for anyone but you, but that's the thing. For you, he is your prince charming."

And with that, she gets up and wraps the remaining blanket around Sina. She can't make out what exactly Kuina is doing, but soon enough a wonderful smell reaches Sina's nose and while she is still pondering over her friend's words, Kuina eventually approaches her with two steaming bowls in her hand.

"Is that… meat!?" Sina exclaims at the sight of the food, which is basically some kind of stew with rice and meat that resembles chicken. Kuina nods with a proud grin.

"Yep, it's rabbit! Managed to hunt it down just this morning, so enjoy it while it's still hot."

She doesn't have to tell that twice, since it has been over a week since Sina's had meat to eat for the last time. Neither Chishiya nor her have tried yourselves in hunting down living animals as long as there were enough instant noodles and sauce packages.

During their dinner, Kuina won't stop to ask questions about the last night, and while Sina tries to avoid the details, the tall woman won't give up until Sina gives her at least some answers. "So you don't think it was his first time?"

Sina huffs and stares into the opening of the beer bottle. It still tastes bad, but she slowly gets used to it. "Actually… I don't really want to think about that. And I don't care as well." Which is true, because while she is sure that Chishiya didn't have a real relationship before he came to the Borderlands, Sina still doesn't want to know about his sexual encounters during that time.

"But you're going back to him."

"Maybe he'll allow me to. Just… I don't know where to search for him." It is too dark already to leave for the caravan, and she is not sure if he will be there after all.

Kuina places down her now empty bowl and grabs a bucket of popcorn. "The King of Diamonds is not far from here and last time I checked, its blimp was still up. Maybe head there as soon as it's light enough in the morning?"

Sina nods, since this sounds like a place Chishiya would definitely search for. Although she worries what she'll do if he is not there, Kuina already places her hand on her shoulder as if she can sense her worries. "Use your heart or something, and you'll find him. Somehow you always do."

Night approaches, and with a full stomach and dry clothes and her friend next to her, Sina fall asleep within minutes. It is a dreamless night, and the moment she wakes up, she is too antsy to stay inside the cinema for much longer. Outside of the huge glass walls, the sun goes up behind the rain clouds, and a quick breakfast is all Kuina can convince her to before they leave.

She hands Sina over her now dried clothes and a rain jacket, way too big for her but the best thing inside since Kuina has no umbrellas near. Her friend accompanies Sina to the outside and leads her to the other side of the building, a thin jacket barely sheltering her from the rain herself. Her hand raises to point towards a special direction, but it stops midway.

"Oh. It seems that the King has been defeated."

Feeling her heart drop to her knees, Sina exhales a shaky breath. If Chishiya cleared the game already, how is she supposed to know where he is?

Once again, it's Kuina placing her hands on both her shoulders and squeezing them tight. "you will find him. Don't ask me how, I just know you'll do."

Sina nods, although she is not completely convinced yet. "What about you?"

Her friend gives her a wide grin and pulls her into a hug. This time it's her wearing the soaked clothes, but Sina barely feels them against the material of the rain jacket. "There's still a Spades game waiting for me! Someone else can have that damned King, but the Jack is mine."

"Come back alive, okay?"

"Same goes for you," Kuina mumbles at her back before she lets go and pushes Sina towards the direction where the King of Diamonds has been. Somehow she is not worried about her friend – if someone is capable of defeating the Jack of Spades, then it's Kuina.

Walking fast through the empty streets, Sina throws a look to the sides now and then, searching for any clue about where Chishiya could be now. The plan is to head to the Diamonds game even if it has been cleared already, but maybe he is still around there. And if not, she should be able to find the way back to the shopping mall and from there back to the caravan. He has to be there, somewhere.

Charred parts of a blimp lead her to the Supreme Court, but they're already cold and long distinguished by the rain. It seems that even if Chishiya has been part of defeating the King, it probably happened still yesterday. Which would fit him, of course – heading for the King right after he defeated the Jack.

"I hope you're proud, Chishiya. Clearing all three Diamonds games…" her whisper drowns out in the rain, and Sina chooses one of the streets without thinking too much about it. He is not here anymore, so maybe the caravan…

A gunshot makes her jump, and Sina immediately turns towards the direction where it came from. It was not too close, but it means someone has to be there. And it didn't sound like a sniper, especially since she doesn't see the moving blimp somewhere close.

Suddenly Sina is freezing with fear. Not for herself, but for Chishiya. What if he has gotten himself into trouble? What if he's…

NO. She starts to run, still trying to hide in the shadows of the building so whoever has given off that shot won't try to hurt her as well, and one particular thought repeats inside her mind like a mantra. He will be fine. He's not hurt. He will be fine. He's not hurt.

There is no second gunshot, but Sina can hear screams, and their voices are familiar to her. While it's not Chishiya, she has heard them before, she just can't say exactly who it is. With heavy breath, Sina climbs the hill in front of her, only to freeze at the sight presenting itself.

The highway is partly cracked and overgrown with grass, and dozens if not hundreds of cars are scattered everywhere over it. One figure is lingering on top of one car, his upper body wrapped in cloth stripes and bandages and pointing a rifle at someone else. Judging by the dreadful laughter and his wrecked appearance, this can only be Niragi. Kuina told Sina he's still alive, even though she didn't want to believe it.

His gun is pointed to that climber girl from the Beach – Usagi? – and hiding behind another car, armed with a rifle as well, stands Arisu, who cries out for Usagi to leave with panicked voice. But Sina doesn't care for them the slightest bit, because in the next moment, she catches sight of another figure leaning against the side of a car. He looks pale, and his left shoulder is covered in dark crimson.

"CHISHIYA!"

The moment Sina shouts out his name and starts running again, everything happens all at once.

Niragi fires his gun at Usagi, and Arisu doesn't hesitate even a heartbeat to fire back at him. Sina barely sees Niragi fall down the car, since her eyes are glued to Chishiya.

He has taken a step away from the car towards Usagi, and in the moment she shouts out his name, he turns his eyes towards Sina. They grow big, but if from her sight or from the bullet burying itself into his stomach, Sina can't tell.

She reaches him the moment his body slumps to the ground, and she is there just in time to support his head before it crashes down onto the concrete as well. A burbling sound escapes his mouth, and Sina feels a hot liquid covering her hand that rests on his side way too quickly.

So much blood, and it's burning even hotter than the tears against her skin. And there is nothing Sina can do as desperation and fear squeeze tightly around her heart.

Too late.