Kiyotaka sat on the cold dirt of the grave, back pressed against the headstone and legs splayed out in front of him. His chest heaved from the exertion and panic of running away from Ondo, and his one hand clutched at his chest. It was a terrible, rash decision and, even if he could live away from Ondo, he was missing his entire arm!

Besides, he should be grateful! Ondo did so much for him, and how does he repay his creator? By repeatedly poisoning him. It didn't matter that he wasn't allowed to go outside; Mondo and Chihiro snuck into his room, anyway. He should also be focussing on his studies! He had to achieve what Ondo, Togami and Kirigiri wanted, after all…

But what sort of life was that? He didn't know how the grass felt when he walked on it with bare feet. He didn't know what a "calming breeze" felt like. He didn't know any of the townspeople, despite being alive for two years, functional for the last one.

No! Ondo loved him, and he loved Ondo! Ondo was kind, Ondo was good!

… Wasn't he?

This was giving him a headache. A bad one, at that. His feelings were messy and confused, and poor Ondo seemed to take the brunt of it. He didn't deserve that. Ondo loved him.

He jumped as he heard the rusty metal gate of the cemetery creak open, crawling behind the headstone he was leaning against as quickly as he could. Had Ondo found him? Did he have to go back so soon? He didn't want to! He wanted to breathe for a moment and –

… Mondo? What was he doing here?

He was about to leave his hiding place and go to his friend when… he saw the look on his face. For a skeleton with no facial muscle, he just looked so… depressed. He'd never seen him that sad before… What was going on?

Mondo finally got away from the crazy fans. He didn't like having to do that every year, that was for sure. How the hell did Daiya manage it? Being chased around by crazy people wasn't fun, and Chi didn't help one bit! Taka was still in that damn tower, also. He'd said that he'd try and convince Ishida to let him go, and Mondo had really doubted that'd happen in the first place, but… He wanted Taka to be there.

Screw the experiment, screw Togami, and, most of all, screw Ishida! All Taka wanted was to take a break, to enjoy himself!

He was just annoyed, really. He was also trying to focus on that more than the other thoughts in his head. He didn't want to think about how much better Diya was, how he had more original ideas, how Mondo was stuck doing Diya's last routine year after year after –

… Shit.

He sighed dejectedly, opening the cemetery gates. He had someone to see, after all…

"Chuck," He called, patting the back of his leg. The little ghost of a small dog nipped at his heels; looking more like a blanket with a fluffy head than a dog, as disturbing as the image was…

He didn't have to walk long at all, the grave being only a few rows down from Chuck's. Diya's grave.

He sat next to the marble headstone, a deep sigh attempting to rid his chest of that awful, empty feeling… metaphorically speaking. He missed performing alongside Daiya, the prince to his king, and scaring the life out of people together. He repeated that last performance because it was his best – their best – and it almost felt like… Daiya was still there. It was stupid, he should move on, but it wasn't like he ever expected to be left alone one day.

He could blame the living humans, wherever they were, for that. Exorcism. Death for the dead.

No one knew what was happening. Firstly, Daiya got very sick – tired and drained, to the point where he could barely get out of bed – and then he just… died. Again. All Mondo could remember was his own screaming, crying and pleading as his big brother slipped away.

"Hey, bro," He greeted the cold, marble gravestone, sitting in the still-damp dirt beside it but not caring, "You doin' okay? Well… Guess you ain't doin' bad, so that's alright. So, Halloween's over for another year. Look, I know that this is what ya wanted for me, but… I dunno. It's different, without you. I don't want to be that whiny kid clinging to ya, but I got no inspiration. It feels wrong to rewrite any of your stuff. It feels wrong to do anything but our last routine, really… The townspeople still seem to like it, but it all feels empty. I just… want something… something…"

It was then that Kiyotaka heard a snap!, and felt something give way under his palm.

"Who's there?" Mondo called, biting his lip. He didn't like people seeing him like that, vulnerable. He was supposed to be a king, after all, and he'd built his own castle walls so high that no one could see past them. He liked hanging out with Chi and Taka, yeah, but he trusted the both of them.

Besides, he wanted to protect Taka. He remembered when the boy was miserable, clipped into a wheelchair and only able to use one arm and one leg. His speech was mumbled, too, but he'd never forget that pretty, lopsided smile the other gave him…

"Don't worry," Kiyotaka called softly, crawling out from behind the grave at a rather slow pace, "Just a nobody…"

"Taka… How long have you been there?" Mondo asked, a smile stretching his bony features, before he caught sight of the torn skin at the stump that was once Kiyotaka's arm. The grin faded, replaced with concern, "What happened?"

Kiyotaka shifted uneasily, his remaining hand cupping the stump, and he forced a frail laugh. "You know what I'm like, Mondo…" He began with a plastic smile, "I'd lose my head if it wasn't sewn fast…"

Something in Mondo's expression – in his smile – seemed sad. No, something more than that. Something with more meaning than simple sadness. He doesn't know how to define it, however; something's either happy or it's sad to him. Or angry, like Kiyondo can be. He hasn't quite managed to go beyond that yet, not that his studies include learning how to recognise more complex emotions; this is the reason why he hates Japanese and English, he doesn't understand properly.

"Well, d'ya want me to help ya –"

"No!" He cut in, too loud and abrupt in the empty cemetery. His cheeks coloured, and he turned away; perfect, straight teeth biting on his lip, "I mean… I know where I left it, I'll go get it in a minute! But… are you okay? You seem… sad."

He did. So sad, so lost, and his scarred heart went out to him. If it'd make Mondo smile, he's reach into his chest cavity through separated ribs, pulling out that mass of muscle tissue and pressing it in his bony hands. Maybe it's wrong but, as it wouldn't kill him – maybe – he feels like he'd enjoy that. Mondo holding the warm flesh in his hands, maybe even… feeling his heartbeat. It was… intimate.

He then realised that these were inappropriate thoughts to have, especially at that moment, and focussed all his attention on the present. Mondo opened his mouth once, twice without a sound, struggling to find his words.

"Taka, I'm… I'm fine, don't worry," He assured, voice as tired as his smile, "I guess I'm just havin' some kinda existential crisis, or somethin'. I'll just relax, and it'll work itself out."

Kiyotaka never really understood these things. Questioning his life, his existence… Not only did he not have time, but he knew why. He existed to be perfect, Kiyondo's defining moment. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than not existing at all.

"If you say I don't need to worry, then I'll believe you, but…" He began, hesitating a moment before soldiering on, "That doesn't mean I won't. I care about you Mondo, and I won't be able to help that. I want you to be happy…"

A skeletal hand ruffles his hair, and Mondo's smile shifts into something less tired; however, it still felt somewhat… grim.

"Thanks, dude," He chuckled, sincerely, "I know it ain't as poetic to say same but, well… You know I care about you too. I'm just gonna go for a walk with Chuck, clear my head. I'd offer for you to come with, but Ishida'll be waking up soon, right? And your… your arm…"

He would've been happy to follow the other but… Mondo was right. He didn't want to push his luck any further. He merely waved goodbye and made his trek up to Kiyondo's lab, each step feeling heavier and heavier, as if he was being weighed down by some invisible weight.