Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim to own this franchise or any of its characters.

Afterwards

Envy Catwalk

"Great job guys, you actually all won. Maybe you can get out. Hey if you do would anyone mind letting me go with you?" Crow asks.

"Hmn, take my place." Paradox frowns.

"What?!" Almost everyone screams.

Aw, isn't sacrifice the most noble thing in the world? I think it is.

"I can't go up to heaven or wherever as someone I care about isn't dead yet and I promised I'd wait."

"Well thank you. If you're sure then I will go instead of you."

"Sure? I've never been as much as I am now. I would like to finish the game though. It's pleases me to relive happy memories and I even got to hold my friend again."

"You really are somethin'. Wait what exactly did you do to get yourself down here anyway? I wasn't briefed on that."

Crow scratches his head and cocks a grin. Paradox smiles sadly.

"I blew up an entire building with myself and Sherry in it."

"Why?"

"Because Z-ONE wanted a martyr and she had to be it."

"You are all insane but thanks anyway."

"You think we don't know that!?" Placido growls. "Even I the clockwork has gone insane."

"Insane? Insane! I haven't thought clearer!" Divine laughs.

Aw, at least he dropped the act. It angered me.

"Right back on topic now, Placido before you even start shut up, the next game is a test of love. Something I actually added to the games because I wanted to know. I have realized that love and devotion is what screwed you all over, that and the fact you are all completely batshit. So the test is to tell me, no show me, the last time you felt love without jealousy, misery, smoke or irony. On your marks! Ready! Set! Show time!"

Aw, another memory game. Sounds like something painful. I am tired of this. Let me go to where I deserve or stay here for all eternity. I can't ascend, I won't ascend. It's not fair to those that truly deserve it. So what's the point? There is none. Never was. Dancing in some sort of insanity, some sort of song blinded by loveless love. What a strange dance. I want to dance again. No, I can't dance again. I promised myself. My personality has gone through a complete one-eighty. Perfect. My previous one danced too much. No more dancing for me.

Happy memories. What is my happiest memory? A moment with Yuusei. Yuusei made all of my happy moments. Why can't I even smile anymore? Did that thing take that as well? I can't even cry for what I have lost. Take this as a rule, never make deals with a thing. I wonder if Yuusei's still scared of me. Of course he is. Why wouldn't he be? After all I did try to kill him and made him vow for his heart to belong only to me. Where we happy once? Perhaps that first summer.

I was throwing pebbles in the water. Small rocks made delicate plopping sounds in the river. My shoes were discarded on the ground and I was humming some song about a prostitute named Kitty. Or maybe it was Envy. I think her/his name was Envy. I called him/her Kitty though. Kitty liked cats and Kitty fell in love with someone that could never love him/her back. Kitty lost her/his mind. Poor Kitty. That was probably my tip-off, the tip-off to just up and walk away. But I wanted to dance in the summer heat. And I wanted to sing. I wanted a cat. He smiled with his head off to the side and a derpy grin.

"Hi my name's Yuusei, what's yours?"

Yuusei used to be so cheerful, always smiling and laughing and skipping. Like a little girl. The one day during the third winter the smiling stopped. Forever. Forever. Forever! I was promised an eternity I wasn't allowed. A promise he could not keep. A promise he should not keep. Love for eternity is too horrifying. As the other person would have no will. Or at least it seems that way. There is no truth only seems.

"My name's Kiryu."

"Kiryu's a funny name."

"Your name's funny too."

"I guess so, I never thought of it that way."

He looked at the ground sadly. I smiled at him.

"Don't worry; my name didn't seem funny before you mentioned it."

He smiled back. It was very cute. When was the last time I smiled without malice? The last time any of us smiled without malice? Aw.

The first summer was my favorite. We hopped over koi ponds and stole lunch from people three times the size of us. And we kissed under cherry trees. The first fall was fun as well.

"Kiryu did you ever think that maybe we could get some money and go someplace together to eat?"

"Yeah we can and what do you want to eat."

"You'll think it's silly."

"I won't."

"Hamburgers."

"From America?"

"Uh-huh, I heard Crow talking about them."

The very first flash of anger and jealousy. Crow. Who's Crow? That was all.

"Crow?" I asked.

"Yes, he's a friend of mine."

A friend. That was unacceptable. I thought I was your only friend. Maybe if I had calmed down then this never would have happened but no I had to have all of Yuusei's friendship.

"Alright I will take you for hamburgers from America, as long as you let me meet Crow."

He shouldn't have let me meet Crow.

"Thanks Kiryu!"

As he turned to leave I asked him the damning question.

"We'll be together forever right?"

"Right!"

There was hardly any happiness after that. The only happiness he must have felt was when I read the newspaper to him. The only news of the outside world he would know.

"A man was arrested for stealing an oil tanker today."

"What was his name?"

"Crow Hogan."

Yuusei had strain on his face.

"He was released."

The strain turned into a small smile.

"A woman with dark brown hair and greenish blue eyes came to the prison and had him released. She said she worked for the state. He now apparently works at a fulfilling job in a correctional facility. Ironic huh?"

"You seem like you are in good moods tonight Kiryu?"

"I just like being with you."

When we're alone. We need more loneliness.

"I miss that."

"Miss what?"

"You happy."

Yuusei strained his face once more to try and produce a cheerful smile. It just looked like I was holding a gun to his head and screaming smile or I'll kill you. Aw Yuusei. I miss the smiling you. I miss dancing underneath the moonlight to music we can only see. If only I could redo my life with you. If only I had a second chance. I'd do anything for you.

What else was happy? I don't know. There aren't a lot of happy moments. I think I want to cry. I think I'll cry. I miss crying. I miss laughter with pain. I miss smiling without misery. I miss love without irony. Kitty. Call me Kitty.

My memories end and Crow is crying.

"Damn it Kiryu why'd you have to go and ruin in?" He coughs out.

The happiness in the room is equal to the sadness which is twice the hate. Divine looks the most hateful of us all. Betrayal is evident. Placido just looks pissed though. Redemption, do they even seek it? Perhaps not. It's none of my business.

"Ain't ya gonna answer me at least!?" Crow sobs.

"It's none of my business." I reply.

My face remains without soul, emotion. Crow's is a picture constantly moving filled with hate, pain, love, sadness and contempt. I wonder how many of those are purely manipulative. Everyone manipulates everyone else. Ascension. I want to rot here.

"You know what? Whatever. Time for the last one. The next test is a test of sacrifice. One member will have to sacrifice themselves for the others. The one that sacrifices themselves goes down below while another ascends. As it is also a race the one that gets there first wins a special prize. Half fucking fun."

Sacrifice? Finally a game I can win.