Hi!

Okay, I wanna make a quick note, because I don't think I mentioned this before, and I should have, I just wanna make sure it's clear- As you all know, this fanfic is set after all the Extra episodes, assuming that what happened in them, Happened. EXCEPT, I MADE ONE CHANGE and I want to clarify that change NOW. In this story, Rika died when V died. She killed herself out of agony from losing her sun. She did not see Yoosung again, and only Jumin, Jaehee, Saeyoung, Saeran, Jade, and Vanderwood know that she had been alive. Zen and Yoosung DID NOT GET TOLD that Rika was the leader of Mint Eye. I alluded to this in previous chapters where Yoosung stated "when Rika was still alive" but I wanted to make it perfectly clear that she is dead in this story, because the next few chapters bring this topic up, and I just realized I'm an idiot who didn't clarify this fact.

BACK TO THE STORY THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE YOUR TIME

I do not own MM!

I shoved my hands in pockets, unable to stop the fidgeting of my hands as the elevator rose higher and higher. I felt Yoosung slide his hand down my elbow, pulling my hand out of my pocket, sliding our fingers together. I sighed, smiling at him thankfully, squeezing his hand. It had been a while since I saw everyone in the RFA at one place- the RFA party wasn't too long ago, but I spent most of that night scowling in a corner with unbridled jealousy.

I sighed gently as the elevator doors opened, finally having reached the 100th floor. We stepped out, walking down the hall, showing our ID cards to the security guards. They nodded, opening the door and letting us inside the penthouse. Everyone turned, smiling and waving at us as we approached them. Zen stumbled over tipsily, clearly having already had too much to drink as he wrapped his arm around Yoosung's shoulder.

"Yoosung! So good to see you."

Yoosung glanced at me sheepishly as I glared at Zen, crossing my arms over my chest. Jumin sighed, prying Zen's arms from Yoosung, pushing him into a chair, glancing over at me.

"Pardon him."

I shook my head, my body twitching violently as someone hugged me from behind. Red hair flashed in my peripherals, and I jabbed my elbow backwards, earning a pained grunt from my brother.

"Saeyoung!"

He coughed, pouting, leaning his head on my shoulder, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.

"I just wanted to hug my sweet little brother!"

I glared at him, trying to break from his grip.

"Don't touch me."

"Saaaeraaaaaaan!"

Everyone laughed as I continued to pry him off of me- it was like he was an octopus, wrapping himself around my body. I heard Yoosung giggle at the scene, and I rolled my eyes softly, giving in to the forced affection, Saeyoung nuzzling his cheek against my own roughly before running back to Jade.

"It's good to see that you seem to be doing well."

I turned to the feminine voice at my side, seeing Jaehee standing near me, a smile on her face. I nodded slowly, taking a small step back.

"Yes, well..."

Warmth enveloped my side, Yoosung sliding his hand back into mine, squeezing my hand gently, a gesture of which I returned thankfully. I gave Jaehee a small smile, shifting my weight on my feet.

"Thanks..."

She nodded, walking back off, presumably to ask the Security Guards to bring up another bottle of wine. Jumin offered both of us a glass of what was left, and I stared down at the red liquid contemplatively- I had never tasted wine before, let alone what this probably ridiculously priced wine is. I looked at Yoosung, and he smiled, moving his glass towards mine, and I smiled a bit, clinking it against his own before taking a sip. The liquor was warm in my throat, but it went down like a dream, the flavour bursting in my mouth.

I definitely did not want to ask how expensive this was.

Everyone was having a good time, laughing and talking, engaging in various shenanigans. Speaking of said shenanigans, I rolled my eyes as I watched Saeyoung prodding at Jumin and Zen, currently attempting to goad them into performing a dare.

"Come on guys, are you scared?"

"I don't have time for this kind of foolish play." Jumin leaned onto his hand, his legs crossed in an almost regal fashion as he stared up at Saeyoung, who held a lecherous smirk on his face.

"You haven't even heard the dare yet!"

Zen swatted at Saeyoung, rolling his eyes.

"I don't want to hear it."

"I dare you two to kiss."

Zen knocked over his chair due to the speed at which he stood, knocking over a glass in his shock.

"You want us to what?!"

Saeyoung crossed his arms, his glasses glinting in the light.

"Kiss. On the lips. Maybe with tongue too, y'know, whatever you feel like."

Zen's face was bright red, glowering at Saeyoung.

"Why in the hell would I want to-"

"Hyun."

Zen froze as he heard Jumin utter his real name, looking back at him. Jumin was glaring darkly at the broken crystal glass on the floor, sighing as he stood.

"My father gave me those glasses as a gift. What a shame. You will have to pay me for this."

Zen blinked slowly, fear overcoming him at the thought of how expensive those glasses could be.

"P-pay you? Jumin, you can't be serious- it was an accident, and you know I don't-"

Jumin intterupted him, grabbing him by the collar, pulling him into a kiss, his tongue visibly sliding over Zen's lips. Zen cried out in surprise, muffled against Jumin's lips, his face a deeper red than the ruby of his eyes as Jumin tongued at his mouth. He was pushed away just as quickly as the kiss began, landing back on the floor with a thud, staring up at Jumin, completely flustered.

Jumin fixed his tie slowly, staring back at the glass, sighing.

"That was very mediocre, but I suppose it should suffice. I will call for a maid."

He walked around Zen, who was blinking slowly, his lip quivering for a moment before he turned around, yelling after Jumin.

"What the hell do you mean that was mediocre, you damn trust fund kid?!"

"I'll have my assistant send you a high-quality dictionary so you can look up the definition of it."

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"

Zen ran after him, fuming, and everyone else laughed, all except Jaehee- her face was bright red, a look of shock overcome on her features. I laughed to myself as I looked at her- seeing her boss promptly make out with her idol was probably not a sight she ever expected to see. I turned to my side, watching as Yoosung wiped tears from his eyes, from laughing too hard.

"That guy has quite the personality."

Yoosung smiled, shaking his head at my words.

"He's always been like that. He seems like he's never phased by anything," He sighed softly, watching everyone talk and recover from the events that just occured, "I wish Rika was here."

The blood in my veins froze, my smile dropping from my face- it felt like I had been dropped into the ocean along with the polar ice caps, shivering at the name as memories flooded my brain. My hand fell limp, letting go of Yoosung's hand, and he turned to me, concern written upon his face as he stared at my face, which was probably growing paler by the second.

"Saeran? Darling, what's wrong?"

I stepped back, my head spinning violently. I brought my hand to my face, trying to stop it, trying to clear the panic, but it was growing, it was bubbling over- I was losing control.

"B-bathroom." I turned on my heel, bolting away from him, ignoring the calls of my name that trailed after me. I slammed the door behind me, locking it, running to the sink. I turned on the tap, running the cold water. I splashed it onto my face desperately, hoping that it would return me to reality, but it wasn't working. It felt like there was no oxygen in the room, my breathing deep gasps, my body quaking with pain.

I looked up at the mirror, my eyes flying open, stumbling backwards in fear as Rika stared back at me, her green eyes glowering down at me.

"Saeran," I choked as she spoke, my back slamming against the wall, "Come back to me. Your saviour is waiting for you."

"No," I gasped, shaking my head violently, "NO! You- you're gone- you aren't real, you're not real, no..."

She laughed darkly, the sound overtaking my senses, constricting my lungs, my heart, my head. I pulled at my hair, screaming- it hurt, oh god, no, make it stop- make it stop-!

"SAERAN!"

The sound of his screams- fists banging on the door, it was all muffled background noise, static in my ears as the room tilted and distorted around me. I rocked back and forth, screaming into my legs, tears coming down like a waterfall. I brought a hand to my chest, digging my nails into the skin through my shirt, the pain grounding me, just enough to force myself up on shaky legs, whipping open the door, falling to my knees again.

I felt Yoosung try to embrace me, and I pushed him away, my sobs echoing throughout the penthouse- I could hear everyone's footsteps nearing, gathering in the hall to see the commotion.

"I- I can't- I cant do this anymore..."

Yoosung stared at me, his face pained, eyes dripping with worry as I cried, my body unable to stop the tremors wreaking havoc on it. I gasped for air, hitting my thigh with my fist, shaking my head.

"I can't... Do it..."

"Do... What?" He spoke slowly, keeping his hands to himself. I choked again, repeatedly punching my legs, desperate to punish myself for these sins, for the sins of the knowledge I had.

"It isn't fair. It's not fair-! I'm not fair to you!"

"What are you talking abou-"

I looked up at him, my face mangled with anguish, tears dripping from my chin.

"I know too many things that I can't bear to tell you, I know too many things that would tear you apart and destroy you and I can't do it anymore!"

He stared at me for a moment, realization crawling onto his features. His hands fell to his sides, his eyes wide, brows curling up to meet in the center, his lip beginning to quiver.

"You... Know something about Rika..?"

I stared at him, desperate to say something, anything- but I couldn't speak. I was a coward. I couldn't be the one to watch his spark drain from his eyes. I hung my head between my arms, desperately trying to breathe between my sobs. Yoosung stood, and Saeyoung ran over, grabbing him by the shoulders, stopping him from moving.

"Yoosung, listen to me, I can explain this-"

Yoosung pushed him away hard, his back hitting the wall.

"What, you knew something too?! Do you all know? Am I the only one it was kept from? Am I the only one that the truth about my cousin was kept from?!" His voice broke as he screamed, his body trembling, his hands balled into fists. He turned, running down the hall and away to the front door. Saeyoung called after him in a feeble attempt to stop him. I watched as he ran, my body numb, my vision filing away into tunnels, the sight of his blonde hair running away from me the only thing I could see, my hearing fading away into white noise.

Yes.

This is how it should be.

I can't be the one to destroy him.

I would rather die.

I felt my body go limp, everything around me fading to black, screams vague in the back of my head as my eyes closed, falling into the depths surrounding me.

Yes.

It was better this way.

This was for the best.

GAH I HATE MYSELF

WHY ME

WHY

I DONT WANT THEM TO FIGHT, BUT PLOT AND STUFF UGH

~Pixil-8