A/N: WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS ILLEGAL ACTIONS. IF YOU'RE GREATLY OFFENDED OR REPULSED BY THIS, DO NOT READ THIS CHAPTER.

Nozomi trudged down to Floating Heart. The same waitress as before stared as she entered, but Nozomi didn't care. Her world was crumbling apart in some thick haze within her mind.

"Just a chai tea, please," Nozomi handed the waitress a bill, and sat down in the smoking booth. Her phone buzzed the second her bottom came in contact with the plush seat. She pulled out her phone and e-cigarette to read the text message:

16:37
Elichi
Is everything okay?

Nozomi's heart dropped again, and sent back a single emoji in response.

16:38
Nozomi
(◔ᴥ◔)

Smiling at the stupidity, Nozomi didn't even notice the waitress placing a cup in front of her. She forced the smile to stay as a 'thank you,' and the second the woman walked away, Nozomi's face fell into despair again.

'It was to be expected,' she thought, staring into the cup with one hand curling around the e-cigarette. Lighting it up, Nozomi felt herself grow heavy again. She'd have to go back to court and face the man who had made her life a living hell with some crazy lawyer. Nozomi scrunched her face up and threw her head into her hands and choked back a sob.

She stayed like that for some time. It was only when her phone vibrated that she lifted her head up, sniffling.

15:58
Umineko
Did you get home okay?

Nozomi ignored the message as a thought struck her. She wasn't happy, she couldn't be happy in her current state. Going home to Eli wouldn't make her happy, it'd just be comfort - not happiness. Opening her phone and still ignoring Umi's message, Nozomi went to the unknown number in the text message screen and hit dial.

The ringing was agonizing while Nozomi shifted the e-cigarette to make room for the teacup's handle. When the phone answered, Nozomi felt her heart clench.

"Hello?"

"Toudou, it's been a while."

Silence cast over for a few brief seconds, then a low chuckle drawled out on the other end of the phone.

"Toujou Nozomi as I live and breathe. How are you?"

"Currently the star of a brand new shit-show." Nozomi really didn't want to have a conversation.

"So I've heard. Now tell me, to what do i owe the pleasure of you gracing me with your voice?"

"Cut the shit. You know what I want, since you seemed so insistent on it through the last few days."

"Yeah, I can help you out. What did you want?"

Nozomi shut her eyes tightly, and grit her teeth.

"Make me happy."

"She's still not answering or responding to text messages?"

"If she was, I wouldn't be calling you," Eli grit her teeth while her knuckles turned white. She was sitting at the dining table with Skype open.

Umi was in the top left-hand corner, her hair down and jacket off. She was in the study, judging from the large bookcase behind her, and Kotori on her arm. Behind the engaged couple was Honoka. Next to Umi's square was Maki, clearly sitting at a desk up to her eyeballs in university papers.

"Okay Eli, just think. Where would Nozomi have gone?" Maki pulled out her phone and let Eli rack her brains.

"There's three places she could've gone. Here, her studio or the shrine," Eli listed them off on her finger. Kotori downcast her gaze and tightened her grip on Umi's arm.

"It's been a while...maybe we should call the police?"

Umi extended her free arm up to Kotori's cheek and offered a rather depressing grin, "Three hours isn't long enough to file a missing person unit, Kotori."

"Well, there's not much else we can do aside from going out and looking for her ourselves," Honoka folded her arms, staring directly at Eli through the webcam.

The blonde sighed and looked at the clock. All of their shops were closed, and there was the disgusting, murky swamp of anxiety that was stretching out through Eli's body that was just expecting the worst. Nozomi hadn't been the same since this shit-storm started to brew, and who knew where she was?

Slamming a hand down on the table, she looked at the computer screen with a cold fire in her blue eyes.

"The only thing we can do is go out and look for her," she pulled out her phone and opened a new note.

"Kotori and Umi, can you guys go for a drive around the block where the shrine is?"

"O-Of course," Umi was stunned at the sudden decision, but it didn't bother her at all. It was the only logical thing to do. Eli then flicked her gaze over to Maki.

"Maki, you still have that red car, yes?"

"Of course I do, what do you take me for?" Maki twirled at a strand of crimson hair with a haughty look on her face.

"Can you pick up Honoka and check out the studio?"

"Sure," Maki nodded as Honoka let out a cheer. Umi turned to her flatmate.

"You can use my keys to get in. What about you, Eli? Did you need a lift as well?" She asked as Kotori got up and left to get something.

Eli blinked down at her phone, catching a glimpse of her fingernails in the process.

"I...I am going to call Nico over and we're going to search this block."

"Sounds like a plan," Honoka grinned.

In hindsight, turning off her phone wasn't the best idea. Yes, she needed to keep Eli and Umi out of this, but she also needed to keep in contact with Toudou. Nozomi felt disgusting about what she was about to do. It had been so long since she had done this, and that memory alone wasn't helping.

It had been some time since Nozomi left Floating Heart. Instead of going home, she had gone back to Lily White, and just sat in the break room, staring at the canvases on the walls. The shop lights weren't on, and the studio was still closed. Some faint knocking came from the main door, but Nozomi ignored it. She was closed, and who knows if she'd ever be able to perform a tattoo again.

The text message Nozomi had received from Toudou told her everything she needed to know for their encounter:

20:28
Unkown Number
9pm, the old alleyway. Bring dough

Green eyes blinked at the text. Of course, it made total sense to be somewhat cryptic. Nozomi knew exactly where to go, thanks to her university days. She stood up and put on her hoodie and leather jacket. It was freezing, but thankfully, happiness could warm her up. Turning off the desk lamp, Nozomi left the break room through the back door, and once she was outside, locked the door with a sigh.

'Elichi is going to kill me,' she pressed her forehead against the door and shut her eyes tightly.

'But what else can I do.'

"NOZOMI-CHAN!" Honoka continued to ram her knuckles into the door, eyes full of determination. Maki sighed next to her, still twirling at her hair anxiously.

"Honoka, she's not answering, so she mustn't be here," the student sighed, eyes catching the glint of the keys emerging from Honoka's pocket.

"We'll see about that," Honoka grinned, inserting Umi's keys into the door and twisting them. The ginger opened the door, then quickly fumbled with the clicker to disarm the alarm.

She trotted into the studio, nearly gagging at the intensity of the santiary products that stank up the entire place.

"This place is cleaner than the medical labs at university," Maki's own nose twitched as Honoka used the keys to unlock the break room door. She had only been to Lily White once, but knew where everything was thanks to Umi.

"Nozomi-chan?" Honoka stuck her head through the open door and slapped her hand to the wall, fingers crawling around to find the light switch. Maki was carefully maneuvering herself through the studio, as Honoka had also not turned on those lights

"Honoka, she's not here," Maki's four words made her heart drop into the pit of her stomach.

Nozomi trudged, hands in pockets and e-cigarette in mouth, down the rather quiet street. For some reason, Friday night wasn't bustling with corporate people eager to hit the bars and start their weekends. The stores were all shut, the only light source came from the skyscraper's lights and the dim lampposts along the concrete path.

She ignored it all, staring at her feet as they automatically lead her to a bad decision.

Five blocks later, Nozomi caught a glimpse of her old university campus. Her eyes crinkled at the memories of studying, drawing and many morning drink runs before a test. It was those days that really made a difference in her life, and to think she was coming full circle with this next encounter. She stood opposite the university and in front of an empty store. When she was studying, it had been an antique shop.

Nozomi enjoyed university: it was a fine balance between practical work and theory work, but unlike other students, Nozomi took everything on board. Most of the other students weren't too fond of her, and kept their distance. There was a total of three people Nozomi talked to: Eli, Nico and her absolute worst rival.

She rounded the corner to get into the alleyway, hands in pockets while she puffed out smoke, and looked around. It was completely deserted.

"Well, speak of the devil."

Nozomi was wrong, and she whirled around to see her very rival from university, her shadow leaning against the wall with a cigarette in her hand. The artist didn't need the light to know who it was, and when the figure leaned forward, her face entered the moonlight.

Toudou Erena was the only other student that talked to Nozomi during university. Well, talk wasn't the right word. Erena might be a talented photographer, but her other hobby included selling illegal substances for a reasonable price. She was the university's dealer, and Nozomi had contacted her a few times for recreational grass. Upon getting serious with Eli, Nozomi cut that tie, deciding that Eli didn't need any of that disgusting underworld.

Needless to say, Erena wasn't happy losing one of her prized clients, and was kicked out of university upon keeping the substances in her bag one day.

"Toujou Nozomi as I live and breathe," her grin was lopsided, and her voice a low drawl. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and hair matted. Nozomi frowned, refusing to blink.

"Just give me the stuff."

"Wow, you're fiesty. It Gay-yase wind you up or somethin'?" Erena kicked herself off the wall with a chuckle and took a step closer to Nozomi, who narrowed her eyes and wrinkled her nose. Erena was the lowest of low. To hear that mention Eli made Nozomi sick.

"Don't you talk about my soulmate like that, you pig," Nozomi took her hand out of her pocket, fingers curling around a roll of yen.

"Now, give me the stuff."

Erena let another low chuckle drawl out of her throat while she fumbled in her pocket. She slowly pulled out a plastic zip-lock bag containing a green substance.

Nozomi felt her heart stop. This was happening. She was going to do this. Erena held out the bag as Nozomi practically shoved the money into the dealer's chest.

"You used to love talking, Nozomi. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or is your daddy not playing fair again."

Nozomi scowled and pocketed the substance, ignoring Erena completely.

"Y'know, that's some special stuff right there."

"What the hell do you mean?" Nozomi snarled, ignoring the e-cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth as Erena took a drag of a real one.

"It's one of Erena's Experiments. You'll be the first to try it, consider yourself lucky, Nozomi."

"What's in it?" Nozomi was skeptical, she didn't trust Erena at all, but she was contradicting herself just by being in the alleyway with her.

"Ah, just a lil' somethin' somethin' to make the experience worth your while. I mean," a wicked grin crawled onto Erena's face, like a tarantula about to strike.

"Getting ready for court must be quite stressful. This should help loosen you up."

Nozomi's stomach boiled in rage. The fact that Erena knew about this made her decompose into rage and disgust. She felt her ears burn as she raised her head.

"What's in it."

"The best of both worlds, my dear," Erena flashed her teeth, and then moved her hair over her shoulder.

While the dealer tapped the money against her free hand, Nozomi turned on her heel and stormed out of the alleyway.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Nozomi-sama," Erena called after her lazily, then let out a dark cackle that Nozomi did her best to ignore as she rounded the corner.

Hey, it's me...The Author. Now, the next scene is the drug scene, oh no I spoiled it for you I'm The Worst™.

In all seriousness, I came here to warn you again, because I do not want comments being like 'omg y is she doing drugs y u no warn me?!111' Well princess, I just did. Twice. This is the second and final warning about the next scene: there is drug use. Nozomi is going to do drugs. If you're uncomfortable with this, then do not keep reading.

On the other hand, if you want to read this scene, I suggest getting 'Futari Happiness' up and listen along to it. It'll make it even more of a trip ;)

Thanks fam ily
Xoxo gossip D.

It would be suicide to go home with the plastic bag, Nozomi wasn't stupid. She was, however, annoyed at herself for going back to Lily White. Realistically, it was the only place she could do this, and the worst place. Her studio was under enough fire as it was, and this was only adding to the flames - a tattoo artist doing drugs in a tattoo studio.

'The worst stereotype,' Nozomi thought, leaning against the glass door to her studio and pulling out paper from her pocket. She hated herself each passing second. This was not a good idea.

Neither was thinking she could win the case…

'I'm fucked, anyway,' Nozomi thought as slumped to the ground, using her back to balance herself against the glass door. Her bottom met the pavement, muscles tightening instantly at the sudden cold.

Nozomi sprinkled her pinches of the green substance into the paper, sifting it all to line up neatly. She noticed the flecks of white mixed in with the green - it wasn't a lot, and reminded her of christmas. With a smirk of repulsion at herself, she lightly licked the edge of the paper, taking in the fowl, tangy taste, and rolled it up into a cylinder.

Fumbling in her pocket for her lighter (she promised Eli she'd throw out the cigarettes, not the lighter,) Nozomi placed her joint between her lips and flicked the zippo to life. Eli had bought her that very lighter as an anniversary present, simply because it looked nice, and Nozomi had her eye on it every time they'd pass the Tobacco shop.

The artist inhaled the substance, and closed her eyes. It would take some time, but this would make her happy. All she wanted was just to be happy again. She blinked, eyes bleary and unfocused, while she stared out onto the empty street. Across from her studio on the other side of the street was a shop called Wonder Flight. Nozomi had no idea what it sold, and she didn't really care, because the warmth of happiness was starting to flow through her veins.

'There we go,' she thought, as a deranged grin curled onto her face. Nozomi closed her eyes for what seemed like ages, slowly breathing through her nose as her insides swirled.

Pure happiness...that's all she wanted...All thoughts and insecurities about everything that had happened left her body while she rested her head back against the locked door to Lily White.

"It's okay, girl," Nozomi raised a hand to awkwardly pat the door behind her.

"I'll save you," her nonsensical wonderings continued for quite some time as the world slowed down. The streetlight flickered awkwardly, and it was making her angry.

"Get your shit together!" Nozomi snapped, kicking out a leg in an attempt to stop the flickering. It was an instant mistake. Once Nozomi brought her leg back to the ground, a surge of sudden energy pulsed up through her leg to her stomach.

'What the,' looking down, her leg was still connected to her body, but she couldn't feel it anymore.

"Huh?!" Nozomi made an attempt to get back up, panic pulsing, but stumbled as her legs gave out beneath her. She was back on the ground, her stomach reforming into the black pit of terror as her brain went into overdrive.

She tried again, desperately trying to get up, but three seconds later, was back on the ground. Panic washed over her in a cold wave - what happened to her happiness? Why did her legs take away her happiness?

Nozomi realized what she had just thought of, and let out a psychotic laugh. Her legs...her fucking legs...were ruining her happiness.

With a growl of frustration, Nozomi kicked out her legs again, suddenly feeling all of her senses heightened instantly. It was almost terrifying at how clearly she could hear the hum of electricity through the air and the blood roaring in her ears.

Nozomi didn't need to be sober to tell that this weed wasn't right. She clutched at her chest, each heartbeat was like a clap of thunder. This sensory over load was becoming far too much, and all the artist could do was slump forward and clutch at her ears to block out the world, shutting her eyes and whimpering.

Erena had ruined her - she fucked her up - Nozomi felt like her body was about to burt open, and she lay in that awkward position, expecting Death to come collect her.

Nozomi could make out a muffled voice - maybe it was Eli? Nozomi hoped not, she didn't want to face Eli's wrath this late at night. Perhaps Umi? But Nozomi didn't know what would be worse: angry Umi or Angry Eli.

But it wasn't Umi or Eli. The voice had a very familiar ring to it, but Nozomi just couldn't put her finger as a shadowy figure stood over her.

"You're an idiot, Non-tan."

Don't ever EVER mix drugs. This has been a PSA.