He was running again, rain soaking through his black jacket. But why am I running? John internally shook his head. That wasn't quite right. No, why is Gene running? He looked around as best he could. It was dark. Barely any streetlights lit the mountainside path. Gene wasn't panicking, he was simply running. Late for a meeting? Trying to escape the rain? Where did he come from? It doesn't seem like there's much around here..John gasped as he felt his foot slip in the darkness. He grunted as he bounced down the muddy bank, a familiar sting forming in his hands and knees as he hit the winding road.

Blue eyes widened as he heard the familiar sound of screeching tyres. A scream tore from his lips as cold metal slammed his body. The familiar sharp pain of breaking bones and the bounce of skin on metal filled his ears as he tumbled over the roof. He winced as he hit the tarmac, blinking from the taillights of the car. There! Focus! Look at it! His vision was blurred with pain and raindrops. He tried his best, screwing Gene's blurry eyes for a better look. R-7-1? B-7-1? I can't...He felt frustrated as light footsteps fumbled towards his quivering form.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" The woman almost sobbed as she dragged him across the rough ground. No! I didn't get it all! Stop! John was desperate as he squinted at the car, but there was nothing he could do as searing pain flooded his body. It hurt. It hurt so much. He was dropped by the metal barrier once more with a familiar thud, the same nauseating pain shooting through his limbs. He tried to struggle as he felt the woman forcing the stones into his clothing. Stop it! Don't do this! He couldn't make Gene's body move as he wanted it to. "I-I can't...I have a daughter! I'm so sorry!" she murmured hysterically, touching him with pale, quivering hands.

"What...why?" John felt himself ask, vision blurring as he looked up. He felt the familiar warm stickiness trickling over his left eye, closing it and tasting iron. He heard the woman still sobbing as she gripped his jacket, unsteady fingers fastening the buttons securely. I don't have time! Focus! Focus! There must be something else! He wished he could pause the vision. It all seemed too fast when the final button was secured. He shifted Gene's hazy blue eyes around desperately. A sign! What does it say? Ky...Kyoto? 6?

"I'm sorry," the woman cried again as she wrestled his limp body up with desperate hands. John felt the familiar hurtful burn of betrayal as Gene's body was pushed over the barrier. The same whimper escaped his lips. The same agony throbbed through his broken limbs as he hit the cold water. Icy coldness wrapped around him like a vice. No! Not yet! Not yet! He felt himself panicking as the familiar icy calmness of the water embraced him. I don't want to feel this! I don't want to see this! Not again! Gene didn't have the strength to move, his body was sinking fast. John thrashed desperately, but once again, only a single stone broke free. Koujo! Koujo! John cried in terror, clawing at their bond, blue eyes staring up as Gene's lungs burned in the darkness.

He could feel Gene's despair and terror merging with his own as they sank. The familiar helplessness returned. His hands wouldn't work. His legs were useless. It was no good. His body couldn't take it any longer. No-don't! John was horrified as Gene's lungs gave out and he breathed in. His body flooded with that familiar agony. Water filled his lungs. He breathed out urgently, but his body simply pulled the water back in again on the next agonizing breath. He twitched and jerked. Pain. So much pain. Cold. His eyes opened wide, sickeningly wide. It almost felt like his body was forcing them out. It hurt so much. Koujo! Help! No more! Gene, no more! John screamed inwardly as his twitches lessened. Gene's body stilled. The pain had dulled. He could hear Gene's heart thudding, a dull thump in his chest and ears. Besides the bump of his heart, it was so quiet. Almost peaceful. John felt like he was having his own internal panic attack. He knew this wasn't his body, and he wasn't dying, but he could really feel it. It felt like Gene's body was his own. He could feel his heart stopping. Koujo! Koujo! Wake me up! Gene!