John gasped as his eyes snapped opened, a cry of terror tearing free as he gripped the chest of his shirt. His heart pounded as tears spilled down his cheeks. Phantom pain lingered in his chest and throat, which was soon aching with the strength of his sobs. He could barely move as he lay on the concrete, quietly relieved no one was around to see him like this. He covered his eyes with his arm, tears flooding down his cheeks. What the fuck was that? It was the worst thing he'd ever experienced. He couldn't call it a nightmare, not when it had felt like that. He was still cold from the icy water, even lying beneath the hot summer sun.

He opened his sore eyes again as a gentle weight rested on his chest, coming nose to nose with the black cat, which swished its tail in distress. Small paws began kneading his chest, and it was all he could do not to crush the small creature in a bruising hug. He kept his arms firmly by his sides, not trusting himself to move. He gasped and sobbed, remembering the fear and pain. It seemed so real. It had been real! He'd been there! He could feel the cold rain beating on his skin. The bruises on his knees. Scrapes on his hands. The crack of bone. Icy water caressing his body. Rushing down his throat. Filling his lungs. He shuddered. Koujo!

His phone buzzed in his pocket. He gripped it with shaking fingers, barely able to press the icon to answer. It was Lin! It was his alpha! He couldn't form words. All he could do was whimper and cry. He felt so pathetic. Lin was terrified. Their bond was going crazy. He'd felt an echo of his fear and pain, and the increasing distress. Lin couldn't get a straight answer from him as he trembled and sobbed. John cut the call, desperately thumbing the map on his phone. Koujo-Koujo-Koujo! He wasn't sure how, but his shaking hand managed to send the map before the phone slipped from his fingers.

He shivered and cried as he lay on the hot pavement with the cat on his chest. It guarded his vulnerable body, paws kneading his chest and stomach. It nosed his damp cheek, rough tongue flicking out to clean him. John was glad not to be alone. He wasn't sure how long it had been. Someone had walked by earlier, carefully skirting around him with a wary look, perhaps thinking he was on some sort of bad trip. It was rare in Japan, but not unheard of, and he was a foreigner. That alone probably scared them off.

"John! John!" Lin's voice was a distant yell at first, but he was getting closer. John's heart pounded as he let out a strangled whimper. It was somehow enough for Lin's heightened senses, and within seconds the small weight had left his chest and John felt his body being eased up against his alpha's firm torso. Lin hushed and soothed as he rocked him back and forth. He hurriedly checked him for injuries, but could already sense he wasn't in any physical pain right now. Despite that, his heart was still pounding in terror. "John, I'm here..." Lin murmured as he pressed his face into the crook of his shoulder, allowing his spiced scent to wash over his pale, shivering mate.

"Hurt...so-much..." John sobbed, shaking in Lin's arms as his fingers scrabbled to grip his shirt, which was already damp with sweat where he'd been running. Lin did his best to soothe his frazzled nerves. He hushed, murmured, stroked, squeezed, cuddled and kissed his omega into submission. He wasn't sure how long it took, but he finally quieted in his embrace. "Cold...W-water...The water..." His heart was still racing as he choked the words out.

"John...You're not in the water. Look around...Look at me...Look-at-me...Look. At. Me." Lin felt a little guilty as he used his alpha pheromones to make John's delirious mind pay attention. At his firm order, John's blue eyes finally seemed to regain focus, obediently staring up into his dark eyes and letting Lin soothe him. "That's it...That's right..." he whispered gently as he dried John's cheeks, brown eyes softening as the sleek black cat returned to curl up on John's quivering thighs. "You took care of him for me, didn't you?" he murmured gently as he reached out his hand. The cat hesitantly nuzzled his fingers, able to smell John's scent on him. "Thank you." The cat began to purr comfortingly as it settled down in a small loaf.

"Lin...it was horrible..." John's voice was cracked and dry as he tried to explain. Lin hushed him once more as he looked around the unfamiliar streets. They were still quite a way from John's apartment, according to the map. He got to his feet for a better look, noticing a small park just a little further ahead. He gathered John in his arms. The park was at least more private than the pavement. John shivered and gripped his shirt as he was carried into the park, where Lin chose a quiet spot on a small patch of grass beneath a green sakura tree.

"Rest awhile," Lin ordered as he propped John's paper bag beneath his blonde head. The clothes inside were a good enough cushion, despite the stiff paper. John nodded silently, distressed as Lin stood to move away. "Vending machine." John watched as he walked across to the metal box, returning with two Pocari Sweats a few moments later. Twisting the cap off his bottle, he sat with a sigh, almost smiling as the cat returned to reclaim its space on John's stomach. He reached out and stroked it gratefully, feeling a slight roughness to the black fur that suggested it wasn't well cared for. It was also quite thin for a cat. He could feel the tiny ribs against his fingers. That's a shame...You're an extremely caring creature...

He returned his attention to his omega, who had one arm over his face as he looked up at the leaves of the tree above his head. The gentle breeze was soothing as it played with his blonde curls and tickled his cheeks. His skin was still pale from the shock and distress, not to mention lying in the sun for all that time. Lin uncapped the second bottle and pulled him up. John followed the leading tug and sipped from the bottle. His hands were shaking too badly to hold it, so he was grateful for Lin holding it for him. A large hand laced in his hair and his eyes closed. Safe.

"What happened?" Lin knew it was unlike John to suffer panic attacks or manic episodes. He had no history of it. No one else was around, and John's body was unmarked, so he didn't think he'd been attacked. John shivered as he lay back once more and covered his face with both arms, crossing them over his eyes.

"I saw-I-I felt-I-died!" John shuddered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I felt someone die...I was that someone! I-I think...I think I was...Gene...." The memory of those two names in his head as he'd felt those final heartbeats was painful. Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. He could feel Lin's pain and uncertainty. If it was a joke, it was a cruel one, but John wasn't cruel, and he wouldn't lie about something like this. He could also sense his honest distress through their bond. "I know I have no history of...this sort of thing...but it was so...so real." He remembered the sickening crunch of bones in his ears and the burning pain as he fell. He almost gagged at the memory.

"Was there a...reason?" Lin was deeply troubled that John had been the one to experience this. Of all the people he knew, he would expect it to be Mai or Masako to suffer such a strong vision. John was an exorcist, not a psychic. He was still shaking as he shook his head.

"A car went past and then..." He trailed off, unable to put the horror into words. How could anyone do that? He wasn't even dead! He could have survived! John gritted his teeth as he remembered the hurt Gene had felt at being discarded. His helplessness, unable to kick to the surface. His desperation, trying to shake off the weights in his clothes. The pain. Sharp, cold pain. The peace. The blackness. Koujo! John gripped Lin's sleeve with a shaking hand.

"I'm here..." Lin assured gently as he held the hand on his sleeve. He pulled John closer. It was so hot in the park, but he was shivering like it was the middle of winter. He moved to sit behind John, wrapping him securely with both arms and legs. The warmth and closeness slowly seemed to calm his nerves enough that he could relax into the embrace. "Can you...tell me?" Lin asked grimly, knowing that he had to hear it. John whimpered as he shook his head, almost sobbing as Lin whispered a small plea in his ear.

"I-it was dark..." he began, slowly recounting the vision. It was horrible to go through it again, but not as horrible as he'd expected. Sharing it even made him feel a little better, but he knew it was cruel. He could feel old emotional wounds opening in Lin's heart with each word he spoke. He gripped his hand tightly. Lin held him closer, both seeking and giving comfort. "I-I can't remember any smaller details. The car was red and sporty. The road was...it was by open water, but...Sorry, if I'd paid more attention..." John was surprised as Lin tightened his grip.

"You have nothing to apologise for. How were you to know when you've never gone through this before? You must have been terrified!" Lin buried his face in John's shoulder. He'd wondered how it had happened. He'd always hoped it had been quick and painless. There were worse things that could have happened, but still. A very small part had actually hoped it was all a mistake, that they'd find Gene alive, even though he'd always known that would never be the case. He felt guilty, drowning in his own pain while his omega was in such distress.

"I've never been more afraid." John could finally control his hands enough to stroke the ball of fur on his lap. The cat stretched patiently, accepting the firm strokes along its spine. John could finally feel his heart slowing. He felt weak and helpless as a wave of exhaustion washed through him, sinking back against Lin's chest, less afraid of closing his eyes while wrapped in his alpha's embrace. But why me? Naru's his brother, and Mai and Masako are both psychics...Not that I'd want any of them to experience something so...He shuddered, remembering the last time Mai had experienced something similar. I'd never wish that on her again, so in that respect I'm glad it was me, but why? Did he...did he choose me? Or was it just coincidence? Will it happen again? He hated himself for hoping it wouldn't.

What if Gene was stuck somewhere, desperately trying to reach out? What if Mai and Masako hadn't experienced this vision because they couldn't hear him? But if that's the case, then why can I hear him? I'm not even a psychic! He'd never shown any supernatural ability beyond his skill as an exorcist, which came from learned skill and devotion. He felt strangely determined as he let himself sink into Lin's embrace. Gene...if you're there, I can hear you...Speak to me...