Present day - August 7th, Before dawn

Nakarugi seriously underestimated the height of the building. He nearly locked his head in a 100 degree angle which nearly lopped off his neck but definitely gave him blurred vision from the cut off of blood to the brain.

He noticed a tear dangling down the edge of Chris's eyes. He playfully hit him and chided him," Don't worry. Just don't get yourself hurt before we get there."

" And please don't trip..."

Chris gave him a nervous chuckle.

Saying that, both tried to climb the annoying staircase. Matsuki huffed and puffed every 10 floors until they reached the 50th.

All the while hoping the last piece of this question would be present. Or he would have to use his own hands to take out the dirty work.

And when he stopped for the last break before the 51st, Nakarugi glanced at the floor and walls. There was blood smeared all over the ground and he was sure he saw an impression of a knife at the edge of the staircase making its way along the corridor.

" Is this where- y-you?" Chris nodded. And so, he left it at that......

" This was where it all ended for him." Chris mouthed as low as he could, memories seeping out the dam he still tried to keep at bay.

That this was the place was where yet another life was taken.

And yet another victim......

Nakarugi placed a friendly arm on his comrade's shoulder and Chris did his best and kept his chin up. They walked the final flight of stairs in silence.

And Chris was again in this nightmare, for the third time.

" Just wait......Haruka." Chris worded in his lips.

" DON'T. JUMP." Nakarugi warned him in a serious tone. He didn't want all of this to end in vain. He just didn't.

And knowing him, and his ability to act spontaneously, he didn't dare give him a chance.

" We need to get you your first shot!! COME HERE!" He quick changed it to a enthusiastic tone as he pulled out the wine from the bag he brought and a glass out.

" How's that fitting in there without breaking?"

He NEEDED to be successful.

He couldn't afford to lose another precious gem......

He had lost too many for comfort.

He popped it open and immediately plopped the pill inside and it dissipated almost the second he did.

With quite an impressed look, he called Chris over.

" Wow. That's Teach for ya!"

But Chris was just there, looking down the edge of the building. He wondered whether it would hurt it he killed himself or whether the air pressure down the way would knock him out.

He felt guilty for the person he killed.

The memories were vague but they were there.

The memories came back as the dam cracked.

But the memory of Haruka pulled him back to his former thought.

He needed to kill himself.

He NEEDED to be successful.

He couldn't afford to lose to meet with his precious gem.

And when Chris noticed him with the wine in his hand, he turned back and took the glass of wine.

The glass felt cold and smooth, as if it would slip out of his grasp and shatter any moment.

He ignored this thought.

He tried not to close his nose as the whiff of the smell made him dizzy.

" Wow, that's strong! No wonder people be all dizzy after d-drinking t-this" Nakarugi tried not to smile but let out a laugh with a," Yeah, that's why"

He was already stuttering.

The drug was working. Chris took small testing sips of the drink and then gulped it all down later, he was starting to struggle to stand up.

Fifteen more seconds to activate.......

Chris barely managed to slap himself on the wall near the edge as his vision was starting to get a bit blurry

" Happy birthday, Chris" Nakarugi smiled again and clanked the bottle with the glass, making a toast. And drinking a bit to make him go nuts.

He needed to not have mercy for what was about to happen next as he eyed the final piece......

" For you two"

" For my family" Chris tossed the glass down, his vision starting to become translucent. He was sure he was a going to fall unconscious.

" Time to end this"

He said the exact words when he executed another executioner.

He wobbly made his way to the edge and yelled," I'M COMING, MY LOVE!" Not noticing what Nakarugi had picked up behind him.

A splintered wooden plank, the size of a baseball bat. Enough to to knock anyone out.

Except if you're on steroids......

He hid it being his hack and announced," Say hello to her for me"

" Take care of Amane, please. Tell her......Just make something up" He made a small laugh which came better than expected.

He looked down at a floor with a view drenched in dry blood of three people. He then looked over the edge.

" Good bye, friend." His vision was mostly gone but his feet reached out the to empty air as he spread his arms out, finally ready to join his Angel.

For those thoughts which held him back, this was the testimony.

A leap of faith.

But the silence of that air was accompanied by the sound of wood breaking and blood getting spilt......

Chris laid unconscious, on the floor, nearly tipping over the edge, just like his own victim. Expect his fate was slightly different that of his.

Nakarugi Matsuki clutched his shirt and took the effort to pull him just enough over as he slapped himself to make sure this was reality.

It wasn't a dream.

Nakarugi had finished his mission. Whether if Chris wanted to live with that was his own decision.

*****

He tensed and looked behind him, finally able to call out the extra pair of footsteps that had been following them.

" I know you're here, come out" He said in a calm but steady tone.

And out of the staircase's edge, came Ichine Amane, her face beaded with sweat and covered with tears, her heart held in her arms.

Only then, did she know the meaning of his words that day. That he was serious......

*****