Nikolai stared at the ceiling, panting and sweaty. What foul, dark sickness is this?! he thought with horror. What nightmare could compare?! Suddenly, out of panic, he gripped his left hand, feeling fingers tighten on someones' shoulder. He looked quickly to his left and was greet with relief by the peacefully sleeping Takeo. He gave a deep sigh, turning to hug Takeo to his chest, gently shaking him to wake. Takeo looked distressed by the action and woke, startled, blinking tired eyes at Nikolai. He struggled to stay concious as he spoke, tone tire.

"Nani, Nikorai?"

"You are alright, da?"

Takeo looked confused. "Hai, but I am tired..."

Nikolai breathed a sigh of relief, but his face was sad and fully of worry that should not be there. Takeo took Nikolais' face in his hands and looked into the blue eyes that held a deep sorrow that should not be. He understood his lover had had a tormenting nightmare, his whole body language screamed it. He gave Nikolai a gentle kiss on the lips, before mustering as much awakeness and wisdom he could for so late.

"Nikorai, it was a nightmare and it is over."

"It seemed so real..."

"It is not. I am here, with you" he smiled a touch, sleepily. "Meditate as I taught you and you wirr sreep."

Nikolai nodded, hugging the smaller man close to his chest, and closed his eyes, thinking on what made him happy. He hoped the smiles would fight off his terror, his mental image of Takeo a light in the darkness of his sick mind. Takeo watched him as he concentrated, until, Nikolai finally fell asleep with a gentle snore.

Unable to go to sleep himself, Takeo looked around the small room of the building they had found earlier that day, wondering if, perhaps, he could see this city as it should be, as Nikolai described. He felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he thought of the future, of what would become of Nikolai and this older, insane Nikolai.

He knew what would happen, and he figured this was what was tormenting Nikolais' mind. He hated to see his comrades so upset. He hated being upset himself, but from one sadness, spawned another, and soon, Takeo was crying without sound. He covered his face and buried his head on Nikolais' chest, just crying and crying and crying, until he fell asleep.

Nikolai woke with a yawn, then grew confused as he felt nothing in his arms. He looked down and saw no Takeo. He looked around the room, then tool a peek out the window and spied the Japanese man in the street, katana in hand, dancing the dance he did at the house, but looking closer, he realised something was different this time.

Takeos' stance was rigid, ready to spring, his movements quick and ferocious. The Path of Sorrows was freshly cleaned, glinting in any rays of sunshine able to break through the clouds above. This dance with the sword was lacking the same elegance as the first dance Nikolai had observed, but it was still beautiful to watch. As Takeo slashed his sword, he gained speed and ferocity, until he moved like flowing water towards a waterfall.

It was unknown to Nikolai why he looked away at that moment, but he was thankful he did, for a zombie ambled up through the wreckage, eyes on Takeo. Before Nikolai could give warning, Takeo turned in a perfect swing, blade decapitating the dead man before it could blink it's cold, dead eyes. Nikolai gaped, as Takeo kept up with his dance, never stopping, never taking his eyes off the blade as it cut through the air.

"Been like that since morning."

Nikolai turned his head and saw Dempsey at the door, eating beans from a can. The American looked at him with curiousity, cheeks puffed out as he ate. He swallowed and grinned, dumping his spoon into the tin, before digging in a pocket and producing another tin and spoon.

"Here" he tossed the items to Nikolai. "But yeah, don't worry for Tak, he's been playing with that sword for hours now."

"Where is Richtofen?"

"Who knows" Dempsey took a spoonful of beans in mouth. "I doubt it's good, though."

Nikolai opened the tin, looking at the wall, and then down onto the ruined street. He sighed as he remembered his childhood and early teens were he ran a muck in the streets, looking for food and playing with other children. It was depressing to see everything destroyed and rotting and bloody beyond repair.

Dempsey could feel the sadness radiating from the Russian and closed the distance between them to pat his shoulder. Nikolai looked at him and offered a small smile. Dempsey smiled and the two headed out, putting on jackets and armour and taking up arms, before gaining Takeos' attention and going to find Richtofen.

The crazy German would no doubt be with S.O.P.H.I.A., but they would look everywhere to be sure. They were here for a reason and that reason had to be done swiftly. They had to get going or they would be lost.