Jade sounds so sure of himself. That he's going to succeed and that nothing bad is ever going to happen. Shinjirou almost believes him. Weariness settles over him heavy as a boulder. He could sleep now, with Jade beside him.

He laughs. "How?" New marks left by his own nails paint five red lines on each leg.

"How would you stop it?" Me, should have said me, he thinks. Anger boils in his stomach. If it were that easy, Aki would have done something. She would still be alive. Tasting bile, he sits up straight. "You don't know what you're talking about."