The boy is breaking.

Neah knows this with a certainty. It takes him a step closer to his own plans, and the simple thought sends a rush of anticipation through him, causing the body to shudder despite the warm air. It has taken so long to progress to this point. To be so close to this step feels unreal, but the proof is before him.

Seeing as how he exists in the subconsciousness of the boy's mind, he is privy to the louder thoughts and dreams. He knows the general feelings the boy has about his friends and enemies. He knows what the boy fears the most. And on rare occasions, he can actually hear the thoughts unfolding. Even now he can hear it, the shaky thoughts that cause hairline cracks in the rest of the mind.

He should be happy.

But he isn't.

It's hard to watch. This is one of his oldest and dearest friends after all (even if the boy doesn't remember that), and losing that is like losing a piece of himself. But worse, so much worse, it's hard to see the reason the boy is breaking. The boy has nightmares of Mana. Silly, stupid, precious Mana, in a clown suit or turned into an Akuma, always saying haunting words. I curse you, Allen! I hate you! How dare you!

I hate you.

I hate you.

I hate you.

It haunts and infects. That's what causes the boy to break. Mana is making him break. The boy is that devoted to his brother's memory. Mana has always been Neah's soft spot. Perhaps it's seeing how deeply the boy feels for that same person that makes it hurt so much? It's confusing, and for the life of him Neah can't understand. But it hurts.

And so, stupid as it is, he tells himself that his plans can wait a little longer. He begins to whisper to the boy's mind; he already knows these whispers could easily have no effect, they are too weak to do anything, but they can sometimes make suggestions…

He loved you. Mana loved you, he whispers.

He keeps whispering until the boy wakes up and sits up in bed. The boy looks blankly at his hands and ponders the suggestions in his mind. He is a little relieved, but not happy. Maybe content. Never really happy anymore.

Neah doesn't know Mana's true feelings by any means, but he can't let the boy break like this. Not like this.

This was supposed to be longer. Better too. And the most recent chapter might've just screwed with any truth this little story might've had. But I had it finished and wanted to post anyway. XD