Somehow, the metallic tang of blood in his mouth feels more believable than the chilling pain in his torso. That, at least, is familiar, unlike the shock of seeing himself impaled on a comrade's blade.

"You―"

He's choked off by a mouthful of blood that he spits off to the side, wet and messy, and when he turns back, there's a hardness in his eyes that was missing up until this moment. He's dreaming, he knows that for certain now. Even though he knows Kanda stabbed him back home, he has never once believed that the other Exorcist did it willingly.

Closing his claw around Mugen, he yanks it out of himself before shoving Kanda away, hissing in pain through gritted teeth.

"Rhode!?"