Mello wasn't sure why he was trying to provoke Sephiroth again, but it was frustrating that it wasn't working. Maybe he thought he would do something stupid, like let him go... Except it seemed to be the opposite.

He grunted, the breath squeezed from his lungs, and bit his lip hard at the wave of pain not just from his injuries as Sephiroth practically crushed him against himself. "Let go," Mello gasped, barely able to breathe.