Aya: Hi everyone! I feel good today, I got three stories done!

Kurogane: You could have done more...

Aya: Meanie. Just admit it, you want me to write more stories with you and Fai!

Kurogane: NO I DON'T!!

Aya: This story takes place after the Celes arc. This prompt for this fic is suicide.

"Kuro-sama?"

"…what?"

"Do you ever think about death?"

Kurogane sat up and stared at the blond man lying next to him. "What?"

"I asked if you ever thought about death. Aren't ninjas supposed to have good hearing?" Fai teased lightly.

"I heard you you idiot. I mean what the hell are you asking me this for?" he said gruffly. Fai smiled and took a larger hand in his own, stroking it gently. "I was just wondering. We've seen a lot of it lately; I almost died myself, so I wanted to know if you ever thought of it."

He snorted and laid back down and Fai snuggled in closer. "Of course. Whenever a comrade would die I thought of it. But I don't care; death isn't something new to me."

"You're lucky Kuro-pon," Fai smiled into his chest and sighed. "Not caring about such things."

"…do you?" he asked reluctantly.

The blond was quiet for a few moments before he gave a small "Yes."

He growled again and turned to look at the other. "Why?" he demanded. "Why the hell are you thinking of that?"

"When I was younger I wanted nothing more to die. Death would the only safe haven I could go to," Fai said softly. "I couldn't stand going on the way I was. Everyday I would plan a new way to kill myself."

"Suicide?" Kurogane hissed furiously.

"Things got a bit better than that for a while. Then after a period of time when I grew up I thought about it again. About how easy it would be, how no one would care, how I wouldn't care. Even during our travels I thought about it. I was close to doing so in Outo Country."

"How can you talk about this so casually?" The ninja demanded through gritted teeth. "How can you tell me you almost killed yourself? Tell me you bastard!"

"I think," Fai started with a sad smile, "It's because I've kept it in too long. Other things I can hold in, but I suppose not this. Kuro-wan says he cares for me so I thought I would tell him. If Kuro-pipi decides that he is disgusted by me now I wouldn't blame him. He could leave and I would understand."

"Idiot," he growled, wrapping his arms around the other tightly. "I'm not going to leave you, stop thinking that. I don't give a damn about your past, all I care about is the present you."

Fai was silent for a while, gripping the sleeves of Kurogane's shirt tightly, eye shut just so. Then he sighed. "They told me that my mother committed suicide," he whispered. Kurogane stayed silent knowing that this was hard on the other man. "After she gave birth to me. I thought that if she did so, because of me, then it would be a fitting way to die. She took her life so I should give up my own."

"You're wrong."

"Hmm?" Fai looked up, his one gold eye curious.

"I said you're wrong. Giving up your life wouldn't have brought her back. It would have been pointless."

"But still…"

"I don't give a damn alright? You're here with me now and there's no way I would let you do something that stupid. Do you know what I would have to put up with if you killed yourself? Those brats and the manjuu would be too sad for me to handle. So no dying around here, got that?" Kurogane commanded forcefully, daring the blond to say otherwise.

Fai blinked, a slow smile appearing on his face. "Kuro-myuu is such good daddy! He loves mommy and his kids so much!" He wrapped his arms around the ninja's waist and snuggled closer, if possible. "Don't worry Daddy; I won't do anything to make you sad."

"The kids'll be sad, not me!"

"Whatever you say Daddy."

"Bastard."

Aya: Whoo!

Kurogane: At least the idiot didn't kill himself.