This is what I brought you.

This you can keep.

This is what I brought.

You may forget me.

I promise to depart just promise one thin. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

He never hesitated, not for a moment. He was fearless, bellowing thru ranks of opposition at such reckless speed; yet somehow keeping an almost otherworldly grace intertwined with his motions. If it were any other man- Kambei would deem him reckless- but there was an elegance and intelligence in Kyuzo's ballet, an elegance that dared you to underestimate him.

"I think I'm in love."

A joke, made in what was possibly the sloppiest strategy the rugged samurai had created in decades. But it had worked. There was no way the veteran could have understood the emotions which raged after that battle. 'Love' was not a word the pale devil herd often- if at all- and to be flattered by such a talented man as Kambei himself- was it any wonder the blond developed a slight obsession?

He admired him; his skills- his values, the way he could express just the right amount of emotion the occasion called for. He respected him; the living 'relic' that fought beside him, still as honorable, still as nobel as the samurai's of old had been. You could see it in his eyes, toughs deep ices carved from stone, you could see the experience, the hear ach- the soul of a true samurai.

He loved him.

This is what I brought you.

This you can keep.

This is what I brought.

You may forget me.

I promise you my heart just promise to sing. Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

'No one can kill you but me.'

When had he realized it, the extent of his attention towards the rugged relic? When had he really felt it, really known it deep in his tainted soul? It was the day he was to be executed, the day he was to die. Three days seemed like three decades; each hour made him want to scream. He could die- he would never see that man again, never fight beside him, and never fight against him- never have the chance to touch him, to give in to the emotions thought locked away.

He lived.

Crafty as he was, the old man lived, though Kyuzo would have jumped in on queue should he given even the slightest sign of downfall. He would live and they would fight, side by side. Kambei for his virtue, Kyuzo for Kambei- each slice, each death blow, each prefect, graceful cut delivered for that which he admired so. He was happy, happy to be beside his samurai- even if his mask lent otherwise. He could speak with the man, and know he was understood. In just a brief statement, Kambei understood him more than anyone. Was it because of the battles they had fought in the past? Had they both been thru such tragedy- seen such slaughter on the fields of war, that the relic new him so well? Or was it…

Jealousy; sudden anger, in the glass sheath of a foreign emotion- Kyuzo had never been jealous before. Until Kirara. It was obvious by the way the priestess cared on that she cared deeply for the man. She loved him, perhaps, in a similar way as Kyuzo did. It ate away at him, the way the two exchanged such looks- it tore him apart, until he thought of Kambei. If that girl could be his comfort, if the water maiden could bring him joy…it was better that way.

He would have Kambei on the battle field- and she would have him in bed. Envy's venom laced into his mouth, making him want to gag as the serpent struck another blow. And so he stood there, facing the barren dessert around them, looking out from the small hill of sand, fighting perhaps the most difficult battle he had ever had in his life, before suffering the most heart wrenching loss.

Kambei would never be his, he had to except it, and if Kirara could make the man happy- make what Kyuzo admired so much gain some sparkle, it would be fine with him. All forKambei- anything for Kambei, even…

…his life.

Never…never had he thought he would die this way, not at the hands of an adversary- but at the hands of a rookie kid, a scared chilled who was still to fresh on the field to cope with death and blood. Never…never…not like this… but at the time, at the time- what had he been doing? Scattered images slowly refocused in his mind, pulling the peaces' back together with the help of his fading mind.

Kambei.

Kambei…he had been running to Kambei- to protect Kambei, to kill that foul serpent who held a gun at the mans head. He had ran, the boy had fired, his student- the fifth. His entire body froze, filling with cold lead- eyes wide from impact. 'Kambei…' it was ok, to die for him, he could live- or die- with that. He would die protecting the thing most dear to him…he had been killed by someone who had protected the thing he loved.

Warm hands, gloved hands- full of sweat and blood from battle now held his limp body in place. Kambei was holding him…Kambei had cried out his name…Kambei…Kambei…

"Hurry up…and finish the job…" he was looking at him, holding him…was he worried? Why was he looking at him like that…like he was- oh right…he was dieing. Blood was dripping from his mouth…pouring from his side- a red so deep and crimson as his clothing- and Kyuzo's eyes seemed to soften. "…don't forget…our battle…" he was losing his voice; something cold and tangy was filling his throat. And then, he saw it. A brief look, was it pity? Kambei- had Kambei realized how deeply he felt for him- now of all times, as he lay on deaths door? It was not pity, not hate- but morning. Deep, heartfelt sorrow the knowledge of knowing someone precious was going to be taken from him- and he answered "I haven't forgotten." A smile, so brief- put so pure, Kyuzo's last bits of strength shifted into the slight movement of his head and the words being drowned by the blood clogging his lungs "At the village…I'll be waiting…" and he passed, lying in the arms of the one he loved.

He would never see Kambei cringe as the blonds pale frame became a dead weight in his grasp- never feel the gracious affection Kambei placed upon him; sliding his dulled eyes shut…and he would never hear the words- the promise and return of feelings unspoken "I shall be heading there soon…wait for me in the after life."

He would never now, just how he cared- waiting eternally- as he lay in sleep.

This is what I thought, thought you'd need me this is what I thought so think me naïve.

I'd promise you a heart you'd promise to keep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.