Jigen placed his beloved in Lupin's hand, holding it to his head. He looked Lupin straight in the eyes, his own dead with just a ghost of determination in them. Lupin could see it, even with the only light in the room being his cigarette and it disgusted him.

"If you're a real friend, you'll do it," he'd repeated it again.

"Jigen," he answered lowly, "Don't ask me to do this. Ever. This is one thing I can't help you with."

"If you're my friend, you'll do it."

"Then I guess I'm not your friend. I will never help you end your life."

"Doushite?" he asked in desperation.

Lupin smirked. "You haven't given me a good reason."

"You know damn well what reason I have!" Jigen snapped, shoving Lupin's arm down and storming off to his room, tears streaming down his disturbingly pale face.

Lupin rubbed his sore hand, hanging his head. "Kuso. Jigen, it's not your fault."

Lupin and Jigen panted against the wall, Goemon's head peeking out slightly to watch for danger. "You both go ahead, I will catch up later."

"No way!" Jigen growled. "These guys were meant for me. I'll take care of them myself."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jigen. You and Lupin are both injured. You will only make this harder."

"NANDA!?" Jigen lunged forward, but was held back by Lupin, making him wince. "Sou da yo, we can't do much in this condition."

Before he could say anymore, Goemon dashed out for the fight and Lupin was trying to drag him away from it.

By the time Jigen broke free, it was all over. The only people left were no longer among the living. This unfortunately applied to the person Jigen was looking for; laying so still on the dirty ground.

"Goemon!" he cried out in the small voice he could find, not even having the strength to lift him and instead settled for running his hands over the ebony hair that still sparkled in the sun. "It's not fair," he whispered to the lifeless face, the eyelashes he wish would reveal those glistening chocolate orbs, peacefully closed lips he only wanted to feel the warmth of on his own. If only he were just sleeping. "Gomen na, Goemon. Hontou ni gomennasai..."

He didn't know how long he'd silently wept, but when he woke up, Goemon was gone forever.

The next thing Jigen was aware of was being surrounded by absolute warmth. His head was pounding, and his bottom lip was bleeding from biting down on it too hard. He opened his eyes, despite not wanting to, and saw red. "Lupin," he whispered subconciously.

"Hai, Jigen-chan?"

Jigen kept his face burried in Lupin's embrace, ashamed of appearing weak in front of, well, anyone. "Why won't you do it?" And even more ashamed of the meek, pathetic squeak of a voice.

Lupin tightened his arms around Jigen. "Because you didn't do anything wrong. And I don't care how long it takes, I'll stay until you realize that."

Jigen pushed him away harshly, quickly turning his back. "But why? Why trouble yourself with something unnecessary?"

"Because I want to."

He whipped his head around, forgetting any kind of embarrassment to snap back, but was cut off by a hand over his mouth.

"Stop being such a baby," Lupin smiled. He removed his hand, replacing it with his lips, Jigen's words dying one again.

"And stop asking stupid questions."

"And you stop being such a nosy bastard," he countered with a slight smirk.

"You know me too well, Jigen-chan."

"Unfortunately."

Lupin grinned. "And it's all your fault."

"I know," he sighed in feign misery.

"Too late now, huh?"

"I guess so."

Lupin patted Jigen's head. "That's my Jigen-chan."