Black Butler is owned by Yana Toboso, this fanfiction is owned by me. Enjoy.

"Alan? Are you still awake?"

Alan forced his eyes open. "Y-yeah…" he mumbled tiredly, trying to sit up.

How ironic Alan's situation was. He, a shinigami whose job was to collect the souls of the dead now lay languishing in his bed of a terminal illness. The Thorns Of Death. The illness had completely drained him of his will to go on, not that he would for much longer anyway. Well, not completely, there was but one person he vowed he'd stay alive for, even if just a little longer. His Eric, dear sweet Eric, who'd stayed by his side since he first became a full-fledged shinigami.

Eric entered Alan's room, settling himself gently next to his lover, and putting his arm around him. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently, letting Alan rest his head on his shoulders.

"Exhausted," he rasped.

"You're always exhausted," Eric said grimly. "Maybe you should go back to sleep."

Alan tried to shuffle closer, but couldn`t find the strength to do so. "Eric, the thorns…they`re getting closer. I can feel them…" he stopped, hyperventilating as he felt the thorns squeeze his chest.

Eric held him closer, making sure not to hold him too tightly. "Sh, Alan, you`ll be alright," he whispered gently.

Alan had stopped hyperventilating and now had locked eyes with his lover. "No…That`s a lie."

"It's not," Eric whispered desperately in reply. "You're going to recover from this, I`ll make sure of it!"

"How can I recover from this?!" Alan rasped angrily, as he hadn't the strength to shout. "It`s the thorns of death, Eric! There`s no cure for it, and it`s getting worse, day by day…" He trailed off, his voice broken by shaking sobs.

"I`ll find a way," Eric replied desperately. "I will find a way to heal you, no matter what the cost. Please have a little faith in me."

Eric knew of a way, but it did involve a price. A price of 1000 souls, not on the to-die list. But what did it matter? Alan meant more to him than any soul on this earth. So let his scythe be stained with the blood of innocents, if was to save his dear Alan.

Another angst fic, this time for black butler! As always please review, and I`ll see you when I have another plot bunny attack! Bye~

-Kitty