Next chapter's on the 18th of August.
There's shifting behind him, gravel skittering and crunching under heavy boots. Fai curses the dizziness and blood rushing through his head which had hid the sound from him because he knows exactly who it is without looking and he does not want to talk to him. He pushes himself further into the crumbling wall.
It is silent between them.
Fai refuses to be the one to break it even though he knows that it will get that man away from him sooner, stop him from staring at Fai and knowing- because he has to know- has to be able to see- the changes which have happened to him.
Fai doesn't care enough to stop the tears now as they stream silently down his cheeks.
If this man wants to make him live he'll have to live with seeing the pain he's inflicted.
Eventually Kurogane speaks.
"I know you used magic to help the princess." He says, voice gruff.
Fai can't help but laugh, the sound bitter and touched by hysteria as it bites at the sour air of this world.
"Now you're going to ask why I didn't heal her. Why I don't heal myself." The blonde states, words tasting sharp as his lips form a grin which is almost human.
The ninja is silent. Fai hears him readjust his footing and waits for him to leave him alone again. After half a minute Fai breaks.
"I can't heal people." He says darkly, "Only hurt."
The other man still doesn't speak.
"You saved someone useless." Fai spits, trying to emphasise his point to this stupid, stupid man.
The wind picks up and Fai hears whistling as it passes through the holes in the collapsing tower. Some grit on his left slips softly from the edge of the building, whispering as it does. Somewhere below them people are shouting and crying and trying to save Sakura's life and leg.
"You aren't useless." That man says patiently as if Fai is a child needing encouragement and not an adult fully aware of his worth.
Fai laughs again but says nothing.
"The princess needs you. The kid and the meatbun too." The red eyed man says, still standing behind Fai.
Fai turns finally, looking around his shelter and directly into the other man's eyes.
"And you? Why didn't you let me die?" He challenges, standing again, head tilted up.
Kurogane doesn't flinch.
"If you haven't figured that out yet maybe you really are an idiot." The dark haired man says before turning and leaving again. His hand trails against the frame of where there used to be a door as he ducks inside.
Fai doesn't stop him.