A/N: I think if Kuromyu 2 were any more awesome, the universe would about explode from it. All that aside, Alan and Eric are total yaoi-bait. And this is for PetiteFee24, who was my 50th reviewer and asked for Shinigami. Enjoy, dear! XD Warnings in place for spoilers and that fact that I had no idea what the hell they're saying most of the time. XD Written while listening to "30 Minutes" by t.A.T.u.

Summary: "…But I was born alone so that one day I could meet you."

30 Minutes

"Thirty minutes, the blink of an eye…Thirty minutes to alter our lives…"

The first time they met, it was a short meeting.

Eric had been lounging in the meeting room, feet up on the table, waiting for William. It was at least half an hour until the meeting, and no one was here yet, though he was certain that Grell was going to be late. The redheaded Shinigami was useless when it came to the more bureaucratic elements of soul-collecting. He was only interested in the actual reaping part. Word had it he was trying to get parts to modify his death scythe, even though that was against the rules.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't notice the door open. He caught sight of a young man with longer brunet hair that framed his face, wide-eyed in a familiar expression of nervousness. He must be new. All new recruits looked like that. This was probably his first real meeting.

"A-am I too early?" the young man stammered, looking at Eric as if ready to bolt. "I'm Alan Humphries; I'm new…"

Eric sighed. "Don't go around telling people that. Would I really have known if you hadn't said anything?" He had, of course, but no good killing the kid's confidence before he even had a chance. He swung his feet down, getting up and offering a hand to the younger. "I'm Eric Slingby. Don't be so jittery."

Alan took the offered hand, shaking it slowly. He stared at Eric with large eyes for a moment, before sitting down at the table. Eric took the seat next to him, returning to his casual pose. "So you're new… Has Will explained the rules yet?"

"Yes…" Alan replied. "I can't wait until I get to go on my first real mission. It will be amazing…"

Eric chuckled. "You know you can't go without a mentor, right? Someone has to make sure you don't mess up your first time out." He grinned at the younger boy, watching green eyes flash in annoyance.

"You'll see! I'll be an incredible Shinigami. Just wait."

Eric laughed again, but was distracted as Will came in, his ever-present binder in hand. Eric looked at the clock in confusion. Had it really been half an hour already? As he looked back at their newest Shinigami, he couldn't help but think that the kid was really interesting. He had that spark of childish idealism that not many Shinigami possessed, and it was somewhat endearing.

…Wait. Endearing?

Thankfully Eric was saved from his train of thought by William beginning the meeting. Grell, late as predicted, raced in ten minutes later, spouting some ridiculous excuse and earning only a smack in the head from William for his trouble. Eric barely noticed, as he spent most of the meeting watching Alan, a small smile on his face.

The kid was cute, if nothing else.

xXx

"Thirty minutes, to make up my mind… Thirty minutes, to finally decide…"

The day that Eric learned how badly Alan hurt, he made a decision.

"Alan, you can't keep lying to me!" he shouted, supporting the younger as he stumbled to sink down on a nearby staircase. They had been out on a routine mission when Alan had faltered, clutching his chest in pain. It wasn't the first time it had happened; Eric had been witness to this sort of weakness before. But he'd never gotten a satisfactory answer.

"I'm not lying…" Alan breathed. "I told you… It's a wound. I got hurt really bad… when I was younger, and it still… bothers me sometimes…" He flinched, taking a deep breath as another spike of pain shot through him. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation. After all, Shinigami didn't get sick. They just didn't…

Eric knelt to look his best friend in the eyes. "Alan, I've seen you with no shirt on. You don't have any scars or anything to indicate a wound that bad. You have to tell me the truth. I'm worried about you." He cared about the younger Shinigami far more than he would ever admit to anyone, even himself.

"I…" Alan looked away, looking down at the steps. "It's… It's a disease. I've had it for a long time. I'm not sure… how I got it…"

There was a moment of silence as Eric contemplated what he'd said. Shinigami didn't get sick like humans did. The only thing that he could think of… well, he didn't want to think of it. It was too horrible to consider. Because if it was the case… Alan was dying.

And then the younger boy spoke, and confirmed all of his worst fears. "It's called the 'Thorns of Death'."

His first reaction was to yell, to deny it, to berate the other for lying to him again. But he tamped down that urge, knowing in his heart that it wasn't a lie this time. Instead he stared at his friend, whom he had come to care for more than anyone else, and said only, "How long?"

"I don't know." Alan whispered. "But I can't let it stop me. I don't want anyone else to know. I only told you because you're my best friend."

"Alan…" Eric could only stare at him helplessly. His best friend was dying, and he couldn't do anything… He reached out to squeeze Alan's hand, promising quietly, "I will find a way to help you. I swear I will."

Alan smiled, squeezing his hand in return, but it was obvious he didn't believe him. There was no real cure. Only wishful thinking. But if Eric wanted to believe that, he wasn't going to stop him. He cared for his mentor, his best friend, far too much to crush his hopes like that.

xXx

"Thirty minutes, to whisper your name… Thirty minutes, to shoulder the blame…"

The day that they fought, Eric knew it would be worth it in the end.

Even if he was hated, even if they never forgave him what he was doing, his best friend would live. That was all that mattered. Alan meant the world to him. He stared at the Viscount of Druitt, a foolish human, but one that would serve his purpose, his eyes filled only with disdain for the man's senseless cruelty. "Alan…" he whispered. "I would commit any sin if I could only take your pain away. And if that proved impossible, I would only ask to share it." He ignored the Viscount's babbling in the background. The opera would be the perfect place for his finale.

There was a legend that collecting one thousand pure souls could cure the Thorns of Death. His place in the Shinigami Dispatch Society, the respect of his former co-workers… it was a small price to pay to see his best friend safe and whole and healthy. This opera would give him the remaining souls he needed, so long as the little earl, his pet demon, and the other Shinigami stayed out of it.

Alan had said he wanted to be someone's light. What he didn't realize was that he was Eric's light, the only light that the older Shinigami would ever want. The thought of losing him was too painful. He supposed it was love, however ridiculous that sounded. He loved the other, enough to give up everything for him.

I was born alone, and now I have you. I will not allow that to be taken from me.

Tonight was the opera where everything would end. One thousand souls, and a cure.

xXx

"Thirty minutes of bliss, thirty lies... Thirty minutes, to finally decide…"

When he explained everything, he hadn't expected Alan to forgive him.

Alan had confronted him, through the pain of his worsening illness, about the deaths he had been causing. After enough pressure, and too long of holding everything inside, he had snapped, telling the younger everything. He had done it all for him. All to ensure that he could keep living. Being a Shinigami didn't make you any less afraid of death, whether you were the one dying or not. He was afraid for his best friend, for the one person he might actually love.

"Eric…" Alan murmured, staring at him in complete astonishment. "You…"

"I was born alone…" Eric said, staring at him. "All alone. But I was born alone so that one day I could meet you. I don't want to lose you."

Alan smiled faintly, then reached up, taking off his glasses. "You won't lose me. But you have to promise me… promise me that you won't kill anyone else." He set the glasses aside, well aware of the implications.

"I… I promise." Eric slowly took off his glasses as well, setting them beside Alan's. The younger Shinigami smiled, his green eyes bright.

"Thank you…"

xXx

Thirty minutes, to be with a friend… Thirty minutes, 'til we meet our end…

When he broke his promise, he hadn't expected such a consequence.

Seeing the demon mocking him, mocking his efforts to save his friend while serving his little child master in a pretty lie… It made him sick. This little boy was pathetic, giving his soul to a demon. Well, if he was so willing to give something so precious away, he could give it to a better cause than a hungry demon's stomach. Obviously if Sebastian Michaelis guarded him so devotedly, he must be a pure soul indeed.

But in attempting to take that soul to save his friend, he had broken his promise, and Alan had thrown himself in the way to save the child. And so he was left with nothing but useless souls and the memory of the friend he had failed to save. He had nothing. No place with the Shinigami, and nowhere to go in the world. It was a small price to pay, asking the demon to kill him.

At least…

…At least…

I will see Alan again…