She curled against him as the moon rose. They'd both filled their need for each other as well as they could, but there was so little time. Her body still ached for him, and seeing the look in his eyes, she could tell that he burned in the same way. Still, it was time.
Jigen sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He picked up his clothes and dressed swiftly, but his movements were forced. It took an enormous strength of will not to say 'fuck it', and leave Lupin to his own devices. But there was a job to be done.
He turned for one last look at Alexis, and nearly groaned aloud. The soft white sheet hugged her body, moulding itself to all the secret places that he'd so recently discovered. Now, he was not so certain that their inevitable parting wouldn't matter to him.
"I have to go," Jigen said, his voice heavy with regret. Alexis nodded, and he could see the pain in her eyes, feel the lingering need that still gripped her. His heart clenched, just like it had the first time she'd smiled at him. He leaned down to kiss her once more, and almost lost himself in the taste of her mouth.
She was stronger than he was; she knew what had to be done. Jigen felt the gentle pressure of her palm against his chest as she pushed him away. "Good luck, Daisuke," she said. She breathed two more words, and Jigen's heart nearly stopped. He touched a finger to her lips and took one last, long look at her.
"Arrivederci, mi amore," he said, and was rewarded with a smile. He kissed her forehead and left the villa as quickly as he could.
Alexis wrapped the sheet more tightly around her body and wandered out to the terrace. She looked down at the table and saw that Jigen had left his cigarettes. She picked up the pack and tapped one into her palm. The tears that fell from her eyes as she smoked were neither happy, nor sad. They just were.