Dinnertime, again, found Hibari absently looking at the green cup of Jello on his tray. Slowly, he let his feet touch the floor before he grabbed it then crossed the space to her bed.

"Maybe this will stay down." he shoved it at her and tried to ignore her eyes. Her fingers were cold when they brushed his.

"Thank you." She sat up, reaching for the spoon on her untouched tray. He watched as she dug out a small piece then put it in her mouth. They stared at each other after she'd swallowed, waiting.

"Huh." She murmured then took another small bite.

"Does it hurt?" Hibari was surprised when the question slipped out of his mouth. Those eyes contemplated him again, the spoon reappearing slowly from between her lips.

"What? The cancer? Yes. Knowing that I won't live to see next week? Yes. Having to rely on a stranger to stave off the terror? Yes. Actually dying?" her mouth twisted, "I doubt it will." His heart thumped in his chest.

"Do you have anything to regret?" he asked softly.

"No. I haven't lived long enough to have something really eat at me." she gestured to him, "What about you?" Hibari's lips thinned.

"I'm not dying."

"You don't have to be dying to regret something." Her eyes studied him, "Somehow I bet you do." He turned away.

I regret nothing.

Then why did he find that he doubted himself?

The moonlight threw the shadow of his sitting form onto the white tiles as he looked over at her bed. She always got worse at night. Her chattering teeth and rattling breath filled the space in his head. He'd never thought about dying until now. It'd always been for those that were old or weak but she was neither. She was the same age as he and even though the disease had eaten her down to the bone, it couldn't make a dent in the quiet strength in her eyes. She was ready to face her death calmly and with what dignity she had. She would not fight. She would not beg. She would not cry. She would go peacefully into the darkness. How would he go if he were in her shoes?

Something was wrong. Hibari could sense a heaviness in the air as he watched her pant for each breath. She refused the oxygen the nurses offered and he saw how her hands clutched at the white sheets like maybe they could keep her there. Setting aside his breakfast tray, Hibari walked over to sit at the foot of her bed. Her eyes were black with fear.

"I do regret something." he said, looking away. His heart was speeding up, why? Her gaze locked onto him, "I wish I were more comfortable letting someone get close." She attempted to smile.

"You don't want to end up alone like me." Hibari shook his head.

"I want to face death with no fear like you." A wheezy laugh forced its way out and brought along a coughing fit. The napkin she used to cover her mouth was stained crimson when she finally pulled it away, a smear of red lingering around her pale lips.

"No fear? I'm terrified. This is it." Her eyes slammed shut as she curled in on herself, tears dripping down her face. Unsure, he slowly reached out a hand and placed it on her bowed head.

"I don't want to die." she cried and Hibari stared at the small, weak creature before him. She'd said no regrets...

"I won't let you go alone." he whispered.

"Do you enjoy school?" The girl asked lying her head on her drawn up knees. Hibari's foot swung lazily as he absently smoothed the wrinkles from the leg of his pajamas.

"I do."

"That guy that visited you is one of your friends? Do you have lots?" His eyes slid over to hers.

"No." Her pale brow furrowed slightly.

"No he isn't your friend or no you don't have lots?"

"Both." She gazed at him quietly and somehow it seemed she was reading his soul with those death darkened eyes. It made him uncomfortable but he refused to flinch.

"I understand." she said finally and one of his brows raised in question.

"Your regret." her thin lips curved sadly, "You can't trust people. Why?"

"I don't know. I never have." More gazing on her part.

"Do you trust me?" Hibari breathed deeply. Did he?

"Yeah."

"Why?" The corner of his mouth lifted. Yes, why? Why did he trust this girl who was heartbeats from the grave?

"I don't know." Because you can see right through me. Because I don't have to wear my mask with you. Because you've awed me.They sat together in silence.

"I always wanted to go to school." He looked at her staring off in thought.

"Why?"

"Because I love to learn but after the last guardian died I was forgotten by the foster system. I don't know why. It was like I was invisible. I didn't have the money to stay anywhere so I couldn't really go to school even though I loved it. I would have been teased for being dirty and I couldn't stand the thought. I stopped going and ended up on the street." A sigh slipped past her lips, "That's my regret."

"I thought you didn't have any."

"I lied." Hibari smiled to himself and she smiled back when she noticed.

"Will you teach me something?" she asked, "Something that you love?" He looked down at his calloused fingers splayed on the black silk of his pajama bottoms. There were only two things that he loved.

"I'll teach you a song..." Hibari whispered and she closed her eyes when he started to sing.

He could see the strength draining out of her as the sun started to set. The pillows her thin frame rested again slowly began to engulf her before his eyes. She was going and, selfishly, he reached for her. Her protests were weak when he slid up next to her, their hips bumping as he pulled her close.

"Just let me do this." he growled and she gave up, her head resting on his chest. Silence filled the room but for her breathing and Hibari tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. What am I doing? Her hand slid up his chest to curl over the curve of his shoulder. He looked down to see her gazing up.

"Don't leave please."

"I won't." His fingers threaded through the hair at the back of her head as he held her close. He could feel her heart fluttering against his ribs and his throat tightened. Such an odd feeling, "Go to sleep." She closed her eyes and he counted each one of her breaths until he drifted into darkness.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the nurse at the foot of the bed. Her tears glittered in the morning sun and slowly, Hibari became aware of the cold, limp fingers curled around the back of his neck. Slowly, his eyes drifted down to the girl wrapped in his arms, her face serene. The silence of the room seemed unnatural after days of her filling it with her quiet existence.

"Thank you for easing her suffering, Hibari-sama." The woman choked, a hand going to her mouth. Hibari could only nod as he stared at the dark eyes that would never open again.

"What was her name?" The nurse seemed a little surprised.

"We don't know. She wouldn't tell us."