Fai was wrapped up in a ball on the futon mattress asleep. His breathing was heaving and his fists were clenched. It was clear that he was having a nightmare. As Kurogane walked past the room he peaked in to see if Fai was awake. Seeing his bizarre position Kuro walked in to see if Fai was ok. Fai had been acting strange since they arrived, not that Kuro could blame him considering where they had left. As Kuro leaned over to look at Fai face, he saw his face was scrunched up into an expression of absolute pain.

"Fai…" Kuro leaned down and touched Fai on the shoulder. Fai bolted over onto his back and gasped.

"Kuro!" He gasped in his name and he grabbed Kuro's good shoulder. Kuro looked wide-eyed at him as he caught his breath. Fai looked at him and then around the room. He let go of Fai's shoulder and tried to smile. He was going to put on his faux face and laugh it off. Kuro's look of surprise swiftly changed to disgust and he looked away.

"Hyuu…" Fai said sitting up. "Apparently I…"

"Don't" Kuro interrupted him, "just….don't." He turned away with a stern look.

"Ku…Kuro…" Fai reached up and grabbed his sleeve.

"I'm not doing this anymore…" Kuro tuned as he stood.

"Wha…I…" Fai's expression was pained. He knew what Kuro was referring to but he didn't know why.

"I'm not…." Kuro sighed with his back to Fai. He turned his head as his face dropped to a pleading expression, "haven't I done enough yet? That wasn't enough?" He motioned behind him as if the past lay just outside the door.

Fai looked at him in shock. He griped the futon cover. He looked down at his knees. "What…do you….want….from me?" The forced out the words. All he wanted to do was cry. This is what's best for both of us. He thought. But he couldn't look at Kuro.

Kuro looked back at him in shock. It was so easy to rage against the walls of Fai's defenses. He could yell and scream at that wall all he wanted without a hint of hesitation. But without fail he was completely caught off guard by the man behind it. He sighed. "I just….I just want you to stop pushing me away. I'm not going anywhere. If…if I was going to leave you behind I would have done it in Celes." He knelt down to look at Fai.

Fai's eyes wouldn't let go of the his knees. He couldn't look up at Kuro. "What…do you….want….from me?" Fai repeated clenching his fists harder into the futon cover. He was trying so hard to hold on to his defenses. He could feel his breath becoming shallower. He couldn't hold on to his guise for much longer.

Kuro just stared at him. He knew Fai was slowly wearing down. Fai's hands shook as he clenched his teeth in an effort to keep his emotions in. Kuro would wait till Fai reached his breaking point.

It didn't take long. With one swift gasp Fai pulled his head up and yelled at Kuro, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!"

Kuro was taken aback. After the second it took to recover from the shock of Fai's outburst Kuro shook his head. "I just want you to let me in. I just want you to let me hold you." The last sentence came out without Kuro's approval. Both of their faces reflected their shock at Kuro's statement. Fai's face quickly morphed into a repressed sob as he looked at Kuro in panic. He knew that if Kuro so much as touched him it would all be over and he would be reduced to a blithering mess. But as Kuro's hand reached out towards the back of Fai's head he could see that was unavoidable and he leaned into Kuro.

Kuro reached his good arm back around and folded it up into his hair. His mechanical arm reached around his back and pulled him close. Fai broke into short hysterical sobs and he reached around Kuro's back and gripped his shirt with a vengeance. They both stood on their knees as Kuro held Fai firm against his chest to keep him from shaking as he sobbed.