((Just wanted to let you know starting tomorrow---my tomorrow, probably your evening or past midnight or something (can't remember how many hours of difference we are)---I'm returning to school and shall thus be busier. Posts might be infrequent, depending on how much of a load is pressed on me. Thought I'd warn you in advance (sorta; this is kinda short notice, I know) so you wouldn't worry if I disappeared.))


Thane found it amusing that Rei would treat his second wake-up as if it were his first. The greeting he met was returned with a smile and a quiet, "Good morning, Rei." He watched as the man pushed back and looked considerably better than before. Perhaps that short rest was all that Rei needed to get back on his feet again.

He seemed chipper enough to walk around without looking like he was about to collapse the second he took a step forward. Thane was glad for that and could relax in full now that Rei was back to his old self---or at least to the "self" that Thane had come to know these past number of days.

At the question passed to him, he nodded. "Yes," he replied. He wouldn't mind eating with Rei if that was what he wanted. There was no harm in eating even if he didn't need to, and the opportunity of spending quality, friendly time with Rei was always welcomed. "I can certainly eat it with you." He got up and moved to sit by Rei to share the meal.

(Okay... I can cope with that.)

"Excellent! You'll love this, I promise!" smiled Rei happily before getting another plate for Thane and slicing a big portion of lasagna for the other man. "It's my first time cooking it but I think it turned out fairly well. I even added some ingredients to make it much tastier." told Rei before handing the plate to Thane.

Rei went towards the fridge to get a container of water and a couple of glasses. He then sat down on his side of the table and poured some water for both of them. He looked at Thane for a moment before averting his eyes to his own plate.

"Thane... Can I ask something from you?" asked Rei before jabbing his fork into his lasagna and tossing it around his plate. "When you've finished learning how to be a human for me... Can you bring me back from being dead?" asked Rei. There was an eerie silence that enveloped between Rei and Thane as the man lowered his head. "It's a stupid request, I know but... But I..." uttered Rei. "I don't think I can be happy again anymore..." he sobbed lowly.

Thane nodded and proceeded to eat, sampling at first, then truly swallowing it down as a normal, hungry person would. It did taste rather unique, this lasagna. And by unique he meant it in a good way. He couldn't quite tell what was in it, but the combination was dazzling enough, were Thane human, he would certainly have appreciated it on a deeper level.

Yet he had to pause in eating when he heard Rei speak. Looking at the man, Thane didn't say anything at first. He just stared quietly at him, a little caught off guard by the request. ...Didn't Rei like living? Wasn't that why he asked to be brought back to life? Did Rei himself say he enjoyed life again?

But now, he was asking Thane to take him? Or rather, take his soul back?

"...Are you sure about that?" Thane asked, slowly setting down his fork to look at the man. "Perhaps it is ironic to hear me say this, but there are plenty of opportunities, Rei. Plenty of things or people out there that can make you happy again, and make you want to continue your life. Don't you want to find it? You would give up life so easily?"

"I don't want to try anymore..." sobbed Rei. "I'm scared Thane! Yes I'm a coward! I always will be!" said Rei forcefully before hanging his head low. "I know that there's still hope. I know that there's still a chance for me to attain true happiness... But, I'm scared to try again." said Rei.

He then placed his head on the table against his arms and his body was wracked with small sobs.

"I thought I knew how to love. I thought that I was making Aubrey very happy. I thought that we would be perfect for each other and that nothing would go wrong... But, just look at what happened..." said Rei. "Everything fell out a place. Everything I thought I knew was proven wrong." uttered Rei. "That's why... I want to be sure this time." said Rei before lifting his head.

He looked at Thane's crimson eyes before speaking up.

"I've been destined to die in that day right? There won't be any problem if I decided to accept my fate, right?" asked Rei.

Seeing Rei like this, Thane was at a lost as to what to do in response. He could only stare and watch as Rei broke down. There were too many words in the dictionary and not a one of them could properly describe what he felt as he witnessed the man before him once more spiral down into depression and harbour a sense of self worthlessness.

He thought to disagree with Rei's statements, and say not all was lost. He could find someone who would treat him right. Thane could ask Eros to point out someone who would be compatible for Rei and be able to draw this man out of his depression. ...But then Thane considered what he just thought. He actually considered bending even more rules for this man.

He must've been insane.

Looking back to meet that watery gaze that stared right back at him, Thane gave a small nod. Rei was supposed to have died then. He was supposed to be in his resting place already. Thane had broken a law to satisfy himself and now woke in this man who would've surely gone to Paradise a wretched emotion that would drag him down and taint his soul.

Such interferences and changes in Fated events weren't supposed to happen. So he much abide by the rules now.

"Then I shall personally escort you to your resting place, Rei. When this is over, your time on the mortal plane will be done. Or... if you would prefer to do it now, I can arrange that," he said. If that was what Rei wanted, then as a friend, as well as Death itself doing its duty, he would grant his wish.

"No... Not yet..." said Rei as he wiped away the tears under his glasses and resumed a more neutral expression. "I made a promise to you Thane. A promise that I will not break despite what I'm feeling right now." told Rei before displaying a soft smile in his face. "Until then, I'll hold on..." he said before breaking off a piece of his dish and placing it in his mouth.

He maybe a coward like he stated before but he was certainly a man of his words. Thane had went to the lengths of bending the natural order of things so that he could live and he still needed to repay that kindness before he said farewell to this world whom he considers cruel. He needed to hold just a little bit longer before surrendering himself to his fate, or rather the fate that already happened but was just bended through strange circumstances. Pushing the thoughts back, Rei looked up at Thane.

"So how is it? Do you like it Thane?" asked Rei.

Thane nodded in response. If Rei wasn't ready, he wouldn't force it. He didn't have to remain here on the mortal plane for him, but the thought was kind nonetheless. He appreciated it. And felt somewhat unworthy of the attention and care.

In returning quiet, Death continued to eat, picking up his fork again and pushing the lasagna into his mouth. When Rei spoke again, asking his opinion of the food, Thane gave a smile. "It's very delicious." Too bad Aubrey wasn't able to at least sample the food. It really did taste good. But then again, considering how she treated Rei, she didn't deserve even that.

Nevermind her. She was going to die soon anyway. It would be another thing to regret missing out on when she finally saw to her end.

Thane paused in his thoughts when he recognized that his mind had turned a little dark in nature. His words were laced with contempt and... pride that shouldn't have been there to being with. It was strange. Really strange.

He finished eating and set his fork down one last time. Perhaps he should be a more careful with his thoughts from now on. These raging emotions were alarming and he wasn't sure what to think about them as they invaded his person and character.

"Excuse me," he said as he stood up and took his plate to the sink. As he stood in the kitchen, contemplating if he should make an attempt at washing the dishes, a thought came to him. "...Rei? Tomorrow afternoon I will have to attend to some business. This won't bother you too much, will it?"

Rei smiled after hearing Thane's compliment to his dish. At least there was something to be happy for on such a dreary day. It was really strange... Someone whom he thought would be loyal and kind to him would end up betraying him but someone whom he thought would be cold and unfeeling was the one who was actually making him feel better today. Life was full of infinite irony.

But then, Thane raised something to Rei. He couldn't see the reason why he was asking permission to go about his business. For all he knew, Rei had no say on when Thane wanted to go about his business. Still, since the man had asked of his permission, he needed a response nonetheless.

"Of course Thane. Don't let me stop you from doing your job." replied Rei.

Rei suddenly felt something brushing up against his leg. It was none other than Thane's feline companion. Rei chuckled and picked up Noir from the floor.

"Hey Noir! Are you thirsty?" asked Rei. He went towards the fridge and got a carton of milk out and the cat seemed to be ecstatic about it. Rei poured some milk on a shallow bowl and let Noir lap it down on the kitchen counter.

Hearing Rei's answer, Thane found that it was probably a little silly for him to ask if the other man would mind. Yet he had wanted to make sure that Rei wouldn't be too upset that he would take off. As it were, Thane could very well do the job without leaving Rei's side. However, rather than let his other forms---even if they were still him---do it, he wanted to do it himself.

He wanted to do it and witness it with his own eyes. And touch with his own hands. And deliver the final sentence.

An ugly feeling had nestled inside him, and it a little scary to recognize. However, Thane ignored the weird tumbling in his gut to favor the anticipation for the moment instead.

But that was for later. He would hold back his emotions for now, until the time came to let them loose. Glancing over at Rei, he came near him again and asked, "Since you will not be going to work today, what will you do instead?" It was best he change strings of thoughts before he became too obsessed with tomorrow afternoon.

"I'll probably keep Noir company here." smiled Rei. "Oh, and maybe catch up on some house cleaning. I haven't done it for a while now." chuckled Rei.

He cleaned up the table after he and Thane were done with their meal. He stowed the plates and silverware on the sink before picking up Noir's feeding plate and placing it on the pile of porcelain as well. He then broke out a sponge and some dishwashing liquid before working on the dirty dishes.

Once those were out of the way, he headed to the living room and decided to spend the rest of the day with teaching Thane. He settled down on the couch and switched on the tube before gesturing Thane to come.

"Let's not waste a day of potential learning, shall we?" he chuckled.

One the other man had joined him, he flipped through the channels to see if there were any good programs for him to use as a teaching medium. Rei suddenly came upon a movie channel where a familiar movie was being shown.

"This is..." he uttered.

It was the movie he and Aubrey saw on their first date...

Thane nodded in agreement to the suggestion and sat by Rei as they watched television. Television always was a good source for learning, or so he thought. He had yet to be proven wrong. He was kinda looking forward to seeing what else was on that would be new and interesting for him to learn.

Yet that anticipation crumbled a little when he glanced at Rei when they stopped on what seemed to be a "movie." He saw his expression and found it somewhat sad. There was something about Rei's expression that seemed as though he was remembering something from his past that wasn't exactly all that pleasant to remember in the first place.

Reaching over, Thane pressed the button of the remote and changed it to a different channel. He looked back a the television, his hand poised over the remote that was still in Rei's hand, and looked for something else to watch. Something that wouldn't make Rei look like that. Thane almost thought he was going to cry again, he wasn't sure.

He found one that was showing some man wandering around what looked to be a marketplace, explaining different foods and "ingredients" for certain dishes. There were notes about the culture too. Was this a food channel? Or traveling channel? Whatever the case, Thane found it safer to look at than that movie channel. So long as it didn't upset Rei.

"No wait..." said Rei before switching back the channel to where the movie was being shown. "I want to watch this. I have good memories of these movie." smiled Rei.

The channel flicked back to the romantic movie that had flashed on the screen. It was a classic, so to say. It was about two totally different teens who had happened to meet by chance. A warm relationship slowly develops between the two but their relationship was repeatedly challenges that plagued their lives. One of which was a detrimental sickness that threatens to doom the girl. Still, the two of them fought on until the end.

"I always adored this movie. It's a story that wants to point out that love prevails over everything." told Rei as the movie continued. "That everyone deserves a chance to find true happiness. That no one in the world deserves to be lonely." he continued.

An argument between the pair ensued concerning that girl's health and that she won't be suited to be a partner for the man.

"See? The man really loves her so he refuses to give up on her, even though he knows how things will turn out on the end." told Rei.

...Humans really did have odd fantasies. Even if Thane understood where this idea came from, he couldn't agree. He knew the real mark of Love. That man was just as cruel as he was kind. Eros didn't discriminate, he treated all persons equally, and with his talents they received the same hospitality. If one could call it that.

Just like how Thane himself treated every death the same. Though... for a certain person, he had the strange and uncommon notion to make an exception. It was dangerous, but he wasn't really doing much to stop it. It was fated anyway; he was simply adding a personal touch this time around, that's all.

Making a small, vague noise of acknowledgment to what Rei said, Thane stared blankly at the screen. He learned, but that didn't change his opinion. And this exception would stay because of that.

"Do humans really believe that?" he asked.

"Some of us do..." replied Rei. "I d-- used to... " added Rei in a short sad tone.

Ever since everything he knew about love were unproven and wiped in his face, he had been a little dubious of the idea. He knew it was real, somehow... His heart just had a hard time accepting it after all the pain that it went through. One could say that he had a rude awakening to reality.

"But then... There's reality... Always slamming things in your face. Always yelling at you that such fantasies are better left to the movies." he sighed. "But somewhere... Somewhere in me... I still believe in it. I just couldn't let the idea go." told Rei.

The climax of the movie soon rolled where the girl was on her deathbed, speaking to her lover. Confessions were made between them and Rei couldn't stop his tears from falling due to the sheer amount of passion in the part.

"If only life could be as perfect as a movie..." he uttered.

There was little to say in response to that. Thane watched through the rest of the movie in silence. It was romantic, he supposed. He could see how such a fantasy could appeal to people. Reality was harsh; without some imagination and hope along the way, then all persons would be hopeless in love matters. There would be no point if there was no "Happily Ever After."

But for Thane, who could not completely comprehend the issue, and seriously doubted seeing himself ever falling in love, found the concept rather farfetched and hard to relate to.

He didn't say this aloud, but perhaps his questions were hint enough. If not, well, Thane just kept his thoughts to himself, not wanting to ruin Rei's mood when he was... surprisingly in a good one despite the implication of certain memories brought on by this movie.

He watched blankly as the events continued to rolled on, down to the very end when the credits rolled. Humans were too strange. Thane had seen scenes like this before, too. Though he often "ruined" them by cutting off their little speeches right in the middle. That was when he didn't know the meaning of emotion. When he wasn't the least bit sentimental. Perhaps he was still like that, only more aware of the name of what it was he did or felt. Or maybe didn't feel.

Taking up the remote, Thane flipped the channel, looking for something else.

For some reason, he wasn't in a good mood. And he couldn't pinpoint why or how.

Rei noticed Thane growing rather unfavorable of the movie that he was watching. He hung his head and he managed to see Noir who had followed them into the living room. He picked up the feline and set it on his lap, petting her softly to soothe her.

"I'm sorry Thane... I'm sorry that I keep entwining you in my bitter mood..." apologized Rei. "I shouldn't be thinking about it too much. It's already happened. I should move on." he uttered.

Noir gave out gentle purring as his hand waved through the cat's delicate fur.

"Don't worry though... I know this won't last long. I'll move on... I'll get over it." he smiled.

As Thane stoically flipped through the channels, Rei stopped him when they came upon the documentary channel. It was featuring a special about people who saved stray dogs and cats from the street and giving them a good home.

"Lookie there... Kinda like what you did with Noir here right?" smiled Rei.

((For some reason I thought I'd posted already but apparently I didn't... Sorry 'bout that.))

Thane stared at the screen. Yes, it did remind him of how he had picked up Noir and simply taken her in on account of seeing her coincidentally as she passed along. For all he knew, this cat actually belonged to someone else, but since Noir never seemed to want to leave or run away, Thane simply assumed that meant he either was a more favorable owner than whoever owned Noir last, or perhaps he truly was the first and only to take her in.

Glancing down at Rei's lap to the cat nestled there. Thane reached out and scratched her under her chin. Noir purred appreciatively, obviously pleased at the shower of attention from the both of them. He let her nip at his fingers playfully and tug at his gloves for the sheer fun of it, his gaze shifting back to the television.

"I will not be able to keep her," he said after a silent moment. Watching what was going on the screen, Thane knew that the ownership on the mortal plane was quite different from the immortal plane. And frankly, since Noir wasn't dead yet, and it was not his personal business to govern the souls of animals as well as humans, he would have nothing to do with the cat after his business was done.

They would have to find her a new home upon his leave.

Rei placed a hand over Thane's and locked them together. He gave a caring smile towards the other man before speaking up.

"Don't worry Thane... I'll make sure Noir finds a good home before we leave..." assured Rei. "I know plenty of people who'd be happy to take care of her, make sure she lives a good life." smiled Rei.

Noir let out a gentle meow at the two as i curious of what they were talking about. Rei soothed the cat's head with a hand, it's eyes closing as it relished the affection being given to her.

"But for now, I think it's best to not think of the future. Just enjoy what's here and now." he smiled.

Rei took hold of the remote before switching it to his favorite cooking channel.

"Ooh, I love this show." smiled Rei.

A woman was on-screen, preparing a succulent french meal whilst instructing her audience on how to do the same. Rei listened attentively and jotted down the instructions mentally as the woman went on.

(Sorry for the delayed post. I've written it earlier but internet died on me so it disappeared.)

Thane nodded quietly. Even though Rei had given up on himself, he was still charitable enough, kind enough to at least make sure the other parts of his life were tied up so that there were as few loose ends as possible. To know that Noir would be taken care of in a nice home with a new owner that would surely do her better justice than him, he was glad.

Sure it was saddening to know that he wold one day have to depart from her---Noir was, after all, his one and only pet, and first friend aside from Rei---but what must be done must be done. He could do nothing about it. It was so easy for Death to accept the matter of things.

Looking at the new channel that the television was changed to, a sudden thought, on a different strand from his previous topic of choice, came to him as he stared at the woman who was in a kitchen very unlike Rei's own tiny one. Glancing over at the things Rei was writing down with a convenient little pad of paper and pen, Thane gave a small smile.

"You really enjoy cooking," he commented, pointing out what was possibly the most obvious fact in the world. "Do you get many of your recipes like this from the television?" He leaned in a little to see what it was the man wrote. Some of them he didn't know what they were, but he imagined they were present on the television since Rei was copying down what the woman was saying.

"I guess I do..." beamed Rei as he finished jotting down the last of the instructions from the hostess.

Rei had always looked up to the chef, Ina Garten, and hopes to become as great with preparing meals as her. He always tuned in to her television show and has purchased at least two of her cookbooks. She was the one who had inspired Rei to perfect his craft in cooking.

"Imagine if I could be just like her. Living in the countryside, preparing meals for a living... That would be the life..." he sighed. "I could do the thing I love the most almost everyday of my life..." he chuckled.

As the show ended with Ina presenting her dish to her friends and joking about how she prepared it, Rei reviewed the notes he took before looking back at the television.

"I'm going to try this later. I'm sure it'll turn out really special." smiled Rei. "Of course... You'll help me eat it right Thane?" smiled Rei.