"I'm not sure how long I can keep this up."

Takeshi just shook his head, his knees tucked under him as he sat by the bedside of his savior and friend. He tried for his usual carefree smile that could disarm tense situations and send high-strung bombers on rampages. Managing only a ghost of his grin, Takeshi looked over at the gaunt face of his best friend. Their eyes met, and Takeshi could still see the hidden strength of his Dying Will echoing in those brown eyes.

"Don't give up," Takeshi told him, whispered, because he couldn't bear to make himself speak louder than the other's croaking, hoarse voice. "Don't ever give up. We'll save you."

Tsuna grinned, his dry lips splitting slightly, but despite the wave of sadness that rolled over Takeshi when he watched Tsuna struggle just to be happy, he couldn't help but feel somewhat relieved. Despite all of this, Tsuna was still finding some semblance of joy in his misery. Takeshi could only hope that he could keep that smile on Tsuna's face for as long as possible. God knows he'd be lost without it.

"If I don't give up, then you won't lose your smile, right?" Tsuna asked. "Will you promise me that?"

Takeshi's stomach fluttered. There was pressure building up behind his eyes and in his throat, but Takeshi didn't want the pleasure of finding out what it was.

"I won't lose my smile as long as you're here, Tsuna," Takeshi told him, his voice steady despite the wetness of his eyes. "That's a promise I will always keep."

Tsuna's eyelids slid closed, but a soft smile remained on his face. "Then I won't ever give up."

Another drabble series. I'm about to die of all of the ideas exploding in my head. We'll see if any of them ever get written.