The crimson liquid that had sustained his life until that point was leaking out of his body.

He didn't want to have to watch her suffer. She didn't deserve to have to go through that pain.

It was his fault.

Those words had been drilled into his head by the head of the family, Akito.

He was a monster, and he didn't deserve to live anyways. He hated himself, and everyone else.

Except Tohru.

Tohru had helped him get free of the cage that was his mind.

She was his saviour, his liberator.

And now he was dying. Soon his lifeless body would be found in the upstairs bathroom, in a pool of his own blood.

He hoped no one would find him until he was dead.

But already he could hear the voices of Shigure and Yuki, calling for him, searching.

Their footsteps could be heard travelling up the stairs, to his room.

Already the lights began to fade around him, as he died, as he was leaving his world.

But suddenly he wished to hear Tohru's voice, once more before he left.

He wanted to see her smile, to feel her warmth. He wanted to hold her hand, and share her joy.

He didn't want to die anymore.

He called back to the ones searching, as the light continued to fade.

'No! No! Not yet!' He sent out a silent plea, struggling to stay conscious.

The door of the bathroom broke open, to the shocked faces of the two men who cared.

And there stood Tohru, horrified.

He wished he could wipe that look off her face, so he could see her smile.

He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could feel Yuki tying a cloth around his wrists, to hinder the bleeding.

He could feel Shigure trying to pick him up.

And he could feel Tohru holding his blood-covered hand. Willing him to stay alive.

But the darkness wouldn't wait any longer.