The distance still remained, even though Hakkai was trying to find a way to bridge it. The attempt was clumsy and so not like Hakkai, yet there he was, watching Gojyo from the corner of his good eye and trying to keep himself from reaching across that chasm to rest his hand over Gojyo's, but wanting to so bad it was almost painful.

He listened in silence, attention keenly locked on the redhead. He noticed each breath he took and the inflections in his voice, as if he were trying to memorize everything Gojyo. In the back of his mind, he knew this might be the last time he ever saw him, or was able to touch him, but try as he might, he just couldn't seem to make his hand move, no matter how badly he wanted to.

"I believe I hate myself enough for the both of us."