"Eric, I can't breath..." Alan barely choked out. The elder reaper was basically hugging him to death. Although Alan did think that it was sweet of Eric that he had worried for him. Eric released his arms from around the other reaper with a face that basically said 'I'm sorry'.

"Sorry about that Alan..."

Smiling weakly the younger reaper replied, "No, I'm the one who should be apologizing. After all I did make worry you a lot." There was a pause before Alan asked the question, "How long have you been here with me?"

At the time when Alan was still unconscious Eric wasn't thinking about how long he was sitting in that chair. All he cared about was making sure Alan was alright and when Alan woke up he was right there to make sure he was alright. To Eric it felt like forever. "It was only about a day." There was a great long silence that filled the air. "So... What exactly happened... I-I mean that... One of the doctors told me you had been diagnosed with a certain disease called the Thorns of Death. Did... Did you know about this?"

Alan really didn't want Eric to find out this way. He wanted to be the one that could have told him, not a medical chart.

"Yeah." The brunette reaper answered, "I've known for a long time that I've had it but I never thought it would have gotten to be this awful." A frown grew on Alan's lips.

Hearing this was like having poison dumped on your head. It was painful. Eric had this feeling. He couldn't believe that someone who was so kind, like Alan, could have a terrible faith. Eric knew the results of this specific disease. Death. A slow and painful one as well. Although to be contracted with the Thorns of Death is quite rare, if one is to be diagnosed with it they will suffer a hard rest of their life.

'Why?' Eric thought, 'Why did he have to be one with this horid fate?'

"Eric? Are you alright?" Without realizing it the blonde haired reaper was crying. How did he not notice? Quickly he wipping the tear away. "Yeah I'm alright." Eric lied through his teeth. His thoughts said otherwise.

"Alright if you say so." Alan said giving Eric a look that was obvious he was worried for his partner.

"Well I think I should get back to work, now. Spears-senpai will be furious if I don't get my work done on time." He said and at the same time swung his legs over the side of the bed, and let them dangle. Then realized that his jacket was folded up on the table next to his bed. He reached over and slipped the black piece of clothing back on.

"Alan you can't go back so soon. I mean you were only in here for a day. What if you soon end up in here again?" Eric complained.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I won't push myself too hard to end up in the infirmary again." Alan promised. And he then started to walk to the door.

With a screech of a chair being pushed back on the tile floor, Eric stood up and grabbed Alan by the wrist to stop him from walking away. "Please Alan, can't you rest a little longer? And if it's work you're worried about I will talk to William about it. Just please rest." Pleading.

One symptom of Alan's disease was bleeding at the wrist and ankles. When Eric's hand had grabbed his wrist, blood started to trickle down Alan's fingers and drip onto the floor. But he paid no attention to it though. Alan turned back to Eric and smiled at him. "You're very kind, Eric-senpai. Thank you. I will do as you ask me too, as a favor." Alan gave the older reaper a gentle hug before returning to his bed.

"Goodbye Alan. I'll visit you later. Alright?"

Alan nods, "Sounds good. Good bye."

Eric then left, closing the door behind him. As he walked down the hallway and out of the hospital wing Eric kept thinking of the Thorns of Death. Even the name made him shudder with discomfort. He wanted to know more.