'I didn't take you for the squeamish type, ' the young man said. Slim and black haired, his eyes pale in the lantern light, he cut a rather unassuming figure, to the untrained eye.

His companion shrugged. 'I'm not. '

'You think I shouldn't do it. '

'I think you're being a little irrational about it. '

The young man didn't smile. 'I've never known rationality, not really. I've never known much of anything concerning emotion, to be honest. It doesn't matter. I've already accepted the offer. '

'Why? What do you have to gain from it? '

'I want to see him, ' the young man said, an unpleasant gleam in his eyes. 'I want to see what he'll do. What he'll think of me. If he'll be brave about it or not. '

The other sighed, weigh shifting from one foot to the other. 'I guess it's a competition, then. That's kind of a shame. '

'Why's that? '

'I'm going to have to kill the both of you in the long run, at this rate. '