"So, you're asking me about the old lady, huh?"

"--She's completely annoying!"

"She gets totally out of bounds and makes fun of me all the time! And then she gets all angry at me for no good reason! She's always talking about how sexy 'this and that' person is, even if they're my friends! It's so embarrassing! Plus, she doesn't like doing chores! I have to do them all by myself!!"

"It's really a pain, but,"

"to be fair, when she's working as my mun, she's pretty ok. She complains a lot, but she's also capable and I know she actually enjoys it. It's sappy, but she can understand me and it surprises me how much that means to me - I guess I'm pretty lucky to have a mun like her........."

"And I don't know what she's always whining about, anyways. If I can put up with all of her thoughts, then she can definitely put up with mine once in a while!"

The Greater Sinner

"I want to create... no matter what methods I have to use."

The poor artist didn't look up as he spoke these words--words filled with such sincerity and desperateness that his friend could not ignore it.

"You could have asked for help. I could have helped you get some new paintbrushes, or paints, or canvas--"

"That is not the point, Niwa."

The redhead lifted an eyebrow, leaning back lazily in his chair. "Then what is?" He said dryly, more rhetorical than an actual question. His next words were spoken with a light teasing tone--but the other man didn't seem to notice the mocking. "Please do enlighten me, Hikari."

"I--I cannot explain it. I just... have to create... something. Anything."

The seriousness in his tone didn't phase Niwa.

"You're a genius at this stuff, I'm sure you'll come up with something." He waved his hand dismissively.

"But... it has to be perfect." Hikari looked up at the ceiling, "It has to be a grand masterpiece."

"I'm sure it will be fantastic," The Niwa man grinned widely--almost mischievously--a twinkle in his eye, "I've always liked looking at your art."

"...I am sure." Hikari finally looked over, dark blue eyes narrowing. "It is a shame that someone keeps stealing the things those museums buy."

"Yeah, real shame." Niwa was obviously holding back a laugh. And Hikari couldn't help but smile.

"You are always so supportive of me..." He said softly.

"Of course. You're my friend after all." The red eyes became sincere, and the grin less malevolent. "And as my friend, I can't allow you to sit and do nothing but paint, even if you like it so much!" He promptly leaned over the table, jabbing a finger at Hikari's chest, "You're too skinny! You need to eat more! I know you're poor, but I'm even poorer and even I can still afford supper!"

Hikari smiled weakly, his eyes cast away again. "I am sorry for worrying you."

~~~

"Hikari! This is enough! You're killing yourself!"

"Do not tell me what to do." Hikari snapped, jerking his arm away from the other man--but his grip was strong... or maybe Hikari was just weak. Niwa had already noticed how thin his arms were, practically only bone. "Were you not the one who wanted me to continue to create?"

"Yeah, but not monsters!" Niwa frowned deeply--before, there had been enchantment in the man's work... something beautiful, something alive... but now... it was twisted. It felt dangerous--and Niwa would not stand for it.

"For the person whose opinion I regard highly... that rather hurts." Hikari said darkly.

"But you can't keep playing god--putting life into these artworks, at what expense?! Your own life!" Niwa protested, "Giving up something so precious... I won't allow it!"

"What are you going to do about it?" Hikari sneered. "If it would stop me, would you steal it too?"

"...!" Niwa flinched. "You knew?"

"It is pleasant to know my friend thinks so highly of my work that he would want it for his eyes only." The blue-eyed man glowered.

Niwa's fists clenched. Maybe that was the reason at first, but... "No--that's not why. I want it so that it won't hurt anyone else."

"I am not hurting anyone."

"You're creating monsters!" Niwa repeated, "And you don't even care anymore that you're causing yourself so much pain! Look at yourself! How much blood have you spilled playing with the lives you bore like that--it's like playing God!"

"Maybe I am," Hikari's lips curled upward--almost in a smirk--and he turned away, "But I am playing God no more than you are, to control the fates of my creations."

~~~

"I want to create... no matter what methods I have to use."

Those words felt familiar--and Satoshi couldn't place why. As they passed the tip of his tongue, something stirred inside him--something as cold as his hated name.

"And you want to steal... no matter what methods you have to use."

The look on Daisuke's face... it was so bewildered... and maybe a little hurt. Why...?

"Given that..."

Those vivid red eyes... seemed to become maroon, if only for a moment... as if something in Daisuke had felt those words to be familiar too.

"...Which one of us is the greater sinner?"

The utter blankness in the boy's eyes were frightening. Satoshi could see them as he had leaned in close, shaking and looking at something that was clearly beyond either of them.

And when he moved back to turn away, Daisuke snapped out of his enchantment--and the shock was different now. Because, for only a moment... those dark sapphire eyes seemed darker.

A smile, soft but oddly mature looking, graced his lips--and Daisuke swore that, in that instant, Satoshi seemed a lot older and wiser than he really was--as if it wasn't Satoshi at all looking at him with those dark, deep eyes.