Ritsuka didn't understand how Albedo being hurt like that couldn't be anything but his fault. It had been after touching him that Albedo had reacted as if he'd been shot. The pain had been obvious, an instinctual reaction that anyone would have recognized. Ritsuka had experienced terrible pain before and he recognized the look of it on Albedo's face, no matter how brief it had been. And now? Now there was no trace of it. The lingering ache that should have existed seemed to be either missing or manageable and Ritsuka watched Albedo cautiously as he tested his hand.

And then he reached out to him again.

Ritsuka stared at Albedo's hand, knowing what he wanted and at the same time, knowing he could not consciously acquiesce. Even if it wasn't his fault before, he knew now. To reach out and touch Albedo again while knowing it could cause him pain would be the same as raining blows upon him. Ritsuka could not do that. He could never consciously harm someone, especially not a friend.

He shook his head then and lowered his eyes. "...If it hurt you again... I can't...I'm sorry."