He had not just said that! Even after the fact Kurogane could not believe that the words had come out of his mouth while he'd been caught up in his rage. But Fai's reaction was once again making things clear. He'd said it, out loud, and now he couldn't take it back.

Releasing Fai's wrist, he pulled back a little, turning his eyes away just as the other had done.

"Fai was important" was what that statement had amounted to but... did he really think that? The magician was certainly important to those kids and that manjuu, but what did Kurogane think himself? There was what he knew: Fai was an idiot that didn't listen to reason and had to be watched like he was a child! Kurogane should have given up on him a long time ago.

So why the hell hadn't he?!

"Get it now?" He tried, not about to pass up the opportunity to speak sense to Fai even if they were both in an uncomfortable situation now. He didn't get it himself, but maybe something from Kurogane's outburst had managed to penetrate Fai's thick skull.