He could feel the other struggle, and put up guard against him. He could also see very clearly the warmth in his eyes before his Drake slipped away. His own eyes grew hard, glaring into Drake's cold grey eyes. He gripped his arm. "It is you who needs to understand. I killed Dr. Longsworth." He slashed a hand through the air. "I am not looking for gratitude, but I would expect you to be more than an inconsiderate, prideful idiot." He stepped away. "Ryan is not my friend. He is yours. Would you really see him die? Would you stand there and watch this filth destroy him? He came here for you. He came here to see you and to help you." He moved away, towards Ryan, his tails lashing about. It had taken a lot for him not to punch Drake in the face for even considering harming Ryan.<br/><br/>"You are not beyond help, Drake. You are not weak. You are not a fool. What you are doing is a defensive technique. Exploiting my weakness because Ryan is a gentle spirit. It will not work. I will say it again, and again, until it sticks with you." He touched Ryan arm, putting him protectively at his back. He wasn't going to let Ryan get hurt. "I love you. I love you more than anything in this decrepit world. You are worth everything to me." His eyes hardened, never dropping his guard around the vampires, and never looking away from Drake. "<i>Watashi wa jikan no owari made anata to itsumoisshoni imasu</i>." Jasaiah almost held his breath. He watched closely, waited, prayed to Inari that that would be enough to break Drake free of the mental barrier he had put around himself.<br/><br/><br/>(I will always be with you, until the end of time.)