Disclaimer: Kamichama Karin chu, characters and storyline are not mine.

Warnings: Spoilers about Jin. (Yes? Yes.)

A/N: Well, you see, there are two people here: one's Jin, the other… well, I'll leave that to you. If you know me, it won't be much guesswork at all; otherwise… you can go wander off now ;)

Locked in a Cage
06
(One Real Thing)

"I'm sorry."

A hand brushed across Jin's cheek: gentle, forgiving. He didn't deserve such treatment, although he couldn't bring himself to pull away. Their fingers brushed loose strands of hair back before they tugged the idol down; closer, much closer than necessary.

"Don't you understand?" He couldn't stop himself from sounding choked; horrified with his actions. "What I did? What I am?"

"It's no different from him, you know," they pointed out, reassuring him. Even though he didn't want to, the words were enough for Jin to almost sag with relief.

He was pulled even closer, so that he could not turn away and slowly drown in his guilt. They would never allow it to happen, though; it was better to stand up and continue to struggle. He knew that was what they believed in.

Jin closed his eyes, unable to stand looking into their's: pools of mesmerising colour that forgave him for everything.

He didn't deserve forgiveness. He wanted to scream at them, wave at the larger picture and show them what it was he had done exactly.

More than anything, he hated himself; so why didn't anyone else?

Why could they forgive so easily?

"You know I love you, right?" They asked, breath ghosting over his skin. "In the end, we're human. We're weak, useless beings who fight to the bitter end, and I doubt there's any other way. I want you to understand that these things happen, but it won't do any of us good to mope and sulk about it."

"Maybe I don't want to be that way, though," whispered Jin, afraid of himself, "Maybe I want to be beyond that.

"And perhaps that's why I wanted to reach the realms of the gods."