Frustration welled up, dark and angry and complicated, meshed with the desire to drag Ryouma to the nearest wall and beat his head against it until he could actually see what was right in front of him.

"I didn't know what it was." The words snapped out like a bark, like a bone breaking. "I thought it was poison, maybe. And if it was then it was probably fatal. But I didn't even think that until after I'd taken mine. You might call me a bastard, but I'm not enough of a traitor to toss my partner in front of a damn kunai when I don't have to. And I'm not going to stand by and let you throw yourself down for a rapist, either, even if you think you should!"

He caught his breath, feeling fingers slip in the blood smearing down his chin. Ryouma stared up at him, flat on his back and not giving a single inch.

Thinking Kakashi didn't care.

"I wanted to give you time to kill the target and get out. Maybe get me out, if you could." He lifted his free hand and caught Ryouma's wrist, pulling it down before fingers cut themselves against his teeth. Didn't let go. "And you did. You keep talking about trust, Ryouma. Why won't you trust me?"