Then for your own sake, I really hope that your teacher hurries up and teaches you the meaning of a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' because if you were throwing all of this at a person who was not as experienced or as strong-willed as I am, they might very well give in and become the very thing you fear just because you so strongly expect them to be that way.

[Perhaps he is being over-dramatic, but when it comes to things he feels strongly about, that is Diarmuid's way. He holds things back for so long that when they break free, they really break free.]

Believe me when I say I am not belittling the pain you have experienced and the things you have lost, but you are not the only one to lose so much. You are right. I will never know how it feels to be in your shoes just as you will never know how it felt to be betrayed by a man who you devoted your whole life to serving. You will never know how it feels to bleed out on a hillside while you hear your best friend scream and threaten to throw away everything he has fought to earn and protect in a vain attempt to save your life. You will never have your last thoughts be how terrible it feels to have so thoroughly failed to protec--

[His words cut off as Kakyoin's words and his own suddenly snap together. Diarmuid's eyes widen and lock on the redhead in front of him.]

That's it, isn't it?

[It makes so much sense.]

You wished to protect what you failed to protect the first time...