A Step Towards Fate part 1

Eric Slingby glanced across the office to an opposite cubicle as a heart wrenching sound reached his ears followed by the clattering of a pen. From his own work station he could just see Alan Humphries.
Alan was gingerly massaging his wrists, one at a time, with a half-concealed grimace on his face.
Eric felt his heart break as he watched the younger Shinigami. Once recovered, Alan picked up his pen and carried on with his paperwork, the only sign of his attack the slight wince left on his face. To anyone who didn’t know, it would just appear that he had been spending far too much time writing, but Eric knew better. He sighed as he looked away, back to his own paperwork, and propped his elbows on the desk before running his hand through his hair. It wouldn’t be long before the thorns of death spread farther up Alan’s arms as the fatal disease made its way to his heart.
“Hey, Eric-sempai!”
Eric looked up at his name. “Ah, Ronald,” he said and kicked back in his chair, all worry gone from his demeanour. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m trying to get some girls from the Dispatch Management Division to go out tonight,” his nose crinkled slightly at his next words, “but they said they won’t come unless you’ll be there. So…will you come?”
Eric glanced at the stack of paperwork on his desk then at his watch. The work day was almost done and he still had a lot to do. However, these group dates were a good way to try and find a cure for Alan’s incurable disease. People were more likely to talk when the booze was flowing. Which meant he himself would have to limit his drink intake. He didn’t want to risk the other Reapers finding out about Alan’s disease before Alan was ready to announce it.
“Ah, c’mon, Eric-senpai,” Ronald pouted. “You’ve worked overtime the past two days. What is it Alan-senpai says? You’ve got to set a good example for us as our role-model?”
Eric’s lips twitched in a smile. He hadn’t done a good job following Rule 6 lately and all the younger Shinigami tended to look up to him for some reason. “You’re right. I haven’t been a good role-model of late. Alright, you tell those girls I’ll be there.”
“Yes! Thanks, Eric-sempai,” Ronald grinned and went off to talk with someone else instead of doing his work.
Eric shook his head as he watched the energetic young Reaper and then glanced again at Alan. Perhaps tonight he’d find a cure…