The promise
---
The blond man that lay in her arms slowly closed his tired eyes. He would heal, but that required time and attendance to his already scarred body. Layla looked at him. His youthful, boyish features made him stand out in the crowd. Those, and that scarlet coat he always wore.
It wasn't the first time he'd gotten beaten up to save her sorry ass. But this time, those who got to him, had gone too far.
She took his gun, a heavy, silver Colt 45 Magnum, and got to her feet. With impassive, unreadable features she pointed it at the men who had butchered her now half dead friend. It was so easy to pull the trigger. Too easy.
Bang.
Bang, bang, bang.
Bang.
With the precision of a laser, she had aimed for their heads, and got every one of the five thugs. There were blood and brains splattered all around. No one expected her to be able to and actually do that. But she shot until there was only one bullet left. The one that her name on it.
She broke her promise. Tears slid hot down her cheeks.
Whatever the odds, or the circumstances, don't kill. We're not entitled to take another living being's life away. No one is. Promise me that you won't kill.
I promise...
'I'm sorry Vash, I broke my promise.'
She then put the barrel of the smoking gun in her mouth and pulled the trigger one last time.