That got him to stop. His arms came down and he gave me one of those are-you-serious looks. And then he laughed. "What crazy shit are you spouting out now Oda? Am I in love? As if."

"I'm just asking."

"Quit asking stupid questions. I am an assassin for the S.E.A."

We both turned when we heard laughter coming from Takano. "This is just how you looked for the past year Ritsu. Always denying that you did not love me." This?

"There's no denial Mr. Boss."

"Sure there isn't."

"SHUT UP." I took a step when he pointed the knife to Takano. "Oda I will kill him."

"Just calm down Li." I have never seen him this riled up.

He growled. "No. I want him dead! He destroyed everything for me, for us." The knife was now pointed at me. "I just want things to go back to the way they were before. When we had none of these worries."

"We can't go back Li."

"Why not?"

"Ritsu won't ever love you." Li threw the knife, hitting above Takano's head. "ENOUGH LI. Takano shut up for a minute" He was so not helping the situation. I quickly ran to stand in front of Takano in case he decided to throw another one.

"I. Don't. Want. His. Love." Li grinded his teeth together. "I already knew Oda did not love me. It was better that way. Oda followed the rules. Oda was perfect that way. Strong, with fierce eyes and cold mouth. I had never seen such a killer like him. I…I…"

I was in utter shock. I have seen Li vulnerable but not like this. All I felt was pity. "It's hard isn't it? They basically burned one simple rule into our heads that when we break it, it shakes our whole being. I felt that way every time I relapsed. I still feel it time to time but it's alright, it just reminds us that we are human." I dodged one of his knives. Just how many did he have on him?

"I can't be in love. That would be breaking the rules so it's impossible."

"I thought it was impossible for me to fall in love with the same boy from high school, but look where we are." Takano made a slight noise. "I love him. That's why I won't go back."

We looked at each other. I could not figure out what was going on his mind. Anger, hurt, fear, all flashed in his eyes before he made another face. I could tell what that face it was; it was a face I made many times before: self realization. "Li?" It startled me when he started laughing loudly, losing his balance, stumbling as he walked in a circle. "Li?" He's really loosing it. I took a cautionary step towards him. "Liang…"

"Be careful Ritsu." As if Takano's voice was a catalyst, Li stopped his laughing. His body began to shake. "Li." Before I could move Li already had his left arm around my neck. My mouth went wide open as the pain hit my shoulder. Glancing down he was holding a knife that was jabbed into my right side. The blood started pouring down my shirt and dripped on the ground.

"RITSU."

Li chuckled into my neck. "I could have killed you. If the knife was in my other hand, one clean stab to the heart would have ended it." I cried when he pulled the knife out, dropping his hand to his side. Damn it hurt like a bitch. "Is that love? Have I been the one breaking the rules this whole time?" I did not know what to say. Mostly because all my mind was registering was the pain. "I just want my Oda back."

I looked down at him, "I'm sorry Li, but that Oda is gone." He laughed again, his hand moving to grab my shoulder roughly. "You're right. My Oda might as well be dead." He pointed the knife back at me. "At that means there is no use in 'Ritsu' afterall."

It was all too quick. Everything was moving so slow and yet so fast. I felt my adrenaline pumping through my veins. The knife was coming towards me, aiming for my neck. Reaching in my coat, I grabbed hold of one of my knives, my favorite knife, and made contact with his wrist, leaving a deep cut that immediately started bleeding out. He yelped at the pain and as he was distracted, I struck him again, plunging my knife into his chest.

It was silent. He looked at me with shocked eyes and mine could have been the same size. He coughed once, blood trickling down his cheek. I pulled my knife out, dropping it so I could catch him as he started to fall. "This really hurts." He coughed.

"Li." I laid him gently onto the floor and knelt by him. His breathing grew quicker and one hand reached up to grab mine. "You know…what your problem…is…Oda..Ritsu..." He smiled. "You care too much…about people...who…don't…deserve it…makes you a terrible assassin." He tried to laugh but it came out as a cry of pain.

"Stop talking Li." More blood came out of his mouth. I wanted to do something, anything, but the wound I inflicted was a kill shot. Li was going to die and it was because of me.

"Even now…you still…care about me…you still…think I'm…human…"

"It's okay Li. Don't talk anymore."

The hand on mine started to loosen. "I guess that's why I always did…love…you." His chest stopped moving, hand falling to the ground.

I have seen many dead bodies. Some with simple wounds, others mangled up messes. Most I killed. But this would be the worse of them all. I did not cry but I felt a deep pain in my chest. When I finally moved it was to reach over and close Li's lifeless eyes. I'm sorry Liang.

"Ritsu." Takano! I ran over to kneel down in front of him. Taking a knife, I cut the ropes off him. When he was free He launched himself at me. "Tak…OUCH!" I forgot I had a knife wound in the shoulder.

"Sorry." He pulled to looked at my wound. "Are you alright?" I tore off a piece of my undershirt to wrap around the wound. Takano helped tie it. "We have to get you to a hospital." He went to get up but I grabbed his hand. "Ritsu?"

"I love you." I said without thinking. "I love you."

He knelt back down and grabbed my face. "I love you too. Thank you for coming for me."

"I didn't want to lose you." I glanced at Li. "Not you too."

Takano sighed, kissing my cheek. "I know it was hard, I'm sorry you had to do it. But I love you so much. We will get through this together Ritsu. I am not leaving." Takano was everything to me but he was wrong. We cannot get through this together. Killing Li made me realize that as long as S.E.A. was around, anyone close to me would get hurt. Li was being used by them. For all I knew they probably wanted me to kill him. Takano would not end the same way.