Emerald suddenly met her gaze for a moment, before flickering back to Hayate.
"Now, if I remember correctly, you were to release Leifang as soon as you got the information you sought. As you have the information, you are entitled to let her go,"
Hayate shook his head, turning to her. "Sorry, Leifang. Practicality, as Ryu here has so kindly reminded me. If I can't get what I wanted, then he can't either, and he would want you safe and out of here. He's not going to get it,"
She felt fear clench like a fist wrapping around her throat. "But you know where Ryu is now. You don't need to kill me. That's not practicality, that's brutality. There's a difference, even though you're so sociopathic that you might not realise it,"
Hayate seemed to stiffen at her words. "I don't want to do this, Leifang. But Ryu leaves me no choice in the matter,"
"I leave you choice, my friend. It is you that refuses to take it,"
"God, Ryu…" Hayate dropped his sword. His entire demeanour changed, from arrogance to despair. "Why did you have to kill him?"
"Who, your rookie?" Cold emerald eyes rose to meet gold once more. "I told you already. A full recount. He and I crossed paths. I recognised him for who he was, and who he was sent by. I asked him a simple question. Was Kasumi dead or alive. He refused to answer, therefore was no use to me. And as I said before, it seems to be the new custom to dispose of whatever is no use to you, so I did,"
"You were in love with my sister?" Surprise registered in Hayate's voice. He loved Kasumi? How did Hayate guess that? I suppose it doesn't matter… she's dead now, oh god, killed by your own brother, what sort of horrible twist of fate is that?
"What was once a promise to protect her turned into something more," Emerald eyes flickered over to her; she could feel the burning inquisitiveness of their gaze, before jumping back to Hayate. "A promise you instigated, I might add,"
"So then, why do you mind so much about leaving Leifang here?"
Emerald eyes instantly grew as cold as ice, pure as snow. "I failed to protect your sister, from you, when she needed me the most. I will not fail again,"
Man, he talks so nicely… the thought was truncated abruptly as she felt humiliating tears well in her eyes. I'm scared, so sue me. Hayate's going to kill me. What if… what if Ryu dies trying to save me? God, I could never live with that…
"Do you think Kasumi would want this?" she spoke up suddenly into the silence.
Both men turned to look at her, and she stumbled forward, not exactly sure where she was heading with her statement.
"Kasumi loved you, Hayate. Even though you were the one to bring her to her knees. Even though that was you, she would still want the best for you, Hayate. She's still with you in spirit, she wants to guide you. She was like that," she smiled in memory, letting the tears welling in her eyes spill free down her cheeks. "I don't think she would want you to do this, Hayate. Not fight with your friend over her death. She's dead, let her rest in peace, and let the joy of her life, instead of the sorrow of her death, be your decision,"
She felt a gentle touch to her face and realised that Ryu was gently wiping away her tears with a touch as light as a feather. She swallowed heavily, blinking once, letting a lone tear fall.
"Leifang is right, Hayate. Let us end this and let Kasumi rest in peace. It is the least she deserves,"
A long pause, before Hayate nodded, bowing his head.
"You're right. It is the least we can do. The least I can do,"
"Then let Miss Leifang go, and let us reconcile and forget,"
Hayate nodded, unlocking the chains. She glared at them both as the chains fell free.
"Leifang is perfectly fine. Miss Leifang is not,"