On the other hand, Kaori was getting restless with each passing moment. Ryo, dying before her eyes was the last thing she could dare to see with her very own eyes, but she knew full well that in the profession Ryo was in, he would possibly die the very same way as was the situation before her. She saw the white telescopic lens in the hands of the stranger, and she knew that they would start off any time soon enough, Having stayed with Ryo for the past six years, she had learnt a lot about the underworld of Shinjuku and about the atmosphere Ryo worked in. She knew that Ryo was always surrounded by enemies, if not of his own kind. Kaori wanted Ryo to be far from dangers but at the same time, she didn't want Ryo to let Hideyuki's efforts of starting the organization 'CITY HUNTER' go down in vain. So she couldn't bring herself to talk about it to Ryo. But the truth is, ever since she fell for Ryo, she had been afraid each moment that Ryo would leave her alone just like her brother did and die alone...
Coming to the present situation, Kaori's legs could take no more. They gave way and she broke down on the ground, kneeling, and covered her face in the palm of her hands. Saeko, Miki and Tairo, instantly came beside her and asked about her well being. Kaori couldn't answer; in fact, she didn't have the courage to look up anymore, till the duel was finished. Just then Ryo's voice was heard, cold as ever "Look up Makimura! It's unlikely of you to look down in this situation. Face the fact…" as he said, there was a soft 'click' heard not far from where he and Robert stood, facing each other. In a time, even less than an eye-blink, both Ryo and Robert had their guns out of their holsters and had it aimed at the other. Kaori looked up helplessly with teary eyes as she shrieked involuntarily "RYOOOOOOOOO!" It was so sudden that even Umibozu, Miki, Tairo and Saeko all looked at her. Ryo had, by then, sat down on the ground, keeping his revolver on the ground in the process, as he clutched the bicep of his right hand with his left. His face bore the expression of a fierce pang of pain. Kaori could take no more, as she scrambled up on her legs, gathering the last bit of her strength and made a wild dash for him with tears in her eyes. Umibozu was nonchalant as a mountain. He was still observing. Within moments, Kaori reached Ryo's side as she knelt down over the kneeling the kneeling male, with tears in her eyes in the fear of the unknown. "RYO! Are you alright?" She asked with her hand on his head. Ryo, even in that pain, looked up to her eyes; those eyes, which were teary due to him, and said "It's alright!" Just then Saeko, Tairo and Miki saw with surprise that Robert broke down, and the gun fell off from his hands. "So you're the same Saeba. When with a gun, you never miss your target, do you?" he murmured as his prostrate figure fell flat on the ground.
Ryo scrambled to his feet and went close to him, touching him on his knuckles, "I am sorry Robert, but I didn't have any other way." He murmured.
"It's okay. If anyone's going to shoot me down, I always hoped it would be you, Ryo. Even after all this time, I couldn't beat you, could I! I can now die a contented man. Just look out for Sophie when I am gone, Saeba. She'll misunderstand you and come after you soon. Her life should not end like mine. She deserves a better life than I could give her. Promise me…." Robert said in a face with a contented smile.
Ryo said nothing, just gripped his knuckles tighter as the former took his last breath. "It should not have ended like this!" murmured an even more enraged Ryo. Just then he felt a touch on his right shoulder. Ryo turned back only to find Kaori standing behind him, one hand on his shoulder and another hand, holding his revolver tightly. She said nothing, but her eyes pleaded for him to stay away from this. Ryo finally got back up and extended his hand before her. But surprisingly Kaori didn't hand him over his gun. Instead, she brought the gun closer to her bosom and pleaded "Ryo, You don't need to do this. Let's return back to our home. Please. I can't go through any of this anymore. Just spare me….. You'll get the gun only when you promise me that you'll…." Ryo stood motionless. Umibozu was about to say something, but Miki held his hand, indicating him to be quiet. Ryo suddenly slapped Kaori hard even before she could finish. Umibozu, Miki, Saeko, Sayuri and Tairo watched in awe as the gun clattered on the floor while Kaori stood flabbergasted. For the first time in her staying with Ryo, she was slapped, and that too by him. Normally Ryo would never oppose Kaori, No matter how unmindful her requests might be Ryo always held on to her wishes. But today? Ryo straightaway slapped her hard on her face. Kaori stood surprised as tears of insult and embarrassment ran down her cheeks while her eyes begged for the reason of the assault.
Saeko and Sayuri now proceeded forward towards the couple while Umibozu went towards Tairo. Umibozu had a gun in his left hand, which he handed the male. "Take it. Use it when you feel endangered. Keep it cocked" he said with a heavy voice. By now Saeko and Sayuri had reached on either side of Kaori. Saeko looked up at Ryo. She was about to say something when out of the blue her eyes fell on his face. His face was still sunk on his chest and she could see tears running down his chin as his hairs covered his eyes. By then Sayuri too had observed this. "Why don't you listen to her Saeba San?" she asked a bit sheepishly. Even Sayuri didn't know why her voice sounded so shaky! Ryo now looked up and both Saeko and Sayuri stepped back in fear and astonishment. Both of them were taken aback to see the change in his eyes. Saeko was accustomed to the lecherous side of Ryo, but this deadly stare in his eyes was never seen before. Even Sayuri had, by now grown at ease with the perverted side of this man. Never even in her dreams, could she imagine the stone cold murderous stare from such a person. Ryo coldly wiped off the tears with the back of his left hand while bending down to collect the gun with his right hand. Everyone was frightened of Ryo, even Umibozu, but Kaori was too surprised to let any other emotion loose in her heart. On one hand it made her really anxious for the well being of this particular person, and on the other, it pained her to recall the loneliness that she had seen in his eyes some time back. By now Kaori had come over her primary state of being surprised. She was shaking in her knees, she could feel each and every muscle in her body yearning for rest, but her mind just wanted to return home with that one person before her eyes.
