[i]Not[/i] Galina's doing?

Souma blinked, gripping his arm tightly to himself in an effort to stem the bleeding as he watched his adversary move. The ways he spoke, her reaction, her actions now- She honestly didn't seem to know.

But then, who was it? There had been no shortage of opponents to his work in America, but only Galina had proven tenacious enough to continue to stand in his way. Another clan? Where there any the Takahiro's hadn't subdued or allied with? Had the ruling nobility themselves decided to betray them? But what would bring that on? He couldn't help but feel this might be connected to his actions, still, but [i]what actions[/i]? [i]What people[/i]?

Was he just being paranoid, in the wake of Galina's revelations?

Souma moved as much as he could, shifting slowly on his knees to keep Galina in sight, questions rising the more time passed. He had nearly killed her- would have killed her- and she was... begging him to believe her? She was... offering to bind his a- [i]Intruder![/i]

Any word he tried to speak was merely a hoarse whisper, but she had noticed the same time he did. As Souma struggled to stand, Galina moved, the fact that she used [i]his[/i] knife didn't matter so much as he saw how well she used it. She might have been the one he wanted to kill only moments ago, but even so he could appreciate such a throw. Hard to be mad about witnessing a kill li-

"-Galina!"

Part of his mind wondered why he had ever shouted her name, watching the second intruder raise his pistol and roar a round into Galina's chest. The same part wondered what caused him to try and move, to struggle to his feet even as she struggled with her new opponent. Elsewhere, details of their attackers were recorded in his mind. Elsewhere, concern of his family, of his clan, roared in it's shrinking cage, demanding to be let out. Somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, fear of his own well-being paced in muttering circles. But it was all so much background, so much white noise.

Galina dominated the fore of his thoughts right now.

Why was she helping him? These intruders were after the Clan, most likely, Galina could easily escape unharmed. He had been [i]trying to kill her[/i], and her him, so why-...

Why had she thrown her weapons away before, and given up?

A confused, questioning Souma Takahiro managed to stumble to Galina as she collapsed to the ground, recent opponent bleeding out on the ground. Even two paces seemed to much, legs caving in just out of arm's reach. Her chest moved, however, even as it bled. a... smile? On her lips?

"W-what..." Even words were hard to speak, let alone taking any action other than trying to stem the blood from his own wounds. "...why?"