Daisuke knew where Souma had to be.

After finally returning home, his Boss would have made his way to the furthest gardens as soon as he was done with his familial duties. It was the one space he had designed himself, turned into a refuge within the compound, a place where one could go whenever the need for peaceful solitude arose. How many times had Souma seemed confounded by some challenge before him, only to return from that little garden later, solution in hand? How many times had he been nowhere to be found? Daisuke or Goemon finally tracking him down in that remote corner, sitting calmly beside the statue of his grandfather.

He would have gone there, far from where the attackers started. He wouldn't have heard anything amiss at first, and when the warnings came, he would be separated, alone against an unknown number of deadly assailants.

Souma could handle such odds. But that didn't matter. A fist belonged at the side of the one who would throw it, and nowhere else. 

The sounds of struggle rang out as Daisuke slipped out from the latest building to serve as shelter, a sudden cry shouted down by a gun's great roar. High-pitched, familiar... but not Ai. It wasn't important then, the sound was slightly behind him, and to investigate would keep him from finding his boss.

So he pressed forwards, moving swiftly along the walkways and through the gardens, an imposing specter. Feet made little sound whether they came down against wood, earth or stone, taking him down paths far from view of the center compound. Most of the battle seemed concentrated there, now, and it seemed his only company right now were corpses.

A poor omen. He ignored it.

The garden was close, Daisuke dashing to the small clearing with gun and blade drawn, only to freeze stone-still as soon as it came into view. A woman lay bleeding, one hand holding a blade, the other reaching for Souma's own, injured form.

The woman was Galina Demidova. 

His grip on both weapons tightened, but Daisuke made no move at first. He couldn't, not with the woman armed so close to his boss. A bullet could move faster than her hand, but it could strike Souma as well... and she would have ample time to move should he try for the safer slash of his blade. Absently, his gaze noted a pair of bodies wearing the same outfits as those he had come across, and Souma's dagger in one of their necks.

Galina and Souma fought them off? But the Demidova's were to stay away from Takahiro business. Her presence here was the height of peril for his Boss, a danger that would be unforgivable to let pass.

But to kill one who had helped defend his Boss was likewise unforgivable. And to risk Souma's life in the process? 'Unforgivable' couldn't [i]begin[/i] to describe.

[i]"Boss."[/i] Daisuke's voice resounded calmly through the clearing, the man sheathing his blade with deliberate caution as he stepped slowly towards the pair. He needed something, a reaction, an order from Souma, anything to tell him how to act next. [i]"Boss. If you're alive, speak."[/i]

~-~

"Should... pressure self."

It was poor English even by Souma's standards, but he was willing to let it pass for now.

No, he didn't believe Galina would hurt him. At this point, he wasn't sure he believed she had [i]ever[/i] tried to hurt him, despite her actions in his own country. And to help him while her own wounds still bled? It was the height of foolishness that stabbed at Souma's pride... yet he couldn't help but feel comforted by it, all the same.

He was willing to let that pass for now, as well. No one would know it happened, after all.

Dimly, he noticed Daisuke behind Galina, heard what had to be his Fist's voice calling out to him. Of course, even with the entire compound likely under attack, he would make it here. A far safer refuge than any central structure within the compound, it seemed... even if he did still have a foot in the grave.

"...Lax... Fist." It wasn't much, but Daisuke got the message, Souma nodding slightly to Galina as the larger man moved closer. Hopefully she would understand, would have to understand. No one would need pressure on their wounds if she did not.

"Help... both... wounds... gun... bind..." Was he blinking more than usual? Was that why his vision kept flashing dark? Hard to tell, but Daisuke seemed to understand. The man moved calmly to Souma's side, kneeling just behind his Boss with gun lowered, but still ready. With a quiet look to Galina, he moved his free hand slowly, taking her place in pressuring his Boss' arm... up until something else caught his attention.

"... Daisu...ke-"

[i]"Hold, Boss."[/i] Daisuke never bothered to use english, his voice falling cold as his eyes narrowed towards the distance. 

[i]"Someone approaches."[/i]