"That [i]is[/i] a part of the reason," Galina replied truthfully, casting her eyes down to the plates of eel and ramen and rice, but not putting anything to her own offered plate just yet. The mention of only one of the Takahiro family was, of course, sufficient for Souma's unspoken meaning to be quite clear. [i]'So... Raigo then, and there was no misunderstanding Soshitsu. But that was only ever wishful thinking anyway... '[/i] 

She sighed almost inaudibly, blinking her dark eyes swiftly to keep tears she did not know she still had, back behind those long lashes. Galina picked up the chopsticks brought by Daisuke, and slowly reached for some of the offered eel, nodding her thanks with a smile so swift it might not have been there at all. "And it is good to hear, of Ai, that she continues to do... Well. She will surely succeed. Your sister is truly quite brilliant."

Galina breathed softly, gathering herself to finally look upward and meet Souma's gaze. "Still, you are quite right of course, in assuming that is not the whole of my reason for finding you." 

She looked to her plate once more, to the delicate slices of eel there, and was pleased to see her hands shook not at all as she lifted a small piece to her lips. Galina chewed for a moment, swallowed, and then spoke at last. "I have lost everything Souma. Everything, but my life and my brother Yury. For three weeks after the attack on your home, I was only well enough to be transported as far as the port of Vladivostok - but Yury knew what had happened. He waited alone with the news before he could tell me, and know I would survive the telling."

She reached for the warm pot of [i]sake[/i] and poured a small amount in her own cup, fortifying herself with a sip of the liquor before she could bring herself to finish that thought. "Within days of the attack on your home, the Americans brought their forces against the Demidov Keep in western Russia. They burned everything they could, and no one survived: not my father or elder brothers, not their wives or my little nieces and nephews."

Galina's face remained as impassive as stone, tearless, though even the effort of maintaining this faultless facade would be telling to one wise enough to read her. "Not even Klara."

"I have a good idea why you are in hiding at the moment. My brother is even now telling the world, that his beloved sister did not recover from her mortal injuries. [i]Whatever[/i] you have planned Souma, wherever you go, I offer you my unqualified services. I offer my sword, my pistol, my wits and all my myriad skills - no strings, no tricks nor subterfuge. I do not know the Americas as you do, I do not have the contacts within the States. But I would consider it a great favor, a gift, an [i]honor[/i] even, to accompany you there and kill every last person responsible, for what they have done to our families."