Note: last of the four, yay. Set before Tomoyo sent him flying away.

Disclaimer: all hail CLAMP.

options

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kurogane, her small voice sighs. and though he will not admit it, her soft reproach cuts him to the quick.

they came to kill you! he protests.

and so we bring them to trial. murder, even well-intentioned murder, is never the only path we have to take, kurogane.

the ninja stands stock-still. he does not, he cannot agree. in his world, there is only one person who matters, and if her safety is threatened, kurogane will not hesitate to do what is necessary.

so of course he doesn't care who he has to kill in order to protect her, or how many lives he must take in her defense. that anyone would dare send assassins to her is an insult, and it is his pleasure to inform them of their mistake.

sometimes, kurogane wonders about the power this one tiny girl has on him. it is inconceivable that so small and gentle a girl could have the ability to quell the raging beast that lies inside of him, but she is the one salvation he has ever had. and she is the only one who sees the equally small kurogane who still wishes he could go back to the days of fathers and climbing trees and mothers and absolute trust.

when he is with her, kurogane thinks about his parents more than he does around anyone else. he still thinks he could have—should have been able to save them. his miko-mother, felled by an unknown assassin. his father, finally defeated by a monster demon. he should have stayed, with one or both of them. he could have protected her. he should have fought with him.

so he will give the rest of his life—and death, if that should happen—to Her.

because kurogane won't make that fatal mistake again. he won't fail, he can't fail, because failure, in the game that he is playing, is not an option.

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.end.

P.S. Chocolate-chip cookies to anyone who reviews. :)