Page 359 of Mercy Written in Blood

Sota stood just inside the entrance. Rain darkened his coat. No guards. No weapon. He looked across the damage. At the dead. At the injured. At the white bands around wrists. Something in his face broke so quietly most would not have seen it. Renji did.

Human grief. Leader's calculation. Both present.

Then Haruki appeared on the upper stairs. Ken supported him on one side. Akiko on the other. Every step cost him.

Sota looked up. His composure vanished for one heartbeat. Not because Haruki lived. Because of the wounds. Because members of the movement Sota created had put them there.

Haruki reached the final step. Renji went to him. Not to take his weight from Ken. To stand at his free side.

Haruki looked towards him. Blood marked Renji's shirt where the silver blade had entered. Haruki's mouth tightened.

"You're injured."

"So are you."

"We are finishing that argument."

"Yes."

Sota watched them. Partners. Neither in front of the other.

Haruki looked across the Casino — at Accord officers, Unveiled members, Ishida guards, Riku, the surviving conspiracy agents. Every plotline gathered beneath one roof.

Then he looked at Sota.

"You asked us to join you," Haruki said.

Sota's gaze moved to Isao.

"To prevent this."

"No," Haruki replied. "You asked us to trust that you could control what followed."

Sota absorbed the words. Isao lifted his head.

"You abandoned us."

Sota looked at him.

"I told you no civilians."

"You told us to wait."

"I told you we needed evidence."

"We had evidence."

"You had anger."

Isao smiled bitterly.

"So did you."

"Yes."

Sota's answer was quiet.

"That is why I gave it rules."