The Samurai That I Loved

第60章

The blast from the gun filled the room, making a split second feel more like a passing lifetime. Sharp movement from the corner of the room blocked Eliza's vision before she suddenly realized with a shrill gasp that Hopkins was crumbling to the ground in front of her.

"Hopkins!" She shouted. Yoru was immediately moving towards them both, extending his arm to her. Eliza ran to him as he bent over Hopkins with panic in his eyes.

"You crazy bastard-" He started in a caught voice.

"It's alright. Really," Hopkins interrupted, grunting as he sat up, clutching his shoulder, "Not too bad, actually. I got deuced lucky, I'd say."

"You could have died protecting me!" Eliza rasped in adrenaline, kneeling to assess his wounds. Yoru met Hopkins' gaze and suddenly bowed low in front of him before straightening.

"Thank you, my friend."

"Always. You're my brother." Hopkins answered in a serious tone, his gaze unwavering. Yoru's mouth lifted in a smile as he nodded once in agreement.

"Oh my goodness, you poor man!" The abducted maid whom Hopkins had just been holding before the gun was blasted rushed forward to check over him, "Let me see, I can help. After all you saved me. Gor! You're a veritable hero!"

Yoru and Eliza backed up as she shoved herself through. Hopkins' face lit up at the sight of her and he began to pout as if in pain, nursing his shot shoulder dramatically.

"As a matter of fact, it does hurt very much. I could use a soft support, my dear." He admonished in a weakened voice while the girl held his arm and fussed over him.

Yoru would have grinned down at his antics if it wasn't for the sharp interruption of Radford's enraged voice from the back of the room.

"Get out of my way!!" He barreled past them, holding the gun up as defense before running out the door. Yoru took a step in his direction before halting and turning to Eliza. She met his gaze before looking down at Hopkins.

"Go." She whispered, stepping back from him, "Do what you must."

That was all he needed to hear. Pulling her against him for a fast kiss, he answered quickly, "Help them to the carriage waiting outside. I'll be there soon."

"You better be. I love you."

"Aishteru."

He released her before striding out the door. His long legs moved down the lavish hallway of the Opera house, a single purpose on his mind. Pulling out both tantō blades, he followed the path Radford had just taken in escape.

At the top of the stairs, he looked down to see Radford just making it to the bottom step.

"Radford!" He shouted.

The other man turned around sharply, glaring crazed, raged eyes up at him before raising his gun and firing it again. Hitting only an inch away from Yoru's boots, he cursed and continued to run, turning to flee directly into the ballroom from the lower entrance.

Yoru charged down the stairs, his black eyes narrowed dangerously while all the memories of Eliza came drifting back into his mind. From the first moment he saw her within his own lands. Her cheeky little innocence and her wild red hair as she sang songs atop his horse. The way she looked so small and nervous inside his village home. Her smiles and her sweet laughter in the mountains when he taught her how to shoot an arrow. Her grown, womanly body wrapped up within his inside the stormy rains of her own country all these years later. Her love...her life...her voice...her.

This man in front of him who had had the sacred, incredible privilege of being her husband had just tried to kill her.

He had shot his closest friend.