He found her all alone in the combative ground, sitting on the steps although there was no one around. It was easy for him to recognize her even from a distance because he had trained his eyes to always look out for her, following his father's order of keeping her safe.

His approaching footsteps alerted her and she turned to see who had come there. But seeing Ryuu, she took in a deep breath and didn't leave just yet.

It was past curfew and they were all supposed to be in bed by then. Night had deepened and the dark blue sky unfolded above them akin to a starry canopy. He sat down beside her, eyes lingering on her arm that had been cut a few days prior.

She noticed his gaze and took the round jar out from her bag, giving it back to him, "thank you, but you can take it back. The cut has been healed."

"It's alright, keep it. I can make some more when I go back to the base," he replied and she paused, realizing it was the first time he had spoken a full sentence to her.

She knew he would go to the base before her because his graduation was near. And then he would be joining the ranks as a trained warrior, imparting his knowledge to the others and taking part in the battles as well.

"Ryuu," she spoke up and he turned to face her, "what will you do when you graduate?"

"I will do my duty," he replied, "I will serve the clan like I am supposed to."

"But you don't like to fight, you hate giving pain..." She remarked, seeing a slight smile gracing his face in appreciation that she had figured out the actual reason behind his fighting style and strategies.

"And I hate bearing it too," he spoke in a low voice, "our people have been in pain for a long time now. I don't want to fight but what other option do we have..."

She thought his words over just then realizing how much time and tribulations could influence people.

"Sometimes I still think that what use is a war won by another war?" He sighed wearily, leaning back to look at the sky above, "has a fire ever been put out by gasoline?"

She was surprised that he was still talking to her because due to his persistent silence around her, she was certain that he intentionally avoided talking to her. Yet there he was sitting beside her with his beautiful brown eyes full of sadness.

It was the first time they had had a proper conversation ever since Sayuri had come back to her people.

"What do you think will stop this war?" She asked because ever since she had come there, she had been thinking about it too.

It had been ten years since her mother was killed by assassins but things only got worse than earlier.

"At the rate it is going right now, it won't end until one side is completely vanquished." His eyes dimmed slightly, "and we have sustained much more damage than the other side."

From his words it was clear to her that things were dire; it was clearly a kill-or-be-killed situation for their clan.

"We will put a stop to it," she whispered but her voice was full of determination, "I will do all I can to end this."

He tilted his head to look at her, his eyes wide and sparkling just like the sky above, though the reason for the sparkle in his eyes was just the moonlight being reflected within. "Otosan says you are our last hope."

"And I promise to lay my life down for my people," she replied, "I'll fight and I'll protect, whatever I can do to keep them safe."

He had been feeling downcast earlier but seeing her determination and the way she had almost taken a firm oath to protect her people lessened that distress welling up inside him.

"You speak like a true leader," he remarked, a genuinely admiring smile playing upon his lips by then.

"I'm trying my best to prove myself worthy of the respect all of you show to me," she replied, her grey eyes holding that same sheen he remembered from their past, "I won't let my people down."

He left the step he was sitting on beside her and knelt down in front of her, his head bowed towards her. "I believe you. And I'll serve you till my last breath, Sayuri San."

She didn't let him kneel further as she held his arms and pulled him up to his feet. They were both standing by then when she held her hand out towards him.

"Let's try not to put this fire out with gasoline," she spoke up, taking him by slight surprise, "will you teach me the way you fight? Without giving pain to the opponent and still gaining victory?"

He felt the extended hand was an offer so he gently took it, "I will. But not here, I have to leave in a few days."

"When I return to the base too, then will you teach me?"

He nodded his head in agreement. He was graduating in less than a week and then he would return to the base with Keiji. Sayuri and Miyu had to stay at the Academy for their final year and return after their graduation the next year.

"Let's just hope I'm alive till then," he remarked and watched the expression on her face change swiftly.

"Ryuu, don't even say that as a joke."

"Sorry," he replied, seeing that it had hurt her and it stung his heart to see that pained look in her eyes, "I'll stay alive, I promise."

"You better," she remarked but then added, "consider it an order."

His lips creased into a smile again and he squeezed her hand gently before letting it go, "understood. Now shall we return or wait until any of the staff finds us and gives us a medley of sermons?"

She looked up, seeing the night sky had started to lighten, indicating the onset of dawn. "Oh no, we should go. It's almost morning."

He watched her go back to the building but he stayed outside himself, sitting back on the steps as he let all the worries that had filled his head ease up.

For some reason, he trusted that she would a good leader, one of the greatest the Sasuke had ever had. The day he had seen her spar with Akira, he had realized that there was something different about her.

She was the only one who could lead them to victory. And he hoped his assumption would turn out to be true.

His people had had enough suffering. He wished her vow of putting an end to it all would reach completion. And he would do everything it took to help her reach that long-awaited victory.

Even if it meant sacrificing his own life for her and his people.

***