Blood & Vows Ghosts of the Past

Ghosts of the Past

[Leon’s Penthouse – 2:45 AM]

(The ice in Leon’s glass clinks softly as he swirls his drink. Rin remains by the window, arms crossed, gaze locked onto him.)

Rin

Explain.

(Leon smirks, taking a sip.)

Leon

That’s not a request, is it?

Rin

No.

(Leon chuckles, setting his glass down.)

Leon

Alistair Crane built an empire in the shadows. He taught me how to play this game—how to win it.

Rin

And?

Leon

And I outgrew him. Took what I needed. Left him behind.

Rin

To die.

Leon

It wasn’t personal.

Rin

It is now.

(Leon laughs softly.)

Leon

Apparently.

Leon

The question is—what are you going to do about it?

(Rin steps closer, his voice controlled.)

Rin

I protect my client. That’s all.

Leon

Is it?

(Silence. Tension, thick and suffocating. Then—Leon moves, closing the space between them.)

Leon

Tell me, Kuroda. Do you ever stop being a soldier?

Rin

Do you ever stop being a predator?

(Leon grins, but there’s something dangerous in his eyes. Something unreadable. Rin doesn’t look away.)

Leon

We’re going to make a great mess of each other, aren’t we?

Rin

I don’t make messes.

(Leon grins, his voice drops.)

Leon

No? Then why are you still here?

(Silence. Rin doesn’t answer. But he also doesn’t leave.)



