"Kakashi's got nothing to do with this," Ryouma said. His voice graveled in its lowest registers. "And Tsume's not invulnerable. She's human. But she's a damn good ninja, and she's my friend. She dragged me out of hell, and I owe her everything I've got to offer."

Yasuo's crushed lip curled in scorn. Ryouma added savagely, "And if I was screwing her, it still wouldn't be any business of yours. When I asked her if you were the reason she kept turning me down, she said you didn't matter."

That wasn't exactly the truth. But it would hurt, and at the moment, that was all Ryouma wanted.