[The thud Saya felt as he said those words, she wouldn't believe anyone if they said it wasn't audible. It's just like Haji, that time in the opera house when he asked her to live.]
[And she had. For his sake, but her own as well -- only for it all to repeat again, here. So long as she lived, there would be no end to it...]
[It's a long beat before her hold tightens around Hei again, stretching up to kiss the corner of his mouth.] Then stay with me until the time comes.