As sharp as his awareness, his movements were filled with hesitation, and it took moments for the child to open his mouth to speak. He need only tell Senna that the gun was his-- He didn't even understand why she was asking. The last thing in the world she should concern herself with right now was the weapon in his hands.

Unfortunately, he was too slow. His "shadow" spoke first, ruining the explanation built up in the back of Nigredo's mind. "I picked it up," he answered. The tone was far too nonchalant compared to before. "From my brother. He was too busy dying to need it at the time."

What? For such hesitance, the other's response was immediate, bordering a kind of panic. "I didn't--" He didn't what? There existed something so wrong in that explanation that demanded a denial, but nothing surrounding the words were false. Nothing at all.