"You're still my cousin, and my ultimate goal as a ninja. But... I want to still consider you a friend, too," The last words were mumbled and she sighed again, her eyes going to the ground. Damn. It seemed like he wasn't going to go with her after all, so she might as well get out what she needed to as quickly as possible...

"... And this is something I should've said as soon as I could. I'm..."

Her heart pounded harder and louder in her throat, tightening it beyond the capability of breathing before she forced herself to continue speaking again, "I'm sorry, Seph... For leaving you back there. For not saying anything sooner. Just... M'sorry."