[Giovanni was a assassin, a bringer of death. He had seen people die many times before. Men often took their last strangled breath as their blood dripped down his blade.

He was accustomed to the idea of death, knew what to expect from it, but... it was still unpleasant business. Even those whose death meant life for others deserved respect in their final moment. It was a terrible necessity that some people had to die to free others from their tyranny. His mentor had stressed that fact to him during his training and it held true.

That in this case a child was involved did make it that much more tragic to him. He had several children at home whom he loved and tried to protect. If one of them had been killed... He did not know what he would do. For a moment he felt lost, unsure what to say, but then the words of wisdom his mentor had spoken to him after his first kill came flooding back. ]

Death is a difficult thing, it is meant to be so that we do not forget. It does not get any easier, but the pain will lessen over time.

[And now for something of his own. ]

Do not punish yourself for it. That sweet girl would not want to see you suffer for her sake.