Leo's keen eyes surveyed the premises, veiled by the dark. The absolute silence assaulted his ears; his breast was still in nervous anticipation. He was a ghost.

He dropped the hood of his cloak back slowly.

Too long. He had been gone far too long.

He hadn't meant for it to happen, but when week became months and months a year, the guilt was simply too much. Six more months passed until he could convince himself his family wouldn't truly be better off without him.

His home was calm and quiet and dark, save for the weak glow of a computer screen saver. The soft sounds of sleep filled the air. Beyond the hushed buzz of an oscillating fan, someone snored.

A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he shifted the weight of a shoulder bag that dug into him. He was tired -exhausted, really- as well as dirty and hungry, but the thought of eating made his gut uneasy, and a shower would no doubt wake someone. He realized then that he had no idea what time it was, only that it was early morning. A quick glance at a clock on the wall alerted him to the fact that it was nearly 4:00am. That gave him two hours. Three at most.

He decided to meditate. Perhaps it would help.

Silently he crossed the lair, set down his bag, and entered the makeshift zendo*, and by the soft glow of a candle light, he allowed his mind to empty.