MEETINGS

Karamatsu sighed closing the door behind him as he made his way out of his home. Tears threatened to fall, prickling at the sides of his eyes. Snow fell softly around him as stars twinkled up into the night sky.

He has had enough. Why do his brothers insist to treat him the way they do? He would be the first to admit his habits were kind of weird but that was just who he was. His brothers had weirder things they did then he himself. Hell Ichimatsu literally turned into a cat sometimes! And Jyuushimatsu was he even human anymore? But him trying to act cool and suave was the worst thing ever, right?

He couldn't take it anymore in that house. When people saw their family and how they act they would assume Ichimatsu was the one with depression. And maybe it was true, he wouldn't know his brothers never told him anything, but what he hadn't told anyone was that he had been diagnosed with severe depression.

And it's their entire fault, something said in his mind. He couldn't even disagree. He missed the days when they were children. This… this life he was living was not worth it in his mind.

Don't get him wrong he would never hurt himself. He was a coward after all. But just… the thought that if a car just so happened to hit him he wouldn't fight for life either.

Walking down the street he thought deeply about what he planned to do. Get a job was number one, obviously. He could always try and get a gig playing guitar at a café or hell play the piano. He had learned piano before he learned to play guitar and was slightly better at it. His brothers didn't know because they never bothered to ask but he was gifted when it came to music. He only had to hear a song once and he could play it back with perfect recall.

But that wouldn't matter to them so why bother telling them?

Number two was getting a place to himself away from his brothers. This would accomplish three things. It would relieve his parents of having to pay for at least one child. And two, maybe it will make the others realize just what is missing. Karamatsu wasn't holding onto any hope though. He had once gone on a mini vacation to Kyoto for two weeks and they never even noticed he wasn't there.

Three… it would give him the independence and separation he needed from his brothers. To get away from their constant looking down on him, even from the younger brothers, would do a whole lot for him. Perhaps he'll be able to heal a little and his severe depression would abate if only a little bit.

Sighing deeply he turned into the local park. Karamatsu couldn't help but reminisce about all the times the brothers and his self would play here. Before they turned into total dicks, that is. Walking the path further into the park he stopped suddenly as he realized he wasn't alone.

Lights from the streetlight illuminated a woman with light brown hair that fell down her back in waves. She was wearing a skirt with leggings underneath and a petticoat. A scarf was wrapped around her throat.

From behind her Karamatsu couldn't tell if she was okay. She was just there, standing in the middle of the walkway. Even though Karamatsu didn't know he was worried about her. Something in him tugged at him telling him to comfort her, to wipe away all the pain.

He stepped forward mouth opening "Miss-?"

The woman started, turning around suddenly. The first thing Karamatsu noticed was the tears in her big brown eyes. The second thing he noticed was just how beautiful she was. Karamatsu felt his face heat up slightly. She was so beautiful.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry. I… I'll get out of your way." She spoke fast bowing to him in apology. She made to run away but Karamatsu stopped her before she could walk away by grabbing her arm.

"It's okay." He didn't even bother with his usual act, as exhausted as he was from his brothers. The woman looked at her arm at him her eyes widening at the contact. "Are you alright?"

The woman sniffled. "I'm okay. I'm sorry." Again with the apologizing. Karamatsu gently led her over to a park bench where the woman sat down next to him, legs crossed.

"Are you sure?" Why was he so worried about a woman he just met?

"Yes I am sure. Thank you. I just started thinking of something sad that happened to me years ago. I'll be fine." She looked up at him shyly and he blinked seeing her cheeks heat up suddenly.

"M-My name is Sawada Tsunako." She wringed her hands slightly, nervous.

"Ah, my name is Matsuno Karamatsu. It is nice to meet you Sawada-san."

"Just call me Tsuna!" Tsuna told him. "Sawada-san makes me think of my father and well…" She trailed off as if not sure what to say after that. But Karamatsu understood. There were some days he didn't want to be associated with certain members of his family either.

"Then you may call me Kara or Karamatsu which ever you prefer Tsuna-chan." He said this in his confident voice and Tsuna giggled at the difference.

"Kara-kun, then." She smiled gently before taking his hand in his own. "You comforted me, but are you okay? You don't have to tell me… I know we just met each other but…" She looked indecisive on what she wanted to say, looking like she was mulling around for something to say that would make sense to him. "We just met… but I care about you already."

Hah, Karamatsu wanted to say, someone he just met cares about him more than his brothers ever will. He didn't have anyone to talk to. But here was this woman, Tsuna, who wanted to listen to his woes. Who wanted to help him feel better?

So he told her. Told her how his brothers teased him mercilessly about everything. How he usually acted. She just sat and listened as he unloaded all his emotional messes on her. She sat there holding his hand, comforting him. She said nothing but her presence was enough.

At the end of the night Karamatsu was a little bit in love with her.

When they eventually had to get going he really didn't want to leave her. She just laughed a little and took a little notebook out of her bag alongside a pen. It was pink with a little feather on it, it was cute Karamatsu absently noted just like her-. Stop.

Quickly scribbling something on a piece of paper she then ripped the paper out of the notebook and handed it to him.

"My cell number and my home address. I-If you want it…"

He took the paper. "Yeah, I do. Thank you Tsuna-chan."

"It's no problem Kara-kun. We both helped each other after all." Karamatsu nodded, before shifting slightly.

"D-Do you want to maybe… go out this Friday?" He asked nervously. She blinked before nodding enthusiastically.

"Sure." Karamatsu smiled and watched as she took her cellphone out and checked the time.

"Ah I'm sorry Kara-kun I have to get going. I have a big test tomorrow at University. I'll call you later okay?"

They said their goodbyes and she walked away. Karamatsu felt lighter than ever before as he looked up at the sky. As he turned to begin the walk home he couldn't but think to himself…

Did he now have a Karamatsu girl?!