Author's note: Ummm, ummm, k.

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I wonder how much of my hometown I've actually seen. Before I went to prison, my world consisted of the residential area, the school, and the market district. The average person rarely ventures outside what they know, myself included. I've been here before, once- back when we were having all that trouble with the zombies. Yuki led me here, to this run down part of town. The last time I was here, I constantly felt everyones eyes on me, but now, I didn't attract so much attention. I suppose looking suspicious in a place like this isn't really suspicious at all.

The sun was beginning to rise, and Yuki and I still hadn't found shelter. I had no idea where to go, and I guess Yuki was the same way. My first instinct about where to go for help would be my friends, or my family... but I didn't feel like I could go to either of them now. We couldn't rely on the Data Integration Thought Entity either.

How long will it be before someone notices that I got out? Will Sato sound the alarm in order to draw suspicion away from himself? That seems like the best course of action- If I were in his shoes, that's what I'd do.

Eventually, I turned into an alley, completely at a loss for what to do. Yuki followed behind and stopped, eyes fixed on me expectantly.

"I need some clothes Yuki... and I can't be seen like this in the daylight."

I reached into my pocket and grabbed the cash that Sato gave to me. I handed it to Yuki, who simply continued to stare up at me.

"Can you go get me some clothes? I'll wait right here. Get a pair of scissors too- I'd rather not go into a barber-shop to get a cut."

She nodded, and turned around to go about what I asked her.

"Oh, Yuki... one more thing..."

She looked at me again.

"Be careful. They won't be looking for you, and everyone thinks your dead... but don't take anything for granted."

"Understood."

"...I love you, Yuki."

"...As do I, Kyon."

She ran off, leaving me alone in the alley.

Tired, I leaned against the wall and slid down until I was hunched up in a sitting position. Despite the suns first ray's being visible, it was still cold.

Even with a new look, it wasn't going to be enough. The police are going to be searching for me soon- and just bumming around out in the street like this, I'll be a sitting duck. I have no money, and I assume Yuki doesn't either. She would have brought it up if she had. The government probably seized her assets when she died- it's not like she has any next of kin.

...We need help. That's what it all comes down to. We can't survive out here alone.

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Not even an hour had passed before Yuki returned, clothing and scissors in hand. She had picked out a pair of blue jeans and a red, floral print Hawaiian shirt. I can't say much for her taste, but at least it fit. Really well, actually.

Staring dumbly at the scissors, I wondered what kind of cut I should go with. Honestly, I don't know why I even bother- it's not like I could cut my hair properly, even if I knew what to with it.

"...I don't suppose you've ever read a book on hair styling, have you?"

Yuki nodded in the affirmative.

"...Do you think you can give me a hair cut?"

"I can... try."

I gulped. I hope it didn't look too bad...

I handed her the scissors and repeated my request. She stared at the implement for a moment, opening and closing the blades in what might have been some small degree of interest.

I sat down on the ground. Yuki silently moved behind me and ran her fingers through my hair, apparently seeing what she had to work with.

"Lean your head back."

I complied, closing my eyes, expecting her to begin cutting.

Instead, I felt ice cold water blast me on the back of the head.

I jumped forward, startled. I turned around and saw Yuki standing there, void of expression. She was holding a water hose.

"W-what was that for?"

"...'It is important to remember, that before you style somebody's hair, you must always wet it first.'"

"...Did you quote that directly from that hair-styling book?"

"Yes."

I sighed. I guess she sort of knew what she was doing. Again I leaned my head back. This time, Yuki really did start cutting my hair. I couldn't see what was going on, so I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best. I wonder why I'm so worried about what my hair looks like, anyway. It's not like I need to impress anyone...

Yuki was really gently. It didn't really feel any different from a normal haircut- that its to say that it was really pleasant. I sighed again, this time in contentment.

"Is this enjoyable?"

"Yes, very..."

"...I am... glad."

"Haha...thank you for this, Yuki."

After a few minutes, she was finished. I reached for a broken piece of a glass nearby and examined my new hairstyle... only to discover that it wasn't really new at all.

It looked almost exactly like my haircut from back when I was in school, only a little longer. I guess if I ran into someone who new me from back then, they'd recognize me- but I don't intend on doing that anyway. At least I no longer have my ridiculously long, unkempt prison-hair.

"Wow... it actually looks pretty good, Yuki."

"Thank you."

I admired it for a moment longer before turning around to look at Yuki. Again, I'm amazed that she came back to me. Seeing her again... it was something that I didn't deserve. I began to worry again.

"...So... what do we do now?"

Yuki didn't respond. Of course, that meant 'I don't know.'

I looked up at the sky and saw that the sun had almost reached it's peak. It wasn't noon yet, but it was getting there.

I stood up, and turned toward the street, stretching my arm down to Yuki. She grabbed it, and I pulled her up to her feet, holding her tightly as I pondered our situation.

"...Let's just go see what we can find. We can't just stay in this alley."

"Understood."

We stepped out into the street and picked a random direction, letting fate blow us where it may.

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After walking for a bit, we came by an old mom and pop electronics store, most of it's merchandise clearly second-hand. A television in the window was showing the news.

We almost passed it by, when my attention was suddenly seized. I grabbed Yuki's hand and squeezed tightly.

"Last night, there was a prison break from Nishinomiya correctional facility that has the authorities baffled. One of the inmates, (static), age 18, has disappeared from his cell. You may remember him from the high-profile case from a few years ago, in which he was convicted of two counts of murder, and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison. When questioned about the incident, Izumi Sato, the prison guard assigned to (static)'s block, had this to say...

'I have no idea how he could have gotten out. The cameras didn't show anything... He just up and disapeared.'

...The Nishinomiya police department has begun an intensive search, warning all citizen's to keep an eye out for the man in this photo, keeping in mind that..."

That Sato... I wish you well..

"Let's go, Yuki. We've got no time to lose."

She nodded. I turned around to continue back in the direction I was going, only to be stopped dead in my tracks by a voice coming from behind.

"...Oni-san?"

Sis? No... keep walking Kyon. Pretend you're a stranger.

"A-and... Yuki-chan?"

I stopped. There was no hiding it. I turned around and looked upon my younger sister for the first time in four years.

She had grown a lot- she was now the same age that I was when I went to prison, maybe a little older. She was wearing the school uniform from North High. I was startled by how much she had changed- but it was unmistakable. This was definitely my sister.

"...Sis."

My grip tightened on Yuki's hand. Sis just stared, unsure of what to say. I didn't know what to say either. Eventually, she found the words she needed and spoke them, uncertainly.

"I-I... came here to look for you, Kyon. I saw on the news this morning and skipped school to come out here..."

Jeez... what am I supposed to say?

Her voiced hitched slightly. I saw the tears well up in her eyes.

"I... I wanted to see you, Kyon... but mom wouldn't let me. I... I really missed you..."

She swayed on her feet, in danger of falling over. This broke me out of my trance. I ran over to her and caught her fall. The tears were running freely now. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed in anger, and she pounded her fists on my chest ineffectually.

"You idiot! You idiot! Stupid Kyon!"

Not knowing what else to say, I muttered an apology.

"I'm sorry..."

Her fists stopped hammering, and she just let them hang limply. A few seconds later, she was crying openly into my shoulder.

"C-come on sis, let's go sit down somewhere."

She made no response either way. I just supported her and made my way to a nearby coffee shop.

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After sis calmed down, the three of us got down to talking over coffee.

"...How are you alive, Yuki-chan? Weren't you... killed?"

Yuki shook her head in the negative.

Sis's face brightened up.

"Th-then, you're innocent Kyon!? Come on, let's go to the police office! We can pro-"

"No."

Sis looked at me, confused.

"...It's true that I didn't kill Yuki..."

Sis smiled happily. I really hated to do this to her...

"...But I did kill Haruhi."

Her face fell. Not in surprise or anything, but from disappointment.

"...Even after I heard, I had held on to the hope that maybe it was a lie... that maybe they forced you to confess or something..."

"...No."

"...Why?"

"I... a lot of reasons I guess. I blamed her for a lot of things, sis. Some... most of it wasn't even her fault... not directly at least..."

Sis' waterworks were running again.

"...There hasn't been a day in the past 4 years when I haven't regretted what I did."

I reached across the table and wiped a tear from her face.

"Please stop crying..."

She did.

"I... okay."

For a few moments, silence reigned again.

"So... how did you get out?"

I looked at Yuki and shrugged.

"Magic. I'm like Houdini."

She looked at me incredulously, her expression betraying a barely suppressed snicker.

"And... where are you going?"

Again, I looked at Yuki. She didn't give any response.

"...I have no idea. We have nowhere to go. We don't even have food or shelter."

Sis made no indication that she heard what I said.

After almost 5 minutes, I spoke up.

"...It's probably best that we get going. I don't want to get you in trouble."

"No, wait."

"Hmmm?"

"...Mom is at work right now. If you want... you can stay in my closet until you have something figured out."

"Y-your closet?"

"Yeah..."

"Why...?"

"Because...," her expression shifted to one of sorrow, "I love my older brother... no matter what..."

"Sis..."

I remember thinking then... that maybe... just maybe we could get by... I was overjoyed that sis hadn't forgotten about me... but still I couldn't help but wonder what exactly we were going to do in the long run...

We couldn't live in Sis's closet forever- eventually we would have to move to somewhere and support ourselves. That's when it really hit me for the first time that we were on the lamb- things could never go back to the way they were before. This thought made me incredibly sad. Even though I was out of prison... nothing was guaranteed. I reached under the table and place my hand on Yuki's thigh. She looked at me cooly. I wonder if she was as confident as she looked...

I hoped she was. God knows I'm not.

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Author's note: I'd write an author's note, but I kind of want to go play Dead Rising... so... Review please!