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Unravel

The road was dark and I could feel the first snow fall from the sky. I should have found some shelter instead of heading off into some random direction.

"Didn't I say to let her go?"

The voice was familiar. I heard some grunts and a woman shriek, that was when I ran towards to commotion, my hand hovering on my sakabatou. I froze, the giant kanji on the man's back invoked so many memories.

"Teach you punks to listen to man when he's threatening ya."

There was that voice again.

"You ok, lady?"

The woman trembled and nodded as he helped her up. The fallen men lay in a heap a few yards away. They were probably out to mug her.

"You should be at home. Where do you live?"

That voice. I knew that voice. Oh gods, I didn't want him to see me either. I needed to hide.

"Jou-chan?"

Too late.

I lifted my eyes to meet his disbelieving gaze. "Hello Sano."

To say he was surprised to see me was an understatement. "Kaoru," he whispered. The scars on my face and neck were probably shocking.

"How are you?" I feigned a smile, I had never truly smiled since then.

The woman forgotten he walked to me to get a better look I suppose. I didn't think he really believed I was real. As usual, I was right. His hand touched my face and traced my scars, I tried not to flinch at his touch. "Who did this?" He's pissed.

"They're long gone," I whisper. He didn't get the hint.

"I'll kill them."

I stayed quiet.

His eyes told me that he wanted to say something more but he realized that this was no place to have a conversation. "Come on," he put an arm over my shoulder and guided me away.

I should have hid.

"So, how are you?" The bar was old and mostly unkempt but there were few people leaving us room to talk about our private matters.

He shook his head. "I'm wondering more about you."

"Healthy as a tanuki can be," I tried to be humorous but it was falling flat.

He eyed my scars once again. "What happened? Why are you here?"

I shrug. "Can't a girl wander without being questioned?" I joke as I take a sip of my sake. He's making me nervous. I don't want to talk about it. I don't. Please just leave it alone.

"No."

I sighed. I didn't want to go though this again. "I really don't want to talk about it, Sano."

"Why not? What happened?"

Sanosuke left just after He did. Megumi was mostly devastated by it but tried to hide. We all knew how she felt about him.

"Have you talked to Megumi. I guess not. You should, she really misses you."

He draws back at the mention of her name. So I supposed it wasn't one-sided. "Stop changing the subject."

I cringed. "I really don't want to talk about it Sanosuke."

I heard him sigh as I take another swig of sake. I eyed the door, thinking whether or not I should run for it. Anything to avoid explaining everything to him and risk Him knowing about it.

"Where's Yahiko?"

Closing my eyes I saw his face in my mind, those last moments. "Gone."

"What?"

I faced him with vacant eyes. "Dead. He died. He's dead."

"You're shitting me."

I turned away, I didn't want to see his reaction, I didn't want to feel it either. I have my own pain and that is enough. "I was too weak to protect him. I was weak and I failed him."

He cursed and hit the table. I just ignore it and take another sip. It would be a long night.

Of course I left out the gory details but I think the information was too much for him. I knew I shouldn't have said anything but the scars were too much evidence. I couldn't lie to him, it's Sanosuke. He hugged me and it was then that I realized that I was afraid of his touch, the touch of any man. I was broken but I let him do as he wished. It was Sano.

"So he never came back?"

I shook my head knowing he was talking about Him. "He has no reason to. It wasn't his fault."

The ex-gangster cursed for the nth time that night. "Damned if it wasn't. They were after that bastard too! I should have been there. We should have been there."

My smile was sad. "No, it's in the past now. I have to deal with it, it's not your fault."

"Oh, Jouchan." He gathered me into a bear hug and I could only hope that this meeting ended soon. It was too painful.

"I'm fine, Sano." I'm not but I never told him that. I didn't want them to know, how weak I really am.

"That still doesn't explain what you're doing here."

I smiled again, trying to lighten the mood. "What are you doing here?"

"Passing through."

"Same here."

He pointed to my side. "Then what is that?"

I pulled out my sakabatou and showed it to him. "I'm doing the same he did."

"He shouldn't be an example to follow."

I shook my head. "He should be. He's gone through much worse and I hope to gain forgiveness by doing the same. At least clear my conscious of some things."

He nods and his tone is venomous, "If I ever run into him—"

"You'll do nothing but open your arms and welcome him as your friend."

"You're too nice, Jouchan."

I smiled again. "And you're nothing but a big oaf."