Disclaimer: Character Do Not Belong To Me. I'm Poor Don't Sue Me! =(

Unravel

I followed her through the market place. Some were closing up shop and others were still selling what they could at the last minute.

I could sense the woman's hesitation. I knew all to well the questions she would ask, and as usual I had no desire to answer them. It was all too painful. I also did not want to see Him. What would he say? What would I do? Too many questions, I didn't want to answer them nor did I want answers to my own. I just wanted to continue wandering without any sense of direction.

We finally stopped at the edge of town, a modest house with a small garden for vegetables. I heard the He always wanted to have his own. I shook my head and steeled myself as I walked inside.

Warm and cozy would be the words to describe Aya's home. It was small but it was a home.

"Please, sit down." Her voice was gentle and she motioned with her hand.

I sat down and I felt so out of place in this home. I must have looked a mess and the woman before me was immaculate. "Thank you," I whispered. I was such a coward in her presence. "So, how are you?"

It seemed that I started every old encounter the same way. It was the only safe way.

"I'm well, thank you."

There was a tense silence in the room and I merely awaited for her to ask.

"Are you looking for Himura-san?"

She had never called Him by his name. She held too much respect for him to call by it. I shook my head and she seemed to relax. "No, I was merely passing through."

"Oh." And that was all she said.

"You have a wonderful home."

She smiled that wonderful smile of hers and nodded in agreement. "Thank you, it took me awhile to get it like this. When we found it it was some run down shack."

The woman could work miracles.

"It's nothing compared to your dojo. It's so lovely."

I controlled my emotions and managed to smile. It was lovely, my wonderful little dojo. I miss it and the happiness it brought.

"I want to thank you, for saving me back there."

I nodded. "There's no need to thank me. I simply did what any other moral person would do. I couldn't stand there and let it happen."

She remained silent, a pleasant smile on her red lips. Her eyes strayed from my face to my side. And so it began. "A sword? I thought you didn't fight with a sword."

Should I have shown her? Would keeping it a secret have made things better? I'll never know. I shook my head. "No, it's not. It's a sakabatou." Her eyes went wide as I pulled out a the reversed blade from its confines.

I think she was speechless. I would have been to, if I were her but I wasn't.

She continued to stare at the blade. "Why?"

I merely placed the weapon back at my side and smiled. "Long story."

She nodded in understanding, her eyes roaming over the scars on my face and neck. I felt naked and like I was being prodded. "I should really get going." I didn't want to be here when He got back.

"No, you have to stay!" Her voice was insistent.

With my eyes closed I sighed and nodded. I didn't want to stay but ... Something made me.

The door opened and I heard loud footstep approach us. I refused to open my eyes even when there was a loud thud as something must have fallen to the floor.

"Kaoru-dono?"

Still violet as ever radiating kindness and knowledge. I finally opened my eyes to the sound of His voice. "Kenshin," I acknowledged him. I hadn't said his name in years. It was almost foreign to me, it wasn't that I hated him. I just wanted to forget.

I watched as the beautiful woman stood up and left the room, not without squeezing his shoulder encouraging him, I supposed.

I really really REALLY wanted to disappear now. That stare of his belittled me and I felt so too dirty to be in His presence. I bowed my head in shame. I didn't want his accusing stare.

"Kaoru-dono? What happened?"

I could see his feet stop right in front of me and crouch down. His hand sent tingles up my spine, his touch I hadn't had in years. He lifted my head and his eyes were wide as he stared at the scars. A large ugly gash across my neck and a thin line of rough flesh running down the left side of my face.

I could almost see the gold in them. "Who did this?"

I turned my head away. "It doesn't matter anymore." I didn't mean to sound cold but I didn't want to be there. I didn't want to tell him. It was true though, it didn't matter anymore.

Stubbornly I got up from my seat. "I better go now. I just wanted to make sure that Aya-san got home safely when she insisted I come in." I bolted for the door but he stopped me.

"Kaoru-dono, please." He begged, he actually begged. I didn't want to burden him.

I shook my head. "No. Just let it go. Let me go. I have to leave." I panicked what was I supposed to do? Smile at him and tell him what happened like it was OK?

I ran.