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

Unravel

I was so foolish. I actually ran. I thought I could out run Him? Who was I kidding? But honestly, I had to try. I had to escape so that guilt didn't eat at two souls instead of just this one. He didn't need anymore baggage than he already had. I would bare the sins alone. Besides he had his life already. A wife. Oh gods, a wife!

I shook my head. No it was ok. I didn't need him and he didn't need me.

The trees whizzed by me in a blur. All I could hear was the sound of my own breath as my lungs screamed for air but that didn't stop me. I ran away from the past, hoping I would never see it again.

I don't think I was surprised when I found that he wasn't following me. He must have been in shock or at least put his stubbornness aside and knew that I had to be alone. I was somewhat disappointed, and who wouldn't be? I was just being silly. Why would he follow me, I was not his present. She was, I was his past. But then again she was also his past. No, I shook my head, I wouldn't drown myself in those thoughts again.

I looked at my surroundings. The middle of nowhere, as usual. I should have been more careful, it looked like I'd have to sleep outside again. It's not like I had any money to spend on an inn. A rurouni was penniless and I learned that the hard way when I began.

Perhaps I should have kept moving instead of building the small fire. I shouldn't have kept vigil and traveled throughout the night to get away. I stayed and that was my mistake.

"Who's there?!" My hand was quickly on the hilt ready to attack. Deep down I knew who it was but experience never let me keep my guard down.

"Kaoru-dono ..."

I tensed and my hand stayed on my weapon as he came into the small clearing. I didn't get a good look at him at the house but here he was illuminated by the fire. The light danced off his features and I longed to embrace him like the light but that was impossible.

I managed a weak smile. "So you found me."

He smiled too, but it wasn't forced like mine. "Aa, I did."

"Stubborn as ever."

"So are you."

We stayed silent, only listening to the sound of the fire crackling. I don't think either of us knew what to say or maybe it was just me.

"What are you doing here Kaoru-dono?"

I met his gaze, my smile still intact. "I was only passing through, I didn't know you were here until I met Aya-san."

He nodded and told me that Aya had informed him what had happened. He thanked me.

"That's unnecessary, it's only logical."

He sat down in front of me with enough room to make me feel comfortable despite the nervousness I was feeling.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it. It no longer concerns you." The wording sounded cold but my voice was gentle.

I could see the knot form on his brow. He had forgotten how stubborn I could be. "How did you get those?"

I flinched away before he had the chance to touch them. I could see the hurt in his eyes. "They're nothing."

I saw his own scar, it looked better than the last time I saw him. Could he have found happiness with her, finally? That would make me happy as well. At least our sacrifice wouldn't have been in vain. And then I asked him. "Are you happy?"

He blinked. He wasn't expecting that one. "Am I happy?"

I nodded and grim smile forming. My emotions were a tangled web. "Are you happy?" I needed to know.

He nodded. "Yes, I am."

I sighed. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. "Good. It wasn't in vain then," I whispered. I didn't mean for him to hear.

"What wasn't in vain?"

I should have learned to stop talking to myself.

"Kaoru-dono? What wasn't in vain? What happened? Why do you have these scars? Why aren't you in Tokyo?! Why aren't you at the dojo? Where is Yahiko?"

Each question stabbed me. I couldn't answer him. I couldn't even if I wanted to. How do you tell someone those things? My mouth then began moving on it own and words spilled out without thought. I whispered to him the truth, "The dojo's gone and Yahiko's dead."