A knock on the door broke the silence that had enveloped Zouken's office. The old man turned himself towards the door and said "come in" very quickly and straight to the point.

The door opened and in it walked Sakura Matou. Her head down and her eyes averted, unwilling to look her grandfather, or anyone in the room for that matter, directly into the eye.

"Ah Sakura my dear so glad you're here. We have some visitors I would like you to meet, particularly an old face. I'm not sure if you still remember Miss Nasira Fallow here?"

Sakura finally moved her head up to look at the two people on the couch. Fallow had stood up and looked almost shocked to see her. Silence reigned once more as Sakura looked her over, as if she was trying to recall a long lost memory.

"I think I do…you worked here when I was a kid didn't you…"

"That she did. Miss Fallow was my assistant ten years ago. It was kind of a surprise for her to suddenly show up at our doorstep" Zouken said

Fallow took small steps forward, almost as if she was moving over broken glass on the floor, staring at Sakura as if she was a fragile artifact she needed to be really careful around. Once she was close enough she reached for Sakura's hands and held them.

"Look at you…you've grown so much…" Fallow said to her. Sakura didn't reply, instead smiling but still averting her eyes.

"I remember you. Wasn't your hair longer back then?" Sakura asked.

Fallow smiled "yeah I felt this look suited me better. Less of a hassle" she joked, causing a slight chuckle from Sakura.

"Uhum" they heard someone cough. They both turned around to see Manadek standing up from the couch.

"Oh yeah. Sakura I would like to introduce you to my good friend Argus Manadek" Fallow said. Manadek extended his hand to Sakura.

"It is a pleasure to meet you miss Sakura. And please do call me Argus."

Sakura shook his hand and Argus looked her over. He could see it so clearly. This girl had gone through a lot. It reminded him of his own daughter.

"Sakura," Zouken spoke "our old assistant here has asked if you would like to help them and their associates with a project they are working on. They could use an extra set of hands. You will help them out won't you."

Sakura again looked down, clutching her hands together and said softly.

"Of course grandfather."

Fallow looked at her with a pitying expression. But Manadek smiled and walked over to shake hands with Zouken, solidifying the deal with the promise of keeping him updated about their endeavors. He, Fallow and Sakura then took leave of the room, walking down the stairs of the Matou household until they reached the front door.

"Sakura go ahead and grab some things you might need. We will be waiting outside for you" Fallow told her. Sakura simply nodded and turned around walking back to her room as Fallow and Argus stepped outside, greeted by the warm rays of the sun shining on them.

As soon as they stepped outside they closed the door behind them and turned to one another.

"I now understand why you left. That man is despicable" Argus said.

Fallow, in an usual dramatic display lifted both her arms up and said "glad we're finally on the same page Argus" in about as sarcastic of a tone as possible.

Argus nodded and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry that I put you through this my friend" he apologized. Fallow sighed audibly, removing his arm from her shoulder.

"It's okay Argus. It needed to be done. Besides this way I got to see her again…" Fallow said solemnly.

Manadek finally understood it all. The entire picture was finally clear to him.

"She's the reason you left isn't she?" Argus asked pointedly.

At hearing this question Fallow turned her head away, unwilling to face her friend. Though Manadek still could hear the sadness in her voice.

"I couldn't stand it…couldn't stand what they where doing to her…she was just a child Argus…an innocent child…and I walked away…"

He walked forward, forcibly turning Fallow to face him. Tears where streaming down her face like raindrops. Her eyes red and her lip trembling.

"I didn't protect her…I walked away as she was tortured by those creatures…"

Fallow fell to her knees in despair, crying her eyes out as Manadek stood and looked, uncertain of what to say. He had known her for years. Always stoic and reserved, emotionally restrained but now. Seeing her like this was an unfamiliar experience to him.

"I failed her Argus…I failed her…."

At this moment he bend down to be on eye level with her. Grabbed her hands and pulled her up to face him.

"Then don't fail her again. You have a chance to make it right here Nasira. You couldn't do anything back then. But now things are different. You are different. So make it right here and now, and I'll be there to help you."

Fallow listened attentively and wiped away the tears in her eyes. Manadek slowly pulled her up by the hand until they were both standing.

"Thank you Argus" she said gratefully.

At that moment the door opened and they saw Sakura walk through it, carrying a bag with her.

"Miss Fallow? Are you alright?" she asked with a concerned voice.

Fallow quickly composed herself and put on a smile.

"Everything is alright dear Sakura. Everything is going to be alright I promise you."