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Shiro has never felt guilty over anything before. Sure, he's committed or assisted in various crimes, and he's killed people, but never has he felt as horrible as he does now. So right after the group got back to the mansion, he immediately took off. He flew over to the lake and sat under one of the big trees. Eyes closed and in deep concentration, he began meditating to regain some semblance of inner peace.

Piotr rounded the corner of the mansion and headed towards the lake. He thought the nice breeze from the lake would calm his emotions as he debated what to do next concerning Illyana. Should he just leave the school? Why does he always run away?

Such a big man can't help but make a lot of noise. And Shiro, unable to find any sort of peace, heard Piotr approach. He opened his eyes and looked up, and decided that he owed him an explanation. Maybe that will help. "Piotr," he called out just loudly enough for the Russian to hear.

Piotr looked up to see the boy that brought this misery upon him. He flinched but decided to stay and see what Shiro had to say to him. After all, he did later turn on his friends to save the group.

"Anoo . . ." Shiro hesitates, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry. I did not know that this would happen. It was never my intention for your sister to get hurt."

Piotr turned away but did not leave. "She wouldn't have become hurt if I had been truthful to her..." Tears once again started to well in his steel sockets. 'Praklyatiye!' he thought to himself. He just dried his eyes.

Shiro stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down. "We would not have been in that position in the first place if not for me."

"No, no, the mafia would have found me one way or another. With or without you. If I hadn't been such a coward and ran form them those years ago, I wouldn't even be in this space." Piotr turned back to face Shiro now, "Please don't blame yourself," he managed to crack a smile.

"Maybe, but . . . It should not have happened like this. I lured you there under false pretenses. It is my doing, and I deserve to be punished for it." Yoshida Shiro, ever the samurai.

"What punishment are you expecting? You helped us defeat the enemy and return home with everyone alive. I don't think any of us were capable of battling that boss." Piotr remarked.

There is no way he can forgive me so easily, Shiro thought. "I don't know. Anything. I should not be let off so easily, Piotr." He had an almost-pleading look in his eyes, something that no one had ever seen before.

Piotr was not in the mood to cheer anyone up at this point. If anything, Shiro should be buying him his next movie ticket or meal out on the town, not asking for some punishment. But then again, Piotr could see a lot of the self-punishment-like qualities in Shiro that he had himself. Suddenly he felt a pang of understanding. "Shiro, now is not the time for punishment or forgiveness. What we need to do now is go our separate ways to think and we discuss this later over some tea." The mention of tea made Piotr chuckle lightly. How ironic.

"I understand," Shiro responded with a nod of his head. His heart felt just a little bit lighter, but the guilt still weighed heavily on his shoulders. "I will speak with you whenever you wish." After another short bow, he turned heel and walked away.