His heart got more and more broken with each rejection. It felt like a prickly, abandoned thing these days.

Everyone had scoffed at his soul-saving mission, save for a few. Yotsuba still seemed to believe in him, for one. Truly, though...it didn't seem to be working. It wasn't erasing anything. It wasn't winning her back. This became apparent with each passing day to Jack Sparrow -- with each cold night, save for those few where she accepted his affection.

He nodded at her and wondered how little affection she would grudge him in this particular hug. Then he considered how violent it might get before the end.