We Will Meet Again

Though her strength caught him off guard, Victor regained his calm and did the unexpected. He didn't hesitate either planting kisses along her jawline and biting her neck, severely leaving loads of marks. It's annoying, it's annoying. When he saw that kind of expression, seeing such an expression pissed him off so much.

Once he pulled away, the girl was panting heavily. "Are you, satisfied, Victor?" Setsura questioned,

His eyes went wide when he hears those words. "That was on purpose?"

Of course, that was deliberate; just now, she twisted his arm, didn't she? She could have pulled away, but she did not. Victor looked at her up and down, he noted how her knees were trembling. Did he scare her?

Setsura smiles, "Yeah."

Damm her. She really differs from all the others. Victor was about to let her go when he noticed her stagger and grabbed hold of the girl's arm. "Oi..."

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."

Victor regretted what he did. He buries his face in his palms; his knuckles slowly turned white. He felt like crying."... you...you..you should have just..." his voice croaked out, he could barely get any words in edge-wise.

"It was bad of you, and I'll admit I'm sure no one would appreciate it. But it's not like you went all the way. So a part of you still had your sanity..." she trailed off and cupped his face with her gentle and warm hands.

This sudden contact surprised him. Victor felt himself nervously looking down at the ground. Honestly, he didn't have a clear picture of this girl yet. Unlike Akito and Chauncey, he still doesn't see what makes her so unique. A few years back she saved him, so he is grateful. Victor noticed that she was unlike any other person he met, but even then, he didn't think much of it. However, now that he has gotten to know her properly, things have changed.

Setsura closed her eyes, "It's alright. We all have times where we get lost and don't know what to do. But it's precisely during those times where we rely on the people around us.' His eyes went wide at that comment, "It's alright, you're no longer alone. No one will leave you alone anymore. Your world won't be black anymore. Because I'll always be there for you no matter what."

__________

That's right; it was just as simple as this.

Because she too understood that feeling all too well. Understood the feeling of not knowing what to do — being afraid of her own decisions causing others' pain. She understood that feeling.

And the pain of loneliness.

Of walking down that darkness, because even now she's still walking down that path.

Setsura made her way down the steps. A deep sigh passed her lips when she felt the pain in her arm. She didn't think he would grab her that hard. What are the chances of him grabbing the arm that already has an injury? Then again, it's fine like this, isn't it?

What's more, getting attacked the moment she parted from Victor. It appears as though, those people are keeping a closer eye on her than she thought. What is their purpose? What is their goal? Even now, Setsura didn't understand very well.

'That something is what im looking forward to.'

It was something she had said to that person, during the first time she became a target.

'In this world, there is nothing but seriousness.'

It was something she would say whenever someone would mock those who worked on the force...

Although she was the one who said those words every single time, although she had been the one to say them, how come, even with her seriousness, there is such an empty and bland feeling? How come?

Her gaze landed on the piles of bodies around her.

Ah, they are not moving anymore.

Did they die? Her gaze darkened.

She bent down slightly and reached over to placed her hands on their pulse. No, this one seems to be okay, and this one too. She lets out a relieved sigh.

Thank goodness.

Nobody had to die.

Yet her gaze lands on the blood-stained color in her hands. Ah, in the end, it's quite difficult, isn't it? To fight without staining her pretty red. She suddenly feels someone lift her up and turned to see who it was. Black hair, and that familiar green kimono. Setsura is not surprised to see him.

"Setsura, give me your hands," Akito said urgently. A look of pain flashed through his eyes.

"I'm alright…", yet he didn't listen as he began to disinfect it and wrapped it with bandages. "Aha, you're still clumsy with bandages, "Setsura said with a light laugh as he mumbles 'shut up' as a response. "You came all this way again. Weren't you on the job? It must have been difficult."

He cut her off as he slumped his cloak over her head, "It's raining, you'll catch a cold Setsura."

Ah… Once again, this person noticed it; he always seems to see it. The sides of herself that she doesn't wish to acknowledge anymore. This person may be the only one who can save her.

"Are you alright?" Akito suddenly asked.

Her gaze softened when she heard his change of tone. "You heard?"

"Chauncey aside, it felt like Victor would eventually show you his true colors. I was worried about what you would think."

"It surprised me, but I suspected for so long. You're not a simple person either, so I assumed it would be the same for him too."

"You're not wrong," Akito walked over to her, but he did not embrace her like he usually would. Instead, he brushed his back against hers. "Are you truly fine, Setsura?"

Setsura sensed the worry and concern in his tone and laughed. It seems like he already knows the answer to his question. "Even though I was surprised, I understood. People do not show their true colours in front of people they hardly know. Victor is a kind man. But, somebody with that much kindness will also have a hidden wall of sadness."

"Your conviction isn't wrong," Akito mumbled. "Without you, the three of us wouldn't even think to confront our current situations."

"I brought out the darkness and sadness you've all avoided this entire time. I wonder if that's truly a good thing or not."

"It's a good thing; we can't run away forever."

Setsura chuckled at his words, "Something feels different about you these days. Don't you think so?"

"Mm, I think so."

"How arrogant. Now then, let's ask a follow-up question. Do you think you've changed for the better or not?"

Akito sweat fell, "You and your trap questions. Are you messing around with me or are you serious? I can't tell what you're thinking at all."

"Thinking about it logically, what do you think?"

"Geez," Akito trailed off. "I came to fetch you personally since we just received word. That teacher, somebody attacked her."

Ah? "Is that..."

"They want her to keep her mouth shut. Initially, the police dismissed her claims as being traumatized by the incident. But, as more time passed by she proved who she really was. We even brought the woman's family members to confirm whether it's her. All of them claimed after they spoke to her, 'that's her.' The things that happened in school, we couldn't use that as evidence to prove her case. Even with her art ability. But you can't fake conversations that occurred between two people in private."

So, that's why they brought in the family members. "Maybe the police aren't incompetent, after all."

A half-baked laugh passes Akito's lips, "Incompetent?"

"Yes, initially I thought that. But," Setsura recalled Victor's words and Chauncey's expression. "I think the only reason I thought that way was because I didn't see things from their perspective. The police has created many victims, some amongst their own people not just the general public. However, that's because crimes aren't that simple. Even a small crime like thievery has a meaning, depending on the value of the things they steal. Also, the circ.u.mstances behind it," Setsura took a few steps forward until she arrived at the bridge.

The air gradually got colder and colder. She knew her current clothing couldn't help keep her warm. But with Akito's cloak around her, she felt a lot warmer. "Setsura, what are you thinking?" Akito questioned.