We Will Meet Again

December 17th 1895 - 6:00am -Meiji Era, Aria

Setsura's gaze fell on the man fast asleep beside her. He sure doesn't hold back when you permit him. Her entire body ached all over. It felt painful, moving her limbs at all. However, Setsura got up anyway, she put on some clothes and exited the room. As she exited, Setsura felt the winter breeze fill the entire hallway. Odd, did she leave the wind— Setsura paused when she saw a trail of western cigarettes on the ground.

A deep sigh passed her lips. Why do all the men around her smoke? She quickly followed the trail, up another flight of stairs. When she did, Setsura arrived on the top floor. Due to the size, Setsura planned to use it as a storage area. With the little belongings she has, she brought the things she did not necessarily use up here.

Upon arriving, Setsura noticed him when she was on the top of the stairs. A man with mid-length red curly hair, wearing a grey puffy long-sleeved top. A maroon-colored hooded cloak on top. He was carrying something that looked like a crystal ball in his hands.

"If you came here to read my fortune, I am not interested, Mr."

A chuckle escaped his lips, "Indeed, you never were interested in my fortunes. I suppose I have to greet you again, a pleasure to meet you, Miss. I'm Izu, the Chief of the special group in the military police."

A deep sigh escaped her lips, "What happened to not meeting with me?"

"A dire situation happened yesterday. I figured I ought to give you a heads up in advance."

Dire situation? She raised her eyebrows at this, "A murder got killed, that should be a good thing."

"Yes, indeed. That man deserves his death. However, this case is connected with the next shard."

"The next shard?"

Izu nodded; he extended his hand out towards the window. Setsura noted that it was open. So, that's why the hallway was cold. She adjusted the cloak around her body. "Is there something…"

"Setsura, how much do you actually know about the shards? Do you know where they came from, and why you have to find them?"

His sudden questions caught her slightly off guard. Setsura tells him truthfully what she knows. Izu wore a complicated look on his face. But, he nodded. Setsura noted that a bright red beautiful butterfly landed on his finger.

"That's.."

"My familiar," he mumbled. "I will have it follow you for a few days."

"Eh? I don't need it," Setsura immediately refused. She shifted her gaze, so she was staring at the ground. The color red gave her bad memories; it reminded her of blood too much.

"Setsura, Touma will try to kidnap you."

Kidnap? Why so, suddenly? Setsura is sure her mini investigations did not go overboard. She knew her limitations due to the experience she has in the future. Investigations can get dangerous if the ones investigating you investigate end up catching you out. Setsura retraced her steps in her head. The past few days, what has she done that would gather that man's attention? Think, Setsura.

Setsura thinks back to what happened the other day.

"Is it because I saw that a member of the Long family…"

"Yes," Izus' expression turned grim.

"But, Akito saw... "

"I hate to put it this way, Setsura. However, you and Akito are on completely different levels."

Setsura turned quiet.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you remember shortly after we met. There was an incidence?" Setsura questioned. It crossed her mind when she recalled what happened with the notorious murder.

___

20XX Tokyo

"To be honest, Setsura. You're more than just a friend to me."

At that comment, she drops the bags that were in her hands and fidgets with her fingers. "...W--ait a moment. Do you actually want a response to that? I mean..."

He laughs, "Your getting all panicky."

"S—sorry, but..I'm just ..." Setsura really was having a difficult time processing what he just said. Did she hear him correctly? It's true that she no longer had any more feelings for that one. Everything went away after the final selection - and she had been spending more and more time with him. She really did see him as a good friend and all that. But this was...

He suddenly leaned down and took her hand and kissed it.

"I wasn't going to demand for an answer now. Since that would be selfish of me. But your demeanor now is giving me quite a bit of hope. What do you say?"

Is it okay?

For her...for her to once again fall in love with him? Setsura suppressed her feelings for the longest time.

"Is it okay?" Setsura mumbled.

For her to once again to experience love. For her to once again fall in love with someone and... " Is it okay for me to love you?" she finally said.

He smiles and wipes the tear from her eyes.

"Of course, it's okay."

"Uwaaa."

He chuckles, "The model certainly cries a lot."

"You're the one who said it was okay too," she trailed off when she spotted something from the corner of her eye. A woman was getting dragged away by a group of foreign-looking men. At first, it looked like they were walking together. But then, she saw it - that frightened look. "Say...over there..."

"They just had to ruin our moment. Hold on, Setsura. I'll be right back. Stay right here."

____

Like always, the memories would come in unexpectedly. But when they did, that person's name would purposely get blurred out. In her mind, she recalls it so clearly, but his face. It's foolish, while she remembers each sensation and touch. What's the use if she can't remember his face?

"Setsura?" Izu repeated.

"Do you remember?"

"I do, back then there was notorious killer kidnapping good looking women.."

"That notorious killer was imitating. Jack, the Ripper."

"Ah, the unidentified serial killer in Whitechapel district of London, in 1888?"

This man is definitely a guardian; he knows about such events. Setsura nodded, "After Akito told me about his crimes. It seemed a bit similar, so I researched some more. Both the notorious killer from yesterday and the one from the future have the same attack patterns."

"You think they are connected? A killer from the past and the future."

"I didn't get a look at the body properly," she trailed off and sighed. If Chauncey Long didn't distract her, then by now, she would be certain." But maybe it's the same person?"

"A time traveler?"

"Explain to me how the Guardians choose their subjects. Isn't there a key factor linking us all together? You don't just choose good people. I'm sure criminals get mixed in too."

Izu nodded, "That's certainly the case."