We Will Meet Again

"It's frustrating, sometimes," Natasha mumbled, looking at her hands. Specs of dirt appeared in her palm because she touched the stone. How strange, this stone tablet is so close by to the streets but nobody else has paid attention to it? It does not seem like anyone other than her and Mori have touched it.

"Do you want them to change?" Morris asked out of the blue. There was nothing but seriousness in his tone. It made her shudder, made her avert her gaze from him.

"I guess," Natasha sighed. "I just want them to be pretty again."

"How do I do that?" It was still the same.

Mori laughed. "I don't know, Natasha. You tell me. I don't know how to control these emotions. I don't know why yours are so weird. I know nothing."

It was quiet again, but the tension in the area was evident. Natasha felt like there was something in her throat.

"You know," Mori spoke softly, "We don't have to talk about everything in one sitting."

"What?"

"The talk we seem to avoid. We can just do it gradually."

Natasha let out a breath she wasn't even aware he was holding. "But… what will happen now, then?"

"Let's start over."

Even if it's a relationship that broke a long time ago, he will suggest something like this? His words certainly surprised her, and she did not immediately reply. So many things occur every day. It seems stupid to focus on love matters or relationsh.i.p.s — that why she acted that way towards Chauncey.

"From the beginning?" Natasha questioned.

"Not the beginning, you idiot. From today," Mori's lips curve to a smile, and Natasha saw something. A genuine look in his eyes. Is he serious about this? Does this man want to change? Can she believe in him again?

"You're… willing to start over?"

"Why else do you think I'm here?"

Natasha laughed, "I thought you were here because Akito called you over."

"Did you get ten times stupider or something?" Mori scolded.

Her gaze darkened, and she retorted back. "There you go again! You're a pain; you know that?"

"As if you're not used to it." he smiled. He reached over and cupped her cheeks. "Natasha, forget Chauncey Long."

"What are you trying to..."

"Forget him and just stay with me. You will understand it eventually."

Why does he sound so certain about that? He cupped her cheeks and bent down to kiss her. A simple kiss quickly turned into a massive make-out section in the alleyway. Thankfully, nobody else was walking down this street.

"Fuhh..." Natasha found herself out of breath so soon.

Once in a while, Mori would break free and call her name "Natasha."

Nobody is around; it's like a ghost town. But, Natasha can't help but think. What if people come by? "What's wrong, Natasha? Not into it?" Mori mumbled.

"Were, were outside.."

She doesn't want anybody to see this. If they see it, then they'll undoubtedly misunderstand. But, who wouldn't misunderstand?

Mori, however, continued. So hopeless. But, Natasha closed her eyes. A series of memories flashed through her head.

'Let me protect you.'

'You were only playing with me?'

The words of somebody dear to her. Somebody dear...

"Natasha, your crying."

"I'm not, just stop already."

Of course, he didn't stop. Why would he? Still, the feeling of his lips on hers feels so natural right now. It felt just right to her.

...

Mori's Mansion

Mori likes to be caressed; that's annoying. She wants to be caressed too. Natasha shook her head, what ridiculous thing is she thinking now? Mori his position, so his head buried on her chest as he lightly loosened her collar.

He does do nothing but sniff at her. He likes to be caressed like a child, but somehow what is this feeling? She feels so attached to him. Attached, huh?

She wants to be kind to him.

Stay by his side.

Be a source of strength for him.

Hug him tightly in her arms.

She wants to offer him everything he wants. Natasha deeply sighed. Those things, it's not Mori. She wants to convey those feelings too.

But, they can't draw the line any more than they have done so already. Because Natasha genuinely does hold Chauncey dear in her heart, she will not allow anyone to sway her. When Natasha thought of their last encounter, it frustrated her greatly. Why did things end up like that?

"Say, Mori. ."

"What is it?"

"Akito agreed," Natasha paused momentarily, regretting what she just said. Since she only drew upon the idea recently, it would mean that she met up with him this morning.

Feeling his hands on hers, she instantly relaxed, "I was thinking of syncing up your schedules for awhile. So you can get to see how each other works and stuff before you work together. Synchronization is important, after all."

"I got it."

Natasha didn't say anymore, and her gaze fell on her surroundings. "Your parents aren't home again?" she questioned. They were cuddling on the couch in the main lounge. It worried Natasha that the servants would see them. However, they weren't here. The house was completely empty.

Coming back here reminds her of those affectionate and sweet moments they shared with each other, those kisses that were neither passionate or intense and yet for the two of them, it was enough. A deep sigh crossed her lips again. Quit reminiscing, besides she is only using him, her important person is Chauncey.

___

At the warehouse

Akito sent Kai back so he could investigate everything else himself. The more they looked, the more Akito realized. 'All the clues lead to his former wife.' Because of that, he didn't want anybody else to handle this matter but him. If it is something regarding her, then he should be the one to handle it.

His gaze fell on the numerous notes pinned to the wall. So, whenever she snuck off before, she was here? What an annoying woman. Akito wishes she just told him from the very beginning.

If she were here by herself and not meeting with Katakura, then why didn't she say? In the face of his terrible accusations, how come she said nothing? She always smiled and told him to believe in her. Setsura is the same, though the latter has more of an attitude. Setsura occasionally says the same things as his wife.

Both of them are a mess, an amalgam of contradictions and paradoxes in both her stature and actions. For Setsura, Akito sees her destroy her surroundings - and fall deeper into a hole. For his wife, he sees her blushing at all his questions, acting nervously. Whenever he flirted with her in the past, she would struggle to keep her calm around him.

Other people looked at her with disgust just for existing. Yet, those very same people also look at her with an envious look. His wife isn't as pretty as Setsura. Setsura is beauty at another level. However, he never cared about appearance. There was something special about his wife.

Something that made him naturally drawn to her.

Now that Akito thought about it. A long time ago, she told him that they aren't alike. Akito told her then no; they are the same. However, she still looked at him with that pained look in her eyes.

Regrets even now burned in his head. What was right? And what was wrong? Why did the two sides blur?

'That was the right thing to do.'

Such hollow-sounding words; they had no meaning but to falsify for her crimes, and just another excuse to cover up the bloody mess.

'How unpleasant.'

That girl, his wife - she wasn't as innocent as he thought. She knew more about investigations and cases than anybody. Back then his wife was on the verge of finding something out. What was it? Akito scanned the notes on the walls carefully; it made little sense to him.

It looked like random scribblings on the wall. Whenever they ate dinner together or cuddled in bed, she would make these random markings.

No, maybe it's.. 'Her language?' What's the term. Modern Japanese? Then, perhaps she was always working... It seems like he can't work this part out on his own. While Katakura was in his home not too long ago. Akito never spoke to him; he made sure they didn't cross paths at that time.

He doesn't want to speak or meet with Katakura at all. However, who else can he ask? Natasha? No, he sent Natasha away because she doesn't know his wife well. He didn't want somebody he considered as a friend to think badly of his wife.

If his wife is connected with the current events, then 'he has to be the one to do this..' This was one of the main reasons why he refused to let Setsura get involved too.

His wife and Setsura resemble each other too much. Occasionally, he played with the idea that they are the same people.