We Will Meet Again

West side - XX Meiji 1895

Escaping is easier said than done; her entire body felt so bad. Her head felt like it was spinning. Did she sustain a head injury too? It's so very painful. It feels like she can't breathe too,

She leaned more against the cold wall. It was uncomfortable. However, this way, she could get rid of the chill in her body. Still, this didn't stop the cold for long - eventually, it entered through the thin material of her gown. Yet, this didn't bother her at all. Her thoughts kept going back to her cases in the future.

The death of one of her close friend - the one that happened before her eyes. That person's disappearance. Actually, after she joined the force, Setsura realized that not only her surroundings changed. But, the surroundings of the people she cared about too.

When that guy went abroad for a bit, their relationship was still okay. He called during the first two months. But, eventually, the calls grew shorter and shorter. Eventually, a strange person picked up, saying she shouldn't call anymore. 'He's mine now, so don't think of calling him.' Then she received another call saying, don't be surprised if his corpse shows up anywhere. It was from a different person.

One from a woman, and one from a man? It was difficult to tell who the owner of the second voice was. She didn't hear from him for a long time. But, Setsura believed in him. She knew he would eventually come back, and he did. He greeted her with that massive smile on his face like nothing happened.

Setdura never thought that between them, she would end up dying first. If that guy heard about it, she wondered how he would react to it. He always thought he would be the one to die first, not her. Then again, if she dies here.

Her chest felt suddenly incredibly empty, thinking about that guy. In her imagination, she saw his features. She hoped he was okay and safe. And she wondered if he hoped that she was okay too. If he missed her.

After time she fell asleep, the pain gradually grew worse.

..

When Setsura woke up, somebody was shaking her. But this person did it so violently. She shuddered, realizing it was the attacker. How stupid of her! How could she have let her guard down so easily? It frightened her to open her eyes, but she did so. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man with a maniac look in his eyes. Since he wore a cloak over his body, she couldn't see his features very clearly.

Setsura was about to back away. However, she felt a wincing pain in her head. She saw blood dripping in her hands. Ah... This...

The man's lips curve to a smile, "Falling asleep, how careless of you detective."

"Careless? I don't have to waste any effort on a rat like you."

"Aahaaa," the man burst into laughter. "I'm a rat? Is that why you killed my brother?"

Huh, brother?

"Don't tell me you forgot already. No sooner did you come here, did you kill a man."

Setsura's eyes widened when she realized what he was talking about. Is he talking about that first case? The one where that man who was chatting her up suddenly died after the blackout. Brother? So this person was after her from the very beginning, and not Akito? He knew she would go find Akito. It seems like she fell for a trap.

How stupid, she should have realized it. There is one thing that bothers her about this. However, she has no time to voice out that thought with the way things are now. She needs to focus on surviving.

"I didn't kill anybody. You have no right to accused me of doing so."

At that comment, the man's eyes darkened, "You didn't kill anybody? Didn't you? Hahahaaa," he burst into laughter. "You still deny it?"

A troubled look appeared on her face when she realized her hands and feet bound. This is frustrating; she already sustained an arm wound due to the glass. She struggled quite a bit before she decided to jump out of the window like that. To think she would end up with more wounds. One wound was already a problem, and now she has more than one wound. It feels like she is losing even more blood than before.

She is the type to get anemic quickly, so now she is bleeding all over. She feels terrible.

Setsura felt a burning sensation in her arm. Her head was throbbing so much because of the severe pain. She was losing so much blood; she knew that eventually, she wouldn't be able to speak. She would lose whatever strength she had.

How frustrating. Setsura felt him swing the metal pipe in his hands again across her head. She winced in pain, did he really have to hit her again? What if she gets brain damage? Setsura didn't know what was worse. A knife wound or a metal pipe. The fact that he isn't threatening her with his knife surprises her enough.

The attacker proceeds to hit her again, but a flash of red appears between them. Another person appeared, he casually threw the attacker down onto the ground. It happened so quickly, for her to process.

"Your…," Setsura mumbled weakly.

A deep sigh escaped the red-haired man's lips. "Hey, hey. Is this the girl who caught his attention? She's so weak, how did she get herself captured."

"Uhh, boss."

"Right, right."

"Who are you!" the kidnapper swung his knife around. "Do you think you can save her, don't make me laugh."

The man rolled his eyes, "I've already saved her."

Setsura's vision is very blurry. So she couldn't see what happened next. However, she did hear the kidnapper's pained voice - his cries. The sound of punches and kicks. 'Is she safe now?' Setsura thought. Or are these people here under Touma's orders? No, it does not seem that way.

"What a helpless woman," she felt the man lift her off the ground. "Hey, call my brother. Tell her to come pick her up. Were bringing here to the safe house for now."

She felt so bad; she knew she was on the verge of losing consciousness. But, even then. "Are you on my side?" Setsura asked faintly.

The man paused but nodded. "I am," it was quiet, but she heard him.

...…..

Ship - Harbour -

When Setsura woke up, she felt that the entire room was shaking. She opened her eyelids and scanned her surroundings. It was morning; the bright rays of light entered through the small circular window. 'Is this a ship?' Setsura looked around the so called room. Indeed, she could see ship equipment. But, the room had a western vibe despite the wooden flooring.

She tried to get up. However, it was challenging to do so. The reason? Somebody was on top of her. Setsura immediately realized it was her savior from yesterday. His bare body pressed against hers, and that's when she realized she was n.a.k.e.d. Wh--what happened? Did he try to take advantage of her?

The man shuffled, "You're awake?" he drawled with a lazy expression on his face.

She nodded and tried to speak. But, the moment Setsura opened her mouth, she felt severe pain in her throat. He brushed his hands across her throat, and she flinched.

"I'm a doctor," he mumbled. "I know what I'm doing. Can you open your mouth for me?"

It felt disgusting the last time she did that with anybody who wasn't Akito. But, Setsura knew she couldn't act stubborn. She nodded and opened her mouth. The man simply took a quick look before closing her mouth. "Burning sensation? Maybe because of the smoke fumes. I covered her mouth, but maybe she inhaled it, anyway."

Smoke?

More importantly, why did she wake up to this situation?

He stood up and got off her, "Get dressed. I'll bring your meal up."

'Akito,' Setsura wanted to ask. But it was challenging to speak right now. Maybe after she eats some food, her voice will feel better. She watched as the man turned around. It seems like he doesn't plan to leave the room.

Setsura looked at the turquoise garments folded neatly. 'A qiaopo.' How peculiar, even though the interior is all western. Setsura quickly got dressed and lightly tapped the edge of her bed, indicating she finished.

The man walked over, "Do you know my name?"

She shook her head.

"I'm Yang."

Yang...

"I've already called Akito. He should come soon; you're his woman?"

Setsura slowly nodded.

"I see, then you should be careful. Onboard many people don't like him here."

So, is that why he's staying in the room? It seems like he is more cautious than she thought. Whether he's a good or bad guy, Setsura didn't know yet. But, for now, it seems like he won't harm her. Yang walked over and brought a tray with him. Setsura blinked, where did that come from?

She supposes there is no use trying to work something like that out. Yang helped her sit up, so her back rested against the pillow - before he placed the tray in front of her. "I guess you can't move your hands much..." Yang sighed, "I'll feed you."

It seems like she has to cross some boundaries with this person she just met. Usually, Setsura would never allow somebody to get this close to her. However, she has no right to act stubborn now.