We Will Meet Again

To her surprise, Oslo did not reply. He did not deny it, but he did not agree either; instead, she looked at his face. There was a look in his eyes that she had not seen before. This person is hiding so many secrets, and so many things must be weighing down on his shoulders. 

When she first met this guy, Setsura wanted to escape as quickly as possible. That outfit and the way he appeared in her yard, of course, it was only typical that she wanted to run away from him.

After a few minutes, she regained some of her strength and sat up.

"Are you sure you're feeling better now?"

Setsura sighed. "You had something you wanted to ask me?"

Oslo nodded. "How is Yang?"

The question caught her slightly of guard. How is Yang? Ever since they arrived in Tokyo, Setsura noticed that there was something wrong with him. 

"He seems a bit unstable."

Setsura did not want to use the words emotionally unstable, knowing that it would imply that Yang was crazy. But, whenever she thought of his actions recently, that is the one word that would cross her mind. There is something wrong with him.

"One of the reasons why I came here is because I sensed a disturbance." Oslo sighed. "What is Cynthia doing? Is she not watching over that child properly."

She recalled the conversation she had with Chauncey earlier and paused. The images of the pink-haired woman and connected to the recent attacks. She wondered if it were okay to bring that up. After all…

"Would you like to meet her?"

"Eh?"

Oslo chuckled. "I am guessing that Yang has not introduced you to her yet."

Indeed, or rather he seemed oddly defensive. She already heard the story from Katakura, and yet she felt that the relationship Yang shared with that woman is not simple at all.

....

It was indeed the woman from the photos, but Setsura noticed that she wasn't alone. Yang was with her. Her arms around his neck and their lips interlocked into a deep kiss. For a moment, Setsura froze. What the…

Oslo coughed. "Excuse me, you two."

What was all that about being faithful and not doing it again?

Setsura scrutinized Yang, and he pulled away from Cynthia once he noticed her. "Oi, don't glare."

"Why can't I glare?" Setsura snapped. She thought he was sleeping peacefully. But it turns out he snuck out to meet with a girl. It frustrated her in more ways than she thought. While she mentioned to Chauncey earlier that she would break up with him, it is easier said than done.

She still harbors feelings for him, so it is not that simple letting him go.

Yang sighed and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "It isn't what you think."

"Oh, Yang-kun, your vague speeches won't work with her. I believe you should be more direct."

She watched as the redhead's eyes twitched in annoyance. "Why on earth are you here?"

"Well, of course, I am."

Setsura glanced over and saw that the pink-haired woman suddenly kneeled on the ground. Is she bowing to Oslo?

"Cynthia," Oslo mumbled. "Could you remind me of one of our rules?"

"No interference in their time frame."

"Indeed, so why were you going around killing people? That is taboo, no matter what you say." Oslo placed his hand on his forehead. "A guardian cannot kill, dear child, what were you thinking?"

It's taboo? Ah, she supposes that would make sense since they are immortal beings. Surely those in that position should not be able to take a life. Initially, when she read that article, she did not think about the consequences of a guardian taking another life. Besides, the article did not state that Cynthia killed those people. So she thought it was something different.

What a naive thought. Something different? But why would anybody assume that just because Cynthia was on the scene, she killed them? Usually, the murderers would flee the scene because they are afraid of getting caught. However, Cynthia is not an average person; she is a guardian. Ah, the pieces were right there in front of her, so how could she not notice?

"Master Oslo, those people are not normal civilians. They disguised themselves well, but they were strays."

"Are you positive?"

"What are strays?" Setsura said, puzzled.

Yang kissed her forehead. She flinched slightly, knowing that just a few minutes ago, those lips made contact with another woman. "Filthy things that you do not need to know of."

Oslo quickly interjected. "Just like the name implies, it is someone or anything without a home. Be it human or animal or a monster." He trailed off. "These strays wander from each era."

"If you're going to explain, give her a proper explanation. This is why I hate your methods." Yang turned to her. "Strays are former subjects who have failed their mission."

Her eyes widened when she heard those words. "But I thought they were sent back to their original time with their memories erased?"

She watched as a complicated look appeared on Yang's face. It seems like this is not easy for him to do either. But Yang will tell her; he is not the type of person who would hide things from her. He would tell her even if it means hurting her.

"That is true, but subjects become strays once they have killed a person." Yang trailed off and clenched his fist. "Isn't it impossible not to kill somebody at least once when so many people are after your life?"

Once they have killed a person..? Then -- does that not mean she is a stray already?

Oslo shook his head. "Setsura-chan, you have not killed anybody yet. You have given people fatal injuries but 

"Then…" Setsura glanced over at Yang worriedly.

"He is an exception because Cynthia requested to spare his life." Oslo trailed off. "For the markings of a stray not to show, he has to receive the guardians blessing from time to time."

Setsura immediately understood, even though Oslo did not clarify anything. The Guardian's blessing is that kiss Yang just shared with Cynthia. While she does not like the idea of her man kissing another woman, she will have to make an exception.

What happened to breaking up with him? If she is going to break up with him anyway, none of this stuff should bother her. Yet here she is silently fretting about it.

Yangs lips curve to a smirk, almost as though he knew what she was thinking. 

"Anyhow, that's what strays are." Yang lifted his sleeves up and pointed to a mark that was faded. "If you ever encounter anyone like this, call your guardian over. We cannot kill strays since there is a risk of getting infected. Of course, I can, but it will cause some damage."

Cynthia sighed. "Don't you dare think of killing a stray again. Do you need me to remind you what happened last time?"

"Its fine, Im alive, aren't I?"

"That isn't the point you know your---" Cynthia suddenly made eye contact with her. The moment she met her gaze, Cynthia averted her eyes. "--your girlfriend would get worried. So don't do anything stupid anymore."

Is it just her, or does it feel like Cynthia was about to say something else there? Setsura shook her head. It must just be her imagination.