We Will Meet Again

Chauncey sighed, "Passing out like that. You really do know how to cause problems for people."

She glared at him. "If I'm causing problems, then you can leave. Nobody is asking you to stay."

"I didn't say that. Even if you cause problems, I'm not surprised."

Why is he making it sound like they are close? How stupid. But, even these foolish exchanges all have meanings in the end. "Thank you for buying the bracelet," when Setsura lifted the blanket, she saw it in her hand. "This is very important to me."

"Did that come from your previous lover?"

"You're strangely sharp."

"I could tell from the face you made, and the reports said you had someone."

'Reports.' He just had to ruin the atmosphere with that word. That's right; this person is working for Akito's enemy, the current leader of Section one. But, for a guy who is supposed to be the enemy. Somehow, he isn't a bad person at all, huh?

"Shouldn't you go back to the auction? You're not giving Natasha face as her fiance," she stressed the words fiance, and Chauncey sighed.

"You don't make this easy for me."

"I didn't force you to fall in love with me, did I?"

Chauncey averted his gaze, and he stood up. "I shall do as you say," with those words said he left the room, and Setsura deeply sighed.

That guy isn't going to give in, is he? But she has to make him give up on her. She doesn't want him to cause problems for her in the long run. Judging from Akito's personality, too, if he knew that Chauncey was still pursuing her. Well, it would be similar to hell. Setsura stood up and made her way over to the window and opened it.

The moment she did, a strong gust of wind blew across the room. Setsura shuddered and wrapped the green cloak around her tightly. It belonged to Akito, of course. So even though he wore western garments tonight, it seems like he is still carrying this thing around with him.

The Meiji era, a time period of change. When things change, what happens to the old? That's simple; they are forgotten and discarded. The myths and legends from this time that she read about. The ayakashi, the onyomoji - what happened to them? For the onyomoji, the blood gradually becomes weaker since they marry normal individuals. So there is an explanation there. But what happened to the mythical creatures? Do they become instinct? That is far too cruel.

Instinct huh? How can that be? Such powerful creatures and with the lack of those who can get rid of them. Setsura didn't know what happened to them; at least from her studies, she didn't read anything about them disappearing.

.....

Setsura only looked at that man named Touma briefly. For some reason, it was natural instinct not to look him in the face. It felt like if she did, something would break inside her. That's why she didn't look at him properly. In turn, she didn't give him a chance to look at her properly, either.

How troublesome. Troublesome is just one word to describe the current situation. Then again, isn't it her fault for rushing out the way she did? But, the butterfly appeared, and before Setsura knew it, she was rushing out of the room. The poor guard who had been watching over her had also followed her out of the room. The man was frustrated by the turn of events because, as one would expect. No sooner did they get out; did Touma's men surrounded them in a heartbeat.

Currently, she was fending the people of one by one. Using a single knife - yes, she is using a small knife to fend them all away. Setsura didn't think a small blade would come in handy like this. But it did.

So, they were acting low key deliberately? Attending the event but not buying anything. As the evening grows, the creatures of the night start to pour out in streams. She wonders what this looked like to them, a fight amongst humans? Would they intervene? And if they do what kind of interference will, they give? It's most likely not a good one. Judging from what Akito tells her, most creatures of the night are unrestrained.

This only happened because Akito has a strange past with that Touma guy. Well, though it was already evident then, this was something else. No, these people may be Touma's men. But the reason why they are attacking her isn't Touma. Since she came here, many people have been watching over her. She's gained the attention of so many people, many who have bad intentions.

But judging from this timing, it's most likely because of that woman from earlier. When she saw the girl before, Setsura didn't think much of it. But now..

Setsura wonders why Akito attracts women like this. Setsura swiftly cut apart the next wave directed at her, Though she guessed she wasn't to talk. If Akito was going to sacrifice so much for her, though, he should have just been honest with her from the start.

He shouldn't have forgotten about what he promised her when she first came here. Though it would have been rather unpleasant if he had been.

So he doesn't need to. He's not to blame for forgetting, was something she had told herself a long time ago. Yet at the same time, perhaps she should have fought for the cause more. Ah, indeed, maybe things would have been different then.

As another wave headed to her, Setsura dodged once again and cut it apart, landing on the ground briefly before bouncing back. She had become fully aware of this strength before she was even ten years old and was able to use it.

Bit by bit, it was coming to her. Setsura didn't understand why that was. But she knew that Akito would eventually notice, that's why she created the pretext that she wants to go investigating with him. To think something like that would happen and trigger it completely.

For as long as she could remember, this strength unknowingly created a wall around her.

She had understood too much of the world. Leading to subconsciously frightening everyone else around her, scared them all away from her. Ordinary people cannot tell that it is merely because she knew too much of the world. For them, she was unapproachable. No reason needed.

While there were people, who were jealous and envious of her, there were those who respected her to a certain level. But nobody adored her. At least their level of adoring and admiration seemed too fake for her. It's not as though she did anything worth praise, though. While she was intelligent, she wouldn't have gotten that far if it weren't for him. She was good at painting, yes, but there is always going to be somebody better.

Setsura had long acknowledged that. No matter what happens, the person named 'Setsura' will never be able to fit in.

But to her amazement, not only that guy but even Akito didn't fear her. What's more, they treated her like a normal girl. In the end, Setsura concluded that there are unusual ones in the world.

Oh, she probably just looked weak. They probably thought that they needed to come to her aid and protect her from danger. At first glance, her appearance would seem fragile like a newborn child. But, appearances are deceiving.

How hopeless… But, either way. Whether it's Akito or that person, they have both been there for her. That's what matters.