Chapter 3 - You can no longer threaten me

To think they'd resort to even this, 'How ridiculous,' Setsura looked at Shun like he was the most disgusting being in this world, "One, I don't have a father, Two I'm already eighteen. I have the right to do whatever I want without a.d.u.l.t supervision," they no longer have the right to tell her what to do.

"That may be the case, dear sister, but do remember as long as you live in this house, you shall do as I say."

"Then I'll leave."

"What?" The calm expression on Shun's expression had left; he no longer looked composed, "Did you just say you'd leave?"

"You want me out of the country, fine I'll go. But I already have my own arrangements," Setsura countered. Shinji and her prepared for this situation, just in case something were to happen to either of them. That plane ticket for their so-called holiday is a disguise for the place they are really heading to. However, Shun did not know that. Setsura already arranged things with the airport staff and Shinji's people. They would make it look like she was attending one flight but really making her way onto the other plane.

Though they prepared for this situation, Setsura never thought they would be separated. She thought that if worse came to worse and they'd have to flee - they would be together. But, Setsura knew she could no longer remain here. For the past month, Shun has left her alone. He did not enter her room without permission and only spoke to her outside the door or sent messages via the servants. However now that he's openly confronted her like this, it's just a matter of time before something happened.

The air was thick and heavy; she was aware that he was still thinking about her words. Setsura's gaze, however, remained sharp. She would not waver or display weakness in front of this man.

"Very well," Shun said. Setsura wasn't surprised that he accepted, "Should I ask around to see where you intend to go? Or will you do me the pleasure of telling me where you are going this time?"

His tone showed that he was testing her. If she willingly tells him where she is heading, he will see right through her. If she doesn't tell him, however, then he will tell her that even if she hides it, he will find out. So she has to say something that's in between both situations, Setsura pulled out the tickets from her draw, but she doesn't show him, "You can confirm it with the airlines, me and Shinji planned a little trip before we head off to University. We're supposed to be going in a few days."

"Confirm it," Shun said. Setsura is suddenly aware that all along there had been somebody else in the room. But she was too focused on Shun. The man who just left was somebody she knew all too well, 'How dangerous,' when Setsura learned that the man named Kano was Shun's right-hand man she no longer trusted him. How could she?

"So, a trip before the wedding? What was he going to do to you then, devour you?"

Setsura deeply sighed, "Were a couple, he has every right to do whatever he wants with me."

"But he hasn't touched you yet."

"And?"

Shun's lips curve to a smile, "Don't you know dear sister? If other men find out that you're still pure, then they'll use what whatever means to get to you. How dangerous dear sister, you can't go to a foreign country alone. Did you know, Father wants to expand the business?"

It was the first time Setsura felt this feeling before. Her whole body is shivering just in the mere presence of a single person; she immediately understood what Shun was getting at. Not only does he plan to follow her, that man - the man who called himself their Father actually sold her. Yes, he sold her to Shun. Shun is implying that not only will he follow her, but they can also set up the new company there together as husband and wife. The fact that she can see through his actions through mere words alone, 'Thank you Shinji,' she thanked Shinji inside her head. If it weren't for him, not only would she never have known love but she wouldn't be able to stand up to this man here today.

"You're getting ahead of yourself brother, a mere simpleton like me cannot possibly take care of the business."

...

She throws up.

Initially, Setsura rushed to the bathroom to take a shower. She wanted to wash the filth from when Shun touched her cheek. However, the moment she was about to remove her clothing, Setsura felt the bile rush to her throat - and now she was finishing throwing up the contents of her earlier meal. She barely ate anything, so the results in the toilet bowl did not look good.

Setsura weakly dragged herself up and flushed the toilet as she walked over to the sink. Her face was paler than usual, and her hair was messy. The clothes she wore? 'How plain and boring,' Setsura knew this was the first time she was getting a look at herself in a month and prepared for the worse. But she did not think she would look like this. If Shinji saw her like this, would he still love her? That's stupid, Shinji will always love her. It was not her appearance he fell for.

When she recalled Shun's words, Setsura shivered. That man, he caused it didn't he? Shinji's accident. He did that, knowing Shinji would protect her. Shun meant to kill Shinji; he even made plans to marry her with their Father's permission. Setsura did not doubt this now. While they did not know about the painting thing, she was still a prominent figure in society. Everybody knew about her fiance being Shinji too. He would not be able to get to her normally, nor could he compete with Shinji head-on in terms of business, that's why he did this. It would be easier to marry her and reveal that he isn't blood-related at the same time.

'How despicable,' Shinji prepared for this, and he warned her too. But Setsura didn't think that crazy man would go to such lengths. It wasn't just that insane man, the man who named himself 'father.' Setsura recalled it very well, eight years ago, when that incidence happened.

Setsura remembered feeling 'happy,' that her Father had dropped by. She remembered how happy he was, too; he said he had important news to tell us. Setsura remembered thinking that perhaps he would finally start living with them. Mother always talked about her love story with Father whenever he wasn't around, and even though she was a mere child, she could see how much the two loved each other.

But then there was screaming; he suddenly fought with Mother over something. There was screaming and crying, Setsura recalled entering the room - and somehow getting dragged into the fight. Father started to beat and hit Mother; Father was screaming and angry. He kept repeating, 'What did you do? What did you just do?' Seeing her Mother get beat up like that, her beautiful Mother, Setsura snapped. Something in her broke, and the lights faded. The lights in that old house were rusty, and it had been acting up for quite a while, that night the fuse finally broke, and the house was pitch black.

What happened afterward, Setsura didn't know. She thought she heard her Mother approach her or was that her Father? When she finally regained consciousness, Father was yelling at another woman. When she heard the name, Sarah, Setsura felt like she knew it before. She knew that name. Of course, she did.

It felt like something just clicked inside her head; her Father was the top businessman. The top businessman's wife was called Sarah; they had a daughter and just a daughter. Her Mother's name wasn't Sarah, which meant that he was a bastard. She quickly figured out that her Father was cheating and understood that her Mother was the mistress. Judging from the conversation they had, then she was not wanted, she was a file child whose existence would only cause harm to society.

Setsura deeply sighed as she rinsed her face with the running water. Is there any using in thinking about this now? While the past can't be erased, at least that's what Shinji told her. She had to move forward with her life, 'hold her head up high and take a step,' those were the words Shinji gave her when he took her hand that day.

After she washed her face, Setsura left the bathroom, she walked over to the drawer and took out her phone. She plugged it into the charger and waited for the screen to load up. First things first, she has to contact everybody. The circle of friends she and Shinji have, they were the only ones she could trust. But even then, amongst them, there were people she couldn't reveal this plan to. She has to choose wisely, people who can't handle Shun, she has to give them generic replies to their messages.

She can't put anybody else in danger, that man - that man really wanted to kill Shinji. 'A murderer, huh?' Those words were a deep stain in her heart, and yet her so-called brother always joked around about it. He always said that he wouldn't mind becoming one if it were for her sake. Just as Setsura was loading up her phone, she spots it in the balcony ledge. A single white butterfly. Her eyes go wide; recognition filled her eyes.

It's the same one from back then.