Chapter 40 - Just figuring things out

The sudden increase in the rain led to their little harmless stroll stopping abruptly. So, the two sought shelter in an abandoned-looking building.

The place, despite having broken floorboards and no furniture to show that it belonged to an aristocratic family, looked quite well-kept and neat. Setsura gulped, is there nobody else living here? She doesn't want to intrude if somebody lives here. This would be considered trespassing in her time.

An endless amount of corridors and rooms. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine it, the bustling activity. If this place were still busy, people would be running around doing their chores, training, or eating.

Setsura opened her eyes when Akito slid one of the room doors open, "Hmmm, there's a bedroom here. So the baths should be over there…"

She looked at him, confused.

"That type of rain won't stop anytime soon, so let's stay overnight here."

"B--but, it clearly looks like somebody is living here."

"Correction, somebody was living here. It's dusty, and the floorboards are worn out. So nobody lives here now."

....

When Setsura stepped out of the bathroom, she retraced her steps to the room from earlier. Unlike before she noted that it was clean, the floorboards were a different shade of brown. Akito was perched on the window, with a pipe in hand as he gazed outside. 'Whenever he doesn't crack jokes, he always has that hazard look in his eyes.' Setsura walked across the room. "Akito, you can take a bath now."

"Mmm, I will later. I made you some food, why don't you eat?"

Setsura looked down and saw on the small table was a simple meal consisting of fish, potatoes and a bit of meat.

"Are you not going to eat?"

Akito smiled, "My appetite is bad when it's raining; you go on ahead without me."

Setsura could only nod as she sat down. She wonders what he is thinking of right now. Earlier when they were walking through the streets, he seemed uncomfortable the entire time. If he doesn't like rainy days this much, she wondered why he even came along with her. Maybe it has something to do with his wife again? He only seems to get into this solemn mood whenever it concerned her.

"Akito, at least eat a little. I don't like eating alone."

"Aren't you usually too nervous to eat a meal in front of me?"

That's only because recently he keeps doing strange things. Setsura shook her head, "That's not the case; eat with me."

Akito nodded and walked over to the table. Thankfully Akito made a large portion, so Setsura divided up the meal. "I was thinking Akito, what did you do to get those people to stop accusing me?"

Akito flinched and awkwardly laughed, "Well, you'll be uhh surprised."

She eyed him suspiciously. Why is he acting this way? She was going to praise him for scaring away those officers.

"Sorry!"

"Huh?"

"I told them you slept with me."

At that comment, she dropped the chopsticks in her hands. Her eyes twitched in annoyance, "Care to repeat?"

"Dearest Setsura, it was the only believable excuse."

"Like hell."

"I mean if we are both amid passion and l.u.s.t…"

Setsura's glare deepened, and Akito bowed, "Sorry! As you can see, I do feel bad. But I thought if we made it real after I get you to fall for me, it wouldn't matter anyway."

What is it with this guy bringing up his feelings twenty-four seven a day? Doesn't he have better things to talk about? Why does he keep mentioning how much he loves her? Setsura, let's out a deep sigh, "Akito, I told you not to pressure me."

Akito looked up, "Am I bothering you? Are the men from your time not as direct?"

Setsura couldn't comment on that, because other than that guy she never gave anybody else a chance.

"It's not that; I'm just figuring things out."

"You were in an accident, and that's why you came here?"

Akito must have misunderstood what he saw from those images. Setsura shook her head, "I was in an accident, but that's not why I came here. Oslo said he needed my help--" Setsura paused, "How come you know Oslo?" She knew he was a military figure. But Akito himself admitted that it wasn't until his transfer that he started to get involved with the supernatural cases of the Meiji era.

Akito picked up a cup and brought it to his lips, "I met him when I met my wife."

Huh?

"I think she was the same as you actually, a time traveler. But the difference is, she chose to settle down here once her mission was complete."

Setsura couldn't believe what she was hearing. So, Akito's wife is also a time traveler?

"Are you sure about that?"

"Well," Akito pondered about it for a moment, "My memories are quite hazy. Maybe it was the impact of her leaving me, but I've forgotten a lot of things. When my wife came to this place, she appeared just like you did all lost and confused. She was wearing similar unusual clothing to you as well."

Setsura placed her hand on her head, 'Why does this sound so familiar to her?' Is there a chance that she was Akito's wife? Setsura frantically shook her head. That must be the most stupid idea she's ever had. If she were Akito's wife - then surely she would remember. Besides, all these years she's been with that guy. There is no chance of her having traveled back in time before.

"It does sound like it. Why did you not ask Oslo about her?"

Akito laughed, "Because I used to think Oslo was trying to take her away. He would always appear whenever I was with her, after all. She went to him a lot for advice, but I misunderstood that."

Was Oslo close with the subject? But, Setsura recalled how he kept brushing her questions. He's so cold to her. That girl must have had special circ.u.mstances in contrast to her.

"How old was your wife?"

"15."

Fifteen? Setsura frowned, that must mean his wife would be nineteen right now. The same age as her. If his wife returned to the modern-day, she would have finished her studies, maybe went to university. Probably fell in love and found somebody else to marry. Though that's just speculation. There is a chance that Akito's wife is still living in this era. Setsura didn't know why she was suddenly thinking about Akito's wife so much -- wait fifteen?!!!

Setsura eyed him up and down, "I seem to have gotten the wrong impression of you." Who knew this guy would marry a young girl? Then again, she does understand that the values in this time are different. But it still felt strange to her.

"Hey hey, don't look at me like that. I didn't touch her until she turned sixteen -- and hold on really. Why are we having this talk?"

"I'm just curious about your wife. Nobody talks about her."

Akito smiled bitterly, "Well, I ordered them not to mention her anymore. Only Eisuke boldly does so from time to time, but eventually, even he would stop."