Chapter 43 - Man in yellow

A young man around 176 with blond hair with his bangs covering the top right side of his face wearing a yellow-colored kimono with a western-style shirt and baggy grey pants appeared from the corner. He reached out for his bag and placed his hat on and scanned the place. 'Hasn't changed much, since he last came here.' His name is Katakura, a member of the Guardians. Katakura started to walk, and thankfully he could move his legs now. He didn't know how much time he spent in that dreaded place — but being tortured for countless days stripped away his confidence.

Katakura didn't get a chance to tell Oslo this, however. He didn't want him to send somebody inexperienced for this job.

"Excuse me, sir, madam. Have you seen this young lady?" Katakura approached a nearby stall. Oslo surely didn't mess up the landing, since he personally.

"Why yes, just two hours ago she was here with a handsome young man."

"My wife, that was Captain Akito.."

His ears perked up at this. 'So Oslo was right,' he supposed that's a good thing.

--

XX Space

"Katakura, I apologize for arriving too late."

Katakura could barely talk. He was beaten so severely. Oslo extended his hand out, "Eat this, you should recover quicker, at least enough to move."

When Katakura saw the sphere in his hands, he shook his head.

"You must help Setsura, Katakura. I cannot have you in this state."

So he's willing to sacrifice something rare just for that girl? It seems like this girl really is the same one from back then. Katakura nodded and took the sphere, despite the numbness in his body, he lifted it towards his mouth.

…

"Where am I?"

It took Katakura a moment to realize where. So he came back, huh?

"How are you feeling?"

"Master Oslo."

Oslo smiled, "Think you can go on the mission?"

Katakura sighed, "You're really a devil. Is the girl fine? Quite some time has passed already." He couldn't hide the fact that he was worried about her too.

"She's fine; she's with Akito."

"Wait, what?!!" Katakura's eyes widened. Just earlier Oslo more or less confirmed how things were. "That's such a bad idea, I mean what if Akito finds out? Gee, I don't even want to think about it."

"Relax, why would he find out? It's not like she looks the same as she did before, and she's lost her memories."

"Even so, she's still essentially 'her.' God Oslo, couldn't you have sent somebody else over…?"

Oslo shook his head, "Even if I did, we wouldn't be able to prevent the two from meeting each other. This way, Setsura is safe from harm and Akito-- we can finally make it up to him," Oslo's voice contained a tint of regret.

Katakura sighed, 'What a troublesome situation.' He thought.

--

Present

When he felt somebody's presence, Katakura immediately turned around on guard. But he was greeted by a familiar face instead. "Long time no see."

This woman is from the Li family, "Lady Lyra."

"When you call me using a formal title, it feels strange. So your Setsura's escort?"

Katakura nodded, "Yes."

"Akito and Setsura went to the clock tower."

"Huh? Wha-" Katakura panicked. Was that such a good idea?

Lyra sighed, "Akito brought her there."

Katakura wanted to slap himself. Why are things heading in a completely different direction than it's supposed to be? Because Setsura didn't have anybody to guide her? But even if she didn't, surely she remembered the mission?

"Your very late, and I see your half wounded still."

While the pill caused him to regain strength,

"Yeah, I got beat to a pulp."

"That doesn't surprise me."

Lyra is as cold as ever, Katakura looked up at the grey skies, "It's raining heavily here. Is Akito okay?"

"He's fine. I saw him taking a stroll with Setsura earlier."

"Their that close?" Katakura frowned. He was feeling very conflicted about it. "What if he…" he immediately shut his mouth, but Lyra shook her head.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

Katakura sighed, "It's not. I'm glad you realized, sorry, you know how we are about confidentiality."

"Yes, I'm aware, but your little butterflies are running amok and killing people."

"It's not from our side," he shook his head. "We checked, it definitely didn't come from us. You know our place has many groups and fractions, it could be anyone within the Selphia sphere." It gave him a headache thinking about it, "The people who kidnapped me. I couldn't see their faces since they took away my eyesight."

Temporary blind, couldn't speak. Yet they left his hearing, so he could hear everything they talked about. He could hear himself getting beat up. His thoughts broke off when he feels Lyra place her hand on his cheek.

"Lyra?"

"Are you sure you don't want to drop by my place and rest? You look quite pale."

"I have to find Setsura."

Lyra shook her head, "You must rest first. I insist Mr. Katakura."

...

Li Family household

"My brother isn't around, neither are the servants today, so rest assured okay?"

Katakura let's out a relieved sigh. For the last few minutes, since they entered, he had cautiously looked around. Unlike Oslo, he does not have much experience traveling to the Meiji time. For Katakura, he was more familiar with the Keiou period in 1868. A time when swords no longer clashed against each other, to fight for the Japanese nation. But instead when the katana was faced with the weapons of the west. He even saw the start and end of the famous Shinsengumi. So many years have passed since then, around twenty or so.

The Japanese style houses he is used to is more modern than before. While some still use katanas and wore traditional hakama and kimono. Everything is mixed with a western feel now. Katakura laid down on the couch - but Lyra pointed to the bed. "You can't rest properly like that."

Katakura didn't want to argue and walked over to the western-style bed. It was more comfortable than sleeping on a futon that was for sure. He immediately felt exhausted the moment he laid down. "I didn't realize how tired I was…"

Lyra smiled, "Knowing Sir Oslo, he most likely didn't give you enough time and just rushed you over here."

"Right, Master is a slave driver."

"Setsura's case is linked with the murderers though. So I understand his hasty decision. Back then, we all thought it would be fine if we just sent her back to where she came from. But, it seemed like that isn't the case."

"I think there is something other than Akito dragging her back here."

"That man? Could he be in the present too?"

"It's the only explanation," Katakura nodded. "Even though she left without regrets the first time…." he paused when he saw Lyra's expression. "Okay, so maybe she didn't leave without regrets. But her memories were wiped by Oslo before she came back, anyway."

That's why she doesn't remember anything regarding what happened back then. But the longer she stays here, the more she will most likely remember. It was a troublesome task. If it weren't Setsura, he wouldn't go this far either. They may be guardians, but there is a limit to what they can do.

"Regrets can trigger a time slip. But your right, there is something wrong with that theory. I tried the ritual with Setsura-chan."

"How did it go?"

Lyra bit her lip, "I saw something ominous. Before she came here, it seemed like she was in an accident."

"Ah, before she met up with Master."

"The accident was a fire in that clock tower."

Katakura's eyes widened, and he clenched his fist. "Do you really think it's connected?"

"It's too much of a coincidence otherwise."