Chapter 47 - The same

"It isn't here," Setsura said, frustrated.

"What are you looking for?"

Setsura pulled a face, "Well, I figured if this place is connected to the modern world like you said I'd be able to find certain books. But it seems like that's not the case."

"There are some books that are locked away by the Guardians..." Akito trailed off and recalled Katakura's expression. It seems like even if he does not want Setsura to get involved, she will have to, "Let's head back to the mansion now."

"Okay."

...

- Mansion- Following morning - 8:00am

If people were to look at his life from a bystander's point of view, his past isn't a very happy one. He doesn't remember his real parents' faces. When he was three years old, he was apparently told "Wait right here" and abandoned in a park. Akito remembered waiting for a very long time, he waited until the sun went down - and when it was pitch black. He met the couple who rescued him from the creatures of the night.

However, that couple had its fair of problems. The husband was often fond of gambling; he had a bad habit of cheating on his wife too. Eventually, the woman got tired of it all and left; when that occurred, she told him. "I'm sorry, I can't bring you with me," and left him alone with the adoptive father.

During those circ.u.mstances, it was only reasonable that she didn't bring him along. He wasn't her real child; if he came with her, he would be a deterrent in her starting a new life. Most people, when they hear this story, give him a sympathetic look and words. But for Akito, that was unusual. He felt nothing towards the matter. Was he abandoned? So what? It's not as though he lost his life. At least they gave him a chance for redemption. They could have killed him, buried him away, and nobody would find him for years.

He belonged to a wealthy family, and yet they still abandoned him. What does that say about society? About people? Ah yes, they are sc.u.m. But Akito didn't resent the parents who threw him away like trash, back then though he had no desire to meet them.

For Akito, the world was filled with interesting things. His dark past wouldn't stop him from exploring the world and spreading his wings. Akito was interested in every single thing, even the things people found peculiar. He even picked up odd skills like playing different instruments.

His adoptive father was truly hopeless though; sometimes, the man would wander off and not come back for weeks. The longest was three months. But Akito would brush it off as something normal. Sometimes his adoptive father would bring back with a souvenir. He would take him out to play and treat him to some slightly better food than they usually ate. Akito never asked him where he got the money; he felt that there was no need to ask. Even if he knew where it came from, nothing would have changed.

Sometimes the roof would come down on their old house, and they would have no materials to fix it. Sometimes if they are lucky, Akito would find a piece of scrap wood and fix it. But during the times where there is nothing at all, his adoptive father would apologize.

Honestly, if anybody else were in his situation, they would have lectured him so he could repent. But Akito wasn't like that at all; he couldn't do what his adoptive mother did or what his father's companions did. Deep down Akito pitied him, he lost everything, and he's practically a living ghost.

"It will work out somehow," Akito doesn't know how he could be so positive when it looked like the world was on the verge of collapsing. But, he remembered saying those words every single time.

When they ran out of food, Akito would search for something they could eat. Sometimes he would resort to stealing, but that's only when he can't find any medical herbs or grass that they could eat. When they had no water, he would go all the way out to the public well.

Now, now he has this huge place to himself. When his family did come for him, his adoptive father was on the verge of death. The story went like this; his mother had no choice to abandon him because of his father's scary mistress. She didn't want him to suffer. After a few years went by, the mistress came down with an illness and eventually passed away. Mother finally told his father that he wasn't dead, and Father got very angry at her. He immediately sent his men to search for him.

"Where's Setsura?"

"Still in the kitchen."

Akito paused, "What is she making?" As much as he tolerated the girls cooking. There are certain things he can't force himself to eat.

"Just deserts sir."

A relieved sigh escaped his lips. Deserts were something Setsura could make. At least to a certain extent where the appearance looked tolerable. Akito rubbed his forehead with his hands.

"Sir, are you tired?" Jiro asked, concerned.

Akito shook his head, "It's just fatigue." Maybe he should check on Setsura; she's been gone a while. Hearing a commotion by the door, Akito frowned, "What's going on?"

"Akito-sama, there's a guest."

A guest? He looked over at the window and saw a figure coming through the gate.

Akito's gaze dimmed when he saw blonde hair.

"Akito-sama? Should we..."

"No," Akito mumbled, "He's the guardian. Let him through." The people living in this time knew about the guardians. After what happened in that year, their existence became valuable to people. The servants seemed startled, but they quickly got ready.

"Akito? Do we have a visitor?" Setsura asked as she reentered the room with a tray of food. Lately, the girl's cooking had been improving, at least when it came to dessert food.

Akito tells her to come over, and Setsura does so. He holds her tightly in his arms and inhaled her scent. Ever since he fell in love, Akito realized how much of a beast he was. He realized what ugly feelings existed inside of him.

Eventually, the large doors opened, revealing blonde hair. Right at that moment, he lets Setsura go; the girl looked at him puzzled.

"Akito, what--"

"Miss Setsura?"

Setsura turned her attention towards Katakura, "Who--"

Two beautiful butterflies appeared from behind Katakura's ear. One of them immediately flew towards Setsura.

"Ahh? It's you," recognition filled Setsura's eyes. "Then," she turned to Katakura. "Your the.."

"I'm your assistance. I shall watch over you in

It's the same scene as back then. Back then, he picked up his former wife in the same way, and eventually, these people came for her. From this point, onwards Setsura will most likely be too involved in her mission to care. Like his wife, she will walk away with Katakura now, and when she returns, she will be so involved in her mission. It's the same as back then, even when he finds a place to belong to even when he finds somebody who cares.

Akito proceeded to walk away when he felt someone cling to him. He looked over and saw it was Setsura. She didn't look very happy, "Uh.."

"Didn't you tell me we would eat snacks together? Where are you going?"

Akito looked at the girl dumfounded, snacks? Right, he did promise that. But Katakura came... He already knew that the girl was eager to find out details regarding her mission; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to the clock tower with him.

"Akito? Are you going to ignore me?"

"Uh, no," Akito was still in a daze. "But what about.."

Setsura turned to Katakura, "I apologize, you came all this way. But I'm busy at the moment."

Katakura smiled, "That's fine miss. If you want to see me, you'll know how to contact me," with those words said, Katakura walked away.

But Akito didn't even get a chance to see him leave through the door since Setsura was tugging on his arm. "Let's eat. I'm hungry."