Chapter 109 - Revealations

He just wants somebody like Lyra who won't judge him, who will sit by and listen. But, Akito recalled Setsura's recent break down. 'After seeing her like that, He is reassessing his interactions with her.' At the beginning he had no idea. Even though he saw how vulnerable she was after those nightmares. Akito didn't think there was a deep rooted fear and anxiety in the girls heart.

He does not want to burden her anymore.

It's not like he doesn't understand where Lyra is coming from. Talking about this with Setsura would be better, since she will understand. However, "I don't want to burden her too much. I'm being hypocritical since I told her not too long ago to rely on me. But..."

Lyra sighed, "I've always felt that you dislike yourself Akito."

"..."

"Even back when she was here, you didn't look truly happy. However, with Setsura I feel it's different."

Akito's eyes widened at Lyra's words.

"That girl, she's changed you. She resembles your wife a lot. But unlike your wife she can make you smile. She can make you take action. Akito, I think it's enough already. You don't have to get worked up over the past anymore. You've already done plenty haven't you?"

He has? Him? He's done plenty? Ever since his wife left. It feels like his entire world has turned upside down.

__

"Instead of lurking around, come out already."

Katakura laughed and he exited the place he was hiding. "You noticed?" Katakura wasn't surprised. He had actually been here for longer than Akito, but he didn't step forward until now. At certain points it felt like Lyra was looking over at him.

At first, Katakura came here to speak to her about something. But at some point he got distracted. There was something peaceful about watching Lyra read.

"If I didn't notice, then my title as the head of this household has problems," Lyra trailed off. "Your not going to speak with him?"

"Akito actually asked to meet with me recently, but he didn't show up in the end."

"I see."

Katakura smiled, "Well, it's the thought that counts doesn't it? Besides, this is better than before. Akito is actually trying to change now." 

Even though the sadness and pain hasn't left him yet. Akito is trying to overcome that. His lips curve to a smile. Sending Setsura back here was a good choice after all. In the years the two spent apart, Setsura has grown stronger. She isn't the same she was back then. 

"When do you think he will notice?"

"Well, you'd think he would have picked up on it by now. Maybe if Setsura remembers more," Katakura paused. "About that, when you helped her recall some of her memories before did you say you felt somebody interfering?"

"As you know the power of us onmyoji have declined a great deal. In the past our kind would be entrusted with tasks such as divination, and protecting the capital from evil spirits. I've always felt that the reason Onmyoji's exist, is because demons do. If the demons didn't exist, we wouldn't be around either."

"Are you saying the one interfering..."

"A demon, or another mystical being like the guardians? It may even be somebody who belongs to another fraction. Because my powers in this peril time has increased."

At that comment his eyes widened. Lyra extended her hand out and a bright glow emerged from her palm. Sure enough it was exactly like she said, he could feel the strength from that single burst of light.

"That's..it really must be..."

Lyra nodded, "The reason why demons and onyomoji's were emphasized back then is because there were a lot of them. Over the years the demon population has decreased, that's why we Onyomoji's have grown weaker."

Katakura ran his hands through his hair, he wasn't expecting this kind of conclusion. "It's either a single demon with a large amount of power. Or, somehow more demons returned to the human realm?"

"Do they have a realm of their own?"

"In a sense yes, it's similar to Guardian world. It exists in one of the spaces. However, like you said the population has decreased. Even in their own realm, it has gone down quite a bit. Us Guardians check on them in rotation. According to the last report, there numbers are diminishing.. So," Katakura's gaze dimmed. "What is going on?"

"Is that the only place they can go to?"

Katakura paused, "There is another realm, but it is in the center of abyss. A place where the wandering souls go to. Not exactly hell, but not heaven either. The souls there have no idea they are dead, and end up living normal lives."

Lyra stood up and left her chair. She walked over to the bookshelf, in seconds he hears a clicking sound. A hidden door? "Follow me."

He nodded dumbly and followed Lyra. The pathway was rather small, and the ceiling low. This is one of the only times where he is thankful he is short. Lyra was using her power as a light source. The small ball of turquoise coloured light, lit up the places they were stepping on.

"So, this would be romantic normally if you didn't have that scary light source," he was cracking up a joke to ease the tension.

But Lyra's expression remained completely blank, and neutral. He supposes it was like her though. "Even though your supposed to be helping Setsura-san out with her mission, aren't you slacking?" Lyra asked.

His sweat fell at her comment. "You noticed, huh?"

"It's not like it takes much effort to notice that your slacking. I don't know your organization rules, but you'll get in trouble won't you?"

Anybody who heard those words would think that Lyra was worried about him. But Katakura knew better than that. "They won't come here, you don't have to worry."

By they, Katakura meant the higher ups. He didn't know the details but apparently the last time, they confronted Lyra's group for protecting Setsura. At that time he was with Chauncey Long, so he left her defenceless. Katakura felt very regretful, whatever happened back then must have traumatized her.

*UNEDITED*