Chapter 171 - Can't forgive

He glanced up and felt Izu's gaze on him. The redhead man wore an equally distressed expression on his face. He didn't speak for a few minutes but when he did. Izu's tone is solemn, "I'd like to help you on this matter, Akito, you know this better than anyone, right?"

"Yes."

"But, I think you should understand by now. This field isn't mine. You're better of asking Oslo himself or even one of his subordinates."

It was the answer he didn't want to hear. But like Izu said, Akito already knew what he had to do. If he really wants to know how to fix his so-called condition - he would turn to Oslo even though he could turn to his subordinates too. Akito wasn't on good terms with the subordinate who came here.

"You mention Oslo so casually, but you're the one who can't forgive him."

"Indeed," Izu agreed as he took a sip of his drink. "I can't forgive him. I bear a grudge. But, that does not mean you have to be the same. I'm aware of what happened back then. The case wasn't mine, but I saw and heard enough about it."

"Izu, Oslo is...what kind of person is he?"

Izu's lips curve into a smile, "You still couldn't figure it out? You spent a lot of time with him."

Akito looked down, "It's difficult for me. I want to treat that guy as a friend, a companion. However, whenever I think of what happened before. Whenever I think of how much he loved my wife, I end up feeling bitter."

"It's a common case where friends fall for the same woman. However, in your case, the other party gave up before anything happened."

"Yeah."

When Akito figured out Oslo's feelings for Setsura, it didn't surprise him as much as it ought to. He felt like he already knew. Oslo is the type of man who doesn't hide his emotions well. So, everything shows on his face. From a glance, Akito already knew that Oslo liked that woman. However, he didn't say a word. In the end, it would be up to her to decide whose kindness she would take further. The hand that she picked was his.

Akito remembered clearly Oslo's expression that day. The man's words, too - it made him feel bitter all over. That's it? That's all? 'You will give up before actually making a move?' It annoyed him so much. But what bothered him the most was her. Did she only choose him because he made his advances clear? If Oslo did the same, would they still be dating?

A deep sigh escaped his lips, and he turned to the waitress, "Bring over some alcohol." If he doesn't drink, he will keep thinking of these negative things again.

"Yes, sir."

Izu chuckled, "Drinking in broad daylight is no good."

"It's already quite late."

"Let me rephrase that drinking before having a proper meal is no good."

"Hah, it's not like anybody will lecture me."

"What about the one back home?"

Akito shook his head, "She isn't the lecturing type. Setsura knows that she can't do anything to stop me. So, rather than argue about it. She will simply leave me be, and when something bad happens. Setsura would say I deserve it."

Izu's sweat fell at that comment, "How interesting."

"She really is unlike all the girls around."

"I know a woman like that too," Izu commented.

Akito immediately understood where he was coming from.

Silence descended upon them for a few moments. "Did she look well?"

Heh, so he was interested, after all.

In the end, they decided to change their location; the two went out on the balcony and sat down on the black chairs there. "If you meant well as in well she's alive yes. However, if you meant well as in physically, it didn't look like that to me. After all, her eyes were puffy like she hadn't been getting any sleep," as he described how Natasha looked, his companion seemed to flinch and go pale.

"Oh, but here's a fun fact. She's been smoking "

"And you didn't try to stop her?"

"Hey, it's not my fault. Besides, the lighters yours. Silver with black engravings, right?"

Izu remained silent before he spoke up. "Smoking? That's new."

Now that's the Izu he knew. Either way, he knew that ever since a year and a half ago, his companion hadn't stopped worrying about the brunette hair girl. Yet…

"That person is around. However, she seems to be restless and keeps looking around. Hoping to find any traces of him."

Izu sighed, "We can't leave her alone."

That's what the problem was. At least for Izu, he, on the other hand, though had been acting as one of Aoi's guards. Unlike Izu, he didn't sleep around her with her. The two weren't in a relationship but a physical one. Aoi didn't love Izu, and Izu knew that besides the two of them both have someone they love. "Is he still missing?"

"Yeah. If not, he would rush back to her in an instance; we managed to get word from those guys we stopped that they've seen someone with that description here. Since coming here, she hasn't stopped searching it seems like," Izu said.

Kagura Aoi, also part of his squad. Her position in the group as the only female is rather special.

That girl is already a wreck, yet she still helped him out his problem. He owed the girl his life and would do anything for her. But even Aoi knew that for him, Setsura would come first, in Izu's case, would he choose Natasha over Aoi? It was difficult to tell. Besides, right now..

"Natasha is engaged to Chauncey. Did you hear about that?"

"I heard I'm happy for her."

That sounds so sarcastic coming from him. "She probably wouldn't want to hear your congratulations."

"Indeed, she would say I'm mocking her. But, with this, everything is falling into place."

"Huh?"

Izu shook his head, "It's nothing. Anyhow please do as I instructed. Tell Setsura to work on the case openly. Your deal with Chauncey, break it off. There is no need for you two to hold her back. She is the most useful person around. With her insights and skills, we will have fewer victims."

Akito immediately noticed something strange in Izu's words. Fewer victims, then -- it's impossible, huh? Victims will still emerge from this.

"So many people have died already, is there really nothing those people can do?"

"Yes, there is."

Izu didn't have to clarify his words. Akito immediately understood where the man was coming from.

"Setsura."

"Setsura is the key to everything, that girl will gather all the shards and solve the mysteries in this era."

"Those shard things, exactly what are they for?" Akito questioned. Last time he brought Setsura to the auction because of Izu. Izu sent him a note saying that an important auction would take place. When Akito scanned the list of items, he saw the shard. Long before Setsura arrived in the Meiji era, Izu informed him regarding the shard's existence.

Like any random message, he received from Izu. Akito would see it through and even personally hunted around for the shards. However, he couldn't find anything. During their message exchange, Izu finally mentioned Setsura. Ha, now that he thought about it - he already expressed interest then.