Chapter 227 - Similiar to drowning

Then again, considering how the people are in this era. It's no longer a surprise. What does she do? She wants to meet with Akito suddenly.

Every girl talk she has had is not about her, but about others' love life — the usual conversation with friends. Her everyday boring life is one without twist, but after she met Akito, all of that changed.

Her gaze darted toward the letter she had received. It was a letter found in her belongings. From the future, regarding two new recruits into the police force.

Those two girls are great; they may not be your standard. But I can genuinely see a brought future ahead of them. 'Although it was only supposed to be until the festival ended, the two pleaded for it to continue. Despite being amazing members already, both those two girls are working hard to ensure that they reach it — a high-level standard for everything. As for her, she has no particular weakness. It's strange to be saying so, but she excelled in all fields.

Setsura placed her hand on her forehead; her head hurt a great deal. All of this caused her so much stress and pain. She needs some medicine. Lyra gave her some when she confined the woman about her condition. She stood up and exited the room. 'It should be in Akito's room.' Is that woman done cleaning? It should be fine now, right? As Setsura walked down the hallway, she noted how quiet it was.

The servants in this mansion slack off when Akito isn't around. Though, one can't blame them. They have to work under such harsh and suspicious circ.u.mstances. Nobody can blame them for anything. Still, at least one or two people should guard at night. Maybe she's become too paranoid.

Setsura eventually arrived in front of the room. She opened the door, and a relieved sigh crossed her lips. No trace of that woman. She walked over to the dresser and took out the medicine in the pouch. Setsura disliked taking such things, however... This is the only way she can rest peacefully with Akito, not around. The only way to stop those dreams or visions.

She spotted something else in the dresser, her earphones. Ah, 'Victor fixed them?' They found it amongst her belongings.

Setsura closes her eyes. The colors still dance behind his eyelids, but less strong. The color is less distinct, and he can't make out the squares anymore. Still, it was something. She waited until the music stopped before playing the song again.

She leaned her head on the table while listening to the music using a rather old model of headphones, and yet still functioning properly. Her thoughts completely immersed.

She can't replicate that feeling; it wouldn't work out since each group has their own style. She sighs deeply; in the end, perhaps she is still missing something in her songs.

Setsura can't get the same feeling as that time. That time, the first case involving Rae. Setsura knew better than to compare the crimes from the future and the past. However, now that she thinks the crimes have a connection. She can no longer dismiss anything future related. Still, why is it so different? Akito is filling that person's place. Is that why?

Ah, is it because of that? Is it because she's not working on the cases with him? Because the one she worked on those cases isn't him.

She met Akito and the others, she gradually got along with other people, she's happy of course she is. Finally she has found a place that she could call home. They've all been working on their individual talent this entire time, and now that they've come together again, they can create something amazing together. Everyone's together again, and everybody is uniting under Akito.

'Besides... is the warmest place..'

The one she wants to see even now is…still him.

That guy, if Setsura closes her eyes, she can still picture his smile and the warmth of those lips enclosed in hers. That warmth, she doesn't ever want to forget it. And yet the more time passes by she finds that feeling leaving her almost. It isn't enough just to remember it. He has to be beside her. Otherwise, it is useless.

However, that's a selfish thought of her. She now has Akito. What use is there recalling such things? No use at all. Setsura knew that better than anybody. Still, these thoughts. It's hard to get rid of them. If only there was a way.. Akito and that person. If they were the same person, then this wouldn't be so difficult for her.

That's even more of a foolish thought. The same person? Impossible. No matter how similar they are, she can't entertain such peculiar delusions.

Something dim and distance fade away into the hazy mist beyond.

These are memories Setsura knew she ought to have held on to. But before she knew it, they were gone.

If she tries to recall them, they continue to disappear - similar to running away.

Performing in a class play in primary school, cheerfully playing together after school. Growing up with certain people, falling in love...

They ran around, collecting all of these memories. Those glimmering and shining moments we experienced fade away with the passing days and eventually disappear, as though none of it had ever occurred at all. However, those strong memories...

"Setsura-chan," a voice interrupted her.

Setsura sighed when she saw who it was. Blonde hair and wearing so much yellow. "Katakura."

He laughed, "Angry at me?"

"I'm angry because you're never around when I need you."

"Sorry, sorry," Katakura apologized.

But his smile and tone sounded so insincere to her. Forget it; these guardians like to mess around.

"It seems like Izu has been taking care of you."

Setsura sulked, "Are you serious? Izu isn't a Guardian anymore. Why does he have to pick up your slack for!"

Katakura continued to laugh. It genuinely annoyed her. Why do all the men around her do such foolish things?

Her thoughts broke off when she felt him reach over and pat her hair. "I'm sorry, are you okay?"

"These days, I feel sick a lot."

"Yeah."

"And it's hard to sleep."

"Mmm."

"I can't concentrate well."

Katakura nodded, "A side effect of coming into close contact with the shards."

"Side effect?"

So, there is something dangerous about the shards? Well, that was obvious from the start. When she first saw that second shard, it worried her greatly — that bright red color like blood, and even Izu's butterfly.

"Yes, sorry if I failed to mention it. You haven't collected many though, it's a bit strange," Katakura trailed off. He removed his hand from her hair and brushed it against her forehead. For some reason, the sensation of his hand felt familiar to her. This isn't the first time he touched her, so it made sense. However, even during the first time, she got this feeling before.

So strange, why is that? Did she meet Katakura in the future like Izu? No, according to Izu. 'Guardians seldom go to Japan in your time.' The reason, Setsura could guess. It would cause problems if the system detected them. Such a high-tech system, 'It seems they can't bypass it?' So, the Guardians have their limits too. That's interesting to know.

Setsura had a lot of questions she wanted to ask. However, she felt her eyelids slowly dropping. "Are you sleepy? Go to sleep."

Jerk, moron. She wanted to yell at him and scold him for leaving her alone. What advisor, he is never around. How many complicated walls did she face because he wasn't around? She dealt with all these challenges herself. Now Setsura felt drained of all strength.

____

"Ka-kun," Setsura mumbled softly.

'Damn,' he cursed in his head. She..still remembers? It seems like it's not something one can easily dismiss. Katakura bent down and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. Just this one time.

Katakura sighs when he feels a familiar presence. A man stood there wearing a cloak. He stretched his hand out in mid-air and pulled the cloak revealing a certain red-haired man. "Izu."

A bored expression was plastered on the man's face, "Hey."

"Did you decide to come back?"

Izu, let's out a bitter smile, "I was banished, can I return?"

"You know you can."

"For now, I'll do what I can. I'll have you know that guardians who were sent here and ended up with similar circ.u.mstances to me - they were all attacked."

Katakura frowned when he hears this, he more or less suspected it any day now, since he got attacked too. "There foolish to think this will spite you. It doesn't bother you, does it?"

"Tsk, why would it?" Katakura mumbled.

Besides…he really couldn't care less about that. Right now, the only thing that was going on in his mind is Setsura. To think her memories are coming back this quickly. Not just her memories of the future but her memories of the past. He never got a chance to ask. But from that look on her face, its probably been awhile - perhaps longer than him.

"What would worry you the most is if that girl got hurt, right?" Izu brought up.

Katakura glared at Izu, causing him to shrug. "Easy now. I will not lay a hand on her. Why would I? Just like you, I have every intention of protecting her," Izu's expression turned serious. "You should stop goofing around and do it already… Though I'm nothing like the others. It matters more if you're the one who does it."

Katakura said nothing and turned away from his redhead his hands in his pockets. But he knew it himself, that it wasn't something he could avoid. He stole one last glance at Setsura before completely disappearing.