Chapter 369 - The Missing Shard Part 3

*UNEDITED*

Capital K. 14:00 - Japan, 2019

After meeting her best friend Hina again, Setsura would find herself looking at the colours of the wind, not those seven colours that is obviously so very clear whenever there is a rainbow. To search for something that is not so easy to see, is quite interesting.

"Hey Hijiri, can I borrow this book on the founding legends for awhile?"

Why was she here in Capital K, in the main palace of their enemy of all places? Indeed one may ask. She has not betrayed the others; and yet here she is casually staying in the enemies main base of operations. 'can you talk to me about it? Their past? I, want to know everything ' After she said those words to Yang, Setsura debated about it for a long time. After she saw his expression during the festival that happened not too long ago, the girl came to this conclusion.

It was easy to gain permission to stay here; since her family is an elite family who has not yet chosen a side. Although she herself has chosen one already, her parents don't know that yet. As long as her family does not catch her out; she can continue acting as a representive of the the Kaname family. A representative of the Kaname family huh? How strange, it's her family name and yet it seems so very foreign to her.

The man whom is the other side's leader is Senou Hijiri, in her few days of stay here she has concluded that he has a strange taste in kimonos. What's with that awful purple polka dot print? Said man was reading one of the scrolls.

"That's fine. But Miss Setsura, how long do you intend to stay in the castle?"

"For a short while, I said. A short while," she trails of. Is he asking her because she's getting in the way of his planning meetings? No it's probably something else.

Setsura is the type to investigate carefully, she would even go this far for something. The problem is however is that this guy is supposedly good friends with her brother. She still doesn't know if that is true or not. For the past two days, Setsura carefully kept an eye on him. She saw no signs of this being true, and yet where did those rumors come from?

"Miss Setsura?"

"Nothing. Actually I've been meaning to ask you for awhile now. But how did you recognise me by face? That time was our first meeting, wasn't it?"

"Ahh well," he pauses for a moment, "A few years ago, at the festival, I was invited too. Your father introduced me to you from the distance. He kept talking about how much of a beautiful woman you are. And then he asked me how I felt about making you my fiancée."

At that comment her eyes widened. Then again, her father is a strange man. Though she was engaged from a young age. Her father often found other men.

"Huh? Eh. ."

Setsura tlok a look at Hijiri's appearance again. Sure he's handsome but he's always smiling like that. A guy who's always smiling when there's nothing funny is surely a suspicious person; and this happy jolly attitude pisses her of more than anything.

The caramel coloured haired man laughs, "Ahaha! Miss Setsura your distaste is showing on your face. It's alright, I was against it too."

"I see," she mumbled. Maybe he already has someone? It would make sense.

But that stupid old man, now she understands why he approved her stay here. Come to think of it, a few years back he said that she should break up with that person, since there is already someone more suitable. To think that he was talking about Hijiri of all people. To get married to Hina's cousin would be, geh.

It felt strange no matter how you look at it. She should quickly wrap up her business here and return before this turns in to an arranged marriage. The reason why she chose to come here of all places was due to the recent events. Was it her or did something go wrong? Wasn't a shard supposed to show up? How come nothing happened?

Did she get so used to seeing the shard whenever something happened? So now that it didn't, she doesn't know what to do? Setsura didn't quite understand this situation. Her thoughts broke off when she spotted one of the masked men bend down.

"Lord Hijiri, there's a message for you."

"Thank you for your hard work."

'What mysterious people,' Setsura thought. Hijiri is guarded so much because

An arranged marriage. . Just thinking about it gace her the creeps but then again father would do something like that wouldn't he?

"Hey. ." Noticing that he was focussing on the scroll, she rushed up to him, "Next time you go to see Ogura. Bring me with you. You've been wanting to hear about Xin haven't you? Is there something going on in Xin right now."

When he saw shoulders drop, she peered over his shoulder. Lilac. . butterfly writing. Eh?? Recalling what happened last time, Setsura easily stops herself from saying the name; yet she noticed his reaction to the note.

"You may leave," Hijiri said to the messenger despite his state. The messenger does so and Hijiri closed the doors.

"Senou-san."

"For her to want to meet me now and alone to top that. I wonder if something happened," Hijiri muttered.

Setsura looked at him with widened eyes.

Oh, he's not telling her to leave, rather he's openly talking about Hina now? That time she brought the brunette up, he reacted so strongly, yet he isn't mentioning her name.

"I don't think so. I mean you two have already met once since becoming enemies right? Though I'm not sure on the details. She willingly went with you the last time."

"That time was different. The reason I called out to her was because her grandfather was sick. I didn't want her to have any regrets if he suddenly passed away. I intended only to lead her to the place and stay on guard. I was relieved when Taiga decided to stay, because that meant I would not be alone with her. "

So the situation was like that. It seems like a lot has happened among her circle of friends since she went to the Meiji era.

But he really is becoming frantic about this. She had heard bits and pieces from Taiga, before she came here. Setsura even observed Hina whenever anyone mentions Hijiri. Rather than a look of deep hate, there's a look of longing but not a longing in terms of love.

A longing for the past. Truthfully despite her few days of stay here, she has yet to truly gain a understanding of their history. After all everyone in this place has been told to keep any mention of the Hina a secret. Aside from the old servants, it's difficult to gain any actual information. However in the days Setsura spent here, she grew closer with this person.

Yang warned her to be careful, to not get too close otherwise she would develop feelings of sympathy. But she cannot simply leave a person who is alone in need. Then again, maybe she has a soft spot now. After spending so much time helping others in need, she has developed a bad habit it seems.

Setsura bends down and pats his hair, "Miss Setsura?"

"I honestly shouldn't be comforting the enemy. The reason I came here was to learn more about Hina. But like you told me before that name in these grounds are indeed forbidden," Setsura sighed.

"You figured that out from day one did you not?"

"Yes."

"So, why have you been staying here?"