"I don't know what happened. But good food is always the best cure for everything."
His sweat fell when he looked at what the girl called 'good food,' whatever she was making had turned purple. "You know you're a pretty bad cook, why do you still insist?"
Setsura sent him a harsh glare and Akito shrugged, "I'm just being honest here."
"I want to learn," Setsura murmured, "It felt like I was desperately trying to learn before, for the sake of mine and another persons future."
Akito recalled what Lyra said, 'Her partner is most likely dead or in a coma,.' The reason why Akito felt like he could relate to the girl is because of this.
"Other than cooking, it seems like your starting to use the libraries a lot."
"Well, I need to learn."
Setsura's words sound normal, but after having that discussion with Lyra, he understands that there is a hidden meaning behind those words now. So she wants to learn more about this time, huh? Akito supposes there was nothing wrong with that. She's probably going to become everybody's target. Akito knew with the way things are now, his power is limited. Until that person returns to the country, he won't be able to protect Setsura properly.
People will find out about her connection to the cases, and it will just be a matter of time before they realize. 'This girl is the key,' when people figure that out, won't they try to use her? Akito shuddered at the thought.
____
Another day in the land of the unknown.
No, Setsura shook her head; this place was more like Hell. It's not the mansion, more like the fact that she ended up in the Meiji period. Living with Akito isn't as bad as she thought, while Setsura realized that she had a fear of men. Setsura noticed it was different when she was with Akito. Whenever the male servants would brush past her, she would end up shivering and sweating. However, whenever Akito went near, she didn't break out into a cold sweat.
'What an unusual man,' Setsura thought. Almost two weeks had gone by since she came here, and her interaction with Akito increased a lot more. That man, however, is always busy with work. For a while, it looked to her that he was only slacking off, but as more time passed by Setsura realized how hard working he actually was. Once in a while, she would catch him going to his study in the middle of the night.
The room she resided now was right beside Akito's room. It was not the original room he assigned to her. The reason being, 'You have nightmares a lot, it's easier for me to keep an eye out on you if your closer.' A deep sigh escaped her lips, nightmares, huh? It's not like she is a little kid or anything; she didn't need anybody to reassure her just because she had a nightmare. But Akito seemed to think so.
Her thoughts changed direction when she thought of a certain play. Being surrounded by all these antique furnishings made her recall such things. A young french man wrote a play called no exit.
Three people locked in a single room, that room had no furniture of any kind. Eventually, the people in the room slowly became crazy.
When the people were granted freedom after awhile, people hesitated even though it was the door that would set them free. A place that would bring them away from the room.
If she compared her situation to them, though, she was living a more relaxed life. She chose to stay in this place. Then again, it's not like she can leave this time.
It's like Garcin said in his works, Setsura deeply sighed. Such useless knowledge. What was the point of becoming academically smart if she can't escape her current situation?
'Escape?' Setsura shook her head. It's not like Akito is keeping her captive or anything like that. While hit told her not to leave the mansion, it's not like he keeps her locked up. Setsura understood why he told her to stay put too.
Still, it's quite dull. While she did have something to do now, the small job by Akito's companion, it wasn't enough to keep her busy. It did at the start, but then she quickly got into the routine, and now, her gaze flickered onto the stacks of paperwork organized in files.
'All finished,' Setsura deeply exhaled. Being a fast learner is terrible during these times. What does she do now? Read more books?
"It seems like youve aquired a taste for forbidden literature," a voice from behind her said.
"There's not much else to do unless you would prefer me to mope around the mansion." Setsura said, unamused as Akito walked over and picked up the book.
"You know, this is probably the wrong time to tell you. But most of these books are forbidden literature."
Forbidden literature?
"How did you get these books?" Setsura asked, pointing to the shelf she had been reading from. Jean-Paul Sartre, won't be born until the year 1905, let alone his famous books.
Akito's lips curve to a smile, "I have a friend, an unusual, oddball who deals with unusual cases outside the norm."
A friend who deals with supernatural things then?
"She got me these books."
If Akito has a friend like that, then maybe she can ask for help regarding how to get back to her time? There is no doubt that these books came from the future, after all.
"Curious?"
"A little," Setsura nodded, "Can I meet her?"
"Yeah, I thought it's time for you to go out anyway."
Setsura's eyes lit up, "Really?" she tried to hide her excitement, but it was difficult to do so. Akito chuckled, "I--It's not like I'm bored or anything," Setsura quickly added.
Akito reached over and patted her hair, " I understand how boring it can get here. Even if I am pretty unsociable, I don't like locking myself in the mansion for long," he brushed his hand on her forehead, "It must be difficult to breathe in a place like this?"
"Not at all. I like staying with you Akito," saying the words, ' I like,' felt foreign to her. Which is unusual, Setsura knows that there is somebody she is waiting for. Somebody who she loves so much.
Akito smiled, "I'm glad to hear it," he looked towards the books, "Do you like these?"
"I've read some before, that's why I was surprised."
"You have?"
"Yes, I've read a lot of philosophy books before."
"So, these books would be categorized as philosophy, huh?"
Setsura nodded and watched Akito from the corner of her eyes. He seems to be genuinely interested in them. It would be okay to talk about them, right?
"I don't know how it is for most people, but the world of philosophy has the ability to pulls you in."
Akitio nodded, "Yeah, I got the same feeling."
"Reading these books, the reader can't help but be drawn into the world inside the books. If it's a negative book, the reader ends up feeling the same despair, self-loathing, and pain."
"Then, for the positive side?"
"In philosophy, most things you read about tend to be negative. But that's only because the writers on the subject, tend to focus on the bigger picture. The individual's deep emotions," she trailed off, "These type of books are forbidden here?"
Akito nodded, "That's right, with the current system, if people think the same way like the people in these books they'll get in trouble."
Setsura listened to Akito intently. So that's how things are in the Meiji era, she has to be very careful when she goes out in public then. One wrong move could cause Akito loads of problems. To think what is seen as people's salvation for the truth and answers to their emotions is forbidden in this time.
Then again, the world of philosophy doesn't help everybody. Some get too involved, and it ends up twisting their thoughts. When the topic of emotions come up, people end up doing careless things.