It was like a flood. The way her memories came back to her whenever she was speaking to somebody or looking at a familiar object.
--
20XX
"Oh? What's wrong?"
At that comment, Setsura replied with a sniffle and the person on the other side of the wall panicked. "Oh? Are you crying? Why? Wait. Why?! Hey, hey, you're crying too much. Wait. Why? Hey, it's like I made you cry. Oh, was it the mustard? Was it that spicy?"
She wanted to hit him, why would it be about the food? The person on the other side is undoubtedly an idiot. She's been speaking with him for the last few days, and Lyn determined that much. He is a fool.
"I want to go out."
"Out?"
Setsura didn't know what came over her, but before she knew it, all came spilling out. All the emotions, all the words she's held back till now. "I don't want this anymore! Get me out! I have done nothing wrong! But they do horrible things to me every day! I've had enough! I'm a human being, too."
"Uhh, hey..."
But Setsura continued to fuss.
"I understand I'll get you out of here, so don't cry, it will ruin your pretty face. Let's go together. I want to see the outside world, too."
"You don't know the outside world?" Setsura was very surprised. The person on the other side seemed the complete opposite of her.
"Nope, I don't. So let's go out together!"
"I.."
"You don't want to?"
"I do. I want to get out of here." She wants to get out; she wants to escape this place. She wants to be normal. Such a thing seemed foreign to her and yet right at this moment, Setsura understood what it was she wanted. She wanted to leave this place.
"Then let's go! It's a promise!"
"A promise..."
---
Present
You told her that you would show her the rest of the world. You told her that we would be able to discover and determine it for ourselves. Back then anything for her was fine, as long as she could get out anything was fine. When she finally did Setsura could remember it clearly.
That person, is it him? Her beloved, even now Setsura didn't understand. Where did these memories come from? Bit by bit, it was slowly coming back to her. The strong feelings and emotions she has towards her beloved person. If she were to describe the relationship she had with that guy, then -- she would say this much. They were like any ordinary couple.
There were days they would talk and confide in each other, hold hands, and take walks while watching the sunset above them. On other days- they would not talk, and for the whole day, she would feel the touch of his skin against hers.
She never complains on those days though and wonders if she even has the right to. Sometimes it felt like the two of them were in a dream. Her thoughts broke off when Akito brushed his hand on her face, "Setsura? What's the matter?" Akito asked softly.
His expression betrayed his look in his eyes. Akito is anxious about her; lately, her memories keep coming back to her. But, whenever she wants to hold onto the memories, they would slip away like it was never there, to begin with. It truly felt like somebody was playing games with her. The moment she remembers something important, after a while - it would slip from her hands again.
"I apologize. I'm a bit tired. I should head back to my room," Setsura said as she got up.
Akito nodded, "Then I wonder if they are here too... But if they are..."
'They?' Setsura caught those words on her way out and noticed that the guard from earlier was trailing behind her now. Forget it; there is no use dwelling on such matters now.
"It's nothing," she murmured. "Tell me something Akito, do if out know those people on the other table? They keep looking our way."
"Hmmm? Then give em a good wave, it'll annoy them."
She looked at him dumbfounded, 'Is this man crazy?' Now she understood why his enemies get so riled up. Akito really knows how to annoy people. Realizing her cup was empty, Setsura got up and made her way to the table. In the center of the drinks section, there stood a girl with long flowing lavender-colored hair, wearing a turquoise eastern dress. What a beautiful person. This must be the first female she has seen since she came to this place.
The girl looked with a troubled expression. Does she not know this is a buffet? She approached the girl. She did it because the girl was about the same age as her.
"Excuse me, is there something wrong?" Setsura asked. "Youve been walking back and forth for awhile now."
The girl seemed startled, "Uh, no...I.."
"The knives and forks are there, the chopsticks are here," Setsura pointed to the separated utensils next to the drinks.
"Thank you very much," the girl thanked.
"I'm Setsura, and your?"
The girl paused for a moment before she said, "Jina."
One thing she has noticed since arriving here is that many people refrain from saying their full names. Akito told her that it was so people could avoid being assassinated on the spot. But Setsura didn't think there was any need to do so, in a place like this that is swarming with security.
"Come sit with me; you don't want to be alone, right?"
Jina nodded.
Usually, Setsura wouldn't be so friendly to somebody she just met. She would usually be more cautious. However, just now, when she saw Jina standing there in front of the banquet table. It reminded her of her past self, that lost and confused look in her eyes.
Setsura returned to her seat alongside the woman named Jina. A strange expression crossed Akito's face. "Setsura, when did that person appear?"
"Huh?"
She looked back and saw Akito watching Jina carefully. What's wrong with him?
"She was wandering around there before me," at least that's what it looked like to her.
"No, I didn't mean that. She appeared the moment you walked over."
"Your talking nonsense as usual?" she said without thinking, but Akito didn't seem to feel offended. His serious gaze remained on Jina. Setsura was worried that something would happen when Akito flashed his usual smile.
Setsura rolled her eyes and Akito laughed, "It was just a joke."
Setsura sighed, "I've had it with your jokes today if you're going to make yourself useful, find out what's going on with the case."
Akito smiled, "Right right, then I'll take my leave for now.
"I'm sorry, I made your companion leave."
Setsura shook her head, "Not at all; he needs to do something other than sitting around." Although Setsura didn't know what he had been doing all morning, the fact that she found him at the banquet hall just meant that he has been slacking off this entire time.
"You must be bored too," Setsura commented. There is no way such a lovely young woman like this would find this place exciting, even the gardens outside were bland. There is simply nothing to do here other than eat and sleep. If it weren't for the extravagant food, then she would really think she was in jail.
Jina, who was about to eat a slice of bread, paused, "About that, I don't understand, what is going on here."
Setsura blinked, confused, "What do you mean?" While she knew there were some regular guests here, everybody should be up to date about the case.
"There is something I must do here, that's the only thing that keeps appearing in my head. Whenever I try to think about something else, my thoughts are directed towards this building. It's like I'm suddenly in a dream. Do you understand? I don't even know the reason behind it, but I must do something."
At that comment, her eyes widened. Could it be that Akito was telling the truth just now? Is there something about this woman? All Setsura wanted was to have a normal chat with somebody her age, but now it seems like she got caught up with some sort of but job. A person can't just appear out of nowhere, Setsura wanted to refute those words. But then what about her case? Didn't she appear out of nowhere too?