The spiritual realm, huh?
Setsura was not superstitious, but that did not mean she had the average mindset when it came to these things. Ordinary people would dismiss it. When people come in contact with the unknown, they would usually feign ignorance and erase it from their mind. Nobody would think too deeply about it. But like Oslo just said, there are those who become oddly fascinated with it. Beauty that is captivating to the point they would discard their rational mindset, and values. She wasn't superstitious, but even then this whole thing was unusual.
"Are you human?" Setsura cautiously asked. She was still cautious, but it wasn't to the extent where she would pull out her concealed blade anymore.
Oslo smiled, "I am not," he raised his hand, and she saw that it was slowly reverting to a normal hand, "That white butterfly of legend and the black ones, aren't fiction either."
Wait, wait, wait? What?!! Setsura stared at him with wide eyes, "Are you a scammer?" she blurted out, "Or some strange fortune-telling guy," she couldn't take any more of this. Even if the guy in front of her has provided evidence that he isn't normal, that did not make this situation any better.
Or rather, 'Shinji, it seems like when he isn't around these bad things keep happening to her,' what happened with Shun aside. It felt like the creepy vice president was trying to make a move on her in his office earlier. And now she has to deal with this weirdo. If Shinji were here, what would he do? She missed him greatly, in the past month since he fell into a coma. It felt like she had been losing a part of herself. However, it's during these times where she ought to be strongest. Those against Shinji, those who are working for her brother - many will exploit this opportunity.
"What do you say Miss Setsura? About helping?"
Hey, hey don't just switch topics like that. A deep sigh passes her lips, "I need time," Setsura muttered, "To think this through, I don't think I can just get involved in something like this without thinking it through," she was about to pass him the shard back. But for some reason it floated back to her, yes it floated. If she didn't see it with her own two eyes, then she would have believed she was dreaming.
This whole thing in this forest, and meeting this man named Oslo. It all felt like one massive dream to her. A dream she wanted to wake up from, 'She doesn't need this right now.'
"Very well," Oslo said after a while, "But, you must abide by my instructions."
...
-Airport -
Those three days quickly passed by, Setsura stared at the luggage by her feet. 'That should be the last of it,' she thought. She didn't miss anything, did she? Well, even if she did. Setsura could just call the servants to fetch it for her.
While there were still a good few hours left before the flight, Setsura wanted to go to the airport early. She finished up her drink and tossed it into the trash. Maybe she should find a cafe and kill some time.
Setsura got a pleasant surprise when she turned around, there stood the mysterious stranger from a few days ago, "Wh--what are you," Setsura is dumbfounded. She hadn't seen this man in three whole days; he didn't make any effort to contact her. She is grateful that he respected her wishes. But seeing him now, Setsura didn't know what to think.
"Walk with me and act normal. Were being followed," Oslo muttered.
Eh? Setsura looked around and indeed saw a group of men in odd-looking suits. There were quite a few of them, right beside the staircase, and seating area. Setsura looked at him dumbfounded. What is he doing dragging her into his mess for?
"They are after you by the way," Oslo said.
"Wait, what?"
Don't just drop this bombshell on her.
What did she do to offend strange people wearing masks for? And yes, other than the peculiar clothing - these men wore odd-looking masks on their faces. 'They look like some sort of cult, but it's not like you judge every person you see at an airport,' people are too busy rushing to their flights, so even if somebody noticed they'd simply stare for a bit before moving on.
"Did you forget? The shard hasn't left your side since that day, and Kurara keeps following you around."
'Kurara,' was the name of that white butterfly. What following around, he's the one who left it with her. Oslo left it with her because supposedly it was worried about her. A deep sigh passed her lips, "We just have to blend in right? Let's go to a cafe."
...
Setsura ensured that her luggage was right underneath the table. While the cafe staff had a space for luggage. Setsura didn't think it was safe, and she was right to think so. It seems like people are after the shard. She should keep it with her instead of leaving it inside her luggage. The waitress places a cup in front Oslo, and her milkshake and a muffin in front of her.
"You're not going to eat anything?"
"I do not need to eat."
Oh, right. He is something that's out of this world, "Then why order a drink?"
"Would it not be odd if you were the only one with an order?"
That's true, "So, who are those shady guys, and how did they learn about me?"
"It seemed like they were following us in the forest the other day."
'It seems like?!!' she repeated in her head. What's with that casual tone and smile, "I have another 2-3 hours before my flight, it would be easy to get kidnapped in an airport," since there are loads of people, nobody would notice if suspicious people appeared and took her away.
"Why don't you ask your brother for help? Just say some strange guys are following me."
"No," Setsura shook her head. If she did that, then Shun would insist on following her. She rubbed the temple of her forehead with her hands, "Seriously, my life is already a mess. What are you doing adding to it?"
Oslo laughed, "Is it not fine? Miss Setsura is an interesting person, nothing wrong with adding more spice to your life."
"I don't need anymore."
"That aside, did you think about it?"
Setsura deeply sighed, "Exactly what does protecting this thing entitle? I thought about it, and I think there's more to it than what you told me. That tale, there's more to it," after their meeting, she left the house and visited Shinji's apartment. She found the book and decided to read it there.
"Correct, I want you to gather up the shards for me."
"There's more?" Setsura inquired.
"There is, and they are scattered everywhere. You are not planning on settling in one place, are you?"
'He knows everything,' Setsura deeply sighed. Of course, that shouldn't surprise her, "Shinji and I, thought we would investigate the case of eight years ago in more detail. It seemed like there was more to it, what happened that night," she has a feeling that somebody set it up, "Those black butterflies you mentioned, they can't enter a household without being invited in, correct?"
"Yes, and you weren't deceived by the black butterfly. You genuinely only saw them that night."
Setsura nodded, "I didn't come in contact with them till then. If the butterflies in the tale you mentioned, and this one is connected..."
"I see," Oslo nodded, "I neglected this part. Then Miss Setsura if it really is what you're saying, the one that was tricked by the butterfly was your Mother."
"Huh,?"
"Somebody with a pure heart, your Mother was that type of person correct?"
Yes, yes, she was. But then a few days before Father came to visit, she started acting oddly. Is this what Oslo is trying to get at? Setsura brought the muffin to her lips and took a bite, and she slowly chewed her food as she thought about it carefully. She tapped the edge of the table with her free hand, "Shun?"
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
"It's just when Father brought him in. He kept telling me creepy things like how much he knows about me. It wouldn't be odd if that's all he said, but then he said, 'Thank goodness, you don't look like you did that night,' when I think about my childhood it wasn't a bad one. The place Father made me and Mother live in wasn't bad. It was only that past week where the house started to fall apart, and my appearance was that of a healthy child beforehand," now that she thought about it in this much detail, there are so many things she overlooked before. Setsura looked over at Oslo, "What do you think?"
This man, he probably knows everything about the incidence already. But he isn't saying a word to her, that means there is more to this than meets the eye.
"Miss Setsura really is very clever, but even if you ask me. I actually have limited knowledge of case X560."
Case X560? "What are you talking about?"
Oslo's calm face suddenly broke into a panic, "Ah, will you look at the time? It seems like it's time for me to leave."
Setsura stared at him, stunned, wait, wait what? Before she could process what he just said, Oslo quickly left. 'What the..' Setsura deeply sighed and looked across the table. Oslo hadn't drunk his coffee yet. He could have at least left some money. But then again, it's merely a single cup.
.....
Of course, right before her flight, she just had to meet this guy. Are the people after her still following her around? Setsura hoped that she lost them already, "You win," Setsura said to the man opposite her, "Only, for now, I'll leave this country. But I will be back, and when I do, I'll marry him."
The man's lips curved to an amused his smile, "Do you think I'll allow you, dear sister?"
Setsura's gaze darkened at his words. Who is his dear sister? "I will never be yours Shun, I'll tell you this much now."
Shun's gaze darkened, "Oh? You really think this way?" Before Setsura could nod, she noticed an unusual aura around him. Eh? What's wrong with— her thoughts broke off when she felt Shun's lips on hers. Setsura felt her whole body turn rigid, her feet frozen. 'Dirty, dirty,' her whole body felt dirty. She wanted nothing more than to push him away from her. Nothing more than to get him away from her. Why is he doing this?