She got some sleep in the carriage though, Setsura wondered why. Even though she's gone so long without sleep, how come she could suddenly get some rest? Setsura frowned, 'So odd,' maybe it's because she's sick? During that time where she didn't get much sleep, she only got severe headaches and dizziness from time to time. But she never got sick. So maybe this is just a side effect from being ill. Whatever it is, she should be glad.
Yet for some reason it made her uneasy, how can she possibly sleep peacefully during this time? Setsura frowned, she must have forgotten something very vital.
She glanced at the man beside her; he's a military person from this time. Somebody involved in the political scene. As far as she could recall about her studies on the Meiji period, the military police here is still in the developing stages. So what happened earlier shouldn't have come across as too much of a surprise for her. Still, it felt odd for her.
"Are..all members of the police like that?"
Akito shook his head, "No, but there are some ruffians and some elite, rich boys who think they can do whatever they want because of their parent's power."
"I didn't think you'd give me an answer."
"No need to hide things, even I'm aware of the current state of my people and public opinion," Akito nodded to himself, "With the Meiji, implanted from last year. Things are getting better; we gradually see a change in the political scene these days."
"But?"
Akito sighed, "Well, there's still a few loose ends to work out," Setsura understood from his vague wording that this was as much information he will tell her. Setsura didn't mind too much.
Her thoughts broke off when Akito suddenly bent forward, their faces inches away from each other.
"What are you doing?" Setsura frowned. While she may not have her memories and woke up to this odd situation of her traveling back in time. The girl wasn't stupid, why would she let some random man, go anywhere near her?
The man named Akito, however, said nothing, as she felt herself getting lifted off the ground. The contact made Setsura shiver. She didn't know what it was, but Setsura felt odd being touched by another person. But earlier she felt the warmth from his hand. 'How contradictory,' Setsura thought. She didn't know exactly what was going on with herself anymore.
"I realize you may have had a bad experience, but it's hard to live in the same roof with you without making contact."
"Live in the same roof?" Setsura repeated.
Akito nodded, "Until you are fully recovered, it is best you stay here. Besides," the man paused, "I believe you should think about what you're going to do. You've lost your memories, and no relatives have come for you yet."
No relatives would come since she is not even from this era. Despite her dazed state, this is the one thing Setsura is sure of.
"I understand, then I shall think about it."
She already knew her answer, though. It would be best to stay with this man until she regained her memories. Maybe in her missing memories, there is a clue to how she ended up here. Setsura didn't know whether it was wise to discuss this with anybody here yet. They may end up throwing her in prison if she spouts such nonsense. It's better to lie low for a while.
…..
Akito took her to another room where the doctor was. Setsura was glad that it was a female doctor because she didn't want to deal with any strange males right now. Still, Setsura was fidgety since she didn't know the person. Thankfully, the woman was patient with her.
"There's nothing I can do about this; her finger is paralyzed," Kuri said.
"Completely paralyzed?" Akito repeated, the frown on his face deepened. He seemed to be very anxious when the doctor named Kauri was examining her. Setsura didn't understand why, though. He already knew she was injured after all.
Kuri nodded, "Right, completely. The good thing is she can probably use her left hand," she trailed off and turned to her, "Miss, how about it? Try using your left hand."
Her left hand, even with the loss of memories Setsura recalled which hand was her dominant. She's never used it before, at least properly anyway. Setsura followed the woman's instructions and did the basic movements. The expression on Kuri's face was grim.
"Akito, it's better you keep this girl with you."
"Oh? You saw it too."
"Too," Kuri said deeply, "What are you doing calling out to me if you knew?"
"It's not exactly in my field, that's why I had to make certain first," his gaze met her's. Setsura looked at the two blankly, what on earth are they talking about? Is there something wrong with her left hand?
"But, huh? This girl, you'll have to report this to the ward office,"
"Relax, we haven't confirmed it properly just yet."
"Is there any need to?"
Kuri rolled her eyes and sighed; the woman looked even more troubled than before. The woman sent her a sideways glance, "Well, I guess if anybody asks, you could just past her of as your cousin, or fiancé or something,"
Akito's lips curved to an amused smile, "Indeed,"
…
After a few more checkups and strange tests - by strange Setsura meant the woman named Kuri made sure that she could write using her left hand.
Setsura sat up in the futon; she didn't know what to do now that she was awake. While her wounds are not as bad and have healed slightly, her body still felt utterly drained of all strength. But even more than that, Setsura's gaze fell towards her hand. She can't use her right hand; she can move it - but there is no strength; she can't feel any movement.
Her thoughts broke off when she hears shuffling and found Akito looking her up and down. Now that Setsura got a closer look at him, the man was quite handsome - his black hair aside. His pale midnight blue eyes left a deep impression on her. 'Blue, could he be a foreigner?' Setsura thought.
"Do you mind if I ask a few questions?"
"I don't remember anything," Setsura reminded him. She doesn't remember anything, other than a few fragments from time to time. Even then, she forgets them right away. It's like there is somebody purposely blocking her memory. Why would anybody bother doing that? Maybe they are the ones who sent her here?
"I'm aware, however, do you at least know what this is?" Akito pulled out a beautiful-looking brush; the tip was an unusual long swirl.
A brush? Setsura was about to say no when a memory from a long time came to her.
'I'll give this to you,'
Ah, "That's mine," Setsura nodded.
"Indeed, you dropped it," Akito drawled, "This item is indeed yours?
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Akito shook his head, "There is something else in your belongings that caught our attention, but it still requires examination. I hope your patient with us."
Setsura nodded; she doesn't mind. But is he going to give her that brush or not?
...….
A few days later
Setsura finally got permission to walk around. Her gaze fell on the room she was stuck in for the last few days.
Initially, when she first saw the place, Setsura thought it was a Japanese style mansion. But now that she has left the room, Setsura could see the western influence. Is this a Western-style mansion? Though her head still felt haggard, Setsura retained the knowledge she had in the modern world.
Her name and this knowledge are all she has now. Whatever skills she had, or whatever she did Setsura completely forgot. From the looks of her appearance, she's a young woman - indeed not a working adult just yet. But she's no high schooler either, '18-20?' Setsura wondered. It's most likely around that age range. The last few days were a challenge to her, no, matter how much she tried to put the pieces together - nothing came to mind.
The reason for her memory loss, the only thing that Setsura could think of was her hitting her head. If she thought about it carefully, she was crouched down on the ground. From the state of her clothes, it was clear that something terrible had happened to her too.
What Setsura found strange aside from her memory loss was the young man named 'Akito,' just like that the two of them started to live together. This may be a mansion, but Akito spent the last few days accompanying her quite a bit. Though he occasionally disappeared from time to time. He did not disappear for a long time. He has work, doesn't he? As a government official.
With the way things are during this time, the military police have a lot going on for them. She shouldn't hinder him too much. So Setsura stayed put and not cause too much of a fuss. That didn't stop her for asking him to stay with her at night, and no it's not like they are sleeping together. She just wants him to stay by her until she falls asleep. It's such a strange feeling.
"Miss Setsura?" one of the maids called out to her, "If you feel unwell, you should not get up. I already informed the Master, he ought to be on his way."
"I'm fine; I got permission to walk around," under the circumstances that she doesn't walk this far. But Setsura wanted to get some fresh air.
"Please don't be difficult. Miss Setsura," the maid trailed off and deeply sighed, "You are Masters special guest so we can't defy you. But to put it bluntly, you should just sit quietly and wait till your wounds heal. Do not get the wrong idea that the Master actually likes you."
Wait what? Now she understands why they stopped her. All the other servants she walked past, all minded their own business. But these women weren't, 'They must like him,' she supposes that's normal too. Akito is a good-looking guy, and he's kind too.
"I think you've misunderstood something; I do not like your master."
The maid snarled, "Somebody who asks him to spend the night, is acting so innocent?"
Ah, that's why they have the wrong impression of her. Setsura sighed, how is she supposed to explain it? If she tells them the truth, they will inevitably misinterpret it` if it came from a child, fair enough. But a grown adult? How does she get out of this situation?