Author's note:

Hello again~ To those who read my previous story, Hymn for the Missing, I can't thank you enough for the reviews. Even only a few reviews will make me happy because they are my motivation. Anyway, I am aware that Satique should be Statice, but I didn't use it very often in the other story, so I'll make sure to get it right in this one. There is an OC in this, but she is only used for moving the story along because I dislike pairings with OCs (I'm not forcing my opinions on anyone though). As always, I don't own Pandora Hearts or anything else that is copyrighted in this story. Also, this was named after an overall theme song called Start Again by Red. I hope you enjoy this and reviews and critiques (constructive please) are very much loved~ At the beginning of the story, Vincent already took care of Leo's injuries before he goes to sleep.

Chapter 1: Reset

Leo's P.O.V.

Shortly after parting with Vincent to turn in for the night, I felt for the switch to turn on the lamp to partially illuminate the room before falling onto the bed in exhaustion. Visions of my former master, Elliot, still haunted me, so I forced myself to keep my eyes open to avoid seeing him in my dreams. To keep my mind busy, I allowed my thoughts to drift towards the memory of a rather unusual sight that I came across earlier today. After a failed mission involving another person connected to my past self, I noticed what appeared to be a fortune teller's booth set up in the middle of the street that somehow drew me in. Allowing myself to take a quick peek, my eyes met those belonging to a young woman with large spectacles similar to the one I once wore. She murmured my name cryptically with a child-like smile and then mentioned something peculiar about a wish that caused me to turn and walk away. I knew full well where the conversation would end up, but the sound of the fortune teller's voice calling out to me made my legs numb and unable to move another step.

She was out of her stall now as she grabbed hold of my wrist and urged me to accept a single flower before leaving as a form of gratitude for stopping by. Unwilling to prolong my stay, I took the flower and wrenched my arm out of her grasp while she backed away with a sigh of relief. As I hurried to catch up with my blonde companion, I could see from my peripheral vision the girl adjusting her colorful veil so that it covered her head entirely so that only her face could be seen. Why she did that was a mystery that I had little intention of finding out, but the mention of a wish stuck to me like an unwanted leech. However, I did not deserve to have my desire granted after what I had done, so I banished the thought to the far depths of my sub consciousness.

Now that I had enough time to fully examine her gift, I spun the stem of the fragile plant between my fingers as I recalled the name of it. Statice. It was as if she knew that this specific flower had a strong hold on me, for it connected my sins to my past. Anxious, I crushed the stem only slightly before dropping it beside me. Elliot is dead. I'm not the 'Leo' he knew anymore. I thought to myself. By this point, I no longer had the energy to delve into memory lane, so I succumbed to my need to rest.

"Leo Baskerville, I see that you didn't throw away my present. Welcome to my domain," a familiar voice echoed from within my empty dream. "I'm sure that it is safe to say that you are in need of my services?"

"Who are you?" I asked curtly as I spun around to see the same fortune teller that gave me the Statice flower spreading out a deck of ordinary playing cards on a table in front of her. "What did you do and what do you mean by your domain?"

"There's no need to answer such trivial questions. Pick a card from this spread and I will tell you your fortune. You will be pleased to know the outcome of our meeting here."

Cautiously, I glanced at her and then the cards before picking up a card from the far right and flipping it face up towards the opposite party. With a cheery grin, she took the card from my hand and flipped it so that it faced me to reveal an image of Elliot as the Jack of Hearts which shook me to my very core. The mysterious fortune teller commended me for being able to choose the correct card while at the same time explaining the meaning of my choice. Annoyed to be reminded of my master's status, I demanded to know why she really called out to me which she answered with a gesture to silence me.

"Alright, if you want me to skip the good part, then I shall oblige. I can bring back your master for you in exchange for a little price. This will be nothing like the first time you were given this chance."

I gave an incredulous look that was meant to hide the pain I thought was well-hidden from those who may pry into my business. She chuckled lightly as she created a large bubble, what she called "her proof" of her abilities, and gave me a chance to see a behind the scenes moment between Oz Vessalius and Elliot's adopted older brother, Gilbert. Apparently, Gilbert had been her previous client that wished to be with his master forever. Because of his wish, he was able to fulfill another desire to obtain Oz's affection with the extra time he was given.

Only half-convinced, I questioned the stranger about the price he had to pay which she eagerly answered with the words, "He simply needed to take the place as the illegal contractor between the two of them." My eyes grew wide at the thought, but I was assured that so long as he could keep Oz from using B-Rabbit's power so frequently, he would be safe from the Abyss's clutches. Also, Oz was on her list of people who needed her to grant their wish, so Gilbert would be perfectly safe from the possibility of becoming a chain himself. As a final attempt to convince me, she forced the pleasant memories I shared with Elliot to the surface and made all the uncertainties keeping me from taking her up on her risky offer to disappear.

"Great! Now, about your price… You will have to give up your romantic feelings for him since this is necromancy we're dealing with. A huge wish such as this deserves a fee of equal significance, don't you think? Oh, and you'll need to keep the Statice flower alive if you wish to consult me again."

"Will this affect Elliot in any way?" I wondered in an almost-whisper.

"If you keep your side of the bargain, then everything will be alright for him. However, if you express any feelings of romantic love for him, then his body will simply fade away. But then again, I'm a kind soul. I'll be sure that your master will have no memory of what transpires between you two if things go downhill," the fortune teller promised gently as she gathered up her cards and left only the jack of hearts and the king of spades out of the deck.

I clenched my fists tightly as I gave her words some thought before rushing into having my innermost desire granted. In the end however, I gave in and permitted her to make my wish come true. I was aware of how foolish I was being, but somewhere in the back of my mind I swore to make things turn again. If the clock had a reset button, then I should press it. As a servant, it was my duty to protect my master, and I wanted this more than I wanted to destroy myself. In a way, this would fulfill both of the things I wanted. The fortune teller beamed as she held up her side of the bargain and summoned Elliot, who she insisted was asleep in the room with me as we speak, and then removed her veil to reveal an uncanny replica of my appearance back when I was alive. Shocked, I abruptly awakened from the strange dream to see that time was turned back to when I attended Lutwidge Academy with Elliot and that he was asleep in a bed near me like nothing had ever happened.