Chapter 2: Forbidden

Setsuna walked though the city streets as he explained himself to the girl.

"I'm sorry I was late, Sara," he apologized. "I… kind of lost track of time again."

"You're a rotten liar," she accused, "You weren't going to show up again, weren't you?"

"It's the truth!" Setsuna exclaimed. "I was planning on coming, but I was late getting out."

"You're lying," she repeated, "Why do you hate me so much?"

"Sara…" words failed him as he searched for the right thing to say. He embraced Sara, holding her close as he began to reassure her.

"I don't hate you, Sara," he told her softly. "I really am sorry, and I won't let it ever happen again."

"What am I going to do with you, brother?" she asked. Startled, Setsuna let go of Sara. She was right, he was her brother, and had no right to be with her the way he wanted. Startled by her brother's sudden change of manner, Sara began to speak but was stopped by Setsuna.

"We should get going," he said. The two of them went on their way, chatting idly about how they had been since they last saw each other. They were so focused on each other that they never noticed the young man with the long black hair who had watched the entire exchange from the street corner.

The two siblings walked until they came to a restaurant. While it wasn't by any means fancy, it was a nice place where the two could get something to eat together. As they waited for their food, Sara suddenly became serious.

"Why do you think mom and dad got divorced?" she asked. Setsuna knew the reason, but he kept it to himself.

"Sometimes those types of things don't work out," he responded. "It was really sad that it happened, but it happened."

"Oh, I see," she replied, although her tone indicated that she knew her brother was hiding something. "For that matter…" she kicked him under the table. "Why did you have to be so mean to Saiki?"

"Oww…" his leg felt like it was throbbing. He hoped that Sara hadn't opened a wound, even though he knew it was unlikely that she had. "Why did you have to kick me so hard?"

"Serves you right, for treating her that way," Sara scolded. Her voice became softer. "But still…" Setsuna stared at her. Was she going to say what he was hoping for? Sara looked up to see her brother looking at her oddly. "You're such a big idiot, I'm sure she would have been disappointed anyway. Maybe this is better in the long run." Setsuna hung his head; sometimes he wondered why his sister seemed to take such delight in torturing him and then making him feel bad about it later. Their meal came, and they ate while enjoying light conversation like they had had earlier. When it was time to go, Setsuna paid for the meal and they left in the direction of their mother's house.

"You're so nice, brother," Sara complimented. "Even paying for the meal, it's almost like we're on a real date!" Setsuna remained silent; there was nothing he would like more than an actual date with Sara.

"What is up with you today?" he asked, breaking out of his private thoughts. "You're constantly switching between complimenting me and hating me. Can't you be a bit more consistent?"

"Sorry," she apologized. "Maybe it's because I feel like I'm in love."

"With who?" Setsuna asked.

"It's a secret," she teased. "Perhaps I'll tell you someday." She refused to say anything more on the subject for the rest of the walk. When they arrived at their mother's house, it was getting dark. Setsuna walked up the stairs with his sister, where she grabbed his had.

"Thank you for everything tonight," she told him. "I really missed you."

"I miss you too," he said. Feeling slightly reckless, he kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I'll see you again in two weeks," he promised. "This time, I won't be late!" He quietly walked down the steps, leaving Sara standing surprised on the front steps. As he began the long walk back to his father's house, Setsuna's thoughts turned again to his sister. He knew one thing: whoever his sister loved was not him, because there was no way someone so pure could have such a forbidden love.