Chapter 2

The room was a mess. Cabinets were open, contents scattered on the floor, bed astray, basically the whole room looked like it was run over by a hurricane. Konoka, Asuna and Negi sat on the small cleared space on the floor breathing heavily.

"Where can it be?" Konoka asked openly. They looked everywhere in the room and there were no traces of any pactio cards anywhere. Tears started to form in her eyes but she fought it, refusing to let even a drop fall.

"I guess it is best to ask the dean, Konoka-san," Negi suggested. "I mean, we're out of leads here, and if we should ask what's happening around here, I'm sure he has an answer."

"Yeah," Asuna agreed. "That gramps has eyes over the school."

Silenty Konoka looked over the mess that is her room. Asuna put a hand over her shoulder making the mage look at her.

"Negi and I will clean this up and continue to look for your cards," Asuna said. "You should go to the dean."

"Thanks Asuna, Negi," she nodded to the both of them. "I'll be sure to come back as soon as I can."

...

"Gramps!" Konoka burst thru the door without knocking and walked with hurried steps toward her grandfather's desk. For an office the place sure was unnecessarily big and empty save for the desk and a few cabinets on the side. It took more than a few steps before she came face to face with her grandfather. Emotions threatened to escape her chest and she tried to calm her breath before speaking. "Where's Secchan?"

The dean stopped whatever he was doing the moment she made her entrance and silently observed her. Still keeping silent, he stood up from his seat and walked to the side near one of the many windows of the room very much aware of his granddaughter's gaze upon him as he let out a heavy sigh. "She left."

Stunned at the answer, she took a moment to process his words.

"What do you mean she left?" She asked getting her voice back. Her brows furrowed at the news and impatiently waited for an explanation.

"She left," he repeated himself not even sparing a glance to Konoka before continuing. "Earlier this morning she just came to my office and requested that she be relieved of her duties."

"And you let her go just like that?!" Konoka exclaimed. She wanted to scream. How can her grandfather let her leave like that? Too many thoughts came running through her head. She didn't even notice that she had begun to shed tears until she already had a hard time breathing.

"She is not someone we can contain, Konoka," Konoemon's voice stern and sharp. He chose this time to turn his head and look straight at his only granddaughter. "I know of your relationship with her. To tell you the truth I'm not that favorable with it."

"So you let her go?" Konoka was fuming with anger. She clenched her fists at her side. "Y-you let her go, just because you don't approve of us?!"

"I would've sent her away long ago if that was what I wanted," he spoke calmly making eye contact to emphasize his point. Konoka calmed down a bit and he returned to gazing outside his windows. "I was actually surprised by her request to be relieved of her duties. I didn't expect it, knowing about the fact that you two are dating each other. But she was adamant about it."

"Why?" The question escaped her lips before she could even process what she said.

"You know of her heritage, right?" Konoemon asked.

"Yes," came the simple response.

"She was not clear about it but she told me that it was important and that she had to leave immediately," he explained. "Then I asked what about you."

Konoka's sudden interest became tenfold and immediately asked. "What did she say?"

"She told me, to tell you," Konoemon started with a heavy air in his voice. "To forget about her."

"N-no," it came out as a whisper and Konoka shook in place as her eyes directed towards the ground. She couldn't - wouldn't - believe it. Setsuna wouldn't tell her that. "You-you're lying! Setsuna wouldn't tell me to forget her!"

"Then where is she?" Konoemon sneered. Obviously offended at the remark. Konoka was effectively silenced by this and the room went silent as well save for the sound of Konoka's sobs. But soon the sound of hurried steps leaving joined then a sound of a door opening and closing came before everything went completely silent.

Konoemon let out a heavy breath he had been holding. He felt sorry for his granddaughter. But he recalled Setsuna's words and knew that this was the best he could do for her.

...

Flashback

"Why?" Konoemon asked with a serious tone. He should be anything but calm. She was asking him a ridiculous request.

"There is an ongoing war in the demon realm, and I received the news of my father's death just this morning," Setsuna explained. "Before he died he sent for me, requesting that I replace him as their leader."

"I don't mean to pry but you're going back to the demons who shunned you out?" Konoemon laced his fingers together in front of him. "Weren't you exiled and forbidden to return?"

"They have reconsidered," Setsuna said forming the words to explain the situation. "Being in such situation they are desperate. And I couldn't deny my father's request. He was the reason why I'm alive today."

Konoemon knew Setsuna's story. The common practice for crow demons who were born with albinism was death. Sacrificed to their gods as an offering to compensate for their sins. Because they believed that when one albino demon is born is the gods' way of telling them that their tribe was condemned. But her father fought for her, allowing her to live but in exile. Moving the thought in the back of his mind he was reminded of something else, or rather someone. "What about my granddaughter?"

"Sir?" The question made Setsuna double back.

"What about Konoka?" He repeated.

"I was hoping you'd find a suitable replacement when I'm no longer around," she said.

"You know very well that's not what I was talking about," he countered.

"What do you mean, sir?" Setsuna was confused.

"I know you are currently dating my granddaughter," he said as a matter-of-fact. "What will you do?"

"I-," Setsuna was at a loss of words. She didn't expect that Konoemon knew about them. Still, in seriousness, she had thought about it and considered the possibilities. She loved Konoka and would go as far as to die for her but her father needed her and she owed him her life. She already made a decision and her chances of returning are slim to none. Finally deciding on what to say she spoke up. "Please tell Ojou-sama that I am sorry."

"You wouldn't say your goodbye's?" he questioned, one eyebrow raised.

"I can't," she answered. She knew that if she personally spoke to Konoka, she wouldn't be able to have the strength to leave. She kneeled in front of him bowing down on the floor hoping that he would understand her. "Please, tell her to forget about me."

Konoemon sat in silence looking at Setsuna. He already knew what she was talking about. Even like this she was still thinking about his granddaughter. She was still thinking about her well-being even to the point of having Konoka hate her. He felt his heart reach out for this woman in front of him. After all she already was like family to him. Though he may not have preferred her as Konoka's partner at first, he saw the sincerity and loyalty that Setsuna had for his granddaughter and conceded to the thought that Konoka couldn't have chosen any better. It's just a shame that now she was leaving for a personal cause, and he felt weak for not having the strength to stop her.

"Very well," he agreed after a long moment of silence. "But you have to promise me one thing."

Setsuna lifted her head to look at Konoemon.

"Don't die," it came out not as a request but an order. Both knew the purpose of such promise. After all they were both looking out for the same person.

"I won't."

…

Konoemon could only shake his head at the memory. The only reason that he had allowed her to go in the first place was to protect Konoka. And Setsuna knew about that as well. Both of them had the same goal and formed this unspoken agreement between them. He could only wish her luck and hope that she succeeds. After all she not only holds the fate of her clan but others as well.

So that's the second installment for this fic! This is a 100% makeover of the original but still the plot is the same. Has anyone read UQ Holder already? Any thoughts about it? Feel free to drop a message. I'm currently intrigued about it right now and couldn't wait for an update.