Prelude
i.
"At odd points in time, like that between life and death, strange meetings can occur.
"And memory of which is sure to be faint, but for an odd sense of deja vu.
"However, if one is familiar with death, such recollection may be more instinctual, a thread that once pulled then must be unravelled, followed to its end..."
That was where she met him, the stranger with the striking eyes: in a place between life and death.
On the banks of a river where most souls go to wash themselves clean, or as some say, to drink deep of its waters until they'd drowned all of their memories away, there was a kind of thirst in death that made it hard not to drink.
Despite this thirst, she refused. She was not meant to forget.
Of all the souls beside her then, the one soul who hesitated just as she did met her gaze.
She could not yet make out his features, both of them but a haze or a shadow in that darkness, but something was shared between them with that look. Namely, a question: If we are not meant to forget, what is left for us?
In dead space the question echoed, palpable, though unspoken, and as if with that thought alone, a presence, pale and warm, embraced them both, drawing them nearer.
In its light, a form manifested, revealing a slender woman with a gentle air that cut through any apprehension.
She didn't speak, but all the same, they knew to follow.
And she led them, not to the river, but far past it, into a grotto where a small pool glistened in the gloaming light that bathed the world around them. It's waters were clear, pristine.
"Drink of these waters," the woman said. "And you will remember, both past and present lives, and when you are born again, you will be in soul as you are now. But this, I must warn, is both blessing and curse."
Then both I shall accept, the other thought, kneeling down to cup the water in her hands. She was certain of no other choice.
The stranger did the same.
And as they took the water to their lips, the haze was washed clean from their skin, and they could finally see each other clearly.
Yes, that was where she first saw those eyes, so certain, so blue. They had been all she could remember of that place, after she'd been born again. She'd kept her memories, true enough, but they flowed through her more like a flood than a gentle stream. What she remembered first were those that were most familiar to her, things she could easily grab hold of; her duties, her pains.
Her princess, first and foremost; her sisters in arms, next. And then, her solemn destiny... This was back when the stakes were too high, that despite themselves, they could not be kind.
A sweet little irony would in due time prove them wrong, and for that she was ever grateful for her princess's naive and tender heart, despite some rather poor choices.
Still, the one thing she could not place were those eyes. Who did they belong to?
Blinking back to consciousness, she could now at least say she knew where she'd seen them: the last time her soul had been in death's embrace.
No wonder they'd haunted her ever more of the late. Death had met her again, bringing her last experience with it to the forefront.
She let go of Hotaru's hands.
"Did you remember anything, Setsuna-mama?" the girl asked, her voice soft.
Indeed she had, but she also found herself with further questions, the most burning of which being whether that meeting was pure coincidence, or...
ii.
"I'm sorry, Setsuna," Rei said, releasing her pose in front of the fire. She rubbed at her eyes before turning towards the other woman. "I have no more answers to offer you than Michiru. It's not much to work on, a hazy vision... if you had a name, it might be another story. As it is, the best I can give you is a reading of your possibilities..."
Setsuna gave her a soft smile. "Yes, I knew it would be a stretch, but I would be remiss not to ask." She paused for a moment, before she shook her head, almost looking embarrassed as she worked herself up to speak next. "It feels silly, but, would you humour me?"
Rei raised her eyebrows, surprised, but she sobered quickly. "Of course," she said, before returning to the fire.
"I guess the best question to ask is whether there'll be any new meetings in your near future. Though, it might be more of a reunion..." she trailed off in thought.
The fire crackled in response.
"Huh," she said, appreciatively.
"What is it?" Setsuna asked.
"Well, it's not exact," she said, a slight frown creasing her brow. It softened when she looked back towards Setsuna.
"Again, this is more of a broad outlook of your future, but I'd be hopeful for a reunion, or a meeting of some kind. I can't say what the nature of it will be, or its outcome, but something's definitely going to happen. Soon."
"Soon..." Setsuna repeated. It felt like speaking something into existence.
The weight of such an act, of the implications it could have, felt like shouldering a new burden. To think, she'd only just shrugged off the last one... but Chaos never rested long. It, too, took part in the act of creation; an energy from which everything was made; good and evil, neither and in between. Most of all, it was the apprehension she felt stirring within her.
She'd asked to be humoured, but the punchline wasn't clear. Would the joke be on her when the possibilities played out?
"Don't think too hard on it," Rei said to her quiet. "That isn't a path you want to go down."
"No, you're right." Setsuna shook her head, sighing. "I think I'm just too used to something going wrong, I can't help but expect it."
Rei stood, moving close to her, close enough to touch her arm in comfort. "You know, it could also be something good."
Setsuna placed a hand over hers in turn. "It could. We should hold on to that hope," she said, squeezing her hand gently. "That's one thing you girls have over us any day... Don't lose it."