It has been far too long since my last update but I want to be better.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Thoughts
Memories
At first all Setsuna could hear was the rough breathing of her younger self and the twigs snapping under their feet as they sprinted forward. Next came the shouts of the villagers, their bellows following after them, piercing through the ringing in Setsuna's ears. She was shadowing her younger self, darting just behind the frightened child who was stumbling over logs and sliding through the forest to escape the villagers. Setsuna glanced back, trying to judge how much distance they have managed to put between the villagers when she heard a sharp shout and crack. She turned quickly, just catching a brief glimpse of her younger self falling before she lunged forward to see where she went, horrified to see her own body ragdolling down a slope before stopping as she hit a tree with a sickening crack.
Setsuna threw her body down the slope, sliding to meet the girl, caution to the wind. She gasped over the sight she was met with. Her younger form laid crumpled on the floor, shaking as she bit her lip to stop herself from crying out in pain and giving away her location. When she moved to pick herself up, a muffled groan escaped as she rolled onto her side. I must have cracked or at least bruised my ribs when I fell down, Setsuna thought, eyes wide as she watched herself stand up, moving to carry on running. The girl didn't get much further. After bursting through the foliage and arriving in a clearing, she was quickly surrounded by the villagers, back against the perimeter wall. This clearing, I remember now.
"Mother"
Almost as if summoned by the girl's whimper, a large, black blur shot through the air, landing in front of the curled up form of the girl. At a closer glance, the black mass surrounding the figure appeared to be wings, like those on the backs of the villagers. Slowly, the wings stretched out, revealing a scarred man. He was huge, standing at six foot five, his body littered with scars, puckered tissue all over his arms, chest and even his face. The corded muscle of his arms and shoulders prominent as he tensed up, the katana in his hand gleaming under the moonlight. What really drew Setsuna's attention however, were his eyes. They were blood red and glaring out at the villagers.
"You have finally arrived, Gou."
Inner Demons
The scarred man, known as Gou if the villager is to be believed, didn't reply. Instead, he slowly moved backwards, taking care to place himself between the villagers and Setsuna's past self, his katana pointedly raised towards the man who spoke. "Gou, we did what had to be done. The girl is trouble. She will doom us all," the villager who spoke was a tall man, handsome with his piercing blue eyes and dark, short hair brushed back, away from his face.
"I don't put much faith in old superstitions, Kazu."
The villagers started to push forward again, voices raised and teeth shining from the light of their torches, but quietened down when Kazu held up his hand. "The law of the tribe is clear, Gou. We have tried to accommodate her, allowing you to let the human raise her in the outskirts of the village, but she cannot be ignored any longer. Our harvests are failing and we are losing more people each day. Your spawn and her curse must be cleansed from this land." Setsuna watched her father closely, how he kept sending worried glances to her younger self and the way his knuckles whitened around his katana.
"Exile us then. I will leave and take her with me, the tribe will never see or hear from us again."
"If only it was that simple, old friend."
The men stood still, eyes locked and hands steady on their hilts. Gou tried again, voice low, "Kazu, please. I want no trouble. Let me leave with her." For a fleeting moment, Setsuna thought that Kazu was going to give in, his eyes softening but all too soon it hardened again and his shoulders pushed back, straightening up further. "The tribe's law is final. Any born of white is an abomination and brings misfortune to the tribe. She must be offered to the ancestors so that all is righted." Gou must have seen something in Kazu's face because he did not argue further, instead in the blink of an eye, he dropped down and bundled Setsuna into his arms and took off, the leaves shooting off the ground and partially hiding his form as they followed him into the air.
Setsuna shot off after her father, straining to follow the blurred figure of the man, his wings carrying him with an ease of someone who has never had to hide who he is. All too soon they were not the only ones in the air, dodging trees. Men and women alike with spears and katanas flew at Gou while arrows were launched from the ground. Gou weaved through the trees, using the surroundings to dodge behind and catapult from when it became too difficult to solely fly through. The man seemed to know the forest like the back of his hand, instinctively turning and plunging without warning, catching his pursuers off-guard. A few were left behind, the tree canopy proving too difficult to navigate, forcing them to backout and find a new path. However, they were not without their own small victories. Gou was tiring, sweat stinging at his eyes and hair sticking at the nape of his neck. His grip on Setsuna was steady, the young girl curled against his chest, small hands clenching around his shirt, but he knew that it wasn't going to last much longer. He couldn't outrun them.
Setsuna let out a gasp as she saw her father start to dive, her younger self covered completely in his arms. Gou dove, spiralling towards the ground before abruptly pulling up and gliding parallel to the forest floor. He ducked and rolled, feet kicking off the ground and tree bases as he moved pass snarling tribesmen, cuts appearing on his arms and face as they nicked him with their katanas and arrows. Gou was completely on his feet now, wings pulled close to his body as he slid into the thick foliage. Setsuna had to follow in after him, losing him from her aerial view. He seemed to be frantically searching for something as he was running, head twisting around as he pushed through. Suddenly he halted his run, sliding to his knees in front of a dense thicket and started to dig, ignoring the thorns tearing into his hands. Young Setsuna stared up at her father in fear, looking around, waiting for the tribesmen to burst through the foliage at any given moment. However, they never came, even though their cries could be heard in the distance. Instead she found herself draped in her father's dirtied and torn haori and made to crawl under the thicket, hidden from view. Her father quickly covered the hole he dug and made sure to make it look as undisturbed as possible.
"Stay hidden, Setsuna. Do not leave unless I return for you or a day has passed, that will give you enough time to travel far enough to seek help."
"Papa, I'm scared…"
Gou's eyes soften and he reaches out through the thorns, ignoring the way they draw blood, and strokes his daughter's cheek gently. "I love you, with all my heart. I will never let anything harm you, this I promise you." A crack is heard nearby and Gou stands up. He gives Setsuna one last longing look before he starts to sprint again, taking care to make as much noise as he can as he rushes through the foliage. Setsuna's heart clenches painfully as she watches her younger self burrow into her father's haori and slide further back into the thicket, only the subtle shaking of the line of her shoulders showing that she is crying.
The yells and footsteps grow more and more distant until eventually all is quiet. Setsuna sits in front of the thicket, head back and staring blankly at the sky. Her younger self has fallen into a fitful sleep, nestled into her father's haori. This is how it all happened. It was strange, suddenly having all the answers of her past laid out bare. For the longest time she wanted to know more about her parents, where she came from, why she was abandoned and now that she knows, she isn't sure how to feel. It was all overwhelming. Her mother and father loved her, they were willing to die to protect her and -
The tears hit without warning. Setsuna buries her face into her arms and lets out a shudder. I wish I had more time with them. I wish I got to learn more about my heritage. A soft rustle alerts Setsuna to her past self awakening and she dries her tears with her sleeve and turns to face herself. The girl moves cautiously, head low and hand on her side, face scrunching in pain as she moves slowly forward to glance out of the thicket and check her surroundings. The sun's rays shine weakly through the above canopy, only partially lighting some of the foliage but letting both of them know that it is around midday. The young girl slinks back into hiding and curls up, face buried into her arms. Time passes slowly, neither of them moving as the day progresses. When the light has completely vanished and the owls start to call one another, that is when the girl makes her move. Digging as her father did, the girl crawls under the thicket, wincing as her ribs protest and her hair catches on the thorns but eventually she is free. She wraps the haori around herself, tying the bottom around her waist so it doesn't drag on the ground and starts to make her way through the forest again.
Setsuna is not sure how much time passes as she walks next to her younger self. The girl walking doggedly, arms wrapped around her stomach as it grumbles. Setsuna is starting to worry about her, she won't last much longer without food or water and her ribs are obviously starting to let their displeasure show as well based on the white knuckled grip the girl has on the haori and the sweat building on her brow. The gods must have heard her silent plea for help because soon they stumbled upon a campsite, the glow of the fire a welcoming sight. Setsuna was impressed by how quietly she moved, watching as the younger girl slid into the shadows and padded lightly towards the campsite. Whoever setup camp must have moved back into the forest to gather more firewood because the camp was empty, only the crackling of the fire greeted the girl.
Her younger self, convinced that she was alone in the camp, quickly moved towards the backpacks left near the fire. There were two large backpacks, far too large for a child to carry but more than comfortable for an adult, and they were well stocked with rations, survival kits and clothes. The girl sniffed at one of the canteens before drinking greedly from it, some water escaping to wet the front of her shirt in her haste. Once satisfied, she tucked the canteen into her waistband and opened one of the ration pouches. Moving closer to the fire, she looked inside and was met with dried pieces of meat, wrapped cheese, a small loaf of bread and dried fruit. The girl bit into the bread ravenously, alternating her bites between the bread and the dried meat. While chewing she continues to dig through the packs, looking for anything that would help. She pockets a small fruit knife and wraps some of the bandages and medicinal salves into one of the shirts and ties it into a makeshift pouch. Before she could dig any further she heard a soft voice drawing near and in a flash she was under one of the bushes, heart pounding.
"Sensei, I found more kindling for the fire! This should be enough for the rest of the evening." A young woman exited the trees, in her arms a bundle of kindling. Her long black hair was tied back in a low ponytail with a piece of cloth and her face was framed by a short fringe and bangs. She looked familiar, but Setsuna was having trouble placing a name to her face.
"Thank you Motoko-san, I wouldn't want our new guest to freeze during the night."
Setsuna and her younger self startled, both turning to face the voice that suddenly appeared behind them. Standing there with a gentle smile was Eishun Konoe. Setsuna gaped at the man, looking far younger than she was accustomed to. His hair was longer and the crow feet by his eyes barely noticeable. His clothes were similar to those he wore during his Ala Rubra days, a simple pants and black turtleneck. While Setsuna was distracted by looking over her sensei, her younger self wasted no time in backing away and drawing the fruit knife. Eyes wide as they flicked between the two strangers, mind trying to come up with an escape route.
Eishun continued forward, seemingly unphased by the girl, in his hands were three rabbits freshly hunted. Motoko seemed to follow his example because she too, ignored Setsuna and moved to put more kindling into the fire and stroke the flames. At this point, the young girl was confused and unsure what to make of the strangers, their lack of animosity just as worrying as animosity in itself. "Would you like to join us for dinner? I'm sure fresh meat would do you more good than the rations you took," Eishun said as he moved to clean the rabbits, prepping them to be cooked over the open fire.
"I'm glad she went into your backpack and not mine, I was looking forward to that cheese." Motoko commented lightly, eyes never leaving the fire. Setsuna watched her younger self struggle to make a decision, her eyes looking towards the forest and back to the fire. She was hungry and they seemed non-threatening but could she trust them? Eishun seemed to have picked up on her inner turmoil and spoke again, "You don't have to give back the knife or the medicine. You are free to keep everything you took and be off once you have had some food. I just can't in good conscious allow a young girl like yourself to go hungry." Something about his words made the girl lower her guard slightly, he seemed sincere and he had many chances to disarm and take back what she had stolen. Maybe he was different. Cautiously she approached the fire, getting close enough to feel its warmth but still far enough that she could make a break into the forest if anything went wrong. Setsuna sighed out in relief.
"My name is Eishun Konoe and this is my student, Motoko Aoyama." Eishun smiled again after his introductions, his hands moving to put the cleaned rabbits over the fire. Motoko Aoyama. One of my instructors, I remember now. She was generally out on missions but she would take training now and again when she could when I was first learning. Motoko looked up from the fire to smile at the girl, never giving away her curiosity. An awkward silence settled over the camp as Eishun tried to make conversation while turning over the rabbits and Motoko worked silently to set up the bedrolls and repack the backpacks that she dug through. Setsuna sat next to her younger self and observed how Eishun treated her. Once the rabbits were done he offered her one first, making sure to keep a good distance from her as he handed it over and keeping his body language open and kind.
After seeing Motoko and Eishun bite into and swallow pieces of their rabbit, Setsuna was quick to follow, tearing into her food. She finished her food before the others and instead of running away, she stayed, watching the others with open curiosity. "Why are you here?" It was the first time she spoke and Motoko looked surprised at her soft voice. "Well, I had business to sort out in this area for my father-in-law. There were reports of heightened demon activity and I was sent to find out what caused it. It's rare for the crow tribe to leave their borders." At his words, Setsuna saw herself fold, clutching her stomach and head bowed to hide her face. "Did you… did you see them?"
Eishun seemed to carefully consider his words before he spoke, "There seemed to be an internal dispute amongst the tribe members. They were looking for someone who had crossed over from their territory, they were considered dangerous." The girl started to subtly shake, she wanted to get up, run, but she was fixed in place. She barely flinched when Eishun crouched in front of her, his hands out in front of him, "You know, I have a daughter about your age. I'm sure she would love to have a friend to play with. Why don't you join Motoko-san and I on our way home? This forest is no place for a young girl." The girl looked up, face shining with tears, "I'm dangerous."
A dark expression briefly falls over Eishun's face before it is replaced with a look of compassion, "I can promise you that If I thought you dangerous, I would not let you near my daughter. All I see in front of me is a young, scared girl who deserves a chance at a new life." The girl stares into Eishun's eyes, searching for something and after a moment, having seemingly found what she was looking for, says, "Setsuna. My name is Setsuna Sakurazaki."
Eishun smiles, "Hello Setsuna, are you ready to go home?"
"Should we contact Negi-sensei, Master?"
"Yes, might as well excuse Sakurazaki from class tomorrow. It doesn't look like she is going to wake up any time soon."
Chachamaru bows and moves to leave the room, her eyes glancing only briefly at Setsuna's prone form, splayed out over the mats of the room. They recently hooked her up to a machine to monitor her vitals, her heart rate steady for the most part aside from random spikes now and again. Chachazero has made herself comfortable on the machine, noting down changes with interest and occasionally flying to Evangeline to share something with her. Evangeline for the most part has remained unmoving from her seat, lounging back and eyes focused on Setsuna, only looking away when she moves to sip her tea and chat quietly with Chachazero.
It does not take long for Chachamaru to make her way across campus and to Negi, Asuna and Konoka's dorm room. Soon after the first knock the door is swung open, Asuna's grinning face meeting Chachamaru's. "Chachamaru- san! What brings you here?" Chachamaru politely bows in greeting and follows Asuna into the room as she ushers her none too gently in. "I am here to see Negi-sensei. Master has a message for him." Negi, having heard Chachamaru's voice and was already making his way down from his loft, meets her by the table, "Is there a training change?" Chachamaru shakes her head as she sits down opposite Negi, Asuna soon joining them with tea. "Master has requested that I tell you that Sakurazaki-san will be unable to attend class tomorrow. She is still in the middle of training with her and we are unsure when it shall end."
Negi frowns at her words and Asuna follows suit. "What do you mean you are unsure when the training will end? Is she stuck in one of the climate globes until she finishes a task?" Chachamaru shakes her head, "This is a different exercise, designed specifically for Sakurazaki-san. I am unsure what exactly is happening, only Master knows for sure, but I assure you she is safe." Negi and Asuna share an uneasy stare, not quite sure if they could trust Evangeline's definition of safe, even if it comes from Chachamaru. "Thank you for letting me know, Chachamaru-san. I'm sure Konoka will be pleased to hear that Setsuna is doing okay."
Silently, Asuna can't help but be thankful that Konoka wasn't around to hear the news. She has been putting on a brave face for all of them, but they can tell that Setsuna's absence is taking a toll on her. She even went to one of her grandfather's arranged marriage setups, seeking a distraction from her thoughts.
Please return soon, Setsuna.
The small group break camp at first light, stamping out the fire and rolling up their bedrolls. Motoko noticed Setsuna's stiff movements in the night and wrapped her ribs in hopes of offering her some relief. She checks them again in the morning, rubbing more salve over the bruising and securing the bandages. They journey slowly, mindful of Setsuna's smaller legs and her cracked ribs, the girl too stubborn to allow herself to be carried. Thankfully they weren't too far off from the next village and they were soon able to acquire horses, Setsuna was made to ride in front of Motoko with wide eyes as she takes in all the new sights. Eishun and Motoko smile sadly at the girl as she is lost in wonder, thinking of how much she has been deprived.
It takes two days of travel but soon Setsuna has her breath stolen by the sight of the massive buildings around her, framed by Sakura trees. The cobblestone leading to the main house is white, a beautiful contrast to the pink sakura blossoms that fall upon them. Setsuna can't help but stop to pick one up, lost in the soft texture of the petals. Motoko nudges her forward, reminding her to keep walking with a small smile. Setsuna pads after her, hand gripping tightly at Motoko's pants, having grown attached to the woman in their brief journey. Setsuna shuffles impossibly closer when they enter the main hall and are greeted by a chorus of, "Welcome home, Chief" as row after row of people bow before Eishun who just smiles warmly, nodding and greeting everyone as he moves forward to stop in front of an elderly man who's long, white beard touches the floor.
"I see you have brought home a friend for Konoka-chan, Eishun-kun." Setsuna can't see the old man's face clearly through his beard and bushy eyebrows, but he doesn't sound angry. In fact, he almost sounds amused. Eishun kneels and Motoko joins in behind him, gently arranging Setsuna into the correct posture next to her. "Yes, Konoe-sama. This is Setsuna, I found her during my travels and I believe she will be an asset to us. She has shown a lot of spirit and I intend on taking her on as one of my students, if you will permit it." Konoemon Konoe lets out a loud laugh, "Well who am I to deny a friend to my grandchild. In fact she should -"
As if she was summoned, a young girl comes running from around the corner, a wide smile on her face, "Daddy!" Eishun moves to change his posture to a half-kneel, catching the girl easily with a similar smile and tight hug. "Konoka, shouldn't you be in a lesson right now?" The brown-haired girl pouts, large brown eyes staring up at her father with fake innocence, "I couldn't wait to see you. I had to come greet you now." Eishun shakes his head with a smile, "I suppose just this once is fine. I actually want you to meet someone." Konoka beams up at her father before focusing her smile onto Setsuna. The girl, unused to such excitement being shown to her, buries her face into Motoko's arm sleeve, embarrassed by all the attention.
"Konoka, this is Setsuna. She will be staying here with us from now on as one of my students. Setsuna, this is my daughter, Konoka."
"Nice to meet you, Setsuna-chan!" Konoka says, bowing clumsily. After a gentle prod from Motoko, Setsuna returns Konoka's bow with an equally clumsy one, her voice soft, "Nice to meet you, Ojou-sama." Konoka frowns a bit at the title but quickly recovers, moving to grab Setsuna's hand. "I'll show you around!" Setsuna sends a pleading look to Motoko and Eishun but they only chuckle and let Konoka drag her away. The sound of Konoka talking excitedly echoing down the hall well after they have left the room. It's comforting that she latched onto Setsuna so quickly.
Setsuna watches this all unfold with misty eyes and a small smile. She can never thank Eishun-san enough for all he has done for her. He gave her a home, a purpose and never asked for anything in return. He only ever asked her to watch over his daughter which she would have gladly done regardless. He faced a lot of backlash for bringing me into his home and taking me as his student, yet he never once regretted it or made me feel unwelcome.
"Well isn't this sweet, reminiscing about the past."
Setsuna spun around at the sound of the voice, the world darkening as she spun until she was floating in darkness. "Show yourself, demon," Setsuna snarled, eyes narrowed and searching through the dark. "Demon is a bit on the nose don't you think? Considering the fact that I'm just your demon half really," the white-haired girl remarked, rising from the inky floor, crimson eyes staring intently back at Setsuna, white wings on full display. "Look, I don't know what game you are playing, but I am tired and I want answers. Why are you showing me all of this? Is the key to controlling you in my past?" Setsuna asks, face scrunched up in thought. Setsuna's white-haired counterpart releases a long sigh, exasperation in full display, "It's not about controlling me. It's about accepting who you are. You cling to your humanity, ignoring the fact that you are much more."
Setsuna looks away from her doppleganger, unable to keep her stare. "I didn't even remember who my parents were until now. I- I only had memories of Eishun-san saving me and bringing me to live with him. Nothing of before!" A slow smile forms on her doppleganger's face, "Now you are on the right track." Before Setsuna could ask what track that was, a taloned hand moves quickly, shoving her in the chest, and sends her careening downwards. Setsuna tries to right herself mid-air but she is falling too quickly and before she could release her wings, she hits the floor with a thud. All the air in her lungs leaves her with a pained exhale and her head rings from the hit. She slowly rolls to her side, wheezing, trying to take in her new surroundings.
"She is in pain, is there nothing we can do for her?"
"I'm sorry Eishun-sama, the episodes are linked to her nightmares, we can't help her unless we treat the nightmares themselves."
Eishun rubs at his face, glasses balanced on the top of his head. He looks tired, face drawn and eyes dark as he talks to the older woman in front of him. "We have to do something for her. She cries out every night for her parents and draws her own blood. The others are going to start to grow suspicious on how this little girl is able to rip through futons as if they were nothing." The woman bites her lip, hesitant to speak before she finally says, "We can always ask Konoe-sama to seal the unpleasant memories and make new ones, just until she is older and able to control her powers." Eishun looks distraught, "We couldn't possibly -"
His words were interrupted with a howl of pain, followed by his daughter's own scream. Eishun ran before his mind even fully processed what happened, his legs instinctively leading him towards his daughter, fear driving him. He slid in front of Setsuna's room, his feet almost carrying on forward but stopped by his iron grip on the doors. He pushes the door open, the screen giving way under his strength, "Konoka?!" His daughter looks up to him with wide eyes, tears falling steadily, "Secchan is in pain, dad! She won't stop crying and I can't wake her." Konoka was kneeling beside her friend, hands firmly clenched around her nightdress, and staring anxiously at Setsuna's arched body that was moving erratically under the covers. Setsuna's small body was shaking and pale, sweat dripping from her body and staining the sheets.
Eishun hugged Konoka to his chest, rubbing her back as she cried. "Don't worry, I'm going to help her. She's going to be okay, I promise." His eyes met the healer's and he nodded subtly, and she understood. She left the room, moving quickly to find Konoemon. Suddenly, Setsuna found herself in a new room. It was dimly lit by a dozen candles and her younger self sat in the middle of the room, painted sigils drying on her skin. Konoemon and Eishun stood in front of her. On the floor, there were intricate lines and runes drawn with chalk, Setsuna couldn't decipher the meaning but she knew magic circles when she saw them, familiar with Negi and Evangeline's. Eishun knelt in front of Setsuna, "We are going to help with your nightmares. You won't be afraid anymore." He smiles, but she can tell that it is weak, shaky on the sides, but her younger self does not notice. She nods, face serious and resolute.
The chanting slowly fades as the scenery changes yet again, this time she is a bit older, maybe nine years old and kneeling in front of Eishun alone. "Your training has been coming along nicely Setsuna-chan. I hear from all your instructors that you are a bright student and keeping on par with the older students." Setsuna smiles tentatively back at him, face flushed from his praise. "However, I am a bit worried. Konoka has told me that you have become more withdrawn, is something wrong?" Setsuna's smile disappears, her eyes dropping to the floor. "Nothing that you need to worry about Eishun-sama. I just want to focus on my studies more, that is all." Eishun sighs, remembering the river incident and how shaken Setsuna and Konoka were. "There was nothing you could have done Setsuna, the current was too strong. I'm glad that you are both safe, you are like a daughter to me." Setsuna keeps her eyes on the floor, hands bunched into her hakama. After a long pause she whispers, "If I were allowed to learn more about my powers maybe -"
"I'm sorry, Setsuna. I wish I were able to train you but it's too risky. We have a tentative peace with the crow tribe and if they knew you were here with us, I'm not sure what they would do. We have to keep your heritage a secret."
The room fades to a garden, where Konoka and Setsuna sit, gathering sakura blossoms. "Dad is away on business again this week but he said he will bring us presents when he returns," Konoka quips happily, content to sit next to her best friend and collect flowers. Setsuna, younger in this memory, turns to Konoka, "How come I never see your mom around, is she also away on business?" Konoka's smile dims but she doesn't allow it to fade completely, "my mom passed away when I was a baby. It's just dad and my grandfather." Setsuna reaches over to hold Konoka's hand, squeezing it gently, "I think my parents passed away too. I can't remember but Eishun-sama says my home is here now, with you." The memories start to flash faster, Setsuna only able to catch snippets of her sleepovers with Konoka, their skipping of classes and late nights in the garden, whispering secrets and hands clasped tightly together. She's disoriented when it finally slows down again.
"I don't know what Eishun-sama is thinking, allowing that half-breed around Ojou-sama."
"I saw her eyes glow red the other day during practice. It must be why Eishun-sama trains her personally, to get her demon side under control"
"If even her own tribe believed she was dangerous, how could we possibly trust her?"
Setsuna hid behind the wall, eyes burning as she listened in on the staff talking about her, the stolen cakes she got for Konoka and herself crumbling in her hands as she fights to stay calm. A door opens loudly and distracts the voices, and Setsuna uses the opportunity to sneak pass and run back to Konoka's room where she is waiting for Setsuna and the cakes. She wills herself not to cry, not to allow them to see her weak.
"I'm not a monster" Setsuna, both young and old, whisper.
A huge thank you to everyone who responded to my author note and encouraged me to return to this story. I hope this chapter meets everyone's expectations and I can't wait to hear what you all think. I have the next chapter already outlined and by the time you finish this chapter, I would have started on the next one. I really hope to have an update either every week or every second week, depending on my work schedule, but I do promise that I am not abandoning this story. Your kind words have really inspired me to finish this story.