Chapter 145 - Not the first time

Akito did not reply right away. He takes a long exhale and drag of his cigarette before he raised his eyebrows. "It is not the first time; something like this has happened. Normally, victims and witnesses do not like to speak the truth. Fear is rooted in their hearts. The victims just experienced something terrifying; they may or may not be injured. Physical wounds or emotional wounds, which one is worse? They most likely experienced both, so it's understandable that they cannot talk. Take the other case before yours."

"Ah, that one had girls abducted too?"

"In that case, at least five out of the ten who went missing came back alive. The victims were in shock, and the one who ended up talking about her experience ended up passing out halfway. The severe amount of trauma she faced was extreme. Her story, did you read her reports?"

"They were locked up in an underground sewer. Unlike my case, their game was worse. They had to survive under such terrible conditions."

"Yes, their situation was worse. But more people survived? How is that possible, when we found them they survived on a single grain of rice or some cheese? Even then, that block of cheese was in small amounts. The sewers did not have clean water, and the place was rotting and falling apart. Another case earlier in the year, there was an execution ground filled with animal cages and traps. But, there were more people found alive there too."

"Yet, with the cases where the place was not so bad, hardly any victims were found," she murmurs. "It is a bit strange if we lay out the facts like that."

"That's why, even though your case looks simple. Let's think it through, how many victims did you find?"

"There were ten people."

"The previous three cases that occurred at the start of the year, four, two, nine. Now, five, one, ten…"

"Is that...its a code for something?"

Akito nodded, "If we follow this pattern, then we should have three more cases before the year ends. We may even get them within the next week or so. Then after a period of time passes, we will get six, three, and eleven. All of these victims share a similar trait with one another, do you know what that trait is?"

___

Even without her condition, Setsura always felt alone in society. People could not judge her crime because of her age. The incidence remained a blur to her still, what happened when she was younger. But, Setsura knew she killed somebody before. With these two hands, she harmed somebody in the future with all those rules. In a society filled with rules, where one cannot walk around with a weapon on the streets freely. How did she end up with blood in her hands? It was a real mystery to her.

"When you called out for me today, I thought you finally asked me out on a date. So, what is this situation?" Katakura questioned. They weren't in the church, but in a quiet field, she found on the edge of town.

At first, Setsura thought of bringing Kataura to the place Akito brought her before. But she quickly changed her mind, Setsura realized that the place stood out far too much.

"Can't you see? Were training," Setsura had a gun in her hands. It was just a small one, Akito lent her. But, it was enough to use for training.

"Setsura-chan, you don't need to train. You're a genius sharpshooter."

Setsura rolled her eyes when she heard that comment. "Even though I remember more things now. I still don't understand why I know how to wield a gun."

"Shouldn't it be obvious by now? Your fiance was a member of the police force. He wasn't a normal artist."

"So, you think I helped?"

Katakura ran his hands through his blonde locks. "It won't do you any good if I tell you everything, would it?"

"A little hint once in a while won't do any harm. Besides, you haven't really helped me with anything," the words left her lips quickly. She regretted it right after. To her surprise, Katakura nodded.

"I can't disagree with that. When it comes to your memories, I cant help. But I can answer your previous question."

"My previous question?"

"To be exact, the question you were thinking but never said out loud," a bright light emerges from Katakura's hand. "And this little baby is our weapon. Well, there are plenty of other weapons, not just a gun. But since I'm used to it, I chose this. With the current police force, there are stun batons; hand grenades are the only other weapons you can get. However, with our group, we can get any weapon depending on the individual. Whether its a flag, fan, spear anything. When we activate these, our 'color" shows up, and based on that color, your strength & what power comes out from the gun will come out. From lasers/bullets/ creating smoke screens anythings possible. As long as our colors are registered."

"So, it is based on your imagination?" Setsura inquired. This was the first time she saw his weapon with her own eyes. Since Katakura came, she has not seen him fight once. From his stature, it is difficult to believe he is a fighter.

On this day and change, asking yourself what color you are isn't something people consider. However, within this system, it ups to you. Up to the individual, were the ones who decide what color we are. It's the opposite of the system. We call this system Ange; the system allows us to make our own decisions based on our own thoughts and opinions. Were the ones who can determine what we can and what we can't do. Our jobs/applications are something we can decide. That's where the color system comes about. Each color has a different representation; depending on what color you are, your gun will regulate that color on to this white spot in the middle," Katakura explained, as he pointed to white circle in the middle of the gun.

"When that color is recognized, it spreads and creates a pattern that suits your personality."

But, a gun and this dull shade of yellow? It does not match him at all.

"Want to try it?" Katakura said.

Setsura blinked, confused at his words, "Eh but...wait, wait from what you said I have to know what my color is. I don't know that --- rather if this is based on your emotions, then you should know I…"

Katakura smiles, "Well, that's true. You can do it as well, though."

"How come? Isn't it only for the Guardians?"

"No. We grant this ability for all our subjects who go through time. Though you don't need it since you already have an ability."

"I would rather not use that; a weapon is better."

The burden of carrying a weapon is heavy; that is something she understands very well. However, between that and using that power again. Setsura knew what she wanted to use; she would choose a weapon. Rather than relying on a power, she does not understand; she would rather use something she is familiar with.