“MR. Shindo!”
Shindo was staring intently through the half-open French doors leading to the terrace. He tilted his head in the direction of the voice that called his name.
“Where is Satsuki? I don’t see her anywhere,” Alice said as she rushed toward him, slightly holding up the hem of her long, rich emerald green dress to avoid tripping.
“She is out on the terrace. I’m afraid she’s in the middle of a conversation at the moment,” he answered.
Alice followed Shindo’s gaze to find Satsuki and Takemi discussing something on the terrace.
“I’m sure this must be difficult for you, Miss Misakimori. It weighed heavily on the Miss’s heart when she learned of it,” Shindo informed Alice.
She figured he was probably referring to how Takemi was originally supposed to be her fiancé. She simply shrugged her shoulders in resignation and replied, “My father informed me last night, but it doesn’t bother me any if Satsuki picks Kaido.”
The two stood against the terrace rail as they talked. Going by the view of their backs, they seemed so comfortable together, it was as if they were made for each other.
“When my father made a proposal for a massive loan from a bank affiliated with Kaido Financial Group, he basically threw my betrothal in as an afterthought... To top it off, I’ve only ever met Kaido a few times,” Alice explained with a giggle as she turned to look back at Shindo. But that giggle gradually grew uncertain, and her brows dropped in sorrow.
As Shindo watched the couple out on the terrace, his expression was undeniably different from when he usually watched protectively over Satsuki. He looked uneasy...and somewhat angry. It was as if the love of his life was just snatched from him.
✦ ✦ ✦
“NONE too happy, eh?” Takemi asked with a dry chuckle to which Satsuki tilted her head quizzically.
“I wouldn’t say that... I’m not particularly angry with you,” she replied.
Takemi stopped staring off into the sky to turn toward Satsuki. With a snort, he laughed, “I didn’t mean you!”
“Then who?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, it hit her. Takemi returned his attention to the sky; Satsuki followed his gaze.
“The wind is pissed... It says not to get near you,” he answered.
Satsuki noticed as much herself. The wind and trees that always embraced her were openly hostile toward Takemi.
“You can tell what they’re saying as well?”
“Not as well as you can. The emotions of everything not human are a confusing, jumbled mess. But...I can recognize when they’re being overly aggressive. It’s obvious when something doesn’t like me. Kinda like a mutt growling at ya when you get too close.”
Whoosh... Rustle... The passing breeze shook the trees to warn her “That man is dangerous. Get away from him... Get away...quickly... Don’t go near him... Otherwise your memories will resurface.” The energy of the trees entered Satsuki’s body, making her grimace. The other day, Takemi proclaimed that they met before. He also went so far as to claim Satsuki saved his life. Yet she had no memory of any of this. And she shouldn’t. Supposedly Takemi sealed those memories away. Satsuki wanted to ask him about it.