Marionette

Cosmos, Chapter Three - Munashiki Nagare [空しき流れ]

The articulately-spoken man she knew to be her Uncle had always been intimidating.

Always, there was an air about him that was unfathomable, next to impossible for Amaya to wrap her head around. And the fact that one couldn't grasp the merest understanding of the man's true intentions was off-putting.

Even now after getting to know Shigure more this whole year than she had the rest of her rather short life to date, that hadn't changed.

Just like Karasuma and Koro-sensei, it was clear one only saw the portrayed front, the person beyond shrouded in darkness one could never see through.

And now, Amaya found herself more than certain of this fact.

The blond boy Amaya now knew to be called Samuel hovered just out of arms reach, fidgeting incessantly as if he was doing his best to keep himself from leaping on her again.

In all likelihood, he probably did want to cling to her - He did appear to have a personality geared to enthusiasm and positivity unbridled.

A bit like Reiko, but he didn't have the cunning in him as far as she could see.

That, in a strange way, made him the closest polar-opposite to Amaya and her stubborn, pessimistic ways.

The fact that he knew he was out of that hell was probably enough to make him the happiest person alive.

It was a peculiar thing to note for her.

Hesitantly, Amaya stepped past Karma to sit down as Shigure had requested, ignoring the look the redhead cast her as he followed a few paces behind. Samuel bounced along after them, fit with great energy in spite of how long he'd spent in an isolation tank in that facility.

She didn't like the fact that Shigure had suddenly turned up here like this - For someone who wanted there to be no known connection between her and him to everyone else, the fact that he was here now spelled out problems she couldn't even begin to speculate.

He was practically breaking his own rules by being here, and the fact that he hadn't gone to the point of his usual remarks hadn't failed to unnerve her.

In fact, it gave her reason enough to dread the reason for his sudden arrival.

As Karma took up the chair next to hers, Shigure decided to set his tea down and look up at the two of them.

As dreaded, there was a rather serious edge to the man's gaze - Moreso than usual.

And it brought Amaya to lower her gaze nervously.

Though thankfully, Shigure decided to place his attention upon Karma instead, the tiniest hints of a courteous smile across his face.

'I trust I won't need to introduce myself, Akabane-san--'

'No,' Karma was quick to speak in blunt agreement, his sharp gaze flicking to Amaya for just a second. 'I know who you are.'

Out of all feelings, confusion wasn't present for Amaya from that remark - She recalled with vivid clarity the fact that two calls from Shigure had been answered by someone other than her in the past.

That, and the similar features Amaya had to Shigure couldn't have been missed by anyone, no matter their knowledge of her familial situation.

In fact, when compared to Toji and Shigure at the same time, others would likely presume Shigure was her actual father, merely because she bore more resemblances to him than the madman.

'Very well. To the point then.' Shigure spoke in response to Karma's one remark, his expression sharpening ever so slightly as he seemed to glance towards Amaya. 'I presume you had the misfortune of meeting Katsuragi Toji recently. Would this be correct?'