Reminiscing

"These Artifacts that I'm looking for are very old." John explained, "Very, very old. From an era long ago. As for how it is used, I don't have idea. I'm collecting them for someone else."

"Something this old..." Rei thoughtfully scratched his chin as he looked at the jewel, "How old are we talking about? I'm asking if it is from before the Hylotl-Floran Cosmic War."

"Yes, a lot older." John nodded.

"Then it is going to be difficult." Rei said with a deep frown in his face, "Knowledge about things before the war has been almost completely destroyed, only the Fujiwara clan has some of the records of that era... I can't guarantee I have the information you need. I have to go back home and search."

"That would been greatly appreciated." John said politely.

"Ah, don't worry about it." Rei waved his hand, "Even if we don't have information about the Artifact, I know where to find said information. If this Artifact indeed exist and it was once in Hylotl's hands, I suppose I can find something about it in the Grand Pagoda Library. The problem is finding the Library. I'm close to finding it's location, I have intensified the search of it lately. Luckily for you, I have found some clues about its coordinates. It's going to take a few days."

"You should search in the available knowledge the clan saved from the war first."

"Yes, I'm going to do that." Rei nodded and stood up from his seat, "I'm going to bring Saito back home and search for this Artifact. I'll be taking my leave, it was a pleasure to meet get to know you, John Connor."

"The pleasure was mine." John stood up and revealed a smile as he shook hand with Rei.

"I didn't have time to get to know you, miss." Rei turned to Peri that was in the seat beside John, "Maybe in the future we can have a better chat."

Peri stood up and shook hands with Rei while a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Come with big brother." Rei smiled and grabbed Saito from Aoi's lap, "We are leaving, say goodbye to your uncle and aunt."

"Uncle, aunty..." Saito looked at them with his innocent, brimming eyes, "Bye..."

Saito waved his hands toward them until John lost sight of Saito and Rei after they left through the door.

Now, only Peri, John and Aoi were in the room.

Silence befell after Rei and Saito left.

"I'll be taking my leave." Peri suddenly said. She smiled towards John and softly whispered beside his ear, "It seems that both of you have a lot to talk, I'll be at the Iron Fist Arena, meet me there once you finish here."

And so, John and Aoi stared at each other for a few minutes. Neither of them was able to start the conversation.

John braced himself and decided to ask, "What about the other? Cael, Liese, Zyanya, etc?"

"They have not been found..." Aoi answered with a sad face, "Only a few Junior Protectors survived that attack. We should be ready to accept that they are presumably dead."

"Ah..." John sighed and and casted an unfocused look at the wall.

Although he found them annoying and wanted to be as far away as possible from them, now he missed those days. Those simpler and peaceful days.

It was only after Esther told him the truth about the Terrene Protectorate's situation that he understood the meaning behind the words "Ignorance is a bliss."

Through experience he saw that the world is not as black and white as believed.

John is starting to accept this fact, as he is still hesitating whatever or not he should confront Lenny about the massacre he provoked in the past.

"Let's hope they're still alive." John lowered his head and said with a sad tone, "You know...I used to think I didn't need friends, that I was better off alone. I isolated myself and found those that tried to talk with me annoying. Not you, of course. You always have been an exception. I found it annoying and disliked my day-to-day since I had to interact with them. But now...I miss those days...those simpler and peaceful days..."

Aoi also lowered had head and reminisced about the past. How happy they were and they didn't know.

People only realize the value of what they have when they lose it. John had learned the truth of these words in the hard way.

"How about we change the topic." Aoi smiled and tried to brighten up John, "You seem to have been well, John."

"What do you mean?"

Aoi's lips curled up. "Do you have a thing for Florans?" Aoi asked, "I mean, you seem to always be surrounded by them."

John's eyebrow twitched, "I don't know. They seem to gravitate towards me for some reason, I guess."

"Uhum...of course..." Aoi gave a knowing glance towards John.

"What?" John felt strange being stared by those eyes that reminded him of how Cael used to act when he was close to someone of the opposite sex.

"Nothing." Aoi decided to not tease John too much and moved on.

And just like that, John and Aoi spent a few more minutes speaking about the past and the present.

"Why are with the Fujiwara clan's young master?" John suddenly asked. He was very curious about this.

Aoi's eyes dimmed a little but as she explained, "My family is a servant of the Fujiwara clan. As such, I was destined to serve the younger generation of the clan."

John was surprised by the revelation. He always thought that Aoi had some mysterious and powerful background, but from the looks of it, he was very wrong, "Then...how did you end up in the Terrene Protectorate?"

"I ran away from home." Aoi bitterly smiled and lowered her head, "I always hated the fact that my destiny, my future, was set in stone even before my birth. I rebelled against my family and left home. I wanted to decide my own future, I wanted to be free. But as you see, I don't even have control over my own life. I'm nothing more than Fujiwara Rei and Saito's maid and hidden guard."

John inclined in his chair and looked at the ceiling, "That's... unfortunate..."

"How about I tell you my story?" Aoi suddenly asked as she lifted her head and looked directly at John, "I'm sorry to ask you this, but can you listen? I never had the chance to share my backstory with someone else in fear my family would find me. A meaningless fear since my family always kept an eye on me from the dark. The moment I got to Earth, they have found me, but decided to only watch. Since I don't have to fear anything, I would like to share my story with you."

"Sure." John gently smile. He felt pity towards Aoi.

And so Aoi began telling about her story. About why she wanted to become a Protector.