The Dead Rabbits 2 (before battle)

Heathcliff was digging through the deceased Dead Rabbits' pockets.

<What are you looking for, Heathcliff?>

They don't have 'em.

<The timepieces that Yi Sang mentioned earlier?>

Yeah. Everyone born and raised in T Corp. carries a watch. They have to.

Right... the Kurokumo Clan officer we fought in Yong-jin building was looking for a timepiece, too.

It's... like a form of personal identification. It's something you carry around to show others that you are who you are.

I abandoned my watch when I left T Corp., but...

I see... They don't even have their pocket watch chains with them.

If they did carry a watch, we would have been able to learn at least where they were coming from.

So someone either doesn't want people finding out who they are... or they're simply not from around here. Right?

I have witnessed such garb commonly worn about within the T Corp. territory. I have no doubts that they must be locals...

There are many unanswered questions... but let us save that discussion for later.

... Here it is.

Whew... Now that was quite the journey, wasn't it? Shall we enter?

... Nelly. Tell me.

After I... left without a word... how did Catherine fare?

…….

Of course, I already know that she lived happily ever after with that sod, Linton. But...

Are you sure you want to know?

Dammit, I do. But... I also don't.

I must look so... pathetic. If Cathy was here, she would've mocked me mercilessly.

I would have brought you a mirror so you can see that priceless look on your face...

... if I hadn't removed them all from the premises... Ha ha.

Tsk, I'm not interested in your stupid jests.

But has Catherine ever, even once, talked about me at all since I left?

... No.

…….

Of course she didn't. A witless brigand, a scoundrel like me… I'm sure it didn't matter to Catherine whether I -

I wouldn't be so sure, Heathcliff.

That is not what I meant.

When you left, Miss Catherine… she began withering away. She skulked in her room for days upon days, refusing to eat or even speak.

Then she'd suddenly grow lachrymose, scream, cry, whisper things to herself… Master Linton would come by to coax her, but it hardly helped matters.

She was so ill that I was worried that we might have to start making arrangements with a mortician in advance.

Really? I... Catherine… she was in that much pain?

Heathcliff asked, incredulously.

Yes. It pained us to even watch her suffer. And one day, she…

Nelly, look. Linton's left a flower on my pillow.

Oh, it's golden. I didn't know that spring had come to Wuthering Heights already. I suppose the snow has all but thawed, too.

Is that not so romantic of him, miss?

I suppose it could appear that way. He must have paid quite the fortune for this.

But if Linton truly cared for me, truly wished to return a color to a flower for my sake...

... then he should have brought me a violet flower.

…….

So... he did not bring this flower for my sake. This was only for his own satisfaction.

Are you... okay, Miss?

Whatever do you mean? I have never felt better than I do today.

Walk with me, won't you? I would like to see which flowers have weathered the wintery cold and bloomed.

After that day, Miss Catherine truly appeared convalescent.

We were all happy to see Miss Catherine be herself again, but...

... now that I think about it, it was a tad strange. She suffered for months upon months from fever; how could anyone so suddenly recover from all that after a single night's repose?

That is also when she purchased Wuthering Heights from Mister Hindley Earnshaw...

... and started making sweeping modifications to this place.

I thought the two of them had intended to return to Wuthering Heights, so I asked them what exactly they planned to do with it… but they never gave me a straight answer.

Haah. I'm just as in the dark as you are. I've not the slightest clue as to what she was thinking...

What about... my letters?

I sent her letters. I haven't been able to since I joined this company, but... when I was a part of that gang...

... I wrote her letters. Though I didn't sign my name on 'em.

I... just wanted to let her know that I was doing fine.

Well, I don't recall her ever opening a letter.

Seriously, once she has her mind set on something, no one could convince her otherwise. No one...