[ So many questions, ones that will inevitably lead him to the questions that Asougi doesn't want to answer under any circumstances. But he saw how distraught Naruhodou was just moments ago and his heart still aches — though not nearly as much as his head. So after a moment or two of quiet deliberation, Asougi leans back against the couch, strumming his gloved fingers idly against the damp cushions.

He owed him an explanation. He owed him that much. ]

I . . . knew I had to get to England. I knew I had something I needed to do, though I couldn't remember what. So. [ There's a brief pause as he tries to piece together what exactly occurred. His mind is still a mesh of things with the dam broken. ] I got a job on a freight ship. It helped that my english was good. And that took me to England, where . . .

[ His voice trails off as he considers. Vortex was . . . a strange one. And not one he'd want Naruhodou getting involved with any more than he'd have to. ]

One thing led to another. And then I became Prosecutor van Zieks's "masked disciple" a few months ago.