Chapter 144 - Dangerous

After a few minutes of silence. Akito prepared to end the topic. He felt like he may have asked that question too quickly. He should have waited for a while and asked her when she was ready. A lot of things have happened recently, after all. However, to his surprise, Setsura answered his question.

"I'm not lonely, at least not anymore," she walked back over to him. Setsura stood in front of him for a few minutes before she leaned forward. The girl's arms wrapped around his neck. "There is no need for me to be lonely. I have you."

"Is that enough?"

Setsura laughs, "Surprisingly."

It was a single word, and he would be lying if he said he didn't want more details. But, from the girl's expression, Akito could tell that she was serious. He ran his hands through the girl's back.

"Did Chauncey tell you about that case?"

Setsura played with his fingers, "A little. He gave me some files to look at and told me to destroy it afterward."

Akito laughs, "That's like him." Chauncey probably wanted to tell Setsura for awhile now. But, he waited like a fool. Then again, is he any better? Akito never thought to tell her about it, and now she found out about it all by herself.

"You don't have to talk to me about it now. I understand I won't be able to get any proper answers from you anyway."

"I see."

…..

As much as Akito wanted to remain with Setsura, he knew it wasn't possible. He had a lot of work to do. To prove he was serious about taking over the case, he has increased his shifts.

"Your nice to every girl who isn't your girlfriend. It's no wonder Setsura gets suspicious." Natasha deeply sighed. Natasha just finished booking a room for a girl who he found passed out on the streets.

A few moments ago, he was rushing to meet with someone when he found that girl.

Instead of a retort back, though, laughter escaped his lips. "Hah, that's true. Even though she was the one who said I had to be kinder to girls. If she knew what I've been up to recently, she would hate me."

"You know no matter what stupid things you do. Setsura isn't going to hate you."

That's right; no matter what happens, there can never be any real hate between them. No matter what mistakes are committed. No matter how much their actions cause each other pain, without a doubt at the end of the day... A deep sigh passed Akito's lips. He doesn't understand why he is even having such thoughts. He doesn't understand why he believes in her so much.

"That may be the case." Akito pulled out a cigarette, and she reached over to light it for him, "You know Natasha, I've never once considered myself to be good enough for Setsura. I already knew a long time ago that I fell for her, and yet I dismissed it quickly. Throughout most of my life, I have always been enslaved by the system, always reaching out for the things that most people took for granted. People treated me like a savage beast because of the mistakes I committed back then. People told me that no matter how hard I tried, no matter what treatment they suggested. There would be no way of changing my psychology."

"That's terrible; you tried to change, but ..."

Akito shook his head, "A monster, a beast. A tool I've heard it all before, at a very young age by that old man. He told me,' You are a person who is different than that of a regular person. Your actions and words will influence a great number of people in the future. Your words alone are like the rules of the world'." Akito trails of light laughter escaped his lips, "If you hear something like that when you're young, it's only normal for you to become afraid. Yet after hearing that, I became even more and more curious. I wanted to know what it meant. I regretted it; the second I stepped foot into society, it became clear to me."

"But you and Setsura are the same."

He shook his head, "Were not the same. Honestly, when she first came here, I thought we were alike too. However, the more I got to know her. The more I realized that she is different. She kept coming to me for little dates after work or during work. I was flattered by it. Not even my wife thought of doing those things. Whenever she smiled, I felt a sense of peace. Whenever I look at her, all I see is a young, bright, and youthful woman. Somebody who is filled with endless amounts of possibilities. Despite what she went through, there is hope in her eyes—can you blame me for wanting to covet that innocence and keep it for my own?"

A troubled look appeared on Natasha's face once he said those words. Akito knew what sue was thinking.

"Her words, and the encouragement she gave me. The ability she had to think positively about any situation—that's all I ever saw, and that's all I ever want to see. She had everything I wanted. That's why, even though she made me happy. A part of me started to think, wouldn't it be fun to see her have all her hopes and dreams crushed?

This part of my mind that feels and acts like a criminal. I want to have some fun with her. I want to talk in his caustic voice to know what sort of damage that I can cause her. It's unhealthy always to chide myself not to do anything other than act like a normal pawn, this is dangerous Natasha. I love her, but whenever I see her filled with so much hope. I cannot help but want to crush her... This is bad."

He does not want to harm her with such thoughts like this. It's very upsetting. If Setsura knew what he was thinking, then would she also look at him with disdain?

Natasha paused for a moment before she reached over and squeezed his hands as she shook her head, "Your wrong Akito, those thoughts are not because you're a twisted person. It's because you really are afraid to lose her. Because you love her so much, your afraid of what would happen when you lose her. So you want to keep her bond to you in any way."

"Heh, that logic does sound romantic."

"Akito, it's alright. Setsura won't love anybody more than she loves you. Please believe in her."

"I guess I should start."

Natasha deeply sighed, "What's with that half-hearted remark of yours. Well, I guess this is better than nothing."

"Setsura keeps inquiring about your case," he trailed off. "How is it? Sorted?"

"More like, we're back where we started. Interrogating the witnesses did nothing."

"Hm, they didn't see anything?"

"No," Natasha shook her head. "It's more like they did see something, but they wouldn't tell us everything. All these people kept shifting their eyes. Nobody looked us in the eyes, while they talked, it seemed like they were forcing themselves."