This is an older protect of mine. I've recently deciced to update some of the older chapters and repost the whole thing as a new and improved version. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this. I'm grateful for any support that people give me. Please, enjoy!
Realization
Rain... the endless rain that never seemed to relent. The kind of weather that bore into the human heart. Crystal tears that made people yearn for answers and contentment.
Setsuna had arrived at Makoto's house just an hour earlier. Little did Itou know it, but she was there for a VERY important reason indeed. It was up to her to make a stand. One question had continued to echo in her mind all the way over to Makoto's house as well...
"Can I put a stop to this before it's all too late? The class rep asked herself nervously
Makoto had changed over the past few months, badly. It was almost like the young man who encouraged her to become class rep wasn't even there anymore.
He had become twisted, obsessed even. Nothing seemed to matter to him apart from the attention of countless women. Many thought it was based on nothing but personal gratification. Or perhaps it was greed?
Either way... Setsuna was running out of time. It wouldn't be long until she had to leave this city of hers. Europe was calling to her, and it was a call that she had no choice but to heed. This night was her one chance to try and set things right, and also her only chance...
"I'm not going to let him fall into this hole," she uttered in a low voice as she tapped against his door with her knuckles.
Makoto would be made to listen to her, no matter what the cost, "...This is my only chance to make things right before I'm gone for good."
Makoto sat himself down beside Setsuna on the bed, "So that means you like me too?" His question was carried in a confident tone of voice.
There was no response from Setsuna. She wasn't going to attempt an answer at such an obvious question...
Her silence didn't make much of a difference though, as Makoto didn't even wait for a response. He hastily embraced her.
"Not so fast, Makoto," Setsuna said as she slammed her knee into his chest...
In an instant Makoto felt a burning feeling in his chest. The next thing he knew, he had stumbled across the room and hit the opposite wall with a THUD.
When he finally looked up Setsuna was standing above him, gazing into his bewildered eyes with a serious expression, "What was... that for? The young man questioned fearfully.
"This needs to stop. The way you're acting... This isn't the Itou I used to know." Such words came from the heart as Setsuna pleased with all she could muster.
Itou looked deep into her eyes with sheer confusion. He didn't know if he was angry, or afraid. This was Setsuna Kiyoura who was towering above him right now. Even with her small size Makoto felt like he had a giant stood before him. He had been knocked off his pedestal, and shock was setting in.
"I said this needs to stop, Makoto. Please listen to me," Kiyoura repeated.
For a moment it seemed like time itself was frozen solid. It took such a long time for Itou to snap back to reality. So many different feelings were going through his head at once.
He stood shakily, and eventually mustered a very quiet response,"Setsuna... Why... What do you mean by this has to stop?"
The expression on Kiyoura's face seemed to become colder at that point. She couldn't deny the feelings in her heart. She cared for Itou deeply but he had changed so much. This was why Setsuna also felt deeply repelled from him at the same time...
Itou clearly didn't see the damage he was causing around him. The hurt and suffering in the hearts of all the young women he claimed to 'care' about was beginning to spiral out of control.
Sekai was spending days at a time out of school. It was obvious to Setsuna why that was happening as well. The way Makoto had been treating the young lady was pushing her to the edge.
He lied to Katsura as well, even though it was obvious she had intense feelings for him. Now to make things worse he was also casually sleeping with Otome. Things were beginning to get VERY messy indeed. So messy, that before long someone was going to get hurt beyond belief.
That was why Kiyoura decided to see Makoto tonight. Her time in this country was running out fast. She had to make a difference. Not just for the sake of Sekai, but for the sake of all of the people Ito had selfishly become involved with.
"I'm talking about the way you keep treating everyone, Makoto," Setsuna replied.
There she stood, keeping her daunting glare fixed on his eyes. At this point Itou was beginning to look pretty afraid of the woman stood before him, "I... I don't quite understand," he stuttered in a fearful tone.
Makoto just stood there looking stunned and unnerved. Could he really justify his actions? Was what he was doing all of this time the right thing?
No, of course it wasn't. Even though Ito knew that, he just kept on denying it. He denied it because he'd become fixated on the attention of all these women, and intoxicated by it. At this point it wasn't about love, but more like the things they could give to him...
Deep down he knew that, and he hated it. Some nights he'd actually think about it too, but he'd still be just as quick to deny it. The reason?
The way he was becoming made him feel very afraid, yet he couldn't stop. It was fast becoming a craving. It was on the verge of turning into something he couldn't possibly live without. Just like the air he breathed, Makoto Ito was becoming overwhelmed with the need for sex.
Setsuna took a small step back, now softening the look in her eyes. It still had intense sincerity and meaningfulness within it however.
"Be careful with your choice," She began in a cautious tone.
"Don't walk too far down the wrong path. You're changing, but it isn't too late for you to remember who you really are. Makoto... If you can't do this for me OR anyone else, then do it for yourself. I'll be leaving soon, but never forget," though it was hardly visible, the smallest tear rolled down her cheek.
"Never forget that you can always change things for the better,"Setsuna turned to walk away, picking up her luggage case as she headed for the door. Makoto was too stunned by her words to do anything... He couldn't move no matter how hard he tried.
Setsuna stopped at the front door for a moment. She would likely never see Itou again after this. In truth, that hurt her. All she could do at this point was hold back the tears as she pulled open the apartment's front door...
Then she heard footsteps on the carpet behind her, "Kiyoura... Wait," Makoto pleaded desperately.
The petitte young woman stopped, but only for a moment,"You'll lose everyone if you take them for granted. There's nothing worse than being alone..."
Those words made Makoto fall silent. He simply hung his head in shame as the young lady continued to walk away from him.
Setsuna stepped out into the rain without even saying another word. She had accomplished her goal for this evening. After the door shut behind her she walked away into the rainy darkness of night, "I can't do anything else for you now," she whispered in a low voice as her feet carried her further away from Itou's apartment...
In the morning she would be leaving Japan. However, there was one thing that kept spinning around in her mind, "Will things have changed for the better if I ever return to this city?"
At this early stage she really didn't know. However, she couldn't help but give a tiny smile even in the downpour of the rain, "I really hope so..."
Makoto on the other hand was sat in a heap on the hallway carpet. The words of Setsuna raced around his head like wildfire.
"Could she be right?" He asked himself in deep thought as he was left alone in the silent setting of his home. Nothing but the low ticking sound of the living room clocked served to break the earth-shattering quiet that had taken hold.
When all was said and done, time would be the great decider of events yet to come...
To be continued...
Thank you once again for taking the time to read this. Your support is something that I'm very grateful for indeed. If you would like to leave some some feedback, please feel free. All of your opinions are welcome! Please, enjoy the next chapter!
