Winter Song
Author's Notes: In a way, this can be considered a sequel to my first fan fiction story "Ready to Fall". However, this can be read as a stand-alone, so no worries if you haven't read the previous story yet. Of course, I won't stop you from doing so. In fact, I'll encourage you to read it, just for the enjoyment of it.
The story is set ten years after Mikan first set foot in the Academy. The content is a bit mature, thus I rated it as such. I hope you enjoy this as I have enjoyed writing it. And like always, reviews and feedback will always be welcome. Cheers!
1| Count to Six then Die
Escape or die. Those were the only choices.
Unfortunately for the Black Cat, his chances were not looking good, and getting caught was not an option.
His oath from ten years ago nagged at him as he drove his Superbike 1199 Panigale R a hundred miles an hour down the winding mountain road famous for drifting in the dark of night.
The bullets chasing him were not helping his case either.
Reflexively, Natsume leaned his body to the left, a split second before a bullet swished past his right ear.
So close.
He gritted his teeth. How did a simple trip to the mountain, checking on a lead, resulted to him getting chased by a group from the Anti-Alice Organization? Their mission just got even more complicated—as if it wasn't complicated enough.
His last mission. This was supposed to be his last mission. The promise of freedom was just around the corner, and then this?
"You've got a total of three on your tail, H," he heard the rattled voice of his partner Lee from his earpiece. "We're on our way. We'll meet you down at the Marina. Can you hold that long?"
"Hard to say," he admitted. The curves and swerves—plus the speed he was going—made it hard for him to conjure a fire and aim. Even if he could, the wind could kill it before it can do enough damage. "I still have about five to six curves ahead of me. Let's just hope they run out of ammo soon."
Lee muttered a curse, which Natsume would like to second.
Yes, the Black Cat maybe strong and considered dangerous, but he didn't have nine lives. A bullet could very well kill him—if a tumble in the dangerous highway won't.
Just as he finished that thought, he felt a sting on his left side, below his ribcage. He faltered for a second, but was able to gain back control almost in an instant. His grip tightened on the wheel of his bike.
No, this can't be. This can't be the end of him.
He chanced a look on his side mirror. It's worth a try. He tried once, but his leading pursuer was able to avoid the fire he threw their way by swerving to the opposite side.
"Damn it," he hissed.
"Stay with us, H," Lee urged. "Just a few more curves. We're also almost there."
Natsume looked at the dark road ahead of him through his helmet's visor. He had a short stretch of manageable road coming before the next curve. He looked at his side mirror once again and chanced another aim.
This time, he saw the hood of the first car burst to flames, and the driver lost control, probably out of surprise and panic. He hoped that out-of-control car would bring its two friends with it, but they coped fast enough.
Now, a new set of bullets were after him.
Another sting. Upper right arm.
How could he keep this up?
A warm smile of a certain brunette flashed in his mind.
Mikan.
"Promise?" he could still hear her tear-soaked voice that last night they spent together. It crushed his heart. It pained him, more than the gunshot wounds he was harboring during the chase. He never wanted to be the reason for her tears, especially ones of pain and heartache.
"I promise, Mikan," he whispered to her that night. "I'll come back to you, no matter what."
And Natsume had never made a promise he couldn't keep. He didn't want to start now.
Not now, when freedom from the Academy was within his reach. Not now, when he has started considering how his life would be outside its walls after a decade of risking his life and acting like he got nothing to lose.
Because now, he got a better future he can look forward to. He got someone whom he can spend that future with. He got Mikan—his warmth and happiness. He's not about to fail her now.
Natsume flinched. Another shot to his torso.
"H, what's wrong?" he heard Lee's voice over the earpiece again. "Are you okay?"
He supposed his gasp from the sudden pain carried to the other end of the line. "Hold on, buddy. Almost there."
He blinked twice when his vision started to blur. He must be losing a lot of blood.
Just a few more minutes.
From afar, Natsume saw lights lining up the bay area. The Marina. One more curve down the treacherous mountain.
Two sedans were still hot on his tail.
"Damn!"
That can't be good, Natsume thought.
"Damn, festival! Damn these people!" he heard Lee's continued string of curses. "H, we've got road block. We'll turn around and find another way. Hang in there, H."
That he will. He had to—for Mikan.
The last curve was coming. He could see it, despite his vision blurring once again. He glanced at his side mirror. In his state, he probably won't be able to aim accurately. But he could create a distraction—enough for him to escape.
Determination in tow, he picked up speed, instead of slowing down, for the last and the most dangerous curve in the mountain. As he turned, his knee almost scraping the dirty concrete, Natsume released a huge fire behind him catching his pursuers by surprise. The fire was like a sudden explosion spreading from one side of the road to the other. He heard wheels screeching and a crash. Then, another explosion.
No time to relax now. He needed to get to the Marina and meet with Lee and Yojiro.
"Lee," he called to his partner. "I'm almost at the Marina."
"Us, too. ETA, five minutes."
Natsume could now see. If he got past the intersection, he should be safe. He still couldn't relax just yet though. He wasn't sure if both cars crashed. He only heard one explosion. The other car may still be well behind him.
"What did you say, Sagara?" Lee spoke to the youngest in the team, panic in his tone. He could faintly hear Yojiro from the background, but his words were all garbled. "H, two new cars coming at you. From where exactly, boy?"
He saw it, the headlights, before he heard Lee's frantic yell, "Intersection!"
It was too late. Though Natsume was able to swerve away from the cars, he lost control of his bike. He jumped before it completely crashed and threw him away.
He coughed blood after landing on the pavement near the bay. It's still a few meters from the Marina itself. He rolled to his side before sitting up.
"H, what happened? Damn it, did you just crash?"
Natsume removed his helmet and continued coughing. He wiped the blood off his mouth with the back of his hand.
Damn, indeed. Everything hurt. His vision blurred. To top it off, he heard screeching wheels of not just two, but three sedans, stopping to surround him.
Natsume walked—crawled would have been the more accurate term—to the edge of the lot, as close to the water as he could get. With his teeth clenched, he pulled himself to stand upright.
"H, answer me!"
"Lee—," he spat the blood pooling in his mouth, before continuing. "It's been a good ten years."
"What the hell are you saying? Don't talk crazy. We're here! Hang on, H. Don't do anything stupid!"
A corner of his lips raised of its own volition. He already did. Agreeing to this last mission was stupid.
He looked at the three cars, with their headlights beaming at him in full blast. He felt like a criminal cornered after a long road chase. Only, he's not the criminal. It's the men pointing their guns at him, ready to fire at any sudden movement from him.
He was drained. He could feel it. His Alice energy was just about empty. The odds were against him. Since escape was no longer possible, and getting caught was still not an option, it left him with only one choice.
"Lee," he muttered, unmoving, so that the trigger-happy men wouldn't suddenly shower him with bullets, ending his life before he can even say his piece. "Tell her I'm sorry."
"No, I'm not telling her nothing! Do you understand?"
I'm sorry, Mikan.
"Don't get caught," Persona reminded him again of his oath before he left for this mission three days ago. "Don't get caught alive."
He won't.
Natsume closed his eyes, and with a smirk mumbled, "I won't even let them catch me when I'm dead."
He took a deep breath and emptied his mind.
"H, no!" he heard Lee yelled as he opened his eyes, swallowing the three cars in flames and explosion at the same time.
He dropped to his knees, feeling all his strength and energy depleted from the Alice he released. If blood lost will not finish him, that last release certainly would. As he thought it, he felt his eyes drooping. But instead of giving in to the sweet sensation of surrender, he dragged himself to the edge of the boardwalk while his pursuers were distracted. Leaning back, he let gravity take over, plunging him head first into the dark water. He allowed himself to sink deeper before pushing forward with both hands and feet. His lungs burned, but he couldn't tell if he has gotten far enough that he could risk surfacing again.
As he continued to push forward, he felt his consciousness slipping. He couldn't see anything in the water to begin with. He just blindly trekked the unknown and hoped to heavens above he survived. But it seems no one was listening.
From a distance, he saw a glowing light. He pushed harder towards it, until it was just inches from his grasp.
Was he going to heaven after all?
With one final stroke, he closed his fist around it, and felt nothing else.
Forty-eight hours later, the Black Cat was officially declared dead.