Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.
Inspiration: Greek Mythology
-;-
Title: Part 1
"Inspector… they did it again."
I looked up at Tsubasa Andou—my subordinate—who recently entered my office before running a hand through my wavy hair. I do not need any further elaboration of what he was talking about. I've immediately guessed the subject of our repetitive topic for the last five months.
For the previous five months, ten bombings have been listed on the federal bureau of investigation and national bureau of investigation all unsolved and all coming from the same group of notorious assassins called The Leviathan.
The reasons for their killing is still unknown as well as their identities but they had become famous after bombing five international tourism buildings, five Japanese embassy establishments and targeting honorable personalities such as the head chairman of the National Police Team, President of Japan's international Tourism Group, Cabinet members and even the last three prime ministers of the country.
And now, the whole security industry of Japan had sent troops and great investigators and detectives to capture the culprits.
But everyone had failed. The Leviathan was still on their killing spree on the heart of Japan—Tokyo.
I pull out my notepad and pen before looking up at Tsubasa through my eyeglasses. "What did they do this time and who are the targets?" I asked noncommittally; planning to take out some notes—although writing notes wouldn't do any good now since the leviathan group was indeed unstoppable.
Tsubasa adjusted his eyeglasses and exhaled. "They've bombarded the NBI building. Ten were recorded dead while most are on their critical condition. The whole security system of Japan has been disabled and the president has already asked for the help of the neighboring countries."
In the span of five months… Japan is in great ruins.
I arched an eyebrow at Tsubasa. "Anything else?"
"All investigators and detectives had withdrawn from the Leviathan Case." He added with uncertainty. "Unless someone –insane inspectors—volunteers to do the case would it only be open."
I signed the notes with flourished as I began to tap my table with my pen; trying to relax on my soft recliner chair. I arched an eyebrow at Tsubasa upon seeing him still standing in front of me. "Anything else?" I saw the envelope on his hand. "What's that?"
He handed the envelope to me. "It's from chairman Anjo."
"Narumi- sensei?" immediately, I opened the lid of the envelope to read its contents. "It was a new case." I mumbled mindlessly, reading it aloud. "Greetings, Inspector Sakura Mikan of Alice A Department. I, NBI Branch Tokyo Head Chairman Narumi L. Anjo personally inform you of the approval of the case you wish to handle…" My forehead creased; I looked up at Tsubasa. "Did you send any request to Narumi-sensei?"
Tsubasa rethinks of his answer before he nodded. "You want to handle the Sakurai Murder, right?"
"Sakurai—ah yes." I flipped to the next page. It was another letter. I re-read it again. "Our most warm greetings to you, Inspector Sakura Mikan of Alice A Department, I, chief superintendent of the federal bureau of Investigation Japan, Main Branch, Serio Rei, personally approves of your participation to the dreadful the Leviathan case that has been the cause of Japan's International Tourism and International Security System decline. All information of the above case aforementioned shall be given to you on the following dates below." I laughed at that and dumped my letter on the table. "Is this a joke?"
Tsubasa laughed too. "Is it funny?"
I paused laughing as I grabbed the letter and read it monotonously. "Leviathan Case?!" I yelled loudly as I glared at him. "What the hell is this, Andou?"
"W-what, Ma'am Sakura?"
"Leviathan Case!" I yelled again; furiously annoyed before showing him the papers. "I thought you send Narumi-sensei the Sakurai murder case?!"
"I-I… I did!" He scrambled through his stack of files searching for something until he froze; a single paper on his right hand. Tsubasa stared at me; horrified. "Uh-oh."
"No, no, no, no!" I screeched loudly and rush to him to get the paper. He was holding the leviathan case. I growled at him. "Tsubasa, you dork, didn't you know that I am willing to handle any case except that one!"
He was utterly apologetic as he repeatedly lowers down his head before me. "I'm terribly sorry Ms. Sakura! Please don't fire me! I terribly needed this job!"
"Argh! You are such a dork! Come with me!" I tugged the end of his necktie and dragged him with me to the main office. I knocked twice before I entered. "Chairman Anjo—"
"Ah, so rude Ms. Sakura, when your uncle is so busy finding himself a new wife." I glared at Chairman Anjo—my stupid uncle—and the female employee who swiftly buttoned up her blouse and embarrassedly excuse herself out of the room. Narumi smiled shamelessly at me. "What brings you here, my humble servant and why are you beating your subordinate again?"
I freed Andou and slammed the letter on his table. "I'm withdrawing from the Leviathan case, sorry, Chairman."
Chairman laughed. "Chickening out?"
"I still want to live."
"Unfortunately you can't." He raised the letter again and showed me superintendent's approval letter. "Haven't you read this one? The superintendent had given you his approval. Won't you feel ashamed if you'd backed off so suddenly after his approval? So shameful, Ms. Sakura."
I rolled my eyes at that. "Words do not affect me, Chairman."
He smiled. "Give it a try. And I have already planning to have you participating on that case since it lacks investigators. So, go on."
Once he makes up his mind, certainly, his decisions are irrevocable. I stared deeply to my Uncle's eyes.
I turned back to my nerd subordinate and glared at him. "Even if I survived this one, I'm still expecting your resignation paper on my desk as soon as this case is over, am I understood?"
Tsubasa gave me a firm nod. "I will protect you with all I've got, Ma'am."
I turned my back on them and proceeded to the exit to take my leave. I was about to open the door when it opened on its own revealing a delivery girl just a few inches taller than I. She wore a brown uniform and removed her cap upon seeing me.
I was astounded. There's just no way someone as beautiful as this girl a delivery girl. Her eyes—it was the strangest tint of violet.
"Is Narumi L. Anjo here?" Her voice was like a soprano. It sounded like bells ringing and God she was so beautiful I almost cry. "He had delivery from…" she fiddled with a piece of paper. "—post office branch of Hokkaido."
"O-oh." I called Narumi and he was already behind me. I rolled my eyes. "Andou, let's go. You'd still receive a few beatings from me and you'll work your ass off over, overtime."
Tsubasa scurried over me. "Y-yes. Ma'am."
I ignored him and continued to my office reading the letter again when I froze. I looked at Tsubasa who was silently standing at his post by the edge of my table. "Tsubasa,"
He was immediately before me. "Yes, ma'am? Coffee? Are you hungry?"
I placed my hand under my jaw,; still confused. "That beautiful delivery girl… did she went to the front desk lobby?" Tsubasa just stared at me. I shake my head. "She didn't, right? And deliveries are supposed to be left by the lobby, right?"
"Yes…" He whispered.
"That girl… that girl." Alertly, I stood up and rushed out of my office; Tsubasa was frantic behind me. My office was six offices down to his. "Narumi-sensei!" I yelled as I run off and rounded the post just in time to see the supposedly delivery girl seated by the windowsill at the end of the hallway. "Halt! Stop!"
She looked up at me, grinned and placed a sticky-note to the fire alarm system before she threw herself off the window. As soon as she was gone, a loud explosion starting from Narumi's office down to the offices and posts next to his' occurred.
-;-
"Ms. Sakura you may need to lay down so that we could treat your wounds."
I pushed the doctors and the nurses away as I blindly looked around the ER. Narumi is in critical state. He had second degree burns and a broken bone since he had jumped from the third floor after realizing that a small bomb was placed on the Manila envelope delivered to him.
"I'm fine." I mumbled as I tried to sit up and jumped of the stretcher. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. My uncle—my uncle—he needed me, okay? Leave me for awhile so that I could attend to him—"
"Ms. Sakura, please—"
"Mikan!" I was surprised upon seeing mom and dad forcing their way to the ER. Mom rushed to me; her eyes locked on the first degree burns on my left and right arms.
I heaved out a defeated sigh as I lay flat on my back and allowed the doctors and nurses to treat me. "Fine, then. Mom's here."
Mom was crying when she appeared next to me. "Oh, God, Mikan I was so worried at you! When Tsubasa-kun had called us to inform us about the explosion, I could barely focus on my driving! What the hell happened anyway?! And why did you charged on that fire when you know that Narumi could handled himself well, damn it?"
I winced when the doctor dabbed something wet against the burned area of my arm. I look up at mom; trying not look like I'm in extreme pain or something. "I'm fine mom, stop worrying. Stop panicking okay? I'm not yet dying—"
"Yes dear, you're not yet dying." She cut off flippantly. "But sooner I know you will. Why did you choose this kind of job anyway?! You could be an engineer like your dad! Or a novelist like me! Or a tour guide or even a newspaper vendor and I'll freakin' support you! Why do you have to become an inspector?!"
I had to check my ear for injuries. I swear, I'll kill Andou for this! "Mom, you are hurting my ears. Try to lower your voice down, please?"
"Are you suicidal?!" She yelled; not minding my pleas. "Izumi, come here and give your stupid daughter some piece of your mind! She's utterly annoying."
I shut my eyes, closed. "So noisy, ANDOU?!"
The ER door swung open as Andou entered in a flash. "M-m-ma'am Sakura?"
"Get my coat and ready the car." I ordered him when the doctor began to bandage my arms. "We're going to the FBI."
Tsubasa's forehead creased. "M-m-ma'am?"
"Didn't you heard what I just said?!" I yelled at him as I sat up; utterly annoyed. "I said, get my coat and ready the damned car because we're going to the FBI! How did you become my assistant when you can't even hear my orders properly?! Are you freakin' deaf?!"
Tsubasa repeatedly lower down his head. "S-sorry, M-ma'am!"
"Ready my things, now!"
"R-right away, Ma'am!" That and he got my coat from a nurse and dashed out of the ER in extreme hurry.
Dad eyed me. "That's not the correct way to treat your subordinates, Mikan."
I jumped off the stretcher and threw my ruined blouse on the nearest bin—good thing I was wearing a shirt inside. I eyed Narumi first before I stride out of the room ignoring my Mom's frantic calls.
I met Tsubasa outside. He immediately handed me my coat and open the car door for me. I ignored him and proceeded to the driver's side. "Get in. I'll drive."
"But Ma'am Mikan, your wounds—"
I glared at him. "Get in or I'll leave you here." He was swift as he got inside whilst I bought the engine to life and sped off at full throttle. I massaged my strained shoulder as it began to ache and it was already bothering me and my driving.
Tsubasa seemed like he was having difficulty in breathing. "Ma'am Mikan are you alright? You have to slow down your driving or we'll get caught as over speeders."
"Shut up." I mumbled as I feed my car with more gas. The faster I driver, the sooner I'll get to FBI. As soon as we got to the main branch, I jumped off the truck and went inside. A security personnel blocked my path. I showed him my badge. "I'm here to see the superintendent."
The personnel chuckled, "a woman? How gutsy."
"You're not getting out of my way?"
"Try me."
I turned my back on him, inhaled deeply before I faced him and punched me on the face. "Andou, let's go." Tsubasa was pale but he still followed me. Such heavy security covered the entrance to the chief superintendent's entrance.
"Inspector!" The front guard recognized me. He walked towards me and bowed down. "What brings you here, inspector Sakura?"
"I want to speak with the chief superintendent."
"Did you set up—"
"It's about the leviathan case." I cut him off; annoyed. "If you haven't heard the news, then I'm glad to fill you in. Three and a half hours ago they bombarded the Tokyo branch of NBI. I need to speak with the chief since I'll be handling the leviathan case right at this very moment. Are you going to let me in or are you not?"
He deliberated but in the end, had escorted me to the main office.
Chief Superintendent Serio Rei gave me a creepy grin upon seeing me. "Ah, if it wasn't the beautiful inspector, Sakura Mikan… and Tsubasa Andou-kun." He nodded at Tsubasa. "What brings you here to my office?"
Tsubasa was quick to respond. "It's about the leviathan…"
"Give me the details about the leviathan case, chief superintendent." I cut him off. "The group had bombarded the NBI. Head chairman Anjo was on a critical state as well as ten other employees. Tokyo Branch is in state of discord now."
"Of course, of course, head chairman Narumi… yes." He stood up; revealing such admirable height and got something from his desk drawer before striding towards me. "You'll be doing this case with three other—"
I shook my head; completely interrupting here. "No chief, I want them all out in this case. I want to handle the leviathan case alone."
Serio Rei stared at me; amused. "Are you for real?"
I lifted one finger in front of his face. "One month. Give me one month and then you'll have your hands on the leviathan group. So, let me handle those assassins alone."
"Aren't you being too ahead of yourself, inspector?" He says; one eyebrow arched on its highest. "The leviathan assassin is a group of extremely cunning and smart killers. They had targeted and successfully killed the government's huge personalities and for a short period of time, they've turned Japan into ruins. No one has ever managed to get their hands on their group."
"One month, Chief Superintendent." I repeated; beginning to get annoyed. "All I'm asking you is to give me a month… and there won't be any leviathan."
Tsubasa was fidgeting beside me. "Ma'am Sakura…"
I silenced him with a glare. "Well, Chief? Is the leviathan case only mine to handle or I won't handle it at all?"
Serio stared at my eyes with such unreadable expression before he handed me the file. "Okay then, one month Inspector Sakura."
I was about to shake Serio's hand when the door suddenly swung open and two security officers rushed inside.
"Chief," the first one said. "—five members of the leviathan group infiltrated the building!"
My eyes snapped at the officer. "Which floor?"
"The fifth, ma'am."
"Tsubasa, lets go." I run out of the room past the security personnel who're still on the process of doing their game plan. I know better than to take the elevators so I was swift when I took the stairs with Andou.
My arm began to ache and it was all very disturbing. I got my two-way radio from the pockets of my coat and produce my point forty five caliber gun.
I turned to Tsubasa. "Remember, you are the reason why I was here, you understand?"
Andou nodded firmly. "Yes, ma'am."
He adjusted his eyeglasses and shakily held his gun. I smiled at him. "Don't worry; I've got your back." Before he could even respond, I turned my back on him in a flash. Good thing I was wearing comfortable slacks and tennis shoes. The only thing that was bothering me was my arms and my strained shoulder.
Narumi's painstakingly critical condition popped out in my head that even if half of my body is against the mission I was doing, I still manage to reached third floor without sweating too much.
I readied my gun—the bullets on my coat's pocket—as we neared the fifth floor. I kicked the entranced and aimed my gun in the open space. The light bulbs were flickering and there weren't any sign of life present in the deserted floor.
All employees had evacuated.
I tightened my grip on my gun and alertly looked around on the open spaces; my heart was pumping hard against my ribcage. I was an inspector and I've handled out quite easy jobs though I never really face shoot out encounters like this.
I wasn't allowed to go to the field or even hold a gun—until, of course, I forced Narumi to let me do murder cases instead of theft problems.
I gasped when a loud explosion occurred by the entrance where Tsubasa and I had previously used making it inaccessible anymore. The explosion hurt my ear and I was defenseless for a while.
Andou was on his alert position next to me.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
Andou nodded at that. "Y-yes, Ma'am."
"Stay alert." I mumbled and continued on to the deserted hallway; the fire alarms were already ringing and the water sprinklers have been activated.
I noticed the windows by the edge of the hallways were open and since some of the lights were either broken or flickering, I was uncertain of the shadows I was seeing.
Until the door next to me suddenly swung open revealing a girl with dark and glossy green hair wearing a half-sized cat masked. She seemed startled upon seeing me too that we stared at each other for a full second.
And I realized she'd from the leviathan group.
"FREEZE!" I yelled and aim the gun on her but she was fast as she slap my hand away and aimed her fist on my face.
Instinctively, I dodge away from her attack and gave her a strong hit by the rope. The girl fell face first on the ground; a low curse escaped her lips. I point the barrel of the gun to her again but she kicked me hard on my ankle causing me to fall on the floor next to her.
She slams her hand on my back, stood up and run off.
I knew better than to let my target escape so immediately, I jumped on her and the two of us crashed against the carpeted floor the assassin elbowed me on the ribs.
I drag her up with me and even if both my arms were numbing and is not on such good state, I still manage to back drop her.
I aimed the gun on her. "Where is she?!"
The girl chuckled and removes her cat mask. She rolled onto her side and gracefully stood up; an amused grin was on her thinly beautiful lips. "Hm… you're very good. The first one to take me down like that."
"I said, where is she?!" I yelled at her as I cocked the hammer of my gun, fighting against the urge to pull the trigger. "The girl who bombarded the NBI building, where is she?"
The lovely assassin laughed again and her shoulders shook as if what I've said had definitely amused her. "Oh. The NBI building. It's really too bad Narumi L. Anjo didn't die, isn't it?"
I was mad with fury as I walked towards her; my gun on her face. "Why did you tried killing my uncle? Who are you and what are you after?"
"I'm not requires to answer."
"You are." I snarled. "Starting now."
She grinned again and kissed my gun. "Why don't you try asking the girl who tried but unfortunately failed to kill your bastard uncle?"
I froze when I felt something cold pressed against my temple. It was an idiotic thing to do but slowly, I spun to face the new arrival and once again saw the familiar girl with violet eyes who delivered the bomb to my uncle's office. Behind her, by the wall, was another guy with messy brown hair. They all wore casual clothing and the guy wore a whit mask that covered half of his face.
I was outnumbered.
"Imai." The girl said in acknowledgement to the other lady I was searching.
Imai nodded. "Shouda."
Shouda beamed as she runs her fingers on my arm. "Inspector Sakura Mikan was searching for you. Isn't that sweet?"
Imai continued to stare at me and wordlessly slam her gun against my temple sending me straight on the floor.
I winced as I crashed hard on the ground. Blood run down to my cheek due to my broken scalp as slight vertigo washed over me. I tightened my grip on my gun as I glared at Imai.
Shouda beamed again. "Wow, this one is strong. Didn't even let out a cry of pain or something, no wincing or flinching." She kneeled next to me. "You looked lovely when you're bleeding."
"Why did you tried to kill my uncle?" I asked Imai; completely ignoring Shouda as well as the slicing pain on my scalp and arms. "Who the hell are you?!"
Imai continued to stare down at me; her eyes were blank but sharp.
"Ma'am Mikan!"
"Oops, another idiot." Shouda muttered as she stood up. She roughly pulled me with her and pushed me ahead of her and Imai.
Tsubasa came into the view sooner. "Ma'am Mikan!"
"You stupid idiot…" I murmured tersely.
"Oh, it's Tsubasa." The guy by the wall said. He straightened his back and wave. "Hey, Tsubasa, what's up? How's your job?"
"Yome." Imai snarled dangerously. "Shut up."
They know Tsubasa. I glanced up at Tsubasa; stunned. "Y-you know… them?"
Tsubasa lifted his gun and directed it at the guy named Yome. "No."
Shouda chuckled from behind me. I continued to gaze at Tsubasa.
"I don't know them." Tsubasa said again as he removed his eyeglasses and loosen his tie. He gazed at me and aimed the gun on my direction. "But I'm with them, Ma'am Sakura."
"Oh, perfect." Shouda clapped twice and went next to Yome. "Natsume and Ruka are here. Serio Rei must be dead now."
Two cats—one, raven and one pale blond—suddenly appeared behind Tsubasa. The raven-furred cat had shockingly blood red eyes while the yellow-furred feline had blue eyes. I watched the two cats while Tsubasa, Yome an Shouda straightened their backs.
Very slowly, the two feline warped into two human beings before in my eyes.
"What's happening here?" The boy with deep raven hair said. He locked his eyes on me before elbowing Tsubasa. "Hey, what's up? Were you doing your job properly? How is that boss of yours?"
I've been… fooled. I've been outnumbered.
Tsubasa had betrayed me.
-;-
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