Running
Natsume ran through the forest, going in between trees trying to get away. His hand held tightly around his stomach trying to stop the constant stream of blood.
I think I lost him – Natsume thought.
He looked behind him and saw no sign of Persona. But even though that was the case he kept running faster and faster. He soon came out of the forest, and now stood in front of the dorms. Natsume fell to his knees gasping from exhaustion. His vision got blurry.
Damn, I need to hide before he finds me!
He saw a window that stood open. He quickly recognized it as Ruka's room. He had no other choice if he wanted to get away. Natsume jumped onto a tree and climbed up until he came to Ruka's window. Then he carefully slipped inside before checking after Persona. He couldn't see him, luckily. Natsume closed the window and drew the curtains.
"Natsume?" He heard Ruka say, so he turned around. Ruka was sitting on the bed reading.
"Hey…" Natsume muttered weakly, as he felt a wave of pain coming from his stomach. He leaned on the wall for support. Ruka saw that Natsume was hurt; he had scratches and cuts everywhere.
"Natsume. What are you doing here? Are you okay? I haven't seen you all week." Ruka asked tossing the book aside and standing up.
"I'm fine." Natsume said and pulled the curtain up a little so he could check if Persona was outside. He wasn't. Natsume felt relieved and let go of the curtain just as a pang of pain hit him. Natsume winced and fell to his knees. His arm slid a little off his stomach and Ruka saw the large patch of blood. It was obviously the most serious of his wounds.
"Natsume!" Ruka said shocked and went over to inspect his stomach, "We need to get you to the hospital!"
"No! Don't… He'll… Find me…" Natsume whispered faintly with a hint of desperation, he then slumped unconsciously against Ruka.
Is it Persona who's after him? I better do as Natsume says or else something bad could happen to him. – Ruka thought.
Ruka gently laid Natsume down on the floor and went inside his bathroom to get his emergency kit. He took care of the wounds to the best of his abilities. While he worked tears slipped down his cheeks without him having any way of stopping it.
Natsume was the strong one, not him. This was the only thing he could do to repay his friend, take care of his wounds when he came home hurt. He was useless. Natsume was out there risking his life partially for him and all he could do was cry and be weak. He was sick of it! – Ruka thought.
Ruka rolled bandage around Natsume's stomach and pulled his bloodstained shirt off to replace it with one of his own. He locked the door and turned off the light and then went to sleep beside Natsume.
"Good night." He muttered. Then he fell asleep grasping Natsume's hand.
"There you are Natsume." Persona said and smiled mischievously. He walked over to the sleeping figure of Natsume and put his hand tightly across Natsume's mouth. Natsume woke up with a start and stared desperately at Persona.
"Shhh…" Persona put a finger to his mouth and then pointed at Ruka. Natsume saw the silent threat that played in Persona's eyes. His thoughts were in despair but he forced his gaze to stay cold and calm. Persona took his hand off Natsume's mouth and walked slowly to the door. Natsume sat up and followed him trying to be as quiet as possible so he wouldn't wake Ruka.
After Natsume went outside Persona locked the door to Ruka's room. So he wouldn't come running after them. Persona turned towards the exit and began moving towards it, quietly so he wouldn't wake any other students this late at night. Natsume followed along behind him. He heard Ruka banging on the door and shouting his name but he didn't turn around.
As soon as they came outside Persona pushed Natsume hard up against the wall. His eyes made lightning as they stared coldly into Natsume's. Natsume stared back the best he could. Then without warning Persona raised his hand and smacked Natsume hard across the cheek. Natsume gave a yelp of surprise, but he quickly returned his gaze to Persona's.
"How dare you hide from me?" Persona's cold voice sounded.
Suddenly Persona's head snapped to the other side. Natsume tilted his head a little to see what he was staring at and his eyes landed on Narumi who had just moved into sight. Narumi was staring at them. It didn't take long for Persona to hit Natsume again and drag him into the northern forest. Natsume had to run to keep up with him.
Finally they stopped as they came into a clearing. Natsume was panting and pressing his arm against his stomach as he felt blood soak his bandages. He almost fell to his knees; the only thing that kept him on his feet was the determination that he didn't want to look weak in front of Persona.
"What do you want?" Natsume demanded, he knew he probably should have just kept quiet but he couldn't refrain himself from asking the question.
Persona shoved Natsume against the nearest tree, "You fail to keep my rules in a mission and then you run from punishment. Now you speak impolitely to me. You really do want me to hurt you, don't you? Right Natsume?"
"If I wanted you to hurt then why did I run from punishment?" Natsume muttered.
Suddenly Persona's two hands wrapped themselves tightly around Natsume's neck choking him.
"Seems like you've grown fond of talking I think this is the only way to shut you up." His hands squeezed Natsume's neck tighter. Natsume's hands unconsciously made their way to Persona's hands and tried to pull them off. At last when Natsume almost couldn't hold his breath any longer he heated his hands up with his Alice and forced Persona to let go. Natsume was sent to his knees hacking, coughing and gasping for breath. Persona stood there for a couple of minutes allowing Natsume to catch his breath. Then he punched Natsume so hard that he fell onto his side on the grass.
"That's what you get for burning me."
Persona kicked Natsume hard on the shoulder.
"That's what you get for disobeying me."
Persona kicked Natsume in the chest.
"Running."
Persona kicked Natsume right in his wound.
"Argh…" Natsume groaned as Persona's foot hit him. Natsume curled up gasping trying to shield his wound from any more attacks. His stomach throbbed with pain.
"That was just because I wanted to."
Persona, who had walked a little away from, came running towards him and with speed and strength he kicked Natsume on his wound again.
"Ahh!" Natsume screamed through gritted teeth. He pressed his hand on his wound to try and stop the bleeding. His shirt was already soaked.
"That's enough!" Narumi ran into the clearing, "Let him go!"
"Who are you to command me?" Persona laughed. He went over to Natsume and pulled a knife out, he pulled up his shirt over the bandage and slit a cross into Natsume's skin. Natsume grimaced in pain but didn't say anything. "See he's mine. I have my mark on him."
"You bastard." Narumi said venomously.
Persona walked towards him knife posed and ready to use. Natsume stared into Narumi's blue eyes, he could see panic rising as Persona came closer. Natsume was just about bleeding everywhere.
He tried to help me, but he can't. No one can. Even so, thank you Narumi. – Natsume thought.
Narumi jerked back shocked as a wall of fire suddenly appeared between him and Persona. He looked over at Natsume, and met Natsume's eyes immediately. He was staring at him with determined half closed eyes. He looked like he was about to loose consciousness.
"Natsume, remove your flames." Persona demanded. Natsume only made them higher so they totally shielded Narumi from view.
"Do it now."
Natsume didn't. Why am I helping him? I'm getting in danger by doing it so why? Why bother? Something just told me that I had to do it, so I did it. The way his eyes were looking at me, they were practically screaming for help. I guess I'm just that type of person.
Persona stepped away from Narumi and over towards Natsume.
"How dare you defy me?" He threatened.
He came over to Natsume and surprisingly he put the knife back into his pocket.
"Better not let my little cat die of blood loss."
Persona took hold of Natsume's collar and dragged him up; Natsume had no strength to fight back. He then threw Natsume into the nearest tree.
"Gah!" Natsume exclaimed as he hit the tree trunk. He hit his head hard, and sank to the ground.
Persona came up to him and lifted his head, "We're not finished. As soon as the doctors patch you well enough up I'll come and get you. It's time for some punishment. You can choose yourself who am I going to punish you? Or your little friend?"
"Punish me as much as you want just don't hurt him…" Natsume muttered. His head was pounding so hard he thought he had cracked it in half.
"Good." Persona said and punched him to the ground one last time. Natsume felt himself land on his side; his right hand was covered in blood from his wound. He felt darkness take him. The last thing he saw before he fainted was Persona walking away from both Narumi and him.
The wall of fire grew higher around Narumi. He didn't know why Natsume had decided to protect him but he was worried for Natsume's sake. Now Persona was seriously pissed. Narumi heard Persona ask Natsume too remove his flames. Just do it Natsume. I'll be fine. But Natsume didn't stop.
The next thing he heard was I high bang like something hit a tree. He heard Natsume's exclaim.
"Natsume just let me out!" Narumi tried to shout, but the flames muted the sound.
There were more sounds from outside but Narumi couldn't make out what they were saying.
Suddenly the flames vanished. Narumi saw Natsume lying unconscious under a tree; he then looked around for Persona before running towards Natsume. He could hear Natsume breathing faintly. He was covered in small wounds but one of his hands was covered in blood.
Where did that come from? – Narumi thought.
He lifted Natsume's shirt over the bandages and discovered that they were soaked in blood.
"Shit!" He exclaimed. Natsume was a child, his body couldn't bear loosing so much blood and on top of all the other wounds. Narumi recognized the spot to be the place where Persona had kicked Natsume just as he had run into the clearing.
Narumi took one of his shirts off and tied it around Natsume's stomach in attempt to stop the bleeding. Then he carried Natsume off towards the hospital.
Narumi went inside the hospital, and a nurse came running towards him.
"Put him on that hospital bed." She instructed. Soon a doctor came.
"What's his condition?"
"Critical. Various cuts all over his body, head trauma and a large wound to the abdomen." The nurse replied and pointed to various wounds.
Natsume opened his pain struck eyes and looked at Narumi.
"Ruka…" He whispered barely audible, he was about to say some more but the doctors rushed him into the ER.
Did something happen to Ruka too? – Narumi thought.
He ran out the door and towards the dorm. He guessed he should start by searching Ruka's room. It was 3 o'clock in the mourning so he guessed all the students would be sleeping. Finally he came to the 3 stars room. He stopped at the door where there stood Ruka Nogi, and tried to open the door. It was locked. Narumi fished his keys up from his pocket and unlocked the door.
"Natsume you're back…" Ruka came running from the other side of the room his face full of happiness until he saw that it was Narumi then he stopped and his face fell.
"What are you doing here?" Ruka asked him. Narumi noticed traces of tears down his cheeks.
"You look fine." Narumi stated.
"Why shouldn't I be? Have you seen Natsume?" Ruka asked coldly.
"Yeah, Natsume is in the hospital. He whispered your name before they took him into the ER. I was just checking if you were okay."
"What?" Ruka asked horrified. Then he went to get his jacket and ran out the door in the direction of the hospital. Narumi ran after him.
Uhh… Body hurts. Am I still in the forest? Natsume opened his eyes; he met the familiar white ceilings of the academy's hospital. He felt that he had an oxygen mask on so he tore it off. His vision was a little foggy so he blinked to get everything back in focus. He saw Ruka sleeping with his head resting on the side of the bed. Natsume sat up slowly, grimacing in pain from his wound. A hand reached out, grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down onto the bed. It was Narumi.
"Don't push yourself." Narumi smiled, "Welcome back."
Natsume stared at him and then reached up to hold his forehead, he felt bandage around his head. "…How long have I been out?"
"No more than a couple of hours. The sun is rising."
"Hn… Has he been here?" Natsume asked, meaning Persona.
"No, why should he?" Narumi asked confused.
"Never mind…"
They stood in silence for a couple of minutes. Natsume checked all his wounds and found himself in bandage just about everywhere. He ran his hand over his stomach to soothe the pain coming from behind the bandage. They had stitched he wound together.
"Why did you save me back then Natsume?"
Natsume smirked at him. "Are you delusional, idiot?"
"What?" Narumi asked confused.
Just then a doctor came inside the noise from the door opening woke Ruka up.
"Natsume, you're awake!" Ruka said happily and threw his arms around him careful not to touch any wounds, though it was a little difficult.
"Good you're awake." The doctor said, "If you don't mind then I need to have a word with Natsume alone."
Ruka and Narumi nodded and went outside the door.
"You have a minor concussion so you have to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days. Also the wound to your stomach is quite serious so you can't do anything physically straining for about a weak until it heals. All your other cuts and bruises have been taken care of and disinfected. Also something we discovered too is that you have the forth type of Alice."
"Thank you for stating the obvious." Natsume said ironically.
"You knew this already?" The doctor asked surprised.
"Of course I knew it's my body." Natsume replied growing impatient.
"Why didn't you tell the hospital?"
"Seriously what difference could it make? Are you done soon?"
"Fine. This is obviously something you're not so fond of discussing. How far are you?" The doctor asked.
"Far?" Natsume grumbled.
"Have you started coughing blood?"
"What does it matter to you?" Natsume snapped.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"…" That's it I hate this doctor.
"I'll bring some pill's to your room later." The doctor said and walked out the door. After that Ruka came into the room again.
"Narumi had to go. He told me to say thank you and goodbye. Why thank you?" Ruka asked curiously with his head tilted.
"How should I know that damn perverted teacher?" Natsume grumbled still pissed after the visit from the doctor.
"What did the doctor say?"
"That damn idiot doctor I have no idea why they even hired him." Natsume said seriously.
"Okay… So I guess you have to stay here for a week or something like that?"
"At least 2 days, I swear I'll kill that doctor before the time runs out."
"I'm sure you will." Ruka said ironically and sat down.