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Chapter 4
After spending years running around a daily course, I was fit. I ran in a line, straight to where I thought civilisation was.
I was always an endurance runner than a sprinter, but even the length of the way from the institute to another building was horrible for me.
When I left, the sun was just starting to rise, around 6:00am. Now, the sun was right above my head, it's rays beating down on my sweating back. I took off my tattered shirt long ago and discarded it in the middle of the desert like pathway. All around me was an endless sea of red. No plants, grass, basically there was nothing living. Except me.
I was tired, hungry, exhausted.
Free.
My jog sped up a bit. The 4-lettered word was like a dose of energy. I could go on. Go on forever as long as I was free.
A grey shape started to loom towards me. It enlarged slowly. I made out a roof.
A roof meant houses. Houses meant...
"Civilisation!" I yelled out to the open.
My fast jog transformed into a head-long sprint. Similar to a person running a race and seeing the finishing line.
Other roofs appeared, dotting the horizon.
I kept sprinting. I would make it.
o.o.o.o.o
No POV
Japan. A country of technology.
Horns of cars beeped impatiently as the traffic, as slow as ever, moved up the road.
Offices were present every few metres.
Japan was also country of wealth.
People were walking along pathways. Some carrying shopping bags, others walking dogs or just out for a stroll.
However, some people were staring at a bizarre boy.
His unusual red eyes were bright with hope and wonder. He was thin, underfed yet fit. He was shirtless and was wearing a pair of horribly made shorts.
The people who were watching him also saw what happened next.
The boy, unaware of roads or pathways, ran in a straight line in the centre of the road, following traffic.
A car, unaware of the boy, and the driver being slightly drunk, rounded a turn, now going against traffic.
Everything then went in slow motion.
Screeches from pedals being slammed down were heard. Angry shouts from their drivers rang out. Bystanders gasped in horror, the drunken driver snapped awake and the protest from the wheels of his car screeched. The boy realised his immediate danger and closed his eyes, waiting for impact.
Boom.
A fire erupted from where the boy was situated, the unsuccessful-in-swerving car was thrown into the air. Screams and squeals sounded and the drunken driver dived out of the flaming car. His shirt caught on fire, burning blistering. The car exploded, littering the ground with shrapnel. Apparently, there was alcohol in the back of the car as well.
The person on fire landed on the ground, shrieking in pain. Other people ran into buildings, out of the way of raining car-parts. People on the road hid under their seats in their cars, hoping to live.
Mobile phones flickered out, calling the police and ambulance.
Turmoil, fear, chaos.
o.o.o.o.o
Natsume's POV
I didn't understand what happened. The first thing I remember before the incident was the car coming towards me, swaying slightly. I was stalked by the stares of open-mouthed people. The car came closer, closer and then boom. I was surrounded by orange-red flames. I felt no pain, no impact. Only a surge of power. I saw nothing except for the fire, heard nothing except for the crackling. I had no idea what was going on.
The fire died down after a few minutes. I was surprised to see the world in pieces. The bright, tall buildings were burnt down to stubs of brick, the green and blue now was black and grey. It reminded me off the little memories I still had. I looked around. There was no one dead, fortunately. Whoever caused this fire was the same person who caused it when I was younger.
Red and white was in front of me. Probably an ambulance. Flashing lights started and the world went hazy.
Once again, I fainted.
o.o.o.o.o
Ruka's POV
Boom.
"Did you hear that, Ruka-pyon?" Mikan asked me.
"Hai. It sounded like an explosion of some sort."
Mikan and Youichi were watching the live news and I was reminiscing the times that I had with Natsume.
Four days had passed and Mikan continually turned down my pleads to bring Natsume to this home.
"We're going to start school soon, Ruka, Youichi-nii."
"We know."
"News just in. An explosion of fire erupted south of the Canton District. This involved a young teenage boy and a drunken driver. We have someone who is live at the scene."
"Eh, what happened?"
"Shush, Youichi," Mikan hissed.
"The fire was sudden. A boy was about to get run over by a car when fire suddenly engulfed the two. The car was thrown into the air and exploded. The driver suffered severe burns but the boy, who was surrounded by the fire, didn't receive and visible harms. The boy has no medical record and is almost non-existent in this town. Despite this, we have tracked down the boy to be the son and heir to the Hyuuga clan. The only survivor of the terrible massacre of the best fighters in this country. He has escaped from the mental institution that he was placed in and is now in hospital, being checked for any signs of internal bleeding or other problems. He will then be sent to a juvenile dete-"
I left after I heard the last few words.
"Ruka-pyon? Hey, Ruka-pyon!"
I wasn't going to let Natsume be in prison right after escaping from the institution.
o.o.o.o.o
Natsume's POV
I felt like roadkill. It was like my lifespan had been sucked out through a tube.
"You're awake now."
"Hn."
"You have visitors."
I looked at my surroundings. Grey walls, circular cell.
I was back at the institute.
No. Not back there. NO.
"Natsume, are you ok?"
"I'm fine, Ru-... Ruka?! Why're you here?"
"I've come to bail you out."
If Ruka was here, that means that the escape was all a dream.
Damn.
"You're not at the institute, Natsume. You're in a juvenile detention centre."
So similar to the institute... I was better off with Persona.
Detention centre.. that means I didn't know any of the passageways, the guards, anyone. Anything.
"Don't fret, Natsume. As I said before, I've come to bail you out."
"Ru-ka. You. Run. Too. Fast."
I caught sight of the large hazel eyes looking at me fearfully.
"Please bail him out, Mikan."
"No."
I looked away pointedly.
"He's a murderer, Ruka."
"Please, he's my best friend and he also helped me in the institute. Youichi too.
"... Only because you're my favourite cousin."
She left.
o.o.o.o.o
Mikan's POV
Stupid murderer.
As much as I hated to admit it, I felt kind of relieved to see the piercing crimson eyes.
"Excuse me, how much is bail for Hyuuga Natsume?"
"Let's see.. Hyuuga, Hyuuga, H.... ah."
"Hm?"
"It says here that bail for Hyuuga Natsume will be... $5000."
"That much? That's like 5-10 times more than a normal person!"
"He's dangerous."
"Fine."
I had more money than needed in my bag anyway.
"Ok, Hyuuga Natsume on bail. Here's the conditions sheet and you may leave today after filling out the paperwork."
"Alright."
After the paperwork, I went back to the cell to drag Ruka and the killer out.
o.o.o.o.o
Natsume's POV
"This feels kind of stiff," I said.
"It's also the first time you've ever worn new clothes, Natume," Ruka replied.
"Hn."
He smiled.
"Thanks for getting me out, Ruka."
"Hey, you're my best friend. Anytime."
"Let's hurry up. People are staring," Mikan hissed.
o.o.o.o.o
"Natsume!" Youichi screamed as he jumped on me, tackling me down on the ground.
"Hey, Youichi. Long time."
"Mhm."
This is the place where my new life started. But, I still didn't know of the grave danger I was in.
And done.
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Peace.
Sky~