I DO NOT OWN GAKUEN ALICE.
Chapter 3
July 20, 2015
At 7:45 on the dot, Ernst had once again come to pick me up on the same helicopter as the last time. I was getting used to this kind of transportation as a constant presence around the Labs.
"Guten Morgen," Ernst greeted when I got into the cabin of the vehicle, cheery as usual.
"You coming as well?" I asked, wiping the sleep off my eyes.
"Yes, my friend. In case no one has told you, part of my job is being head of the animal research part of the Labs. I oversee all management and experiments done to the fellas. I guess you can say that's why I'm always your chaperone. Technically, I'm kind of your boss." He grinned smugly at me.
"Well, boss, you were right about one thing," I said, patting his shoulder, yawning.
"What's that?" he asked.
"I met Ms. Liechti yesterday," I said, which was pretty self-explanatory.
"Oooh," he said, shaking his head. "Your heart still in one piece?"
"Is she always like that?"
"Like what?"
I thought about it, not wanting to say something offensive about the daughter of the person who owns the company I work for. ". . .coquettish. And strong. Well, not really strong, more of. . ."
"Commanding," Ernst suggested, laughing. "And yes, she's always been like that. I've worked for Mr. Liechti for ten years now, and even when she was just eleven, Annaliese has always talked like she owned the world."
"That's not exactly a good thing," I said.
Ernst shrugged. "That all depends on how you look at it. Annaliese's mom died in childbirth. She grew up in more of a workplace rather than a house, where she was the daughter of a millionaire and the boss of everyone around. Needless to say, she lived in a world where she was constantly praised. Friends were scarce to begin with, and the ones that she did come by, she hardly trusted. She's independent, strong, tough, and harsh when she has to be, but really, she's just as vulnerable inside."
"You seem to know her well."
He smiled weakly. "I've always been sympathetic for her."
"She probably wouldn't like someone being sorry for her." I laughed.
Ernst laughed as well. "True that, my friend."
A few moments later, the helicopter landed on a wide clearing on the mountain, 4 miles from the actual location of the Ibex. A whole crew from the Labs was assembled on the clearing; several biologists, researchers, and guards. Ernst and I got out of the copter and we watched it fly away. I sighed. So we're really going to trek up.
"Here he is. The boy who will make my dreams come true!" Mr. Liechti walked up to Ernst and I, his daughter, Annaliese following close behind.
"Papa, you make it sound so wrong," she said, though her gaze wasn't directed to her father. She glanced at Ernst for a fleeting moment, her expression untraceable, before locking eyes with me, that flirtatious smile of hers playing on her pink lips.
"I won't let you down, sir," I said to Mr. Liechti.
"Papa," Annaliese interrupted, "I'd like to be the one to show Ruka if it's okay with you." She elbowed Ernst aside, laying her hand on my arm suggestively, her lips still with that same playful smile.
Ernst chuckled. "You'll frighten the new kid away," he said.
"You can't have him all to yourself, Wyss." Annaliese looped her arm around mine, locking us together. She didn't pay Ernst a single glance, eyes dead set on me. It was scary, to be honest. I felt almost like prey.
"You two never seem to stop bickering," Mr. Liechti said with a cheerful smile. He was evidently excited. "Very well, dear. Familiarize Ruka with the scenario. Ernst, walk with me, won't you?"
"Sure thing, boss," Ernst said. He gave me a friendly smile and a mocking curtsy for Annaliese before he left with Mr. Liechti.
"He's always so condescending," Annaliese grumbled. She released her grip on my arm and opted to walk in front of me instead. "Hurry up, we're leaving in twenty minutes, and you have to see the pictures. They're absolutely beautiful," she enthused.
I picked up my pace. We were heading for one of the white tents set up in the clearing.
"Well he is our senior," I commented to her first statement.
"You're my senior," she said, waving my reason away, "I don't hear you talking to me like I'm a child."
I chuckled. "But I'm only a year older than you. Ernst is what? Thirteen years age gap?"
"Twelve!" she said. I was starting to wonder why she was getting so touchy. . .that time of the month, probably.
A rectangular, open tent was stationed to our right side; a table and a bunch of foldable chairs were set up. About four people were seated on them, chatting mildly with mugs in their hands. I saw that there were also biscuits and finger food in Tupperwares on top of the table. They acknowledged our presence when we passed by nodding our way. On our left side, however, there was an enclosed, white, rectangular tent. This was where directed me into, pulling the flap aside. Thin wires hung from the air; big, x-ray sized pictures clipped to them here and there. They were pictures of Willy, the stream, the mountainside, hoof marks left on the ground, anything that was related to the case. I saw why the creature fascinated Mr. Liechti so much. He was gold and silver, even without knowing the things he could possibly do and the things we could learn from him, I knew what he looked like to a person like Flavier. He looked like profit. Profit on four legs.
"Imai? I didn't know you were coming," Annaliese said.
I looked around the tent, shocked. True enough, there was Hotaru, looking intently at one picture of Willy mid-leap to a boulder a few feet above him. She turned at the sound of her name, met my eyes for a brief moment, and addressed Annaliese, ignoring me like before.
"I have an interest for this one," she said nonchalantly. "I'm surprised you came. I didn't think you had proper clothes for the occasion." She scanned Annaliese, head-to-toe, something, I'm sure, the gorgeous brunette did not receive every day. "It must be hard parting with your heels, but I suppose it's a good decision. Wouldn't want you tripping down the mountain, would we?" Hotaru smirked.
Annaliese kept a smooth face, but I could see from the way she balled her hands into fists that she did not take the insult lightly. "I managed to whip something up," she said airily. "I didn't want to miss the show. Ruka's Alice interests me."
Both pairs of eyes stared at me; Hotaru's unique purple ones, seemingly noticing me for the first time, and Annaliese's honey ones filled with its all too natural coquettish glamor.
"It's really not that special," I mumbled, blushing. My eyes were trained on Hotaru's. It's been so long since that last time I've been in the same room as her - or tent, rather.
"He's being modest," she said, her smirk deepening evilly. "Ruka's Alice in action is really a sight to see." I shuddered inwardly at the memory of all my Elementary humiliations courtesy of the Ice Queen herself.
When I looked at Annaliese I could tell she didn't like the fact that Hotaru and I had some inside joke she didn't know of. Her lips were drawn into a straight line. "Whatever. I'll judge for myself soon enough." She shrugged, placing a hand on my arm. "Have you seen enough of the pictures, Ruka? We should probably go have a snack first. Papa will want to leave soon."
When Hotaru heard this, she went back to looking at the picture of the Ibex, uncaring about what I decided to do.
"Actually," I started. I saw a flash or warning flit through Annaliese's eyes, as if telling me not to dare refuse her. But it was gone in an instant so I went on with what I was going to say anyways. "If it's okay, I'd like to check out the pictures some more. But please, go have your snack. I wouldn't want you to feel light or hungry on the climb up."
Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Hotaru smile an amused, little grin.
Annaliese's smile was still pleasant, more persuasive even. "Sure?" she prompted, and I felt bad for having to say no.
"I'll catch up with you as soon as I'm done."
"Alright," she said cheerily. Without warning, for the second time in two days, she leans in and pecks me on the cheek. She gazes at me warmly, unspoken promises and secrets captivating me to their depths. "As soon as you're done."
"Baka Anna," Hotaru mutters the moment she's gone. I chuckled and she instantly turns on me with her frosty glare. "Look at you! Falling for her charms like a common boy." She shakes her head in annoyance.
"How long has it been?" I said, choosing to ignore her statement. I walked closer to her so that we were only a few feet apart. Hotaru Imai. Still the same short-cropped hairstyle, intimidating stare, and confident posture. I noticed that she had taken to coloring her lips a slight tinge of pink, something that although was a small gesture, topped her look with maturity. "When I last saw you, you were a calculating, completely un-warm, workaholic teen. Now that I see you again, you're still a calculating, completely un-warm, workaholic twenty-two year old."
Her brows furrowed dangerously and I chuckled. "When I last saw you, you were in love with your best friend and his girlfriend. Now that I see you again, you're in Switzerland. Escaping their happiness, I presume?" she joked. Or at least I think it was a joke.
"Natsume and Mikan are perfect for each other," I said, shifting my gaze to a picture of Willy, not wanting to meet Hotaru's knowing eyes.
"They are," she agreed softly. I sent her a surreptitious glance in time to catch her small smile before it disappeared.
"Do you still talk to her often?" I ask. The mood had somehow turned a little more solemn and the air a little more chilly although I'm sure the sun was heading higher in the sky outside.
"She tries," she said. "She sends me the occasional bleating letter going on about how I never return her last one."
How typical. "I try as well with Natsume," I confessed. "He doesn't let me do so often." I tried to smile but it only comes out as a grimace. "He's very self-sacrificing in that way. He doesn't think I can handle seeing them together."
"Baka," Hotaru snapped pointedly, so much that I looked up in surprise at the change in her tone. Her face is a mask of detachment, but her words are as sharp as knives. "You're even more stupid than Anna if you think that's the reason. He's avoiding you because he's selfless. Selfless for himself and selfish for Mikan at the same time. He doesn't think he deserves to have you both and he doesn't want her to have to pity seeing you around. That's the truth of it, plain and simple. They're happy with each other and you disrupt that happiness. It's fine for you to come hiding out here, but don't hide behind my skirts for that matter. I don't want any part of it."
"I wasn't planning to," my voice comes out surprisingly calm even as my insides twist with the force of her words. She does this all the time, even to Mikan, I tried to tell myself. "You're the last person I expected to see, and frankly, the last person I would go to hide behind." I don't know where the words come from, but they held as much truth as any thought that has ever crossed my mind. She doesn't want people around her, so I shouldn't want to be around her.
I don't know where my retaliation had come from. She looked genuinely shocked at my response and I felt a stab of guilt when she lowered her eyes in a sign of embarrassment. It felt all too much like bullying instead of a victory.
"Rukaaaaaaaaa!" both of us jumped at the sound of Mr. Liechti's voice. He pulled the flap of the tent open, a ridiculously big smile on his aged and wrinkled face, a young boy trapped in an old man's body. He was literally bubbling with excitement, rocking back and forth on the soles of his feet with a manic glint flashing through his honey-coloured eyes. He hardly paid Hotaru any attention, charging straight towards me and laying both his hands on either side of my shoulders. "We're going!" he exclaimed.
The seven of us set out – me, Mr. Liechti, Hotaru, and four men with loaded weapons. Although I had tried to persuade Mr. Liechti from bringing them, he insisted that it was only necessary precaution. Annaliese and Ernst he ordered to go on first along with the people who carried the cage and equipment. "I know my daughter," Mr. Liechti had said. "Climbing is not one of her fortes. It's best she went ahead lest she be left behind."
I wish I could tell you that climbing the Swiss Alps under the glorious summer sun was such a tourist moment, but really, it was one of the most tiring experiences of my life. The mountain was steep, the travel, long, and the company. . .well, I'd rather not be there to hear Mr. Liechti gush about what a leap it would be for the Labs when they acquire the Ibex.
I found comfort in hearing and seeing the animals. Their heads popped up here and there, curiosity and excitement clear in their eyes. Furry miniature sized squirrels, an assortment of coloured birds, and my new found love: MARMOTS. They look like you could stuff them inside your front shirt pocket and they'd just sit there and cuddle into you. None of them felt confident enough to approach however, so I contented myself with admiring from a distance.
About an hour after we had started our trek, we decided to take a five-minute break. I was about to drink water from my jug when I noticed Hotaru at the back of the bunch, sitting on a rock with her head on her knees.
I was suddenly worried. She would never show weakness unless she was really in pain. I rushed over quickly to where she was. "Hotaru!"
She didn't reply until I crouched down beside her and laid my hand on her shoulder. Her head shot up and her stare was cold. "I'm tired," she spat out grumpily, breathing through her small pink lips.
I almost laughed with relief – all worry, anger, resentment, or hurt I might have felt evaporating in that single liberating moment. As a matter of fact, I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Maybe you shouldn't have come," I said, smiling.
Her head dropped down on her knees again and when she spoke her voice was muffled. "Don't underestimate me. I just need a break."
I handed her my jug. "Here, water."
She tilted her head sideways and peeped at me from the parting of her hair. She sighed, blinking twice before she propped herself up again and took the jug from me and drinking compliantly. When she finished, I straightened up and offered her my hand.
I even smiled encouragingly, trying to say 'hey, it's okay to take help once in a while'. And I guess I shouldn't have expected another response, so it wasn't much of a surprise when she looked at my hand, frowned, and swatted it forcefully aside with a nonchalant expression on her pretty face. As if she wasn't, just a while ago, panting with exhaustion, she stood up, dusted her jeans and walked away without saying thank you. Even after helping her out she still refused my presence or at least say sorry. Grudgingly, I've come to understand this as a permanent flaw in Hotaru's personality. Well, at least I knew she was hale and hearty.
We started out again, our pace much faster than it was a few moments ago. I led the team. Although Mr. Liechti was enthusiastic and cheery all throughout, his limbs seem to think otherwise. For a man his age, I had to applaud him. The four security men surrounded Mr. Liechti on four corners. And then there was Hotaru. I kept looking back just to check if she was still with us. She might have brushed off my concern earlier, but I knew that she was just hiding her tiredness.
Another half hour later, and I hear her. Her strong commanding presence was prowling in the grove of trees, unseen by our party. But I feel her presence, and I can't help the smile on my lips. "Hello, my friend," I say both out loud and in my mind.
"What was that, Ruka?" Mr. Liechti said from a few paces behind me, visibly tired.
I did't get to reply because at the sound of his voice she was suddenly made aware of the presence of other people with me. Her attraction made her come, but she didn't expect me to be surrounded among others. They're safe, I say.
I stopped. I felt her approaching.
A few moments later, there she was, standing on her back legs. An incredibly beautiful, furry, brown bear.
My heart beat faster and for a moment, she and I, me and her, we were in our own world filled with hillsides and rivers flowing with FISH, FISH, FISH. I snapped out from the world she brought me to at the sound of guns being cocked. I looked back and saw all four guards, their guns aimed at Precious. (Yes, I've decided to name her)
"NOOO!" I say instinctively and look back at Precious to see her roar at the men, teeth bared, eyes feral. I lunge for her, and capture her in my arms, and plead with her to please calm down. She consents, hugging me back, and before I know it we are on the floor, and I'm laughing and she's literally giving me a bear hug. "Good, girl. Good, girl…"
When we straighten ourselves up, me sitting on her back, her on all fours like a short oversized horse, I suddenly realize we have company, and I turn back, flushed, to see 5 identical faces, stunned into disbelief.
It was Hotaru who broke the spell. She walks up to us, shoving the men aside. When she's standing before me, I could feel Precious' feminine side being possessive. Hotaru looks at me almost enviously, blushes a bit, and then averts her gaze to her shoes. As if deciding in her mind that she wouldn't push through with what she was supposed to do, she starts to turn back to the direction she came.
Knowing full well what the matter was about, I stop her by saying, "Hotaru, would you want a ride on Precious?" Precious grunts in protest, and I can feel the sound reverberate around her body through the legs I have strapped on her.
Instantly Hotaru is back in front of us, arms raised up like a child expecting to be carried, her face expressionless, as if this were my obligation and not an offer. I roll my eyes and lift her up so that she's seated in front of me, her raven hair brushing the tip of my nose.
"Hold on to her," I said.
"Where?" she said.
And I reach past her to indicate the spot in Precious' back where her shoulder blades met. She does as I instruct, placing her small, pallid hands beside mine. I look at her. Her eyes were focused in determination, and I'm pretty sure it's her first time to travel via bear. The smell of the forest was strong and earthy, but sitting beside Hotaru, I was overwhelmed by her ineffable scent. I blinked and realized I had been blushing furiously. I quickly draw myself back, sitting quietly behind her, not daring to touch her. I wasn't going to do anything that might make it uncomfortable for her, not when she's just admitted to some physical weakness by taking me up on my offer.
We start to travel again. When was the last time I was this close to her? I asked myself. Come to think of it, NEVER.
We travel the rest of the way in silence but I was constantly haunted by her presence in front of me. I felt the urge to sniff her, just to catch what that smell really was. But I didn't. I felt the urge to call out her name, just to start a conversation. But I didn't. Most of all I felt the urge to make her lean back against me, just to make her be more comfortable and rest for a while. But of course, I didn't do that.
So I just stare. And think of the undo-able.
When we finally arrive in the site of the stream, the rest of the team was ready. A big, metal cage was propped up in an area, the cage doors already open. Opposite it, I saw Annaliese sitting beside Ernst on a crate-looking thing. They were talking in low voices and she was sitting a teeny tiny bit too near him.
Hotaru followed my gaze. "She can't control herself, it seems," she commented. Internally I was jumping for joy that she actually talked to me.
I shrugged. "Each person has his or her form of fun."
"You're not jealous?" she asked.
"She's beautiful, but here's nothing going on between us."
"You seem to enjoy her company well enough."
"Well, she's not complaining," I cursed myself for sounding so pathetic and whiny about it. "It's nice to talk to somoene familiar around here."
"A while ago, what I said…"
"Are you going to apologize for the first time in your life now?" My laugh came out loud and mocking, something I hadn't intended at all.
Her whole body visibly stiffened and she didn't reply. Great, you just ruined your one opportunity to actually befriend her after 12 years.
I help her off Precious, and draw a little away from the rest of them to say goodbye to Precious. The bear promises to come back to give me a lift back, and I hug her again, trying to express my gratitude in the small gesture.
When I came back to the site, everyone was quiet. And I meant eerily quiet.
"What's going -"
"SHHH!"
But they don't have to tell me. My eyes were drawn to him like a thief is reeled to diamonds. Willy was standing beside the stream, head bent, drinking peacefully out of the water. The pictures don't do him justice. His coat was solid gold and alluring to touch. His horns contrasted, silver and shining under the afternoon sun. The elegant bend of his neck as he drank spoke of his grace, and no doubt he is graceful, the picture of his leap into the air reminding me of it. I walked passed all of them, trying to catch a better view, even passed Mr. Liechti who patted me encouragingly on the shoulder. At my approach, Willy lifted his head. And I felt. . . I don't know. He is much smarter than other animals. He is wary of me, and hides his emotions. I know he could feel my pull, but he questions it. He tilts his head to the side, an unspoken question: Who are you?
"I'm a friend," I say, and follow it up with a smile to prove it and an extra push from my pheromones.
Willy steps closer, and then falls back in line, realizing that his body had acted against his will. I retreat my Alice from him, and he is relieved by his return of control. I keep only enough link between us for him to feel that I am safe, and I say it to him over and over again. The world is silent all around me, as if the forest has hibernated for this one encounter between he and I. I don't know how many minutes I stand there reassuring him, but no one comes forward to hurry me up, nor do I hear sounds of impatience from Mr. Liechti and the rest. I suppose Willy has entranced them too, and we're all just thinking that this is too surreal.
Finally, I take a step forward. The Ibex stays in place, his eyes locked on mine. I take another, and another, and another. Soon we are at level with each other, whereas a while ago I was on lower land. Only the stream separates us, the length of which I'm sure he can leap over if he wished to.
"Willy," I call out by name and try again by using my Alice. This time he moves towards me until both his front legs are submerged in stream water. I smile widely. "That's right, boy. We're all friends. We won't harm you. Come here, Willy!" I stretch my arms out to him.
Our connection grows. I feel him responding to me. I feel his attraction for me. I feel his trust and love. He takes a few steps backwards before leaping over the stream and landing smoothly beside me. I wrap him in my embrace and he makes a satisfied noise. He nuzzles his nose into my hand when I pet him. I wasn't mistaken, his fur is majestic. It was as smooth as cream and as soft as a duck's feathers. I felt the richness of his gold covering as I run my fingers along his neck.
We lock eyes and I tell him what I want him to do. He makes a sound in reply and obediently walks towards the cage, me following him.
"My God," I hear Mr. Liechti breathe out.
The men are snapped back into attention. They started approaching the cage, ready to close it once he enters. My heart melted at his fear and when he looked at me for certainty. I try to calm him down. "It will be alright," I promise. "I'll be right here."
He goes on until he is inside the cage and his instinct tells him to run. But the men have the doors closed up on him before he could act, and he is ours. He tried to fit his face through the bars and I put my hand on either side of it. I placed my face near his, as if we were going to kiss, and as a matter of fact, he licks me on the nose. I laughed, and his mood lightens and I laughed some more. And I didn't know why. Maybe it's because I never thought to encounter an animal like him, so uniquely…unique.
"You're my favorite," I confided in him. His eyes turn beady and he licks me again, and again. I couldn't stop laughing and I knew he'd be okay.
I watched as the men dragged her cage away, and everyone else hustled about, talking about what they just witnessed or preparing for the walk back to the clearing. It was when I turned around that my good mood evaporated. I froze. My face went stiff and my eyes bulged.
"Ho. Ta." I couldn't even complete my sentence, sudden disbelief making me go croo croo. She was standing a few feet away from me, a stoic expression on her pretty, supposedly-innocent-if-you-didn't-know-her face and a camera poised in front of her, as if she had just taken a photo… or several photos.
At my reaction, she smiled wickedly. "For old time's sake," she said. "And don't even try," she added, pulling seemingly-out-of-no-where what looked to be a modified version of her baka gun.
My eye twitched. Oh God, I'd never thought I'd see that thing ever again.
Still with her evil smile and a blackish aura permeating off her, she sauntered over to the group that had attended to Willy. I didn't bother taking pursuit of the pictures, knowing perfectly well of Hotaru's no miss record with her deadly weapon.
Oh well, I thought. Just for that, she doesn't get to ride Precious on the way back.