His Dark, Kind Soul

Author's Note: As always, thanks to those who took the time to review the second chapter. Ü The following chapter took a very long time to write and it turned out to be rather lengthy. It's also more dramaticthan my usual pieces. I hope you enjoy reading it too. Ü

Chapter 3: Black and White Pawns

Present day, Alice Academy Library, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen

"You knew him?!"

"Yes," Natsume said wearily as he stopped next to a shelf and pulled out a book. He started reading as he walked. Koko and Kitsuneme followed close behind him, hissing loudly over his shoulder.

"You knew Kira Samushiro?"

"Yes."

"You knew the most distinguished member of the Dangerous Ability Class…" he trailed off and Kitsuneme immediately picked up the dialogue.

"The Supreme Winter Alice and reputably the finest student of the last decade—"

"Well, he wasn't really all that great—"

"But you knew him"

Natsume snapped the book shut and glared at them. "Are you ever going to get past this question?"

The two of them exchanged a glance then suddenly exclaimed together, "You knew him and you didn't tell us?!"

"Shhh!" a couple of students hissed at them.

"Shh yourself!" Koko responded crossly.

"Mind your own, why don't you?" Kitsuneme added with a frown.

Natsume put down the book he was holding on a random shelf then cuffed their arms. They grumbled as he dragged them down the aisle back to their group's table. They were on the mezzanine of the library's second floor. Today they were sitting with the girls who were also working on their History reports. Most of them were doing additional research. Koko and Kitsuneme were doing some hounding.

"I can't believe you! We told you whom we were researching; you saw us make flip charts and graphs and you even sat through our mock presentation. We built a diorama and showed you our timeline. In between all that, you forgot to tell us that you actually knew him?"

Natsume remained indifferent then idly sent another incriminating piece of information their way. "Ruka met him too."

"Natsume!" Ruka groaned as the two of them rounded on him at once.

"You knew him too?!"

"Don't you start on that again," Hotaru broke in. "It's an utterly pointless line of questioning. No wonder you two aren't getting anywhere with your report."

"What do you mean we're not getting anywhere?" Koko demanded. "We've uncovered loads of stuff. Never mind that all of them are disputable…"

"That's because you keep asking the most irrelevant things," Sumire said in exasperation.

"What would you ask?"

"For starters, the proof to your thesis statement." She rolled her eyes then looked curiously at Ruka. "So… are Kira Samushiro and the White Wolf one and the same person?"

Ruka averted his eyes before mumbling, "I only knew him for a while."

"I think that's a yes. I can't believe it." Mochu's jaw dropped in amazement. "You two might actually get an A!"

"That's what you can't believe?" Kitsuneme asked irritably.

"You're still going to have to prove it though," Yuu intervened before they could start another argument.

"And good luck with that," Natsume said under his breath. He sent Ruka a look and the latter stood up too. Seeing they were about to leave, Koko and Kitsuneme started stuffing their papers into their backpacks too. "What are you doing?"

"We're leaving with you. You have the proof that we need. Heck, you might be the living proof that we need."

His eyebrows narrowed. "And what makes you think I'd give you any information?"

"Because you're a nice person?" Kitsuneme ventured. At that the whole table cracked up and even Natsume managed to smile at the incredulity of the statement. Kitsuneme started to wheedle, "Come on, Natsume! We never get an A!"

"And you're not going to in this project. Come on Ruka."

Koko threw up his hands. "You know what? It's out of sheer respect for you that I'm not reading your mind right now!"

That bold declaration made them stop and slowly turn back. "Is that right?"

Koko looked like a woeful child. "That and the fact that I actually am a nice person and a good friend at that."

"Yeah? Well then, go ahead." Everyone went still. Natsume stepped towards Koko in an open dare. "Go on then if you're so curious."

Koko took a cautious step back. "Seriously?"

"Seriously. I'll give you dorks exactly what you need. But I'm telling you, Narumi won't give you an A for something that was in your face."

"We'll take it."

Koko and Natsume's gazes locked and everyone held their breaths to see what would come next. At length Koko blinked then he looked absolutely bowled over. Natsume looked smug. Ruka chuckled then started walking away and Natsume followed him to the stairs. The others waited expectantly for Koko to say something.

"Well? What did he say?" Mikan prodded.

Koko shook himself out of it then suddenly cried, "To the trophy case!"

Five years ago, somewhere outside the Academy, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight

"I can't believe you brought homework to the mission again," Kunimitsu muttered. "What's that anyway? Calculus or history? Last I checked we don't have any work due for two weeks."

"It's extra credit," Kira responded without looking up from his book.

"Extra credit?!"

He snickered. "I'm kidding. I'm just getting some reading out of the way while our missions are few. It'll save time later on."

"We're on a stake out for mercy's sake," Kunimitsu grumbled. "And what are you so worried about anyway? You're at the top of the class." Kira only grinned and Kunimitsu slid a glance at the third person with them. "You're setting a poor example."

Kira glanced at the back of the car to see Natsume lying on his back, reading a manga using the dim light coming from the lamp post outside. He looked so relaxed that it almost seemed as though this wasn't his first mission.

For the past three months Natsume had made excellent progress in his training. He could go through the obstacles course without breaking a sweat, run laps with the best in the class and leap over walls that were twice his size. Although he still had trouble releasing large fires, he was able to produce fireballs. He could throw far and he had a precise aim. Many were impressed with his ability, Kira more so than the rest since he was able to track his learning. However, had it been up to him Natsume wouldn't be sent out yet. The boy was good but he was simply not there yet.

Last week a mandate had come from the Administration saying they wanted to see the pyrokinetic in action. It was too soon, Kira had thought, much too soon. Still, the order had come and so he had no choice but to take the kid with him. The Academy was in quite a hurry to use him and though he wondered about that urgency he didn't have the chance to question the directive. For now, he just had to keep Natsume safe.

"Hey Fireboy—"

"Don't call me that," Natsume growled.

"It's your code name. You'd better learn to respond to it because that's how we'll be referring to you on this mission."

"Who came up with that idiotic name?"

"It was a spur of the moment thing," Kira said mildly.

"Why you—"

The walkie-talkie crackled and Mahiro's voice came through. "Sheridan to Ironsmith, over."

"This is Ironsmith, what have you got for us? Over."

"These people work clean. I went through three warehouses." The radio started crackling. "It took me a while to actually find something, but it's all here. Over."

"Hey Sheridan, White Wolf here. Is Griffin in position? Over."

"Yeah, he's in position," Sheridan replied. "We can commence in five minutes. My time is 23:38— way past Fireboy's bed time— start the count in two minutes. Over."

"Roger that."

Kira and Kunimitsu started getting ready and in the back seat Natsume eagerly got up. Kira gave last minute instructions to Kunimitsu before they pulled down their masks. The earrings on the Wolf's left ear glinted and Natsume's hand consciously went to his own controlling device.

"What about me? What do I do?"

"Guard the car and stay out of trouble," Kira said curtly.

"Guard the car?" Natsume repeated. "Okay… but what else do I do?"

"Nothing. Just stay here."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Don't argue Fireboy."

"Wolf, we're going to miss the mark," Kunimitsu said, trying to hurry him along. He looked apologetically at Natsume. "Sorry kid, we're just not ready for you yet."

So saying they both left, leaving a fuming Natsume behind. It was crazy. After all that rigorous training, his only job was to guard the stupid getaway vehicle. He learned his lessons well and he even managed to parrot some of Kira's teachings with a straight face.

We choose who we stand behind… In times of a crisis, there's an opportunity for greatness… If there's no other choice, no matter the fall, just leap…

What a load of crap. If all he was ever trained for was to watch the car then everything would be meaningless. He wasn't enduring the Academy for just this. In the distance he heard a shout. After a while it was followed by a barrage of bullets. They were well into the operation. Natsume didn't understand what it was all about but he knew one thing: he was part of this team and so he was suppose to be out there fighting with them.

Stay here. Like hell I will…

The Wolf ducked when the firing started. In time Ironsmith raised a hand and the bullets stopped in mid-flight. With a flick of his hand they reversed direction and rained upon their attackers instead. They fled in different directions and for a moment the smoke began to clear. Next to Ironsmith, Sheridan suddenly appeared holding on to an unconscious man.

"I can get him out of here captain," she said quickly. "I'll be back in a blink of an eye."

"You do that," the Wolf answered and she was gone. Across the room Stone Griffin had successfully disabled four other men who now lay on the floor with decidedly terrified expressions on their faces. Their eyes were wide open but decidedly blank.

Disarm only. You hurt them only if you have to.

That had always been their way and these people had fought with him for such a long time that they knew exactly how things were done under his command. It may be difficult to usher Natsume into the fold. That one was particularly stubborn but if he was able to teach him, Natsume would make a fine addition to their team. He hoped that would be soon.

"I've got the load!" Ironsmith called out. "We can pull back Wolf. Come on, the police will be here soon." On cue Sheridan appeared and they regrouped.

"All right everyone, time to—"

Suddenly there was a blast and they all snapped around. It came from outside the warehouse, not too far off. It was followed by gunfire. There was evidently a skirmish and in a moment another explosion sounded. Sheridan looked at the others anxiously. They had trained with him long enough to recognize that bang…

"Could that be—?"

"Natsume," Wolf uttered, not bothering to use the code name. Without another word, he was off. Images of a dead kid floated in his head. The others followed quickly while Sheridan disappeared again to save time running. They rounded the warehouses then abruptly stopped. How he got into that situation they may never know and it wasn't important.

A man was pointing a gun at Natsume, ready to pull the trigger. Around him there were other people, grown men lying unconscious on the ground that was blackened by soot and ashes. The man was shaking but it looked like he was ready to kill Natsume in cold blood.

The Wolf acted on impulse. He sent the frost beneath the floor and it traveled from him to Natsume's assailant. The cold burst through the concrete and seeped into the man. Just when he was about to shoot, he suddenly stopped, his body freezing over. His heart turned to ice and ceased to beat. Natsume stared as a layer of frost formed on the man's skin. He died standing up— the only casualty of the mission.

Natsume's gaze flew to the Wolf, unsure whether to thank him or to run from the monster that had done this. He didn't have to decide because right then the Wolf was staring at him too and the blaze in his eyes would make grown men quake in fear and lose all capacity for speech.

He killed him, Natsume thought, Killed him twenty paces away.

"Pull back everyone," the Wolf spoke. "We've lost time." Everyone followed at once and Griffin walked over to Natsume to help him to his feet. They left the site without speaking much, leaving all they had to say for when they got back to the Academy.

They were inside the training hall. Kira and Natsume stood on opposite ends of the room while the rest of the team hung on the sidelines. They had gathered there to debrief but so far their captain had done nothing but rage at their youngest member. Natsume wasn't doing a very good job of appeasing him because he was responding to Kira's temper with his own.

He shouldn't have disobeyed. Kira shouldn't have left him. Natsume shouldn't have attacked. Kira should have given him instructions. Natsume could've died. Kira had killed someone because of him. He had done it before and Natsume knew it but the act still sliced through his heart as a vile and evil thing. He had no other way to soothe his soul but by fuming at Natsume. He wanted to lay part of the blame on someone else and it didn't matter right then that Natsume was only a child.

His anger brought his lecture off tangent; his rage made him say things he shouldn't have. "Do you want to get yourself killed? Is that it? Well I'm not making it easy for you to die. If you're going to be part of this team, you'll have to follow our rules."

"Why don't you just kick me out?" Natsume spat out. "I never wanted to be part of your stupid team anyway!"

"You think it's that easy? You don't know half of what's going on here, kid," Kira snapped. "The only thing standing between you and the Academy are those people." He pointed at the rest of the team. "You act like a brat when you don't even know what you're up against."

"That's because you won't tell me anything!"

"You're eight!" Kira said as though that explained it. "You're not ready to know."

"Well maybe I'll just team up with people who'll think I'm ready before bringing me out on a mission!" Natsume yelled back. Then he turned and headed for the double doors.

"Where do you think you're going? We're not finished here. Don't you dare walk away from me, you little brat."

Natsume suddenly whipped around and flung his arm in a wide arc sending a blue fireball flying towards Kira. His mentor acted on instinct and he fired back, wrapping the ball in rime and it crashed harmlessly to the floor.

"Amateur," Kira jeered. Natsume's eyes narrowed and he sent another fiery sphere flying to him. This time it was larger and more forceful but Kira simply called up a sheet of ice and it dissipated in the air. "Try again, Fireboy."

Natsume growled and sent out three different attacks that rushed out of his body like ropes and flew in different directions. Mahiro and the others scattered as the fires crashed against the walls before heading for the Wolf. In response Kira released his Alice and the room froze over, solidifying Natsume's blaze with the cold.

"You stubborn little—"

Whatever it was that he was going to call him was drowned out when Natsume's Alice exploded out of him like a bomb. This time the attack was ten times fiercer. Kira sent snow flying out of one open palm and managed to catch the blaze. Ice met fire in the center of the room in a spectacularly lethal white and blue display.

"Stop!" Kunimitsu shouted, shielding his face. "Stop it, both of you!"

Kira swung his free arm in a circle then sent a powerful cold wind to Natsume's feet, which knocked him to the floor. "Stand down Natsume."

Natsume didn't respond, blinded by fury. An eerie blue glow began to wrap around him. He came to his feet and the radiance circled him, increasing in energy and force with each passing second. The temperature in the room began to rise noticeably and in a moment it was going to burn.

"Stand down Natsume!" Kira repeated, louder but more uncertainly. "Now!"

Mahiro gasped when she saw that Natsume's eyes were nearly all white. The floorboards were beginning to singe, the metal equipment near Natsume melted in the heat and bent in peculiar skeletal shapes. The room grew brighter and the light ate across the room; its intensity burned through their corneas.

"He's going to explode," Kurt called. There seemed to be no other recourse.

"Stand down Natsume!" Kira shouted one last time before he wrapped his whole body in frost and ran to his charge. The fire bit his flesh and he had to use his Alice at its maximum level just to reach Natsume who also seemed close to reaching his full power. He almost didn't make it. Natsume was much stronger than he had guessed and he had to replenish the snow that coated him with each step he took.

"Natsume!" he called again just as the kid reached the boiling point. Kira lunged and engulfed him in his wintry arms. He shut his eyes and so did Natsume who suddenly fell limp as the fire and heat were sucked back into him. The fire and the snow were unified and the blast was released in the form of a powerful steam.

The team raised their heads in the aftermath of that explosive ability. Never had any of them witnessed such a violent Alice. Part of their training hall was in ruins and in the middle of it all Kira was on his knees cradling their youngest in his arms. The Wolf was shaking, gasping for breath and when Kunimitsu stepped closer he saw that a trickle of blood had actually formed at the corner of his lips. But Kira didn't seem to care that the Winter Alice had once again taken its toll.

"Kira?" Kunimitsu prodded then he saw what it was that had him arrested with a horrified look on his face. Natsume not only lay unconscious in the Wolf's arms. He was deathly pale and the same trickle of blood was running down the side of his lip, a consequence of his power. It was unmistakable and the sight of it was causing Kira's eyes to cloud over. A terrible realization came to all of them.

Natsume Hyuuga had the fourth form Alice.

It was a shouting match and the whole restricted building buzzed with the news. It was rare for the White Wolf to argue so indiscreetly with his handler. Though their conversation was muffled the Dangerous Ability students could easily infer what was going on. One only had to look at the half-destroyed training hall and the pyrokinetic left in Mahiro's care to know that there was something amiss with the new kid.

"You knew," Kira spat out as he paced Davies' room. "You knew what he was and you never thought of telling me!"

Davies regarded him coolly. "You'd have rejected him."

"Of course I would have! I don't want him to die."

Davies clicked his tongue. His composure grated Kira's nerves because it was as though he had anticipated this visit. "Poor Wolf, still trying to save the world, I see."

"I'm trying to spare an eight-year-old child. What is the matter with you people?" He slammed his hands on the desk and that at least earned a reaction. Davies' eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly and Kira felt an invisible force shove him by the shoulders to a chair a short distance away.

"Keep to your place Samushiro," Davies said coolly. "I will not have this discussion if you will not maintain a cool head."

He came to his feet again. "Cool head? My self-control is out the window. My rationality is shot. I have a child hooked up to a damn respirator because the higher-ups thought it was smart not to tell me that the new hotshot kid has my disorder."

Davies leaned back. "Is that what's bothering you? You see yourself in this kid and now that you know his Alice, you recognize the likeness more than ever."

"I remember what you put me through," Kira said softly. "I remember all of it."

"So what exactly are you proposing?"

"Take him off the roster. I'll work double hours if you need more people," Kira stated. "This kid is so gifted. He deserves better than this class."

"I'm afraid removing him is not an option." He raised a hand to forestall Kira's dispute. "That decision doesn't lie with us. You cannot simply work his hours because that doesn't fall in with the Academy's plans."

Davies removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Kira felt another force press upon him, making him sit down. It was his handler's subtle way of ordering him to shut up and listen. It was Davies' turn to pace to the window.

"The Academy was excited to have discovered a pyrokinetic, a very impressive one at that. His Alice is powerful and most useful to our ventures. They brought him in at once." He wore another cynical smile. "When I found out he was only a child, I fought to have him here because I knew he would be safest with you. The Academy had doubts about assigning him to me because they believed, and rightly so, that you would not teach him if you knew about his Alice. You're skilled Kira but much too softhearted. I had to convince them that if he learned from the best, Nasume would become unstoppable and your turnover would be easier."

"Turnover?"

"Natsume isn't here to be your partner, Kira. He's here as your replacement." He stared out the window, a grim look on his face. "We recognize the signs. Your med intake has been at its highest for the past quarter. You go to the infirmary after every high-profile mission. You're getting weaker and soon you will be of no use to the Academy."

"So you're disposing of me?"

Davies looked sardonic. "We're setting you free, relieving you of your duties, whatever you may call it. Once Hyuuga is properly trained, we are removing you from the roster. You've done well and the Academy thanks you for your service."

Kira was silent as he grasped what he was telling him now. So that's what it was. He was almost done here. He was graduating and the next generation was coming in. After spilling blood, risking himself, shortening his lifetime— they were finally finished with him. And they were about to start all over again with Natsume Hyuuga.

"Thanks?" he repeated with sarcasm. "After everything that's happened, after admitting that you're about to use Natsume for your selfish ends, you're sending me on my way and thanking me for my services. Oh yeah, that's really classy of the Academy."

"Kira—"

"So that's how you play it?" he went on, his hands forming fists. "I asked for help and you gave me a child. I needed strength for my team and you assigned me an Alice with the fourth form. I wanted a partner and you brought in a replacement."

"The way we work—"

"You people are sick." Kira stood up. "I can't believe I had a hand in this. Well, no more." He headed for the doors, ready to slam it after him but Davies wasn't done.

"You still have a part to play," he reminded. "We are expecting you to train Natsume until he's ready."

"Go to hell."

"Kira, I speak to you as a friend and on behalf of that boy," Davies said gravely. "It is imperative that you teach him because he will be sent on missions regardless of your view on the matter. You cannot stop them."

"I won't train him to hurt others."

Davies nodded, accepting that. "At least teach him to survive."

That night it snowed in the Alice Academy. The snowfall was restricted at the rooftop of the Art building. It wasn't out of the ordinary, people thought. Kira Samushiro was simply setting the mood as he worked on another masterpiece. He stayed on the roof for hours, paintbrush on one hand and a palette on the other. His canvas span at least two meters.

He worked well into the night and as the hours passed the precipitation grew into a blizzard. The rooftop became a white landscape, vaguely reflecting the art Samushiro was painting. Amidst the flurry Kira stood in nothing but jeans and a T-shirt. He was the only one who could have survived that howling wind and intense cold.

"Why won't he come down?" Mahiro wondered as their team gathered in one of the Art rooms. Natsume was finally let out of the clinic and he stayed by the window, reading his manga.

Kunimitsu sighed. "He's a bit troubled right now."

He understood the tough choice his best friend was making. If Kira trained Natsume, the kid would replace him. If he didn't teach him, someone else, probably one with less skill and even fewer morals, would do the job. But all that was inconsequential compared to the knowledge that anyone who taught Natsume would be leading him to his death.

Kunimitsu walked over to the boy. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Hungry," the kid replied. "Do we have anything to eat here?"

Kunimitsu grinned. "I guess you're feeling better." He turned to Mahiro and gestured for her to get something to eat and she immediately obliged. When he turned back to Natsume, he saw that the kid wore a very serious expression.

Though Natsume tried to keep his tone indifferent, his curiosity came through. "Does Kira have family?"

"Outside the Academy?" Kunimitsu shook his head. "No. His parents died when he was very young. He came to the Academy an orphan."

"So why does he fight?"

"What do you mean?"

"I have a sister," Natsume said shortly. "Why does he fight?"

Kunimitsu stared at the child who had just posed a very valid question. He could have said many things and they would all hold true and yet none of it would answer Natsume's question in the way he was expecting. So he answered honestly, "I don't know."

After a couple more hours the wind finally died. Kira asked a friend to levitate the huge canvas to the ground floor and it was hung in the main hall of the Alice Academy Theater. It stayed there for two years until it was replaced by another piece and his work was moved to the museum. Even then, many of the alumni and faculty members never forgot that work of art.

Kira had painted an image of a forest wrapped in snow with a large lake frozen over. The sky was tinted gray that signified dawn, though sunlight didn't burst through the clouds. In the horizon was a mountain range with the moon waning behind its peak. Splashed over the moon was a small silhouette of a mountain wolf, howling in the wind. The focal point of the masterpiece was the enigma of a young boy standing at the edge of the frozen lake. He wore winter clothes and he was staring blindly at his hands. The whole painting was drawn mostly in white, except the boy's gloves that were colored in orange fire.

It was a memorable piece, a favorite of many though the picture broke their hearts for all the loneliness it symbolized. When he was asked, Kira aptly baptized his masterpiece His Dark, Kind Soul. And that's how it would be known for years to come.

"You wanted to see me?" Natsume asked, walking up to Kira who sat at one of the outdoor benches of the Academy. They haven't spoken since Kira came down from the rooftop two days ago. They haven't spoken about their fight.

The Wolf didn't say anything and only gave him a calculating look. For a while Natsume thought he didn't have anything particular in mind and was only there to watch over him. Then he noticed the board game by his elbow. Kira unclasped the case then began setting it up on the concrete table to Natsume's confusion.

"Sit down Natsume." He did as he was asked because Kira sounded grave.

"What are we doing?"

"I'm teaching you how to play chess," Kira answered. Natsume stared at him incredulously then stood to leave. Kira didn't even look up from the chessboard. "I said sit down."

"This is so stupid," Natsume muttered but returned to his place anyway. Kira glanced at him briefly, significantly, before settling down opposite him.

"I'll be white and you be black."

"Why?"

"Because you're always on defense," he said shortly. Then he picked up a piece and held it up in front of Natsume. "This is called a Knight and it moves in an L formation…"

Four hours later, Natsume had learned the basics of chess and had played Kira thrice, losing each time. It frustrated him but after each game Kira calmly set up the board again and insisted that they kept playing. He did it quietly, without even gloating over his victory or goading Natsume into wordplay. Natsume had to endure seeing Kira's white pieces move forward, cross the board and eliminate his men one by one. He hated it when the white officials ate his black pawns, hated it all the more when his King came in check.

"Check," Kira said evenly. Natsume breathed out. He gripped his knees then frowned at the board, thinking hard of an evasive counter. He moved his King one step to the left. Kira took a white Bishop and laid it close to the black King. "Check."

"It's over," Natsume said roughly. "You'll finish me in two moves."

"How do you figure?"

"If I take your Bishop, you'll eat my Queen. I'll move my King one step back and your last Knight will finish me off."

"Don't you want to go through the exercise?"

"What for? When I lose my Queen, I'm done for," Natsume muttered.

And when he said it, somehow his young mind understood why they were playing and why they kept at it even though the outcome was the same each time. We're pawns, the thought stabbed his chest. Pawns in a game we can't stop playing.He hated it that Kira went through the trouble of going through this metaphor. He hated him for being that kind of person.

"I get it."

Kira stood up and started clearing the board. He turned it over to pack the metal pieces into the proper slots. For a while he finished the task in silence but Natsume had known him long enough to know that he was struggling with his next words.

"I apologize that I didn't prepare you better," he spoke at last. "What happened at that mission was my error, not yours. I left you with no instructions thus putting you in a position to hesitate. I shouldn't have blamed you for making decisions you were forced to make." He locked the case then tucked it under his arm. "This is how we operate Natsume. I need you to understand that. You make a mistake, you die. You act rashly, you die. You make wrong decisions, you die and maybe take someone else down with you. It's not a game."

"I said I get it," Natsume said through gritted teeth. "Chess… and all of it."

"Good."

"So that's what I am, huh? I'm a pawn."

Kira shook his head. "You Natsume are more of a Knight." He released his breath. "We'll resume your training tomorrow morning. Be at the training hall at five o'clock."

They could have parted then but this time it was Natsume who struggled with something and before he could contain himself the words flew out of his lips. "You think I'm like you, don't you? You pity me because you think I'm doomed to follow your path. Well I don't need that from you! A two-faced, bigheaded jerk that tries to play hero all the time."

"Is that how you see me?"

"Am I wrong?"

"No, actually I think you're right on the mark. You should be proud of yourself." It was a sad smile Kira wore. "But you're wrong about one thing: I don't think you're like me. Nor do I want you to be."

"Why?"

"Because sometimes— in rare, pitiful moments— this hero is in a hurry to die."

Natsume stared at Kira and for the first time he recognized that this person may actually understand him. He looked at his feet. "What are you not telling me?" Kira looked like he was about to fib and so Natsume grit his teeth and went on, "I'm young, not stupid. I'm trying to understand everything, all right? What's wrong with me? Tell me why I was in the hospital… captain."

Kira sighed and put down the chessboard. There was no evading him. Natsume wanted truth in all its asperity. He sat again. "Young, definitely not stupid. Sit down Natsume. I'm going to tell you more about our Alices…"

Present day, Alice Academy Archives, South Wing, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen

Koko and Kitsuneme speeded down the corridor without pausing for breath. On either side of them, large shelves lined the walls and through the glass reposed hundreds of trophies and plaques. They paid no attention to any of these for Natsume's illustration had been accurate. The plaque they were looking for was at the end of a long passageway, bolted firmly against a concrete wall. This was the third floor they have searched in the Archives. The twelfth corridor they had speeded down. It was tiring but they knew that if they found the commemorative tablet, it would all be worth it.

"Couldn't… gasp… Natsume… gasp… have imagined… wheeze, pant… the specific corridor?" Kitsuneme huffed as they ran.

"He may have… gasp…but like I said before… wheeze… Natsume's thoughts… gasp… just aren't normal." Koko heaved a deep breath when they reached the end of the hallway. He bent over and clutched his stomach, aching from the exercise. "They're way too fast to keep up with."

They started swallowing mouthfuls of air. At length, Kitsuneme straightened then wiped a hand across his forehead. "We could've walked. The plaque's been here for years, I'm sure it would've remained for another hour."

Koko gripped his knees then started nodding. "Next time… we'll do that."

Then on cue they both started spinning around, their eyes darting quickly from one trophy case to the other, jumping from one plaque to the next.

"It was huge," Koko described again. "And brass. It was fastened to the wall and it looked like it couldn't be pulled down easily…"

"Up there!" Kitsuneme cried. He pointed to a huge plaque that would've been bronze if it had not yet aged. It was bordered with fine wood and its elegant writing was engraved deeply in the metal. The award was bolted close to the ceiling and could hardly be read from where they were. It was positioned poorly since that hall had been mostly forgotten and so hardly anyone could have seen it.

"Why would anyone want to place a sign up there? Nobody could read it."

"Beats me," Koko said, stepping towards it eagerly. Thick dust had already settled on the other awards that were stored there. It signified age, times gone by and a possible perfect score to their project. "Dude, give me a boost."

Kitsuneme stared at him. "Yeah sure, because I have a Fire Alice."

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

"Dude, this is why we never get an A!" Kitsuneme retorted then to prove his point he swiftly flew up to the plaque.

"Right…" Koko said belatedly then waved his hand. "Details, details... So? What have you got up there? Read it out!"

"Let's see…" Kitsuneme scanned the inscription. "It's an Achievement Award for Chess, dated seven years ago. And… it goes out to the White Wolf!"

"Really?!"

"Yeah! It's engraved in capital letters and everything!"

"Is that all? Natsume swore Samushiro's name would be on it too!"

"Hang on… there!" Kitsuneme called out then read excitedly the following caption:

Achievement Award for Alice Academy Chess

Presented to

THE WHITE WOLF

In recognition of his excellent performance in the Black and White Tournaments

and for placing first for five consecutive years, this award is given to

Kira Samushiro, Class A, Alice Festival League Champion

It left them thunderstruck and for a moment both of them remained in respectful silence. Koko broke first. "No way…"

"Way."

"You've got to be shitting me!"

Kitsuneme floated down and started nodding, a big grin on his face. "I shit you not, my friend."

"This totally proves it!" Koko cried out. They gripped each other's arms, hugged then started bouncing in a circle, laughing maniacally while chanting all the while, "We're getting an A! We're getting an A!"

"But wait!" Kitsuneme suddenly burst out. "If Samushiro and the Wolf are the same, why couldn't we find any other proof in the whole Academy? What happened to all the other evidence?"

Koko rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You make an excellent point. And if all the evidence were destroyed, why keep this one?"

"And why would it go out to the White Wolf? Seems to me there was a time when they were very open about their code names…"

"I sense a conspiracy."

"Exactly." Kitsuneme looked serious. "My friend, I think a little more skulking is in order."

Koko grinned. "Alice Urban Legends dot com?"

"You know it."

They set off to return to their rooms, their hearts aflame with a newfound mission and a mystery to solve. Unknown to them, Natsume and Ruka were sitting halfway up the staircase leading to the fourth floor and they had listened to their conversation.

"Those two just never know when to quit," Ruka said, shaking his head in disapproval. "Don't you think it's about time you pulled them back?"

Natsume shrugged. "They're not in any danger. Not yet anyway." They came down the steps and walked to the imposing bronze. Natsume stared up at it with significantly less reverence than his classmates. His nose wrinkled in disdain.

"I'm surprised you even told them about this," Ruka commented.

"I had to get them off my back."

"It was a kindness you did them."

"One I might regret," Natsume muttered. He started shaking his head at the plaque, remembering his old friend. "Stupid Wolf, if only he had kept a low profile, I wouldn't be dealing with these fanatics right now."

Ruka snickered. "You're pretty famous yourself, you do know that, right?"

"I don't have plaques to my name Ruka."

His best friend grinned. "Not yet anyway. We'd better warn Youichi."

"Shut up."

Ruka chuckled at his friend's displeased expression. "Just think of it Natsume, you could be on Alice Urban Legends dot com too…"

"I said knock it off."