His Dark, Kind Soul
Author's Note: Thank you so much for helping this story reach 100 reviews. Your words have been very encouraging indeed.
Chapter 8: The Things He Left Unsaid
Present day, Alice Academy Study Hall, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen
Mikan peered inside the study hall and spotted Natsume sitting at one of the tables. In front of him there were sheaves of paper and he was swiftly taking notes on a pad while he pored through an old Academy yearbook. He seemed deep in his work. It was very late and all the other students had already gone to their bedrooms. Only Natsume remained.
Truth be told, she liked seeing him this way. He was a genius, everybody knew that, and that was why it was difficult to ever catch him hard at work. Whenever he did bother though, he did it in secret. He was never the scholarly type but he appeared to be doing this project with the same sort of intensity he applied to everything he did.
Bam!
"Hotaru!" Mikan said in a loud whisper. She rubbed the spot her best friend shot with the baka gun. "Why did you do that? What if he heard?"
"I am not standing here all night," Hotaru told her. "Are you going to Natsume or are we turning in for bed?"
"Just give me a second," Mikan replied then glanced back into the room. "Look at that. He's so serious about this project. That scowl is becoming permanent."
"Like it wasn't already," Hotaru said without bothering to lower her voice.
"Shh," Mikan said when Natsume looked up briefly after Hotaru's snide remark. He resumed working when he saw nobody had come in. Mikan exhaled, "I can't just go in there. What if I disturb him? God, he looks stressed… but gorgeous. Doesn't he look gorgeous?"
Bam! Bam!
"I am not staying up with you just because you've suddenly become a hormonal teenager, idiot," Hotaru said mercilessly. "Just hurry up already!"
"One minute!"
"What are you two doing out here?" Ruka asked in bewilderment, suddenly appearing next to them. Mikan yelped.
"Ruka! You're still awake!"
Whoomp!
Before Mikan could say anything else, Hotaru had pulled out another gun that released a net which swiftly wrapped around Ruka and caused him to fall to the floor. Mikan gaped while Ruka struggled with his binds. Hotaru looked untroubled.
"There, I took care of him. Now, will you please get a move on?"
When Mikan continued to gape at what she had done, Hotaru suddenly grasped her by the shoulders, spun her around then heartlessly shoved her inside the study hall. Mikan landed on the floor with an awkward thud. Natsume looked up from his work, eyes narrowed at the disturbance. He came to his feet when he saw Mikan on the ground. She was going to scold her best friend but the doors had already shut after Hotaru.
"No-star?"
Mikan whirled around then blurted out, "I'm two-star—no! I mean— I'm Mikan."
"Hn."
Natsume continued to stare at her in a very intimidating way. Summoning her nerve, Mikan walked the length of the room and came to his table. So what if she was acting like a fan girl just then? So what if her actions would give him cause to tease her for weeks to come? The boy had risked his life to deliver a letter to her grandfather! She had the right to fawn and not even Natsume Hyuuga's signature scowl would deter her.
Mikan laid the canned coffee she carried on the desk. At once, a sardonic brow lifted and a smirk flashed as Natsume's gaze went to the can then back to her.
She breathed out. "It was all I could find."
"I don't think I asked you to get me anything."
"You didn't."
"So why are you being sweet on me?"
Mikan swallowed, her heart thumped. "No reason."
"Really?" Natsume drawled out.
Her cheeks flushed as he stared at her with that expectant, almost mocking smile. She knew there was nothing mean about that look. In fact it was almost warm, conveying thoughts neither of them said out loud. At length, Natsume reached for the can. He popped it open then lifted it to his lips before resuming his work. Mikan smiled then glanced at the tell-tale papers on the desk.
"So how's the report?"
"Bothersome."
"But you're nearly done, right?" she prodded. "It's due in three days."
"I'm well aware of that," Natsume grumbled. Mikan bit her lip then thought of leaving since she was obviously in the way but he surprised her by saying, "Why don't you sit down?"
Tentatively she pulled out a chair and sat opposite him. There was silence. Mikan started rocking the chair back and forth then after a while she started humming. Natsume stopped writing and looked at her distractedly. She halted then let the chair crash back down on all four feet.
"Sorry."
He continued taking notes. His hair fell over his eyes and he wore that stern look she'd come to recognize whenever he was thinking deeply. He made bold strokes with his pen, underlining a phrase here and there. Mikan wondered how anyone could look so intense while doing something as mundane as note taking. She tried to see what he was writing but he only seemed to be listing down different dates from the yearbook.
"Who are you writing about?"
"An Alice Academy alumnus," he returned shortly. Again, Mikan thought she was overstaying but he suddenly put down his pen and ventured a better response. "Ruka and I met him a couple of years ago. He's not really that famous. Who are you working on?"
"Oh, Anna and I are writing about the guy who created Fluff Puffs."
"Fluff Puffs, seriously?"
"Are you really surprised?"
"Nope. So you're not working with Imai?"
"We decided to split up for this project." Mika grinned. "She partnered with Nonoko and they're doing their report on Eiri Hong."
"Who's that?" Natsume asked absently as he started writing again.
"She's this brilliant student from the Technical Ability class. When she graduated, she specialized in Biomechatronics and developed a range of artificial life-support systems. Apparently, her contributions are the backbone of a whole medical field."
"That's nice."
"Nonoko said she married her best friend who was also a student here," Mikan prattled on even though Natsume had spoken in a very disinterested tone. "They lived in Geneva for some time but Eiri Hong eventually returned to Japan with her two kids when her husband died."
"What of?"
That made Mikan freeze. Natsume wasn't really concerned about the answer but when she didn't continue, he glanced up in question.
She exhaled. "Fourth form Alice."
Natsume twitched almost imperceptibly and Mikan could've kicked herself for that blunder. They locked eyes but again neither said a word. The room suddenly felt cold because of Natsume's cheerless gaze. Then he eventually returned to his work with a shake of his head.
"You sure have happy stories no-star."
"Oh Natsume! I didn't mean to offend you—"
"I know. Forget about it," he spoke quietly. "Anyway, it sounds typical enough."
"To die from your Alice?" Mikan asked somberly.
Natsume glanced up again and this time the look he gave her was equally serious but hardly cold, "And to fall for a classmate."
Five years ago, Alice Academy Restricted Building, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight
The training room was styled differently each time. Bulwarks of varying height and thickness were set up randomly to form an improvised maze. There were landings with different distances from the ground followed by rings in an assortment of sizes. These could be swung through or grabbed hold of to reach another landing a meter away. In between, there were other obstacles. Blades and blow torches hung from above and stuck out the walls in random areas. Spikes jutted out of the floor and there were makeshift bases that moved erratically to cause runners to lose balance. It must have been the most complicated course set up for practice.
But none of it daunted Natsume. After all, in essence, they were all the same.
"And, go!"
Natsume started running at once, ready to utilize his training to the fullest. Kira had told him countless times that the course wouldn't make much of a difference so long as he remembered the basics. A wall could be scaled, leapt over or blasted through depending on its height and thickness. A projectile, be it a blade or an explosive, can be evaded by a jump, a crouch or a kick depending on its force and direction. The difference was a matter of Physics. How much power did he need to exert? How much upper body strength was required? What velocity should he apply?
For an eight-year-old, Natsume had become extremely good at Physics.
He cleared half the course without breaking a sweat. He evaded the blades and the fire as though he ran through such perils everyday. In fact, he was near the last leg before it registered that he hadn't needed his Alice at all. He had been taught that well.
The cheers escalated when the finish line came into view. His lungs were bursting from the exercise but he felt invigorated. The energy fueled him to move faster. Timing was paramount. He was breaking all the charts.
"Fifteen seconds, for the record!"
Natsume leapt over the last barrier then coiled himself into a ball. His Alice erupted from his flesh in a well-controlled discharge. When he straightened again it was with enough force to fling his body forward and lunge straight for the timekeeper, the Wolf who stood at the finish line with a red flag. He fired six consecutive fireballs towards his teacher, successfully destroying all the targets set up around him.
Kira Samushiro squared his jaw as he saw his charge airborne, burning, scorching, hungry to finish. He held the flag higher. Natsume grabbed the pole then landed on the ground just as Kira stopped the clock. When the Wolf turned around, he saw Natsume was crouched low and still flaming. He released a gentle mist towards him and when Natsume saw the frost he slowly calmed down and extinguished his fire.
The boy got up. "How did I do?"
Kira's smile was proud yet sad at the same time. He looked to the stands where the other students were cheering then at the school officials who all wore manic smiles. It was such an incongruent picture and he remembered a time he also had a moment quite like this; that day when he was six years old and the Academy had earmarked him for greatness. It was the day he had defeated Davies in combat and the latter declared his work was done.
"Captain?"
"You did great kid," Kira said softly. He smiled at Natsume, willing him to recognize the sincerity and apology in his words. "In fact, you beat my time."
"Here you go," the Captain said as he cheerfully dumped a large, brown paper bag in Natsume's arms. "You can share with Beast Boy."
"What's this?"
"Your reward for getting the best time in the obstacle course," he grinned. "It's quite an achievement."
Natsume looked incredulously at the sack. "Oranges?"
"Tangerines," he corrected. "A friend of mine said it's exactly what you need."
"I hate tangerines."
"You'll love them," Kira said with certainty. "Fortuneteller said so, 'He will love tangerines and tangerines will learn to love him.'"
"What does that even mean?"
"I don't know but I thought this would be good for you. Increasing your vitamin C will make you more cheerful."
Natsume scowled. "Your friends are as weird as you are."
Did the man know nothing about him? Clairvoyant friend or not, Kira could've at least given him apples! In his head he was already calculating how much fruit he and Ruka could stand if the bag was divided between them. Then how much money they could make if they sold the whole bunch instead…
"We'll put you through more target practice," Kira spoke as though he was thinking out loud. "Your aim was off by 1.5 centimeters back there."
"Nobody noticed."
"I did."
"But that's negligible."
"You think so?" Kira asked as they made their way down the cobbled road heading for the work education building. "Then I hope you won't need to save someone's life then be off by 1.5 centimeters."
"Fine then, I'll go to target practice," Natsume grumbled. "You're such a bummer."
"And you're such a grouch. Have a tangerine."
"Dork."
"Dwarf," Kira returned automatically and Natsume said no more.
They headed for the metal workshop where Kunimitsu had asked to meet them. When they reached the back, they were met with the steady chink and thump of tools as students worked on their projects. There were blades being sharpened and more than one acetylene torch was being put to good use as structures of varying shapes and sizes were built solely from metal.
"Artists one and all," Kira said as he nodded to a couple of people he knew. "Kurt and Kunimitsu are among them. I suppose it's obvious considering Mitsu's Alice but Kurt's talent was a surprise."
"Where are they?"
"Further down," Kira answered as he led the way. "They gave Mitsu his own workshop to help enhance his metal control."
He stopped at wooden double doors that were sealed shut. Unlike the other rooms, this one was quiet. Apparently, Kunimitsu had no need for the tools the other students took advantage of. With his Alice he would have free reign to bend and fashion the materials at will. They were expecting to see him hard at work but when they entered the room, it was just in time to see Mahiro land a hard slap across Kunimitsu's face. They froze.
"What's going on here?" Kira demanded in alarm. Mahiro didn't even look at him. She vanished from the room, giving none of them the opportunity to follow her.
Kunimitsu, who should've been the most anxious, simply sat back down on his stool and returned to tinkering with his current project. The yellow light of the desk lamp shined on his face, accenting hard lines of his pensive frown.
"Mitsu—"
"Hey Wolf."
"Could you explain what we just walked in on?"
"Are you asking as my Captain?"
"Don't be insulting."
"Then I'd prefer not to," Kunimitsu said shortly. He didn't look up. "Don't worry. We'll work it out between us."
"I'm going after her."
"It'd be a foolish to even try," he said, stopping Kira briefly. He paused what he was doing to give Kira a warning look. "In the first place, she's upset so she'd want to be alone. Second of all, you'll never find her if she doesn't want to be found."
"Fine, but the reason I'm not going is because you should be the one looking for her anyway."
"I'll handle it."
Kira looked concerned. "Is this about—?"
"I said I'll handle it," Kunimitsu repeated then heaved a weary breath. "Leave it alone. If you do anything, you'll set her off."
"What's going on?" Natsume interrupted when he saw the stern looks his seniors were exchanging. Kunimitsu shifted his gaze to him and smiled.
"Hey Kid, what do you have there?"
He flushed and dumped the paper bag on the floor. "Fruits."
"Tangerines," Kira put in.
"He decided to be ridiculous again," Natume went on. "He says it's my reward. You see, he really sucks at it. Want one?" They laughed. Kunimitsu took a tangerine from the top of the bag then started tossing it in the air while he and Kira discussed something about their schedules.
Bored now, Natsume started to wander around the workshop, scrutinizing Kunimitsu's finished works. Even if people could say he had it easy because of his Alice, Natsume knew it took genuine talent and imagination to produce artworks like this. His pieces were very dark though, reminiscent of Kira's own painting style. He glanced back at the pair who stood by the window, arguing in whispers: the painter and the sculptor. Natsume strained to hear them.
"But he said they might have a way."
"Do you think I'd jump at the chance?" Kira was saying in a steady tone. "It's the Academy we're talking about."
"Regardless, it's your chance. Isn't that what we've always wanted?"
"It's not that simple, Ironsmith."
"Kira," Kunimitsu began, emphasizing the Captain's name in his response. "We can't be fighters forever. You have to start thinking about what happens after this."
"Don't I always? That's what's making this even harder," Kira hissed. "What do you think I'll be leaving behind?"
They both shifted their gaze towards him but he was quick enough to turn away and pretend to be studiously looking over a scale model of a government edifice. A few seconds later, Kunimitsu's words caught his ear again.
"You don't deserve to live? Why? Have you done nothing good?"
"I've killed people."
"And so have I. If you don't deserve to be saved, none of us do," Kunimitsu said gravely. "Is that how you see it? Is the whole Dangerous Ability Class damned to you?"
"You're thinking it too," Kira retorted. "That's why you're holding out on Mahiro."
"That's a different matter."
"You're right," the Captain conceded. "Because I don't believe that we're so damned that Mahiro doesn't deserve to be with the person she's in love with."
"Are you two coming to blows?" came a third voice.
Natsume turned around and saw that Kurt had just come in. Kira and Kunimitsu were both standing up, shoulders squared as though they were about to face off. At the sight of the Giant, they both relaxed. Kurt waved Natsume over as he stepped towards the two who had momentarily stopped glaring at each other.
"Hey Kurt," Kira greeted.
"I just saw Marie and Mahiro together, in case you two want to know," Kurt said gruffly. "Then you could pretend not to need to know together. Hey Dwarf."
At last, a teammate without an issue! Seeing the tension had been dissolved, Natsume walked back to the table. Kunimitsu had returned to his work and Natsume saw him put finishing touches to an old brass pocket watch with a faded gold trim. He carefully turned it over to examine the clock face then handed it to Kurt for inspection. When that was done, Kurt gave it to Kira who automatically handed it to Natsume.
"Here you go."
"Huh?" Natsume blinked.
"It's yours."
"Mine?"
The three of them wore matching grins at the evident surprise in his tone. Kira cleared his throat then held out the pocket watch one more time.
"It's not brand new but it's yours if you want it."
"Why?"
"For getting the best record this morning," Kunimitsu grinned. "The piece is quite old but I just fixed it up. I'm sure it's working now."
"But I—"
"You deserve it," Kurt cut in. "Just take it."
"All right… thanks." Natsume stared at the gold face with small delicate dials. It was finely made and the corners of his lips lifted. He pocketed the gift then glanced at Kira, remembering the tangerines on the floor. "You were making fun of me!"
Kira chuckled, "I thought I'd have a bit of fun. Besides, the fortuneteller bit was true."
Present day, Alice Academy Study Hall, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen
And to fall for a classmate.
He had said it quietly and she knew he didn't even realize just how poignant it sounded. Sometimes it mystified her why Natsume stubbornly repressed this side of him. In fact, the front he kept up during the day was the direct opposite of this one. Just this afternoon that Natsume had ruthlessly shot down Koko and Kitsuneme when they begged him to talk about Little Nimbus. People were still talking about the incident at dinner though Natsume seemed untroubled by it all.
It was rare to find him in a lighthearted mood. Most of the time, he wouldn't even bother to provide a decent response to her questions. Thus, when Mikan caught him in a pleasing disposition like tonight, she found herself lingering at his side… and just watching him like a lovestruck idiot.
"If you're going to stare at me, you should at least be discreet," Natsume suddenly spoke without pausing from his work. Mikan sputtered.
"But I only— I mean, I didn't— that is, I wasn't—"
"Yes, you did. Yes, you were," Natsume contradicted with the irritating confidence of a good-looking male who knew his merits. He put down his pen and regarded her with an arrogant smile, "So which is it this time? The piercing red gaze or the wavy, dark hair?"
It made her laugh because he didn't say it unkindly. At thirteen years old, Natsume had finally learned to take all the attention with good humor and so she decided to play along.
"Actually, it's the way you hold your pen."
"The way I hold my—" He looked befuddled but amused. "Well… that's new."
"Nobody's ever told you that?" Mikan teased. "Your fan girls love everything about you. I'm surprised they'd leave that out."
"You're the first which tells me you notice things they don't," Natsume returned smoothly. "I guess that makes you my biggest fan."
He made her laugh again and gave a low chuckle of his own. The sound pleased Mikan because she heard him laugh so rarely around other people. His mood tonight was definitely endearing.
"Flirting suits you," she blurted out without thinking. He looked startled by her suggestion. "I mean… you're not usually this… charming. I mean— you are charming but in another way… in a dark, dangerous almost distant kind of way…"
Natsume looked at her wryly. "If that counts, I must be the most charming guy in school."
She giggled. "I guess you are."
"Truth though," he suddenly said. "Why were you staring?"
"I wasn't admiring you if that's what you're thinking," Mikan fibbed. She looked away as the flush crept up her cheeks. It was so difficult to have a crush on this boy.
"Then what were you thinking of?"
"I… um… Koko and Kitsuneme."
Natsume snorted then turned his attention back to his work, suddenly bored. "Ah."
Mikan saw an opening for her to broach the subject and so she plunged on, "I heard they were out until very late today."
"Hn."
"I heard they were researching at the library until dinner time."
He didn't respond. Apparently, she needed to be more direct.
"I heard you banished Koko and Kitsuneme to the library and ordered them no to come back for dinner if they're unsuccessful in discovering even just a morsel of fact-based information about Kira Samushiro."
He twitched. "I may have said something like that."
"That was very harsh Natsume."
"They wouldn't get off my case," he said in defense. "And anyway, it's for their own good. You should've seen the amount of crap they've come up with."
"But they did piece together pretty good stories," Mikan insisted. "I'm sure some of it has to be true. The White Wolf sounds like a real hero."
"Like I said… it's crap."
"But I bet Mr. Narumi would love their report… and so would I."
Natsume snorted. "You're telling me that if Koko and Kitsuneme walked to the front of the class and started spouting all the gibberish they've gathered, you'd pass them?"
"That's right."
"You actually believe them?"
"For some parts, yes."
"On what grounds?"
She smiled sweetly. "On grounds that for certain parts you actually helped them. Knowing that, how I can I not believe?"
Natsume blinked at her. "You believe people easily, don't you?"
"I trust people," Mikan corrected gently. "It's not that hard, Hyuuga."
Natsume thought differently but couldn't say so at once. After all, she didn't share his memories. Once before, he had already learned that trusting people could be the hardest thing in the world, especially when you risk giving them your complete faith.
"It's not that easy either, Sakura," he said instead.
Five years ago, Alice Academy, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight
"Here you go."
Mahiro glanced up when Natsume placed three tangerines in front of her. Then he sat on the grass next to her without saying anything. He had thoughtfully wrapped his gift in a paper towel. Mahiro grinned at the adorable gesture then proceeded to peel one of the fruits to distract herself from her melancholy thoughts.
"When did you start giving out citrus fruits?"
"Since the Captain supplied me with a full sack," he replied, taking the rind she offered him. "Why did you run out on us?"
"It's not a team matter."
"Yeah, that's what Kunimitsu said too." Natsume shrugged. "But it must be really bad if it's made you cry."
"I'm fine."
"You hit Kunimitsu. That's not being fine."
"Yeah, I shouldn't have done that." She looked at the sky thoughtfully. "Even Marie says it was wrong and she's hit Kira enough times to bash his brains out. But Mitsu could just be so… stupid. Such a blind, stubborn, cowardly ass…"
"Then you shouldn't waste your time on him."
"Well, aren't you being extra sweet today?" Mahiro smiled then gave him a one-arm hug. "You'll be a real heartbreaker when you grow up Natsume."
"It's not a particular goal of mine."
She laughed then popped another rind in her mouth. "You're cut from the same cloth as those men. Trust me, girls will be falling at your feet in no time."
He wrinkled his nose. "Can I avoid it?"
"Probably not," Mahiro tapped her chin. "But you can have fun with it. Besides, it's all quite harmless. Just make sure you don't become an unemotional, hardheaded pig without enough sense to just say yes to what's in front of you."
"I'll… keep that in mind."
"Good. Have some more tangerine."
"You need it more than I do."
"Why?"
"It's… supposed to make you more cheerful," Natsume said, then was annoyed to realize he had retained that bit of information. He took a rind and they ate in silence for a while. Then Natsume felt someone walking uphill to join them. He glanced over his shoulder. "Romeo's here."
"We need to talk," Kunimitsu said without preamble.
"Natsume, sweetheart, would you tell the jerk next to you that I'm not speaking to him."
Kunimitsu rolled his eyes. "Mahiro, please."
She made a face then got up to vanish again. Seeing her move, Kunimitsu swiftly stepped forward and snapped a bracelet on her wrist, stopping her mid-power up. Her jaw dropped when she realized he had placed a controlling device on her.
"You didn't!"
"I did."
"I'm gone," Natsume piped up when he saw the outraged look on Mahiro's face. Kunimitsu had used handcuffs and the other bracelet was already tied securely to his wrist. Natsume did not want to stay around for this. "I'll see you guys later."
Then he walked off just as Mahiro erupted behind him.
Natsume headed back to the building to join Ruka for dinner. He didn't have a mission but he knew Kira was going out with a team that evening to diffuse a mob at the interstate. He was probably on his way to the briefing room by then. Natsume wasn't worried. After he had finished training, he'd come to realize that missions weren't that hard. Occasionally, he still hurt because of his Alice but it was never something that ailed him for long. Besides, the others were quick to jump to his aid when needed. Team, that's what it's about.
"So he's leaving with Davies?"
Natsume recognized the voice. It was Kouji, the Grey Soldier. He was speaking with Hisashi near the front steps and neither had spotted him. They seemed to be talking about something important and as Natsume came closer, he could pick up the rest of their conversation. He waited to hear whose impending departure they were discussing.
"It's not final," Hisashi was saying. "I think he was given time to decide. You know Davies gets soft around Samushiro."
Natsume went still.
"Of course, his all-time favorite," Kouji jeered. "Well, good riddance if you ask me. If this pulls through, we'd get rid of Orion and the Wolf. Serio would be thrilled."
"But we'll have that kid to deal with. Do you think he knows what he's getting himself into?"
"Of course not. If he knew he'd be replacing the Wolf, he wouldn't have done so well at the obstacle course. Idiot, the Academy will never let him go now…"
Natsume stiffened as his mind quickly processed what he was hearing. There was no mistaking what it implied but the bits and pieces wouldn't add up for one reason: the Captain wouldn't do such a thing to him. Right?
Before he could rethink his decision, he stepped into their view. Kouji and Hisashi looked startled but neither seemed guilty for being overheard.
"What are you talking about?"
A sadistic smile slowly spread across Kouji's face. He looked eager to share the news. "I bet you'd want to find out."
Natsume walked blindly through the halls, his emotions in upheaval. His thoughts spurned him forward and so he ran up staircases and rounded corners with a set jaw even though his heart was as confused and chaotic as his mind.
Didn't you ever wonder why he took such special care of you?
Of course he thought about it. Kouji and Hisashi didn't have to emphasize that point for him to realize that Samushiro had given him focused training. Everybody knew it and it was remarked upon more than once. But he never gave credit to the snide remarks. He dismissed the attention as part of Kira's almost neurotic tendency to center on his team.
He's known for months. Davies set it up for him. You're a job to him.
Was it true? They brought him in because of his Alice. They forced missions on him to earn a profit. They trained him to make him more skillful. They partnered him with Samushiro to— what? To let him learn from the best, Davies always said. To keep him safe, Mahiro believed. Given everything else, could it really be that untainted?
You can't possibly be that naïve. The Wolf never lets you out of his sight because if anything happened to you he'd lose his chance.
Kira was protective in the extent he could be, considering Natsume still joined dangerous assignments. He was just a kid and the Captain never let him forget that. But after everything he'd been told, maybe it wasn't done out of kindness. Maybe like most people in the Academy, Kira had a personal stake in all this.
Makes you wish you threw in your lot with us, doesn't it? At least I'm not on my way to die.
Natsume ran up the stairs and took the steps two at a time. In his haste, he faltered and he lurched to the floor in an awkward fall. He braced himself on his hands and in the process he scratched his palms on the rough floor.
You kid, are Samushiro's ticket out of here.
It hurt him; hurt him in a way he couldn't have anticipated. Natsume got up then grit his teeth, forcing himself to feel wronged instead of wounded. Fury was much more productive. He took one last turn then entered the briefing room. He didn't give anyone time to react.
Believe it hotshot. At the end of the day, it's every Alice for himself.
Natsume fired successively. Everybody inside quickly jumped in different directions to evade the attack. Kira remained crouched on the floor when he landed. Their eyes met and surprise registered before he had to leap up again when Natsume sent out another blaze that coiled around the room in a destructive path. There were five of them in there. Kunimitsu, Kurt and Mahiro were not among them but those who were present were equally skilled. Natsume attacked again then he also had to jump out of the way because one of the students retaliated.
Natsume rebounded against a wall then slid across the floor before coming to a halt. The others circled him at once but he didn't care. He raised his eyes to the one person in the room he wanted to take down. Kira stepped closer to him, a bewildered look on his face.
"Natsume—" His words were cut off when Natsume fired again, forcing him to duck to evade the sphere by scant inches. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Don't come near me!"
"Fine but stop attacking," Kira answered. Instead of obliging Natsume once again let blue fire erupt from his right hand. He stared at the Captain, measuring their distance. Kira knew that look well. "Are you nuts? You could injure someone in here!"
"So what? You're all trained to fight, right? That's why we're all here, right?"
"Look you little brat, if you're going to fight me at least give me cause. If you're so set on doing this, give me one reason and I'll strike back."
Natsume's gaze hardened. "I knew you couldn't be trusted. But I tried to believe you anyway. I wanted to believe you. And that was my first mistake."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're a filthy liar."
Kira stared at him in perplexity. He recognized that tone, this aggression. This was the Natsume Hyuuga that Davies first introduced to him: hostile and nearly impossible to reach out to. Then no, he had to correct himself. The boy before him now was much worse because this Natsume was hurt and angry. Kira stepped towards Natsume but again he backed away.
"Tell me what's gotten into you."
You kid, are Samushiro's ticket out of here.
"I don't want to replace you!" Natsume finally shouted and the Wolf stiffened as his actions came to light. The suffering he heard in the boy's tone was real. Somehow the pyrokinetic had discovered his orders and Kira had nothing left to defend himself.
"Who told you that?" he asked softly.
"Kouji and Hisashi."
"When did you start listening to those two?"
"When you started lying to me!" Natsume flung back and was disappointed when Kira didn't deny it. In fact he just stood there with an unwanted apology in his gaze. Natsume's hand shook as the fire inside him intensified with his emotions. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? Was that supposed to make it all right? How long have you been playing me, you jerk?!"
And still he didn't answer.
Everyone was watching Natsume tremble as his explosive temper was barely kept in check. Kira didn't try to reach for him again, aware that in his current state he would only lash out. Instead he took a stance that told Natsume he was ready to lunge for him, repress him, contain his Alice— whatever it took to keep him from blowing up, if it came to that. He wasn't the only one in the room braced for defense. Part of his training was to read signs and Natsume could sense that several people in the room were prepared to overpower him.
But in truth that was furthest from his mind. It's over. That's what he was thinking. There would be no trusting Kira Samushiro after this. He didn't owe him that. Apparently, he never did because the Wolf had been ready to barter him for his freedom. In the stretch of that silence, the Captain must have read his mind but could still say nothing.
Helicopters sounded overhead and the dead air was broken. The class began moving mechanically, each one picking up a backpack and exiting by the attic stairs as they went. The Wolf raked a hand through his hair, the standstill coming to an abrupt end.
"Kid— Natsume, I don't have time for this," he said in a rough tone.
Natsume let out a small growl. "Of course you don't," he said scathingly. Then he shoved past Kira and ran out of the room.
"Damn it—" Kira spun around to rush after the boy but a calm voice forestalled him.
"Samushiro, let's go."
He looked back at the stairs where the others were waiting. His team for that night already had their masks down, controlling devices all in place. Again Kira hesitated, thinking, believing, knowing for certain that Natsume was much more important than this.
"Wolf," came that stern insistence.
His head rose higher though he remained arrested at the threshold of the door. Then slowly he clicked the last of his armbands in place. Minute static burned him at once, a signal that the controlling device had been activated.
"I'm coming."
And like everything important in his life, Natsume will just have to wait. It was just the way things have to be. It was the way things have been for years. Wishing to heaven the kid wouldn't do anything stupid while he was gone Kira joined the rest of the Dangerous Ability class at the rooftop. For the next two hours, what just happened was viciously set aside.
Present day, Central Town, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen
"We should just ask Mr. Noda for help," Kitsuneme said grumpily. "Maybe he can take us back in time so that we can investigate there."
"Yeah!" Koko agreed at once. "Alices that mess with time and space are the coolest."
"Exactly," his partner averred. "Then maybe we can find Little Nimbus and ask all the questions Natsume won't answer."
"Or let's just find the Wolf," Koko said excitedly. "That would totally rock."
They were about to let their imagination run away with them again when their gazes met. They stopped briefly then sighed at the same time.
"That's the sort of thinking that got us thrown out of our dorm."
"Do you think we can go back now?"
"You heard Natsume," Koko grumbled then imitated their illustrious friend. "Not until you find a morsel of fact-based information— does he have any idea how hard that is?"
"I think he does," Kitsuneme quipped. "But he threw us out anyway."
They left the bookstore then glumly walked down the sidewalk. Night had fallen but they weren't sure what time it was exactly because both of them had forgotten to strap on a wristwatch. Anyway, it hardly mattered. The fact was they couldn't head back because they both feared that their classmate's threat would hold true. They couldn't come back empty-handed. Not when the Black Cat specifically told them not to.
"So what do we do next? Library?"
"Closed."
"Computer shop?"
"Closed."
"Coffee?"
"Not unless it's able to bring us back in time," Koko returned with a sigh. They passed a couple of shops in silence then suddenly Koko halted a short distance from a shopkeeper busy closing up. He threw up his hands and burst out, "This is getting hopeless! We can't just wander around hoping to find a morsel of information. It doesn't happen that way! What does he expect us to do?"
"Research, I guess."
"We've done research! We read books, newspapers and yearbooks. We browsed websites until our eyeballs were ready to fall out of their sockets," Koko cried out. "Nobody in the whole Academy knows anything about the White Wolf that we haven't discovered!"
"Wake up the neighbors, why don't you," Kitsuneme mumbled as a dog barked in the distance and a couple of upper windows lit up.
"Oy, you two," the shopkeeper called out to them. "What are you doing out here so late? Shouldn't you be back in your dorm? Curfew and all."
Koko could only make a strangled sound and so his friend jumped to the rescue. "Sorry to bother you sir, but we're actually on an errand. A fool's errand, if I think about it now."
"Perhaps I can help you."
Koko stared at the pavement, sulking like a child. Kitsuneme shrugged, "Only if you could tell us anything about Kira Samushiro."
The man smiled. "Why, of course. He's a person you don't easily forget."
They froze. Koko croaked out, "Come again?"
"The White Wolf, Kira Samushiro, I mean the same person of course," the man went on. "What would you like to know about him?"
They couldn't hide their astonishment any longer. They gaped at the man then ran to him, their hearts bursting with hope and disbelief. This was sheer, dumb luck. The man seemed amused by their enthusiasm. But even at that crucial moment when respect and deference was important, Koko couldn't quite curb his tongue.
"Who are you and where have you been all this time?"