His Dark, Kind Soul
Author's Note: Some time ago, I changed the category of this story from Drama/Humor to Drama/Friendship and that was spurned largely because of this chapter. I thank the whole readership for reaching this point of the story with me. To those who picked up some, most or all of the hints I've dropped along the way, my heartiest commendations to you.
For your thoughtful appreciation, I put forward the twelfth chapter.
Chapter 12: Snow in July
The Alice has four shapes. Three out of four stays with you for a lifetime. Two of the three are safe. One out of four can kill you. But that one is the most powerful shape.
Present day, Girl's Dormitory, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen
Mikan stared at herself in Hotaru's full length mirror. She tipped her head to one side then to the other. A heartbreakingly pretty face looked back at her but all she could see was a plain Alice Academy student in a day-old uniform. But then, Mikan never really had a haughty view of herself. Hotaru knew that was probably one of the things that Natsume liked about her.
Hotaru looked up from her computer then watched with some amusement as Mikan pulled out Natsume's jacket from inside the gift bag. Since he didn't show up that day, her friend had been forced to carry it around, thinking she might run into him at any moment. However, night had fallen and so that task would have to wait until tomorrow morning.
Mikan removed her own coat then pulled on the jacket. She smoothed the creases that had formed in the course of the day. For a moment she clutched her waist, still watching her reflection swimming in Natsume's coat. Then she suddenly straightened and fixed the cuffs and flattened her uniform tie. She took in her appearance then frowned at how proper she looked. She shook her head and decided to do the opposite. She loosened her tie, pulled off the ponytail that held her hair up then unbuttoned the coat. Hotaru raised an eyebrow when Mikan shifted to rest her full weight on one foot then she leaned in an odd angle to imitate an unmistakable Hyuuga pose. Then she suddenly closed her hand into a fist before launching a one hand attack at her reflection.
"What are you doing?"
Mikan laughed, unflustered at being observed. "I'm releasing an energy ball." She put on a scowl, shifted to the other foot then tucked her hands in the pockets. Then she giggled. "I really don't understand why Natsume won't stand up straight."
Hotaru smirked, "Because part of his charm is being enigmatically bored all the time."
She nodded in agreement. "Yes, I think that's it. I supposed slouching really does complete his look." Without taking off the jacket, she jumped on Hotaru's bed and lay on her stomach. "Do you think he's back yet?"
Hotaru turned to her computer and called up another program that showed a layout of the Academy grounds. After a few clicks, she zoomed into one building then focused on a single floor. She pointed to three red dots on the screen. "Yes, he's back. There's movement inside his room."
Mikan's jaw dropped then she leapt off the bed and stumbled to the computer. "You put a tracking device on Natsume?!"
The ice queen looked at her as though she was being silly. "Of course not, he'd have realized that. I put a thermal sensor in his room. Right now, there seems to be two others with him. Natsume is the hottest dot. Now, that could either be because of his Alice or his looks."
Mikan cracked a smile at the dry joke. Then she shook her head to say sternly, "That's a real invasion of privacy."
"It doesn't have a video feed," her friend said unrepentantly. "Besides, I'm not the only one bugging his place. He's probably used to the surveillance."
"Hotaru, that's not the point!" Mikan exclaimed. "You have to remove that invention from Natsume's room!"
"Fine, fine," Hotaru said, rolling her eyes. "But just so you know, I only did it for you. Someone needs to keep tabs on that boy. And anyway, I placed the same technology in your room."
She blinked. "Why would you need to keep tabs on me?"
"Just in case."
Mikan nodded, accepting that cryptic reply. After everything they've been through in the Academy, Hotaru probably did it because she cared for their safety. She wondered how many rooms her best friend had rigged with the device but decided there was no point asking because she would probably just replace it with another invention if Mikan demanded she remove the existing ones.
Mikan sat on the bed again then watched the red dots occupying Natsume's room. There wasn't much movement so they were probably just talking. She couldn't think of anything that they could be discussing at this time of the night and again she found herself lamenting at how few of his secrets she knew even after all these years.
She lay on her back while Hotaru began typing away again on her computer. She exhaled loudly. "Hotaru, do you remember when we were ten and you and Iinchou warned me that I should steer clear of Natsume if I wanted to stay in the Academy?"
"Yes. You were very hardheaded."
"Back then, did you know Natsume was so kind?" The typing stopped but Hotaru didn't respond. Mikan turned on her side. "See, he warned me too. He said I should stay away from his 'darkness'. But I didn't listen." She began tracing the pattern on Hotaru's bedspread, humming softly as she did so. "I thought only a person with a kind heart would warn others about themselves. I thought it made sense that way."
Though her companion missed it, Hotaru smiled at her deductions. Then she got up and abruptly shoved her friend off the bed. Mikan yelped when she landed unceremoniously on the floor. She sat up, rubbing her bottom and wincing.
"Hotaru! What was that for?"
"Go to your own room Mikan," Hotaru said primly. "It's time to call it a night. We have our reports to deliver tomorrow so I want to get some rest."
"Fine," Mikan said as she stood up. She grabbed the gift bag off the floor then began to remove Natsume's uniform as she made her way to the door.
"Leave it," Hotaru advised as she plopped down on her bed. Mikan looked at her in question. She shrugged then gave one of her wispy smiles. "His jacket suits you."
Mikan beamed at her then pulled it back on. "Thanks Hotaru. Good night!" She gave one last wave before leaving the room.
Hotaru lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling for a while as she thought about what Mikan said, He said I should stay away from his 'darkness'. But I didn't listen.
Of course Mikan didn't listen. That was just like her. Even if it was the stupidest thing in the world, she would risk her life to follow her heart. Hotaru thought of how lucky Natsume was to have someone like her see right through him. But then, Mikan saw right through her too and that's how they became best friends. Hotaru didn't know what Natsume had been through in the past but she sensed early on that he needed someone like Mikan to brighten up his life. He probably knew it too, which is why he cared for her in the way he knew how.
Hotaru drifted off to sleep with a single thought running through her head, Hyuuga is so lucky that Mikan can be such an idiot.
Twelve years ago, Alice Academy Grounds, Natsume Hyuuga undiscovered
"Your student is special."
Kira was nine years old when he heard that said. Such stray remarks were typical when someone entered the school. The newcomer would be called agile, strong or intelligent and the defining trait would be known throughout the Academy. People would whisper about it and repeat it as though it was paramount information. So he was used to hearing such things and usually he gave the talk very little credit because thus far no one had come in that was as agile, as strong or as intelligent as him.
But this time it was different because it was Shinichi Nakajima who said it. Shinichi Nakajima who he admired greatly. Shinichi Nakajima whose criticisms were harsh and whose compliments were few. The teacher whose good opinion so rarely turned his way despite his best efforts to perform well. And so for the first time, it truly mattered.
Special. That's what he was called and Kira hated the new kid for receiving high praise from his mentor when he could barely do anything that pleased him as much.
Orion probably knew what Kira was thinking that day but he didn't step in to stop what was to happen. In fact, he didn't look interested in the slightest. Perhaps if Kira had let his teacher finish, if he had heard the rest of what the elder Nakajima had to say, there would have been no need for the challenge. But Kira had walked away quickly and without hesitation he had challenged the newcomer to a duel. The boy had readily accepted for he had also heard about Samushiro's skills.
Early one morning, they met at the Alice Academy Ravine. The fight wasn't about settling who the better student was because in truth neither of them was interested in that. Instead they only wanted to see if the other was as good as they've heard. So two hours before classes began, they gave each other bruises since they agreed beforehand that Alices would not be employed.
Sometime in the fight, the new kid gained the upper hand. Kira fell upon one knee and his opponent stalked forward to give his finishing blow. Instinctively, Kira held out his hand palm out and released snowflakes to momentarily blind his classmate. The boy staggered back and Kira immediately jumped up and landed a punch on his jaw.
"What did you do that for?!" his classmate demanded when he got his wits back. "That was a cheap shot!"
"Orion says everything's fair in battle," Kira returned unrepentantly. "You do what you can to thwart your enemy and win the fight."
"Well I'm not an enemy, am I?"
"It makes no difference to me, loser."
The new boy glared at him then suddenly he grabbed the heavy necklace around his neck and pulled it off. The iron chain softened in his hand and took the shape of his closed fist. Kira didn't have time to react. In the next instant the kid pulled back his arm then landed a solid punch right on Kira's eye. Stars exploded in his vision. He reeled back and teetered dangerously on the edge of the crag. He reached out and grabbed the first thing he could, which was the new kid's shirt and together they went flying over the cliff.
It would've looked like a double suicide. Kira's training didn't cover surviving a three hundred foot drop and so he thought for sure they would die. In fact, there was every chance that they would perish just bouncing off the craggy surface of the mountain even before they hit the ground.
Then suddenly, right before he hit the first rock face jutting out of the chasm, Kira ceased to fall. He began swinging one way then the other but he remained suspended in the air, a moment before impact. He looked around and realized his surroundings had become hazy and wild while his descent had come to an unexplainable pause.
"What did you do?!" he quickly accused his companion.
"I stopped time," the new kid answered thickly and Kira's eyes widened at the revelation. "It's all I could do to save us. Now you do something. Build us a slide so that we can reach the ground without hitting the rocks."
"I could do that," he muttered, a bit rankled at being ordered. He released his Alice and built a slide that was fifteen feet long. His opponent snorted.
"That is not impressive."
"It's all I could do," Kira snapped. Before they could begin arguing, there was a pop and suddenly they fell right onto the slide he had built. They went down swiftly and just before they reached the end of the slide, his classmate froze their descent again.
"Do it again. Build another slide."
Kira complied while muttering, "This is going to take forever."
"That's fine. We've got time," the new kid retorted and he released his Alice as soon as Kira finished forming another frosty incline.
It was a humbling experience for both of them. They inched their way to the ground with the new kid stopping their fall every fifteen seconds so that Kira could release his Alice and build a frozen slide for them in mid-air.
"The school doesn't know about this power of yours, huh?"
"I didn't have any reason to tell them."
"You'd be right not to," Kira said gruffly as they skidded dangerously on another slide. "They'd exploit it if they knew."
"Who asked you?" the kid muttered darkly.
"Jerk," Kira returned with a scowl.
They continued to gripe along the way until both of them became too weary to make a sound. When they finally reached the ground, Kira was heaving but the new kid's situation was much worse because he looked near collapse.
"Hey Kogure, I just thought of something. Time Freeze Alice is too dorky. We should give your second Alice a different name. We'll call you the Stop Clock Alice."
Kunimitsu coughed then looked at his classmate with comical irritation. "Don't talk to me. I hate you." Then he blacked out.
Five years ago, somewhere outside the Academy, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight
Natsume dropped to his knees. His eyes shut as he waited for the bomb strapped to his body to explode and kill everyone in the room. He was sorry for being the weak flank; sorry that he had gotten himself captured; sorry that he couldn't escape on his own; and now he was also sorry to be the living bomb that would take down his team. He waited then wondered.
The blast never came.
Slowly, he lowered his arm then looked around. He was still inside the half-finished building and yet… not. It felt like another place, another dimension, but it certainly traversed the space he was originally from.
A myriad of pictures moved swiftly around him, causing colors to swim and blend in a radical exhibit. It was as though someone had pushed a fast forward button but the scenes were running in every direction: forward, backward, sideways, at a pause, in a conjunction, breaking apart or coming together. It was like Time, every bit and shred of it, was collapsing, leaving behind bright streaks and a muddled picture of yesterday. Or today. Or tomorrow. Natsume wasn't sure which.
"You're on a standstill," came a quiet explanation and he turned around. Ironsmith smiled as though to assure him but the startling paleness of his complexion had the opposite effect. "There's no need to be scared. You're looking at the threads of Time."
"Are you doing this?"
"Yes." He lifted a hand to gesture to the space around them. "This is my true dangerous ability: the Stop Clock Alice."
"You have a second Alice?"
"Actually, it's my first," he answered as he walked over to Natsume. "I discovered this talent long before I found out I could control metal."
Natsume glanced at their moving background in confusion. "What can you do?"
"Freeze time discriminately," he replied lightly. It was as though he was giving a lecture, like this was part of the training and was nothing more than an exercise. His tone had a calming effect as he worked to defuse the bomb on Natsume's chest. "I can let time pass at a different pace for each entity."
"You used this before," Natsume said in understanding, "That day at the warehouse when we fought the Puppet Alice and nearly lost."
"That's right," Ironsmith smiled at his astuteness. "Kira was with me back then. Whenever I use it on a large scale, I end up in this place and I can easily pull out someone from all those threads and make them sentient at my leisure. It's my own world."
"It's… incredible."
He snorted. "It has its consequences. This particular strain is more potent than what you and Kira have and because of that it takes a larger toll on its possessor. I doubt if I can hold it for long."
"It's a fourth form?"
"Yes, and that's why I only trigger it when I have to. Raise your arms Natsume." He did was he was bidden then looked around. He could see that no one else was conscious. Ironsmith pulled off the explosive then passed a hand over it. It began to float. "Good, it's metal."
He walked back to the edge of the landing, barely touching the moving pictures. Then he raised a hand. Without releasing the Stop Clock Alice, he employed his Metal Control ability and soon several other bombs floated out of the chaotic mass and remained afloat in the air. He began to take them apart, pulling off the metal pieces one by one and successfully deactivating them. When that was done, he glanced over his shoulder.
"Kid, you're up," he called and Natsume came to his side. Ironsmith flicked his wrist and the remaining pieces flew upwards. Without being told, Natsume fired and there was a minute explosion as the worst of it had already been neutralized. He watched the remnants fall harmlessly to the ground and felt a wave of relief pass through him.
"I thought we were going to die," he said suddenly. He couldn't keep his fears at bay any longer. "For a while there, I really thought we were going to lose."
Ironsmith glanced at him with sympathy. "You'll make it out Natsume. I promise." He was about to step away and release the others when the boy abruptly gripped his arm vise-like. He grew alarmed at what Ironsmith's words had implied.
"All of us," he said earnestly, "All of us will make it out."
"Yes, of course." Ironsmith nodded. "Listen to me Natsume. I'll be spent after this so when I release us, it's all on you. You have to do what's right—"
"According to the precepts of the Academy," he said automatically.
"You have to do what's right by us," his senior corrected gently.
"But what if I don't know?" Natsume started to panic. "What if they ask me what went on—?"
"Kira would know," Ironsmith said quietly. The coughing began and he staggered on his feet. The pictures around them began to meld together and run on a steady pace as the Stop Clock Alice wavered. "Look to him because Kira would know what to do."
It was the last he was able to utter. Kunimitsu Kogure— Ironsmith, the Stop Clock Alice— shook violently and he started coughing so hard it was a wonder he didn't retch. He dropped to his knees and with that, the shouting and running began again.
The Wolf ran towards Natsume, violently cursing all the bombers to perdition. The kid dropped to his knees and people threw themselves to the ground. Then there was half-second flash, a signal he recognized. He skidded to a stop when he saw that Ironsmith had somehow made it to the kid's side but he was on his knees, breathing heavily. Natsume met his gaze then without warning the boy fired and the attack sailed over the Wolf's shoulder. It hit Veidt at once and threw him off his feet.
The Wolf caught on quickly. He immediately reversed direction and threw himself on Veidt, tackling the older man to the ground. His fist connected with Veidt's jaw twice, cutting his lower lip. Meanwhile, Natsume turned his attention to their other opponents and started firing successively. His Alice sent someone to the ground. It burned another's shoulder then the others started running. The rest of his teammates joined the fight, using the momentary confusion when the bombs didn't detonate to their advantage. Nobody really understood what went on but they were trained to ask questions later.
"Bastard!" the Captain growled as he held Veidt by the collar and slammed him against the floor. "Get all of us killed? That was your contingency plan?! You moron!"
Veidt coughed out blood and even then the Wolf landed another punch on his jaw. Ironsmith watched them with a look of grim relief. Then he shut his eyes and hoped his head would stop spinning. The Stop Clock Alice had devastating effects on him. If he knew more about his power when he was three years old, he wouldn't have toyed with it the way he did back then. Tonight he could've applied it to a smaller area but that would've been risky since he wasn't certain where all the bombs were. In any case, he would need a little more time to regain his strength.
"Are you okay?"
He looked up and a genuine smile graced his face as he looked proudly at Natsume. "That was great kid. You were a real winner back there."
"But are you okay?" he repeated.
"I'll be fine." He came to his feet, stumbling a bit on the legs that had been grazed by bullets just moments before. "We're done here. Let's go home."
Natsume looked away. "It's not home."
Ironsmith laid a comforting hand on his head, patting him like a cat. "Right now, it's what we've got so let's go back there, all right?"
"Okay." He scratched his chin then exhaled. "Ironsmith?"
"Yeah?"
"You have a cool Alice."
His smile broadened. "Thanks."
Meanwhile, the Wolf was still busy holding down Veidt while they waited for the rest of their team to regroup. He kept the man's head smashed to the floor while his hands were handcuffed behind his back. He looked at his fellow Alice derisively. "Who were you really after?"
Veidt spat out the name, "Orion."
The Wolf snorted. "Orion's gone. You could never draw him out."
"Orion is hiding inside the Academy!" he returned vehemently. "I'm not going to rest until we settle the score."
"He's no longer the man you knew," the Wolf hissed. "Fighting him now would be meaningless. Anyway, if it's him you want, you should've left the rest of us alone."
Veidt laughed. "Well, you haven't changed. You still don't understand him, do you? Orion would come if you need him, just as you would come if your team needed you. You see Samushiro, in the end all of you are ready to chuck the Academy's tenets out the window when the people important to you are in danger. It's a very human quality, primitive and pathetic."
The Wolf visibly stiffened. "Say what you want but your fight is still no business of mine."
"You sound like you doubt me. Well then, let me show you by way of an example," Veidt smiled vindictively. "Your teacher values you probably as much as you value that kid."
It seemed like the whole damn building was his invention and so he never ran out of devices. He triggered another one covertly hidden in his sleeve and suddenly guns erupted out of the ceiling and whirred dangerously as they loaded. The barrels turned automatically, locking on to Natsume. The Wolf whipped around and shot to his feet but he knew he would never make it in time.
"Ironsmith!" the Captain shouted as the guns fired. It all happened quickly but everything that unfolded afterwards would be ingrained in Natsume's memory for as long as he lived.
Ironsmith turned and swiftly raised his hand to freeze the oncoming bullets in mid-flight. The metal remained afloat, a whisper away from contact. The Metal Control Alice worked perfectly, sparing both of them from the gunshots.
And then the Stop Clock Alice claimed its price.
For one horrible minute, Ironsmith's features contorted in undeniable pain as his heart momentarily imploded. The bullets quivered dangerously then suddenly shot through as his strength gave way. Having lost the supernatural means to protect Natsume, he then took the only step left, completely human as it may be. Natsume's cry was drowned out as Ironsmith twisted around to shield his body with his own. The metal found its mark and it pierced his chest mercilessly. They both fell to the ground with Ironsmith's blood rapidly soaking Natsume's shirt as he lay beneath him.
Sheridan screamed. Griffin let out a war cry and lunged at Veidt. The Wolf got there first and he knocked his head with enough force to send him into a comatose. Then they all began running for their fallen teammate.
Natsume started shaking Ironsmith, first with urgency then in absolute panic. Ironsmith was still breathing but he looked like he was having a seizure, caused by either his wounds or his fourth form Alice acting up. He was losing too much blood and Natsume knew that quantity was fatal. The others were rushing towards him now and he hated that he seemed unable to do anything on his own. He didn't care about the mission, about his injuries or about having to return to the Academy. He didn't care about codenames anymore.
"Mitsu!" he cried in terror. "Kunimitsu!"
Twelve years ago, Alice Academy Grounds, Natsume Hyuuga undiscovered
"This is embarrassing."
"Shut up," Kira hissed as he trudged his way up the path while carrying his supposed opponent on his back. He heaved as he walked; regretting again and again his decision to act righteous, which prompted him to cart off his classmate before he could contemplate the wisdom of it. He was practically lugging his own weight and it didn't help that Kunimitsu continued to grumble not too quietly about the situation.
"Challenge me, cheat me and now humiliate me," his companion huffed. "You suck Samushiro. You suck big time."
Kira gritted his teeth and decided not to answer. He kept his head bowed, accepting the new kid's rebuke without protest. They weren't on even footing, that was for sure. The boy was right. He challenged him, when he should've known better since he was three years ahead in training. Afterwards, he cheated, in a desperate attempt to win the bout which he nearly lost despite his three-year advantage. To cap things off he nearly got both of them killed by his actions. In retrospect, maybe this heavy burden was exactly what he deserved.
The dorm rooms finally came into view and he picked up his pace. He hefted his load up one last time then blotted out all the curses and grumbling Kunimitsu continued to spout. Apparently, the kid was strong enough to complain but not to walk. Ironic.
"Why didn't you just leave me back there?"
Kira spoke grudgingly, "Because you wouldn't have left me."
"Yes, I would have," Kunimitsu sneered as they reached the entrance to the dormitory. Kira dropped him without warning. He yelped when he hit the earth, landing painfully on his back side. He looked up to swear again only to find Kira already glaring back.
"No, you wouldn't," he contradicted, an edge in his voice. "You didn't let me fall to my death so I'm certain you wouldn't have deserted me either."
"Of course I didn't let you fall," Kunimitsu snorted. "Nobody is that heartless."
"That's not true."
His opponent's chin lifted. "All right, maybe not but then your death wouldn't have benefited me anyway. I needed your Alice too, remember?"
Kira's mouth formed a straight line. He quickly considered his options then decided it was time to lay down his arms. He sighed. "We are never talking about this again."
"Of course."
Kira held out his hand then asked tentatively, "Truce?"
"Just like that? No way in hell," Kunimitsu spat out. He got up then wobbled a bit on his legs since his strength hadn't been fully restored. Nonetheless, he pushed past Kira with vigor. "Get out of my way you abominable snow freak."
Kira scowled in annoyance. "Why are you being a jerk? I'm trying to make amends here." That made Kunimitsu stop and turn back.
"Jerk? I'm a jerk?" He stalked forward, forcing Kira to step backwards in momentary alarm. He pointed an accusing finger at him. "You're arrogant and self-centered. You're a cold, unfeeling moron who thinks it's cool to push others around. You're a cheating, lying son of a toad."
"And you, you brainless dork," Kira said tersely, "have an Alice that could kill you! You have a fourth form and you don't even know what that means!"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It means we're alike!" he spat out. He hated to have to be the one to say it to him. "I'm stricken with the same thing. We're on the same side. We're both going to die."
The punch came suddenly and Kira had to thank his lucky stars that this time Kunimitsu hadn't bothered to coat his hand with molten iron. Nonetheless, the blow had enough force to throw him off his feet.
"That's for thinking we should be friends just because we're both going to die! What messed up world do you live in? I'm not going to be friends with you just because you want to race someone to the end of your rope. You're an idiot!"
"Loser."
"Freak."
"Jackass."
Kunimitsu flushed angrily. "I may be a jackass but at least I know I'm better than you."
"There's no way you can be stronger than me," Kira growled.
"Who said anything about being stronger?" he snapped. "I'm better because unlike you I want to befriend people with a life expectancy longer than a fruit fly."
Kira didn't know why but that made him laugh. The sound erupted out of him without warning and he didn't bother to contain himself. Maybe it was because he found the situation hilarious or just plain bizarre. Maybe it was because he was tired of being so angry all the time. He wasn't sure but suddenly he was laughing hard and he couldn't remember if he had ever doubled up that way ever since he entered the school.
Kunimitsu Kogure watched with chagrin as he continued to chuckle like a lunatic. Then after a while, he joined in. Despite the lateness of the hour and the fact that they've both been awake since sunup and had expended their strength just moments before, they didn't go inside the dormitory just yet because they were too busy laughing.
"You really are a moron."
"Likewise."
That's how their friendship began— with a ceasefire.
The two of them were punished for that fight but despite the whispers, nobody ever confirmed the story of the two of them falling into the ravine. After that, several other arguments and contests occurred before they finally accepted that a friendship was inevitable. With mutual respect, they kept each other's secrets and the existence of the Stop Clock Alice was one of them. Shinichi Nakajima never probed their minds thoroughly enough to know about it. Kira wasn't sure if that was because he was neglectful or because he trusted them. However, his brother Taro found out a couple of years later but he had died taking the knowledge with him to the grave.
Kira and Kunimitsu didn't immediately become the greatest of friends. As time wore on, they both progressed rapidly in their training and so the comparisons continued. Kira was stronger. Kunimitsu was faster. Kira was quick-tempered. Kunimitsu was headstrong. Kira was a painter. Kunimitsu was a sculptor. But those remarks became unimportant when they were sent out on the field. Out there they learned to rely on each other and more than anything else, that fortified their bond. Together they set an unassailable goal: that they would survive the Academy to their senior year and leave all of it behind.
When he thought about it, Kira knew he became friends with Kunimitsu because he was the first classmate who had ever given him a black eye and he did it with a genuine iron fist. For his part, Kunimitsu always thought that Kira had chosen to befriend him because he didn't need to be protected all the time and because he was the first classmate to bruise his eye and his ego.
Still, as agreed, neither of them ever talked about that incident again.
Five years ago, Alice Academy Restricted Building, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight
They refused to debrief after the mission. Instead they gathered in the infirmary with Kira practically breaking down the doors to get through. Somebody shoved Natsume aside and he stood motionless at the corner of the room as he watched the medics gather around Kunimitsu who was still thrashing about on the bed. Clearly, he was in pain. He was in so much pain.
Kira stood next to him and caught his hand in a death grip. Kunimitsu clutched his hand, using his best friend as an anchor to control his violent movements. A fierce gaze came upon him as he fought the dark shadow threatening to cross his features. He gave a cry then people had to back away and duck as all the bullets that had buried themselves in his flesh discharged with one release of his Alice. But the blood continued to flow and dark web-like marks began snaking up his skin as the foreign materials from the modified bullets began to invade his being.
"Fight it!" Kira roared. "Don't you dare give out on me now, Mitsu!"
Mahiro was sitting at another corner, curled up in a ball. Earlier, her tears were coming out in rivers and clearly they haven't stopped because she was rocking back and forth. Someone had to get her out of there and so Natsume started to move towards her. The doors suddenly burst open and Kurt quickly caught him when he jumped out of the way. Davies strode into the room and took in the confusion with one sweeping gaze before focusing on Ironsmith.
He knew it at a glance. He turned to Kira sharply and spoke simply, "Why?" but the question that lodged itself in Kira's brain was thunderous.
Why is he showing symptoms of the fourth form Alice?!
The probing that came after was quick, painful and thorough. He needed only three seconds to know all. The second Alice. A fourth form kept from the Academy. A child using it since he was three years old. A devastating turn. The eruption of that power tonight and the consequences they bore. When the intrusion ceased, Kira looked vacant and Davies' expression was terrible to behold.
"You idiots!" he lashed out. "You bloody idiots!"
The patient cried out one more time and the doctors momentarily ceased, at a loss of how to proceed. Kunimitsu's eyes shot open and he pushed himself up to grip Kira's shoulder. He rasped out, "Not here, Samushiro. We swore."
There was a look of defeat that came upon the Captain when he heard those words but he nodded anyway. He fired an order. "Mahiro, get us out of here."
Her head came up and she was still shaking. Tearstains streaked her typically smiling face. Davies was saying something and the medics were rapidly contesting Kira's command. The Captain released his Alice to freeze their legs to the floor and prevent them from moving further. Then he shouted again, "Mahiro! Now!"
Their whole team disappeared from the room with Kunimitsu's cries still echoing in their wake.
Marie spun around when she heard the familiar burst of Mahiro's Alice, signaling an arrival at the open glen. She wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her. They were all there, wounded and disheveled but none of them seemed to care about whatever horror they had just experienced. They were too preoccupied by their teammate and she realized that what went on was enough to bring tears to even Kurt's eyes.
"Oh my god," she whispered and her own eyes began to tear when she spied Kunimitsu, bloody and shattered on the ground.
They broke apart when she rushed forward to lay her shaking hands upon him. She began closing his wounds and healing all the gashes and scars, but that horrifying Alice technology that had blackened Kira's arm was here again and she couldn't remove the markings invading Kogure. He was twitching now, fighting for control over his body in his last minutes.
"What have they done to you?" Marie choked out, touching his face. "Mitsu…"
Kira hadn't let go of his hand. He wasn't speaking anymore, as though he was already too stricken to express anger or any other strong emotion. With an effort, Kunimitsu turned to him and his voice came out gruff and low. It was the last thing Kira expected to hear.
"I was never angry at my teacher for saving my best friend. I was never angry at Davies for choosing to spare you."
"Kogure… shut the hell up…"
He wouldn't listen. Another violent fit came over him but he pressed on earnestly, needing to have it said. "Kira, your life isn't just your own, do you understand that? So don't be careless with it."
"You're dying you thoughtless bastard. Stop preaching to me."
His laugh came out in a cough and his breath grew ragged. "I reached the finish line first. I win this round Wolf."
"You always were a fool— one self-sacrificing, magnificent fool." Kira's eyes burned. "You saved us, Mitsu."
A solemn look came upon him. "Say it again."
"You saved us."
"I did good." He smiled then slowly shut his eyes, as his body nearly gave in to the peaceful sleep. "Now get out of the way because it's not you I want to look at right now."
Kira reached out to draw Marie back with him then Kurt gave Mahiro a gentle nudge to prod her forward. She came to kneel next to Kunimitsu, taking the hand the Captain had just let go of. She touched his cheek lovingly and Kunimitsu reached up to do the same. Natsume watched them and was thankful for Kurt's solid grip on his shoulder for he felt frailty bearing down on him.
"We'd have made it, you know," Mahiro whispered. "You and me."
"I know," Kunimitsu answered, smiling faintly. He looked over her shoulder to glance briefly at Natsume and Kurt, his eyes conveying the gratitude he was already too weak to express. Then his gaze returned to Mahiro and his grip on her hand grew firm. She understood what he wanted without him having to say it. The two of them vanished.
And they all braced themselves for what came next.
It could have been a minute, a day or a week. Natsume didn't know but for certain time had stopped briefly. When Kunimitsu's Stop Clock Alice finally gave out, Mahiro reappeared bent and broken over his lifeless body. She looked like she'd been crying for years.
Then like many romantic stories of long ago, where the sky weeps when a hero falls, the clouds gathered overhead. But it wasn't to nature or timing's credit but by their Captain's merit. On what should've been a warm day in July, winter came. And so Natsume could remember a summer day when he was eight years old, when what should have been one of the hottest day the Academy had ever known, the sky had wept instead.
It wept ice. That's how Kunimitsu Kogure departed, with snow on a clear morning, surrounded by his friends.
Present day, Boy's Dormitory, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen
"So that was… wow… did he ever… wow…" Kitsuneme trailed off then finally he seemed to lose all powers of speech. Koko had beaten him on that front. He had lapsed into silence an hour ago. In fact, some time during the story he had suspiciously began swiping at his eyes.
Natsume went over the events in detail. He answered their questions as truthfully as he could. They asked questions about what happened afterwards and he gave them what information he knew. His openness unnerved them, his patience more so. His voice stayed calm throughout the whole narration and maybe that was the most alarming fact of all.
By the end of it, Natsume's throat was parched. He walked over to his fridge to get another bottle of water. By then the exhaustion was overwhelming but that wasn't important to him. He was still mulling over the fact that he had just bared his soul to two of the most unlikely people in school. It was out of character and they all knew it.
But then, ever since he was young, Kira Samushiro and that whole forgotten team always did have a strange effect on him.
"Why won't you let us fight with you?" Koko voiced at last. His tone was filled with guilt and despair and so Natsume knew his story had struck the core. He turned around and Koko pressed on, "I mean… we could've done something. Helped you bear this somehow. Okay, maybe not us. We're pretty useless in gunfire but Ruka could do it. He's got skills too. I'm sure if he were trained—"
Natsume shook his head. "I won't allow it because all of you are stupid enough to do what Kogure did. I'm not giving you that option."
Kitsuneme exhaled. "But look at what you go through."
"I don't want to have to worry about any of you," Natsume said brusquely. "It's easier to just do this alone."
"Is it really?"
"Yes." He paused then said it louder. "Yes."
Koko and Kitsuneme glanced at each other then their gazes slid to the floor, each locked in his own reflections. Natsume finished another water bottle then stared incredulously at his classmates. Really, these two were pushing his hospitality to the absolute limit and he wasn't even known for that in the first place.
"Why don't you two get out?" he said, though not unkindly. "I need to rest—"
"What are we supposed to do with the information you gave us?!" Koko cried. No, he did not like losing composure in front of the coolest kid he'd ever known. He did not want to shout at the person responsible for his safety, the one who made sure he could still have a normal day in school. But Natsume's calmness was maddening.
"Whatever you want to do with it," Natsume returned. He raised an eyebrow. "It's your call."
"But we— I mean, couldn't you just tell us what to do with it?" Kitsuneme asked hopefully.
He snorted. "It's your report. I just laid out everything for you." He walked over to his door and pulled it open. "You got what you needed. You're shooting for an A. It's your call."
"So… you want everyone to know about you and your old Captain?"
He gripped the knob tighter just as they stepped out of his room. Old Captain. He wondered why that felt like an unexpected blow. "I don't know. What do you think?"
If this was Natsume's idea of a punishment, then he really was a genius. That's what they were both thinking. To reveal this much then not tell them what to do with the story, well, that was both cruel and unusual. They exchanged a glance, clearly confused, but they exited his room because they knew he really did need to rest. Before they walked off, Koko had one final thing to say.
"I always knew you were strong, Natsume," he choked out. "But I had no idea how much."
Natsume closed his door then leaned his forehead against it with a heavy sigh. He wondered if he would come to regret what he did tonight in the morning. He turned back to his room but instead of heading for bed, he walked over to the window.
It was a harrowing day and it was unbelievable that tomorrow he still had to stand with Ruka in front of Narumi's class to deliver a report that had brought more troubles than he cared to admit. He would tell the class about one of the greatest Alices to ever walk the campus. He'd tell them what he had done while he was here, what he had accomplished and what he had left behind. But he wouldn't tell them how he had gone, because that was personal.
Natsume pulled off the towel from around his shoulders then drew up the window. Barefoot, he stepped out into the cold night and made his way to the rooftop. He let the air cool his head and the serene night wash away the memories he had just relived. The first time he had climbed up there was also five years ago, the night when it had all happened. He was loath to talk about it again, but he knew he would always remember.
Five years ago, Boy's Dormitory Rooftop, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight
The stars came out bright and beautiful after the unexpected snowstorm. It had lasted until noon, until it became nearly impossible for the Captain to sustain. When he finally let it cease, he had withdrawn from everyone and no one knew where he had gone. Everyone else had left somewhere too, handling their grief in solitude and so Natsume had done the same.
He stared up at the dark heavens, trying to find solace in the pinpoints of light winking back at him. His heart felt heavy but he had stopped crying. At least, if anyone found him now, he wouldn't be such a miserable sight.
The night was quiet but in his head the noises still wouldn't stop. The panic and terror he had felt back at the abandoned building wouldn't leave him. The burning stench threatened to haunt him forever; and the anguish of Mahiro Yotsuga remained etched in his memory leaving him cold and vulnerable.
You'll make it out Natsume. I promise.
Damn it. His cheeks were wet again. Damn it.
"There you are," a voice suddenly called.
Natsume looked up to see his best friend atop a large eagle. He circled above him before landing, which gave Natsume enough time to swipe a hand over his eyes and to wipe his face on his sleeve. Ruka landed on the rooftop not far off then walked over just as the bird took off again.
"I've been looking for you all afternoon," Ruka said anxiously. "Marie Akagi said… she said I should check on you."
"Well you found me," he said gruffly.
"Are you all right Natsume?"
"Leave me alone," he said, lying down and shutting his eyes.
Ruka exhaled and that sound was eloquent with so many things Natsume didn't want right then: questions, concern and exasperation. Well, he was tired too and if Ruka didn't want to deal with him anymore, he was welcome to leave. But he didn't. Instead, Ruka edged a little closer then sat down next to him. He propped his wrists on his knees.
"We'll go in together."
"That might take a while."
"That's fine."
They were silent. Ruka didn't know what happened but he understood that his friend needed him there, even if he wouldn't say so. It was just one of those things he would never admit. It took Natsume a while to gather his wits. At length, he raised his hand to stare at his palm, as though there was something interesting on the surface of his skin. Then he broke.
"I lost someone today."
Ruka grew still but didn't answer. Young as he was, he had no idea how to respond to the grief he just heard in his best friend's voice.
"We fought together. And now he's gone, just like that." Natsume's throat moved convulsively, the muscles at the base worked fiercely to push back the sob in his voice. "I keep thinking that maybe if I got hurt, if I traded a limb or lost one of my senses… if I didn't come out of that unharmed, we'd have spread our losses and he'd still be alive."
He breathed out. The air left his lungs, leaving it hollow and aching. He turned on his side as tears stung the back of his eyes. The stars could offer him no comfort now because he could barely see them.
"But they said that wasn't my sacrifice. I shouldn't have to suffer. Well, what the hell do they know, right? If they were all willing to die right there, why should I be any different?" His voice broke and Ruka gripped his knees as Natsume went on. "I shouldn't have… I could have…"
He trailed off. The night grew silent again when he stopped speaking. Neither broke the stillness and even if his friend had been crying softly then, Ruka couldn't know for sure because not a single sob reached his ears. When Natsume turned to lie on his back again, his eyes appeared dry though decidedly troubled and bloodshot.
Ruka swallowed. "You'll survive this Natsume. I know you will because you're strong."
"Yeah, I'm strong," Natsume said roughly. Then he glanced at his best friend in sorrow. "But don't you go anywhere."
All five of them were on that mission. Four out of five had lived. Three of the five had the fourth form Alice. Two of the three were in their senior year. One out of five was a kid. And that kid was the one that remained.
Q & A
Please note that I won't be including questions that will be answered or have already been answered in the course of the story.
1. In chapter 5, what's in the box? (for freedec12)
The box was ever just a box. ;-) Basically, it was only a prop. If it ever becomes more than that, I'll let you know but that will be in a whole other story.
2. On chapter 6: I think you're exceptionally smart. Unless you googled it, that is. Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine has to be one of the longest words I've ever seen in fanfiction. (for QueenTiria)
I know it's not a question but this made me smile. I'm afraid I'm going to have to fess up. Yes, I googled it. Chemistry and the Internet rock.
3. In chapter 7, are all the weather-related names because of Natsume's temper? (for mountainelements)
Yes, that and the fact that he is unpredictable and ever-changing. ;-)
4. In chapter 7, Mahiro was probably the first one to design these names, so why is Natsume bent on blaming Kira? (also for freedec12)
That's an interesting take on Mahiro's personality and I have to agree that it does seem like something she'd come up with. However, when I was writing that scene, I actually intended all of it to be Kira's ideas just to show more of his playful side.
5. Who's who outside Kira's team? (for multiple readers)
Here's a quick list, using either real names or codenames. I've also specified the chapter where each character was first mentioned.
* Shinichi Nakajima (Davies / Orion, Chapter 1) - remarkable psychic ability
* Taro Nakajima (deceased, Chapter 5) - ability to travel through time
* Kouji (The Grey Soldier, Chapter 2) - ability to control insects
* Hisashi (Kouji's friend, Chapter 2) - Alice not specified
* Jade (Chapter 6) – ability to break down objects into the most basic elements
* Static (Chapter 6) – ability to control electronic objects
* AC (Chapter 7) – ability to draw out lighting / electricity
* Sonic (Chapter 11) – ability to create a force field that also works on other Alices
* Charon (Veidt's henchman, Chapter 11) – ability to generate shock waves
* Veidt (Chapter 11) – five stars to those who guessed this one— Alice of Invention, basically I wanted to depict what would happen if Hotaru Imai joined the dark side