His Dark, Kind Soul

Author's Note: Thanks to those who reviewed the last few chapters. If not for your encouragement, I wouldn't feel so keen on moving forward.

Chapter 14: From Darkness to Light

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

Koko and Kitsuneme stood up and ambled their way to the front. Then for a long, evocative minute, neither of them spoke. They looked back at the class seeming both uncertain and fearful. It caused whispers to ripple in the room.

At the back, Natsume sat straight in his chair. His face was carefully blank and his gaze held that practiced detachment, but there was something expectant about the way he stared at them. Ruka sat next to him with the same inscrutable look. Whatever it was that went on in their heads couldn't have been much different from what Koko and Kitsuneme were thinking.

It was their choice, Natsume had said and it was rare that anyone was in such a position. To hold Natsume Hyuuga's secrets, his past, the things he held dear; theirs to share or to safeguard. There was honor in it. There was conviction. Damn it, their own classmate was a legend in the making.

"Kokoroyumi? Kitsuneme? We're waiting," Mr. Narumi prodded.

The two of them exchanged a glance then without discussing, they finally reached a decision. Kitsuneme exhaled, scanned the paper he held one last time then laid it face down on the desk in front of him. He began solemnly, "In the records of the Alice Academy there is a student held in the highest esteem."

"He was everything an Alice should be," Koko put in then smiled fondly as though he was remembering a particularly brilliant story he had just read, "And few could equal the feats he had achieved."

"He was smart and talented, charming and down-to-earth…"

"Compassionate and honorable…"

"He was kind." Kitsuneme looked straight at Natsume then nodded subtly in an unspoken salute. "He was different."

"He was quite perfect," Koko said with finality. He took another deep breath then plunged on, "He hung out with the Special Ability types and would often extol what they could do…"

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

The Dangerous Ability class was surrounded. The mob pulled out guns, ready to attack and Sonic went to one knee as he prepared to invoke his Shield Alice. Their enemy fired and a cloud of smoke enveloped the dusty arena. Sonic kept the shield up, defending his team against the heavy artillery while they searched for a way out.

Suddenly, outside the circle, large portions of ice broke through the ground in jagged splinters, cracking the pavement and throwing the temperature below zero. It knocked their enemy off their feet, viciously cut legs while others slammed against the concrete at the surprise attack. Some were caught standing right where the pieces penetrated and they froze on the spot as the cold brutally seeped into their flesh. One large piece of ice splintered a truck in half as it travelled upwards at a staggering height.

Sonic pulled back his shield and he and the Grey Soldier walked forward, expecting to see the Wolf coming to their rescue. They weren't disappointed. He dropped in from the sky at an incredible speed and cushioned his landing with a powerful blast of ice. It cradled his feet right before he hit the asphalt. Even to those who knew him, the Wolf was frightening to behold.

He was out of uniform again, just as he was on every mission he accepted since the day he returned to the roster. He was garbed in black from head to foot, with a long midnight coat and heavy boots to complete the sinister attire. There were no accents on his body, nor trinkets or traces of silver. He had abandoned every controlling device except one: the Wolf mask that was his signature adornment.

"Get down!" Hisashi, the Tank, bellowed and they all took cover, save for the Wolf. He spun around to see what had alarmed his classmates while calling out frost that rose up and surrounded him. It was thick enough to protect him and the attack rebounded.

The Wolf leapt over the fortification he created then started firing successively. Without the devices, his Alice was at its full power and he was able to push himself to the limit. Ice kept rising from the ground, overturning their enemy's position. More shards fell from the cloudless sky while the Wolf himself launched blades at anyone who came near enough. He cut one opponent at the neck then drew blood from everyone else who tried to attack him at close range. The rest of them stood in astonishment as they watched him barrel over a fallen truck then spin wildly as he continued to raise hell. He let loose a snowstorm that effectively took down a hummer jeep. Then his gaze went to the helicopter that was leaving the scene.

The blast was tremendous. It traveled from the ground to the firmament and mercilessly hit the blades. It iced over and the chopper went down in a severe crash. Fire broke out and its passengers raced to exit the helicopter right before it exploded.

Everyone stood agape, Alice and enemy alike. The Wolf stood unmoving in the middle of the wreckage then gave a curt nod so that the rest could finish the job and apprehend their enemies. There was an eerie atmosphere as they did so and the silence was broken only by minute blasts from the vehicles that had been blown up.

The Wolf breathed heavily. Even at a distance they could see his shoulders rising and falling as he brought air into his lungs. He raised his mask halfway to wipe the blood off his lip. He suppressed a cough then pulled the mask down again. Sonic didn't miss the action and looked on with pity. It was just a syndicate they were taking down. Their opponents were human. This had been extreme.

"You didn't have to go that far."

The Wolf ignored him and pulled out a gun to launch his grappling hook. "Tell your leader I'm off to the next site." He fired and his weight was pulled up, sailing away from the scene as quickly as he had arrived. He was off to another mission, seeking blood and violence wherever he went.

His performance gave all of them a shiver. In all his years of conquest, never had the White Wolf seemed so brutal and inhuman. Sonic tried to steady his nerves then turned to regroup with the rest of the Dangerous Ability class just as another team arrived to clean up the scene.

Davies flipped through the photos given to him with a grim look on his face. The images were horrifying. The theme was more than grotesque.

There was one picture of his student striking a terrorist group with violent hale. There was another of him launching icicles at a mountain of crates and igniting all the explosives inside. There were images of his victims after he was done with them. A couple were left suspended upside down like frozen meat in a warehouse he had turned into a freezer; another had terrible gashes on his arms and legs after shards of ice sliced through; several others suffered severe frostbite, bleeding in places that weren't covered in ice. It was petrifying.

The Wolf had become a force to fear by enemy and ally. Stripped of his controlling devices, he'd become coldly efficient, finishing every mission in record time and always leaving destruction in his wake. He went to mission after mission alone, isolating himself even from Sheridan and Stone Griffin. He never stopped between operations, not even to recuperate. When he returned to the school, he would take his medicine in excess only to set out once more on the same detrimental path.

As his handler it was up to Davies to bring him to heel but there was no such order from the Academy, which meant they actually approved of what he was doing. His actions were never brought forward by his peers either, no matter how much he terrified them. Why should they call attention when he was simply doing his job? But that was it, wasn't it? It never used to be just a job to him.

These were the actions of a man ready to die; a man seeking his death, it looked like. But the boy wasn't selfish, Davies knew that, and that's why he was certain that what spurned these changes wasn't a desire for his own demise but rather a reaction to Ironsmith's. The numbers were clear. For every mission he took on himself, two people could be removed from the roster. The boy was fighting to protect those around him, those he cared about. It was noble but also foolhardy and fruitless.

The door creaked open and Davies looked up to see his student walking into the room. Kira Samushiro pulled off his Wolf mask to reveal a haggard combatant, with a pallid complexion and a vacant look in his eyes. He walked forward and stopped next to a chair but didn't sit down.

"What's my next mission?"

Davies' eyes narrowed at the question. "Go to Calculus."

"What?"

"Attend a student council meeting," he said flatly. He tossed the envelope listing the next batch of operations aside. "Paint a picture, finish a book report. For god's sake, be a student Kira."

His jaw clenched. "Do you think any of that matter now?"

"This is a school," he said with emphasis. "How can you hope to graduate if you skip lessons the rest of the year?"

"Well I'm not leaving, am I?" Kira asked derisively. He raised a hand to his lips to mask a cough. "What use is any of that to me?"

"You're a senior. You're very close to the finish—"

"You said so yourself, we're about to face a war," he broke in. "And I'm expected to take part in it. So what use are calculus, science, art and literature to me? What use is all that when I'll only be needed for my skills as a fighter?"

Davies stopped. His gaze grew searching, looking for signs that the boy before him didn't have such a low estimation of his own worth. "I want you to fight with us but not like this. I do not need a man predisposed to die at the frontline. You cannot lead a faction if you have no heart for this."

"How much heart do you need?" Kira asked. There was something erratic about the way he stood. His hand moved to grip a chair to hold himself steady as the argument stretched. "I'm ready to die for the cause Davies. It doesn't get any more passionate than that."

"If you go out there prepared to die, then you become our weak flank."

"Don't the records show otherwise?" he countered in a hoarse voice. "I took down two syndicates in the past week. I accepted fourteen missions and each one was a success. You should be pleased with me. I've added millions to the Academy's coffers."

"That's not all that matters here. Listen to me Kira—"

"Have you dealt with Veidt?" he interrupted. When Davies kept silent, the boy's gaze grew mocking. "He's still alive, isn't he? He killed a student but the Academy's not castigating him because he may still be worth a profit. Given that, can you honestly tell me that the bottomline isn't what matters to this school?"

"Veidt is not for you to judge."

"Why? Because I'm not a school authority?"

"Because you don't know his story," Davies said gravely. "You don't know mine. Until you do, you have no right to pass judgment. There are other things at play here."

"You're right," Kira agreed with a cynical smile. He coughed again. "And until I reach a rank where I'll be allowed to know those things, I'll do what I'm bidden. I'll do what I can and that's to go on these missions and protect the people I have left."

"At what cost?"

"My own life."

"And you see nothing wrong with that?"

"It's mine to lose," Kira said with conviction. "It's mine to play out as I choose. As long as I deliver, you won't think of removing me from the roster."

"Is that what this is about?"

His student looked back at him with sunken eyes. The hand on the chair tightened. "You're right, I'm very close to the finish, but I'm not crossing the line with the rest of my friends. I've accepted that. What more do you want from me Davies?"

"I want you to want to live."

But to that he made no reply.

That's when Davies knew there was no convincing him. Kira knew as well as his teacher did that he was nearing the end of his rope and like any seasoned fighter, he was determined to die in battle and spare as many of his friends as he could. But that was never the future Davies had imagined for him. He knew Kira's health was deplorable but he had hoped this brilliant student would live his last days fighting for a future. This wasn't the place to give him back that hope. He needed to speak with someone who could still reach out to Kira. Someone he would listen to.

I have to get him out of here.

In the midst of those reflections, Kira suddenly lurched as a fierce cough ripped out of him. He bent forward, catching the blood that erupted from his lips as air was expelled abnormally from his lungs. Kira staggered backwards then the strength in his legs was finally expended. He blacked out before he even hit the floor and so he didn't know that Davies had shot to his feet and swiftly caught him with his Alice.

His teacher punched the intercom. "Call a doctor in here. Quickly!"

There are many layers to this dream.

Natsume looked around when he heard the voice. He was standing inside the training room, at the first station of the obstacle course and was just about to begin. He glanced towards the viewing deck to spy Mahiro and Kurt. They looked at him in question, seeing his momentary pause.

"Are you okay?"

His hand went to his ear. He removed the receiver, tugged on his lobe self-consciously then returned the small radio.

"Fine," he muttered to the receiver. "I think I crossed another frequency."

"Shall we begin?"

Natsume looked up again then scowled as another person entered the tech room to join his teammates. He didn't have much interaction with him but because the Wolf never taught him to trust Davies, he never thought of doing so. He growled, "What is he doing here?"

"Hush Natsume," Mahiro said, a clear warning in her tone. Like all the other students in the Dangerous Ability class, she knew the man wasn't one to trifle with.

"Hello Natsume," Davies spoke clearly into the microphone. He repeated, "Shall we begin?"

I've come to talk to you.

The added statement meant only for him to hear caused mistrust to spread through Natsume. He looked uncomfortably towards his team, trying to communicate his uncertainty but neither Kurt nor Mahiro showed any signs that they picked it up. Davies leveled him with a stare that indicated he was expecting Natsume to keep up his end of the charade.

"Okay," he said hesitantly. What do you want?

"Good. Time commences on your signal," the teacher spoke out loud. I've taken every precaution I could think of to approach you without suspicion.

"Start the count in three… two…" Natsume spoke through gritted teeth. Why would you need to do that? "One!" And he started running.

"Why don't we try something new today?" Davies said as Natsume went through the first string of exercises. It's for both our safety. Why do you look so troubled?

"That's no problem with me." I don't trust you.

"Have you gone through the mirrors before?" Would you trust me a little if you knew I've been watching over you all this time?

"No." No.

"Then now's a good time to see how you'll do." Davies punched a button and the room specifications changed. I'm not going to harm you.

"Fine." But I still don't trust you.

Natsume vaulted over a locker then took in his changing surroundings. When the images settled, he saw that he was inside a room with wall to wall mirrors. His own reflection stared back at him and he found it disconcerting to be glowering at himself.

Davies continued the two conversations, somewhat confusing Natsume as he tried to keep up with both discourses while he went through the mirror maze. Seeing multiple images of himself moving simultaneously was perplexing but he pushed through doors and overcame obstacles with resolve, more bothered by Davies' persistent voice than the hurdles before him.

"When did you last see your teacher?" The Wolf is out of commission again.

"Not for a week now." What is that to me?

"How have you fared in his absence?" It may be permanent.

"I'm fine," he said through gritted teeth. "I don't need that bloke." Why? Is he dying?

"I thought you would say that." He's been dying since I first met him. We ran some tests. We don't expect him to reach thirty years old.

"Why are you talking to me about him?" Natsume suddenly snapped. His step had faltered at Davies' words and so he went with the tumble and evaded a projectile.

"Because your time together is nearly up." And I know you're aware of that. I speak to you so that you may understand.

Natsume didn't answer. He pushed through another door then sped down a steep incline. His image matched his movements and he was distracted at the way the light bounced off the reflective surface, giving his expression strange lines of sadness and regret. It was a trick of the light, or so he told himself.

"You're very like him," Davies commented. You must be sick of hearing it but those of us who've known Kira for years recognize it. "Sometimes I think you may be stronger but only time will prove that."

"I'm going to be better than him." I'm going to be the best there ever was.

"And that's what the Academy expects of you." The best what? Whatever yardstick you're using, I hope it's one that matters to you.

Natsume was moving at a break neck speed now. The light coming from unseen sources grew wild, casting diversions as they rebounded off the mirrors. As he moved, Natsume saw his reflection waver, shimmer and change. He faltered for a second time when he found himself running side by side a scrawny boy with large spectacles perched on his nose. His silver hair fell wildly over his eyes but Natsume recognized the obstinate look he wore as his own. The boy was racing him and Natsume gave a burst of speed but there was no way to lose him because he was looking at himself, a full generation ago. They jumped together, ran together and landed at the same time.

"Why did you really come here?" Natsume asked. He stopped right before the next hurdle. The boy, pale and gaunt, stopped with him. They faced each other with equal menace but Natsume knew that the boy's eyes were far more lifeless than his. His expression was terrible, as hostile and ferocious as a wolf.

"You have the greatest leverage on him." I've known it for a while now.

"You're wrong," Natsume argued. There are other people that matter to him. There are many who are precious to him.

"None of them could sway him the way you could." Because your fates are tied together. He will understand it, if it comes from you.

"What do you mean?"

The reflections changed again. To Kunimitsu. To Kira. To a few more people in between. Then it settled on his reflection: eight years old, but an old soul. Natsume reached out and touched the mirror, his hand laid open palm against the surface. He was braced against himself.

"Who were those people?" Did you just show me—?

"More friends." They were stricken like you and Kira. They died by their gifts. "The last was Tetsuya Hong, a good friend I've said goodbye to."

His hand formed a fist. Then he pounded against the surface. The mirror came crashing down and Natsume stepped backwards just as the whole room began to fall apart. He was back in the training room. He was looking at Kurt and Mahiro. He was searching for Davies but he had already left the room. The mirrors had crashed into a million pieces, impossible to put back together. Each piece reflected a different face, hundreds of Alices that had gone before. Then the room swam and settled, and he was on every jagged piece littering the floor.

I've lost too many people already. And that's why I've come to you.

And then Natsume woke up.

The training room was gone. He was inside the study hall and Mahiro was shaking his shoulder gently to rouse him. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the last vestiges of sleep. He realized his head had been lying upon a thick catalogue someone had left on the table.

"Are you okay?" Mahiro asked worriedly.

"Fine," Natsume mumbled. He picked up the catalogue absently then flipped it over in his hands. He was too muddled to make sense of all of it.

"What have you got there?"

He held out the package to Kurt, feeling stupid. It had been a dream; a dream of a dual conversation during a simulated training in his head. Evidently, Davies was serious when he said he had taken every precaution but he had still gotten his point across, sharply and effectively. Kira had been right. Davies was dangerous even without the physical skill.

"Geneva," Mahiro read over Kurt's shoulder. "A research center on Alice Genetics." Her gaze went to him in concern. "Are you going to Europe?"

"No, not me."

"Kira," Kurt grunted, as he pulled out a sealed envelope addressed to their Captain. "Where did you get these?"

There are many layers to this dream.

Natsume glanced towards the mezzanine and saw Davies looking towards them. A faint smile was on his lips. He spoke gently in Natsume's head, leaving final instructions with regards to the letter. Then he gave a subtle nod and headed for the exit, his job finished.

"A teacher."

And that's when Natsume knew what he should do.

There was an insistent tapping on his forehead. It came intermittently but it was constant nonetheless. It was waking him up in the most annoying way possible.

Kira's eyes opened to find Natsume standing not far from where he lay. He was busy launching little paper projectiles. His ammunition was lined up in a row on the bed's service tray and he was flicking them successively at his mentor.

Kira burst out, "What are—?" He coughed when one of the projectiles sailed into his mouth.

"Bull's eye!" Natsume exclaimed. "Bet you wish my aim was off then!"

Kira spat out the ball then reached out to wring his neck but he smoothly leapt away. "Come back here, you little squirt."

Natsume snickered. He launched a snowball and the kid quickly met it with fire. A small explosion lit up the room and that brought the elder back to sense. He looked around quickly to note his surroundings. They were inside the infirmary and familiar contraptions were once again hooked up to his body. All the lights in the room were out, which meant Natsume had been firing at him accurately with only the light of the moon to guide him. The window was wide open, letting the cool air in. The kid's presence and what it implied was easy enough to read.

"You snuck in here?" Kira pushed himself up, cradling an arm with a large needle stuck through. "Why would you do a stupid thing like that?"

"It's not stupid," Natsume shot back. "I wouldn't have to go through the trouble if you didn't land yourself in here."

"How long was I unconscious?"

"Two days. You were absent for a full week then we just got news that you're in the clinic." Natsume walked forward then stopped at a distance to fire three consecutive paper pellets, hitting him precisely each time.

"Stop that!"

"Idiot," he hissed. "What were you trying to pull? Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!" He punctuated each word by flicking his little bullets.

"Natsume—"

"What's the deal about leaving me behind?" he went on without pause. "Did you think I'd be grateful? Do you think it was fun seeing you do that to yourself?"

"Would you quit it?" Kira growled.

Instead of listening to him, Natsume flicked another paper ball, this time launching it with fire. Kira gaped as it came at him and bounced on his cheek, leaving a scorch mark.

"Foul!" he yelped. "You little monster!"

Natsume looked at him scornfully. "Yeah? Well what are you going to do about it? You wore yourself out so now you can't come after me. Loser!"

Kira heard the just anger in his tone. Natsume sounded more hurt than affronted and he could understand why. "You've made your point Natsume. That's enough."

"You're such a jerk!" he continued, unable to hold back. He launched another flaming projectile but this time it frosted over and rolled harmlessly on the blanket.

"That's enough," Kira repeated. "I'm sorry."

Natsume grunted then he stopped. Kira smiled. In the last few months, he came to understand that a request for forgiveness went further with the boy than reason or argument. Thus, despite his immense pride, Kira took it upon himself to apologize first whenever it was warranted.

The kid stepped backwards until he was near the bureau positioned at the far wall. Then he leapt up to take a seat on the topmost level. The jump was smooth and he hardly disturbed the objects laid on the chest. For a long while, Natsume studied him.

"What are you doing here?" he prodded when the silence stretched. "Surely, it's not only because you were worried about me."

Natsume took a breath. "Davies told me they checked your vitals." Kira's eyebrows shot up. He didn't expect that answer.

"Oh?"

"They ran some tests when you were out cold."

"Did I ace it?" he asked in good humor.

"They don't think you'll live to see thirty."

His mouth became a grim line. "He shouldn't have told you that."

"He told me because he wanted me to know what's happened to you in the ten years you've been in this school," Natsume spoke quietly. "He said you were dying. He said you were dying since you were a little boy."

"That's true enough."

"So that got me thinking." He pulled up his leg and propped it against the wood. "Will I be the same? Will I die before I'm thirty?"

Kira frowned. "No, it doesn't work that way."

"If I live the way you did, if I go on the same missions, make the same sacrifices and push myself with the same skills, it stands to reason that I would end up in the same state by the time I graduate."

"You shouldn't talk like that."

Natsume spoke carefully, "Davies also showed me this research center that tries to help people like us. But apparently you refused to go there."

Kira's frown deepened, realizing what his teacher was probably driving at when he had spoken with Natsume. "Of course, I refused. I'm not about to leave the rest of you behind."

"Do you think that's what we want?"

"I'm not abandoning you, Natsume."

He surprised Kira when he leapt off the bureau to stand at the foot of the bed. He kept his head bowed, as though what he was about to say was difficult for him. "If there was a chance for me to live, wouldn't you want it for me?"

"Badly."

"Then why won't you do this?"

"Are you trying to use reverse psychology on me?" Kira asked in annoyance.

"No, I'm not." He raised his head and met his teacher's gaze. Kira saw the glint of purpose in his eyes. "I'm saying you're my chance to live."

"Natsume—"

"You are," he cut in forcefully. "If you stay, it just means we both die. If you go, then we both get a chance to survive."

"It's not that simple."

"What's complicated about it? You're done here. You stay any longer and you might not see your next birthday." His tone grew earnest. "If you need someone to protect the others, I'm here. If you need a replacement—"

"You're not a replacement," Kira broke in. "You're way too good to be just that."

"Do you trust me? Do you believe that I can do this?"

"I believe there's no telling what heights you'll reach."

"Then go on and leave." Fists formed at his sides. "I swear I'll be all right. Find us a cure, get yourself healed then get me out of here."

Kira held his gaze then eventually looked away, not wanting Natsume to see the sentiment his words brought. The boy's speech was moving, undeniably compelling. What unnerved him even more was the fact that Natsume wasn't arguing with him about this. He was simply asking.

Natsume cleared his throat then held out a sealed envelope. "Davies asked me to give this to you. He said if you're determined to condemn your enemy, you should at least have all the facts."

Kira took the letter and Natsume quickly spun around and headed for the window. He didn't expect to hear his Kira's decision that night. But he had said his part, summoning courage because it was called for. Mustering confidence he didn't really feel.

Kira watched Natsume put one foot on the ledge, ready to leap out like a nimble animal. He was determined to face the Academy. He would outsmart them. He would survive them. But there were still so many things he did not know and that was why Kira was so against leaving him behind.

"The Academy will try to break you," he voiced before Natsume could jump out. "They'll break you in a hundred different ways over and over. They'll break you so hard and so thoroughly that you won't know how to put yourself back together again."

"You endured it."

"You could too," Kira said with certainty. "That much I know. But I had hoped I could stay on long enough so that you wouldn't have to."

Natsume looked over his shoulder, gripping the ledge for all the support it offered. "The painting, 'His Dark, Kind Soul', were you referring to your soul or what's to become of mine?"

"Does it matter?"

He paused to think it over then shook his head. "I guess not."

Then Natsume leapt and was gone.

Later that same night, Kira stood by the window, gazing upon the quiet grounds. It was odd for him to look upon the same campus he'd been seeing for ten years and somehow feel hope. His mind went over Natsume's visit and the words contained in Davies' letter that now lay open on the bureau. Both had struck a chord; Natsume's earnest, persistent appeal more so. It all felt so significant, like he'd been reading the same passage over and over but was only learning to appreciate the words.

Davies' story. Veidt's story. His story. And soon, Natsume's.

There would be common themes in them but it was the differences that would spell out grandeur. They were all part of the same class. They all played the same game. But the story could end differently each time. It could end better each time.

Kunimitsu once posed an important question when they were discussing the possibility of finding a cure through this research. When this option first presented itself, they had argued indiscreetly in his workshop and his best friend, having picked up his despair, quickly demanded his reasons for refusing treatment when the opportunity finally came.

Is the whole Dangerous Ability Class damned to you?

No, Kira thought now. And I was wrong to ever think that. They did not live their lives above reproach and they had grave transgressions but they all deserved a chance to atone for it. He wasn't about to take the same path as Veidt. He would build on what Davies had begun. He would make things right for Natsume when his time came. Kira would spend the rest of his life seeking absolution for his sins but that only meant one thing.

He still had a soul to be saved.

When Kira finally got out of the infirmary, he went to the detention center first, seeking closure before moving on. He nodded to the two guards posted at the entry before closing the door with a quiet click of the lock. It had been three weeks since Kogure passed away, three weeks since he last saw this man. He was beyond Kira's wrath for he was under the protection of the Academy while his interrogation was going on, but thanks to Davies' letter he now knew how to strike the man and he was about to do so and make him bleed.

Veidt was sitting on a chair inside the sparsely furnished room. He was positioned at the center, at least two meters away from every other piece of furniture. Kira's practiced eye traced the black line drawn from floor to ceiling. He took a chair and dragged it to the edge of the line. Veidt looked up and raised an eyebrow in amusement for the Wolf had dared to sit two feet away from him. Kira didn't return the look though. Instead his gaze was calculating, fierce and loathing.

"Have you come to gloat or to commiserate? Perhaps you'd like to beat me up again for the death of your friend. I'm up for the exercise."

Kira didn't move. He didn't flinch, and when he began he spoke in a dead tone. "Tadahiko Kawahara, Alice of Invention, Alice Festival Awardee, cycle 52. You were one of the brightest students in your class, second only to one: Shinichi Nakajima."

Veidt's eyes flashed. "Shut up."

"They put you in the Dangerous Ability class in your sophomore year. It was a backroom team. You wanted to be the best though so you tried to go beyond what the Academy asked of you. Your group pioneered the use of controlling devices."

"I said shut up!" Veidt shot to his feet and tried to attack but the technology on the area he was placed in prevented him from going beyond the black line.

"But your prototype had a major defect," Kira continued mercilessly. "The device you created wasn't feasible. Halfway through the test, the electricity went straight to the skull and drove its subject insane. They grew violent. That experiment was a failure."

"Stop it… just stop talking…" He was pleading now but Kira didn't listen.

"Orion was there that day. He killed many of the subjects on the orders of the Academy. He finished them off before you could have the chance to correct your mistake. It was a massacre on both your hands."

"It wasn't right. I could've done something! He shouldn't have stepped in like that!" Veidt had his head in his hands. He was mumbling things Kira didn't catch and he didn't care to. "Why are you saying these things to me?"

"I wanted to understand you," he said plainly. "Understand what drove you to do these things so that I never become like you. It wasn't just about Orion, was it? You hated the school because it turned you into a monster."

"You weren't there. You don't know…"

"I know because I tried to be different." Kira leaned his arms on his knees, staring intently at Veidt. "Were you told that the study continued in the Academy? The experiments pursued and I volunteered to stand guard on the sidelines in the same way Orion did. My teacher sent me there to prevent a slaughter from happening again. When the tests took a horrifying turn I tried to spare all the subjects. Mahiro, Kurt and Kunimitsu were among them. That's where I found my team."

Veidt's head came up and he gazed sullenly at Kira. He looked pathetic but nothing about this man could ever wrench pity from the Wolf. He went on harshly, hoping that every word would drive a stake into the man's heart.

"They survived that day but you came along four years later and put them all in danger again. Their lives were supposed to be your absolution but you didn't realize it. You didn't know. Because unlike my teacher, you, Tadahiko Kawahara, didn't learn."

Kira came to his feet, his piece finally finished. When he reached the door, he looked back at the broken man that used to be a respected genius in the school. Veidt wasn't moving. He looked absolutely destroyed.

"There are others like me…" he muttered. "Others who will also have reasons…"

"I will know all their stories," Kira said irrevocably. "I will understand their motives and humanize them. In that way, I won't see them as monsters and more of us will survive this war."

Veidt dared to meet his gaze. Evidently there were many things he wanted to say but he held them back, recognizing the ferocity in the Wolf's eyes. He bared his teeth in a jeering smile. "You may have the right idea. Too bad you're slated to die soon. Goodbye Kira Samushiro."

The Wolf's jaw hardened as he remembered Kunimitsu again. "Don't talk to me. I hate you."

There were always several things going on at the Alice Academy. After all, they were a school, a town and a whole community. The campus itself is always alive with activity as students and adults go about their business. People talk and laugh. Students review their lessons or entertain themselves with their hobbies. The teachers go over their class books and grade papers. Those in Central Town sell their wares or do what they do to earn their keep. They move, they live, they make the most of every minute of the day.

But one afternoon, they all paused.

There was music in the air, strong and fine, filled with the violinist's intent as he played a spellbinding song. The beginning measures gripped the heart and the rest of the notes tumbled forth and landed softly on the ears of his listeners. Everyone who heard stopped what they were doing. People turned to face the melody, to the quadrangle where the musician stood at the center, plying his bow skilfully while others looked on in pleasure and admiration. It would be the last time they would hear him, though few had realized it then.

If she'd been asked, Marie Akagi would've told them that the musician was playing Vitali's "Chaconne", a piece he'd learned when he was eight years old and he needed something to unload his sorrow. He played it now, earnest and true but the significance of the performance fell heavily upon those dear to him. Mahiro shed a tear. Kurt drew open his workshop door. Marie left her classroom, her own musical score in hand.

Davies stood transfixed in his office. He was aware of the surprise visit paid to their detainee and so he understood that the music filling the room conveyed sadness but also liberation. This was the boy's answer to the unspoken question posed to him. His student was ready to take flight.

Natsume was sitting at the base of the Sakura tree when the first notes invaded the air. Ruka was with him, gently playing with his pet rabbit while his companion slept with a comic book over his head. At the sound of the beautiful violin, he sat up, pulling the book off in a hurried motion. He came to his feet and so Ruka stood up too.

"Is it Kira?" Ruka asked.

Natsume stood stiffly. Though he lacked prowess in music, he understood the sound as well as Davies did and so he nodded to his best friend. "He's saying goodbye."

Veidt walked down the hall after a long and satisfying negotiation with the Academy. A malevolent smile lingered on his lips as he thought of the outcome of the talks. Despite the evidence against him, the Wolf's testimony and the tragedy caused, Tadahiko Kawahara was about to walk free. The thought was enough to banish any bitterness brought on by the Wolf's verbal attacks.

He had played his cards right. Before trying to take on the Alice Academy, he built a long and untainted reputation as the President of Kawahara Telco Inc. If the Academy punished him, they would cause uproar in the business community for he had no intention of going quietly. The school would make powerful enemies and his corporate allies would break ties with them. Thus, in the end, Veidt was going to win this game. They had their ways but he did too. After all, it was one of the things he learned in the Academy. It was always about business.

He turned the corner, mulling over the only disappointing fact about that meeting. Orion hadn't bothered to show up. Evidently, the man was determined to have nothing to do with him. It didn't surprise him. As Davies, he had mellowed out in the recent years. Age had turned him into a coward. Still, Veidt would've wanted to taunt the man to his face.

He walked into the new room given to him, with his two guards close behind. Pending his imminent release, he was assigned to much more comfortable sleeping quarters. It had been part of the bargain, a symbol of his triumph. One of the guards removed his handcuffs. The other switched on the lights.

And the room suddenly exploded.

Across the campus, in the high school dormitory, Kira Samushiro walked into his own bedroom, physically and emotionally weary. When he opened his door, he was met by Chopin's "Tristesse" playing over his speakers and its melody filled the room with its name. He stopped at the threshold when he saw Marie lying down on the window seat, curled on her side bathing in the moonlight spilling in from the gardens. She was fast asleep with her arm hanging on the edge of the seat, leading to a discarded musical score on the floor.

He walked to her, lowering the volume of the Etude when he passed by the sound system. He bent on one knee and picked up the score then idly took her hand to guide it back on the seat beneath the thin shawl she had wrapped around her shoulders. He sat on the floor next to her, unconsciously memorizing her face as he reached out to trace her cheek. She stirred but did not reject his touch. Kira stayed where he was, momentarily and willingly rapt.

At length, he rose to press a kiss to her temple, lingering for as long as he dared. When he felt her wake he moved his lips to her ear. "I'm here, love."

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

"There is only one— one with the name…"

"One with the legend…"

"One with the Alice kissed by Winter…"

"The White Wolf: Kira Samushiro," Koko spoke irrevocably. He exhaled then dared to look back at the class. They were all staring blankly at the reporters and for a long while everyone was quiet.

At length, Mochu called out in confusion, "Is that it?"

"Yup."

That triggered the murmurs. For a while their report kept everyone in spellbound silence but it was far from satisfying. It barely bore any details. It was baffling. It was incomplete. The reporters swallowed when they realized everyone was gearing up to begin an inquisition. Mr. Narumi didn't say anything in their defense though he sat at the back of the classroom with a thoughtful smile.

"So what happened to him?" one classmate demanded.

"He… left."

"Did he die?" another classmate inquired.

"No."

"So where is he?"

"We don't know."

"Then how can you be sure he's alive?"

"Oh just quit it," Kitsuneme said irritably. "The report isn't whether he lived or died. What's more important is what he actually did with his life."

"You didn't say much about that either," another boy pointed out. "You didn't even talk about his accomplishments."

"He contributed to Metagenomics and was a genius at art, music and chess. He gave impromptu violin concertos and held art exhibits when he felt like it. He won trophies and received special awards for his services as a Class Representative." Koko said all this with one breath. "Seriously people, what more do you want from him?"

"What did he do in the Dangerous Ability class?"

Koko and Kitsuneme froze. Their eyes lifted significantly to spy the Black Cat but he looked uninterested and obviously had no intention of jumping into the fray. They were on their own and people were getting restive. What do they do?

At this point, Mr. Narumi stood up and people turned towards him. He was holding his grade book against his leg and still wore that quiet smile.

"Koko, Kitsuneme, when did Kira Samushiro win an achievement award?"

"In his sophomore year," Kitsuneme replied quickly, "After winning the Black and White Tournament five years in a row."

"He also received one for his study on Metagenomics," Koko put in. "His benefactor vouched for his paper and it was submitted to a research center in Geneva."

Narumi made a mark on his paper then he fired questions successively while Koko and Kitsuneme answered in equal measure.

"Why did he study Metagenomics?"

"Having a fourth form Alice spurned his interest in Genetics. He chose that specialization because he believed in its potential for scientific breakthroughs."

"Name three of his high school teachers."

"Taro Nakajima for Earth Science, Coach Kanzaki for individual sports and Dr. Schubert for Chemistry Lab."

"Was he consistently at the top of his class?"

"Almost. There was a fluke in his second year in high school. A girl took the top spot."

"Was he more famous as a violinist or as an artist?"

"It's hard to say. He gave up the orchestra when he hit high school but still performed a violin concerto in one of the Alice Festivals."

"He continued painting though. His masterpiece hung in the Alice Academy Theater for two years. Today it can be found in the museum."

Mr. Narumi nodded in approval. Then he stopped making notes and leveled them with a significant gaze.

"What did he do in the Dangerous Ability class?"

Koko and Kitsuneme exchanged a look then hung their heads. "…We don't know."

"As I thought," their teacher smiled. He hummed mysteriously and his pencil made a scratching noise as he scribbled. "I'm ready to grade you…" He held up his grade book as though to study it closely. "For that dismal oral report, I'm afraid I'm going to have to give you two a D."

Koko exhaled. That wasn't bad. It was one step up from a downright failure. Kitsuneme looked equally relieved but Mr. Narumi wasn't done.

"However, for the Q and A portion just now, for answering all questions but one, I'm giving you a B plus."

That came out to a C! It was more than what they expected. Their classmates started whispering while Koko and Kitsuneme were ready to jump into each other's arms for joy. However, Mr. Narumi still wasn't finished.

"I'm awarding you an additional ten points for this extensive written report…"

They gaped then Mr. Narumi pulled out a sheaf of paper haphazardly tucked into the pages of their report. It trailed to the ground and covered at least three feet.

"Five more points for this ridiculously detailed timeline…"

"Oh wow," one girl murmured as Mr. Narumi continued to flip through their report. Koko and Kitsuneme's eyes widened when they realized there was more.

"And an additional five points…"

"For what?" another classmate balked.

Mr. Narumi glanced up and smiled meaningfully. "For that excellent campus diorama that you didn't use." He ticked off his grade sheet then looked pleased with himself. "And that puts your grade within the A-mark. Great job!"

"Err…" Kitsuneme sent a furtive glance to his partner and coughed, "Thanks, sir."

The silence that followed was deafening. Koko looked around the room and it was difficult to determine how his classmates felt about the turn of events. Most of them looked like they weren't sure how they should feel. Some were actually frowning, blatantly disagreeing with Narumi's verdict. Koko squirmed beneath the scrutiny.

Then suddenly, from the back of the room, Ruka started clapping. He glanced around then stood up, "Good one, you two. That was well deserved."

Some people started applauding with him, Yuu and Mochu included, but there were still unfriendly glances being sent in their direction. They looked at each other, quite immobile as they tried to decide if that was the end of their report or if they should explain themselves.

This might get ugly, Koko thought.

Then the one who could turn the tide, their own generation's prodigy, finally moved. Natsume pushed back his chair with a grunt then stood next to Ruka. Heads turned and even Narumi looked startled. Natsume clapped, and not in the rhythmic way everyone else was doing. He clapped sincerely, his appreciation genuine though his expression remained unreadable. They had to be his friend to have picked that up. It made them smile.

After that, it didn't matter if everyone else joined in, which they did though no one but Ruka and Natsume stood. It didn't even register that they had gotten an A. To Koko and Kitsuneme, everything else paled in comparison to that moment when the Black Cat had favored them while everyone else looked on, utterly bewildered by his approval.

"I still can't believe you pulled that off," Yuu said shaking his head. They were all gathered for lunch and had briefed the rest on what had happened in class. "That was an incomplete report, if I ever heard one."

"What can I say?" Koko said smugly. "I suppose Mr. Narumi saw our effort throughout this whole project and realized we deserve top grade."

Mochu wasn't buying it. "Effort? If we could get through this school through effort points you, me and Kitsuneme would be special star students and Natsume would be a no-star."

Kitsuneme grinned. "Well this is a special case. Remember, Kira Samushiro practically ruled this school. How could we not get an A after reporting on him?"

"That's just it," Sumire said in exasperation. "You didn't really report on him!"

Koko smiled at her indulgently. "You're just jealous because Natsume didn't give you a standing ovation."

"I gave a what?" came a cold voice at his elbow and Koko blanched. He and Kitsuneme immediately slid down the table to make room for him and Ruka.

"Nothing, nothing," Koko said quickly. "Would you like some more pie, oh great one?"

Natsume sent him a dark look before turning to his lunch. Then he caught Mikan's eye who was sitting across him. He raised an eyebrow at the happy look on her face.

"I'm just really glad to see you."

Natsume smirked then said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Missed me that much, eh?"

Mikan sputtered. "N-no! I have something to return to you. Remember, you lent me—"

His gaze slipped from hers and he began picking at his food. "Later."

She colored at once, realizing that Natsume was unaware that everyone already knew she had his uniform jacket. It was typical that no one teased him about it while they gave her a hard time when she walked in at breakfast with it.

Yuu moved to change the subject by turning to Koko and Kitsuneme again. "So… what did happen to Kira Samushiro? It's just us. I'm sure you can tell us what you found out."

"Sorry Iinchou," Koko said a little too boastfully. "That's on a need-to-know basis."

"We have been entrusted with highly confidential information," Kitsuneme threw in. "And we plan to take the secret with us."

"To the grave."

"The afterlife."

"And beyond."

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "It can't be that big a mystery. What idiot would entrust the two of you with an important secret?"

"What do you guys want to know?" Ruka leapt in when he saw Natsume's eyebrow twitch. To his surprise, the table suddenly started flowing with questions and he realized that everyone had caught on the White Wolf hype.

"Did he leave the school under good circumstances?" Anna asked.

"If he's such a great person, how come the teachers don't talk about him?"

"Why is his departure such a mystery?" Wakako threw in.

"Was he really the best in the dangerous ability class?"

"Where is he now and what is he doing?"

Mikan piped up, "Did he ever marry? Have kids?"

"He left behind a girl," Natsume broke in and the table immediately fell silent. He continued to eat while he spoke and studiously avoided meeting anyone's gaze. "She was incredible, even by my standards. If his fortune turned and he somehow met her again outside the Academy, I've no doubt he'd be married now."

Even by my standards. That was high praise and everyone knew it. Plus, his words confirmed his connection with Kira Samushiro and no one had expected that. It seemed Natsume was full of surprises that morning, which made him even more difficult to read than usual.

Natsume finished his lunch as though he hadn't just shut them all up. He ate quickly then stood without bothering to check if Ruka was ready to go too. Everyone was startled when he paused, reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a brass pocket watch to check the time. It was the first time they ever saw the thing on his person.

Natsume cleared his throat. "Koko, Kitsuneme, are you two doing anything this afternoon?"

They beamed when they realized the Black Cat had singled them out once again. "No."

"Good. Meet me at the field at three o'clock."

Ruka choked on his drink. Koko and Kitsuneme's jaws dropped and everyone else gaped. They all got his meaning. It was a challenge. For some reason, the Black Cat was seeking retribution from the two and he had spoken in a tone that left no room for entreaties. If the time and the place weren't enough to confirm his intentions, his next words were.

Natsume turned to Mochu. "Want to watch?"

Mochu saw his friends' ashen complexions and chuckled, "Wouldn't miss it."

Five years ago, Kira Samushiro's bedroom, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight

They sat together on the window seat, speaking in soft tones as though they were both cautious about being caught in his room in the middle of the night. He made jokes and she laughed lightly. She asked questions and he answered in a gentle tone. He smiled but laughed very little. She smiled back and sought comfort in his warmth. They spoke of a number of things— the school, their friends, life outside— all the while dancing around the topics lurking at the back of their minds.

Marie dropped her head on the crook of his neck. His hand moved from her waist to her shoulder, drawing her even closer. She felt so small when he held her but when he threaded his fingers through hers, he could feel strength there; a strength that could match his own.

"What will you do when it's all over?"

He chuckled. "With the skills I learned here? I'll probably end up stealing from the rich and giving to the poor." She smiled against his shirt. "You?"

Marie paused, "Married to a thief, apparently."

Kira tried to respond in jest but he couldn't. He bent his head and she looked up to meet his gaze. There was another pause, longer than a heartbeat.

"How long will you be gone?"

"At least two years, I expect," he sighed heavily. "Don't wait for me Marie."

"I won't," she answered, her voice barely audible. "I haven't forgotten. No promises— we said it when this began. I won't mean to wait. But what makes you think I'd have forgotten about you in two years?"

Her words made him weak and so Kira gathered her in. She lay against his shoulder, their hearts beating in unison while the moon continued to watch them.

"I want you to be happy."

"Then come find me," Marie said. She laid a hand against his chest and pushed herself up. Her eyes stared intently into his. "We'll say our goodbyes now then you come to me in two years. Let's just see what happens after that."

Kira was silent for a long time. Her gaze didn't waver and it was breaking down all his defenses. She reached out and drew wayward strands away from his eyes then ran her fingers through his silver hair.

"Will you be there?"

His last wall of resistance crumbled and he leaned in to touch her lips with his. It was the first time he dared to say it and the way she responded to his kiss told him how long she had already waited for his vow.

"I promise."

Q & A

1. How did you think of this story? (for crimsoneyes44)

I was on hiatus before I published "His Dark, Kind Soul". During that time, I was actually playing around with a Ruka and Hotaru fic. When I visited the fandom again, I realized most authors were already writing romance stories. Although that brought in reviews, I didn't think it was growing the fandom very well so I wanted to throw in something different. I wanted to see if there would be a readership for that. If there was, I decided I wanted to write for that audience.

At the time, a lot of people were also writing about the Alice Academy War. Doing so would mean making assumptions and risking overstepping the mangaka. I decided to go backwards instead and explore Natsume's story since the manga already focuses on Mikan. I thought there should be a reason why he turned out the way he did. After that, creating OCs was inevitable.

Kira Samushiro was born in a nearly empty coffeehouse, on the back of a presentation handout while I was waiting for someone who was two hours delayed. Needless to say, I wasn't bored waiting.

2. What was your inspiration? (for multiple readers)

There were many things like stories, current events, movies and music. A lot of the scenes were inspired by songs. Here's a basic playlist that got me going:

* How I Go (Yellowcard)
* Only One (Yellowcard)
* Storm (Lifehouse)
* Broken (Lifehouse)
* Cat and Mouse (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus)
* Harbor (Vienna Teng)
* Things will Go My Way (The Calling)
* Breathe (Greenwheel)
* Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 (Rachmaninoff)
* Grand Canyon Suite (Gershwin)

There are more but I think this would give a fair idea of where I draw inspiration. It constantly changes, depending on the plot flow. If you're not familiar with them, I strongly encourage you to check out these songs and the two pieces mentioned in this chapter.