His Dark, Kind Soul

Author's Note: This chapter grew and changed until it had a life of its own. Inspired by William Ernest Henley's compelling poem, Invictus. This is the penultimate chapter.

Chapter 15: Invictus

Present day, Restricted Building, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen

Davies wasn't an Elemental. His was a latent ability, but a very frightening one indeed. His mind was so powerful that his strategies had been deemed infallible. He had been a legend in his own time, being in the upper echelon as a student and later a trainer. If there was a level Narumi wanted to reach as an Alice Academy teacher, it would be the rank the elder Nakajima had attained.

Narumi entered Davies' office, which had been turned into a small library in his absence. His eyes scanned the shelves where his colleague's old toys were kept behind glass panels. Each piece was still in good condition but the stillness of the objects belied the merriment they used to bring. He could remember what the place had looked like when all those objects had hung about the room. Davies had loved Physics and those furnishings were a testament of it.

The model of the Hindenburg on the top shelf used to circle overhead in a wide girth. The trains on the second level had journeyed a track that hung on the wall circling the room. The balancing toys in the image of a vaudeville clown, a 1940s fighter plane and a family of acrobats had sat on pedestals, swinging back and forth on their heavy fulcrums. There was also that galleon, which now rested on the bottom shelf, which had cruised the bay windows. It had navigated around Davies' other gadgets: an old Newton's cradle, a metronome and dozens of topographical globes spinning on their imaginary axis. All these had moved in quiet precision by the power of their Master.

Yes, he wasn't an Elemental but Davies knew how to speak through his Alice. On pleasant days the room would come to life as the objects moved briskly and without a hitch. When he was thoughtful, they would stir in a steady rhythm. When he was angry, the objects stopped or fell off their course as though the forces keeping them in check had swelled and pitched them off their trail. But it was frightening most of all when the room fell silent and Narumi had the misfortune of seeing this happen twice. The first time was when Taro Nakajima died. The second was the night Kira Samushiro fell. Both times the silence had been palpable and there was a completely dead air.

In their last conversation, just before the older man took off, they had exchanged their views on how they could change the Academy. It was at the onset of war and they were both aware of the danger that was coming to the school. He told Davies he would stay behind and try to change things from the inside. Would he try to do the same outside the walls?

Davies had smiled faintly. "No. I think I would open a third option. I would stand at the periphery, working with the school but outside its jurisdiction. I would give refuge to the victims of this war, regardless of what faction they belong to. If Kira were still with us, he would certainly stand with me."

The man was a genius and so you tended to believe such a thing was possible. After that, Davies left and his study was silent since then.

Five years passed and in that time the Academy went through many changes. Some were for the better but others plunged the school deeper into the darkness that was characteristic of its long history. At this point, it was hard to tell who had been more successful in his endeavor for Narumi had heard nothing of his old colleague's quests outside the school.

Narumi's gaze fell upon the complex rolling ball structure that covered the entire east wall of the room. That ball maze had been a gift from Davies' prized students, knowing their handler's penchant for Physics. Samushiro had worked on the calculations. Yotsuga had helped design it. Kogure and Segur had built it together. They gave it to him on Christmas Eve and Narumi could never quite forget the startling smile that came upon their typically stern teacher. Their gift had survived the years, with its many bridges, tracks and pulleys. It stood as evidence that such a team had once existed in the Dangerous Ability class.

Narumi glanced at the time, expecting the man to arrive to the minute for he was nothing if not precise. To occupy himself he took a metal ball and dropped it at the beginning slot. His eyes traced the path it traveled as it made its way down, jumping from one obstacle to the next— rolling, twisting, dropping— falling to the finish. When it reached the end of the course, Narumi's watch beeped to signal to the second hour. He was about to turn for the door when the metal ball at the end of the line suddenly began rolling backwards, retracing theway it had come and defying natural laws as it traveled upwards. Narumi took a cautious step back.

Then the whole room instantly burst into life.

"What did they do?"

"I don't know but it must have something to do with Narumi's project. Remember, they did manage to return to the dorm the other day. And they even got an A."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…"

Koko and Kitsuneme eyed each other nervously. After Natsume's very public announcement, everyone had been scrutinizing them. The Black Cat had called them out! How does anyone recover from that? Natsume had been known to challenge people who offended him. Only it never turned out to be an actual challenge because the person never stood a chance. Typically, said student would just be at the Black Cat's mercy and ended up taking whatever punishment he dealt out.

"Where is it going to happen again?"

"The field at three o'clock."

"Come early, there'll be a crowd."

They should've expected this. Natsume had shared his past with them then he saved them from the censure of the class. How could they think they could get away with everything? Of course Natsume would teach them a lesson. That's how he was! Koko buried his head in his arms just as some of their friends came to join them. The whispers continued and they picked up the last of the remarks being thrown around them.

"This is going to be epic."

"I hear it'll be worse than the orange juice incident in the fifth grade."

"Or do you remember the science fair project last year?"

"It was the bomb. Literally."

"I'm amazed that so many things get spilled and explode around Natsume," Sumire muttered as she sat down. "You'd think fate would be more merciful."

"Maybe it's because people get nervous around him," Nonoko surmised. "I know it turns girls into utter klutzes. Good thing Natsume never calls them out."

"Speak for yourself," Mikan muttered and a couple of them laughed.

Yuu looked worriedly at the poor duelists. "How are you two holding up?"

"Pretty good right now," Kitsuneme said, a tremor in his voice. "After two-thirty, I don't know. What time is it now?"

"Two o'clock," Natsume answered as he walked past them, still sporting the brass pocket watch on his coat. "Don't be late."

He heard the two of them groan loudly as he and Ruka walked away without bothering to stop. Ruka chuckled. He knew his friend was just toying with their classmates, but then he realized he shouldn't be too calm because the Black Cat could be pretty unpredictable. For all he knew, he was taking this punishment seriously. After all, Koko and Kitsuneme had crossed some kind of line and that wasn't a light offense.

He injected humor in his tone. "You know, everyone's expecting something big, even bigger than the ice cream fiasco last month. Don't disappoint us."

"Tch," was all he said. Then his brows drew close, "That reminds me, did Minoru ever hear out of his left ear again?"

"I don't know," Ruka shrugged. "I could check that out for you."

"You do that," Natsume said carelessly. When he didn't elaborate on his plans any further, Ruka's alarm did go up a bit.

"Natsume, you're not seriously thinking of fighting it out on the field with Koko and Kitsuneme, are you?" he asked tentatively. "I mean, one can fly and the other just reads minds. They'd fall at your feet before you even begin."

Natsume rolled his eyes. "You've got to know me better than that."

"Right," he said, feeling relieved. "So are you going easy on them?"

His friend snorted. "You've got to know me better that."

He laughed. "Just restoring balance in the world, huh?"

"They got an A," Natsume said emphatically. He looked at the pocket watch again then rubbed it against his coat to get rid of the fingerprints on the clock face.

"I didn't know you carried that around with you," Ruka said with a faint smile.

"Only when it's appropriate."

He caught the serious note in his friend's tone. "By any chance, did you go over Kira's essay again?"

Natsume looked distant. "Not for a while now."

Five years ago, Study Hall, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight

Kira's eyebrows were knit in concentration as he crafted one of the biggest cover-ups he'd ever done. He scanned the diary he kept of Natsume's training then made additional notes on the report he was working on. He had spent the past hour deleting lines and names from the documents. He pulled out papers and altered information with a cunning eye. The end report was sure to be distorted, more so because he had purposely mixed Natsume's file with his own.

He leaned back on his chair to study what he had written down. The conversation he had with Davies an hour ago lingered in his mind. He had finally given his teacher his answer and the discussion that ensued had led him here.

"I'll sign the contract and stay for two years."

Davies had frowned. "We need you for five."

"No more," Kira said resolutely. "You do all you can to finish in two years. Experiment on me, cut me open… do what you will but I'll only do this for two more years. Give me back the rest of my life Davies."

"We can't rush these things—"

"There are things I want to do," he spoke softly. "I want to get a job, nothing spectacular, just enough to earn a living. There are places I want to see, people I need to find." He laughed a little, shook his head. "And there's a girl— a brilliant, beautiful girl. By some miracle, she loves me deeply and I think I can make her happy."

"It's not that easy."

"I need time to do all that." He looked earnest. "If you're telling the truth and you hold me in some regard, then you'll understand that if you can't heal me in two years, I deserve to have the rest of my life back."

Davies stared him then slowly nodded, "I'll work it out with the institution."

"There's one more thing." Kira took a breath. "I want Natsume to come with me."

"That's not my decision to make."

"I know but I had to try." He met his teacher's gaze. "I'm no better than the rest of the Academy if I leave him behind."

"Neither of us has any power over his fate," Davies said regretfully. "They would never let him go. As we speak, they are already planning their next steps for him."

"What's to become of Natsume?"

"It's hard to say."

"There must be a way to help him—"

"You've done all you can to ensure his survival," he said grimly. "It's up to him now. Since you are his teacher, I'm confident that he will be all right."

"All right is a relative term," Kira answered quietly. "I've no doubt he'll survive, magnificently, but I don't know what will be left of him when it's over."

It would be useless to say Natsume would be fine. The school would ask of him things that shouldn't be asked of a child. They would twist him into something dark and frightening— the very person Kira had fought so hard to keep him from becoming.

An idea occurred to Davies. "The school is asking for an evaluation of Natsume Hyuuga." He pulled out a folder and laid it on the desk. "I am giving you one hour to make your final statements."

"You mean you'll let me—"

"Protect him in the way you know how, in the manner you've been given."

"Thank you."

So here he was, alone in the study hall, picking out details that would be safe for the Academy to know. He took out everything that made his boy vulnerable, nothing about his fears about his sister or his faithful best friend. He crossed out lines advising how to manage the pyrokinetic's temper then tore out a page listing his physical and psychological weaknesses. He intended to leave behind a bland report, a story about an uncontrollable kid the Academy should and will fear. Perhaps they would learn the truth about him later on but he wasn't about to make things easier for them.

Some time later Kurt and Mahiro joined him. They watched him go through the activity with some confusion. He came to the last part of his charade and an ironic smile flitted across his face as he removed his own name from the files.

Kurt checked his watch. The allotted time was nearly up. "Are you finished?"

"Almost done. Hang on," Kira muttered as he listed a couple of names on a post-it then proceeded to slap it on another sheet containing Natsume's modified profile.

Little Torch

Little Whirlwind

Sundance Kid

Moody Kid

Dark Cloud

Storm Cloud

Little Nimbus

Kira encircled Little Nimbus. Kurt and Mahiro exchanged a look. He saw their expressions and sought to explain. "This may be the greatest kindness I'll ever do for him." He gathered the pertinent papers and tucked them inside a brown envelope. "I can't protect him from the Academy but I will provide him with a final safeguard. By dissociating himself from me, he will be away from the dangers I have started to run from."

"He can't avoid all of it," Kurt said reasonably as he received the sealed envelope. "Not while he's in the Academy."

"Yes, but at least none will come from him knowing me."

Mahiro frowned. "But if you do this, no one would ever know you trained him."

"He'll know. That would be enough." Kira took the discarded papers and threw them into the fireplace. All evidence went up in smoke.

"Are you certain you want to do this?" Mahiro said uncertainly. "Little Nimbus is your greatest accomplishment. It's not fair."

"Mahiro, we're about to go into battle," he said gently. "Even now, there's danger coming. You're aware that Veidt was killed the other day. A high-profile man assassinated on the grounds will have repercussions. I'm certain of it. It's best that Natsume distance himself from all that."

"But what good will this do?"

"Veidt targeted me for being Davies' student. I won't let that happen to Natsume. Besides, he won't be 'Little Nimbus' for long."

"Are you sure about this?" Kurt asked one last time. Mahiro stood up to walk with him to Davies' office to submit the report.

Kira nodded resolutely. "His new name, the one they give him, the one stories will be built on, shall have nothing to do with me."

As he said this the doors were pulled open and Natsume stepped inside. Kira waved in greeting, a sincere smile breaking over his features. Kurt and Mahiro greeted him too then left. Natsume took the chair across Kira. By then, all the papers about their missions, about Natsume's progress and their team were gone. He looked at the documents scattered on the desk but could only see Kira's other schoolwork. He waited for his mentor to speak but Kira was poring over another essay.

"You know I'm still eight," Natsume began when he was ignored for a full minute. "If we don't have a mission, don't you think I should be in bed like all the other kids?"

Kira snorted as he finished a paragraph. "I hardly think a kid like you would have a bed time."

"Why did you call me here?" Kira reached into his bag and Natsume almost groaned when he pulled out his chessboard. The Captain saw the comical look on his face and laughed.

"One game then I'll send you off."

"One game and that's it?"

Kira nodded as he set up the board. "One game and we're done."

Natsume paused. There was regret in the Captain's tone and an uneasiness that didn't belong in a room that contained only them. To distract himself, Natsume reached over and began setting up the pieces on his side of the board.

"Can I be white?"

"Sure. Why?"

"You're the one on defense tonight."

"Touché," Kira said with good humor. Natsume played his first move. Kira studied the board and because he did so for a long time, Natsume knew his mind was somewhere else.

"It's only your first move. You're thinking of something else."

Kira played his Knight. "So you're reading your enemy now, are you?"

"That's what you taught me," Natsume replied easily. "But then, you're not my enemy." He moved his pawn then glanced up to see that Kira wasn't looking at the board and was studying him instead, a startled look on his face.

That was a compliment. It may have taken a long time but Natsume finally made that admission. Despite everything that happened, or perhaps because of it, he now recognized Kira as his ally. It was the one thing Kira needed to hear before he left.

"When do you leave?"

Kira laughed. "What? Can you also read minds now?" He leaned back on his chair then carelessly played another official."Right after graduation."

Natsume diverted his eyes, unsure of how the news affected him. For a while, they continued playing in silence while Kira's words hung in the air. This was what he asked Kira to do but still…

"Are you scared?"

"Of course not!" he retorted in annoyance.

He laughed, wore that honest, easy grin Natsume came to know. "It's okay if you are."

"I'm not scared," Natsume grumbled then flushed as Kira immediately ate a pawn after he made a distracted move. "Okay, maybe I am… just a little bit."

"Of what?"

"That I might die when I'm on my own," he said bluntly. Kira opened his lips but Natsume cut him off. "Don't tell me it's not a possibility because it is. You must have thought it too. You wrote it in your story. That's the ending, right? The eight-year-old dies."

Kira halted, belatedly realizing how that assignment had come across. "Natsume, that kid in the story Marie and I wrote… that wasn't you."

"It sure sounded like me."

He shook his head. "It was me. That's how I felt when I was your age. But it'll be different for you. You've got the same skills but you're not me and I meant it when I said that I never wanted you to be like me. I'll make it so that it'll be different for you."

"But what happens when you're gone?" Natsume challenged. "They're bound to disband us. What happens to me now?"

Kira exhaled. "They're giving you to Rei Serio."

"Persona?" Natsume said in revulsion.

"Yes." Kira looked uneasy. "You need to be careful when you're working with him."

"How will I know if I'm being careful enough?" he asked, his real fears coming through. He knew Persona well enough, having encountered him when he first came to the Academy, and he wasn't one of the good guys. "What about my sister? What's going to happen to her?"

"I don't know—"

"It was all well for you," he said accusingly. "You had the Nakajimas to teach you. You had Kunimitsu and Marie. You met Kurt and Mahiro and everything turned out all right."

"I didn't always have them," Kira returned. "A lot of times I was on my own and I had to work for people I hated. But that's the lesson, isn't it? No matter what happens, whatever they put you through, you need to pull through because there'll be people depending on you."

"Do you think that's easy?"

"No, far from it, it's going to be damn hard." Kira looked him straight in the eye. "But like me you'll meet people who'll want to help you. I just hope you have the sense to let them in."

"What if I don't?"

"You're smart so you will," he said wryly. He played another piece, eating one of Natsume's officials in the process. He looked at Natsume's stony expression. "One day, you're going to hate a lot of things about the Academy. You'll hate the teachers, hate the campus for what it represents, maybe even hate me for training you in their stead."

"Probably. Could you stand it?"

"Sure, you'll forgive me in the end," he said with certainty. Then he sighed. "But Natsume, I hope you also find something about this place to love. If you do, there's a greater chance you'll live long enough for us to see each other again."

"You think we'll meet again?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure of it," he smirked. After he put Natsume's King in check, he turned back to his essay. Natsume was muttering oaths under his breath as he examined their positions on the board. He moved his King.

"Your turn."

"Hang on," Kira mumbled as he concluded his piece.

"What are you working on?"

"This is for you," Kira grinned. "When we were thirteen, our teacher asked us to write about famous members of the alumni. I did mine on this dead guy who studied Alice Genetics. If I were asked now, I'd write about my best friend instead."

"Could you do that?"

"And fail probably but I don't care. I'd have written an essay about a remarkable Alice just as they asked." He slipped the paper inside an envelope then slid it to Natsume. "It's just a draft. You can do the rest of the work later on. They don't think of him as an Alice Great right now, but one day Natsume, you tell them for me. Kunimitsu Kogure— Ironsmith— was the greatest Alice the White Wolf had ever known."

"Homework in advance," Natsume snickered. "Cool."

Kira chuckled. "You'll probably be a slacker in the future. Kid with your brains and your pride? I wouldn't be surprised if you thought class was a waste of time. Do me a favor and try to do homework once in a while."

"You're asking me to remember so many things," Natsume griped as Kira placed his King in check again. He moved it sideways. "This is really goodbye, isn't it?"

His Captain sighed. "You don't have to remember me. But for their sake, and your own, remember those who have fallen." He cornered Natsume at the edge of the board with his Bishop. "Checkmate."

And they were done.

The kid glanced up. "You said we'll see each other again." Kira smiled and a small one tugged on Natsume's lips. "I'll beat you at chess then."

Kira laughed. "Tell you what, you can keep my board. Return it to me when we meet again and we'll play."

"Okay."

Natsume stood up and they packed up the board. Kira gathered his things then he rounded the table to walk back to the dormitories with the kid. He looked at Natsume, so much stronger than what he had been when they first met, then held out his hand.

It was his only reward for teaching him. When Natsume received his handshake it was the eight-year-old who initiated a hug.

Nothing in the Academy ever went unpunished, but that didn't mean fair trials and penalties were dealt out. It was always one person's word against another's and when you threw business into the mix, lines get blurred and things tended to get out of control.

Natsume was in Kurt's workshop when the latter was arrested. The Giant was going over Kunimitsu's clock tower designs, intending to continue where his senior had left off, when the guards came suddenly and seized him. Kurt hadn't tried to fight them off. It was Natsume who rose to his defense, growling and firing like an enraged animal. He was flung to the side and Griffin only had enough time to shake his head in warning before he was taken away.

The same thing occurred in two other sites. Students were charged with the murder of Tadahiko Kawahara, a grave and reprehensible crime. Griffin was accused because he had a motive, Static for her skill and Hisashi, the Tank, for his misdemeanor record. The Academy was taking cheap shots and the Dangerous Ability class braced itself for the onslaught.

"We have to do something," Jade hissed. Their mixed class had gathered in one of the classrooms of the Restricted Building, discussing in low voices.

"Like what?" AC asked brusquely. He fired small lightning bolts at the floor, leaving angry scorch marks. "Talk to the school? We don't exist, remember? Who would listen to us?"

"We've got to try," Sheridan said earnestly. "This is a serious allegation. If any of them are convicted, they would be handed over to the crowd."

"There's nothing we can do."

"We could fight," Natsume said softly.

The Grey Soldier snorted. "What makes you think the Academy would exercise restraint if we revolted? Better to just lie low. It'll be safer for us."

"What makes you think you'd be spared if this happened again?" Sonic shot back.

The Soldier frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying they could turn on any of us," Sonic spat out. "I'm saying if you had been more convenient you'd be in prison instead of your friend."

The Soldier threw the first punch and a brawl immediately followed. Natsume jumped off the sill to leave the room while the others tried to break up the fight. He wondered where the Captain was because they certainly needed his leadership right then.

Kira was in Davies' office. He was furious and just a little desperate, knowing how difficult it would be to fight the Academy. He had no one to go to but his teacher, but Davies refused to go against the school.

"If things were different and they had taken me instead, would you take it so lightly?"

"Veidt was a powerful man," Davies said evasively. "The world is looking for answers and it's imperative that we provide them."

"So that's it? You would've let them castigate me for a murder I didn't commit?" Kira snapped. "Better that I— or any of us— be imprisoned for our other crimes, but not this. None of us should be tried in court for that bastard's murder, especially when it wasn't even our satisfaction!"

"There is nothing that can be done," Davies said coolly. "The order was given by a school Director. He clearly outranks both of us and if we question the command, we will put ourselves and those accused in greater risk."

"So what happens now?"

"Unless the real culprit is caught or if he confesses, those students will remain under arrest. This shouldn't be new to you. You've seen this play out dozens of times."

"But that doesn't justify it," Kira said bitterly. "Tell me something, if it's a motive they're looking for, why wasn't I arrested?"

"You were above reproach—"

"No, I'm not," he countered at once. "Everybody knows I despise Veidt. Until recently, I was practically suicidal on my missions and I've never been above defying the Academy's orders. I'm a clear choice. So why not me?"

"There were other plans for you," Davies answered lamely.

"I thought so," Kira muttered angrily. Then he turned for the door. Davies called after him, immediately vigilant.

"Kira, don't do anything stupid. You are close— very close— to leaving the school."

Kira stopped, a hand on the door. He glanced back. "I don't want to just leave Davies. I want to be free."

Present day, Football Field, Natsume Hyuuga at age thirteen

A crowd had gathered at the football field by the time Natsume arrived. Koko and Kitsuneme wore grim looks while they did their stretches. The girls were busy cheering them on though they didn't look that confident. A steady silence came over the group as he and Ruka approached, alerting the duelists of his presence.

In truth, Natsume was surprised at the number of people that had come to watch. When he asked Koko and Kitsuneme to meet with him, he had no intention of turning it into a debacle. His careless invitation for Mochu was more to rattle the two than to turn this into an event. He should have known duels and penalties fascinated the student body. Indeed, he should have known.

Punishment, Natsume thought in irony as he played the conclusion of five years ago in his head, Consequences and repercussions. He knew it all too well. Sentences were dealt out in different ways in the Academy. He learned that the hard way, having dealt and received his fair share.

"Did anyone bring a first aid kit?" he heard Yuu ask urgently when they drew near, "Or a stretcher?"

"Relax," Ruka muttered next to him. "They won't need it."

"Really?" Yuu said, a glimmer of hope.

Natsume snorted then clarified, "If they're precise, they won't need it."

An excited murmur went through the crowd. Ruka rolled his eyes at his best friend who walked towards Koko and Kitsuneme with an arrogant gait. Before he could speak, they suddenly burst out.

"Please don't say hand to hand combat," Kitsuneme pleaded.

"Or an Alice duel. I'm a Mind Reader, I don't do duels," Koko added.

"No physical challenges—"

"Or mental challenges—"

"How about an eating contest? No? Or maybe—"

Natsume quirked an eyebrow. "Shut up. I have no interest in fighting you."

"Oh thank God!" Koko cried in relief. "Because I have to say Natsume, I'd never survive."

"Like I didn't know that," he drawled.

"But then… what are we doing here?"

Natsume pulled out his pocket watch for the third time that day. Then he turned to look towards the main campus. He glanced briefly at the clock face then again at the distance as though he was waiting for something. Everyone was silent.

"What time is it?" he asked enigmatically and no one answered him because he was holding his pocket watch and nobody wanted to be wrong.

"Two minutes past three," came a voice and the crowd parted to reveal Mikan Sakura who was glancing at her watch. She looked up in confusion when she noticed everyone was staring at her. "What? He asked."

Natsume actually grinned before turning to Koko and Kitsuneme. They stared back, utterly bewildered. He snickered, "Wait for it…"

On cue, the clock tower suddenly sounded to signal the hour. It gave three tolls that resounded mysteriously throughout the silent crowd. When it was finished, Natsume looked expectantly at Koko and Kitsuneme but they looked more baffled than ever. Then suddenly Yuu smacked his forehead, finally breaking the silence.

"The clock tower is off by two minutes!"

Koko and Kitsuneme blanched. "You mean—"

"I want you to time it," Natsume said bluntly. They looked at him blankly.

"That's it?"

"No slavery or other form of physical torture?" Kitsuneme prodded. "Just… time it?"

Natsume snickered. "It's pretty old so the control box doesn't work anymore. You need to climb up there and time it." Their jaws dropped.

"Climb it? But that's twelve flights!" Koko exclaimed.

"Twelve long flights," Kitsuneme agreed.

"That's right," he smirked. "And do it without your Alices."

"You can't be serious," Kitsuneme cried. "That's… that's just impossible!"

"You might surprise yourself," Natsume answered then he found himself quoting his mentor. "Remember, without your Alice, you're only human."

"I'm a Mind Reader!" Koko cried out. "I am human!"

"Then you should get started," Natsume advised mercilessly. "After all, you wouldn't want to be there after dark."

Five years ago, Alice Academy, Natsume Hyuuga at age eight

Something was wrong. He didn't know what it was but something was wrong. He was sure of it ever since Kira stepped out of Davies' office two days ago. He had told Natsume that everything would be all right, but he talked little and laughed even less and so Natsume's trepidation grew.

The following day Kira ran drills. He started when there was barely sun out, running laps using the campus borders to mark his track. Later, he underwent weight training and target practice, hitting the board until there was nothing left of it. After lunch he joined the juniors in running obstacle courses. He went at it again and again, until the simulations changed and grew harder, until Natsume was the only one left running with him, until eventually he was left running alone. When he was finished an awestruck crowd had gathered. He smiled then withdrew, taking with him a thick reference manual on combat basics. At dinner, he reappeared and inexplicably began quizzing Natsume about diffusing Alices. By nightfall, he was back in the training room doing shadow exercises and he went at it until everyone had turned in for bed.

Kira was preparing himself. Natsume didn't know for what but it definitely had the Captain rattled. Otherwise, why would the White Wolf, the student purported to be an unassailable weapon, put himself under training? The Academy was watching him the whole time and he knew it; but the school was letting things play out, arrogant that they could stop him any time if he was up to something. The Captain let them believe it.

The next day Kira was back to his normal self. He joked with his friends, though his laughter never did hold the same cheer as it did when Kunimitsu was alive. He attended classes and even aced his Calculus exam. In the afternoon he hung out with Marie. At sunset, he met briefly with him and Mahiro just to catch up then finally he retired to his room. Kira was acting weird but he insisted he was just distracted by all the things he needed to take care of. Natsume didn't believe a word of it and so he followed the Captain and waited for him outside his quarters. When Kira emerged, he stopped and stared at his protégé. Natsume stepped away from the wall and they faced each other as though they were about to square off.

"Kunimitsu told you not to be careless."

Kira exhaled and suddenly the eight years between them seemed to stretch to twenty. The late afternoon light bounced off his shoulders and placed a glare on his glasses, effectively masking his eyes. His Alice Academy uniform was crisp but just then it looked like his shroud. He didn't speak.

"I want to go with you."

He shook his head but still said nothing. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small note, cleverly folded into a triangle. He handed it to Natsume. "For Marie." Then he stepped around him.

Natsume spun around. "Captain—"

"I told you Natsume, we're done," Kira said curtly. He stopped walking but didn't look back. "I have no idea how things turned out the way they did but here we are. What I'm about to do is just short of insane, so no, you can't come with me."

After he said it he began walking again. Natsume could have said many things but he bit his tongue, the triangular note clutched in his fist. Kira forbade him from coming but had done nothing to disable him. There was significance in that. There had to be. Natsume was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear Kira's final response.

"I won't be careless, Natsume."

That was the only assurance he was free to give. But there was a warning in his tone and as he walked away Natsume could feel the cold emanating from his flesh. The Wolf's shield was coming up. After dark, he would begin.

The Academy had ten Directors and six of them resided within the grounds. Three of those Directors were upright but the rest had disreputable backgrounds. One of them handled internal affairs, whatever that meant to him.

That Director was a stocky, overweight man of about eight and forty years. He was a person who indulged in several luxuries, and typically sported a rich tailored coat over a silk shirt that seemed to burst at the seams. His tie hung like a noose around his neck and he patted it smooth ever so often as he shuffled his weight down the hall. He was flanked by two bodyguards, Alices with an acceptable level of skill but hardly remarkable talents like the students he had dealt with in his years. However, they gave him blind loyalty and he favored that above all things.

He had just come from a sumptuous feast at the Headmaster's quarters and he congratulated himself for his impeccable performance at the dinner table. He was certain to be invited back. He reached the end of the corridor and opened the door to his room.

Boom!

The Director was swept off his feet as two sharp blades of ice pierced through his coat and carted him upwards. He flew across the room and hit the wall where he was suspended. His bodyguards jumped into action but his assailant quickly disabled them. He sent one flying with a well-aimed kick and a gun fired unexpectedly when it hit the floor. The bullet ricocheted off a trophy before embedding itself into the oak table. The other guard quickly ran for the door after sliding ridiculously on the frozen floor. His enemy slammed the door after him. He threw a derisive glance at the unconscious bodyguard then trained his eye on his main prey.

The Director quaked in fear and with good reason. He'd heard all the stories about the White Wolf. This was the boy taught by Orion, the student who had beaten the psychic in fair combat and had commanded a troublesome team of five. The boy was garbed in black and his shock of silver hair stood out against the dire uniform. He had wrapped the entire room in ice and he stood at the center, eyeing his target with fearsome eyes.

"Why are you—?"

Three icicles crashed against the wall, silencing him. The cold began to seep into his flesh and a burning pain started through his rheumatic limbs.

"For your crimes," the Wolf said irrevocably. Another piece sailed from him to the Director then hovered above his neck.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"If I have, you've only your kind to blame." He released the icicle and it sliced the side of his neck. Blood trickled down the frost, staining it red.

"If you kill me, you'll never make it out of here alive."

"Do you think I haven't thought this through?" the Wolf mocked. "But since Davies refused to rise against you, I'm here to lay down your punishment."

He was astonished. "Are you avenging Veidt?"

"I'm saving my own," he said tersely. "The students you apprehended are innocent. Take back the order and have the crime charged against me instead."

"No one would believe—"

"I am giving you a reason right now." So saying the blades on his shoulders twisted and cut through his suit. He squirmed in pain as it grazed his shoulders. "Tell them that, in my insanity, I confessed and attacked you."

"You ass," the Director coughed. "I spared you from all this. I took your name off the list—"

"I'm not like you or Davies." The Wolf's gaze grew hard. "I'm not about to climb the ranks just so I could hide my sins. I get it now. There's no good side or bad side to this war. There are just people like me who want to do right and people like you who keep screwing us over."

The ice cut deeper and the Director began to beg, "Mercy, please…"

"Mercy?" The word tasted bitter on his tongue. "You dare to ask for something you've always denied us? You bastard."

The Director began struggling for a foothold. The Wolf looked on with scorn while the ice leached into his flesh. For a while they remained that way, with the Director flailing wildly as his blood flow decelerated from the frost.

"You really mean to kill me…"

"No," the Wolf said coldly. "No, I don't because I need you alive."

Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside the door. The Wolf whipped around, vigilant of the sound and the Director took advantage of the momentary distraction. He quickly slammed a hand against the wall and all the papers in the room broke through the layer of ice covering them. The fragments flew in every direction then paper sharp as knives headed for the Wolf.

Natsume was outside when the Captain shut the door. He stayed in his hiding place, tensed and waiting. He had seen the other bodyguard frantically running and because he got away, Natsume knew the Wolf had intended for him to do so. Inside the room there was a crash and gunshots then total silence followed. Natsume was expecting the worst.

Footfalls came down the corridor. A man was shouting orders as the group rounded the corner. Natsume leapt down and crouched menacingly as they came closer. He didn't think about it. He didn't care if he was interfering. He released his Alice and the fire that came out was everything his seniors had taught him to do: strong, steady, in perfect control, lethal, fierce and worthy. The guards scattered and hit the floor then his Alice caught on the dry wall and an enormous blaze shot up. One of the guards came forward and he ducked before ramming his elbow into the man's stomach. He fired at a second guard then leapt up to land a foot on the face of a third.

Behind him the closed door exploded off its hinges and the Captain was flung out, holding onto a thick drill that scattered into papers when the Wolf crashed into a jar. He came to his feet at once, locked eyes with his protégé then dove as more papers flew out of the room. Without delay he grabbed Natsume by the waist and lifted him a foot from the ground as he sprinted away from the fire. They turned at the end of the hall and the Wolf pushed him down just as more projectiles came down the path they had been on. He waved his arm in a cross and a momentary fort formed around them while more ammunition came in relentless attacks.

"What did you do?" Natsume shouted over the clamor.

"On your guard!" the Captain yelled back. He rose to his feet and Natsume mimicked him, instinctively fighting in tandem. The Wolf released frost while in the other direction the kid sent a coiling blaze down the wing. "Follow me!"

Together they fought their way to the upper floors, launching attacks as rapidly as the sentries came. Natsume fired at the fluorescent lamps as they passed by. Broken glass rained upon them and the hall was plunged into darkness. The Wolf touched the walls and hoarfrost surfaced, upending their pursuers. When one leapt over the ice, the Wolf swept his arm up and the shards from the lamps flew up and wounded their attacker. The floor was covered in glass, blood, ice and embers. Ash and rime painted the walls in an ill-omened blend. By the time they reached the top floor Natsume was heaving. The Captain was equally pale but he remained alert, calculating their next step.

"You… idiot…" Natsume rasped. He coughed and his vision dimmed. The Wolf looked at him but not with pity. "Stupid… idiot…"

"For what it's worth," he said with a sardonic smile. "You're the Alice I'd want to stand with me in a fight like this."

Natsume refused to recognize the farewell he just heard. "What now?"

"Now, we part." The Wolf strained to hear the sounds, measuring the distance then he started speaking rapidly, "When you go down that hallway there will be a trap door at the side of the largest trophy case. If you follow the route out, it will lead you to two tunnels. Take the one on the left and you'll come out in Griffin's workshop. Don't look back. When you're safely out, burn down the door."

"What about you?" Natsume asked, taking it all in.

"The only safe place for me is out there. I have to keep moving."

Something clicked and despite the fact that he didn't understand all of it, Natsume could see that all this was going according to plan. "Did you mean for all this to happen?"

His smile was full of mystery. "Start running, Natsume." The Wolf turned and started down the hallway. Natsume went the other way, following his Captain's orders.

Halfway down the corridor there was another blast and the ground shook. It felt like the floor was giving way. Natsume stumbled as the floorboards fell to pieces. Then he looked up and saw a man standing a short distance away. He was garbed in purple, with countless trinkets on his person and an infamous mask covering his eyes. His smile was manic. He raised his hand and a black mist rose, causing the air to grow heavy. Its effect was immediate and Natsume felt his chest tighten in agony as his body organs seemed to fail all at once.

Behind him the Wolf stiffened, recognizing the change in the air. He quickly reversed direction then threw himself at Natsume before the dark mist could engulf them. Together they crashed through a window just as the rest of the level was overturned.

They were falling rapidly in a seven story drop. The Wolf was blasting ice at the earth to soften their fall. Natsume was firing upwards, destroying the debris that rushed after them. The Captain cradled his head while the vapor thickened around them, making it difficult for Natsume to see what he was shooting at. He was firing wildly to destroy the blocks but already he could feel his body deteriorating with the energy he used up. Then to his right he saw a flicker as a third person seemed to fall with them.

Sheridan.

Natsume saw her, rapidly appearing and disappearing as she tried to grab both of them as they fell. She bounced off the side of the building and grappled for a hold. Six feet from impact, she appeared again and grasped the Wolf's wrist. She vanished then reappeared a foot from the ground. They hit the earth with the Captain's cold smoke surrounding them, cushioning the blow further.

From there, Natsume's memory was blank because by the time they reached the earth his Alice had taken the best of him and he completely blacked out.

The Wolf laid Natsume on the ground then quickly checked if he was breathing. He was very pale but for now the rise and fall of his chest would suffice. Focused to finish, the Wolf hesitated only briefly. He took an object from his pocket and tucked it inside Natsume's coat. Then he sprang to his feet again. He didn't say thank you or goodbye.

"Captain—" Sheridan began but he cut her off.

"Find a safe place for both of you."

"Captain!" she cried this time when he turned his back on her and broke into a run. She came to her feet but did not leave Natsume because he had ordered her not to.

The firing continued. Windows opened. Glass crashed.

The Wolf sidestepped, vaulted and spun. He fired frenetically with his Alice, without determining friend from foe. Even then he felt sorry if he took a comrade down. A bullet grazed his leg and he stumbled. Another shell hit his shoulder but he continued racing to the woods.

People yelled. Students woke. The Academy was thrown into chaos.

The Wolf clenched his teeth against the pain. He ignored the blood soaking his clothes. He stayed with the plan because it was all he had; even when it ceased to make sense, even when it became difficult to adhere to. He would see it to the end because that was what he swore to do. His head was in turmoil. His heart began to weep. But still, there was a moment of clarity.

Escaping felt a lot like dying.

Kira Samushiro was fighting his way out. He was fighting since he was six years old. Perhaps, all these years, this was the moment he had been training for. He touched the earth and a wall sprang up. He opened his palm to the heavens and a blizzard fell. Then an attack rained upon him but he couldn't respond quickly enough. He hit the ground to take cover but just when it was about to strike a green dome formed above to protect him.

Sonic.

The Wolf stood again with a hand over his wound. There were flashes overhead. Blasts resounded all over the woods, but not all were intended for him. He cursed when he realized he had dragged others into the fight. Lighting versus pestilence, the Grey Soldier had defended him. A falling timber was obliterated, Jade had protected him. The Dangerous Ability Class was choosing sides. Alices fired against each other. His could barely be discerned in the fray.

The snowstorm grew biting as the Wolf staggered onwards. His vision blurred but he rushed on to the canyon. There was no time to stop the others, no time to call for a ceasefire. A flash broke through the haze and he turned briefly to catch it then dispel it with a frosted fist. Then he paused to take it all in with one sweeping gaze. The image he saw was tragic.

Alices divided. The Academy is at war. It should never have come to this.

Slowly, the Wolf backed towards the edge while a blinding storm surrounded him. Then he leapt. Zero visibility. No glider. No wings. Hardly enough power left.

He often told Ironsmith they would survive the Academy.

Davies' office grew still. Sheridan and Griffin were in shock. When the news reached her, Marie Akagi splintered apart. A Director was mortally wounded. The pyrokinetic was unconscious. The Captain was nowhere to be found. Questions began flowing from room to room, student to teacher, from the campus to Central Town.

The blizzard raged on. Later it would end. Later still, they would pronounce the White Wolf dead.