Chapter 4: Impossible Wishes

Natsume's POV

I closed my eyes as I felt the sea breeze blow through my face and hair, making it messier than it was before. I needed to get some rest, but I knew that was impossible wish for someone like me, and the only thing that was keeping me awake was the scent of salt water that has sort of become another type of oxygen for a seaborne Kikenouryoku-kei guy such as myself. It's two weeks since I left the academy, and I'm feeling really isolated from everyone because: (1) I don't really talk to anybody here and (2) I'm stuck in a ship which feels like a hundred miles away from the school.

"Matsudaira! Blow away those sails and ropes. Rima, the tides if you please! And Natsume, find your way into those main engines and blow up the main frame!" Persona was barking out orders as the ship we were riding on came to a sudden halt, signaling an enemy attack from up front.

"What the-?" I look out from the front deck and see we were under siege by a fleet of ships with the words "Zaibatsu Corp." painted on each tanker. As far as I could count, there were eight ships in front of us that were armed with gunmen shooting away almost everywhere. That force field kid must have been put a field around us at the moment, keeping us free from the bullets and making them backfire and hit their own gunmen.

I jump on to the front deck roof and try to look for the spot where those main engines were running. I listen closely for the sound of running motors and figure out where it sounded the loudest. The sound of running motors was loudest right below the left deck of the front ship. I concentrated hard and made that part explode…

"BOOM!"

"Abandon ship!" People in the front ship, were in panic, frantically making their way to the wooden plank the other ships laid out to them as the fleet lost formation due to the other tankers rushing to the aid of the sinking head ship. "Wind Sickle" dealt a fatal blow on the planks, sending dozens of crew ship workers down for a plunge. The strange elementary kid, Kero, was sending down bolts of lightning towards the various ships, individually targeting some frantic gunmen and head captains, while that mind bending kid, Hayori, was also targeting the remaining head captains, making them lose control of the tankers and hit their other companion ships as well.

It was truly a state of chaos, and I couldn't do anything but just step aside and watch. I wanted to help them so much, because all they wanted to do was bring forth to the academy a brighter future for all of its students, and not inflict harm and turbulence. But of course, the Elementary School Principal sees this as a threat to seize power from him, and he swore he will not stop at nothing to bring their corporation down. I can't stand this any longer, all those helpless, pitiful people, how could I just stand here and watch them die?

"Hyuuga! Stop standing around there and make yourself useful!"

I took in a deep breath and adjusted my mask.

Mikan's POV

Where are you Natsume? It's been three weeks, and you still haven't returned. Everyone finally started to take notice, and people were making theories of where he has gone off to this time.

"What if the academy sent him home?"

"What? No way. I bet he went of for an assassination plot."

"You wish. He's probably somewhere, skipping class again."

"I think he's just staying at the hospital again, sleeping."

"Maybe he's been assassinated…"

I look over to where Ruka-pyon was sitting; I was surprised to see him sitting beside me, looking really down.

"Ruka-pyon, it's alright. I believe in Natsume, I know he'll come back." I tried to comfort him, but he was still gazing down at his desk, as if he were deep in thought.

"I know, but, there's something inside of me, telling me that Natsume might be in grave danger, somewhere far away, where even we can't reach him."

"It's okay, all we have to do is believe in him, and hope for the best." I said reassuringly as I reached out to pat his hand. He held my hand in return, then he looks up to me and smile. From the corner of my eye, I see Hotaru watching over us, deep in thought, her eyes distant.