Edited to fix typos and add/remove some lines
JC and Juno silently laid on the roof of the main school building, both enjoying the other's company, but neither making any sound, the two of them just enjoying the cool air while under them lightly warm sun, both reflecting on their first year at the academy, Juno closed her eyes, remembering back to when she ran into JC, then seeing him in the drama club, followed by Legoshi coming to her aid when she was bullied for being a wolf, each event she recalled was burned into her memory, she gave a gentle smile when she remembered her first 'intimate' encounter she had with JC during the convention, where the filter of peers was fully removed so that they could both see each other for who they really were for the first time, her grip gently tightened around his hand, causing JC to look at her
"you OK there Juno?" he asked her, she glanced back at him, then smiled
"yeah, just remembering our first proper civil time together" she said, looking back towards the sky "back during summer"
"oh, yeah" JC responded with a smile, looking skywards as well "i have enjoyed our times together since then" he remembered back to all the times Juno had visited him in his cabin just to talk, away from everyone else just to get to know each other better, all the times where they poured their hearts out to the other, just for better understanding, then remembering their first time sleeping together, to their first time "i don't regret any of it, even though this year started off a bit rocky, I wouldn't change anything, except" he sighed gently
"i understand" Juno said "but we cannot change that, no matter how much we want to, we just need to move forward" she looked at him before rolling over to actually face him "speaking of no regrets, do you regret, you know"
"no, I don't regret doing it" he replied "i would if you had something to remember me by within you right now, but it was an amazing time"
"i agree" Juno said, leaning in and pressing her snout to his cheek "i wouldn't mind doing it again" JC smiled and gently stroked her muzzle
"neither would I" he said, turning to face her properly "i wanted to wait a bit before doing it again, wanting to give you time before the next time"
"i know" she said, gently kissing him "that's why I've been waiting for you, for when you're ready"
JC glanced away to think "how about New Years?" he asked "as a way to really strengthen our relationship" Juno smiled gently
"sounds perfect" she said "i can wait that long" JC looked back at the sky silently, thinking how nothing could spoil the rest of the year for both of them.
"excuse me, but what?" JC questioned, stopping in his tracks, Legoshi looking back at him, standing by the ladder to the light alcove, his fur now back to the way it once was
"I'm taking on Riz during new years" Legoshi repeated in a low voice "and I want you there, for support" JC stared silently, already having made plans
"I'm sorry Legoshi, but I've already got plans, with Juno, so I won't be able to be there for you" he said, Legoshi staring silently, glancing over at Juno, then back to JC "tell me, would you want to avoid the fight if it meant being with Haru?" Legoshi looked away again, JC could tell what he was thinking,
"i get what you're saying, but I don't think that I'll be able to take him down if it was just him and me" he said, sighing gently "maybe I could find Louis and ask for him to be there" JC frowned, knowing that their relationship was rocky, but there was a chance for it to work,
"OK, go find him, tell him your plan, and your request for him to be there" JC said "maybe tell him everything that you know"
"i plan too" Legoshi replied "but I need to get close to him, and with my fur now back to normal, the Shishigumi will recognise me"
"i wish I could help you mate" JC said "just be careful" he paused for a moment, looking at Juno as she chatted with Sheila, then sighed gently "i could arrange for me and Juno to meet up either before or after your fight, so that I could be there" Legoshi looked at JC, silently asking why "you're one of my oldest friends here, I don't think I'd forgive myself if you went to this fight and I never saw you again" Legoshi nodded gently, the 2 of them looked towards Riz he carried on being the friendly bear everyone knew him as.
"I'm guessing you know" JC shivered a bit when he heard that being said, slowly taking his hat from his locker, and putting it on,
"we alone?"
"yeah, just you and me"
"then yes, I do, but, unlike the other 2, I don't have any plans to capitalise on it, I don't plan to fight you, nor do I want threaten you for your silence" he sighed and closed the locker "i just want what you want, for the nightmare to be over" he turned slowly "right Riz?" he looked up at the towering bear who was doing his best to remain calm,
"i suppose so, but I'm surprised that you of all of us didn't turn me in" Riz stated, JC moving past him slowly,
"because, it won't bring him back, nor will it erase all the horrible things that happened this year" JC paused in the middle of the room and sighed, turning to face Riz again "listen, I know that your scared, not of me, not of Pina nor Legoshi, but you're scared of your own strength, afraid that you'll lose control in the wrong place, and lose everything that you're trying to accomplish" he glanced at Riz's hands as they twitched a bit "i suggest that you don't attack me, we're the last 2 here, everyone else left before us, so they'll know it was you" he watched as Riz keeled over a bit, clutching his head, JC moved over Riz's locker and handed him the honey that he had, Riz greedily gulped down the honey, calming down a bit, his beady eyes looking at him,
"w-why? Why did help me?" he questioned
"because, despite what you have done, you are still a friend to me" Riz stared silently "i know you wont take my advice, but just listen, don't do anything that you'll regret, because in the end, you'll only be hurting yourself" JC left the changing room, Riz staring at the door before looking down at the honey bottle, thinking about what he had told him, he just snarled and crushed the bottle easily, the remaining honey dripping over his hand.
JC silently wandered the black market, it's been nearly a month since he was here to obtain a way to find out his origins, this time, he was here to relive his childhood, so to speak, he stepped into the burger shop again, he looked around, seeing a male leopard, a male condor and a female dingo with an infant in her arms, he gave a gentle smile and approached the counter, the falcon stepping over
"i see that you're back" he said "did you enjoy the burger from last time?"
"i did" JC replied "I'll have the same again" the falcon nodded,
"right, one Aussie hopper with the works" he called into the back, JC taking a seat by the dingo, the pup was asleep
"quite adorable" he said, the dingo looking at him "i don't know why, but infants are adorable" she smiled
"yeah" she said, gently stroking a tuft of fur aside "didn't think that you're species would think that, no offence"
"none taken, I'm used to it honestly" JC said, not noticing someone else stepping into the burger shop, not until he heard the snarling, he looked up to see a honey badger approaching the counter
"give me some meat" they said,
"uh, sure sir, anything in particular?"
"anything, just as long as it's raw" they replied, panting and salivating, glancing around "all the fresh meat, why are you here and not on the grill?" everyone stared
"w-wha?" the honey badger approached the dingo woman
"ah, the freshest meat, that of an infant"
"k-keep away"
"give it to me"
"no"
the honey badger reached for the infant as JC grabbed his arm
"the lady said no" he said, the honey badger snarling more, wrenching his arm free and pulling out a gun,
"I'll be taking that fresh meat, and no one will stop me, now stand aside" JC stared down at him
"you wont take this child"
"that wasn't a request" a gunshot rang out and JC dropped to the floor, clutching his abdomen where the bullet hit "now, give it too me"
"a pleasure" JC said in a voice that wasn't his own, standing as his eyes started glowing yellow,
"Jandamarra, what are you doing?" JC said to the thylacine as he took control of his body
"that creature threatened a child of our land" Jandamarra replied "this is personal"
the honey badger snarled more and shot at JC's body twice, missing the first shot, the second hitting him in the knee, JC's body lurched forward and grabbed the hand holding the gun and lifted him up, right off the ground, tossing the badger right through the shop window, many carnivores of the black market stopped to watch, JC coming out, the badger getting off one last shot, grazing his scalp, he stumbled before collapsing, members of the Shishigumi restraining the honey badger,
"call the boss, he needs to be told about this" one said, the other grabbing his phone
not too far away, Louis, Ibuki and other Shishigumi lions were discussing business with a store owner, all of them heard the shots, but thought nothing of it, Ibuki's cell soon rang afterwards,
"hello?" he said as he answered "the boss is busy at the moment…..a shooting? Any victims….just one? What species…...human?" even though Louis was focused on business, the mention of the word human caused him to grab the cell off of Ibuki
"dark hair? Black fedora?" Louis questioned, his eyes widening a bit more "Where? I'll be right there" he hung up and apologised for the interruption and said that they'll resume business a little later, he bolted out with Ibuki right behind him, sprinting to the location, arriving within a minute, Louis stared as JC laid there, struggling to stay conscious, a large panda doing his best to stem the flow of blood
"we've called the paramedics, they'll be here soon" one lion said,
"thank you Hinu" Louis replied as he approached JC's body "how is he?" the panda glanced back,
"not good I'm afraid" he said "once the paramedics arrive, they'll have to get him to a hospital quick" Louis stared before kneeling by him
"l…...Louis" he looked down at JC as he tried to say something weakly, he moved his head down to hear better "Legoshi…..needs you…...there…...n-new years…...h-h-help him" JC passed out at this point, the panda gasped,
"no, kid, kid wake up" he said, gently shaking his body to jolt him awake, Louis stared blankly as he contemplated JC's words, standing as the paramedics arrived and rushed JC away, he approached Ibuki, Hinu and Free, handing Free a number
"call that number, ask for Kawa, then tell her that JC is in the hospital" Louis instructed
"uh….y-yes boss" Free replied, pulling out his cell, Louis and Ibuki returning to where they were earlier, neither of them saying anything
Kawa yawned as she looked over the finals one of the few teachers staying up to mark them, the fatigue on her face was so obvious that she didn't even acknowledge her phone ringing at first, with another yawn, she answered it,
"hello?" she said, sounding tired "this is her" her eyes widened and she sat up "what? W-where is he? I understand, i-I'll head there now" she got up and left the school, heading for the hospital, after telling the front desk who she was and why she was there, she was asked to take a seat and wait, it was past midnight when a doctor came out and gave her the details, she was relived, but also concerned, she thanked the doctor and left, writing down what she had learned so that she wouldn't forget when morning came.
Legoshi silently moved some equipment around the drama club, he looked around before noticing that Juno was glancing at the doors every so often, he frowned and swept his view around club, his eyes widening when he suddenly realized
"where's JC this morning?" he asked out loud, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked around as well,
"it's odd, he's never late" Sanu said "and if he was, he'd have called ahead to tell us, and I doubt he suffered from another relapse"
"wonder where he is" Aoba pondered "who was the last to see him last night?"
"he left the lockers before I did" Riz admitted, Legoshi's eyes widening a bit "but I'm not sure where he went after that" his eyes narrowed a bit, either Riz was telling the truth, or he was lying and he was going a good job at making it seem true.
Everyone looked towards the door as it opened, but instead of JC, whom they were expecting, in walked Jack and the other 701 canines,
"Jack?" Legoshi stood and approached them "why are you here?"
"miss Kawa asked for us to be here" Durham answered
"not sure what this is about though" Collot said "all she said was for us to meet her here"
"excuse me, but are you boys going to obstruct the door?" they turned and stepped away, Legoshi's eyes widened as Haru walked in, his mouth agape, this reaction was not unnoticed,
"whoa, look at Legoshi" said Bill "i guess that's the rabbit huh?"
"wonder why she's here?" Voss questioned as Haru approached Legoshi while he didn't notice Juno approaching,
"do you know what this is about?" she questioned "miss Kawa was very vague"
"afraid not" Juno replied, slightly frightening Legoshi "we were discussing where JC was today, I hope he's alright" Legoshi glanced at Riz, who stared back, none of them noticing Kawa entering the room, looking a bit grim,
"I'm glad you're here, sorry for intruding" she said, everyone looking at her "i have some…...news…..regarding a student that all of you know"
"was Tem's murderer found?" Sheila asked quickly, Kawa gently shook her head
"no, it's about JC" she said grimly, causing everyone to go silent and stop what they were doing, Kawa's face contorted a bit as she struggled to find her voice "JC is in the hospital, recovering from gunshot wounds" everyone in the club room stared in shock, even Pina was surprised at this news
"w-wha?" Juno stuttered, Haru and Legoshi were both speechless at this news, the whole room was silent, until Jack found his voice
"is….is he OK?" he asked
"he's in a stable condition, but" Kawa inhaled and sighs again "i just got word this morning that he's in a coma, but they assure me that he'll come out of it"
"erm…..is he allowed visitors?" Legoshi asked, Kawa glanced around, taking note that it was a question on everyone's mind,
"I'm not sure, but you are free to find out" she said, handing Sanu some cards "these have the room he's in on them, hand them out to those who want them"
"I'll be sure to do that" Sanu replied as Kawa silently left the room, everyone watching the door in silence, he glanced at the cards before looking at everyone "i guess we can cancel the rest of drama club today, those who want the cards, come up as you're leaving, Bill, can you stay behind, I wish to discuss something with you"
no one spoke as they left the room, many of them taking the cards that Kawa had left for them, Legoshi didn't grab one, knowing that Jack or one of the others would get one for all of them, outside he glanced towards Haru and Juno, both were sitting together, Haru trying to comfort the crying wolfess,
"why? Why did fate have to be so cruel"
"hey, don't cry, JC will be fine, I know he will be" Haru said, gently holding Juno's hand "why don't we go visit him, just the 3 of us" she added as Legoshi approached,
"uh, are you sure you want me there?" he asked awkwardly
"of course we do Legoshi" Haru said "not just for emotional support, but" she looked to the side "i think JC would appreciate it if his 3 closest friends visited him together, at least once" Juno silently stood up,
"mm, yes, I agree, lets go see him"
the 3 made their way to the hospital together, Haru doing her best to hold back tears while Juno let it all out, holding JC's motionless hand, Legoshi stared silently before kneeling and gently rubbing their backs for comfort.
Time passed since that emotional day, Bill and Aoba visited a few times, Tao even showed up with Kibi while visiting the latter, Els and Sheila often came as well, Jack and the other 701 canines came every few days, bringing his things in for when he woke, Haru's visits reduced in frequency, as did Legoshi's, Juno and Kawa visited almost daily, both wanting to be there for him and each other, Louis even visited during his stay, confined to a wheelchair due to Legoshi eating his leg off by his request, at end of the first month of the new year, Juno walked in, giving a weak smile when seeing the various flowers and cards from everyone else, she approached JC's bed and sat by it, gently taking his hand like she usually did,
"please wake up soon JC, I miss you, we all do, we…...we don't want to lose you" she said, struggling not to cry, again, but it was getting to the point where she was unable to look at his peaceful body with tearing up, she slowly stood to leave, as she turned, she felt like she was being held back, her eyes widened shot down to her hand, she saw that his hand was gripping hers, a small groan alerted her to him waking, she gasps gently and kneeled as JC's eyes slowly opened,
"Juno?" he groaned
"yes JC, I-I'm here" she replied,
"you're a sight for sore eyes" he said again, as Juno pressed a button to alert the nurses,
"i was so scared, thinking that I'd never see you again"
"I'm not going anywhere Juno" she smiled gently when he said this, the hospital personal coming in to check him over, Juno sending messages to everyone about JC waking, he thought that the worst was over, but little did he know, that the worst was yet to come.