The Kurukawa Legacy

Close Call

Atreyu and Kaitlin ran down an alleyway, panting.

"Kaitlin, you should go home." Atreyu said between breaths. He glanced over at her. She remained silent, still in shock and with tears rolling down her face.

"I'm so sorry for making you do that," Atreyu apologized, "but look, I'm finally free."

"Yes." she took a deep breath. "I'm... glad I could help you." she managed a weak smile.

Atreyu felt genuinely sorry for dragging Kaitlin into this, but he figured it was one of the only ways to manage to get out. "Let's keep walking." he said.

They walked into the streets. Lights flickered in every direction as the shops try to lure potential customers. Other larger buildings towered over them.

"Kaitlin, where's your home? I'd like to walk you to there before I leave."

"W-we'll have to use the train, it's quite far away from here. There's a station right around the corner."

They started making their way to the nearest train station. Atreyu looked in awe at the city. "It's been a while since I last saw this. All these different colors of lights..."

"I prefer the stars." Kaitlin mentioned. Atreyu glanced over at her with a smile, but it faded when he noticed how sad she looked. He realized that she's maybe feeling down because she thinks he's leaving her permanently.

"Hey, Kaitlin, how about we watch the stars together at my uncle's farm? It'll be much more prettier to look at than over here, through the polluted air of an city." Her face lit up.

"Yeah, yeah let's do that! It'll be fun... but, how?" she looked sad again.

"What do you mean?" Atreyu wondered.

"When you go to your uncle's farm... aren't you gonna be gone for good? I can't imagine you returning to this city when you'll be wanted by the government."

They reached the train station. Shining white commuter trains stood in rows, some taking off and being replaced from others that approached from the opposite direction. The chatter of people filled the air as they got off and on trains. Atreyu looked deep in thought.

"We'll figure a way, Kaitlin. For now, let's move. Just remember, I promise you... this isn't the last time we'll meet. You have my word for it. Also, take off your hoodie already. Aren't you getting hot in it from all the running?" he chuckled. Kaitlin agreed and took it off. Her loose, brown hair flowed smoothly down her back, like a waterfall. The color looked like that of the richest light chocolate you could find, and it had this sweet, radiant smell.

"Atreyu?" he snapped back into reality and quickly looked away when he realized he was staring at her for so long.

"Err, let's go." he said hastily. The trains were on the other side of iron fencing, which had multiple gates installed, and in front of each gate was a screen as well as a fingerprint scanner, where people would do the bookings. They walked to the nearest one and approached it after a couple in front of them finished.

Kaitlin knew it wouldn't accept Atreyu's fingerprint for payment, as he is blacklisted, so she didn't hesitate before operating on the small touchscreen. After the presses of a few buttons, an automated voice spoke from the speaker.

"Confirm payment of 2 persons for train E17 heading to Aurington Suburban Area," at which the fingerprint scanner lit up yellow, demanding a fingerprint. Kaitlin pressed her thumb against it. It lit up green and the gate unlocked with a clicking sound, allowing them passage. That's how it worked here in Aurington city. No cards or cash, instead people payed by having their fingerprint scanned and then the money would be deducted from their account. They walked through and inspected the signs, pointing and displaying which train is which. They found train E17 and seated themselves on a bench, waiting for the door to open.

"How long do we have to wait?" Atreyu asked.

"It's scheduled to open in five minutes and leave in seven." she replied.

A few minutes passed as more and more people gathered at the benches to wait for the train as well.

"Wow," Kaitlin said, "it's quite a lot of people for this time of the night."

"Well, it is the biggest suburb in the city." Atreyu replied.

A few benches away from Kaitlin and Atreyu, a man with a badge sat down and sighed.

"What a long day." he said to himself softly. He took out his phone when suddenly a message popped up. It was a picture of Atreyu, and beside it stood the following message:

All officers, be on the lookout for Atreyu. Boy, brown hair, roughly 178 centimeter in height, age 15. Member of Kurukawa family who escaped from assigned area and deemed murderer of former Deputy Chief Liam Roberts. Alert Deputy Chief Alexander Gonzalez if Atreyu is spotted by any means.

"Huh," the officer said, "they really are going hard on wiping out the Kurukawa family." He stood up and looked around.

"Now when's that damn train gonna get mo-" he froze when seeing Atreyu sit just a few benches away from him. He glanced at the picture on his phone and back at Atreyu. "That's definitely him." he whispered. He pulled out his handheld transceiver and changed the frequency before speaking into it. "Deputy Officer Gonzalez, are you near Harold Train Station?"

The radio made a static sound before emitting a voice. "Yes, I'm right around the corner."

"Come now, train E17, Atreyu spotted. Train is about to leave." the officer said.

"On my way!" Alexander exclaimed.

A minute later the train conductor opened the train's door from inside.

"Sorry for the wait, folks. Come right in." he said as people started pouring into it.

"Oh, Kaitlin, the door opened." Atreyu noticed.

Kaitlin chuckled. "We've been so busy talking we barely noticed. Almost everyone else is already on board." They stood up together and started walking towards the door when a voice behind them shouted.

"Atreyu Kurukawa! Stay right where you are!" Alexander and three other men ran towards them, the gate being the only thing separating them.

"Dammit!" Atreyu exclaimed. "Kaitlin, we have to get on before they ma-"

"Stop right there." the officer cut Atreyu short and stood between them and the door.

Kaitlin was frozen with fear, as was Atreyu. From behind them Alexander shouted: "Atreyu, you and your helper, whether she is part of the Kurukawa family or not, are both under arrest!" Kaitlin gasped frightfully at that statement. Atreyu looked down at her with the utmost guilt and regret in his eyes. Alexander continued: "Don't attempt t-"

He froze when Atreyu pulled out a knife, one that he's been keeping with him almost forever, and grabbed Kaitlin. He held the tip by her throat.

Kaitlin, he thought to himself, I'm sorry I dragged you into this. I figured the only way I can have you deemed innocent is to make it seem as though you're a victim.

"Atreyu," the officer close to him said, "don't do something barbari-"

"Let me go or she dies. Simple." he said. Alexander slammed against the fence and shouted to his colleagues. "Get someone to open this damn gate for us!"

The officer between Atreyu and the train moved out of the way with his hands in the air, and with a gentle voice he said, "Atreyu, fine. Let the innocent girl live, and I'll let you board the train."

The train didn't have windows besides one on the door and the actual seats weren't close to the door, which meant the conductor, as well as all the passengers, were oblivious to the scene taking place outside. Finally, the train's engine started roaring, meaning it's almost ready to go and the door is almost about to close.

Alexander kept shouting orders in the distance and the nearby officer kept trying to calm Atreyu down. He just waited for the perfect moment. The officer took a step closer to Atreyu. "Put the knife down," he said gently, "you don't have to take the life of the girl as you took the life of former Deputy Officer Liam Roberts." Kaitlin looked up to Atreyu. Her eyes started welling up.

"Atreyu... what do they mean?" Atreyu ignored her and pushed the point of the knife tighter against her throat.

"Take your step back. Now." he said grimly.

The train slowly started maneuvering forward and the door automatically started to slowly slide shut.

There was a awkward silence for a second, but when Atreyu noticed the door was halfway shut and the train started moving slightly faster, he shoved Kaitlin onto the officer and sprinted, jumping through the last gap before the door finally shut. The train picked up speed and started riding away. He glanced out the door's window and saw Kaitlin looking at him in dismay, tears rolling down her cheeks like stones down a hill. He saw the one officer trying to comfort her, and the rest were running a direction.

The direction of the train station's headquarters... Atreyu thought. Then his mind clicked.

They're going to stop the train! He looked around frantically. He figured he should head to the conductor's office. He sheathed his knife in his pocket and walked past all the seated passengers towards the front of the train. He reached a door and slowly opened it. Inside was a huge glass pane displaying the tracks in front of the train, before that is a big board with all kinds of buttons and controls, which was busy getting operated by the conductor. Atreyu slowly crept up to him, when he heard the conductor's radio speak. "Conductor Hermit, come in."

Hermit picked up the radio. "Roger," he replied.

"Stop the train immediately and lock all doors. This is an emergency."

"Will do." he said calmly.

He pressed a button and the door behind Atreyu clicked. Hermit reached out for a large lever, which Atreyu suspected was for stopping the train. Hermit barely put his hand on the lever when Atreyu walked towards him.

"Stop." he said, holding out the knife. Hermit looked at him and pulled back his arm.

"Okay, okay, I won't stop the train." Hermit said calmly. "What is it you desire?" he asked.

Hermit seemed like an old man, with white-grey hair and aging marks on his face, but he had this vibe of calmness and wisdom to him.

"You'll stop the train when I ask you too. That's when I'll climb off board and leave you all at peace. I don't desire to harm anyone, so please, just cater to my simple request."

Hermit looked at Atreyu and inspected him from top to toe.

"Will do." he said and looked forward again, operating the train as usual.

"I'm... going home." Atreyu promised himself.