Sousuke gripped his gun tightly aiming into the darkness just ten feet in front of him, his whole body tense and alert. The bastard had finally come out of hiding, he thought.
“Put your hands where I can see them,” Sousuke demanded his stance never wavering once. He would shoot if he needed to, and as the figure slowly emerged from the shadows he tightened his hold on his gun.
“Well, you don’t have to be rude,” the man said his voice soft and haughty.
As the light began to reveal his features Sousuke allowed him just one second before shouting, “Stop right there!”
“So, you’re the bodyguard?” the man asked with a snicker halting his steps. With a snap of his fingers he could have this joker gunned down instantly, but he would allow him to think he was in control for now. “You don’t look as fierce in person.”
“Who are you?” Sousuke kept himself calm and steady, his voice unwavering.
“Who I am is not important,” he said with a devious grin. “You have you’re work cut out for you, Sergeant. So, for your sake I hope you listen to me very carefully.” Sousuke eyed him suspiciously. Overcoat, trousers, black dress shoes...eight possible locations to conceal a weapon.
“If you care for her, you’ll take her far away,” the man began, his tone taking on a slight sincerity. “This is not a safe place and I would take her myself, but...” he giggled lightly, “we are not on good terms.”
What was he talking about, Sousuke thought still keeping his gun fixed on the man. The soft light cast from the overhead lamps didn’t let him see as much as he would like to but from he could see, he did not recognize him as Mithril personnel. This was not the mole.
“Sagara, is it?” the tall man asked politely.
“How do you know me?” he demanded taking a step forward.
Suddenly, from a distance they both heard a desperate female voice crying out, “Sousuke?”
“Chidori, stay back!” Sousuke cried taking another step forward.
“Sousuke?” she said stepping outside. “Are you al-“ her voice ceased in her throat as she walked into the area, spotting the two men. “You,” she whispered immediately recognizing Leonard.
Leonard smiled graciously. “I am afraid that I must leave now. You will please take into consideration what I said, Sergeant.”
As he began walking away, Sousuke reacted immediately. “Stop right there!”
Kaname laid a pleading hand on his arm. “Let him go,” she said with disgust, loud enough that Leonard heard her words. “He may be a complete jerk but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone.”
That was when Sousuke caught a gleam of steel out the corner of his eye. I’ve been under surveillance the entire time? he thought cursing himself for once again letting his emotions cloud his judgment. This man had sought him out to warn him against some kind of threat but why? Who was he? And Chidori knew him, he thought lowering his gun.
“Who was that?” Sousuke asked watching as the man disappeared.
Kaname closed her eyes and tried to wipe the memory of that night from her mind. “Some jerk, alright!” she snapped. “Look, I came out here to see if you were alright, not to answer a thousand of your ridiculous questions.”
“I’m sorry,” he said holstering his weapon, his voice saddened and solemn. “I can’t protect you this way, Chidori. I’ve been doing nothing but messing up.”
She knew that tone of voice in him. “Oh no you don’t!” she yelled placing her hands on her hips. “Every time you have some personal issue with us, you run away and hide. I’m not going to let you do that again, Sousuke! Do you hear me!” Her last words were choked out in a sob.
Sousuke quickly turned to her his chest tightening with fear. He always hated when she cried and lately it always happened to be his fault. “Chidori,” he whispered his guilt suddenly becoming very real. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Leonard Testarossa was not the only memory she had of that night. Feelings of abandonment and desperation were on the top of the list, she thought. And the biggest one of all was missing Sousuke, confused why he would just leave her there all alone like that. The feeling was like a sword through her heart. Well, she’d be damned if he was going to do that again.
“We’re leaving,” he informed her.
Her eyes widened in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s not safe here,” he said walking past her. He didn’t care what that guy said, this was his gut instinct that drove him onward. He had planned on taking her away to begin with, he thought to himself, but had held off for the Captain’s sake. Removing her from the threat was a top priority now and nothing anyone could say was going to stop him from completing his mission.
But this wasn't another mission, he reminded himself. This was Kaname, the girl he had just days ago professed his love for. It wasn’t the idea of failing the mission that had been so important to him all along, it was the idea of failing her. And she needed him more than ever right now.
“But this is a Mithril base, how much more safe can you get?” she asked trailing behind him.
“The Captain has expressed the need to leave and has requested the we leave in the morning on the Tuatha De Danaan. But we’re leaving tonight,” he added shortly as they reached her room. “Only bring what you need.”
“Sousuke, wait a minute!” she cried grabbing his arm as he was about to leave for his own quarters.
He turned slightly and she couldn’t help but notice the evident tension in his features. “I trust you and I’ll do whatever you say, but I need to know everything that’s going on. I’m not stupid, I can see that everyone around here is nervous.”
He knew telling her would only cause her more worry but she was right, she deserved to know. “Someone wants to hurt you Kaname, someone very close.” He saw the panic cross her face. “But I have this under control and we are leaving tonight. The element of surprise is at our disposal, we would be foolish not to use it.”
“Please don’t leave me alone here, Sousuke,” she pleaded feeling herself lose control.
He turned to face her completely. “Tell me who that was on the landing pad,” he said trying to soften his words.
She closed her eyes and lowered her head. She wasn't sure how he would react if he knew that Leonard had kissed her. The idea of seeing him jealous made her want to smile but that was for another time. “His name is Leonard Testarossa,” she whispered quietly.
Sousuke squinted in confusion. “Testarossa?” he asked as it connected in his mind.
“I mean, its obvious when you look at him,” she added trying to disguise her true feelings with annoyance. “I don’t know anything else except that he has robots with him, like the ones you pilot Sousuke, except smaller.”
“That’s impossible,” he replied his voice low.
“Sousuke, what was he doing here?” She took a step closer but made sure she kept her distance from him. He had been acting strange ever since she collapsed earlier that day. It was like everything that had happened back in Tokyo, the kiss, their date, his proclamation of love, had never happened.
He looked up holding her worried expression wondering if telling her what he said was really necessary. “We’ll discuss it once we’re safely away from here. I’ll inform Kurz what we’re doing but not where we’re going. No one must know, is that clear Kaname?”
She stared at him as the words left his lips and all she could do was nod slowly. The shock of everything that had happened and how quickly it was happening was beginning to settle in her mind. The danger was real again and it wouldn’t stop until she was dead. There would always be someone after her, someone desiring the knowledge that was trapped inside her mind. How could she keep expecting Sousuke to continuously put his own life on the line for her? And how could they ever find time for a relationship when the world seemed so destined to stop it?
“Where will we go?” she asked looking down at her feet.
“I am uncertain at this point but it must be somewhere far enough that we can hide,” he told her. But when she looked up the pain reflecting in her eyes was so intense it made his chest tighten. “It will only be for a little while, Kaname, until I feel it is safe to return to Tokyo. I promised you that I would keep you safe and this is the only way I know how.”
She sighed heavily reaching out to grasp the front of his shirt. Just one second to feel him warmth against her cheek, to know that his arms would always keep her safe, and she could go on like this forever. “Sousuke,” she whispered leaning into him running her hands up his chest to his neck and lying her forehead on his shoulder.
He closed his eyes letting all the tension of the day just melt away, in her arms. The days that followed would be trying and worrisome, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. And if it meant keeping her safe from whoever was after her, then he would do whatever he had to.
To Be Continued...
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