Sousuke stood on the balcony staring out into the night, his mind fraught with concerns. He could tell that the stress of the conditions they were living in was causing Kaname discomfort. She would mostly grin and bare it, but at night sometimes he could swear he heard the sounds of soft cries coming from her room. She would never admit it, she would was too proud for that, but he heard them nonetheless. And he would never let on that he knew either, he respected her too much. He should find something to keep her mind off all the traveling.
It had been weeks since they left Melida Island and the danger that lurked there. Under the guise of a married couple, they traveled across China; train to bus and sometimes by car, in hopes of burying themselves deep enough in hiding. Their final destination: America. He had only been there several times before but it was largely populated and diverse enough that they could just blend right in. Of course, Kaname had argued that her English was too rusty, so he spent most of the time they had together teaching her. She was a fast learner, another aspect he admired about her. Less could be said of her lack of patience with him at times though.
“Sousuke, did you eat all the almond cookies?” she asked angrily behind him holding the empty bag up.
He spun around quickly holding his index finger up. “In English please,” he reminded her.
She rolled her eyes and tossed the empty box at him. “Here’s some English for you,” she began in Japanese, and then switched to English. “You...are...annoying...me!”
“Very good!” he said in English with as much enthusiasm as was typical for Sousuke.
She growled angrily and spun around walking back into what was now the second little accommodation they had rented this week in China. She missed her apartment and her soft bed, she thought as she sunk down on the bed. She missed Kyoko and the others. She would never get caught up at school if she kept missing all this work. But Sousuke had assured her that it was all taken care of by Mithril. Funny how a lot of money could go a long way, she thought with an unsatisfied grunt.
“Remember, the person you are talking to could be dangerous,” he reminded her in clear English. “You must always suspect everyone of everything; that way your guard is never down.”
“Sorry Sousuke, but I can’t be like you. You’re crazy! You think everyone has a weapon and is ready to kill,” she gasped throwing herself backwards dramatically onto the bed. She let out another loud painful groan. “I don’t know how much longer I can stand this.” The idea made her already empty stomach turn over.
Later that evening as they walked through the crowded streets on their way back to their room, Kaname couldn’t help but notice Sousuke’s hand kept brushing over the gun tucked in the back of his waistband. It had been weeks and he hadn’t relaxed one bit; if anything he seemed even more tightly wound. Maybe a little pleasant chat would loosen him up.
“Sousuke, where are your parents?” she asked realizing too late how blunt the question was, then quickly added, “I’m sorry, that’s too personal.”
“They died when I was young,” he said feeling a bit strange confessing something so intimate to her. “I don’t remember them.”
She lightly gasped feeling even more awkward for even bringing the subject up. “I’m sorry,” she said looking away. “My mother died when I was 14, she had cancer.” It hadn’t been enough years to be able to voice that aloud without it still hurting greatly. She wasn't sure if it would ever stop hurting.
“I know,” he said, his voice emotionless. “I read your file extensively.”
“My file?” she asked her head snapping back to glare at him. “And what exactly did this file say? Considering it’s about me, I think I have a right to know.”
He shot her a sideways glance dismissing her demanding tone. Something just wasn't right about this street, he thought. He swore he felt the air move unnaturally against his back. “Key points of historical information regarding your family, several personal factors, nothing too in depth,” he rattled off his eyes darting from corner to corner, to balconies and alleyways.
“That’s just weird,” she stated totally unaware of the change in the air. “The fact that Mithril knows so much about me. How in the heck is a person supposed to-” before she could finish, Sousuke had grabbed her and forcefully flung her into the alleyway.
“What are you doing?!” she exclaimed as he hauled her against the wall.
“Quiet!” he whispered moving closer to her covering her in his own shadow. He stood there closing his eyes listening carefully through all the normal sounds; the clicking of heals, the distant echo of voices, nothing unusual.
It had been weeks since they had been this close and it was beginning to affect her in ways she couldn’t comprehend. The way he smelled, the warmth of his body, the tickle of his hair against her forehead; it all blended together making it very hard to concentrate on anything but the way her legs were turning to mush.
Nothing. Whatever it was gone, possible just some environmental anomaly. He would still keep his guard up though, he thought as he physically relaxed. “False alarm,” he said but didn’t move. He turned his head to see her staring directly at him and it unsettled his nerves. Her eyelids were heavy and her cheeks were burning red.
“Chidori, what’s wrong?” he asked then it dawned on him: this is how she looked that time in her apartment when he had kissed her. Did she want him to kiss her again? he thought. But if that wasn't what she wanted it would again result in a thwack over the head. What should I do? he thought as he scanned her face for any signals or signs.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked his voice cracking just slightly. Her eyes flew open wide and her blush intensified. How could such innocent words invoke such dangerous sensations through both of them?
“No, but I appreciate the offer buddy,” a male voice said from further down the alley. They both whirled around to see a shadow walking towards them, Sousuke reaching behind him his hand securely on his gun. “Relax, its me,” Kurz added when he noticed Sousuke’s tense demeanor.
“Kurz, what are you doing here?” Sousuke demanded angrily. “You’ll blow our cover.”
“They were going to send Gonzalez but that idiot doesn’t know one thing about covert operations,” Kurz said with disgust.
“Gonzalez is highly trained in covert missions,” Sousuke corrected him.
“Besides, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see you guys again,” he said with a wide dashing smile. “How’s he treatin’ ya Kaname? He’s not being a complete jerk, is he?” Kurz chuckled lightly leaning against the wall.
“Well, you know Sousuke,” she said with a snort crossing her arms over her chest.
“It’s time for you two lovebirds to get back to Tokyo,” Kurz said. “You’ve been hangin’ around here too long. The news of the Mithril mole turned out to be planted information.”
“Then it’s safe to go home?” Kaname asked with glee.
“Not quite, babe,” Kurz said giving Sousuke a quick glance then nervously giggled. “Nothing to worry about, Kaname. Tessa just wants to check a few things before you can go back. Just routine,” he added with a smirk.
But Sousuke knew better. Leonard Testarossa’s words still rang clear in his head and hearing that kind of information from an outsider made it all the more sensitive. He wasn't sure who to trust right now and going back to Tokyo was out of the question. There was something more complex going on besides planted information here.
Suddenly, he realized a huge possibility: What if they weren’t after Chidori and wanted something else? The rumor had already been spread months ago that she was not one of the Whispered, so the idea of someone coming after her did seem a bit odd, but not something to overlook. What if the meeting with Leonard was a farce or a decoy to throw them off. Someone could be trailing them right now and with the proper technology, he would never know it.
Kurz pushed away from the wall throwing his hands up in the air. “You’re free! Go enjoy the rest of your time here.”
“No!” Sousuke snapped. “This situation is not over. Danger is still present and I must protect Miss Chidori at all costs.”
“I’m standing right here,” she said aggravated.
“Sousuke, are you saying that you are defying a direct order from the Captain herself?” Kurz asked hoping it would snap his friend back to reality.
“Excuse me, but I think I have a say in this,” Kaname said but both men ignored her.
“I am doing what is best for the mission objective and that is to protect her from all dangers and I feel there is still a threat,” Sousuke said with conviction.
“I have a name,” Kaname snapped placing her hands on her hips.
“Tessa’s not going to be happy with this, Sousuke,” Kurz explained. “And I can only cover for you for so long.”
“I know what I’m doing,” Sousuke replied confidently.
“Does anybody else here not agree with that statement?” Kaname asked raising her hand over her head.
“We’re leaving,” he said turning to Kaname. “Ready Chidori?”
“I’m not going anywhere but back to Tokyo, you freak,” she stated giving him an angry glare. “I don’t know what you have got rolling around in that thick head of yours but no one is after me. It was a false alarm and I want to go home.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” he said.
“Yeah, well what are you gonna do, tie me up?” she barked just inches from his face. “Because I am going home. Do you hear me Sousuke!? HOME!” she shouted in English then walked off down the street.
Kurz chuckled loudly. “That is one feisty woman,” he said as he watched her walk off.
“Chidori, please wait for me,” Sousuke called. “Kurz, you never saw us,” he added as he chased after her.
“Boy I hope you know what you’re doing, Sousuke,” Kurz said. He wasn’t sure if Sousuke ever really knew what he was doing when it came to Miss Chidori. He had just recently discovered that he was in love with her, kissed her even but the man was clueless and was in for a heap of trouble if he thought he could convince a woman like Kaname to change her mind.
“Chidori wait!” Sousuke called running after her. “It’s not safe for you to be walking the streets without me.”
She groaned loud enough that he flinched. “You know, your paranoia is really starting to get on my nerves!” she shouted still walking. “Didn’t you hear Kurz? He said its safe to go back!”
“Kaname, please trust me,” he pleaded trying to keep up with her.
She wanted to trust him but at the same time she desperately wanted to go home. What kind of life would she have always on the run with him? It was ridiculous to keep this up, he was never going to feel it was safe. But she didn’t want to give him up either! He was the only person in this world who even had the capacity to make her feel safe, even if he did take it overboard.
“Oh come on Sousuke! I’m homesick and I really need to get back so I can make up all the schoolwork I’ve missed,” she whined shoving him aside.
“Chidori, you do not understand, I-”
“Forget it!” she snapped. “There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind. Nope, no way, stop trying,” she mumbled walking ahead of him into their room.
He stood outside for a minute wondering how he was going to handle this. There was no way to avoid how angry this was going to make her. No alternative seemed fitting, he thought as he stood there staring into the darkness of their temporary abode. Yep, she was going to kill him for certain this time.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered walking in, closing the door behind him. “But you leave me no choice.”
Several minutes later as she emerged from the restroom she noticed the light was out. Panic began to set in and she quickly ran for the door but it was locked. “Hey! What’s going on here! Sousuke, where the heck are you?! This better not be one of your stupid idiotic drills!”
“This is for your own good, Chidori,” she heard him say from the other side of the room.
Slowly she spun around and her eyes were ablaze with fire. He had only once seen her this angry and he still wasn't even sure if he had fully recovered from that yet. This may be the worst he had ever seen her.
“Chidori, I can explain,” he began but she interrupted.
“Explain what Sousuke?” she gritted out her entire body tensing like a volcano about to erupt.
“I have my reasons for what I’m doing, I just am not at liberty to discuss them at this present time. But I cannot let you return to Tokyo, Chidori, even if it means I have to hold you against your own will. It is not at all uncommon to take this approach during critical times and I feel-”
“Shut up.”
“...the danger has not yet passed. So, regardless of your desire to return-”
“Shut up!”
“...we will be leaving first thing in the morning. So, please pack lightly-”
“SHUT UP!!” she screamed diving for him.
To Be Continued...
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