Chapter 17: Trust Issues

Kaname sat outside of Fort Dix watching as the people went about their daily business. It felt strange being here in America after all these years but she was excited to see her father. She knew the instant he found out she was here, he would immediately fly to the base. She wondered what he would think about the circumstances or even if Sousuke would allow him to be told. Sousuke felt, the less people knew, the better.

He was probably right, she thought. If her father knew he would have a fit. It took her months to convince him to let her live in Tokyo alone under the condition she keep her grades above average. It was why she was so adamant about them; they ensured her freedom to live alone. She loved living alone and if her father found out what had been going on over the past so many months, he would make her move back instantly. She had told him about the boy that had transferred to Jindai High and how she thought he was intriguing, but if they knew exactly what he was and even an inkling of the hostage situation, all hell would break lose.

Lieutenant Miller sat next to her sipping a cup of coffee. “Don’t worry, Miss Chidori, his wound was superficial,” Amy said staring off into the distance. “It’s his exhaustion that worries us. How long have you two been on the run?”

Kaname glanced down staring at the military issue khaki pants that now covered here legs as she twiddled her thumbs. “Like, three weeks, I think.”

“Well, it’s a good thing Tessa called me. Another day and Sergeant Sagara would have collapsed,” Amy replied shaking her head disapprovingly. “He’s a tough guy but every man has his breaking point.”

“Will he be alright?” Kaname asked looking up at Amy.

“He’ll be just fine once he gives his body a chance to recuperate.” Amy smiled sweetly patting Kaname's folded hands with her own.

Kaname stared back out at the courtyard watching as a group of soldiers jogged past. She had Tessa to thank for preventing something awful happening to Sousuke. It wasn’t every day that she could think that, let alone want to hug the girl. Her and Tessa are what Kaname used to call, Casual Acquaintances.

“So, how long have you known Tessa?” Kaname asked grinning sheepishly.

“We went to school together when we were very little,” Amy began between sipping her drink. “Tessa was always so smart—a little bit of a klutz but very smart.” Amy giggled then looked away to hide her embarrassment for saying something bad about Tessa.

“Sounds like Tessa,” Kaname said rolling her eyes.

“She was always so shy and awkward,” Amy added to further the joke. “I felt so bad for her when the other kids used to make fun of her.”

Kaname couldn’t help but laugh imagining Tessa as a little girl stumbling over herself, her nose buried in a book. Tessa was extremely smart and dependable but not someone meant for things like Sousuke handled. She was much better behind a desk or in a chair commanding. Like a bull in a china shop, Kaname thought chuckling.

“When she called me I knew it was an emergency and I’m glad we could help.” Amy stood up and nodded at Kaname. “I have to go for now, but feel free to roam the base and anyone will be happy to assist you. I will go check on Sergeant Sagara and let you know when he is awake.”

“Thank you,” Kaname said watching her walk off.

She was on edge wanting to see him but she knew he needed to rest after all they had gone through. No matter how much she nagged him about eating and sleeping properly, he never listened. It was probably what drove him to such a state of exhaustion.

She made a mental note to yell at him later about it.

.o.o.o.o.

When Sousuke opened his eyes he squinted against the blinding light streaming in through the window. The last thing he remembered was the helicopter and the United States Army picking them up. He had little experience with the US but he was well versed in their militant activities and operations. It was safe to say they were in good capable hands right now. His mind raced to Chidori.

He glanced down at his leg seeing that it had been set again and cast since he got here. He could vaguely remember voices and being put under anesthesia but everything else was a huge blur. Her last words echoed in his mind, reminding how much he admired her strength and drive. She was right, he didn’t have the right to give up now. It was his responsibility to protect her and he had no right to abandon that cause, no matter what the circumstances were.

“Sergeant, you’re awake,” Amy said walking into the room. “I’m afraid I really didn’t have a chance to introduce myself on the way here. I’m Lieutenant Amy Miller.”

“Lieutenant,” Sousuke replied with a nod. “Thank you for pulling us out of there. This mishap was completely unforeseeable, a mistake I intend to prevent in the future.”

“You can thank Captain Testarossa,” she replied with a small grin. “She really cares for you, Sergeant. She made it very clear that you be given anything you need.”

Sousuke tried to hide his nervousness but it was a little difficult considering Amy’s choice of words. “Where is Miss Chidori?” he asked glancing at the doorway.

“She is safe...probably getting some breakfast,” Amy replied folding her hands behind her back. “I am normally not concerned about Mithril’s activities but when one of its operatives lands himself in the Middle East it quickly becomes an interest of mine.” She paused and took a deep breath. “We have similar enemies, Sergeant.”

Sousuke just stared at her wondering what line of questioning was to follow. He would reveal nothing—she had to know this, perhaps she was fishing for him to slip. He wasn't quite sure exactly how involved the US Military Mithril was or if this was just a favor to Tessa.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to discuss that with the Captain or her superiors,” he said holding her gaze.

“I do not want my men or their families put at risk by you being here. I was going out on a limb just by grabbing you in Tajikistan.” She walked over to the window and stared out observing as soldiers went about their daily routines and drills. “I’m going to cut to the chase, Sergeant. We know you’re running from Amalgam.”

So, it was Amalgam after her again, he thought. Sousuke looked away trying to mask his emotions from her. The last thing he needed was American involvement in something even Mithril couldn’t control right now. “I won’t insult you by pretending to be surprised.”

“We also know why they were after you.”

That caught his attention. He glanced over his eyes narrowing slightly. “So, the US is involved with this as well,” he stated calmly. “I should have known.”

“You will be briefed the instant you are feeling better,” she said. “On a lighter note, Kaname’s father, Shunya Chidori, works for the United Nations in New York,” Amy continued still staring out the window. “He has already been alerted to her arrival here.”

“Her father,” Sousuke said shifting uncomfortably in his bed.

“He’s presently in Texas on business but will return as soon as he can pull away.” She turned to face him once again folding her hands behind her back.

She knew how he must be feeling sitting there being interrogated by an official of an organization he did not belong to. He must feel trapped and vulnerable, she thought. Perhaps this questioning can wait until a better time. Seeing Miss Chidori would probably make him feel more at ease.

She smiled looking down at the floor. “Forgive me, but my superiors will be questioning me about all this later. I had hoped to have some answers for them but they will just have to wait.” She chuckled lightly. “I will send Miss Chidori to see you now. She has been dreadfully concerned for you.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Sousuke watched her leave and wondered if he could trust her. The United States was just like any government, in search of the coveted Black Technology he knew so little about. The idea that it was locked away in Kaname’s brain is what horrified him the most.

Several minutes passed before Kaname showed up. She came in carrying his breakfast with a huge smile on her face. “Morning, sleepy-head! How do you feel?”

“Much better, thank you,” he said as she laid the tray on the table next to him.

“Lieutenant Miller says you’ll be back to your old self very soon,” Kaname said handing him his plate and fork. “Now, eat up! You have to get your strength back.” She smiled brightly.

He took the plate but kept staring at her until she noticed. “What?” she asked fiddling nervously with her hair. She hated when he did this, she had no way of guessing what he was thinking. His face always had that same blank expression like at any minute he was going to explode or cry.

“I’m sorry,” he said solemnly, holding her nervous gaze.

“For what?”

“For taking you there,” he replied with guilt. “I didn’t plan for this to happen. I’m not a very good boyfriend, am I?”

That made her laugh out loud. “No, you are not.” She sat down on the side of the bed careful not to shake it. “But you are a very good soldier and that has to count for something. Wouldn’t you say so, Mister Sousuke?”

She leaned close picking up his fork stabbing some of his eggs about to feed it to him, but he stopped her. His face was serious and somber as he reached up cupping her cheek. “Kaname?”

“What is it, Sousuke?”

“Your father is coming,” he said beginning to sweat. “He is not going to be happy.”

.o.o.o.o.

Several hours later, after Sousuke had eaten and was sound asleep, she decided to take a walk to the snack machine she had spied earlier. A7, a Milky Way, was calling her name. She hadn’t had one since her last time in the United States and she felt she fully deserved one right now. Except she didn’t have any money, so she just stood there drooling over it.

Amy saw her standing there staring at it looking like a starving child and giggled. “I actually prefer the Butterfingers, myself.”

“I crave that caramel-y goodness,” Kaname said with a nervous smile.

Amy took out a dollar bill and fed it into the machine. “Captain Testarossa just arrived not too long ago. She’s waiting for you down the hall in room B.”

“Tessa is here?” she asked retrieving the candy from the bottom tray. “Thank you,” she added holding the candy up.

“You’re welcome.” She smiled back politely. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the briefing room.” Amy walked down the corridor ahead of Kaname and dropped her off by the room. When she walked inside Tessa was sitting there sipping a cup of tea and smiled when she saw Kaname.

“Miss Chidori! I am so glad to see you are well and safe here,” Tessa said kindly.

“Thank you for helping us, Tessa,” Kaname replied smiling back.

“When I heard that Sergeant Sagara had been wounded-”

“How did you know, Tessa?” Kaname snapped her tone quickly changing to annoyance.

Tessa knew this would come up but no matter how many times she rehearsed it, it never sounded good. There was no easy to way to disguise her deception. She took a deep breath and stood up. “I received a phone call alerting me to your position; not that I couldn’t have found you myself, I just wasn’t looking. When I had heard that Sousuke had been injured I knew I couldn’t leave you two out there. You had been spotted by Amalgam.”

Kaname stood there crossing her arms over her chest. “Who called you Tessa?”

“I did,” Leonard said moving out from the shadows.

“You,” Kaname hissed. “I should have known. Why do you keep following me, aside from your weird creepy perverted idea of us being a couple one day?”

“My brother has the best of intentions, Kaname,” Tessa replied with innocence. “Though he and I are not on the best terms right now, I had no choice but to accept his help.”

“Your boyfriend has a bounty out on his head,” Leonard began whisking away a piece of hair that fell into his eye. “Though his death would mean very little to me, it appears you are always with him. And since I don’t want anything to happen to you...”

“Is that supposed to sound noble?” Kaname said rolling her eyes.

Tessa could see Kaname wasn't pleased with Leonard either but for what reason she wasn't sure. She felt if Kaname wanted her to know, she’d tell her. “How is Sergeant Sagara?” she asked trying to change the subject.

“He’s fine,” Kaname replied calmly. “They fixed his leg and he’s sleeping.”

“I will go see him later,” Tessa said sitting back down.

“This whole thing just makes me uneasy,” Kaname spat out. “I’m really grateful that you helped, Tessa but keep your brother away from me.”

Kaname spun around and marched from the room. She needed to calm her nerves and get away from Leonard. The man just infuriated her with his haughty, stuck-up attitude. And the fact that Tessa could just stand there and defend him like that... She let out a loud growl and stamped her foot.

“There’s that fire I love about you,” Leonard said from behind her.

She spun around her eyes defiant. “Why are you following me?! I just want to be alone!”

He began advancing on her slowly enough she didn’t notice at first then backed up slowly. “You really have no idea how lovely you are,” he said his voice low and sultry. “When I was a young boy I used to sit alone and watch the sunset. Such peace and beauty, such glorious color all spread across the sky like a finely painted canvas. There wasn’t another moment in my life when I felt so at peace, so calm and serene, as if I had all the power of the world right there in my grasp.”

“What’s your point?” she sneered with contempt, backing up against the railing.

He suddenly reached up running his fingers lightly along the sides of her face and she flinched away. “My point is that whenever I look at you, I feel that same inner tranquility—so much that I want to hold onto it forever. Can you understand that, Kaname? Do you know what it’s like to feel so peaceful that all the pain in your life just melts away?”

His eyes traveled hungrily over her face and lips and she wanted to hurt him, hurt him so bad he would never touch her like this again. Rearing back her knee, she jolted it upward into his groin as hard as she could and he slumped forward.

“Yes, I do,” she hissed angrily. “That’s how I feel when I’m with Sousuke. And you’ll never measure up to him,” she added letting him stand there holding himself in agony. “No man ever will,” she called over her shoulder walking off.

After a few minutes Leonard was able to stand up and shake off the assault. Normally that kind of physical abuse would have spurred his revenge but she was an exception to him. He reminded himself silently why he was doing this and that it was only a matter of time before everything fell into place.

.o.o.o.o.

Tessa opened the door to Sousuke’s room quietly so not to disturb him but he was sitting up staring out the window lost in thought. His leg was propped up with several pillows and his usual mussed up hair hung over his brooding eyes. She thought he looked cute sitting there in his hospital gown with just his socks covering his feet...almost made her want to giggle.

“Mister Sagara,” she said calmly.

His head snapped around and his eyes widened in shock. “Captain!”

“I am so glad that you are alright,” she said her voice sweet, a smile gracing her lips. What she wouldn’t give to be the one taking care of him, nursing him back to health.

“My wounds are minor and should heal very quickly.” He pulled the covers over himself making sure nothing was exposed to her. The fact that she was standing there staring at him lying there half naked made him want to run from the room but he obviously couldn’t move.

She sighed deeply and shook her head disapprovingly. “What you did, putting Miss Chidori in danger again by running off without any proof-”

“Captain, I had my suspicions-”

“Save it, Mr. Sagara,” Tessa snapped making sure to keep her tone professional. “Granted, I can see this from your standpoint, but this does not look good on paper. I had to pull some very large strings to have you brought here and Intelligence is going to want to know why I needed to send two AS units to the desert. I cannot keep covering for you, Sergeant.”

“Ma’am, I have clearly specified that I do not work exclusively under Mithril,” he stated also keeping his tone professional. “I had my reasons for my actions. I acted on instinct and I am glad I did because Miss Chidori is still in danger.”

Tessa took a deep breath and sat down in the chair beside his bed. “I didn’t come here to reprimand you,” she said looking down at her folded hands lying in her lap. “I came here because I care about you.”

“Uh...Captain?” he asked eyeing her suspiciously.

“When you piloted the Arbalest in Hong Kong, you opened my eyes to your potential. It was amazing what you could make that machine do,” she began looking up at him, her eyes innocent and pure. “But you also opened someone else’s eyes as well.”

Sousuke stared at her unflinching, confusion evident in his eyes. “I do not understand, Ma’am.”

“The idea that you can control the Lambda driver is not something these people want to configure into their future plans,” she said closing her eyes.

He couldn’t begin to fathom what she was saying. “Amalgam?”

“They are trying to eliminate you, Sergeant!”

To Be Continued...