Chapter 6: Girlfriend?

The next day at school she sat in the classroom chatting with Kyoko about one of their class assignments. Sousuke sat at his desk casually reading a magazine while Shinji went on about some new AS he heard rumors about from his sources. As usual he pretended not to be bothered by the fact that Kaname was giving him the cold shoulder again.

It made no sense to him this time; he did everything he thought was right. Maybe if he had stuck to Kurz’s plan things would have turned out better. No, he thought. He had too much respect for Kaname than to disgrace her like that in public. Even though he had seen young couples countless times ‘making out’ as it was called in public, he just didn’t feel it was the right thing to do.

This morning he had showed up at her door like always to escort her to school but she had already left. It wasn't the first time she had done that so he didn’t read too much into the situation. And when he walked into class she barely paid him an ounce of recognition. Was the evening so bad? he asked himself. If anything he felt that he had spared her embarrassment and that was a huge accomplishment considering he always seemed to make her blush.

Suddenly there was a large earth-shattering boom that shook the walls. Everyone turned a suspicious eye to Sousuke who continued to read as if nothing had just happened. Kaname’s eyes narrowed angrily and she was about to stand up and scream at him when someone burst through the classroom door.

“Sagara!” Tsubaki screamed. His clothes were tattered to shreds and his face was covered in dirt and soot.

“Uh oh,” Shinji said shrinking back in his chair.

“I know it was you, Sagara!” Tsubaki screamed even louder stalking angrily up to his desk.

Sousuke looked up his expression unchanging. “You expressed last week that you thought someone was sabotaging the karate club room. I policed the area and set up the appropriate precautionary security.”

“You blew it up!” Tsubaki screamed waving his arms around rapidly.

“Correction, you blew it up,” Sousuke said calmly.

Tsubaki growled viciously and Kaname knew she had to intervene or something bad would happen. She jumped up with a nervous laugh and threw herself between the two. “You know how this idiot can be,” she said to Tsubaki with a blush.

“Where are we supposed to practice now?” he growled placing his hands on his hips.

“We’ll figure something out,” she said pushing him towards the door.

“This isn’t over yet, Sagara!” he called over her shoulder.

The instant he was gone she turned around extremely agitated. “You just have to provoke him, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said innocently.

The loudspeaker rang out, “Sousuke Sagara and Kaname Chidori, please report to the student council room immediately.”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the front of his shirt dragging him with her. Damages were assessed and they were both assigned to find a temporary place for the karate club to meet until their room was repaired.

Later, she was at her shoe locker when Tsubaki showed up leaning against them in a nonchalant manner, a smug smile on his face. “So, Kaname, how about we go out tonight? Since Sagara blew up our room, my nights are free.”

Kaname turned to him an annoyed look on her face. “I don’t think so.”

“So, what, you can’t go out with me because you like that freak?” he asked with a bit of harshness.

“What?” Chidori asked her eyes flying to his.

“What’s he got that I don’t? I’m a lot better looking than him and I fight better than him.”

“Now wait, I—”

“I don’t think I like the idea of you taking my girlfriend out,” Sousuke said angrily suddenly appearing behind him.

Kaname’s eyes grew wider. “Girlfriend?” she asked confused.

“Girlfriend?” Tsubaki repeated swinging around to face him but wound up staring down one of the lockers instead.

“Now wait a minute!” she cried from behind them.

“Maybe you just aren’t enough man for her, Sagara,” Tsubaki taunted still facing the locker.

“Perhaps we should let Kaname decide,” Sousuke replied his voice becoming gruffer than usual.

Both guys turned to her their faces imploring and inquisitive. Oh man, she thought. This is ridiculous! “I’m not dealing with either of you idiots,” she said stalking off.

“How about a little wager, Sagara?” Tsubaki said crossing his arms over his chest. “Whoever can get Miss Chidori to kiss them first wins and the other backs off.”

“I win, I already kissed her,” was all he said walking off.

Tsubaki just stood there a little shocked. “Yeah, well, I bet I could get her to kiss me too!” he shouted shaking his fist in the air. He would, he thought. It was about time he showed Kaname just how he felt about her. And if Sagara was already made a move on her, it only meant it was going to be more of a challenge.

He snickered. A challenge Tsubaki knew he could win.

“Kaname, wait!” Sousuke called as he chased her down the street.

“What do you want?” She didn’t look at him and kept her eyes fixed ahead.

“I’m sorry I upset you last night,” he said walking next to her. “I thought what I did was the right thing.”

“Well, it wasn’t Sousuke,” she replied. “I thought you were mad at me the way you were acting all quiet.”

“I was nervous,” he admitted quickly.

She stopped dead in her tracks and looked over at him. “Why did you tell Tsubaki I was your girlfriend?”

“You don’t want to be my girlfriend?” he asked plainly.

That shocked her. “That’s not what I meant,” she said, her voice significantly softer. How did he keep managing to make her feel this way? It was if he knew all her weak points without even really understanding what he was doing.

“Look, Sousuke, just because we went out on one date doesn’t mean I’m your girlfriend all of a sudden.” That didn’t sound right, she thought. She hadn’t meant that to sound so harsh. “What I mean is, if you want someone to be your girlfriend then you should ask them first.” That sounded better.

“Then, will you be my girlfriend?” he bluntly inquired, his face as serious as ever.

“Sousuke,” she whispered her voice almost nonexistent.

Her brain began to feel as if it were turning to mush. If the kisses weren’t enough to muddle her senses, the idea of being his girlfriend sure did. It wasn't an undesirable offer in the least. In fact, she kind of liked the idea of sharing long romantic walks with him in the park, maybe snuggling at the movies or holding hands while waiting in lines. She did after all feel the safest with him. But that shouldn’t be why she should accept. She should want to be his girlfriend because she liked him...in that way.

“Kaname?” His voice was soft and concerned, seeking out an answer from her that he hoped would be positive. Her hesitation made him nervous; the silence in the street made him even more so.

She looked up and suddenly he looked different. Oh he was the same old Sousuke alright, but something about the way he was looking at her; he looked incredibly handsome and enticing.

“Sousuke...I...”

To Be Continued...