Chapter 1: A Kiss is Just a Kiss

It was a night like any other night, or so it seemed at first. The moon was high in the darkened evening Tokyo sky and the crickets were chirping their familiar tune. The light cool breeze wafted through her hair like invisible fingertips dancing in its softness as she strolled casually down the street on her way home.

“I thought the school dance was a huge success!” she proclaimed joyfully.

“Indeed it was,” Sousuke replied in his usual monotonic voice.

She smiled over at him, her face softened by the moonlight. He had seemed like he had a good time, she thought. A good time for Sousuke. He stood at the entrance most of the time checking everyone for contraband, she rolled her eyes heavenward.

Sousuke just never really got it, the whole teenager thing. He meant well with his over-protectiveness. She had learned to accept his overreacting, she even thought it was kind of sweet sometimes. But she wondered what he thought of all the things he saw his fellow students partaking in. Did he want to be a normal teenager or was that impossible for him?

He had told her very little about his youth in Helmajistan but she could only imagine that he’d seen and done things the average person wouldn’t be able to handle. Yet, he held himself upright and dutiful, unflinching in his responsibilities, never asking questions. And since he had returned to Jindai High, he had only seemed a slightly more relaxed than before. She figured it was because he felt more comfortable piloting the Arbalest now.

“Did you have a good time, Chidori?” he asked breaking her thoughts.

She glanced over at him a small smile on her lips. “Yeah, I kinda did,” she replied. “Did you?”

He glanced over at her out of the corner of his eyes. “The evening was a success. No injuries, no casualties; I did my job.”

“That’s not what I meant,” she said rolling her eyes. “You barely did anything but just stand there and stare at everyone with that serious expression you always have,” she said staring down the street. “You need to loosen up, Sousuke. You’re way too tense for someone your age. Be a teenager!”

He suddenly felt very tense by her words. “I do act like a teenager!” he replied stiffly. “Don’t I?”

She laughed soundly shaking her head. “If you’re gonna blend in with everyone here, you’re gonna have to start behaving like a normal teenager. Not all this commando stuff and scaring everyone into thinking we’re going to die all the time.”

“I don’t understand,” he replied as they entered her building. “Isn’t safety the most important objective of any mission?”

“That’s just it, Sousuke! This isn’t a mission!” she exclaimed as they walked up the stairs. “You need to learn how to relax,” she added with a giggle.

Relax? he thought as they reached her floor. He didn’t feel tense in the least, yet...she was a typical teenager—she was what he would call a specialist. Her assessments could only be accurate of him and he decided to trust her opinion.

“Will you show me?” he asked as they arrived at her door.

“I don’t know, Sousuke,” she replied slipping her key into the keyhole. “I have tried with you before and failed many times. I just don’t think you can do it.”

He straightened slightly in his stance, his shoulders back, his chin raised proudly. “I will do whatever you wish me to do. I will make it my duty to act more like a normal teenager.”

“Rule number one,” she said with another girlish giggle. “You can’t go around talking like that. You sound weird!”

He relaxed again letting his shoulders slump forward lazily in defeat. “I do?”

“Yeah,” she said opening her door turning around to face him. “You’re gonna need a lot of work. Come on,” she said dragging him inside.

She pulled him into the living-room and made him stand in the center of the room. He looked rigid and confused and she could only imagine what he was thinking. “First, let’s do something about how you dress,” she said tugging at his shirt playfully. “You walk around in these frumpy clothes everyday. We’ll have to go shopping tomorrow and get you something better.”

“My clothes are efficient for my purposes,” he said blushing slightly when she didn’t let go of the front of his shirt.

“But they are ugly!” she exclaimed with a mocking tone. “You need some color.”

“Color does not blend well with your surroundings,” he reminded her. “If I perhaps needed to camouflage myself—”

“You’re a lost cause,” she muttered about to walk away.

“Chidori, wait,” he said reaching out grasping her arm lightly.

It was an innocent touch but the warmth of his fingertips brushing against her skin made her every nerve jump alive instantly. She felt a quick rush of heat surge through her middle and her cheeks flushed red. Why did she always get like this when they were this close?

He stared down at her watching that familiar blush cross over her delicate face. For some strange reason he kept embarrassing her without even trying. All he did was touch her arm, he thought. What did he do wrong?

“I will do whatever it takes,” he proclaimed whipping his shirt off quickly and tossing it on the floor.

Her eyes flew open in shock. “What are you doing?” she cried swiftly turning away, her face burning even redder.

“My shirt lacks the required colors needed to blend into society,” he said with pride.

She knelt down and grabbed his shirt in her hands and thrust it into his chest...his bare chest that she’d never seen before. Her eyes froze unable to look up, her mouth drying instantly and her throat constricting. Put your shirt back on, she wanted to whisper, but her mouth wouldn’t form the words. Her head started spinning and her pulse jumped swiftly.

Before she could stop herself, her fingertips loosened and brushed lightly across his skin. She couldn’t stop herself as they softly tickled, seeking something she couldn’t explain. It was amazing being able to indulge for just one second what she had wanted to do for months now. Just a few more seconds, she thought.

His first reaction was to grab her hand and pull it away. But the instant his hand touched hers he froze feeling a sudden dizzy sensation take over him. He had heard Kurz and the other guys talking about something similar to this before but he had never understood it until this very second. What had Kurz said he did? he asked himself staring down at her lowered face.

With speed he impetuously pulled her into his arms, leaned down and kissed her full on the lips.

She didn’t have time to react! All she could feel were his strong arms holding her close, the length of his body pressed against hers, his warm lips sealed possessively against hers. His hand splayed across her hip edging her closer and she felt a surge of fear and excitement run up her legs.

Just as she was about to push him away, her conscience finally audible over her own curious urges, he reared back his eyes sated and heavy. Her breath was uneven and her chest was heaving slightly. “What did you do that for?” she whispered surprised to find her voice.

“Is that not what teenagers do when they like each other?” he asked. “I see them in the park kissing all the time.”

His words echoed in her mind. But her state of shock still had not worn off enough to grasp that what he just did was more mechanical than anything. The second she realized it, she broke free of his hold and stepped back taking a few moments to regain her composure.

Suddenly, she reached out and whacked him over the head with her fan. “What is wrong with you?” she screamed. “You don’t just kiss a girl like that! That’s sexual assault, you idiot!”

“I...I’m sorry!” he replied straightening in his stance, feeling extremely nervous now.

“And you don’t just kiss someone for no reason!” she added with crossing her arms over her chest indignantly.

But he hadn’t kissed her for no reason, he thought. Something just told him it was the right moment. He had thought it felt right but apparently his judgment was off...again. “I thought...maybe...you would like to kiss,” he admitted, sweat beading on his forehead.

Her anger faded instantly. “Why would you think that?” she asked trying to disguise her embarrassment.

“You were touching me,” he said his cheeks flushing red.

Her eyes flew open in shock. She hadn’t expected him to say that. “I was?” she asked feigning ignorance.

He looked down at her his own shock evident in his eyes. “I am sorry!” he exclaimed with fear. “I was mistaken! It won’t happen again!” he added rushing from the room.

“Sousuke, wait!” she said as he opened the door.

But he didn’t wait; he disappeared before she could stop him.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 2: Some Friendly Advice

“Well, well, well,” Kurz said as he walked up behind Sousuke in the officer’s lounge aboard the Tuatha de Danaan. ”If it isn’t Sergeant Sober.” They had just finished a mission; one Sousuke had opted to volunteer for, and he was relaxing for a minute before heading back to Tokyo.

“Sergeant Weber,” Sousuke replied with a nod as Kurz took a seat next to him.

“How’s Tokyo life treatin’ ya?”

Sousuke looked up his facial expression blank. “Confusing,” he said looking back down at his half filled glass of water.

“Lemme get a beer,” he called to bartender. “What’s so confusing about it, buddy?” He grabbed the bottle from the bartender and took a huge gulp.

“I kissed her, Kurz,” Sousuke blurted out bluntly.

Kurz spit his mouthful of beer out all over the counter. “What?” he exclaimed choking. “Who did you kiss?” he asked with wide eyes.

“Miss Chidori,” he replied looking up at Kurz.

“You kissed Kaname?!” he asked in amazement.

“She called me an idiot,” he said solemnly looking back down at his hands on the counter.

Kurz chuckled lightly. “Well, what happened?”

Sousuke recounted the entire evening to Kurz not leaving out a single detail. By the end of the story Kurz was hanging onto his every word, amazed and intrigued. “You just left?” he asked in confusion.

“I kissed her, Kurz,” he reminded him.

Kurz giggled again but this time he knew what to say. “Look, Sousuke,” he began. “If you haven’t noticed that Kaname likes you yet, then you really are an idiot.” Sousuke looked up with shock. “Don’t you think it’s about time you admitted to her how you feel?”

“How I feel?” Sousuke asked his eyes filled with bewilderment.

“You really don’t know, do you?” Kurz asked with a grin. “You’re in love, Sousuke.”

Sousuke looked across the bar into the mirror behind all the many different colored bottles at himself. “In love?” Astonishment crossed his face.

“Yeah, man,” he said slapping Sousuke on the back. “We’ve all known it for a long time. You can’t fool us!”

“I’m in love with Miss Chidori?” he asked in a low tone. How could he be in love? he asked himself. He wasn't even sure what the emotion entailed let alone understood how it felt. Why was he not aware of this? How could he not see it?

“Go back to Tokyo, get her some flowers, tell her how you feel,” Kurz explained. “Then...” Kurz’ eyebrows jolted up and down teasingly.

Sousuke stared back unknowingly. “Is something wrong with your eyes?”

“Oh my God, Sousuke!” Kurz exclaimed. “You really have no idea about this stuff, do you?”

Sousuke just stared back.

“You have to compliment her, say something nice,” Kurz told him. “Tell her how pretty she is.”

Sousuke stiffened considerably, his eyes wide. “I could never tell her that!”

“Sure you can,” Kurz said with a devilish grin. “Tony, come over and help me teach Sousuke something.”

A burly man sitting across the room got up and walked over to them. “What is it, Weber?” he asked with gruff tone.

“I need to show Sousuke here how to treat a lady,” he said with a wink. “Help me out here.”

Tony shrugged and sat down at the closest table and stared over at Kurz with a silly grin. “Buy me a drink, sailor?” Tony asked in a high pitched voice.

Kurz made a disgusted face. “The things I do for my friends,” he muttered sitting across from Tony. “Okay, she’s sitting there, she’s expecting me to say something. I should say something nice, like, “Your eyes are like drops of sunshine in the darkness of my life.”

“Weber!” a female scratchy voice yelled from the doorway. “You are pathetic!”

“Sergeant Major Mao,” Kurz said standing up with a heated glance in her direction. “Now that’s a lot more like it,” he said saucily. “Sorry Tony,” he added with a wink.

“No woman is going to buy, ‘Your eyes are like drops of sunshine in the darkness of my life’. Blech!” Melissa said in a mock tone. “No wonder you can’t get laid.”

Kurz blushed considerably, looking embarrassed. “You haven’t said yes yet,” he replied sheepishly.

Melissa just reached out and punched him square in the face knocking him to the floor. “Idiot,” she swore. “Sousuke, you have to be honest with her. Tell her exactly how you feel. Women like when a guy can tell her like it is.”

Sousuke stared at her his face like a stone. He had no idea what she was saying. Melissa kind of figured that much when he didn’t respond. “Take her to dinner, show her a good time...then when its time to say goodnight, tell her you want to confess something to her.”

“How about dinner, Sergeant Major?” Kurz mumbled from the floor. She kicked him in the face with her boot. “She loves me,” he groaned.

“Dinner,” Sousuke whispered. Maybe Chidori would like a night out away from everyday life. “And a movie?” he asked Melissa.

“Sure!” she exclaimed with a bright smile, a cigarette dangling from her lips.

“Dinner and a movie it is,” he said standing up proudly. They were always walking around together but it had never occurred to him to ask her to do something casual.

“Go get her, tiger,” Melissa said as he walked out the door.

Kurz made a growling sound and Melissa rolled her eyes. “Weber, you’ll never learn,” she said walking off.

“But you love me!” Kurz called rubbing his newly acquired sore chin.

Sousuke walked down the submarine hallways with only one thought wracking his brain; asking Chidori to go out with him casually. This would be difficult, he thought. He wasn’t quite sure what to say. Her temper could be something to fear and after their last encounter, he wasn't even sure she would speak to him anymore.

He decided he would be outright like Melissa told him. Be completely upfront and frank, he thought as he packed up his belongings. What’s the worse that could happen?

To Be Continued...

Chapter 3: A Dinner Proposal?

Kaname was just settling in for the evening with a book she had always meant to read when a knock sounded at her door. She glanced over her annoyance very apparent on her face as she grumbles lightly. “Why does someone always interrupt me when I want to read?” she mumbled walking to the door. “This better be important!” she called swinging the door open.

“Sousuke,” she said lowly, shock in her eyes.

“Chidori” he said holding his straight pose, hoping his composure would not falter.

“What are you doing here?” she sneered crossing her arms over her chest.

“I would like to apologize for my behavior two nights ago,” he stated as if he were addressing his commanding officer. “It was completely out of line and it won’t happen again.”

That hurt, she thought as she let her arms drop to her sides. But he didn’t realize what he was saying, did he? Did he mean he didn’t like kissing her? Was he ashamed of it? She was so confused! He wasn't the easiest guy to read and it was beginning to annoy her. She wanted to scream out how she felt.

“Why do you do that?” she asked swiftly spinning around, her back to him.

“I don’t understand,” he whispered his brow creasing.

“You big idiot,” she said her voice wavering slightly.

There wasn’t any movement for several seconds and just as she was about to turn around she felt his hands settle on her shoulders. Every nerve in her body immediately jumped alive and she froze instantly. This is what she wanted, right? She wanted to feel his arms around her holding her close like he did two nights ago. She didn’t care if it was sinful or inappropriate. This was something she refused to deny herself any longer. It was beginning to eat her up inside.

Quickly she spun around and threw her arms around him, her hands splayed across his back, her fingers bunching the fabric of his shirt, her face buried in his chest. Nothing could have stopped the tears that began to well in her eyes.

“Kaname,” he whispered lightly. He closed his eyes and tried to remember what he should do. He should hold her too, he thought. Then he realized something; he not only aught to hold her...he wanted to. His arms instinctively came around her, slowly tightening snugly.

It was a foreign sensation having her so intimately close to him, her body pressed against his. She felt warm and soft, and her hair smelled of spring flowers, the kind he always ignored. But it was different coming from her delicate light hair and he inhaled deeply savoring the fragrance.

“I do not know what to do, Kaname,” he said resting his chin on the top of her head.

She was crying again, he could feel the tears soaking through his shirt. He had made her cry again, he thought. Why was he always doing this? When all he really wanted to do was make her smile, make her feel safe, keep her alive.

But why? he asked himself. Why was it so important to him that she be protected by him only? What made her different than any other mission? His emotions were swirling in his head and he couldn’t keep his thoughts straight. Compliment her, his mind echoed.

“Your hair is...like the night sky after a nuclear explosion,” he said running his fingers through a loose strand.

Kaname stiffened lifting her head, a confused expression on her face. She looked like she was about to cry again but instead busted out laughing. “Oh Sousuke! You are so weird!” she exclaimed between fits of laughter.

“Huh?” he said looking down at her his own confusion clouding his eyes.

After she finished laughing, she sighed heartily. “What are you trying to say, Sousuke?” she asked girlishly.

He physically tensed looking over her head avoiding her questioning gaze. “Permission to speak freely?!” he blurted out falling back into his usual comfort zone of subordinate.

“Go ahead,” she whispered flexing her fingers on his back.

Relaxing considerably, he finally looked down at her. “I don’t understand what I feel when I’m with you, Kaname. Sometimes when I look at you my head spins and I can’t concentrate. I have never felt this way before and I am very confused.” He paused slight then blurted out, “Sergeant Weber says I’m in love with you.”

Her eyes flew open in surprise and she pushed away from him without thinking. “Why would he say such a thing?”

“Kaname,” he said taking a step toward her. “If wanting to be the best man I can be means that I’m in love with you...” he said pausing again. “Then I am.”

Her cheeks flushed red and she suddenly felt very short of breath. Chills swept up her spine to her scalp and she felt numb from head to toe. He had just admitted that he was in love her, she thought. She couldn’t speak right now even if she wanted to.

Deep brown eyes of sincerity stared at her as she shivered physically before him. “Sergeant Major Moa told me to be honest with you,” he added lightly.

“She did...” Kaname said her voice finally returning.

“That night in Khanka, you said you could do anything as long as you knew I was there,” he continued. “Chidori, when I’m with you I feel the same way. I feel like I could kill a thousand enemies, conquer all my enemies, take down anyone.”

“Sousuke-”

He stepped forward taking her hand in his and holding it front of them. “What I want to say is...what I mean is...” he stammered feeling sweat bead on his temples once again.

She stared up at him watching the emotions cross his face her own flooding her entire body and soul like raging tidal wave.

He felt himself tense and his nerve cower slightly. “What’s I’m trying to say is..." He couldn't get the words out! "Will you accompany me to dinner tomorrow evening?!" he blurted out once again returning to his militant stance.

“Sousuke, you want to take me out to dinner?” she asked confused.

“Is that not alright?” he asked glancing down at her worried.

“No!” she exclaimed. “That is perfectly fine! I would love to go to dinner with you!”

He sighed with relief. “Then it is settled. Our first date will commence at nineteen hundred hours tomorrow evening. I will promptly pick you up at the scheduled time. Is this acceptable?”

She giggled. “Sure,” she said.

Their first date. The words echoed in her mind like a church bell. This evening couldn’t have more awkward if they were both standing there naked. She blushed at the thought.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 4: Flowers for My Girl

Kaname paced in her living-room her nerves at an all time high. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself that Sousuke was the most harmless man to go out with, she still felt extremely nervous. Was it because it was Sousuke? she asked herself. Would she act this frazzled if it were anyone else?

Since the first day he came to Jindai High she had felt something for him. At first she wasn't even sure what it was but then every night as she laid awake in bed, all she could think about was him; the way he walked, the stupid things he said, the way he always managed to blow something up. It used to make her giggle. That’s when she realized how she really felt about him.

And then those feelings turned from simple admiration to a deep need to have close at all times. And not just because she didn’t feel safe without him around, because she needed to feel him by her side. She needed to know he was just across the street watching her from that drab little apartment of his.

She had bought a new outfit and she wasn’t even sure why. She knew he wouldn’t notice and snorted haughtily as she checked herself for the fifteenth time in the mirror.

The knock at the door made her physically jump and she knocked over the vase that sat on the table. He was here, she thought as she nervously picked the vase up and sat it back in place. Her hand actually trembled as she reached for the doorknob.

Then he was standing there in the doorway, his physique more apparent to her than usual. She let her eyes take a peek down the front of his shirt just before the waistband of his trousers. She froze as a blush suddenly formed on her cheeks.

“Chidori,” he said holding up a bouquet of colorful flowers for her.

She wanted to hop into his arms and kiss him desperately but instead grabbed the flowers and placed one hand on her hip impatiently. “You’re late,” she said agitated.

He stiffened nervously. “I am sorry!” he swiftly replied his eyes widening

“Relax, Sousuke, I’m only teasing,” she said with a giggle. “I’m gonna put these in water,” she added with a smile walking to the kitchen.

He had been in her apartment countless times, so why was this time different, he thought as he stepped inside. It was as if he were behind enemy lines without radio communications. He quickly scanned his brain trying to remember what Kurz and Mao had told him to do. Something about her hair? Her clothes? Her tactical maneuvers on the field? “No,” he whispered to himself shaking his head.

“What’s that?” she asked her voice cheerful and calm as she filled a vase with tap water.

“Uh...nothing!” he said nervously.

“These are beautiful,” she said placing them inside the vase. She leaned down and deeply inhaled their fragrant perfume closing her eyes. “Mmm, what are they?”

“They are a rare double Lilium I had flown in from a private nursery in Italy,” he informed her. “The woman on the phone assured me that ‘any woman in her right mind would love these’,” he said with a straight face.

She froze in her stance her mouth slightly gaping open with shock. He had flowers ordered from another country just for her...tonight. Not only had that probably cost him a lot of money but the meaning behind that kind of sentiment was far too clear. Her legs suddenly felt very numb. He couldn’t possible know what this kind of gift could mean to a girl, could he?

He studied her stunned expression as worry began to build inside him. “Don’t you like them?” he asked a little scared.

She snapped out of it. “Yes! They are amazing! I was just...I mean I thought...”

“Is something wrong Chidori?” he asked noting that same familiar redness spread across her face.

“Where are we going tonight?” she blurted out trying to hide her embarrassment.

“I thought we could go to a movie.” Why did she change the subject? he thought curiously. “I have never been to the cinema.”

She straightened in her stance and placed her hands on her hips with an annoyed sigh. “You have to leave all your weapons here.”

“I cannot properly protect you if I—ow,” he said as she whacked him over the head with her fan.

“I mean it Sousuke! All it takes is one wild misunderstanding and you have a gun shoved in some innocent old lady’s face!”

“She looked like she was going to pull out a weapon,” he said in his own defense.

“This is your whole problem, Sousuke,” she began impatiently. “Not everyone is some secret agent determined to attack you. You need to learn how to relax and enjoy yourself.”

“I enjoy myself with you,” he stated plainly.

Her demeanor changed instantly as she looked at him her eyes holding that usual stunned expression. “You do?”

“We...should get going,” he said quickly urging her to the door.

“What are we going to see?” she asked as he shut the door behind them.

“I am not sure. Kurz suggested that you should pick the movie...” he muttered as they walked off.

Kurz snickered from across the street in Sousuke’s window. He held the binoculars tightly as Melissa tried to shove him out of the way. “Move you idiot, I can’t see,” she rasped wickedly.

Kurz laughed devilishly. “Score one for the guys,” he said in an assured tone.

Melissa just sighed angrily and grabbed the binoculars. “He better stick to the plan. Knowing Sousuke, he’s going to screw this up big time.”

Kurz stood up, one corner of his mouth turned up in a boyish grin. “Not if I can help it. I’ve been trying to get him laid since the first day we met.”

“Where are you going?” Melissa growled over her shoulder still watching through the binoculars.

“Sousuke needs backup on the field,” he said closing the door behind him.

“Kurz, don’t you dare!”

To Be Continued...

Chapter 5: Kiss Me You Fool!

They sat in the theater quietly as the lights flickered across the room from the vast screen. She glanced over at him and had to giggle because his face was so stern and yet had such concentration on it he looked ready to scream. He looked kind of cute, she thought, not that she didn’t think he was handsome to begin with. But seeing him out of sorts made him appear more human, more laid back, more the real man he was under that military shield he always put up in front of people.

She decided she liked the pure innocence that shown on his face as he watched the film, engrossed by the characters and happenings. She had picked a film about the military in hopes it would make his first experience more enjoyable and from the looks of him she knew that to be true.

She turned her attention back to movie and was just about to settle back when he bolted out of his seat and exclaimed, “What are you doing? Regroup and head south to the designated checkpoint! You’re compromising the mission!”

“Sousuke...” she said grabbing his arm and dragging him back into his seat. Her actions were followed by several annoyed viewers shushing him from behind.

“They will not make it back alive,” he said looking over at her his voice a little lower.

She wasn't sure why but the look in his eyes made her quiver inside. He looked so concerned and upset over the movie it was endearing. His eyes twinkled with the light of the screen and she closed her eyes trying to mask her true feelings.

Quickly, she wrinkled her brow and spat out, “You have to be quiet, you military freak. Other people are trying to watch the movie.” He nodded acceptingly and turned back to watch the screen.

Several minutes later, she leaned over and whispered, “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” he asked not mindful of the loudness in his voice. Several more shushes followed again from the spectators around them.

A very red blush rose to her cheeks and she was thankful it was dark in the theater so he didn’t see it again. “I have to use the ladies room,” she whispered looking away awkwardly.

“I will come with you,” he said about to stand but she stopped him.

“No!” she stated loudly herself and got shushed by everyone too. “I won’t be long, I promise.”

Before he could protest further she was gone and he began feeling more fearful than ever for her safety. He laid one hand protectively on the nine millimeter side arm he had tucked safely in his waistband. Just as he was about to stand up and go after her, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.

“Relax, Commando,” Kurz whispered behind him. “Mao’s hiding in the lobby keeping an eye on her right now.”

“Sergeant Weber,” Sousuke whispered astonished.

“Couldn’t let you have all the fun, now could I?” Kurz joked in a low tone. “Did she like the flowers?”

“Affirmative,” Sousuke replied not turning around.

“Works every time,” Kurz chuckled knowingly. “Have you kissed her yet?” Once again Sousuke stiffened in his seat his nerves jolting awake in embarrassment. “You’re gonna have to kiss her, man. The theater is the perfect place.”

“Like you explained?” he asked as sweat beaded on his face.

“Yeah, just like I explained. Trust me, lover-boy, she’ll melt in your arms,” Kurz said with confidence. “I gotta go before she comes back,” he added slinking off back into the darkness.

The way Kurz had explained it to him just seemed so wrong to him. It just reeked of disrespect and he wasn't sure if he could go through with it. Suddenly, as if someone were sending him a top-secret transmission, the main hero of the movie swept up the leading lady and kissed her passionately. Sousuke watched intently, studying every small detail; where he should put his hands, how he should hold her, that he should tilt his head slightly to one side.

Is it getting hot in here? he asked himself. The room seemed like it was suddenly boiling and he tugged nervously at the collar of his shirt. What if she didn’t like it? he thought. She seemed to enjoy their first kiss, almost molding into his arms like a well crafted AK-47 assault rifle.

He spotted her coming down the isle and tension began building inside of him. This was it, the moment of truth, when he kissed Kaname the way Kurz had explained. He prepared himself for the worst and stood straight up his limbs feeling numb and weak.

Mustering as much strength as he could find he reached out the instant she was in range, and pulled her possessively into his arms just like in the movie.

“Hey buddy, move it!” someone shouted from behind them.

“Sousuke, what are you doing?” Kaname exclaimed in shock her eyes wide.

“Get a room you perverts!” someone else shouted from the back row.

Just as he was about to swoop down and claim her lips in a passionate kiss, someone chucked a bag of popcorn at his head and little white pieces went flying in every direction. He stood there unable to move his embarrassment evident. Abort, abort, his mind screamed. The mission has failed. Retreat the sector and return to base.

Swiftly he swooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the theater into the lobby. But the minute he set her back down on her feet she thwacked him over the head with her fan again. “What the heck is wrong with you!” she screamed so loud the concession guy ducked behind the counter out of fear.

“Kaname, I...”

“Are you out of your mind?” she screamed even louder. “What was it this time, the guy behind us was really a ninja and he had swords hidden under his cloak? I know, the usher is really an undercover agent for some communistic organization and you forgot your ammunition!” She stood there tapping her foot her face red with rage.

“I’m sorry,” was all he said walking across the lobby with his head hung low. He sat down on the bench and sighed heavily his face hidden from her view.

She suddenly felt like the world’s biggest jerk. She was always giving him a hard time when all he was doing was trying to protect her. Dammit, she swore to herself. She wanted to whack herself with the fan; she deserved it more than he did.

Nothing he did was right, he thought. Following orders came easy to him. But finding the courage to kiss the woman he desired most in the world and he crumbled like rookie in boot camp. Why?

He felt her hand touch his face and his head jolted up to find her kneeling on one knee before him, her eyes apologetically staring up at him. “Sousuke,” she whispered lightly her lips parting slightly. He reached out cupping her cheek as his heartbeat sped up quickly making him feel like the room was spinning around him.

The concession clerk leaned on the counter resting his chin in his palm with a dreamy expression, Kurz right beside him with the same love-struck expression. “If you do anything to mess this up, I’ll cap your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.” The clerk froze, his eyes wide in shock and fear.

He took her hand in his and stood up bringing her with him. “I don’t want to disrespect you, Kaname,” he said honestly.

“What do you mean?” she asked her eyes wide with confusion.

“I’m taking you home,” he said casting a glance towards Kurz. Kurz whacked his palm to his forehead and shook his head in defeat letting out a disgusted groan.

The entire way home not one word was spoken. She kept glancing towards him hoping for one small reaction from his stone cold demeanor but he didn’t flinch once. And when they reached her door she felt like crying her heart ached so much. She was so confused about why he was being this way and she couldn’t rationalize it this time.

She spun around her back to the door about to give him a piece of her mind when she suddenly found herself in his arms again. His face was so close to hers she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. He looked so serious, his eyelids heavy as he gazed down into hers.

He brushed his lips over hers in a light single kiss and she felt like the air in her lungs disappeared immediately. It seemed like an eternity that they stood there in a lovers embrace, the crickets singing in the distance melodically before he pulled back slightly releasing her.

“Kissing you in front of an entire theater of civilians would have been a very disrespectful thing to do,” he told her his voice unwavering.

She stood there as the shock wore off and irritation set in. “You big jerk! I thought you were mad at me!” she screamed and it echoed through the night sky. The next thing Sousuke saw was her door slamming in his face.

“That went well,” he said to himself realizing he had a lot to learn about his mysterious Kaname Chidori.

To Be Continued...

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...

Chapter 7: To Keep You Safe

She stood there her entire body feeling as if she were about to collapse from sheer panic. Why was he being so forward? As she stared into his soft eyes they reflected what she thought could possibly be genuine admiration. Though with Sousuke she wasn't quite sure if he knew what admiration really felt like...at least admiration for a girl.

For some reason something inside of him nagged him to explain himself. She was the only one who had that effect on him. “Kaname,” he whispered looking down at his feet. “I never want to lose you.”

Wow, she thought. He was saying things she never dreamed she would hear from him. He just wasn't the type of guy who expressed himself romantically and she was always accepting of that—until lately. Her heart swelled inside of her chest and she could swear she felt her eyes filling with tears.

“Back in Hong Kong when I thought you were dead...I...I wanted to die.” His words were low and shaky and Kaname could swear she heard tears in his voice.

“Oh, Sousuke,” she whispered approaching him taking his face in her hands.

He looked up his eyes sorrowful as he gazed down at her. His Kaname, he thought. The woman he swore to protect with his very life, not out of duty, but out of what he now knew was love. Love, his mind echoed. Such a strange feeling, so foreign, so odd yet he wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world. He wouldn’t trade her for anything. He wanted to see her every minute of every day of every year, right beside him where he felt at home.

He took one of her hands in his and placed it over his heart and she could feel the soft thumping beneath her fingertips. So warm, so surreal, she almost wanted to press her ear against his chest so she could hear it better.

Suddenly, his mobile phone started ringing and he winced with annoyance. He wanted to ignore it but it might be headquarters and he couldn’t miss the call. “One minute, Kaname,” he told her calmly pulling it out of his pocket and stepping away from her.

She stood there, her own annoyance very clear on her face. Typical Sousuke, she thought. Would she ever be first in his life? Or would she always have to compete with Mithril.

“Sousuke Sagara,” he said with the phone planted to his ear. “Yes...affirmative...I see...”

She watched him wondering what could possibly be so important. Several different tiny glimpses of expressions crossed his face and she chewed her lower lip in anticipation. She spun around tapping her foot impatiently making a couple irritated sighs loud enough for him to hear and secretly smiled when he looked over to check on her.

She was toying with a small rock on the ground with her shoe when he came up behind her. “Kaname, we have to leave.”

“What?” she asked confused spinning back around.

“That was Kurz,” he began to explain as he escorted her by the arm down the street. “I need to get you to Melida Island as quickly as possible. It is the only place I feel you will be safe.”

Suddenly, she could feel the panic rising inside her. She knew all too well to listen when Sousuke sounded this way. “Someone’s after me again?” she asked her voice quivering.

“I’m not sure but I can’t take any chances,” he said glancing suspiciously in several directions. She grabbed his hand holding on as he lead her quickly down the street. There was no time for packing, he informed her, only enough time to meet up with Kurz and Melissa and catch their ride at the designated rendezvous point.

Once they were on a helicopter he sat closely beside her as stiff as a board while Melissa and Kurz sat across from them with suspicious smiles. And Kurz kept winking at Sousuke which made him feel even more uncomfortable with them all there.

“So, Kaname,” Kurz began with a devilish chuckle, “are you gonna say yes?”

Her eyes flew open wide and she blushed thoroughly down to her toes. Melissa took one fist and jammed it as hard as she could into Kurz’s face and he let out a painful groan. “What did you do that for?” he asked rubbing his jaw.

“When we get back to base, I’m gonna kick your ass, Weber,” was all she said staring out at as the deepening blue ocean passed beneath them.

Kaname shifted nervously beside Sousuke not daring to look up in fear of seeing the expression on his face. It was as if something has changed drastically between them just minutes ago on the street. He had said things she never thought he was capable of conveying to her, things she had always suspected but was never prepared to hear. The loud propulsion of the propellers drowned out any other sound but she swore she could still hear his heart beating softly.

Just as she was about to keel over from embarrassment, she felt his hand cover hers and squeeze gently. His skin was rough yet warm against hers and she suddenly felt all the tension just melt away instantly. Being his girlfriend was beginning to be a novel idea in her mind. She could get used to feeling this way with him. Sure it was different and scary but there was something about belonging to him this way that made warm chills spread up her back to her shoulders.

He felt her relax considerably beneath his touch and it made him feel like he was doing his job; to make Kaname feel safe. This whole business of being a Whispered had to be very confusing and taxing for her. He couldn’t imagine how the knowledge of it all made her feel and wondered how she ever dealt with something so phenomenal and extraordinary. He thought she was the bravest person he knew.

They landed on Melida Island sometime later with a warm welcome from everyone. Commander Mardukas stood on the launch pad awaiting their arrival, his stance rigid as always. Sousuke, Melissa and Kurz all stopped just feet from him and presented their salutes in response to his.

“I apologize for the abrupt change in plans, Miss Chidori,” he said his voice solid and fixed. Kaname smiled kindly in return, a silent acceptance. “Captain Testarossa is awaiting you all in briefing room four. Enjoy your stay here, Miss Chidori.”

“Thank you,” she said following them taking note at the tense way they were all hurrying to the briefing room. Sousuke especially, she thought. He was a pretty tense guy to begin with so if she noticed he was even tenser, he really must be worried about the situation.

“Do any of you know who is after me?” she asked as they continued into the building.

“They didn’t tell us anything yet,” Kurz said with a scowl, “just that we needed to get you somewhere safe.”

“Tessa will explain everything,” Melissa said over her shoulder to Kaname with a smile.

But it wasn't reassuring enough that she was here and under constant protection. Just the thought of someone being after her again made her skin crawl and she inhaled deeply trying to calm herself. The last time Sousuke wasn't there and she had to take care of things herself but this time he was right by her side and that made her feel a lot better—even if they were in the middle of sorting out their feelings for each other.

They entered the briefing room and Tessa was standing there with her back to them but spun around quickly when she heard their footsteps. Everyone except Kaname straightened and saluted her. “At ease,” she said with a smile.

“Kaname!” she cried rushing toward her. “It has been far too long.” Her voice was soft and kind, not the slightest hint of hostility. She looked exactly the same as the last time Kaname had seen her. Those eyes, she thought. They looked innocent enough but she knew better than to trust the little temptress. You would have to be a moron not to see the way she devoured Sousuke with her hungry stare.

“Please, all of you come in and sit. We have much to discuss,” Tessa said waving at the many chairs in the room. “I wish we could have had this meeting on better terms but time is of the essence.”

They all took a seat. “What exactly is going on?” Kurz asked leaning casually back in his chair.

“Our sources have revealed that the enemy is much closer than we thought,” Tessa began looking gravely serious. “In fact, we are in the process of flushing out a mole.”

“Another mole?” Melissa asked aggravated.

Tessa folded her hands in front of herself and sighed deeply. Black technology falling into the wrongs hands was like handing terrorists nukes and telling them to be careful. She knew there was no easy way to explain it.

“It’s Amalgam,” she whispered.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 8: A Warm Welcome

The idea of Amalgam didn’t sit well with Sousuke. Not only did they have little knowledge of them concerning their central base of operations but their interest in the Whispered could be detrimental to everyone. Getting a hold of Black Technology wasn't even the issue anymore, he thought. Black Technology was already being used; he saw that on the battlefield with Venom. It was the idea that with enough of it someone could cause another world war.

“I can only tell you all this,” Tessa continued. “We are taking every precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all known Whispered. They have all been relocated to various places for safety reasons. We, really I, thought it would be best if we brought you here Miss Chidori,” she added with a sweet smile.

“Thank you, Tessa,” Kaname replied with a little smile. But she had to wonder what the woman’s real intentions were. Sure, Tessa was a nice girl, loyal to her men, but she had a real competitive streak when it came to Sousuke.

“Well, that is all, you are all dismissed.” Tessa smiled again and watched as they all filed out of the room. “Oh, Sear gent Sagara, may I have a word with you before you leave?” she quickly called to him just before he vanished.

He froze immediately, knowing this could not be good. The last time he spoke to the captain alone his guilt was too much to bear. He felt like he had hurt her and he was sure she was going to remark on it.

He turned slightly and walked back to her. “Yes, Captain,” he said stiffly.

“How are things in Tokyo?” she asked sweetly.

“They are fine, ma’am,” he replied even stiffer.

“I won’t lie and say I’m not glad that you will be here a little longer this visit. I have prepared a special dinner for tomorrow night to welcome everyone back. It has been too long since Miss Chidori has come to visit us.” Tessa stood there holding herself firmly in place when she really wanted to jump into his arms and cry out how she really felt.

“That will be fine, ma’am.”

Alone in the hallway, Kaname peeked in from the doorway and her blood began to boil just seeing Tessa standing there gawking and acting so idiotic in front of him. Did she have no self-respect? Kaname wondered how Tessa would manage to embarrass herself this time with him. I’m not jealous, she thought. I just know how to spot a lovesick girl when I see one.

The longer she stood there watching the more irritated she became. “Don’t sweat it,” Kurz whispered behind her. She spun around embarrassment evident on her cheeks from being caught spying.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your quarters,” he said waving her to follow.

They chatted casually for a while until Kurz took the conversation to a personal level. “Kaname, don’t worry about Sousuke with the Captain. She may have a crush on him but he’s totally loyal to you.”

“Why would I be worried?” she asked realizing she was doing it again—covering her true feelings with ignorance. “What I mean is, I’m not worried in the least.”

“You don’t strike me as the type who would allow another woman to set up camp on her territory,” he said with a smirk.

Kaname inwardly groaned. Tessa did have the ability to just throw herself into strange situations when it involved some kind of inappropriate gesture towards Sousuke. And for some reason that picture of them on the beach she found in Tessa’s locker never left her mind. What exactly did they do on that beach? Why would he even take her there?

“Not to worry, Kurz,” Kaname finally said. “Sousuke and I have an understanding.”

“Okay.” Kurz chuckled to himself.

They arrived at her quarters several minutes later and Kaname was actually relieved to be near a bed. Her feet hurt and her head was still buzzing from the helicopter ride. She thanked Kurz and stepped inside shutting the door behind her. The cot wasn’t much but it would do for a nice long night sleep.

After inquiring about where she was, he headed to her door. He knocked lightly and she jolted awake, having just dozed off. Panic took over from waking in a strange place. “Who is it?” she cried jumping from her cot.

“It’s Sousuke,” she heard muffled from behind the door.

The door opened instantly and she stood there sleepy-eyed and yawning. “What is it, Sousuke?” she said while yawning.

“I wanted to make sure your accommodations were satisfactory,” he said looking away bashfully.

“Nothing else?” she asked leaning against the doorframe with a devious grin. It couldn’t be all he had sought her out for, she thought. Honestly, she had hoped it wasn't the only reason. His demeanor was much more resigned when he was here, as if he couldn’t relax while on the base, especially in front of her; as if he needed to keep up appearances.

“Well, I...that is I...” his words trailed off and he couldn’t figure out why all of sudden that old shyness had returned. He felt as if he was finally able to break through it and here it was again.

“Get in here,” she said grabbing him and dragging him inside her room.

“This isn’t exactly a good idea, Kaname!” he protested but at the same time let her drag him in.

“Just because we’re on Melida Island doesn’t mean you can’t be yourself around me.”

“I am being myself,” he complained backing up against the wall trying to put as much distance between them.

“Oh yeah?” she said crossing her arms over her chest. “Then kiss me...right here...with the door open.” She knew he wouldn’t do it so she saw no harm in challenging him.

Kiss her? On the base? When anyone could just walk in and see them? If his nerves were already at an all time high, this just skyrocketed them through the roof. But if he didn’t kiss her she would get upset and probably scream down the hallways what a jerk he was. He was trying to make progress with her and this would probably show her that he trusted her. Trust was a big issue with him and she knew that. A semi-public kiss might just be the sentiment that would push her into answering his question earlier on the street.

He reached out and took her hand dragging her into his arms. “You never did answer my question, Kaname,” he said wrapping his arms around her waist.

This was definitely not what she had expected him to do! He suddenly appeared different again like before; his eyelids half closed as he stared down at her. It was not a bad change—in fact, she kind of liked it. His eyes were dark and smoldering, a look she had never seen in his eyes before. It made her whole body feel weak in his grasp.

“What question?” she lied, her voice shaking to spite herself.

He let one of his hands move up her back. Oh, how he loved the way her hair just slid through his fingers like silk. He could touch her hair for hours, he thought. It was the same feeling he got when he cleaned his gun, except this made him feel all tingly inside like right after a large test explosion.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” he said softly running his hand over her cheek now. He wasn't quite sure what made him do it but he just wanted to feel her skin beneath his fingertips. She was so soft, almost like finely grained gunpowder.

“Do you even know what that means, Sousuke?” she asked closing her eyes savoring the feel of his hand caressing her cheek. Delicious chills swept up her arms and she physically shivered.

“It means, I only want you in my life, Kaname,” he whispered leaning forward, their lips just inches apart. He couldn’t believe himself. Where was all this coming from? Professing his love for her, kissing her where someone would surely see them; it all was so unlike himself but he liked it. She made him want to be normal, forget about his past and all the pain and suffering he had endured.

He did know what it meant, she thought. And the way he was holding her, his warm breath intermingling with hers, his fingers brushing across her face—no coherent thoughts could even begin to form in her mind. “Then, yes, Sousuke, I will be your girlfriend,” she whispered just as he claimed her lips in very soft slow kiss.

Her mind swirled and she instinctively grasped the front of his shirt pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed tightly together now, she now grasped his face in her hands holding him firmly, possessively. This was it, she thought, they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. It was like waking up after being asleep for years. In his arms she felt like she belonged, like this was where she was meant to be all along.

Something was pressing into her, she thought shifting uncomfortably against him. Then it hit her and it must have hit him as well because he bolted backwards his face as red as a beat. What a disgrace! He wanted to kick himself for letting that happen! If he was trying to keep respect between them this was not helping!

“I’m-sorry-I-need-to-go-I-think-I-hear-my-commanding-officer-calling-me!” he said very quickly then dashed from the room slamming the door closed behind him. Kaname giggled to herself. Oh, that Sousuke...he really didn’t know a lot about dating and relationships. She smiled dreamily as she laid back down on the cot closing her eyes.

There was a definite change in him tonight, she thought. He was going to have to understand that certain things were just beyond his control, even she knew that. She was sure he would be more comfortable with her as time passed just like kissing her was no longer the fiasco it once was between them.

Her last thought was of Sousuke’s embarrassment as he rushed from the room and she giggled as she drifted off to sleep.

The entire base was darkened and silent except for a few watchmen walking around here and there. In the wee hours of the morning was when the shadows came to life, creeping around the room, watching you while you sleep. The darkness taking form looming over you completely unaware of the danger lurking just feet from your cot.

Kaname shifted slightly a small moan escaping her lips. Such a beauty, so elegant and tempting, the intruder thought. But he wasn’t supposed to touch her, strict orders from the boss. He slunk back into the shadows knowing his time would come. It was almost too good to be true, her coming here and making his job a lot easier. And he looked forward to her struggles and cries for help, he thought with a wicked smile.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 9: Not a Problem

Sousuke’s sleep was nothing to brag about, he thought as he threw his legs over the side of his cot. He had spent most of the early morning hours tossing and turning, thinking about Kaname and how he had shamed himself in front of her. Why could he not control himself physically all the time? He had accustomed himself to thinking about the most non-sexual things when he was around her just to avoid such a mishap. But this time, he was so taken off guard by the way she felt cuddled close in his arms, the warmth of her skin beneath his fingers...

Stop it! he thought shaking his head. It was going to be a long day and he needed his wits about him. He had planned to check his equipment and test it to see if it needed any servicing. It was imperative that he be 100 accurate or he could jeopardize his next mission. He grabbed his guns and laid them out on the table preparing them for cleaning and inspection.

He was deep in thought when Kurz swung his door open a crazy smile on his face. “Morning, Sergeant Somber,” he remarked walking to the table.

“Kurz,” Sousuke replied with a short nod.

“Did you find Kaname last night?” Kurz leaned against the wall lazily as his smile widened. Sousuke stopped what he was doing and slowly looked up, his face mortified. “What is it?” Kurz asked suddenly concerned.

“I may have done something wrong,” Sousuke said his voice shallow and weak.

“What the heck did you do this time?!”

Kaname was just approaching Sousuke’s door when she noticed it was open and she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard voices. Kurz was apparently there and he and Sousuke were having an intense conversation by the tone of their voices. She leaned her back against the wall next to the door straining to listen.

“I don’t know if this is an appropriate subject for discussion,” Sousuke said his voice low but still audible.

“Look, whatever happened couldn’t be that bad.”

Sousuke closed his eyes silent for several seconds deep in his own thoughts. “Kaname deserves better than me, Kurz.”

“Are you crazy?” Kurz asked pulling up a chair and sitting down.

Kaname wanted to run in and scream at him for even thinking something so stupid. He was more than what she had ever wanted! Why would he think such a thing? Is that how he really felt about her; that he was lower than her, beneath her somehow? If anything she envied the way he held himself, the way he always reacted so smoothly under pressure. The idea of him thinking he was...

She let out a piercing screamdoubling over as a sharp pain shot through her head. Kaname...a voice echoed through her mind; something familiar yet foreign at the same time, invading her, violating her. Kaname...it rang again, this time with more pain. Her head felt like it was being torn apart, sharp and insistent, probing deeply.

A loud cry escaped her lips as she fell to the floor grasping her head. Anything to stop this, her mind screamed. Her stomach turned over and she grasped the thin air for something, anything, as the room began to spin wildly beneath her. Another scream twisted from her lungs so loudly it echoed down the halls and all she could do too keep herself from spiraling down that black tunnel in her mind was to think of Sousuke.

Both of them heard her immediately and rushed to the hallway. Kaname lie there on the floor and Sousuke dropped instantly down taking her into his arms. She was pale and sweating, her body rigid and tense.

“Kaname?” Sousuke said pulling her close.

Kaname!...the voice cried sending another jolt of pain through her, this time ten times more intense and she grasped the front of his shirt tightly in her fist as she twisted in his hold. At this time, more people had come rushing down the halls from all the commotion and Kurz knelt down to assist Sousuke.

“Kaname, can you hear me?” Sousuke asked loudly.

She screamed his name loudly then succumbed to the blackness that so insistently was trying to drag her down, her body going limp in his arms. He lifted her up holding her closely, “I need to get her to her quarters.”

“I’ll get Tessa,” Kurz called as he ran off.

Sousuke carried her down the hall to her room and laid her gently down on the cot. This was the part of her he was not accustomed to; the mysterious Whispered part. He knew so little about them, only that they possessed information that could make someone’s army very powerful. He had never seen her have an episode of this magnitude and it was actually scaring him. Would this happen often? he thought as he stared down at her motionless body. Did this kind of mental stress cause damage to her? He was worried and at the same time he didn’t know what to do. He felt so strange.

“Is she alright?” Tessa asked flying in the room.

“She is unconscious,” Sousuke replied solemnly.

Tessa crossed the room to where Kaname lay and knelt down beside her. “Can you give me a minute, Sergeant?” Sousuke nodded then left the room.

“You’re not used to this,” Tessa whispered to herself as she took Kaname’s hand almost in a sisterly manner. She closed her eyes and reached out, reached out to Kaname’s mind, softly, calmly but only found darkness.

Kaname...can you hear me?

Silence.

Kaname, it’s Tessa. Who contacted you? Did they say their name?

No...Kaname’s voice replied faintly.

Sleep. This ordeal has taken a lot out of you. You will be fine.

She pulled away and leaned back on her heels. Someone tried to speak to Kaname and she had no idea who it was. The thought made Tessa shake with anger. All their differences aside, Kaname was her friend and she’d never let anything happen to her; even if it meant crossing that dutiful imaginary line that in the past had stopped her before.

She stood slowly and walked over opening the door. “Sergeant Sagara, please come in,” she said calmly. “Sergeant Weber, please come in as well.”

Once they were inside, Tessa turned to face them a look of fear in her eyes. “They know she is here,” she said her voice quivering. “But I do not want to worry Miss Chidori any further. We will have our scheduled dinner party this evening as planned but I need you two to have your eyes and ears fixed on any unusual activity or behavior.”

“You think the mole is here...at Melida Island?” Kurz asked astonished.

“I can’t be positive but I have my suspicions,” she added in a low voice. “Tomorrow we will all board the Tuatha de Danaan first thing in the morning where I will instruct you further on your orders.” She smiled sweetly to assure them things would fine. “She will sleep for a little while. But under no circumstance should she be alerted to this, is this understood?”

“Yes, captain,” they both answered strongly.

“Please let Melissa know as well,” she said as she walked out. “See you both at the dinner tonight.”

“You alright, buddy?” Kurz asked Sousuke once Tessa had disappeared.

“My only concern is for Miss Chidori.”

“I’ll find the Sergeant Major and let her know what’s happening. You take care of Kaname, alright?” Kurz said walking to the door.

“Affirmative,” Sousuke replied walking to stand by her bedside.

Kurz walked down the corridor his hands fisted at his sides. If he ever found the traitor in Mithril himself, he would personally gouge his eyes out for this. If there was one thing he learned in Lebanon, it was to watch his back no matter what the circumstances were. Letting your guard down could only lead to trouble and it was now at a critical high.

Melissa was in the Officer’s Lounge reading a magazine when he found her. “Sergeant Major,” he said sitting next to her.

“What is it, Weber?” she asked glancing up from her article.

“We need to talk.”

Sousuke sat diligently beside Kaname his thoughts lost in what had just happened. The whole idea of a mole in Mithril was not the news he wanted to hear. This jeopardized his position and he needed to stick even closer to her than usual. No more walking to school alone, in fact he would insist she sleep at someone’s house instead of alone, perhaps Kyoko’s. No doubt Wraith knew of this and said nothing, he thought with a sneer.

Suddenly Kaname bolted upward and threw her arms around him burying her face in his neck. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her closing his eyes. She stayed there, safe in his arms as she sobbed quietly on his shirt. He didn’t like this. It was his job to protect her! How could he protect her if he couldn’t see his enemy? How could stop this from happening again?

“Sousuke,” she whispered between sobs.

“No one is going to hurt you,” he replied his jaw twitching in anger. “This is not a problem.”

To Be Continued...

Chapter 10: An Unexpected Guest

“Weber!” the distant screech of Sergeant Major Mao could be heard echoing from down the hall. Several people opened their doors and peeked out in curiosity then quickly retreated when a loud boom sounded immediately after.

“Hey, calm down!” he said backing up against the wall outside the ladies locker room. “I swear I was only just passing by. Come on, you know me.”

“Exactly,” she said standing before him dripping wet with only a towel scantily covering her. “You’ve tried to sneak your last peek, soldier.”

His back thudded against the wall and with a quick glance he noted all his possible escape routes.

“Honestly, Sergeant Weber,” Tessa exclaimed as she walked off in embarrassment fully clothed her hair still dripping wet.

Kurz giggled nervously as Mao advanced on him like a bird to its prey. “Did you get a good look, Cowboy?” she asked as the vein in her temple twitched lightly.

“Oh, I got a good look, doll,” he replied with a smirk and a confident chuckle.

Her response was to reach out and grasp him tightly by the throat and he winced in pain. “Relax!” he squeaked wincing in pain. “I only came here to give you this,” he said holding up a small earpiece transceiver. She snatched it from his hand letting him slump against the wall in relief.

“Sousuke says we have to be on high alert,” Kurz said standing up tall. “But then that guy is always on high alert,” he added with a chuckle.

“Yeah, no kidding, but this time we might just need it,” Melissa replied stuffing the transceiver in her pocket.

Later that evening, Sousuke and Kurz walked down the hall casually to Kaname’s door. Sousuke adjusted the earpiece, assuring it was hidden from sight under his hair. “Radio communications are a go?” Sousuke asked before knocking.

“Check,” Kurz replied.

“Read you loud and clear,” they both heard Melissa reply over the transceivers. Her plan was to stay mostly in the shadows, watch from a distance. It would ensure a concentrated eye on things that maybe Kurz and Sousuke might miss with all the commotion of the party.

“Our mission is simple...find the mole and extract the threat by any means necessary,” Sousuke said his voice filled with a rage Kurz had never heard in him before.

“Whoa, calm down soldier,” Kurz said calmly. “We don’t even know if there is a mole here at the base. Just relax and try to act natural.”

“I am acting natural,” Sousuke said his eyes dark with conviction, knocking lightly on the door.

Kurz grimaced. Sousuke was right; this was acting natural for him. “Oh boy! Tonight is going to be another one those nights,” Kurz added with a giggle before Kaname answered the door.

She smiled sweetly as she swung the door open. Sousuke nodded, as was his typical greeting and Kurz smiled widely. “Ready to go, Kaname?” Kurz asked with a wink.

“Yep!” Kaname replied cheerfully.

Sousuke showed no emotion as they walked along the corridor. The fact that he had seen her episode was really eating away at her. She didn’t want him to know about that part of her. Hell, even she didn’t want to face it at times. Hearing that voice echo in her mind; it was like nothing she had ever experienced—not even with Tessa. Tessa’s resonance was kind and welcoming, almost the same feeling she got when she talked to her sister. That voice held nothing but cruelty and fear in it.

“Exactly what kind of dinner party is this going to be?” she asked as they started walking down the hallway trying to take her mind off that horrible thought.

“Oh, you know Tessa; she’s probably going to go all out. It’s been a while since we had a party here and she likes to throw them to keep our morale up.” Kurz smiled widely trying to hide his nervousness.

Sousuke was still as silent as stone and Kaname couldn’t help but notice he kept patting all his secret weapons hidden under his clothes. She cast a confused glance his way but he was too distracted to notice. He was slightly on edge and that’s saying something for Sousuke, she thought.

Kurz walked in ahead of them. “Catch you guys later. I think I spy the lovely Private Hyndman over there,” he said with a wink.

Just before she was about to enter she felt Sousuke’s hand on her back in a protective manner. It took her off guard and she felt her cheeks blush slightly. This whole business of their relationship was going to take some getting used to. And the fact that he actually touched her in public around his colleagues and superior officers just made it even more special. She looked over and his eyes held hers for just a second before he nodded urging her inside.

The entire hangar was filled with soldiers and base personnel standing around chatting. If this was supposed to be a party, it sure didn’t look very relaxed in the least. Everyone still looked on duty to her, she thought, even Tessa standing across the room still in her captain’s uniform talking with Commander Mardukas.

Some party, she thought rolling her eyes. It looked more like Sousuke planned it than anyone else.

“Kaname!” Tessa cried waving her over her from across the room.

“Here we go,” she mumbled as they walked over to greet her. “Hi Tessa.”

Tessa was her usual bubbly self as she conversed with Kaname politely over the next hour or so, catching up on old times—mostly just Tessa asking how everyone was doing at Jindai High. Kaname got to walk around the room greeting everyone again and Sousuke followed closely behind.

He scouted the room, noting each person and their activity to himself. Johnson was eating a plate of food from the buffet table, Tanaka was laughing at something Machinsky said, Weinstein was sitting in a chair staring off into space...

He just needed Kurz and Melissa to report in on their side of the hangar. Sousuke turned away slightly, holding his collar up to cover his mouth. “This is Urzu 7 to Urzu 6, what is your location?” he whispered.

“Urzu 6 here,” Kurz replied in a hushed tone, “I am at the punch bowl. No suspicious activity noted yet.”

“Roger that.” For now, he thought glancing around the room. He reached down and ran his fingers over the fabric covering his 9 mm noting the time on the clock on the wall—1900 hours, and so far so good.

“Urzu 7 to Urzu 2—

“Sousuke, what are you doing?” Kaname asked behind him tapping her foot impatiently.

Then out of the corner of his eye he saw it...the cold gleam of a steal blade headed right for Chidori. He didn’t have to time to assess—just to move. He quickly reached inside his shirt yanking his gun out and tackled the man to floor, a collective gasp sounding from everyone around. It wasn't until the commotion had stilled that he realized what he had just done.

“Sergeant Sagara!” Commander Mardukas screamed his plate of food now smashed into the front of his uniform, sprawled out on the floor underneath Sousuke.

I am sitting on top of my commanding officer, a gun pointing at his head. How did I...how could...

Even the words in his mind were incomprehensible at this point. He quickly jumped up and backed up holstering his weapon. He had let the stress of the situation and his concern for Kaname’s safety cloud his judgment. What was wrong with him? All his life he had prided himself on his ability to control himself under pressure.

Kaname stood there in shock. Why had he done that? Why does he do anything like he does? she thought. She had to feel sorry for him, he had just assaulted Commander Mardukas; even she was scared of the idea. As much as she wanted to go to him and either comfort him or whack him over his witless head, she stayed back. The last thing he needed was her embarrassing him further in front of his colleagues.

“Commander, are you alright?” Tessa said helping him up.

“I’m fine,” he huffed casting an annoyed glance at Sousuke.

Kurz suddenly appeared grabbing Sousuke by the arm and yanking him toward the door. “You’ll have to excuse my comrade here, he’s not feeling well.”

Sousuke blindly followed him into the hallway just grateful to be out of the room. “You need to calm down, buddy,” Kurz warned him. “What’s gotten into you lately? You’re more of crazed maniac than usual.”

“I don’t know what happened,” he replied still in shock over his own actions. The overwhelming drive to protect Kaname; the need to prove to her that she could depend on him was so intense that it made him shiver inwardly with fear.

Fear...of the past not repeating itself, he thought.

“Go get some air. Sis and I will keep an eye on things,” Kurz said sympathetically walking back into the hangar leaving him alone in the hallway.

Slowly he walked down the hall and out onto the helicopter pad, the entire time wondering how a lifetime of training could just suddenly dissolve overnight. Was getting emotionally involved with Kaname jeopardizing her safety? It was making him react very differently to various situations and it was...uncomfortable. Maybe he should back off, he thought as he leaned against the railing.

No, she was so furious with him the last time and that wasn't even his fault. He just needed to find his focus again and still be able to keep her happy and safe. There was no turning back from this and he knew it. He never wanted to feel that empty desolate feeling he felt back in Hong Kong when he thought he had lost her. His whole existence meant nothing to him if she wasn't in his life.

“Sergeant Sagara,” a refined voice said from behind him.

Instinct kicked in and he spun around his gun aimed at the shadowy figure now before him.

This was it, his mind echoed.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 11: An Untimely Departure

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...

Chapter 12: A Hostile Takeover

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...

Chapter 13: Home Sweet Home

Traveling across Asia was not only tiresome and tedious, the journey was proving to be even more infuriating thanks to the company. Sousuke insisted on telling everyone that they were newlyweds, even when it wasn't required. He said it was to insure that their trail was covered adequately. But all it did was irritate her to no end.

Once inside their train compartment, Kaname sat as far as she could get away from Sousuke considering he had handcuffed them together. Her last attempt to escape him back in New Delhi not only turned out to be useless but also got her the new military issue bracelets she now shared with Sousuke. It took every ounce of her strength not to turn to him and strangle the life from his body.

“You do know kidnapping is a felony, right? You big stupid jerk,” she snapped not looking at him.

He didn’t respond and kept reading his magazine. It was the first time he had heard her speak since he had to wrestle her to the ground in the middle of street and handcuff them together. It was a spur of the moment reaction and one he knew was only going to add to her growing anger towards him. But he was not going to let his emotions get the better of him this time. She could be mad at him all she wanted, it didn’t change the fact that going back to Tokyo was too big a risk right now.

“You can’t keep me cuffed to you forever,” she added her voice getting more agitated with each word.

“I know what I’m doing,” he stated calmly not looking up.

“No, Sousuke, I think you have gone off the deep end,” she said looking over at him for the first time since they boarded the train. “People are going to see that you have me captive and I won’t hesitate to confirm what a lunatic you are.”

He sighed heavily and put his magazine down in his lap slowly looking up at her. “Don’t you trust me? You once said that you trusted my judgment.”

“That was before you decided to drag me off to some strange country against my will!” she snapped tugging at the cuffs.

“I understand your concern,” he began looking back down at his magazine. “This situation is much bigger than you and me and whatever is going on I have to take the necessary measures.”

“By going crazy?” she barked looking back out the window at the passing landscape.

Before he could answer someone entered their compartment: a tall man wearing a tan trench coat and a wide-brimmed hat. Sousuke quickly grabbed his magazine and flung it over their exposed wrists to cover the handcuffs but not before the stranger caught a quick glimpse. He froze and stared at Sousuke questioningly.

“We’re newlyweds,” Sousuke replied nonchalantly not realizing the implication he gave to the man.

The man blushed and sat down opening his newspaper trying to avoid eye contact.

“He’s actually a fugitive who kidnapped me and we’re on our way to the Middle East. We may be killed, but either way he’s a dead man because his captain is going to kill him,” she blurted out in a very disinterested tone.

“Kaname!” Sousuke shouted his face breaking out in a sweat.

“Mmm...newlyweds,” she repeated still looking out the window. The man just laughed and continued to read his paper.

Sousuke decided to move before Kaname said any more out of anger. He pulled her to her feet and as they were walking out she said over her shoulder, “He’s probably going to kill me now.” That’ll teach him, she thought.

“That’s not true!” he said as his face turn red at those words. He quickly yanked her with him down the narrow hallway.

He pulled her into the tiny restroom at the end of the car and locked the door behind them. “Kaname, I realize that you are upset with me and for good reason, but your behavior is going to get us in trouble.”

“Then take these off!” she yelled yanking both their arms up in front of his face.

“Not on the train,” he stated firmly.

Her patience was wearing thin. “Take them off!!” she screamed jumping on him sending them both flying backwards against the wall.

“Kaname...don’t...AHHH!” Sousuke exclaimed as she fiddled through his pockets searching for the key. His face reddened and he was thankful she was too busy trying to find it to notice his obvious flustered appearance.

“I know it’s in here somewhere!” she yelled. Digging in every nook and cranny, she made sure to check every possible space available. This was Sousuke after all, she thought, and he probably had it hiding in some hidden pocket somewhere.

“I’m not going to give it to you, not here!” he insisted trying to grab her arm and pull it away. He didn’t like man-handling her but it was the only way to stop her futile attempts. On the battlefield he wouldn’t hesitate to disarm an enemy by whatever means necessary.

“Give it to me now, you owe me this!” she repeated still fumbling through his pockets. Her voice grew in intensity with each sentence along with her aggravation.

“Can’t you wait until we reach the hotel?” he added managing to get her wrist in his grasp. Never had he had so much trouble gaining control of an opponent. Kaname’s physical strength was definitely something to admire.

The people sitting in the train car started to get nervous looking back in the direction of the yelling. Loud thumps against the walls made a few people cringe in their seats.

“I mean it Sousuke, I’m not waiting,” she gritted out fighting against his hold with all her might.

“Why do you have to fight me on this?” he asked managing to keep a good grip on her arm. He knew she wasn’t going to let up, so he caved. “Very well, then hold still.”

Several passengers gasped and blushed. A couple of teenagers peaked over their seats giggling at the show going on in the bathroom behind them.

“Ow! You’re hurting me! OW!” Kaname yelled and it echoed through the car.

“Don’t twist like that, you’re in an odd position,” he said trying to fit the key in after she had managed to get their arms tangled in the tight compartment.

“This is your fault! Ow!” she added with a yip. “Do you have to be so rough?”

“It won’t fit,” he replied as the key refused to work.

An older woman gasped loudly and got up leaving. She stopped halfway looking back at her husband who was still enjoying the auditory show and smacked him over the head.

“Come on, I can’t take this any longer!” she complained trying to move her body so he could reach the cuffs better. “It hurts!”

“You insisted on doing this here, Chidori. This would have been much easier at the hotel. This room lacks the adequate space...can you move a little to the right?” he asked watching as she wiggled against him.

“Is that any better?” she asked and he finally managed to slip the key in and turn it to finally release the cuffs. “Oh my God, yes!” she said feeling the blood rush back into her fingers.

“Good, now do you promise to behave for the rest of the trip?” he questioned impatiently.

“Yes,” she said feeling satisfied that she got her way again with him. “As long as you promise not to do this to me ever again.” Another victory for me, she thought sticking her chin out in a triumphant manner.

“Agreed,” he said pushing the door open and they both practically fell out, their appearances tussled and disheveled.

The whole of the train was staring back at them with shocked expressions on their faces, except for one guy who gave Sousuke the thumbs up. Kaname suddenly realized that everyone must have heard them fighting and blushed considerably. Sousuke said the first thing that popped into his head. “Excuse us, we’re newlyweds.”

.o.o.o.o.

Once they arrived in Tajikistan Sousuke had already helped her to fasten her robes and her hijaab around her head. He reminded her that in an Islamic country, women were required to be covered at all times if out in the public. She complained of course, but followed his lead nonetheless. He also reminded her that she must never speak unless spoken to, that he would lead them to their contact.

A man waited for them outside of the train and Sousuke held her hand tightly as they followed him to a parked car several feet away. Sousuke said something in a language Chidori didn’t understand then handed the man some foreign currency with a nod. She kept looking around nervously holding her scarf up to cover her mouth. The air was dry and she was shocked how much difference a few hours train ride made.

“Get in,” he said in a hushed tone. Once they were locked inside the car he started the engine and drove off. She wanted to relax but her body wouldn’t behave and kept so tense she could feel it in her stiffened spine.

“I know this is overwhelming, but we’ll be somewhere safe very soon,” he assured her. “Just do what I say and remember not to speak in public.”

She shot him an annoyed look letting her scarf drop a little. “This is your idea of safe?”

“Please trust me,” he said continuing to navigate down the dirt road.

“You haven’t even told me why you think going back to Tokyo is dangerous! Are you ever going to tell me what Leonard was doing at Melida Island?” she argued.

“How do you know him, Chidori?”

She closed her eyes and turned away so he couldn’t see her face. She proceeded to tell him about Leonard on the rooftop when she was trying to confront Wraith. Her words poured out in an intense blur of confusion and Sousuke couldn’t help but feel guilt rising inside of him like a volcano. If he had been there none of that would have happened.

“...and then he kissed me!” she growled angrily balling her hand into a fist.

Sousuke’s head snapped around his eyes wide with confusion. “He kissed you?” he asked his voice controlled despite the emotional rage building inside of him. The idea that another man had put his hands on her and without her permission...well, it made him want to kill Leonard Testarossa.

She growled even louder. “I’d love to slap him again just to see the expression on his smug face one more time.” She paused lowering her head and waited for his reaction. It took so much to get a reaction out of him that sometimes she thought he didn’t care.

The stretch of silence was too long for her to stand. Sousuke, you stupid jerk!her mind screamed. Why can’t you just say that it makes you angry? Just say it! She wanted to start crying but she knew that would only confuse him more. “Does it make you angry that he kissed me?” she finally asked fishing for the answer she sought.

After a few seconds, he peered over at her trying to hold his composure, his face an emotionless stone. “Yes,” he said after a few seconds. It not only made him angry, it made him want to scream, fire his weapon into a wall, anything to relieve this building fury inside of him.

“What did he say to you at Melida Island, Sousuke?” she asked even more curious now than ever.

“We’re here,” he said as they pulled up to a small broken down farmhouse. He motioned for her to get out but she stopped him with a hand on his sleeve. He looked over at her still enraged by what she had just confessed to him. “He told me to get you somewhere safe,” he finally replied staring down at the steering wheel.

Why would Leonard want her somewhere safe? she wondered as they got out of the car and walked up to the old building. She didn’t trust Leonard at all! And it was his fault that Sousuke was dragging her across the world on this mission to hide them. What could he really be up to?

"This is our hotel?" she asked making a disgusted face. The place was one floor with maybe three rooms. It didn't look like a sound structure and Kaname could have sworn she saw something run from underneath the front steps.

"It is small, but it will do for now," he replied. He called out something in a foreign language and an old man came out of the front door smiling when he spotted them.

The man began laughing with glee, “Kashim!”

“You received my message?” Sousuke asked as they now stood face to face with the tall middle-eastern man.

“You know you are always welcome in my home,” the man said. He turned an eye to Kaname who looked away bashfully covering her face even more. “Come, come inside!” the man added with a joyful pat on Sousuke’s back.

“We do not want to be an inconvenience to you, Rustam,” Sousuke said as they entered the house. “We will only stay as long as we need and then leave.”

“Nonsense!” the man said with a chuckle. “I owe you my life. If you weren’t there that day, I would have died at the hands of the Russian soldiers for sure.”

Kaname stood there as her mind wandered to an image of Sousuke, many years younger, holding a rifle defeating Russian soldiers on the battlefield. Tragic but at the same time noble. He had grown up here in the Middle East and it was hard to imagine what kind of life he had, what he used to be like. And here she was being confronted with his past in a few short days.

“And who is this?” Rustam asked with a gentle smile.

“Rustam, this is Miss Kaname Chidori,” Sousuke said giving her a short nod. “She is my ward.”

“Miss Chidori, a pleasure to meet you,” Rustam said bowing slightly to her. She let her scarf fall just enough that he could see her smile.

“That cannot be my Kashim!” Kaname heard a woman cry from the doorway. But instead of seeing some old woman, possibly Rustam’s wife, a young girl stood there with surprise spread across her features. The next thing she knew, the girl had jumped across the room and threw herself into Sousuke’s arms, planting a firm kiss on his lips.

Kaname balled her hands into fists at her sides; my Kashim my ass, she thought.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 14: Safe In Your Arms

“Excuse me,” Kaname exclaimed in a haughty aggravated tone. “I hate to break up this heartwarming, yet disgusting reunion but...”

Sousuke gently grabbed the girl by the upper arms and pulled her away. “Anahita?” he asked studying the young girl’s face, remembering the last time he had seen her. A young girl following him around like a helpless puppy. He had ignored her at first but after time had passed, he actually enjoyed her stories and small gifts. She had been one of the few people he had felt comfortable around as a child.

“Kashim,” she said pressing her body even closer to his. Sweat began to break out on his forehead and he stiffened in her invading embrace.

Kaname’s patience was growing thin and she stamped her feet angrily. “Excuse me! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she yelled at the girl.

Anahita looked up at Kaname, her eyes suspicious and probing. This girl was obviously with Kashim, she thought. She felt a slight stab in her heart wondering why he would parade another woman in front of her. “Who is this, Kashim?”

He panicked. “This is...she’s...this is entirely inappropriate-”

“I’m his girlfriend,” Kaname interrupted, quickly grabbing him by the back of his shirt and pulling him away from Anahita.

“Is this true?” Anahita asked her face saddening instantly. Since the day he had disappeared, she had always kept a candle burning in her heart for him. Her Kashim, home at last! she thought with glee. She had pictured this for years, the moment she would see him again, even imagined going to find him one day. And no overbearing so-called girlfriend was going to ruin their reunion! she thought with fire in her eyes.

“Miss Chidori is indeed my girlfriend,” he said hoping to abate Kaname’s raging temper.

“Ana! Kashim and Miss Chidori are very tired from their journey,” Rustam scolded his daughter. “You may do your catching up tomorrow after they have had a chance to rest. Now, show them to their room.”

Ana made a sour face and eyed Kaname warily. “Right this way,” she gritted out walking past them both.

“Ew,” Kaname said following behind Sousuke. Who did this girl think she was? This was a part of Sousuke she didn’t know and it made her feel vulnerable. HE wasn’t exactly the type to spill his life’s story and she wasn’t the type to pry. She was definitely going to have work on that.

Ana grabbed Sousuke by the arm as they walked down the hallway giggling nervously. “You have the best room in house. We don’t get many guests but we’re always prepared for visitors.” She smiled sweetly up at him batting her eyelashes. “I can’t believe you’re here Kashim.”

“It was required,” he replied standing out in the hall as Ana fumbled with the keys. “We will not be staying long.”

That’s what you think, Ana thought wickedly. “Whatever you need...anything,” she cooed at Sousuke, “just come and get me. I’m the room down the end of the hall.”

“Thank you, Ana,” Sousuke said with a short nod.

“Goodnight,” she said walking past them, shooting Kaname an evil grin.

Kaname stuck her tongue out in response feeling triumphant. What a little twit, she thought.

Once they were in their room Sousuke felt himself finally relax a little since they first left Tokyo. He sat on the edge of the bed and began removing his outer robes. Kaname stood staring out the window at the darkness her mood very heavy and distracted. He couldn’t help but notice her rigid appearance as she grabbed the drapes and yanked them closed.

“Is there something wrong, Kaname?” he asked innocently while folding the cloth.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded through his head as he went flying backwards on the bed. “You big jerk!” she cried after throwing the nearest thing she could find, a small stool, directly at his head. “All you’ve been doing since we left China is telling anyone who will listen that we’re newlyweds! Yet, you can’t open that stupid mouth of yours and tell some girl sucking your face that I’m your girlfriend?”

“That hurt,” he groaned rubbing his forehead.

“Why am I here? Huh, huh Sousuke?” she screamed stamping her feet like a child.

“I told you already, it isn’t safe to return to Tokyo.” He sat up still rubbing his head.

She wanted to scream! This entire trip was probably for nothing. Sousuke and his overprotective, paranoid ideas. How was she supposed to trust the words of that smug Leonard Testarossa? How could Sousuke trust him? It took every ounce of her sanity to keep from knocking some real sense into him.

She just needed sleep, she thought, wondering where this extra sense of brutality was coming from. It had been days since she had actually woken up feeling refreshed and even longer since she had felt the softness of a mattress. Most of her sleeping was done on buses and trains or in the backseat of cars. Staring at the bed was making her feel sleepier by the second and she gave into the yawn that had been nagging her for the past few minutes.

“Ahhh!” she groaned falling onto the bed. “Go away, I want to sleep.”

He just sighed and stood up walking across the room to peek through the curtains. Why was she being so difficult? He swore to her that he would never let anything happen to her again no matter what the cost. So why did he feel like she was slipping away from him?

Peering over his shoulder, he watched her for a few seconds realizing she was already sound asleep. His breath stopped short in his chest and he swore he had never seen her look so peaceful, so...beautiful. Her hair was tossed casually above her head laying like silk over her arm. Her soft pink lips were slightly parted as her chest rose and fell with each breath.

For the first time since he had met her he really saw her, understood why he felt so strongly about her . She was his salvation, his calm after the storm, the driving force that made life worth living. He couldn’t remember what he was before they met and he wished he could tell her somehow. But every time he tried to speak the words just wouldn’t come to him.

Walking across the room, he sat down on the floor in front of her, face to face. He wanted to reach out and touch her but he didn’t want to wake her. “Kaname,” he whispered and she didn’t stir. He felt his chest tighten and he closed his eyes laying his head down on the mattress next to hers. It wasn't long before he too drifted off from the sheer exhaustion of their travels.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname bolted upright in the bed, the dream still fresh in her mind. Closing her eyes she grasped her chest as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. It had been a long time since she had dreamt of her mother and right now she felt even further away from her. Images of her mother’s smile flashed through her mind and she let out a little whimper. The pain was never going to lessen no matter how much time went by. Her chest tightened and she suddenly had an overwhelming urge to run, anywhere just to relieve this pain.

Sousuke! She scanned the dark room frantically as panic began rising inside of her. She immediately stilled seeing him sitting there on the floor, his head lying on the mattress, sound asleep. He had fallen asleep next to her. Earlier I acted like such a spoiled brat. Guilt reared its ugly head and she slid off the side of the bed onto the floor next to him.

He opened his eyes and lifted his head watching as she glided over closer to him. “Are you alright, Kaname?” he asked his voice still softened from sleep.

She lowered her head as new tears formed in her eyes. Why do I always do this? Her whole life she has had to deal with pain and sadness. And now that one good thing happens, having him in her life, and she kept pushing him away. All she wanted was to feel safe, to know that he would always be there. Sure, he had said it plenty of times, but she just didn’t feel it. She wanted to scream, to punch him, anything to make him feel something.

Crying again? What did I do? Has the traveling finally broken her? This wasn't what he wanted, but for some reason it was always the outcome. It didn’t matter how often he saw her cry, it always affected him the same way. The best course of action here would be to comfort her, he thought looking down. Kurz had said women were delicate emotional creatures that needed constant reminders of their beauty and superiority. Then he thought back to their first kiss and how she had reacted, but for some reason he didn’t care if she got mad at him.

All she could think to do was throw herself in to his arms but before she could move strong hands were already wrapped securely around her. She didn’t have time to be shocked, just leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his embrace, the way his hands sincerely, honestly held her close. One hand was firmly holding her around her back and the other cradled her head against his shoulder and all she could do was cry even harder.

“Kaname, what did I do?” he asked his voice taking on an unfamiliar worried tone.

“You didn’t do anything, Sousuke,” she replied through sniffles lifting her head, their faces inches apart.

“Then why are you crying?” he asked noting the small flecks of burgundy in her irises. He always was fascinated by her eyes, even remarking once to Kurz it was his favorite physical feature on her.

She looked away trying to stifle the new tears. “Don’t you ever just cry for no reason, Sousuke?” she lied hoping to cover her obvious weak display.

He knew she was lying. This whole trip was making her so tense and more aggressive than usual. It was obvious it was his fault even if she didn’t admit it. Perhaps she needs reassurance. Kurz had reminded him on several occasions that “girls were emotional train wrecks just waiting to explode”. Maybe this was what Kurz meant, he thought to himself as he watched her expression change from distressed to masked again.

“Would right now be the wrong time to kiss you, Chidori?” he asked.

She smiled and chuckled lightly. “You don’t have to ask me anymore, you idiot,” she said lowering her face.

He watched a slight blush spread across her cheeks. It was just like before when he had seen something in her lying in bed, and she looked so captivating, so innocent. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching up and pushing a small piece of her hair from her face. His eyes swept over every inch of her face, examining the subtle curves of her delicate face, the way her eyelashes framed her eyes, the little crease in her brow from frowning. It was like he was really seeing her face for the first time and it affected him like never before.

What’s happening? His body suddenly started feeling very odd and the room felt very small. Something had changed; this was completely inappropriate behavior. It went against all his training, even if she was his girlfriend. He had no business being with someone like her. She was a Whispered and even though he new very little about that part of her life, he knew she was important, too important for a lowly soldier like himself. Why is she still here with me?

Something inside of him guided his moves, just like in the Arbelest. He imagined gripping the controls, how it felt to control the massive machine, feel it’s movements beneath his hands. His whole body came to life and he welcomed it, harnessed it. Is this how I’m supposed to feel? It was very similar to how he felt when he was fighting in an AS: adrenaline pumping, heart racing, nerves alive. His breathing sped up and he couldn’t focus on her face any longer.

“My stomach feels strange,” he admitted his breath ragged. Did I say that out loud?

When she glanced up his eyes looked hazy, stormy, like she had never seen them before: imploring, denying, animalistic all at the same time. It was like he was fighting in internal war with himself, reason and desire battling against each other. It made her insides flip-flop with excitement and she clung to him tighter as her own body began to respond to his awakening senses.

It was like a light came on inside of him and he suddenly understood how she had felt all this time, why she was constantly angered by his mediocre reactions to her obvious flirtations. For the first time he understood what she was feeling and it made his insides jolt with the realization. This is what Kaname feels when she looks at me? No wonder she blushes all the time.

He still wasn’t sure what drove him forward or how quickly he moved but he bent down but he couldn’t stand for another second not feeling her lips against his. The instant their lips joined it was a feeling like he never knew existed, one of the most surreal moments in his life. Soft, warm, enthralling and it made him want to stay like this forever, safe beside her. Does she feel this? I feel as if I have been drugged. How does anyone handle a situation like this sanely? No amount of training or words of advice could have prepared him for such an consuming and overwhelming assault on his senses.

Kaname snuggled into him as new tears formed in her eyes, this time because the kiss was so pure, so emotional it made her body ache to be closer to him. Yes, this is what I want, this is how I need you Sousuke. If I can feel this safe in your arms, there isn’t a thing in this world that can defeat us. And as his arms held her tightly he savored the feel of the way their bodies molded so perfectly together. It scared him more than dying, that he would never feel this way again and he ate it up like a starving man.

It didn’t even shock him when he felt the tip of her tongue trace his lower lip; nothing could break this hypnotic spell between them. She wasn't even sure why she felt so compelled to do it but she just needed to taste him, even blushed slightly at her own boldness. It was just like she had seen so many times in the movies, as they held each other so close.

Something was guiding him as he opened his mouth deepening the kiss, tasting her completely. No manual, no instructions, just sheer instinct driving him on, the need to be as close to her as possible. Mingling, blending, becoming one they soared into each others depths, nothing else existing around them. It was so unsettling for Sousuke but for once he couldn’t fight the overwhelming sensations reeling through his body. Kaname just as helpless, clung to him, feeling if she let go of him she would fall from the earth.

When their lips finally parted all they could do was stare at each other breathless, their minds clouded and confused. Sousuke was stunned. What had just happened? Why did I do that? Why did she let me? His mind continued to dance questioning his moves, his lack of control in her arms. And just as he chastised himself for allowing such a thing to happen, another part of himself reveled in the feeling of the wild uncontrolled emotion they had just experienced. He liked it. He wanted to feel it again. This had to be wrong.

Kaname grabbed him and buried her face in the crook of his neck finally letting the breath fully leave her lungs. How long had they been kissing like that? How did he know how to kiss her like that? It was like something switched on in his brain, a deep ingrained need that he never knew he had. This was a side of Sousuke she had never expected to see and she inhaled deeply memorizing the way he smelled, imprinting it in her mind. It was just like she had always wanted her first real passionate kiss to be like. She loved it. This felt so right.

.o.o.o.o.

Ana watched them through a hole in the wall a fury building inside of her like never before. She wouldn’t have seen this if it wasn't for her lack of sleep over his return and the fact that the walls were paper thin. All these years and he comes back, not to save her but to rub in her face the fact he had moved on. She wasn't going to let him just cast her aside for some cheap foreign girl! She would make sure they had no choice but to stay there, giving her ample opportunity to remind him who she was, what they had together, of the childhood promise he had once made her...

I will return for you.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 15: A Wounded Bird

Sousuke quickly cleaned himself up as he listened to Chidori humming a sweet little tune behind him. She was exceptionally cheerful this morning and he secretly hoped it was because of the night before. He had to admit he was feeling rather chipper himself despite the slight confusion hanging over his head. It was strange how he reacted without thinking but that seemed to be the case where she was concerned. Since the first time she had been taken, he had responded to his emotions instead of protocol, and it still perplexed him. Why did he always feel like he was unraveling in her arms?

“Sousuke, are we leaving today?” she asked hoping to get him as far away from Ana as possible. That one was not to be trusted, she thought placing her hairbrush on the dresser.

“I would like to be on our way before sunset,” he stated calmly, almost wanting to smile he felt so chipper. “But there is a storm coming and I do not feel the travel will be safe enough until tomorrow. Is that a problem, Chidori?”

Yes!

“No, I was just curious,” she lied smoothing out her pant legs with her palms. “What’s the deal with you and that girl, anyway?”

“Anahita?” he asked swinging around slightly nervous. “I knew her when I was a child.”

“That’s it?” she asked crossing her arms over her chest impatiently tapping her foot.

“Her father, Rustam, was an Afghani soldier in the Cold War,” he said walking past her to grab his robes. “As you heard, I saved his life. One of the enemy had a gun to his head about to execute him and I stopped it.”

She stood there as a feeling of extreme pride swept over her. This was the man she loved and he forever impressed her with his tales of bravery and war, even if it did disgust in some ways. This was who he was and even though it may take some adjustment, she tried her best to accept his ways. “And that’s how you know her,” she remarked

“Ana used to follow me around; she was good with a rifle,” he added sitting on the side of the bed.

That made her arms drop to her sides in defeat. How could she compete with that? A military freak like him was just about the worse thing she could think of coming between them. Maybe she needed to step up her game a little, she thought with a grin. “Would you show me how to use a rifle?” she asked innocently.

His eyes widened in shock. “You want to learn how to fire a rifle?” Somehow, he just couldn’t imagine her firing a gun but the idea did excite him a little. She certainly had the spirit and drive and it could definitely come in handy.

“Yeah, sure,” she said nervously with a giggle. What am I getting myself into?

“I could show now,” he said with a small grin. “We have time.”

“Right now?” she asked aflutter.

“Rustam is bound to have some rifles stored somewhere,” he said opening the door walking out into the hallway.

“Wait, Sousuke!” she called running after him.

.o.o.o.o.o.

Ana paced back and fourth as she contemplated whether to go through with it or not. It was the only way, she thought arguing with herself. How else was she going to get enough time to convince Kashim to stay behind where he belonged. This was her only chance and she’d be damned if some loud-mouthed Japanese girl would ruin it for her. Now, all she needed to do was get Kaname to go into the food shed.

Sousuke stood before Kaname holding a large assault rifle in his hands, his stance rigid and uniform. “This is a United States standard issue, military grade M 16 assault rifle,” he said holding it firmly in his hands. “5.56 millimeter caliber, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed with a rotating bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is constructed of steel, aluminum and composite plastics. It is a solid weapon capable of targeting effectively at ranges of less than 400-460 meters. Every soldier must be trained to handle an M 16.”

Kaname just stood there staring at it as if it were some kind of disease. It barely looked real! “You want me to shoot that? I thought maybe a small handgun or something light.” She chuckled sheepishly.

“Its not a good starter weapon but it will have to do,” he said walking up to her. “It is all Rustam had in his bunker. Here, I will show you how to hold it.”

“I don’t know,” she complained as he handed it to her. It wasn’t overly heavy but it had some weight to it. It did however have this strange oily smell to it that almost made her gag.

“Place the shoulder-stock here,” he said pressing it against her shoulder. “Now grip it like this,” he added placing one of her hands on the handle and the other underneath for support. He gently placed her finger on the trigger and she glanced back over her shoulder. He then leaned down and positioned her legs so that her left foot was out a little and her right foot was back. She closed her eyes as his hands grazed over her thighs and ankles and she swore if he didn’t stop she was going to collapse.

“It is not loaded. Pull the trigger, see how it feels,” he added now standing behind her again, this time with his hand holding her back.

She shot him a sideways glance then turned her full attention to the large beastly machine now resting firmly in her hands. It did kind of feel intense holding something so large and deadly within her grasp, almost made her want to laugh manically. She could almost imagine herself squeezing off rounds like in the movies on late at night back in Tokyo.

Slowly, she pulled the trigger back and the gun clicked. “I did it!”

“Affirmative,” he said with a little excitement. “Now, see this?” he asked pointing to a small piece that looked like a telescope...she nodded. “That’s your single point scope. Use that for long distance firing.”

She peered through it and took aim at the first thing she saw—a piece of old tire embedded in the sand. She imagined Ana’s face mocking her from a distance and growled inwardly. “Can I shoot some bullets?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Chidori. This weapon has some recoil and someone of your size and stature may not be able-”

“Hey you!” she interrupted her face turning red with fury. “Women are more than capable of using guns!”

“A gun like this isn’t exactly suitable for beginners,” he explained keeping his voice calm so not to upset her further.

“I can fire this thing, you big idiot,” she said angrily.

“If you insist,” he said pulling some ammunition from his pocket. He loaded the magazine then handed it back to her. “Let me help you at least.”

“Fine,” she said rolling her eyes.

Sousuke reached around and placed one hand on the barrel to give her extra support when the gun went off. “Take aim,” he said moving his head to the side a little to avoid the recoil.

Kaname took a deep breath and steadied herself. How hard could this be? Sousuke shot a gun like it was second nature. All she had to do was hold the gun firmly, concentrate on her target, and not be distracted by Sousuke standing so close his warm breath fanning across the side of her neck. Oh, wow that feels amazing, she thought then shook her head trying to focus. She prayed that she wouldn’t make herself look like an idiot in front of him.

Quickly, she pulled the trigger lightly, slamming her eyes shut when a loud bang burst from the gun making her ears ring. Her head started ringing and she swore she could see stars in front of her eyes. I’m dead! It backfired and killed me!

“Kaname! You hit it!” Sousuke exclaimed with excitement.

Her eyes flew open wide in shock and she stared out at the piece of tire which now had a hole through the top of it. How did she manage that? Her first time firing a rifle and she hit the mark.

“I’m curious,” Sousuke said scratching his chin. “Would you be able to hit a moving target as easily?”

“How about some rolling fruit?” she said with excitement. “I saw in this movie one time, a guy practiced shooting by having a buddy of his roll fruit on the ground past him.”

Rolling fruit, eh? “I will return,” he said walking off.

Maybe some melons, he thought as he crossed the yard to the food shed. Kaname was a natural. He had never seen someone shoot a gun with such grace, especially not a first-timer. It made him feel good to share this with her; it made him feel even closer to her. He would have to get her her own handgun next chance he got. The idea made him feel better about leaving her alone at those necessary times.

Opening the shed door, he stepped inside and swerved to avoid the basket hanging from the ceiling. But suddenly he lost his footing, something was yanking his feet out fromm underneath him. All he could feel was a tangle around his ankles then the hard dirt smashing into the side of his face. When he opened his eyes it took every pinpoint reflex he had to cover his face as one of the beams from above came crashing down on top of him. After that...blackness.

Kaname looked up at the sound then rolled her eyes. Sousuke being paranoid again, she thought. Wonder what he thought he saw this time? Probably a rat he thought was a terrorist. When will he ever learn?

She turned back to the rifle and practiced aiming it at a small tumbleweed that blew past. But as the seconds ticked by and no word from Sousuke, she looked back this time concern knitting her brow. What if he had actually managed to hurt himself this time? No way! she countered herself. That idiot may be overprotective but he was certainly able to handle himself. But if—she looked back at the shed and something told her it was not right. Something told her to go investigate and she dropped the rifle walking slowly toward the shed.

“Sousuke?” she yelled searching for any movement at all from the tiny building. Her feet quickly picked up speed as she raced toward the shed yanking open the door.

“Sousuke!” she screamed rushing to his fallen body. The large beam was laying heavily over the lower half of his body and his face was pale and sweaty. “Sousuke, please wake up,” she said as tears began to form in her eyes. “Come on!”

His eyes fluttered open halfway and he let out a groan. “Chidori, are you alright?” He winced lightly as he tried to move out from under the beam. “I can’t move my leg, I think its broken.”

“I’ll get Rustam or Ana,” Kaname cried running from the building.

She returned a few minutes later with both of them and the second Ana saw Sousuke lying there she gasped horrifically. This wasn't supposed to happen! It was only supposed to cause a person to fall over and bump their head. A minor head wound! And it wasn't supposed to be Kashim!

“Quickly, Ana, help me with this beam!” Rustam cried grabbing a hold of one side as Ana grabbed the other. They both managed to pull it off and Sousuke let out a hellish scream as pain rippled through his leg.

“Sousuke!” Kaname cried dropping to the floor to comfort him. This was not something she had ever hoped to see...Sousuke taken down. It was impossible! There was no way that this could happen! He was her invincible Sousuke, she thought as fresh tears sprang to her eyes.

“If it is broken, he will need medical attention,” Rustam said about to leave to call an ambulance.

“No!” Sousuke screamed knowing that if he were tended at a hospital it could give away their location. “No hospital, no doctors.”

“Kashim-

“No! It’s too risky. Ana can reset the bone, I know she can do it.” He winced again as a new wave of pain shot through his upper leg. Kaname looked over at Ana her eyes searching.

“Yes, I can do it,” Ana replied nodding. “We need to get him inside.”

Rustam and Kaname carried him in to their room and laid him on the bed. He let out a huge groan as broken bone grinded painfully against itself. He had to control himself! Showing pain only meant weakness and he knew better.

Ana knelt down beside the bed and leaned down close to Sousuke’s ear. “Kashim, you know this will hurt a great deal.”

“Do it,” he whispered raggedly.

“Kaname, hold his hand,” Ana said motioning her over. Rustam held his body down as Ana grabbed Sousuke’s leg and said a silent prayer. This was her fault, she thought as guilt rose up in her chest. She was going to make it right. “Forgive me, Allah.”

Sousuke screamed louder than Kaname had ever heard him before as Ana jerked his leg setting the bone back into place in one quick motion. Kaname slammed her eyes shut as tears she didn’t even know had formed started falling down her face. She didn’t like seeing him this way. She wanted back her strong Sousuke, the one who protected her at all costs. Stop being so selfish! The man you love is lying here for once in need of my help and all I can do is think about myself.

Ana and Rustam worked together wrapping his leg in a homemade splint, all the while Ana muttering low words of prayer. Rustam kept nervously glancing at Sousuke, his empathy evident on his face.

Kaname growled inwardly and looked down at him, his face pale and pain-ridden. “Sousuke, look at me,” she whispered. When he didn’t open his eyes she used every ounce of determination she had. “Look at me soldier!” she screamed.

His eyes fluttered open and he grimaced against the pain. He had felt this intensity of pain before but for some reason it bothered him to show it front of Kaname. He was supposed to be the strong one here! How could he protect her like this?

“Kaname,” he rasped out. “It isn’t safe anymore. Someone set that trap and they could be still be around.”

“Shut up, you idiot,” she snapped between cries. “It was an accident.”

He closed his eyes trying to fight the blackness trying to succumb him but it was futile as his mind drifted off into the bleak darkness calling to him. I failed. His mind echoed that until he saw nothing.

Kaname sighed laying her head down on his shoulder. The worst of it was over, she thought taking a deep breath. She didn’t know what she would have done if anything life-threatening had happened to him. It no longer meant her protection and had everything to do with the fact that she couldn’t live without him now. Everything he felt right now, she felt too. And it broke her heart not being able to help him more in his time of need.

Finishing up, Ana glanced over at Kaname her head snuggled close to Sousuke. The sight made her want to cry and she quickly ran from the room before anyone could see her eyes filling up with tears. How could she be so selfish to put someone’s life in danger like that? He could have been killed! She had lost sight of what was real and what was fantasy. All these years she had always imagined him standing there with his hand out for her, beckoning her to come with him. But now those memories were tainted and ugly because she wanted him all for herself. And in that need she found something impure and greedy. “I’d be lucky if Allah struck me dead right now!”

“Ana?” Kaname asked watching the girl sitting on the ground sobbing into her arms.

Ana’s head jerked up and she quickly wiped the tears from her face. “You scared me!” she snapped trying to hide her crying.

“I’m sorry,” Kaname replied placing her hands on her hips defiantly. “I came to thank you!”

“I didn’t do it for you,” Ana sneered standing up about to walk away but Kaname’s words stopped her.

“You know, if you haven’t noticed, he’s with me. I realize you have a past with him and that’s just great, but I have a present with him.” She felt her face redden slightly with anger. “And you got a problem with that I’ll be more than willing to settle this right here, right now.” Kaname started rolling up her sleeves in a threatening gesture.

“You can’t be serious!” Ana griped. “I’m a trained soldier. I could take you down in one blow.”

“You wanna try?” Kaname said with malice.

“Stop it!” Rustam cried throwing himself between them. “I will not have this behavior in my hotel or my home!”

“She’s the one with a chip on her shoulder,” Kaname snapped pointing at Ana.

He had to get them away from each other. “Miss Chidori, please go see to Kashim, he needs you,” he told Kaname and she walked off in a huff. “Ana, go to the market and get some herbs so I may make old home remedy for pain. Go!” He walked off muttering something in Arabic and Ana grumbled to herself.

The nerve of that girl! She aught to just put her in her place. Kashim did not need a woman like her! He needed strong Islamic woman who could stand next to him and fight! She thought about it the whole way to town and every second made her blood boil even hotter.

.o.o.o.o.o.

In a darkened alleyway, two men stood within the shadows their voices hushed. “You are for certain he is with Rustam?” the first man asked seemingly nervous.

“I saw him with my own eyes,” the second man said with certainty.

“I must alert the master,” the first man said taking out a mobile phone. “He will want to know that Sagara has been spotted.”

The second man walked off as the first made the phone call. “Sagara is here,” he whispered.

“Watch him and if he moves, take him,” the man on the phone stated. “Do not harm him or the girl, especially the girl.”

“If he resists?”

“He will resist, you idiot! Now go! And don’t lose him again!” the man shouted cutting off the call.

The man watched as a young girl made her way hastily through the crowds carrying a bag clutched tightly in her hands. Ana had only been gone for half an hour and she managed to calm herself enough to return. The man followed a small distance behind her his eyes never leaving her form as she weaved in and out of the crowd.

Such a pretty young thing. I would hate to see something happen to her, he snickered to himself.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 16: Time To Go

Kurz walked casually down the corridor of the Tuatha de Danaan with one intent in mind and that was to enjoy his dinner in the mess hall. It had been a long day and immediately after dinner he had a long overdue date with Miss February in his monthly playmate calendar. She had always been his favorite due to her long shapely legs and seductive smile. How could he resist such a tempting creature?

“Psst!” he heard coming from the other side of the corridor.

He turned suspiciously looking around clueless as to where the sound was originating from. “What the hell?” he whispered to himself.

“Weber, you idiot, over here!” the female voice whispered loudly from one of the utility closets. “Get in here!”

He smiled widely. “Woo-hoo! My dream come true!” he cried slinking to the closet door rushing inside. “Now be gentle, I may look strapping but I’m just a meek kitten underneath.”

“Shut up, you moron,” Mao yelled as he began to grope in the dark managing to brush up against one of her breasts.

“Mao?” he asked in confusion his voice a high pitch.

“Mr. Weber, please keep it down,” Tessa reprimanded him.

Kurz’s eyes bugged out of his head like a dog in heat. “I hit the jackpot!” Two women at once!

Mao sighed rolling her eyes. “You are such an ass. Tessa and I are hiding.”

“I like this game,” Kurz said moving closer to the two ladies with hunger in his eyes but was stopped dead in his tracks by Mao’s fist planted firmly in his face. “Alright, I give,” he mumbled.

“I have to talk to you two about something that is of the utmost secrecy,” Tessa said her voice just a scant whisper.

“It’s about Sousuke and Kaname,” Mao added obviously knowing a little more than he did so far.

Kurz straightened up but still kept his pervert radar on for the opportune moment. “Are they alright?”

“I have known their location for sometime but I have told no one in fear of a leak,” Tessa began moving closer to them. “But my sources have alerted me to a growing concern; they have been spotted in the Middle East. They cannot be caught!”

“What do you want us to do?” Mao asked worry evident in her voice.

“I need you both to fly there immediately and convince them to come to the de Danaan,” Tessa said knowing it was the only way.

“Sousuke won’t come here, Tessa,” Kurz replied knowing his friend all too well.

“You’re right,” Tessa agreed scratching her chin. “There must be a way to get them safely somewhere without anyone knowing.”

Mao’s eyes widened quickly then narrowed angrily when she felt something touching her backside. “Weber, get your hand off my ass!”

He chuckled. “That’s not my hand.”

“You asshole!” she screamed elbowing him in the face.

“I’ve got it!” Tessa cried with excitement over her own genius. “I have a contact in the United States that owes me a favor. If we could get them to Unites States soil they would be under the protection of the Army, safely tucked away on one of their bases.”

Both Melissa and Kurz halted their physical struggles and turned to face Tessa. “Is that really safe? Won’t the people after Kaname figure that out very easily?” Melissa asked a little worried.

Tessa looked down at her folded hands as her nerves rose to a crescendo. Should she tell them? Would it affect their mission if they knew? Perhaps it was time Sousuke knew as well, she thought looking back up.

“What I am about to tell you must never leave this room,” she began feeling guilt about breaking protocol but it was needed. “The organization in question is called Amalgam and they are not after Kaname.”

.o.o.o.o.

Sousuke winced against the pain that had now dulled to a pounding throb through his upper right leg. It had finally happened, he had let his guard down enough that his instinct and judgment was clouded. Nothing to do now but just lay here and wait for the full on assault. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling feeling his entire body go lax, no longer filled with that usual fight inside of him.

He sighed heavily and was about to close his eyes when his phone began to ring silently in his pocket. He pulled it out and stared at the caller ID contemplating whether he wanted to answer it. It was probably Sergeant Weber checking in on them and he just wasn't in the mood right now. But he’d be a fool not to answer; it might cause an unnecessary alarm to be raised and that would only worsen the situation.

He flipped the cellular phone open, “This is Sagara,” he said waiting for the other voice to answer.

“Well, I had half expected you to not answer,” Leonard replied haughtily on the other end.

“What do you want?” Sousuke snapped in no mood to deal with this man right now.

“It appears you’re not doing a very good job of watching over our Miss Chidori,” he said disappointed. “Did you really think taking her to the desert was such a wise choice?”

Sousuke gritted his teeth. “Where exactly do you fall into all of this, Testarossa?”

Leonard chuckled. “Tsk-tsk, Sergeant. If I told you everything, it wouldn’t be as fun to watch you two scurrying across the world, now would it?”

“Dammit, Testarossa!” Sousuke snapped about to throw the phone across the room at the wall. “Quit toying with me!”

“You’re so predictable, Sagara,” Leonard said with arrogance. “I know what your next move is before you even make it. Bring her to me and I will make sure no one ever harms her again. She is after all destined to be mine eventually, why not just allow that little inevitability to happen sooner than expected?”

“I’d kill you first,” Sousuke replied with malice. “I’m beginning to believe that this was all a setup. Do you really think I’d listen to a complete stranger when it comes to her? My mission is to protect her, especially from the likes of you.”

“And who will protect her now, Sergeant?” Leonard asked with equal contempt. “When you’re lying there vulnerable like a newborn baby? Do you really think yourself capable in your present condition?”

“Giving her to you would be the biggest failure of my entire life,” Sousuke sneered.

“As we speak, the enemy is closing in on you, Sagara.” Leonard chuckled sarcastically again. “You really are a novice, aren’t you? Letting yourself become emotionally attached to your objective. It’s laughable, truly, Sagara. I’ll allow this to go on for a little longer but I am only a mildly patient man.” Sousuke could feel his fingernails digging into his palm as his hand balled tighter and tighter into a fist. “One day, she’ll beg me to take her away from you.”

Leonard ended the call and Sousuke threw the phone across the room smashing it into tiny pieces. “Dammit!” he swore pounding the mattress beneath him. “That son of a bitch!”

“Sousuke?” Kaname asked from the doorway, her eyes confused and searching.

“Chidori!”

“Was that him?” she asked walking over to the bed and kneeling down. “What did he say?”

“Get me up,” he demanded trying to push himself into a sitting position.

“Are you crazy? Your leg is broken, you’ll only damage it further!” Kaname screamed shoving him back down.

“Chidori, get me up! We have to go now!” he growled and Kaname knew instantly by the tone of his voice something was wrong.

Just then Ana burst into the room panic spread across her face. “You have to leave! I’ve been tailed since I left the market.” She frantically scurried around the room gathering up their things and tossing them into their suitcases. “I may have thrown them off my trail but it will only slow them down. They will find you here.”

Kaname glanced to Sousuke looking for his cue. “Quickly,” he said and she helped him to his feet. He grimaced against the pain trying to control it just the way he was taught in training.

“I have a vehicle outside waiting,” Ana said grabbing their bags. “Take it down the east road until it forks off onto the main road. Then follow it north until you see a big fenced in field. It’s an airstrip, just tell them I sent you,” she said urgently. “They’ll know what to do.”

By the time she was done her speech they were outside about to get in the car. She and Kaname helped Sousuke in and Kaname climbed into the drivers seat.

Ana knelt down beside Sousuke in shame.

“Ana-” Sousuke began but she cut him off.

“No,” she simply said lowering her eyes. “When you showed up all I could think of was myself. All I wanted was to have you in my life again and I refused to believe that you could have moved on. I see now how much Miss Chidori really cares for you and how much you truly care for her. It was wrong of me to expect anything less from you, Kashim.” She sighed deeply as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Please forgive me all the wrong I have done to you,” she said nodding toward his leg. “I never meant for anyone to get to hurt. I can only hope that Allah may see it in his heart to forgive me for such a disgusting deed, but to expect it from you would be wrong. “

Kaname just sat there in anger wanting to deck the girl but at the same time feeling extremely sorry for her. How does someone become so clouded by obsession that they would hurt someone just to achieve a goal?

“Go, quickly before they arrive! I will stay behind and slow them down!” Ana yelled as more tears stung her eyes. “Know that I will always love you, Kashim!” she added as she backed away from the car.

Sousuke looked ahead not wanting to deal with what he was hearing and focused on their getaway. “Drive, Chidori,” he said lowly closing his eyes against the pain.

As they pulled away she felt a mixture of feelings coursing through her: anger, betrayal, fear, empathy. Glancing over she noticed Sousuke’s face had taken on its old emotionless state as he stared out the window quietly. He had to be feeling something, she thought looking back at the road. Ana had just admitted to setting the trap that could have killed him! Anyone would be upset by that, even Sergeant Solemn.

“Sousuke, talk to me,” she pleaded with urgency.

“There’s nothing to say,” he replied his voice monotone and steady.

“Everything is going to be fine, Sousuke,” Kaname said holding the steering wheel firmly as she watched the road.

“No, everything is not going to be fine, Chidori.” He winced again trying to hold his emotions inside but it was too much to bare at the moment and they poured out like a fountain. “I made too many mistakes! I trusted the wrong people and now everything is all messed up! I never should have brought you here!”

“What? Because of that idiot Leonard?” she snapped back.

“Yes,” he said slumping back down in the seat. “His intentions are real enough but tainted for his own purpose. He wants you safe so he can have you for himself.” He wanted to take out a gun and shoot the next thing that moved. “He’s right, one day you will beg him to take you away from me. I’m a failure, I shouldn’t even be a soldier any longer.”

Kaname slammed her foot down on the brake pedal and the car came to screeching halt in the middle of the road. “What is wrong with you!” she screamed swiveling around her face riddled with fury. “You have spent your entire life building up to nothing and now that something has come along, you feel like you can’t measure up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and face the facts!”

She moved real close to him making sure he would hear her crystal clear. “I’m in love with you, you stupid idiotic dumbass! And you are far from perfect, let me tell you. But that’s what I love about you the most. So, if you’re going to sit there and tell me that you’re giving up this easily, I swear I’m going to kick your ass so bad you’ll regret the day you were born!”

His head snapped around and he almost wanted to laugh. How the heck did she always manage to pull him out of his self loathing like that?

“Now,” she added reaching in the back seat grabbing one of the M16 rifles and laid it on his chest. “Start acting like Sousuke and let’s go!”

“You’re right,” he said with a small smirk.

“Of course I’m right,” she said with a bright smile. “I’m always right, you should know that by now.”

But just as she was about to start driving again, a huge thump shook the earth beneath them. She let out a gasp unaware of what made the sound, but Sousuke knew better. “AS!”

“Who’s AS?” she screamed loudly as a chopper sounded above them.

“Well, well, well,” Kurz said over the loudspeaker of his M9. “Looks like the cavalry arrived just in time.”

Mao laughed. “Now it’s our turn to help you, Sousuke.”

The helicopter landed several feet away and dust flew in every direction as the propeller blades spun at lightning speeds. A man in uniform appeared beside the car pulling open the door. “Sergeant Sagara, I’m Private Ferguson with Unites States Army. We’re here to escort you to the infirmary at Fort Dix, just outside of McGuire Air Force Base.”

“Unites States?” he asked as the man and another soldier helped him out of the car onto a stretcher.

“Miss Kaname Chidori,” a woman said on her side of the car. “If you’ll follow me.” Kaname reluctantly got out and walked beside the woman. “My name is Amy Miller, 1st Lieutenant of the Unites States Armed Forces at Fort Dix. Captain Testarossa is a good friend of mine. She said to give you guys the VIP treatment!” she said with a wink.

“Tessa?” Kaname said the roar of the helicopter almost drowning out her voice.

“Hurry up, your friend looks in bad shape,” Amy said leading her on so she could stand next to Sousuke’s gurney.

“Take good care of him, Kaname!” Kurz called as he passed by in his M9. “We’ve got some trouble to deal with behind us. Let’s go, sis!”

“Right behind you, cowboy!” Mao said as they advanced forward into the dust.

Kaname gasped as she watched some very large AS units closing in fast. If Mao and Kurz hadn’t shown up they never would have made it in that little car. And Sousuke being injured only made matters worse because his stubborn ass would have fought to the death. She closed her eyes as the helicopter lifted off the ground and upward.

“What’s going on?” Sousuke asked reaching for her hand.

“Tessa,” she said with a smile. “Now, close your eyes, soldier. That’s an order!” she added with a grin.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said letting the exhaustion finally claim him. His mind raced with thoughts as he lay there on the verge of unconsciousness. How did Tessa know where they were? Had she known all along? What was their next move once they reached the United States? Before he could form another worry he started slipping into a deep sleep, for the first time feeling a sense of peace since they first started running. It felt good.

To Be Continued...

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...

Chapter 18: Vegas No More

Kaname was in such a chipper mood she didn’t think anything could upset her today, not even the fact that her father had arrived early in the morning. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him, she missed him dearly; it was the idea of him finally meeting Sousuke that sent her into a panic. Knowing her little soldier boy, he’d be freaked-out, nervous and probably say something asinine. Her father had a great sense of humor but not when it came to boys who had an interest in one of his daughters.

Previously, on many occasions, she had told him little bits of information about Sousuke and how he had come into her life but nothing very personal, especially not about his military life. Not only was she sworn to secrecy but she knew her father would freak out if he had even an inkling of the dangerous situations she had been involved in. He had given her freedom at a young age because he trusted her to make wise responsible decisions. But would he view Sousuke as one of those wise responsible decisions?

She strolled down the hallway on the way to Sousuke’s room. The doctors had mentioned using some new drug on him that was supposed to speed up his recovery and the idiot agreed without a hint of hesitation. She could see he hated being immobilized but she was a little uneasy about him allowing them to use him as a guinea pig. It was obvious he would do anything to speed his recovery but this just seemed a bit extreme.

Today she brought him some magazines that Shinji had once mentioned that they both loved. Anything to take his mind off his present situation and that fact that her father was on his way. When she opened his door he was lying in bed still asleep but opened his eyes immediately when he heard her enter. “Chidori,” he said almost surprised to see her awake so early.

“Good morning, sleepy head!” she beamed as she placed the magazines on the table. “How do you feel today?”

“I believe the drug is actually working,” he replied positioning himself into a sitting position. “My pain is almost completely gone and the doctor’s are going to do some X-ray’s later to see if the bone is healing any faster.”

“It isn’t right to mess with nature,” she scolded him.

“Chidori, I can’t protect you if I’m-”

“Tessa told me, Sousuke,” she said interrupting him as she went about adjusting his blankets. “About the men who are after you. And I think it’s sweet that you would want to protect me and all but now it’s my turn to protect you.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant by that but he had no doubt she was more than capable of completing the task. It shocked him a little but it was customary for her personality. It was one of the things he admired about her the most, her courage and determination. If half the soldiers he knew in his life had even an ounce of what she possessed, they’d be an unstoppable army.

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“But if you ever just drag me off somewhere without explaining things to me again, I will hang you from the highest treetop, you big stupid jerk,” she said her hands placed defiantly on her hips, hell burning in her eyes.

Sousuke swallowed hard knowing she would definitely follow through with her threat. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered.

“Now,” she exclaimed her face reverting back to sweetness, “about my father...”

Sousuke physically tensed his face full of panic. “Chidori, I uh...that is...” he stumbled over his words in a nervous fit of anxiety. He had faced numerous enemies on the battlefield, even killed to survive, but the thought of meeting her father sent such a feeling of dread through him he thought he might collapse from it.

“He arrived this morning. He’s just going to want to know why we’re here.” Her father wasn't stupid and she knew she would have to cook up some grand lie to cover their tracks. If he figured out that she was in any kind of danger, he would force her to come live with him and her sister again.

“What are you going to tell him?” Sousuke wondered what they could say that wouldn’t arouse suspicion and endanger the man. It was tough enough lying to her about a lot of things, now he had to lie to her father. It was like lying to a superior officer; the thought made him cringe.

“We’re here on a class trip and you got hurt,” she blurted out. “The other students left already but we had to stay behind until you were well enough to travel.”

“And he will believe this?”

“Mmm-hmm,” she said smiling wide.

“If your own intelligence is any indication of your father’s, then I would not underestimate him,” Sousuke said sliding a finger under his cast to itch his leg. The itch had been bugging him for a long time and he couldn’t quite reach it no matter what he did. It was beginning to become excruciatingly uncomfortable.

“Trust me, he’ll never know unless you open your big fat mouth and tell him,” she replied adjusting his pillow.

Sousuke continued to wrestle with his cast trying to scratch the itch. It was becoming so unbearable now that he was breaking out in a sweat and his cheeks were flushed from the sheer agony of it. “Why would I tell him?”

Kaname sighed annoyed. “I know how you get when you’re nervous. You just...blurt stuff out.”

Sousuke wiggled against the covers letting out a frustrated groan. He had almost reached it...it was just millimeters away...almost there...

“What the heck are you doing?” Kaname asked dumbfounded.

“My leg itches and I can’t reach it,” he said still struggling to get his finger down further.

Kaname moaned loudly. “Hold still, I’ll get it,” she replied leaning over the bed sticking her finger inside his cast. But it wouldn’t reach either and he kept squirming around and she was getting annoyed.

She went to the other side of the room and came back holding a metal coat hanger that she’d twisted up. “What are you going to do with that?!” he asked tensing up trying to back away.

“It’ll reach,” she said sliding it inside. Sousuke immediately jumped at the cold feel of the metal but relaxed instantly when it slid over the spot finally satiating the itch that had been bothering him for so long.

He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against his pillow. It felt like heaven...sweet heaven. He swore he couldn’t move if he wanted to. His entire body had become flaccid and weak just from having an overdue itch scratched. His head felt numb and all he wanted to do was stay floating like this a while longer.

As she tried to remove it, it snagged on something and wouldn’t budge. She leaned down and was looking inside the cast as best she could to maybe find what was keeping the hanger from dislodging but it was impossible.

Sousuke may have been relaxed before but the feel of her soft hair passing over his now exposed stomach brought him back to life. “Kaname!” he cried wiggling against the strange sensation that shook through his body.

“Kaname!” a man cried angrily from the doorway.

“Father!” she screamed jumping away from Sousuke, a very evident blush staining her cheeks.

Sousuke’s eyes flew open in shock; the timing could not have been worse. “Sir-I-am-sorry-it-was-not-what-it-looked-like!” he shouted jumping from the bed to stand up. Surprisingly no pain from the sudden jolt of jumping up, he thought with optimism.

Shunya Chidori just stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes directed right at Sousuke.

Kaname laughed nervously and grabbed him by the arm. “It’s good to see you, father! Let’s go-”

“I’m not going anywhere until you explain what is going on in here,” he grumbled loudly his face beginning to turn red with fury.

“Sir, please don’t kill me! I’m in love with your daughter!” Sousuke blurted out hoping the truth would be redeeming enough to make up for what the man just witnessed.

“What!?” Kaname cried out. “Ahahaha! Don’t listen to him, he’s on drugs and has no idea what he’s saying!” She tried to laugh but it came out as a half whimper.

“I get a message that my daughter is in America and I fly here only to find her being groped by some delinquent in a hospital bed!” His voice was so loud several men down the hallway stopped and stood staring in shock.

“I have compromised your daughter’s innocence and I am willing to marry her right now!” Sousuke stated loudly straightening in his stance puffing his chest out.

“What?!” Shunya screamed his face reddening with even more fury.

“Oh my God,” Kaname muttered swiping a hand down her face in defeat.

Just as Sousuke was about to open his mouth again, Kaname jumped on him and clamped her hand over his mouth. “He’s delirious with pain!” Then she shoved him violently back into his bed and he groaned loudly from the impact.

Like lightning, she had grabbed her father by the arm and dragged him out of the room. “I have so much to tell you, father,” she said nervously as they walked down the hallway.

After Kaname had finally calmed her father down they spent the rest of the day off base catching up. She was forced to explain that Sousuke was now her boyfriend and it didn’t go over well. It took a few hours before he would stop referring to Sousuke as that boy and threatening to have him arrested.

.o.o.o.o.

The helicopters landed one by one along the vast stretch of the dessert just outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. AS units began falling from the skies pounding the ground with a fury. Fighter jets flew past but only the sound could be heard as they fired randomly into the buildings. It only took seconds for them to close in on the city. No sound until the last minute and they appeared so quickly that there was no time to react. It was like a Hollywood movie as numerous explosions suddenly began igniting the city.

With swift vengeance the AS units started swiping through buildings with great ease. The horrid screams of people could be heard coming from all directions but all it did was fuel the beasts on. The morning sky lit up with a red glow as buildings burned high with flames tickling the already warm air.

“Take them all down!” one of the men in the AS’s cried with a wicked laugh. The same man fired blindly into a huge building and an explosion shot out the side so forceful it scattered debris for miles in every direction.

“Now this is what I call a good time!” another AS pilot yelled as he sliced through the building in front of him.

The other AS’s went to work ripping everything apart, sparing nothing. Building after building came down, one by one until a huge explosion went off in the distance near the center of the city. The force was so intense it quaked the earth.

“Time to go! Pull out!” one of the AS pilots yelled waving his arm.

As fast as they had entered they disappeared from where they came from and in their wake thousands of dead bodies lay everywhere while the entire city just burned. It looked like the earth had opened up and hell had burst forth onto the surface of the planet.

There was no time: no time to gather troops, no time to alert, no time to escape. In a matter of minutes the entire city was annihilated, left in a pile of rubble. A city that was once thriving and full of life now laid waste by one unimaginable powerful attack...one clean blow. It was unheard of and as the nearest troops arrived all they could do was stand in shock witnessing the most devastating attack ever seen in history. There were no survivors.

As the president alerted the nation a collective panic rose. He felt like nothing he could say would change the fact that 2 million people had been wiped out in a matter of minutes. There was no way that anyone could had foreseen this kind of devastation. It was something they had never seen before, or ever thought could happen.

Kurz and Melissa stood on the de Danaan staring at the television unable to move. “Tell me this isn’t real,” Kurz said hoping it was some prank. If there was an army out there like this, this was the beginning of another World War. Who could have the kind of intelligence to pull such a covert, agile attack like this?

“Son of a bitch!” Melissa cursed still staring at the screen.

A voice suddenly came over the loudspeaker of the Tuatha de Danaan, “All available personnel please report to briefing room 4 immediately.”

“This is it,” Melissa said as she and Kurz walked down the hallway to the room. They both knew that this would mean immediate deployment of all AS teams and special teams. This was just the beginning.

.o.o.o.o.

Back at Fort Dix everyone was called into a meeting and Amy made special arrangements for Tessa, Leonard and Sousuke to sit in considering it involved them all. Tessa wheeled Sousuke inside and they all sat in the back as observers. It was customary for Mithril to hang back until they were needed and this was no different. Tessa couldn’t make any decisions until she spoke to Intelligence anyway, but she needed all the facts.

The entire room was aflutter with nervous talk and confusion until a highly decorated officer came strolling in and walked to the front of the room. “General Nesbit, you have the floor,” Amy said backing away as the General cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the General began. “Las Vegas, Nevada is no more.” A video of the earlier onslaught played on the television behind him on the wall. It lit the room up red and everyone’s face fell into shock as they watched.

“How did this happen?” someone cried from one of the front row seats.

The General just stood there obviously trying to compose himself visually affected by the situation. “At 0500 hours this morning an unknown battalion of AS units landed in Nevada and 20 minutes later left...leaving the entire city demolished, 2 million souls up in flames. How they entered our airspace without detection in unknown and by the time our forces reached the area, the targets were long gone.” Several gasps were followed by some angry grumbling.

Many questions followed for several minutes and the tension began to escalate. Sousuke sat there in his wheelchair eyeing Leonard suspiciously. Why was he here? He didn’t trust the man and he didn’t feel he had any right to be in this meeting. He knew something the way he just stood there staring as if he had planned this.

Tessa closed her eyes knowing that this was Amalgam. She took a step forward and clasped her hands behind her back. “General, may I have a word with you in private?”

“Of course,” he said nodding at her. “Please excuse me,” he said to the room then followed her out.

They both disappeared and Sousuke sat there still staring angrily at Leonard. If he wasn't in this wheelchair, he’d get up and force the man to talk. He didn’t care if he was the Captain’s brother, this attack happened because he was here and had alerted Amalgam of their location.

“That’s a very bad habit of yours, Sergeant,” Leonard said not looking at him.

Sousuke waited for a few seconds then forced himself out of the chair coming to stand directly in front of Leonard. “Don’t think for a second that I believe you’re here for Kaname’s safety.”

“What are you insinuating?” Leonard asked finally holding Sousuke’s gaze.

“You knew about that attack and didn’t say anything,” Sousuke replied his voice full of malice.

Leonard leaned down so only Sousuke could hear him and said lowly, “It’s so convenient that you were here when this happened, wouldn’t you think, Sagara?”

Sousuke forcefully grabbed him and pulled him closer, his fingers tightening angrily around Leonard’s neck. “You son of a bitch,” Sousuke seethed.

Amy saw this and ran over shoving them apart. “Tensions are high enough right now without you two at each other’s throats. I’m not sure what it is that’s between you two but it ends on this base, am I clear?”

Sousuke stood there eyeing Leonard with fire in his eyes. “Yes, Ma’am,” he said his voice coarse and gruff.

“Can you please report to the infirmary, Sergeant,” she said calmly. “The doctor wants to have another look at your leg.” It was a blatant lie but she had to get them out of the room anyway, they were there unofficially. Leonard just gave her one of his usual smiles and she rolled her eyes at him.

Sousuke sat back down in his chair and Amy signaled one of the men standing in the room to take him out. She then turned to Leonard a scowl on her face. “You should know better,” she said angrily.

“The boy is young and irrational,” Leonard replied with a giggle.

“If you know anything about this attack, I would hope you would tell me, Leonard,” she said taking a firm stance. “We’ve known each other for most of our lives, I would hope that would count for something.”

Leonard just smiled and shook his head. “Have no fear,” he replied with a grin then swiftly turned strolling out of the room.

He knows something, Amy thought as she watched him disappear out the door. If she knew Leonard he was keeping secrets as usual. If he wasn't involved, and she hoped so much in her heart he wasn’t, he knew who was. It wasn’t really in his nature to be part of a team, he was more of a loner. He was well known for being a free agent and last she had heard he was working for HighTech Inc. designing new software AI systems for AS units. Seeing him after all this time made a small alarm go off in her head even if he was Tessa’s brother. Him showing up just didn’t seem right.

Sousuke sat in the infirmary feeling like he wanted to jump out of his own skin. His body was useless and it bothered him more than he could have ever imagined. He would rather die than just sit here while innocent people were dying because of him. Leonard’s words echoed over and over in his mind. He knew more than he was saying. His presence here was dangerous and he knew if he said anything to the Captain she would dismiss his accusations immediately. He was her brother after all, she had to trust him on some level. But Sousuke didn’t have to.

“We can take that cast off now, Sergeant,” the doctor said behind him examining the X-ray. “New medicine worked perfectly! Thank you again for letting us test it on you.”

Sousuke watched as the doctor applied the saw to the hardened cast buzzing through the material and sat there in relief. All his life he had seen soldiers wounded in battle and had felt pity for them. He had known one day that it might happen to him but he had never imagined how it would make him feel. And when the doctor pulled the cast off he could feel his confidence swiftly returning along with his growing fury.

Now, to deal with all this...my way.

To Be Continued

Chapter 19: Dinner with Dad

The following morning, Sousuke packed his belongings to head to Kaname’s father’s residence. She had set up a dinner meeting at the house so he could properly meet her father and sister and the idea made him extremely tense and nervous. After the previous morning’s fiasco he wasn't quite sure if he could face the man with dignity. He felt similar whenever he were in the presence of Commander Mardukas... not himself at all. It was hard to explain.

And with Mithril Intelligence fully on top of the attack on Las Vegas, it was a race against time as they scurried to gather as much information as they could about what happened and who they suspected was responsible. Sousuke knew but would not speak up until he had sufficient evidence implicating the man who he now considered a wolf in sheep’s clothing...very expensive fancy clothing.

If Leonard did have anything to do with it, why target Las Vegas and not New Jersey where they were actually hiding? But there was something in their last words that just didn’t sit well with him. Out of no where he shows up, tells him that he needs to get Kaname out of there and into hiding, only to discover they don’t even want Kaname but him instead. It was a lot to think about and he needed to consider everything before taking any course of action against the man.

“Sergeant Sagara?” he heard a familiar soft voice say from the doorway. “I came to check up on you.”

He looked over and Tessa stood there with a concerned expression on her face. “Captain,” he said about to straighten his stance.

“At ease,” she replied with a smile walking inside. “May I come in?”

“Of course,” he said folding his hands behind his back.

She walked in slowly keeping her eyes averted from his in fear he may see what truly laid beneath them: fear, longing and need. “I was very worried about you, Sergeant,” she said sweetly. “The way you just ran off with Miss Chidori-”

“I did what I had to,” he said with confidence.

“I know,” she said staring down at her folded hands.

Her fidgeting became more intense and he swore she looked like she wanted to say something. “Captain, is something bothering you?”

Tessa slammed her eyes shut and shook her head. She was not going to let her emotions get the best of her again. This man was her subordinate and she had no right to impose her personal feelings upon him. But she had felt near to tears since the moment Leonard contacted her about his location and the trouble he was in.

“I’m glad you’re okay!” she blurted out with a smile.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he replied casually.

She stood there for a few seconds hating the way silence was always present in their conversations, even friendly ones. All she ever wanted was to get closer to him, to make him understand how she longed to be with him. But every time they were close, he would stiffen up and become the soldier and not the man. “You have been assigned, alongside Sergeant Major Mao and Sergeant Weber, for a recon mission in New York City,” she added breaking her distant thoughts.

“Recon mission?” he asked with skepticism.

“Intelligence has discovered and located an American connection to Amalgam,” she explained. “A woman, Serena Blau, frequents a night club there called Club Nouveau and I need you to go in and find out anything you can. All the necessary information will be in the brief.” She paused for a second and looked away, he eyes glassing over in thought. “I’m telling you this now because I was informed of your later meeting with Miss Chidori’s father.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said keeping his eyes focused on the wall above her head.

She fumbled with the hem of her shirt for a few seconds the said, “That is all for now, Sergeant. Please take the time you need to recuperate. I’ll just-oh!” she exclaimed when she tripped slightly in the doorway grabbing the frame to steady herself.

Sousuke immediately jumped to help her pulling her back up to her feet. But what she did next shocked him down to his toes as she swung around and kissed him full on the lips. At first Sousuke didn’t know what to do his mind just went blank and all he could think was that his Captain was kissing him.

When his sense returned he gently pushed her away his eyes wide in shock. “Ca..Captain?”

“I’m sorry!” she screamed running off down the corridor. He knew that Tessa had feelings for him but up until now he never dreamed she would act upon them. It took a few minutes before the shock finally wore off.

Tessa came flying around the corner her face flushed with embarrassment. What had possessed her to do that? she thought holding her face in her hands. It was like someone else had taken over her body! How would she ever be able to look him in the eye again and not feel utterly and completely embarrassed.

.o.o.o.o.

Sousuke parked the rental car at the end of the driveway and just sat there staring at the large white house in front of him. He couldn’t lose his cool this time. It was his only chance to prove to her father that he was a respectable dependable man worthy of Kaname’s affections. But after the little scene in the hospital the previous day, he wasn’t sure if there was anything he could do to make amends.

Twenty minutes early, he thought as he looked at his watch. That had to stand for something, being punctual. Would the man even notice? Should he leave his weapons in the car? No, he had to be prepared if the house was attacked or ambushed. Maybe he should just carry his knife. A knife would not work if the attackers were long range. He needed the necessary equipment to handle any situation that might arise.

Just a few then. His KA-BAR knife for short rang assault, a few flash grenades, some trip mines and wire which he would strategically position around the perimeter before entering, some plastique and wire in case they get trapped anywhere, his GPS tracking equipment in case they needed to flee the scene quickly, and finally, his M9 semi-automatic double-action handgun and three additional magazines.

Fully prepared without weighing him down, he thought as he scanned the area before walking up the driveway. After successfully laying all the trip mines and checking all suspicious corners, he finally reached the front door and knocked. Hopefully his cautionary measures did not delay him too much.

The door swung open and a young girl slightly resembling Kaname stood there with a devious grin. “Well, you must be him then, the pervert,” Ayame, Kaname’s younger sister exclaimed leaning against the doorframe casually.

“Sousuke, you’re here!” Kaname screamed grabbing Sousuke and yanking him in past the young girl’s prying eyes.

“That’s my younger brat sister, Ayame,” Kaname explained to him giving the girl an evil glare. “Ayame, this is Sousuke Sagara, the boy from school I told you about.”

Ayame stood there with devilish smirk on her face. “You know what Kaname, you’re right. He does have a cute butt,” the girl said with a giggle.

Sousuke’s eyes flew to Kaname as she stood there speechless and blushing.

Kaname laughed nervously and started yanking him down the hallway. “Father is waiting for us in the study,” she added quickly.

Sousuke could really feel his nerves take a severe incline as they neared the room. This was either going to go very smoothly or turn out to be the worst day of his life. But he endured it because it made Kaname happy and kept her safe at the same time.

“Kaname, I’m not sure your father is going to be pleased to see me,” he said low trying to keep Ayame from eavesdropping.

“Nonsense,” she replied twining her arm through his in an unexpected possessive fashion. “I explained everything to him and he totally understands. Just try not to do anything stupid or militant. Got it?”

“Roger,” he said with a quick nod.

It took every ounce of restraint for Sousuke to hold out through dinner. The conversation was light for the most part while Kaname and Ayame told stories from their youth and Shunya just chuckled along with them. It was evident that they were a very close family and Sousuke wondered what that was like. The only family he ever knew was cold and calculating, teaching him the ways of weaponry and assassination. The closest thing to a father he ever knew was Commander Kalinin.

“So, Sousuke,” Ayame began. “Kaname tells me that you’re this military nut.”

He physically tensed straightening in his chair as all eyes turned to him. It’s just a question, he thought. No need to get defensive. “That is what she calls me, yes,” he replied stiffly.

Ayame giggled. “Do you come from a military family then?”

Sousuke paused glancing over at Kaname who was chewing politely. “You could say that,” he replied calmly.

“That’s pretty cool,” Ayame said with a smile. “So, you’re Japanese right?”

Kaname froze mid-chew. Oh God, she hadn’t thought of a question like that.

“Yes,” Sousuke replied with confidence. “I was born in Niigata, Japan where I lived with my parents until I was eight years old. Tragically, my parents died in a terrible accident and I was sent to live with my uncle in Russia. When I turned 16, I decided to return to Japan to finish my studies.”

Kaname stared blankly at him wondering where he had cooked that up from.

Shunya smiled for the first at Sousuke. “And that is how you met my daughter,” he stated calmly.

For reasons unknown to Kaname or even the universe itself, Sousuke bolted up straight in his seat. “Sir, I swear I have not laid a hand on your daughter, we were merely-“

“I’M GOING TO GET DESERT!” Kaname screamed standing up so fast the chair flew backwards. “Would you like some father?!”

“I would never dream of touching your daughter that way!” Sousuke said shooting out of his chair.

He was doing it again, Kaname thought. It seemed every time he was near her father he offered entirely too much information and wound up making himself look extremely guilty. Where was this coming from? He was always so level headed and rational.

“It was just a kiss!” Sousuke blurted out. “Your daughter is still pure. In fact, I make it my mission to keep her innocence intact.”

Ayame just sat there giggling and laughing so hard she almost fell out of her chair. “This is better than primetime television!”

“Young man, what are talking about?” Shunya asked eyeing him angrily.

“There was that one time I touched her breast, but it was a complete accident, sir!” Sousuke said his mind screaming for him to shut up.

Kaname flew across the room grabbing Sousuke by the arm dragging him out of the room. Her enraged words could be heard as she yanked him down the hallway and shoved him up against the wall. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know, Chidori,” he said his head feeling light.

“Well, cut it out, you idiot,” she snapped. “You’re going to make my father think you’re some kind of lunatic.”

“I don’t understand what is wrong with me,” he honestly replied shaking his head.

“We’re going to go back in there and I want you to start acting like a normal person, okay Sousuke? Can you manage that for at least another hour, you war-driven freak?” Kaname snarled.

“I will do my best,” he said giving her a sound nod.

They walked back in and Kaname’s father watched them both with a suspicious eye as they sat back down.

“Everything alright?” Ayame asked innocently.

Kaname just nervously giggled and took a sip of her drink. “Sousuke is just tired from his ordeal.”

Shunya cleared his throat and laid his teacup back down. “I received a phone call today from a Lieutenant Amy Miller at Fort Dix. She said Mister Sagara injured himself protecting you, that if he had not been there you would have been the one to break your leg.”

Kaname sat there in silence wanting to cry out in sheer relief but she just cranked her head slowly to the side and smiled sweetly at her father. She was going to have to personally thank Amy for helping her and Sousuke out.

“So, I guess I have you to thank for keeping my daughter from bodily injury, Sagara,” Shunya said stabbing at the last piece of food on his plate. “From what the Lieutenant told me it was a rather eventful day for everyone. I’m just glad you were not injured more than just a broken leg.”

“Thank you, Sir, it is my honor and duty to insure Kaname’s safety,” Sousuke said finally relaxing a little.

“Oh my God, that is so sweet,” Ayame sighed.

Kaname rolled her eyes.

“Now,” Shunya exclaimed standing up. “It is getting late and you two must be on your way to the airport to catch your flight back to Tokyo. I have booked the flights myself.” He smiled at them both and gave Sousuke a hearty slap on the back.

Kaname hugged her father tightly as they bid their goodbyes and promised she would come to visit again very soon. Sousuke, for the first time since he met her father, shook his hand with pride. What Lieutenant Miller had said wasn't a complete lie; he had actually prevented her from going into that shed in Tajikistan. Taking the impact of that beam would have surely caused her more damage than him.

As they drove down the highway she stared out the window with a sigh. “That went a little better than I thought,” she said closing her eyes. “Except for your ridiculous outburst. What the heck got into you? You were handling it fine and suddenly you just snapped like a twig!”

“I’m sorry,” he said giving her a quick sideways glance. “Your father makes me very nervous.”

“I can see that,” she groaned inwardly.

Several seconds of silence passed and he knew he had to tell her about his next mission. “I have a mission in New York City tomorrow evening,” he said looking back at the road.

“It’s always going to be something with you, isn’t it Sousuke?” she added her face annoyed.

“I’m sorry, Chidori,” he said with remorse. “I know how much you want to go back to Tokyo. I can send you back if that’s what you want.”

She turned quickly to stare at the side of his face wondering how he could say something like that. It made her want to reach out and punch him in the face for being so insensitive but she knew he was just trying to please her.

“I want to stay with you,” she said her eyes round and sad.

He glanced over holding her saddened expression. “I want you to stay with me but I fear for your safety. Amalgam wants me for whatever reasons and they won’t hesitate to take you as well. I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“I’m not going back to Tokyo without you, Sousuke,” she said crossing her arms defiantly over her chest. “And that’s final.”

“Chidori, this may not be my last mission here,” he argued.

“Then I guess we better find a hotel for the night so we can discuss our game plan.”

Sousuke just shook his head in defeat. Once Kaname made up her mind there was really nothing anyone could do to change it. He would have to call in a few favors and have her watched over while he was in New York City. The last thing he needed was to be distracted on this mission and worrying about her sitting in some hotel room alone was beyond a distraction.

“So...what’s in New York City?” she asked innocently.

“Trouble,” he replied keeping his eyes on the road.

A lot more trouble than he cared for.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 20: Sneak Attack

Sousuke stood at the window of their current hotel room staring out feeling as if he had lost control of the situation too long ago for his own liking. It wasn't something he liked to admit but he felt as if at any moment it was all going to crash down around him. This wasn’t like his many encounters with Gauron where he knew more about his enemy than anyone else; this was Amalgam and they were so obscure that even Intelligence had little to offer.

Kaname watched him from her seat on the edge of the bed. Several different expressions crossed his face and she swore he almost looked scared, which was odd because she had never known him to be scared of anything. On top of everything he was dealing with now: guarding her, keeping them safe, running all over the world...he was also dealing with his emotions concerning their relationship.

She took a deep breath. “Are you scared, Sousuke?” she asked calmly lowering her eyes to the floor.

He turned his head just slightly confusion in his eyes. “No,” he lied looking back out the window.

“It’s okay to be scared, you know,” she said standing up walking across the room to him. “I know that you’ll get through this just like you have gotten through everything else that has happened.” She smiled kindly leaning casually against the wall next to him.

He continued to stare out the window his expression like stone. “It’s not that easy, Chidori.”

“What do you mean?” she asked sighing heavily.

“Amalgam will stop at nothing until they have me,” he said closing his eyes. “The fact that I am able to pilot the Arbalest and use the Lambda driver is reason enough.”

“But don’t they have their own pilots who can use it as well?” she asked in confusion. “Why do they want you so badly?”

“You don’t understand,” he said turning to her their eyes locking. “They don’t want to recruit me, Chidori. They want me dead.”

Kaname felt her heart drop to her knees and the entire world around her just stopped moving. It had never occurred to her that they wanted to eliminate him; Tessa had left that part out when she explained what was going on.

Suddenly, she felt such a dread spreading over her that she almost collapsed. He wasn't allowed to die! He had promised that he’d always be there to protect her! All her senses came alive as adrenaline began pumping through her body.

“Well, I’m not going to let that happen!” she screamed stamping her foot.

His head snapped around and you would think he would be used to her defiant, courageous attitude but it still surprised him on most occasions.

“And I’m not going to let you stand here and act like this is eventually the end for you,” she added with annoyance. “I’m so sick of you acting like you’re the martyr in all this,” she continued poking him in the chest.

He began backing up until he collided with the wall.

“This is so typically you, Sousuke! You never think about how you affect the people around you. Don’t you get it?! If you died we would all never be the same! I would never be the same! I would feel it, forever, right here!” she said jabbing him in the chest where his heart was. “So, stop acting like if you died it wouldn’t destroy me inside!”

“I didn’t mean it that way!” he protested suddenly feeling like a complete jerk.

“Well, you could have fooled me, you idiot!” she said her voice still very aggravated.

He stared down at her not just admiring her forthright determination but also the way she made him think about himself. It was as if she knew him better than he knew himself. It was all becoming clear now, why he had these feelings for her. She made up the better half of himself, making up for all his inadequacies. She completed him when he felt empty inside and when he felt helpless.

How did she do that? he thought.

“Well, are you going to just stand there and act like you don’t understand me as usual?” she demanded tapping her foot impatiently.

“Uh...”

“Dammit, Sousuke!” she screamed twirling around giving him her back.

“Chidori, I’m under a lot of pressure here,” he tried to explain but felt as if no matter what he said to her she’d still be angry with him.

“I can’t believe you’re going to that club even when you know you could get hurt!” she added in the same high pitched tone as just seconds ago. “Don’t you care how this makes me feel? I’m going to be sitting here worrying about you the entire time!”

“I don’t have a choice,” he argued. “This is my job and I have orders.”

She spun around trying to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. “It’s always about orders for you! If Mithril asked you to kill yourself, would you? Because that’s exactly what you’re doing by going to that club. I am so sick of you putting your job above your own safety!”

“It’s not like that!” he protested following her as she crossed the room in a huff.

“Then what am I supposed to think about this? Am I supposed to just ignore the fact that you could die out there tonight?” she snapped.

Sousuke knew she was right but he had a job to do, a safe one at that, and if he disobeyed orders not only would the captain not be able to help him again, but he would surely be removed from the organization completely. Melissa once told him that he needed to think about his future, his future with Kaname. How was he going to protect her and take care of her if he couldn’t take care of himself?

“I have to go,” he said grabbing his jacket off the bed.

Kaname watched as he prepared to go and she wanted to knock him over the head unconscious with something. But instead she just stormed off into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. But when he didn’t come after her and she heard the hotel room door close, she swung the bathroom door open and chased after him. But it was too late, he was gone.

She stood in the hallway wanting to collapse into tears. I am so stupid!

.o.o.o.o.

Leonard cleared his throat as he slid the envelope across the table towards the other person sitting across from him in the quiet darkened restaurant. “Can you handle this?” he asked calmly a certain arrogance in his voice.

“I can handle myself,” the woman replied a little arrogance to her own voice.

“I have arranged that the girl not be there,” Leonard said leaning back in his seat. “But in the case that she somehow shows up, I need to know that nothing will happen to her.”

The woman chuckled lightly. “You are so pathetic when it comes to her, its almost laughable.”

Leonard took a deep breath and looked away trying to mask his growing anger. “You have no idea of her potential.”

“Do you even know what she can do?” the woman questioned taking a sip of her drink. “We Whispered don’t all hold vital information like you may think, Silver.”

“I know firsthand what she is capable of,” he retorted calmly. “And once that rogue boyfriend of hers is out of the way, I can show her exactly how important she is...to me and to Amalgam.”

Serena laughed. “You are such an idealist, Leonard.”

“Just take care of Sagara,” he said keeping his tone down.

Then Kaname would be free to see the truth, about herself and about her so-called knight in shining armor, Sergeant Sousuke Sagara.

.o.o.o.o.

“You ready, guys?” Melissa said as they exited the rental car just outside the club. The pounding of the music could be felt in the pavement beneath their feet and Melissa stared over at the bouncer standing just in the doorway. This was going to be easier than she originally planned, she thought as she eyed the large man.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Kurz said leaning against the side of the car.

“Once she is spotted we are to observe from a distance, is that understood?” she said but mostly directed it towards Sousuke. “We’re to call HQ once she has left the building; Intelligence will take it from there. If anything goes wrong, then we take action and not one second sooner.”

“Roger,” both the guys replied as they walked behind Melissa.

Melissa flipped her internal switch to seductress and sauntered up to the bouncer batting her eyelashes flirtatiously. “Hey there, handsome,” she purred flashing him a twenty dollar bill. “Mind if we join the party?”

The bouncer eyed them briefly then took the bill stepping aside letting them pass. As they walked in the large club it was dark, yet lit with flashing strobe lights and colorful lasers. Tons of people littered the dance floor as they pushed their way through. It was hard to hear anything over the loud music and they found a small table in the corner of the club where the music wasn't so loud.

“This should be easy enough,” Melissa said with a sigh as they all sat down. “I’m guessing the VIP room is up there but I bet she’ll enter from some hidden entrance.”

“The file stated she’s in her early twenties but about 99 of the women in here are,” Kurz said with excitement as he scouted the room eyeing all the scantily dressed women.

“Pay attention!” Melissa said slapping him on the back of the head.

“We’re flying blind here,” Sousuke said looking around.

“Relax, Sousuke,” Melissa said with a smile. “We’re more than qualified to handle this kind of mission.”

“That’s what worries me,” Sousuke replied shooting her a steady glance. “Why were we assigned this recon mission when Intelligence has plenty of operatives more than capable of pulling this off? We’re SRT; we should be out in the field not on the inside like this. This has been bothering me since I got the briefing earlier this morning.”

Melissa stared off into the distance; she hadn’t thought of that. She just assumed that it was something they didn’t want to entrust to just anyone considering the severity of the subject matter. She and Kurz could easily pass themselves off as Americans but Sousuke? He couldn’t behave like a normal Japanese teen, let alone a club friendly American party-goer. Maybe he had a point, she thought as she glanced over her shoulder at the VIP box.

“Look, we’ll just do our jobs and get out of here,” Kurz said leaning back in his seat. “I’m not going to question anyone’s orders unless I feel like getting another lecture from Commander Kalinin.”

A little while later after watching inconspicuously from their table Kurz grabbed Melissa’s hand and drug her out of her seat. “Better start blending in, babe. We look like a bunch of spies sitting her watching everyone else have fun.”

“Weber, dammit!” Melissa protested as he drug her to the dance floor.

Sousuke watched as Kurz dragged the unwilling Sergeant Major onto the dance floor but kept his eyes on the crowd making sure to check the VIP box in case Serena showed up. This whole thing was beginning to smell foul the more time passed by and there was no sign of her.

“You idiot, I can’t dance,” Melissa screamed over the music trying to convince Kurz to let go of her. But he kept dragging her out and she knew if she did anything forceful to him it would attract attention. It took all her self-control to keep from punching him square in the face.

Kurz yanked her arm slamming their bodies against each other mimicking what every other couple was doing on the dance floor. Melissa had no choice but to follow his lead as he grinded his hips against hers to the fast beat of the music but she really wanted to wrap her hands firmly around his neck and strangle the life from his body.

“Relax, sis,” he whispered in her ear. “We’re under cover, enjoy yourself.”

“You are so dead when we get back to the de Danaan,” she sneered as he grabbed her by her hips and pulled her closer.

Sousuke stood up peering around the room trying to assess the crowd. That was when he spotted a tall slender young woman enter the club from an entrance in the back, a large entourage following her. This had to be her and he signaled to Kurz and Melissa who nodded in response.

He was about to cross the dance floor to Kurz and Melissa but a small woman suddenly blocked his exit. “Hey sexy, want to dance?” she said with a sweet smile.

He looked down shock in his eyes. He said the first thing that came to mind. “I’m sorry, but I am not proficient in the modern dancing rituals of this culture,” he replied in perfect English.

The girl just laughed and grabbed his hand. “It’s easy, I’ll show you.”

As she was dragging him out he shot Melissa and Kurz a pleading glance and Kurz just laughed and grabbed Melissa’s ass. Melissa gasped then growled inwardly knowing she was going to mutilate more than just his face after tonight.

Sousuke just stood there unable to move. He nervously glanced around trying to keep his eyes on Serena as she crossed the club and up the stairs into the VIP room, her bodyguards closely following behind. All they had to do was watch her until she left then alert HQ.

The girl moved close to him and giggled. “Loosen up!” she screamed over the music as she tried to get him to dance with her. “What’s your name?”

“John,” Sousuke said giving her his cover name for the night. His eyes never left Serena as she made herself comfortable at the small table situated on the high balcony above. Objective in view, he thought as he just stood there slightly swaying back and fourth to appease the young lady in front of him.

“Do me a favor?” she said into his ear as she continued to dance in front of him. She moved real close to him and something jabbed into his ribcage. “Don’t do anything stupid unless you want your friends to get hurt, Sergeant Sagara.”

He stared down at the gun now pressing into his middle and looked up realizing they had been setup.

Dammit.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 21: It Begins

Sousuke tensed as he glanced around trying to assess the dangerous situation he had just landed into. How could he miss something like this? A complete setup! He had suspected something but never something so meticulously orchestrated. In Sousuke's eyes there was only one man responsible for the information leak like this...Leonard Testarossa.

“My colleagues are going to know something is wrong if I leave with you,” he said not moving.

“It will be too late before they even realize anything has happened,” she said nudging him with her gun. “Now move.” Grabbing the gun he had stashed in his waistband she urged him forward.

At the precise opportune moment, she pulled him into a gathering crowd of dancing people and covertly out the back door. A limousine was waiting outside and she shoved him towards it forcefully, her bodyguards materializing beside her. “Get in,” she said keeping her voice low.

He reached for the door handle but paused glancing over his shoulder briefly. If he was going to react, he would have to do it right now; his window of opportunity was closing fast. As quickly as he could and with speed unlike anything she had ever seen, he had her pinned against the car with her own gun to her head.

Her bodyguards began reaching for their weapons and Sousuke's instinct kicked in, “Nobody moves or she dies,” he hissed tightening his hold on the gun.

Serena sighed heavily rolling her eyes. “You really think my life is worth that much, Mr. Sagara,” she rasped out.

As one of the guards moved towards him he shoved the gun more forcefully against her head. “I’ll kill her!”

He kept his eyes on the three men watching for any movement as his pulse began quickening with an intensity. Serena suddenly began crying and sobbing pleading for her life. His flinch was just the window of opportunity the guards needed and the last thing Sousuke remembered was a hard blinding pain that shot through his head. He collapsed to the ground with a sound thud.

“Get him in the car,” Serena commanded straightening her skirt.

The limousine sped off into the night just as Kurz and Melissa came rushing out the back door. “Son of a bitch!” Kurz swore with an intense fury.

Melissa was already on her cell phone calling the de Danaan. “Urzu 2 here...they took him...we were setup...I’m not leaving him!...yes, ma’am...yes...roger.” She hung up and turned to Kurz with a grave expression.

“Well, we have to go after him!” Kurz yelled angrily.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname woke suddenly in the night thrashing upward in bed. She was in the hotel, she thought as she glanced around the darkened room. Where was Sousuke? He was on a mission. No, something was wrong. Something went seriously wrong. Tears began welling in her eyes.

She flung the covers back and quickly dressed. The operative assigned to guard her while he was away was slumped over in his chair sound asleep outside the door as she crept past him quietly. She raced down the hall to the elevator only to be stopped by Kurz coming out grabbing her just before she whizzed past him.

“Whoa, Kaname,” he said.

“What happened? Where is he?” she asked anxiously fear in her eyes.

Melissa stepped out a forlorn expression in her eyes. “Kaname, we need to talk.”

“Dammit! Just tell me what happened!”

“They got him,” Kurz said regardless of the wary glance Melissa threw him. “We were setup.”

Kaname’s body suddenly went completely rigid with fear as she backed away disbelief in her eyes. This couldn’t be happening for real, she thought as she shook her head fitfully. Fighting the tears back, she took a deep breath. “No, no this can’t be real. I’m going to wake up any minute and he’ll be sitting in the chair like always watching out the window!”

“Kaname, we don’t—”

But Melissa couldn’t finish, Kaname ran off towards her room. “We better go after her,” Kurz said giving Melissa an empathetic look.

“Give her a few minutes,” Melissa replied sitting on a bench situated against the wall about to relax for the first time since they left the club. “She’s in shock. God only knows how torn up she is right now.”

“Yeah, she’s probably in her room crying her eyes out even as we speak, the poor kid,” Kurz said shaking his head knowing how horribly this must be tearing her up inside.

But they were both proven wrong when the door to her room came slamming open and she came stalking out carrying her backpack. When Melissa and Kurz simply stared at her she made an exasperated sound. “Well, come on! You’re SRT right? Special Response? This is a special circumstance, so lets go!”

“Kaname, we don’t even know where he is,” Kurz strained out.

“Yeah, well I know who does,” she seethed walking past them to wait for the elevator.

And he’s going to talk or I’m just going to have to use some of Sousuke’s interrogational methods, she thought stepping into the elevator.

.o.o.o.o.

When Sousuke finally opened his eyes he found himself staring up at a steel gray ceiling, a piercing pain splintering his skull, his vision blurry and distorted. He winced reaching up feeling the crusted dried blood that caked his hair. He was in some kind of holding cell, he gauged looking around the room. Titanium reinforced door...no windows...smooth walls; they had definitely prepared for his arrival. So, why didn’t they just kill him the instant they got their hands on him? Why the confinement?

Several minutes passed and the door opened and a man in a white lab coat casually walked in a stone expression on his face. He was tall possibly Russian with a thin dark moustache covering his upper lip. The man stood there his face pale and ragged as he typed into a hand-held device.

“I find it hard to believe that a juvenile boy like yourself is the one who has been giving us all this trouble,” the man stated not looking up.

Sousuke sat up letting his legs dangle over the side of the bed and rubbed his aching head. “And you are?” he asked his voice raspy.

“We have a few questions we'd like you to answer, Mr. Sagara," the man said his voice cold and unfeeling. "And I'm afraid I've been assigned to extract them from you."

Sousuke eyed him suspiciously standing up. “So, it’s to be torture?”

“I'm afraid so, Mr. Sagara,” the man said but his voice held no inkling of remorse; in fact he sounded entertained by the idea of torturing Sousuke.

Sousuke willingly crossed the threshold only to be joined by two large guards toting rifles just outside the door. They nudged him down the hallway and glanced around looking for anything that he could use as a weapon against them but found nothing. No sense in resisting, I am unfamiliar with my surroundings, he thought as he was ushered down more hallways and finally into a brightly lit room. I need to think this through before I act.

He had been specially trained to withstand high amounts of physical torture but as he glanced around the surgical room he felt this was not going to be anything like he had ever endured in his life. Across the room was a metal table standing upright equipped with restraints and he never took his eyes off it as they ushered him towards it. There were several table arranged beside the table with white cloths covering trays of what he could only guess were the instruments of his torturer.

When Sousuke hesitated, one of the guards jabbed him in the stomach with the butt of his gun and he coughed viciously as pain spread through his middle. “Move,” the man seethed

Concentration, meditation, inner peace, he repeated over and over in his mind. They can only break my body, they cannot break my mind. He kept his eyes open as they slammed him against the cold steel table and forcefully strapped his arms and legs down. He was not scared for himself but he feared for Kaname. She would not be protected and no one but him was capable of doing just that.

“So, Mr. Sagara,” the man in the white coat said from behind him. “Are we ready for our interrogation?”

Sousuke kept his eyes forward repeating the words he had been taught, keeping his breathing shallow and uniform. It was not the first time he had been tortured but he knew this may be his last. No words fell from his lips as the foreign man came around to face him, eyes like a demon bearing deeply into his own.

“If you cooperate this can be a painless procedure,” he said pulling a knife from his pocket and unsheathing it. “I normally would have had you prepped for this ahead of time but the higher ups are in a rush, so my work must be in haste.” He spoke as if this was just another day at the office and Sousuke ignored his words.

Sousuke fixed his gaze firmly on the wall in front of him. A small speck of dust, anything he could focus on, but the walls were clean and smooth. He didn’t flinch once as the doctor sliced open the front of his shirt from top to bottom. Then he was washed lightly all over to with a solution Sousuke could only imagine was some kind of antibacterial; a common method for professionals who wished to inflict their torture over a long period of time. A woman suddenly appeared beside him handing the doctor the tools he requested and Sousuke kept himself completely still.

“If you tell us what we want to know and you do not have to endure any of this, Mr. Sagara,” the woman said softly as she cut away the rest of his shirt. “You are so young, so much life ahead of you.”

He didn’t look at her, didn’t even hear her, for the words of his training echoed in his mind. The body is only a vessel, an instrument that allows us to live on this earth. Do not fear death, embrace the inevitable. But what if he wasn't ready to leave this life? What if he needed to stay alive for Kaname? Could he abandon all his training and betray Mithril? The organization that once took him away from Kaname, the only person in this world who made him feel like he was home? The woman he loved.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname, Kurz and Melissa boarded the Tuatha de Danaan hours later off the shores of New York and Kaname strode purposefully down the corridors with one only intent in mind: find Leonard and strangle the truth from his pompous traitorous mouth. He was the only one who could have been giving out information, she thought as more anger rose in her chest. If anything happened to Sousuke she would personally tear him apart. “Find Tessa, find Leonard,” she whispered as she headed for Tessa’s office.

She didn’t even knock and just burst in ignoring Commander Kalinin who stood before Tessa’s desk. “Where is he?” she seethed slamming her palms down on Tessa’s desk.

“I’m glad you made it back to the de Danaan safely, Miss Chidori,” Tessa cooed calmly. “Mr. Kalinin, would you excuse us please?”

“Certainly, Madam Captain,” he said excusing himself and shutting the door behind him.

Kaname didn't waste any time. “I don’t care if he is your brother, that bastard knows where they took Sousuke!” Kaname shouted facing Tessa with as much determination as a lioness about to attack her enemy. She wasn't about to let Tessa brush this one under the rug simply because Leonard had charmed his way back into her life so conveniently.

Tessa leaned forward in her chair facing Kaname her eyes flashing with their own determination and rebuke. “We are doing everything we can to find him. This is a serious matter being handled with the utmost importance.”

“This is your fault! You sent him out there! You knew he was taking a chance! And you did nothing!” Kaname screamed fury in her eyes. “You’re supposed to be his captain! You’re supposed to be looking out for his well being!”

Tessa narrowed her eyes in disgust. “I am looking out for his well being, Miss Chidori!”

"If anything happens to him, I will personally hold you responsible," Kaname replied the anger in her voice rising with each syllable.

Tessa jumped from her chair and it slammed against the wall behind her. "You're not the only one who cares for him! And I know you have won him, he made that extremely clear when he pushed me away after I kissed him!" Tessa's eyes widened as she clamped her hand over her own mouth. She hadn’t meant to say it but now that she had, a small part of her enjoyed the shocked expression on Kaname's face.

Kaname froze in her stance. Tessa had kissed him? And he hadn’t told her about it? Fighting the tears, she turned and ran from Tessa’s office feelings of betrayal now mixing with the dreaded sense of losing the only man she loved. She was going to tear out Leonard’s heart with her bare hands!

He could die! Tessa stood there the realization of that fact hitting her like a ton of bricks. She knew it every time he went out in the field. But this time the odds were a lot higher than they have ever been. He had been targeted for extermination and they were doing everything they could possibly do to find him. Her guilt was overwhelming and she took a few steps back falling backwards into her chair again. She started crying holding her face as her emotions burst through her like a freight train.

Kaname came to screeching halt when she heard Leonard’s voice coming from one of the rooms down the hall. Fiery rage burst fourth in her and she grabbed the doorknob flinging it open. “Where the hell is he!? Tell me where they took him?!”

Leonard turned around flipping his cell phone closed, a look of disinterest on his face. His plan was falling into place quite nicely, he thought as he sat down in the chair beside him. He had to choose his next words very wisely for her reaction meant everything to him. He wanted to see the devastation in her eyes when she knew her beloved Sergeant's chances were slim.

He eyed her calmly and shook his head in mock sympathy. “I am afraid it's too late for our Sergeant Sagara…"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 22: You Cannot Break Me

Kaname stood motionless as Leonard's words echoed repeatedly through her mind. Leonard just sat there watching as all the color drained from her face and felt a sense of self-pride wash over himself. If he couldn't convince her that Sousuke was just as brutal as him, then he would have to prove how cruel he could be.

"You didn't actually believe you two had a chance, did you?" His words sounded so smug and her eyes snapped to his piercing like sharp daggers.

He stood up and crossed the distance to where she stood his face just inches from hers. "Survival of the fittest, my dear Kaname," he whispered. "In the end, there will only be one side left …us."

"I'll never be on your side," she hissed backing away.

"Oh?" he replied reaching out to take a strand of her soft hair between his fingers rubbing lightly. He leaned down close to her ear and whispered, "Kaname."

Her eyes flew open in shock as she heard that familiar whisper now just inches from her ear. It was the same voice she had heard on Melida Island in her head, the one that had sent her into a spasm of an attack, the one that had sent Sousuke into a panic. Then suddenly her eyes shot to his a realization passing over them. "It was you…you set this all up," she whispered stepping back a little more. "You sent us running, you preyed on his paranoia to protect me…you knew he'd flee leaving us out in the open away from Mithril's protection."

Leonard chuckled lightly and smiled down at her. "A genius plan, wouldn’t you say? Though there was a few snags that had to be compensated for but all turned out well enough. And that other operative observing was definitely a thorn in my side."

Then it hit her. "All those people in Las Vegas…you killed all those people," she said covering her mouth with one of her hands.

"Casualties of war, I'm afraid," he replied nonchalantly. "How else was I going to convince my dear sister to send out a reconnaissance for Serena."

Her hands began balling into fists at her sides as tears welled in her eyes. "You bastard," she hoarsely whispered. "How could you just do that to your own sister?"

"She was merely another pawn in this little game we've been playing," he said with a demonic smile. "And I'm afraid this game has come to an end."

"They won’t let you off this submarine alive, you traitor!"

He chuckled again, this time turning away opening his phone once again. "You won’t tell or your boyfriend will just have to die sooner than planned." His threat was constituted by a sharp glance back at her. It meant Sousuke was still alive and he would remain that way until Leonard was safely off the submarine. Leverage.

"Sousuke would want me to stop you," she said angrily against her better judgment.

"But you won’t," he replied dialing his phone. "Yes, I'll be topside in an hour," he said into the phone then clapped it shut.

Turning back to her his expression suddenly became more severe than she had ever seen in him before. "Can't you see? I couldn’t let him win; he is just a soldier, a nobody. You belong to me, my dear. You have always been mine since the day you were born. So, when my employer expressed his desire to eliminate Sagara I naturally stepped up to offer my help."

Cold chills swept up her spine as his icy words bore into her like a thousand knives. Not only had he meant for all of this to happen, he believed that they were predestined to be together in some sick twisted relationship. It was enough to make her stomach churn with bile. "You soulless bastard," she managed to whisper before fleeing quickly out of the door.

Right now was not the time for them though, he thought as he prepared to leave. Their time would come eventually. Right now he needed to make sure that Sousuke was permanently removed from the picture and it would mean witnessing the deed himself. It would be the sweetest moment in his life, he thought as he walked down the corridor a slight smile on his wicked lips.

That meddlesome Sagara would finally be out of the picture.

.o.o.o.o.

Sousuke kept his eyes closed trying to fight the wrenching pain tearing at his body. Blood dripped down the table to the floor and he swore he could hear every drop before it even hit the cold steel. The inflictions were minor so far but enough to cause him severe pain. His torturer was very skilled at his trade. This was only the beginning of the end of his life, he thought as he struggled to control his emotions.

"This can all end, Mr. Sagara, if you'll just tell us what we want to know," the man in the white coat said his voice cold and hard. "You are proving nothing by staying silent except that you have a death-wish."

Sousuke opened his eyes only to stare dead into the man's eyes, hatred the only emotion reflecting in them. He would never speak and they were going to have to do a lot more to him if they planned on draining him of his strength. The IV bag containing antibiotics beside him dripped once again and he looked right past it as the man continued to pace before him.

When Sousuke said nothing the man nodded toward his young female assistant and she handed him another knife, this time much larger with a serrated edge. The man waved it front of him and Sousuke never flinched, his contemptuous gaze steady. And even as the blade dug deep under the upper skin of his ribcage tearing horizontally across his flesh his brain screamed for him to cry out, but he kept his eyes fixed on his torturer.

Fresh blood spilled down his stomach and soaked into the waistband of his trousers and perspiration began to break out over his brow and cheeks. Recognize your pain, suppress it, push it deep into the recesses of your mind. Harness it, understand it…it cannot control you. Closing his eyes he kept repeating this as his skin pulsed and throbbed violently with this new wound.

"One more time, Mr. Sagara," the man said crossing once again before him. "Locations, coordinates…we want to know where Mithril operates. One word and I'll stop all of this."

Sousuke opened his eyes holding the man's gaze, his own unflinching and full of hostility. His stomach churned and he swallowed the bile now rising in his throat. Pain gripping him his vision now faltered slightly under the strain and sweat dripped down his face the salty moisture stinging his eyes.

He conjured up an image of Kaname and Kyoko sitting in their classroom…safe and secure, away from the dangers of war and death. That is what he would hold onto, the one thing that was worth dying for: to know that he did his job, he kept her safe. He kept them all safe. And he would never reveal Mithril's location—as long as they were strong and active they would always keep Kaname safe.

The man waited watching as Sousuke stared back at him fighting his inner need to howl out in pain, his mind screaming inwardly in agony. "Tell us," the man repeated keeping his eyes directly on Sousuke as he once again slaked the rigged blade across Sousuke's ribcage crisscrossing over the previous gaping gash he had just inflicted.

New pain tore at him, weakening him further, shredding his flesh beneath the knife. He held in the gut-wrenching scream that threatened to escape his lips and slammed his eyes shut against the pain.

Silence.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname flew down the corridor of the Tuatha de Danaan tears streaming down her face. She had to find Kurz and Melissa; they were the only ones she could trust right now. They were all just filing out of the briefing room when she came crashing down the hallway and halted directly in front of Kurz. "I need to talk to you in private," she whispered making sure no one had heard her.

Kurz nodded and followed, silently understanding her request for privacy. He too knew at a time like this there were only certain people you could trust, even in a room full of friends. Sousuke's life was on the line here and he wasn't about to trust the wrong people again. Once they were in a secluded spot she fought back the tears as she told him everything from the first instant Leonard had appeared on base on Melida down to Leonard's last evil words.

"That bastard," Kurz fumed. "If he gets back to Sousuke he's going to kill him. I have to follow him, maybe deter him somehow, just long enough to buy us some time."

He stood there in thought for a few minutes then patted Kaname on the shoulder. "Leave it to me," he said about to walk away but she stopped him.

"I can’t just stay aboard this ship," she pleaded.

Against his better judgment he nodded and let her follow. It was going to be tricky but he had to stop Leonard before he got back to Sousuke. Quickly briefing Mao in private she agreed to keep a low frequency communication with him as he followed Leonard then move in when it was time.

All of SRT were set to be deployed, as well as PRT land and air units. Melissa waited patiently as Kurz and Kaname snuck off after Leonard. They had to get as much information as possible before leaving for the surface with the deployment, he thought as they dashed off.

Leonard didn't even bother to say goodbye to Tessa, it wasn't worth his time. He was in a hurry to get to Sousuke who had been taken to their Landsat Island underground location a few miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, which was the closest location to their present position. Buried deep beneath the miles of ice lay a secret compound housing over two-hundred Amalgam employees, just perfect for housing POWs. And that was exactly what Sousuke was to them, a prisoner of war…a war that would soon be launched against the world.

Kurz and Kaname silently watched as Leonard prepared himself for his departure, suiting himself up in Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment. Kaname turned to Kurz whispering, "How are we going to follow him? I bet that water is freezing cold."

"Yeah, but what he doesn’t know is that those suits are equipped with tracking devices in case one of our divers loses communication with the sub," Kurz informed her with a wink.

Kaname smiled brightly. "We won’t even have to leave to track him!"

"Exactly," he replied watching as Leonard climbed into the escape tube and closed the door. "Once he's out of the sub, we'll grab the receiver and monitor his location, reporting back to Mao. Once on land, we can follow him much easier."

Kaname took a deep breath and sighed. "We have to delay him somehow."

Kurz picked up his walkie-talkie. "Urzu 6 to Urzu 2, the snake is on the move. He's headed north…northwest toward John F. Kennedy International Airport. The bastard is going to fly."

"Great," Mao said annoyed as Kurz conveyed the information back to her. "Tessa needs to know this and I'm the only one who can tell her. Go on ahead without me, I'll catch up with you later—I have an idea. Urzu 2 out."

"Kurz, where is he going?" Kaname pleaded with desperation. She had to find Sousuke before they killed him.

"Don't worry, Kaname, I have a few friends I'm going to call," he said with another wink. "He's not going to get away with this."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 23: Snatch and Grab

Melissa strode purposefully towards Tessa's office annoyed and more than ready to let the little brat have a piece of her mind. It was one thing to react on emotions but to trust someone even when the signs were right in front of your face? It was foolish and dangerous and now it was going to get Sousuke killed.

She flung the office door open without even knocking and found Tessa scurrying around her office. "I may be your subordinate but I am also your friend," Melissa began with a heavy tone. "And it is my duty as your friend to point out when you are behaving like an ass!"

Tessa looked over her eyes filled with annoyance. "I don’t need a lecture from you, Melissa. I am fully capable of recognizing the mistakes I made."

"How could you?" Melissa just stood there her hands on her hips. "You put our lives in danger when you sent us out there! Are you so blind that you couldn’t see what was right in front of your face?"

"I knew what was going on! I know my brother lied to me!" Tessa screamed.

"And you still sent us out there, knowing that he had set us all up?"

"We had the situation fully under control! I never meant for Mr. Sagara to be taken! We had you fully covered from the outside; I don’t know what happened," she blurted out breaking her sworn silence.

Melissa's eyes widened in abhorrence. "I want to know everything," Melissa harshly demanded. "That's one of men out there!"

Tessa continued to hurry around busily. All this time, all the secrecy, trying to plan it down to the very last second…and it had blown up in her face. "We have been watching my brother for some time now and have known his connection with Amalgam. When I requested that Kaname be brought the Melida Island base it was for her own safety. When I realized that the threat had spread to the base, it was too late; Mr. Sagara had already brought her there. I told him to take her far away and to not look back.

"I tried so hard to steer Leonard away from their trail without him finding out I knew but he was always just one step ahead of me. That was when I invited him to stay aboard the de Danaan, so I could keep a closer watch on him, maybe do a little snooping. That was when I found out that he had a man on the inside and I was determined to find out who it was before it was too late and something awful happened." She looked away stifling the tears that threatened to fall.

"You should have told me, told one of us," Melissa reprimanded. " Of all people, Sousuke had a right to know!"

"I wanted to tell him, on so many occasions but I had my orders." Tessa reached over opening one of her drawers pulling out a series of manila folders and packing them in the open briefcase on her desk.

"Who's the leak?" Melissa whispered venom in her eyes.

"We still don’t know," Tessa replied glancing up briefly. "But they are only privy to a certain level of Mithril, a high one—so it's been narrowed down considerably. Intelligence has called us in for a full investigation into the leak; this is our last chance to find the informant before any more vital information gets into the wrong hands."

Melissa crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. Tessa was a great captain but she had her secrets, which was fine in Melissa's eyes but not something this severe.

Tessa continued. "And sources have informed us of another attack, this time against Washington DC. We have to help, that is what Mithril is all about! How am I supposed to do that when all I can think about is saving Mr. Sagara?"

Melissa finally asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going topside with the fleet," Tessa said flinging her bag over her shoulder. "We'll be arriving in Washington DC by morning. Mr. Kalinin and I will be meeting with officials at 0800 hours tomorrow." She stopped dead in her tracks and looked over at Melissa her eyes serious and grave. "I need you on that field, Melissa."

"I'm not going to leave my man out there like that," she said angrily.

"That's an order Sergeant Major," Tessa said a sudden sternness to her voice. "I don’t like it but you have a job to do. You are dismissed."

Melissa eyed Tessa with poison in her eyes before walking out the office. She couldn't disobey a direct order even if she tried but Weber could and he would if it meant saving his friend's life.

After Melissa left Tessa's office she met back up with Kurz and Kaname who were waiting in the hangar with the rest of the deployment. She filled them in on what Tessa had told them leaving nothing out. "Once you reach land you have to find out where he is flying to and follow as quickly as possible."

"Don't worry, I made a few calls and the minute he takes off we'll be right behind him," Kurz said grabbing his bag. "He's being tailed as we speak at JFK airport; he won’t be able to piss without someone knowing what he's doing."

"Kaname," Melissa said turning to her with a sympathetic expression. "This trip is not suitable for a civilian."

Kaname suddenly stood up straight trying to hide her now rampant anxiety ridden emotions. "I'm not going to let that dumbass die on me! Besides, I have a few choice words for that jerk Leonard."

"Then make sure you stay close to Kurz and keep your eyes open," Melissa said lowly, giving them both a nod.

"Don’t worry, sis," Kurz said with a wink. "I've got a man on the ground waiting on the strip. We'll meet up with you in DC."

"Bring him home, Kurz," she said walking off to join the rest of the unit.

"Kaname, we better get going," Kurz said signaling her along. "We have to sneak out without anyone noticing."

"Won’t they notice you're missing from your squad?" she asked as they hurried down the narrow hallways.

Kurz chuckled. "Let's just say 'ole Kurz called in sick today."

.o.o.o.o.

It was beginning to get more and more difficult for Sousuke to keep his head up. Not only did they have him on steady antibiotics to avoid infections, they were feeding some kind of barbiturate into his IV; it was the only excuse he could come up with for his continued uncontrollable drowsiness. It wouldn't work, he thought. He clenched his eyes shut in an attempt to clear his now blurry vision against the drugs.

A faint door closing…footsteps…

He summoned all the strength he had left and lifted his heavy head staring through clouded vision. A man stood before him with dark hair and dark clothing but he couldn’t focus enough to make out any distinct features.

"Mr. Sagara," the man said and his voice sounded distorted and wavy. "My name is Nathaniel Pascal and I am the one who ordered you to be brought here. You have given me such trouble, young man." His voice held no annoyance, simply a condescending tone.

Sousuke closed his eyes and felt his head waver as his mind swirled from the drugs. He tried to talk, wanted to voice to the man how he would never betray Mithril but all that came out was a garbled mess of sound.

"Is this how you will protect her? Is this how you will keep her safe? By dying to protect an organization that once tried to separate you from her?" Nathanial stared down at Sousuke as he struggled to keep his eyes open. "I can promise you that if you tell us where Mithril Intelligence Headquarters is, not only will we let you live, we will guarantee the lovely Miss Chidori comes to no harm."

Upon hearing Kaname's name a surge of adrenaline gave him just enough strength to open his eyes again, now narrowed in disgust. He knew it was a trick to weaken him but he felt the anger and fear nonetheless. Whatever he says he is lying. They would never allow me to live.

"Such a sweet young lady," he remarked walking over to the table examining some of the tools that were used. "We mean her no harm; we only want her help. And every time we tried to obtain that from her you had to step in and interfere."

Sousuke watched as the man picked up one of the larger blades examining it as he continued to talk. "I'll never help you," he whispered his voice barely audible.

Nathaniel turned his head slightly at Sousuke's words and chuckled. "I told them you wouldn't. You're too proud, am I wrong?"

He walked over to Sousuke still holding the large blade as the man in the white coat stood back allowing him full access to Sousuke. "I should kill you now for all the trouble you have given us," he growled placing the blade against Sousuke's throat but not piercing the skin. Sousuke closed his eyes ready to give in to the death that he had been preparing himself for these past few hours.

Nathaniel took a deep disappointing breath and Sousuke felt the cold steel leave his neck. "But I'm afraid that gift has been bestowed upon someone else," Nathaniel hissed moving away clanking the knife back onto the table.

He turned to the other man a sternness in his voice. "Take it easy on him. When Silver gets here he wants him coherent enough to know who's standing before him witnessing his last breath."

"Yes, sir," the man replied with a nod.

"And he should be here very soon," he said over his shoulder before slamming the door shut behind himself.

"Nurse, sanitize the instruments and add a very small dose of medicine for the pain," the man said leaving also.

The nurse stood to his side and Sousuke looked up as she injected something into his IV line. "I'm really sorry about this," she said looking away. "You are the first man who has lasted this long under the Doctor's administrations."

Her eyes suddenly turned very sympathetic and she almost looked like she was going to cry. "Please just tell them what they want to know, sir. I cannot stand to watch you waste your life like this. You owe this Mithril nothing!"

Sousuke ignored her and let his head fall forward as the pain medicine began to take effect. It was the first reprieve he had felt since the torture had begun and he took the opportunity to regain some of his strength.

"Then please allow me to give at least this small gift to you," she said squeezing the syringe all the way down until it was completely empty.

He didn’t owe Mithril anything but he owed Kaname everything. And as long as Mithril existed they would strive to protect all the Whispered. Tessa would never let anything happen to Kaname…

It was the last coherent thought before the medicine lulled him into a deep painless sleep.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname and Kurz rushed down the helipad to already waiting helicopter. Kurz was on the phone and Kaname strained to listen.

"There's nothing there but ice!" he screamed over the loud engines of the helicopter's blades. "You're positive that's where they would have taken him?"

Kaname stared anxiously at Kurz searching his face for any sign of hope. It sounds as if they know where he is, she thought with hope.

"Let's just hope your source is right!" he added before helping Kaname aboard the helicopter and flipping his phone shut.

"Sergeant Weber," the pilot called over his shoulder. "Target is heading North."

He nodding to the pilot to take off. "He's apparently being held in an underground compound just off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Satellite images have confirmed land vehicle activity within the last few hours."

"Roger that," the pilot said as the helicopter lifted off the ground.

Kaname could barely concentrate, everything was happening so fast. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back trying to ignore the anxious feeling rising in her stomach. What if they didn’t get to him in time? She shook her head chasing the horrible idea from her mind and tried to conjure up the sound of his voice.

.o.o.o.o.

Several soldiers scurried quickly across the frozen icy ground surrounding the compound's only entrance. They were all dressed in white fully equipped with M16 rifles and slowly assembling into formation around the entire compound.

One soldier moved closely behind a large bolder of ice and crouched down taking cover. "Alpha leader, this is Bravo leader," he said holding a finger over his ear. "Do you copy?"

"Bravo leader, I copy you," another deep male voice said over the transceiver. "What is your location?"

"Twenty degrees south by southwest…over," the soldier replied peaking over the huge chunk of ice so he could survey the land covertly.

"Copy that…Alpha Leader— hold your position. Over and out."

The soldier glanced around then crouched back down signaling to his team to hover close. "This is an easy extraction, boys. Get in, snatch the target and get out. Leave the prisoner extraction to Charlie and Delta."

The other soldiers all nodded in agreement.

"Once inside, follow me closely. This is hostile territory," the man said a distant look in his eyes. "Trust no one."

"Who is this guy, Mike?" one of the guys asked out of curiosity. "They didn’t tell us much except that it was vital he be removed in a timely fashion."

"He some kind of diplomat or something?" another asked securing his weapon.

Michael looked off in the distance then spit on the ground his eyes grave and solemn. "Sergeant Sousuke Sagara of Mithril's West Pacific Fleet..." he paused again his expression becoming ever more grave. "My brother."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 24: Restitution Part 1

The soldiers surrounding the compound were moving in closer with each second, Michael's unit waiting back until they got the signal. This had to be handled quickly, proficiently and with no mistakes. He had no doubt this could be pulled off in an expertly fashion; he trusted his men with his life. But this was Sousuke—his brother and even he couldn’t deny the spark of anxiety coursing through him.

It had been years since he had seen Sousuke…too long, he thought as he once again checked his gun. So, when he heard that Sousuke was being held prisoner by Amalgam he wasted no time assembling a team. It wasn't customary for FOXHOUND to get involved like this, but Amalgam seemed to be on everyone's radar these days. The unknown organization was growing rapidly and their intentions were turning out to be of an impure nature.

His men seemed less tense than he did but this was just another job for them. The basic snatch and grab, nothing out of the ordinary. Backup was standing by in case anything happened out of the ordinary, two teams of the best that FOXHOUND had to offer were assembled, and Michael had gotten full clearance for the operation. Everything seemed in place, he thought.

This had to go off without a hitch, he hoped knowing they were going in blind. The underground compound had state of the art radar jamming making any attempts at gaining any kind of layout impossible. It wouldn't be the first time but it was definitely not something to underestimate.

His transceiver crackled and a deep voice sounded, "Bravo leader, this is Alpha leader…we have the go to proceed."

Michael eyed his comrades and nodded confidently. "Copy that Alpha leader, on our way."

Michael waved his hand in the air and his team followed closely behind. They were completely unaware if there were any outside security issues, so they proceeded with extreme caution.

"Bravo 4, cover the rear," he added as they quickly advanced, their weapons held firmly before them as they approached the compound's only entrance. There was no sign of any outside security, he thought glancing around. But the brightness of the moon was enough to cast a light glow upon the icy snow-covered ground illuminating the area that he was confident enough to push on.

Michael signaled silently for his men to surround the area covering the Alpha team as they prepared to blow open the steel reinforced door to the compound. The Alpha leader signaled for everyone to take cover once he had secured the explosives to the door. Moving as far back as he could he held a small detonator and turned his face away bracing for impact.

With a quick flick of his finger a deafening blast sounded blowing the door from its hinges debris scattering everywhere. After the initial shock wore off they pushed ahead through the smoke filing in through the now blasted open door as a loud siren howled throughout the now breeched compound.

"Bravo, left!" the Alpha leader called behind him to Michael.

Michael led his team down a series of hallways as red lights flashed above them. They reached a corner and bullets suddenly began splintering against the opposite wall in loud bursts. Michael and his team slammed closely against the wall avoiding the spray of ammunition.

"I'm going to take the far corridor," Michael shouted over the commotion. "Cover me!" he added as he rolled head first across the floor to the hallway across from them.

One of the soldiers flew out into the hallway his gun firing at the guards down the hallway targeting them. Michael flattened his back against the wall and began firing down the hallway.

"Go, I've got it!" Bravo 4 called giving Michael a swift nod.

Michael nodded back then hurried along finally coming upon a larger hallway with several doors along the walls. Checking around corners, he waiting as the rest of his team caught up. "Sweep and clear," he said signaling to the doors.

Quickly all the rooms were inspected doors slamming open and several shouts of "Clear" later, Michael stood before the last door. He could hear frantic voices behind it and signaled to his men. With one swift kick it flew open with a loud bang against the wall behind as he peeked around the doorframe.

Two small women in white lab coats were huddled in the corner crying and he signaled his team to advance. They filed in checking around corners and behind overturned furniture as Michael aimed his gun at the women.

"Please! Don’t hurt us!" the two women screamed lifting their arms with tears in their eyes.

Michael sighed keeping his gun fixed on them. "Secure them," he called to one of his men.

"Mike! Over here!" he heard from the other side of the room.

Michael crossed the room his stomach turning slightly at the sight. Sousuke lay there strapped to a metal table several large bloody cuts scarring his chest. Who knew what they had done to him or what he had to endure while he was here. He reached up placing a forefinger to his neck checking for a pulse.

Michael growled loudly, "Get him off there!"

"We got company!" one of the soldiers called from the doorway.

They all took cover behind the first solid object they could find. Sousuke's unconscious body was dragged behind an overturned metal table as Michael readied himself.

Gunfire erupted almost immediately and Michael had to duck backwards to the avoid bullets speeding past his head. "Counter!" he shouted slamming another magazine cartridge into his rifle then jumped from behind his hiding spot.

Heavy fire erupted and began slowing down, but not before Michael took a bullet in his left shoulder. He fell back against the wall with a wince grabbing himself.

"Mike's hit!" one of the men called.

Michael glanced down at Sousuke and a surge of adrenaline pulsed in his veins. "I'm fine, proceed!"

Once the exit was cleared Michael grabbed Sousuke ignoring the tearing pain in his shoulder and carried him out following the team. "Alpha leader, we have secured the mission objective and are heading outside to the transport."

"That's a copy Alpha, we'll meet you there," the other voice said over the radio.

Once outside Sousuke was carefully loaded into a Humvee and Michael climbed inside to sit in the back with him. A medic immediately began to attend to him quickly cleaning and wrapping his wounds. They had to get him to hospital and quickly, he had no idea what damage they had done to him. He swore to himself he would personally tear apart the man who did this to his brother.

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname and Kurz had just landed in time to see Sousuke being transferred to the Humvee and Kaname gasped about to run down the icy hill but Kurz grabbed her halting her advance. "You can’t go down there!" he said holding her squirming body back.

"I have to get to him Kurz!" she cried fighting his hold. "He's hurt!"

"We'll meet up with them at the hospital," he said desperately trying to keep her from breaking his hold. "He's in good hands, Kaname!"

As they watched prisoners were loaded onto trucks and Kaname felt herself unraveling emotionally inside. Was he alive? Had they gotten there in time? She wanted to scream his name as she strained to see what was going on inside of the truck. Then after several minutes, the trucks began to pull out and Kaname had to fight every urge inside of her not to run down the snowy hill after him.

"Weber, we have to go, now!" the pilot called to them.

Kurz dragged the frantic Kaname back into the helicopter with him and they took off immediately. Kaname clung to Kurz as tears streamed down her face. He had to be alright! her mind screamed as the helicopter sped off in the direction of the now fast moving convoy.

"Alpha, Bravo, this is Echo 1, do you copy?" the pilot voiced over the radio.

"Echo 1, this is Bravo leader…mission accomplished," Michael said over the radio.

"Roger that, Bravo leader," the pilot said. "How's our boy?" he added quickly.

There was a slight pause and Kaname's head snapped upward.

"He's doing just fine," Michael replied in a happy tone. "He's going to be pissed though when he wakes up." He laughed heartily. "Rendezvous coordinates are being sent to you and we'll see you there. Over."

The pilot laughed and turned slightly giving Kaname a quick wink. "Roger that—Echo 1 out."

Kaname felt all the tension leave her and she gave Kurz a quick relieved glance. She should have known better than to think that anyone could take down her Sousuke. He was invincible, an elite soldier…trained to withstand extreme conditions. She still felt she was entitled to worry about him though; he was her boyfriend after all! So, her worrying was justified on some level.

"I told ya he'd be alright, Kaname," Kurz said grabbing the handle above him. "Now we just have to find that bastard, Testarossa."

Kaname wondered if Leonard was at the compound. "If he was there, then they must have captured him. Right?"

"That's a negative," the pilot said over his shoulder. "Shortly after we landed, we lost the plane's whereabouts."

"How could he have gotten away?" Kurz questioned angrily.

"He probably spotted the ambush and-"

Just then a huge explosion sounded behind the helicopter that sent a shockwave so intense it hurled Kaname forward with a ragged scream. If Kurz hadn’t reacted quickly she would have fallen out.

"What was that?" Kurz screamed as the pilot stabilized them.

"Bravo Leader, this is Echo 1," he said over his microphone. "What in the hell was that?!"

"It's coming from the compound!" Michael shouted. "Take cover, evasive maneuvers!" the pilot heard him calling in the background.

Kaname flew forward grabbing the back of the pilot's seat. "Get me down there, now!" she demanded watching as flames and smoke rose from the compound behind them. The convoy had stopped and prisoners were fleeing from all the trucks as soldiers flew behind large chunks of ice and behind trucks.

Just then Arm Slaves began pouring out from the smoke their weapons firing aimlessly at the convoy. Oh my God! he heart screamed. Sousuke will be defenseless!

"It was a trap," Michael called over the radio. "Come down and pick him up, we're calling in the reinforcements."

The pilot swerved the helicopter its blades whipping through the smoke clearing a path. "Hang on, this may get bumpy." Kaname felt like they couldn't move fast enough as she fastened her seatbelt holding on tightly.

.o.o.o.o.

Michael gave Sousuke one last pat on the shoulder, "I've gotten you this far, I'm not about to give up. I'll meet up with you later, brother." He stared down at Sousuke a feeling of comradery washing over him. In life, you're lucky if you know one person as loyal and trusting as Sousuke.

"Get him a safe distance away!" he called to the driver jumping from the Humvee. "Go!" he added slamming his fist into the side of the truck then ran off to join the now raging battle.

Speeding along the ice, the driver pulled behind a large chunk of ice just as the helicopter landed behind it. The instant they touched ground, Kaname jumped out running faster than she knew she could to the vehicle tearing the back doors open. Her heart leapt from her chest when she saw him lying there his body bloody and helpless.

Kurz appeared behind her. "We have to move him," he said climbing inside. "Grab that end," he added nodding to the gurney. They reacted quickly carrying the gurney carefully across the frozen ground beneath them.

Once they had him on the helicopter she glanced down and his eyes fluttered open. He winced against the pain in his chest and made a groaning sound.

"Sousuke!" Kaname cried tears welling in her eyes.

His eyes flew wide open the effects of the medicine dulled by his now surging adrenaline and fear. "Chidori! What are you doing here?!"

"It would have taken twelve soldiers to keep her away from you," Kurz said with a wink.

She began fussing over his bandaged wounds and he sat up despite her protests. "I'm fine," he insisted. "What the hell is going on?" As he stared out the sight before him made his every instinct come alive. Soldiers positioned everywhere as AS units fired making large chunks of ice spray everywhere like thousands of shiny crystals.

"Let's go!" Kurz called to the pilot as some chunks of ice came dangerously close to them.

With a quick nod the pilot prepared for liftoff but was stopped when a huge piece of ice flew through the air smashing into the propeller blades. The machine jolted and jerked forward as the blades completely flew off smashing into the ground ahead of them with loud crash. Several more crashed into the side of the helicopter puncturing the fuel tank sending them sliding across the ice several feet.

Kaname screamed throwing herself against Sousuke as he shielded her from the spraying ice shards. Kurz landed on the floor from the jolt letting out a hearty curse. Gasoline poured out all over the ice floor steam rising from the heated liquid. The pilot let out a foul curse and ripped his seatbelt off.

"We're grounded!" the pilot called switching the engine off. "Get out now!"

They all obeyed following him as he led them away from the now completely destroyed helicopter seconds before it took heavy fire from a nearby AS exploding in a loud disarray of noises, red smoke billowing up in a small mushroom cloud. It sent a small shockwave across the ice the thick frozen ground shaking and splintering slightly beneath them.

Kaname had one of Sousuke's arms around her neck helping him as they ran quickly across the ice to what looked like a small divot in the side of a huge wall of ice. She let out a gasp trying to hold onto him praying they would make it to the wall before they were shot at again. Heavy fire could be heard behind them as they slid inside and backed against the ice wall.

Suddenly, gunships and helicopter transports carrying AS units appeared in the sky falling at a rapid rate. "Here come the reinforcements!" Kurz said with a grin.

"No, it's Mithril," Sousuke replied staring up at the familiar machinery.

Then Kurz's phone rang and everyone looked over at him surprised. When he flipped it open he answered casually, "Weber."

"Put me on speaker," Melissa ordered on the other end.

Kurz complied and Sousuke stared intently. "We deploying all available units to your location; the attack on Washington was a decoy."

"Leonard," Kurz said with malice.

"Sousuke, we're sending Arbalest," Melissa said calmly. "Whether you can pilot it or not."

"You can’t mean to fight in your condition!" Kaname protested with a disbelieving glance.

"I'm fine," he said to her then turned back to the phone. "Copy that."

"It's coming in behind me, and I have you both covered," she said.

"Roger," Sousuke said about to stand up but Kaname stopped him.

"Sousuke, you can’t go out there," she pleaded holding his arm tightly. "You can’t win every war!"

He stopped short staring down at her now tear filled eyes. All this had been his fault. She wouldn’t be here if he had just listened to his gut instinct back at the club. And he never should have trusted Leonard Testarossa. He had to make this right, he thought looking away.

"When I thought I would never see you again, my heart shattered into a million pieces!" she cried trying to make him understand. "If I had to go through that again, I don’t think I would make it! Dammit Sousuke!"

He glanced back down at her, hearing and fully understanding her words for the first. He felt the same way when he thought he would lose her. But this was more than just a fight, this was paybacks. All those people that died in Las Vegas; Testarossa had implied that the attack was on his behalf and he couldn’t just sit here and allow Amalgam to get away with it.

Suddenly, he turned to Kaname and took her face in his hands, his eyes closed resting his forehead against hers. She was crying harder now as she grasped his forearms tightly, her own eyes closing. Something inside of her knew that no matter what she said to him, it wouldn’t sway his decision even in the slightest.

"Please, just trust me Chidori," he said low. "This is something I need to do."

Her breath came out in a whimper as she grasped him tighter. He leaned down capturing her lips, kissing her, assuring her that everything was going to be alright. And when their lips parted he quickly ran off with Kurz closely behind him. She didn’t open her eyes as more tears spilled down her cheeks. She was going to kick his ass for doing this! she thought as she let out a frustrated growl.

.o.o.o.o.

Sousuke nodded to Kurz and glanced over the ice spotting the Arbalest. The large white AS sat motionless amongst the scattering AS units as they landed, it's emerald eyes shimmering. He hated that machine but it was their only hope of gaining the advantage in this fight.

Could he depend on the Lambda Driver this time? Would it deploy like the last time in Hong Kong? How could he calculate anything when it guaranteed him nothing? If he failed, Kaname and everyone else here would die. Not to mention Testarossa would get away with murder again and that was just not something Sousuke was prepared to let happen. Feeling a surge of anger he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Leonard Testarossa is not going to get away with this…he thought as he ran off toward the Arbalest.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 24: Restitution Part 2

Leonard stood on a ridge just above the destruction below his grey waistcoat flapping behind him in the wind. It was like watching his own little puppet show, he thought as he smirked shaking his head in amusement. And this was only the beginning of Amalgam's plan; the future held so much potential. If only he could convince his beloved Kaname where her real place was instead of running around like a child playing with that bothersome Sergeant Sagara.

It had initially been his plan to allow her time to see Sousuke for what he really was instead of the saint she believed him to be. Kaname had such a beautiful thing trapped inside of her mind, a knowledge that had immeasurable potential. It would only be a matter of time before she realized who she was and what her part in all this would be. But Leonard knew it the moment he laid on eyes on her—that defiant willful attitude would take her amazing places and he would be right beside her, guiding her.

"We're leaving soon. Start the engine," he called to the helicopter pilot over his shoulder. He had one last stop before making his grand exit and turned calmly walking past the helicopter taking the trail down the battlefield, one of his Alastors following close behind.

One last chance, he thought as he spied her standing under the small ridge her perfect body outlined by the white landscape.

Kaname stood there holding her breath her hands pressed against the ice wall, fingers numb from the cold, but not feeling anything except fear and regret. He had left her again to put his life on the line for an organization he despised. Oh, she knew it was his job and she loved him even more for being loyal and devout but having someone like Sousuke, an obedient soldier, in her life was proving to be one of the most difficult tasks ever.

She took a deep breath and sighed resting her forehead against the ice. "Damn you, Sousuke," she whispered.

"Trouble in paradise?" she heard whirling around to see Leonard standing there.

Her first instinct was to run but she didn't, she kept her feet firmly planted to the ground. The pilot jumped up from his sitting position completely aware of who Leonard was and how dangerous he could be. He withdrew his weapon pointing it directly at him. "Don't you move, Testarossa!"

The Alastor moved slightly forward. "Don't be impolite," Leonard said his voice calm. "Your presence is not needed here." He raised his hand about to order the Alastor to kill the man when Kaname sprung forward.

"No!" she cried holding her hands out in front of her. "If you say you care for me, then spare this man's life. He has nothing to with us."

Leonard just smiled wickedly and held her fearful expression. "I like the way that sounds…us."

"Please, Leonard, don’t hurt him," she said taking a step toward the pilot.

"Very well," he replied holding a hand up in front of the Alastor motioning it to stop. "This beautiful woman just saved your life, I suggest you make yourself scarce."

The pilot nervously glanced to Kaname and she nodded slowly. She could feel her every nerve pulsing with anxiety and her fists balled at her sides. Was he going to kidnap her? This would be the perfect opportunity if that were his intentions. The pilot reluctantly ran off but not before handing his gun to Kaname.

She stood there holding it firmly in her hands pointing it directly at Leonard. He smiled mockingly at her and shook his head with a chuckle. "I have a little proposition for you," he said glancing up at her again. She stood there holding her breath as she gripped the gun tightly her finger over the trigger.

He smiled confidently as he leaned his back against the ice wall crossing his arms over his chest. "Underneath that vast solid sheet of ice that your friends are running around playing soldier on, are strategically placed explosives specifically designed to handle a situation just like this. We can’t very well allow this place to stand after it has been breached. Certain measures must be taken to protect our organization. You understand how that is," he said with no emotion.

Kaname's eyes widened with fear.

"So, simply put, my dear Kaname, sink or swim," he added with a slight smirk. "I have a helicopter up there ready to take us to safety. You can come with me and live the life you were meant to or you can stay and die alongside your beloved."

"You bastard," she whispered with venom.

"What's your choice, Kaname?" he asked holding her gaze his eyes filled with poison.

"I'd rather die," she hissed turning swiftly running off towards where Sousuke and Kurz had gone. She had to warn them somehow! She had to prevent all these people from dying.

Leonard watched once again as she went to him, to Sagara. This would be the last chance he would give her. His usual nonchalant demeanor morphed into one of annoyance as he turned around then disappeared up the ridge.

Grabbing the radio from the helicopter pilot he called over the microphone, "This is Silver to all units. Initiate self destruct." He stared out into the blinding abyss his eyes distant and unfeeling. "Make sure the girl gets off the island alive. Everyone else can die."

.o.o.o.o.

Kaname ran quickly along the slippery ice trying to spot Sousuke. The pilot appeared beside her grabbing her trying to protect her from the sprays of ammunition flying in every direction. "I can’t let you go out there, Miss Chidori! It's too dangerous!"

"I have no choice! Everyone will die if I don’t alert them!" she yelled her voice panicked and urgent. "There's a bomb underneath-"

A deafening sound suddenly rumbled beneath the ice growing more intense with each second, cutting off her warning. The pilot grabbed her just in time slamming them against a chunk of ice protruding from the ground just as huge gusts of smoke began bursting from the ground. She screamed clinging to the ice slamming her eyes shut as the thunderous sound blasted through her head, violently shaking her body.

Sousuke was just closing the hatch to the cockpit of the Arbalest when the explosion rippled through the ground forcing everyone and everything to careen in all directions. The Arbalest jolted backward skidding into a wall followed by several other AS units, one just missing him.

Sousuke took one second to regain himself. "AL, status report!" he commanded.

"No damage taken," AL replied without hesitation.

"What was that?" Sousuke said trying to stabilize the mech.

"A large explosive beneath the surface of the ice," AL reported.

Then sounds that could only be described as splintering began erupting from the ice beneath them. "The ice is cracking!" Sousuke cried.

"This is not good, Sergeant," AL replied.

"No, it is not," Sousuke said pushing the Arbalest to its feet. "This is Urzu 7 to all units. Do you copy?"

"We have to evacuate Sousuke," Kurz shouted over the telecom. "The whole damn thing is cracking right down the center!"

"This is Captain Teletha Testarossa to all units!" he heard Tessa say in his earpiece. "Pick up as many personnel and civilians as you can find and get out of there! The situation has become critically dangerous! I repeat, get out of there!"

Helicopter units flying above began to land taking on dozens and dozens of people and arm slaves. Sousuke whirled around in the direction he had left Kaname. As his eyes searched the now vacant spot his mind screamed, she isn't there!

"AL, give me a location on Kaname Chidori, now!" he ordered his AI afraid to move from his spot.

"Kaname Chidori is 67.9 meters south by southwest," AL responded as Sousuke scanned the area.

There she was plastered against the ice as billowing smoke clouded around her and the pilot. A helicopter flew past him just as he was about to fly across the ice to grab her. "Get to a transport helicopter, Sergeant! I've got her!" he heard someone yell over the radio.

"Lieutenant Miller?" he asked recognizing her voice.

"You didn’t think we were going to let Mithril have all the fun, did you?" she said as Sousuke watched the helicopter touch down just next to Kaname. "Now, go!"

Sousuke let out a sigh of relief and scanned the area for his transport helicopter. He would meet up with her again at Fort Dix and this would all be a distant memory. They could go back to Tokyo and hopefully not miss the midterms.

Kaname covered her eyes as the helicopter landed just feet from where she was clinging to the ice. She felt a hand reach out and grab her arm pulling aboard but all she could think about was if Sousuke had gotten off the ground. Her eyes darted to the open plain where she had last seen his arm slave standing but her path was obstructed by waves of hot smoke being whipped around by the propeller blades of the helicopter.

"What about Sousuke?" she yelled over the loud mechanical sounds of the propeller.

"He has his own ride," Amy assured her with a smile. "Hurry, Miss Chidori!"

She climbed aboard the helicopter along with the pilot and fastened her seatbelt tightly. Outside she could see the transport helicopters picking up the Arm Slaves and Sousuke just hooking up to his. They were getting out of here. He was safe and sound and alive.

Sousuke got into position as his transport lined up above him and closed his eyes. "This is it, AL. We can go home now."

"Affirmative, Sergeant," AL replied then paused slightly. "Is your home my home, Sergeant?"

Sousuke opened his eyes again just as he was being lifted off the ground. He wasn't sure how to answer his very peculiar AI program and his brow frowned in response. "I'm going back to Tokyo with Miss Chidori, you're going back-"

His words came to a screeching halt as a violent jolt rocked his AS so fiercely it slammed them back down to the ground with a loud clank. Sousuke shouted a curse as the very wind in his lungs were knocked from his body.

"Enemy target right flank," AL reported as the helicopter crashed to the ground behind them.

"No shit!" Sousuke growled trying to break free of the steel hold around his mechanical exoskeleton. A large black and silver AS stood above him it's red eyes gleaming evil. He had never seen another AS move so quickly!

"Where do you think you're going?!" Nathaniel shouted over his intercom.

"Dammit," Sousuke groaned as the opposing arm slave grabbed him by the neck and shoved him hard against the ice wall adjacent once again knocking the air from his lungs. His entire body rattled internally as he slammed his eyes shut.

"My job is to kill you, Sagara," Nathaniel said squeezing the Arbalest's neck tightly the sound of metal crunching beneath his metal fingers. "And I plan to do just that!"

"Sergeant, he's using a Lambda driver," AL said as his screen began to flicker a schematic of the AS now crunching his body outside. "I suggest you activate-"

"It’s not that easy!" Sousuke screamed trying to wrestle Nathaniel's hold on him away. "Auxiliary power to the right arm!"

It was just enough to break his hold but not enough to stop Nathaniel from shoving his large metal body across the shaky ice floor and crashing into another wall of ice. Once again he let out a loud groan as the impact jarred his very insides making a sharp pain sweep up his body. He took a deep breath trying to concentrate enough to activate his Lambda driver as he stood up slowly. It was the only thing that would stop this AS.

Kaname watched in horror from the helicopter as it hovered just close enough for her to see Sousuke being thrown around like a ragdoll. "We have to help him!"

"We're no match for an AS that powerful, Kaname!" Amy said her eyes apologetic.

"He'll be killed!" she screamed holding the rails as she watched out the side of the helicopter.

"Enemy target closing in fast-" AL started as Sousuke ducked away but not quick enough to avoid the heavy blow that landed his right side, a large rotating blade ripping into the metal of his right shoulder.

"Dammit!" Sousuke yelled grabbing his dagger raising it high but his arm was suddenly slammed hard against the wall. Not only was he fast…he was unbelievably strong, Sousuke thought as he struggled against his captor. This was not possible!

Work dammit! his mind cried as he focused his anger, his energy trying to start up the unpredictable Lambda Driver. "I'm pissed! I don’t want to die! All the things I need to feel to activate it! So why won’t you start, you stupid damn thing!"

"I'm going back down!" Sousuke heard Kurz scream over the radio.

Tessa's voice suddenly sounded, "Sergeant Weber, no! You're AS is not equipped to handle a mcahine like that!"

"I'm not leaving him!" Kurz growled loudly. "Drop this AS now, you son of a bitch," he screamed at the helicopter pilot.

The helicopter pilot followed his instinct and released his hold on Kurz's AS. He dropped down landing with a thud on the already cracking ice quickly jumping into action. He skidded across the ice yanking his knife from its holster and heading directly for the assailant Arm Slave.

Nathaniel's head turned slightly hearing rapid footsteps approaching. "The more the merrier!" he said wickedly turning a hand to Kurz's mech.

"No!" Sousuke screamed trying to tear his right arm from the knife that had him pinned against the wall but it wouldn’t budge. If Nathaniel hit Kurz it would kill him!

Nathaniel's outstretched hand began to glow with a blue and gold intense glowing light and Sousuke grabbed him by the rim of his shoulder blade just in time quickly jerking him enough that the blast only threw Weber back.

Nathaniel grabbed Sousuke's dagger and slammed it deep into his other arm trapping him completely against the ice in retaliation. Sousuke groaned pulling his metal arms trying to free them from the wall behind him. Nathaniel stood back a triumphant laugh echoing from his intercom as he raised a giant blade above his head.

"Sergeant, the island is beginning to sink," AL stated.

"How much time to we have?" Sousuke ground out trying to break free.

AL's screen flashed momentarily, "Less than 20 minutes."

Kurz jumped up pulling his rifle out. He could shoot the guy but something told him it would simply bounce right off him with that invisible shield around him. And all he had to do was just immobilize him so he could free Sousuke. There had to be a moment when he was weak, when the shield could be penetrated, he thought as he watched the AS preparing to slice Sousuke with its blade. Just before he swings the blade down…just seconds before…

"Weber, get back up here, dammit!" he heard Melissa shout over his the radio.

"One sec, babe, Daddy's trying to work," he muttered to himself as he tried to steady his aim the ground shaking beneath him, water rising slowly around him.

"God dammit, Weber! That's an order!" Melissa screamed in a harsh tone.

If there was one spot that would cause him to fold it was one of the joints holding him up, the least protected place, perhaps behind one of the knees. He had to be right, he thought as he lined the shot up his finger poised over the trigger of his rifle.

Just a few more seconds…not yet…hold…hold…now! his mind screamed as he pulled the trigger the blast ripping into the AS's right leg with a bright blast. The bullet ripped through piercing the AS's armor like a knife through cheese and Nathaniel collapsed to one knee steam and smoke erupting from the joints of his metal.

Kurz came sliding across the now water slick ice and quickly jumped to Sousuke tearing the knives from his arm and shoulder only to be grabbed and thrown a good distance across the ice by Nathaniel, who was back on his feet again.

Sousuke reacted with lightning speed jumping on top of Nathaniel before he sent another wave of destruction in Kurz's direction. The two metal bodies clanked hard into the now rising waters of the ocean and Sousuke began pounding his tightened fist into Nathaniel's chest. Nathaniel let out a loud expletive and then sent out a powerful burst of energy throwing Sousuke back again.

Standing up Nathaniel watched as Sousuke tried to regain his composure. He felt several bullets try to pierce his shield and turned to see Kurz firing upon him once again. He began to glow with a blinding intensity and waved his arm out dismissing Kurz with a powerful surge of energy knocking him so hard against the ice he blacked completely out.

"This ends now!" Sousuke screamed over the intercom. He closed his eyes trying to summon Kaname's voice, hear her words, find his center. Images flashed through his mind: Gauron, Gates, leaving her behind, images of his youth…it was like a fast moving picture slideshow and each image made his every nerve come alive, his breathing quick and shallow. Something had to spark his desire, his anger enough to activate the Lambda Driver.

Work you stupid piece of shit! his mind screamed as he kept his eyes shut tightly not caring what was going on outside.

"This does end, it ends with your death," Nathaniel said his voice hoarse and strained as his AS glowed so brightly it was blinding.

Then he found it. The thought, the image that began to activate the Lambda Driver. Leonard touching Kaname, hurting her, taking her away from him. Her cries and screams for help…it all came together neatly as a driving force of energy strong enough to finally start it up.

The Arbalest began to glow with its own intensity as the Lambda driver finally initialized. "Sergeant, the Lambda Driver has been activated."

Melissa landed with a thud next to Kurz's unconscious metal body. She bent down grabbing him under his arms dragging him through the now deepened water. "Weber, wake up!" She had to get him a safe distance away before he went down with the entire island. Waving to the transport helicopters they swooped down grabbing the two machines.

Sousuke stood there his eyes closed the Arbalest now glowing bright with such an intense white light it illuminated the entire area. His eyes flew open full of anger his instinct of survival thriving deep as he imagined a large blade his hands.

"You want me dead?" he screamed raising his grasped hands high above his head. "Then let's do this!" He charged toward Nathaniel light erupting from both machines a loud blasting sound ripping through the sky as they collided their weapons tearing at each other.

Nathaniel finally felt the jolt of Sousuke's assault slamming into his AS sending a shockwave of pain straight up through the cockpit. He imagined a large shield before him but it wasn't enough as Sousuke breeched it with ease ripping through the armor covering his midsection.

He began laughing maniacally, "You fight for that girl? She will betray you one day! Don’t you know they are all connected; nothing good can come from them."

The Whispered.

"You will die protecting the one who you swore to protect…and she'll be the one to do it! Because she is one of us! She will see it one day, she will join us!" Nathaniel cried grabbing the Arbalest by the face.

Sousuke blocked his words knowing he was only trying distract him but a tiny ounce of doubt managed to break through, the Lambda Driver weakening and he cursed. Nathaniel knew it would work and he jumped on his opportunity slamming Sousuke backwards off of him as he bolted upward and down on top of Sousuke driving a knife directly into his chest.

The cockpit began beeping loudly a small red light flashing above him. "Critical damage, power at 50," AL alerted him calmly.

"Or perhaps I will have the honor of taking your life after all, you weak pathetic fool," Nathaniel said wickedly, twisting the knife in his chest. "You think you ever had a chance? I'm going to kill you, Sagara! Do you hear me? You're a dead man!"

Sousuke closed his eyes trying to concentrate on his emotions. Kaname would never betray him—she hated everything about her Whispered abilities. She avoided them at all costs, hid it, cursed it. An image of Leonard popped into his head and adrenaline immediately burst through his veins. The man had managed to kill thousands of people, have him imprisoned and tortured, and try to kill Kaname by sinking the very island she stood on.

Water rising around them, every fiber of his being began to pulse intensely and he could feel himself becoming numb all over. It has to end here, he had to stop this, save her…save himself.

This would be the end alright, but not his, he thought as he reached up grabbing Nathaniel's neck his metal fingers squeezing tightly. "She's the only one worth dying for!" Sousuke screamed as he began to crush the metal beneath his fingers. She's the only one I have.

The sounds of crunching metal could be heard as Sousuke set a hidden rage inside of him loose, the Lambda Driver lighting up once again underneath him. He sprung from the ground slamming Nathaniel against the ice so violently pieces of his mech flew off splashing into the water.

"Warning, warning," Nathaniel's AI repeated over and over as red lights flashed in his cockpit. He had underestimated Sousuke's ability to use the Lambda Driver and it was going to cost him his life. A noble death, he thought closing his eyes.

Sousuke reared his other arm back as it lit up brightly blue and gold and it seemed like the world suddenly slowed down as his arm sliced through the air a hissing sound following as it crashed violently through Nathaniel's chest grabbing, yanking, tearing, pulling as Sousuke tore his chest out completely with one clean forceful jerk of his arm. The machine made a loud hissing noise going limp in Sousuke hold, the Arbalest's right hand clenched full of wires and metal.

After several seconds of just standing there he realized he was still holding the mech up his grasp tight around its neck. He finally let his breath out releasing his hold on the machine as it splashed soundly into the water at his feet. Staring down he watches as Nathaniel's AS bubbled beneath the rising cold water.

Kaname could feel nothing except the fear that had taken over her body. It was over but was Sousuke alright? He wasn't moving! She had to get down there but the water was freezing and she would die instantly. She could sense he was fading fast, could tell by his lack of response to the Mao and Tessa calling over the radio for him to answer.

"Sergeant, we're at 10 power and falling fast," AL informed him. It was the last thing he remembered before the blackness took him and he lost consciousness…

.o.o.o.o.

Sousuke struggled to open his eyes squinting against the bright lights above him. How long had he been unconscious? he wondered scanning the pale hospital room.

His eyes stopped on the small woman curled up in the chair by the window, so serene and fragile, rays of light casting down on here like golden curtains. Kaname always did look so beautiful when she slept. They had grown together, their love had flourished. She had taught him what it felt like to be wanted, desired, needed. She had taught him what it felt like to be truly loved. What an amazing person, he thought. I can only hope one day to be half of what she is, he thought sitting up slowly.

He would continue to protect her for as long as he had breath in his lungs. She was more than the woman he loved, she was his salvation, his truth within all the lies and deceit. She was the rest of his life.

Kaname opened her eyes to find him staring over at her and she felt a warmth spread through her. He was going to be alright. The doctors had said his injuries were very minimal considering the beating he took.

"Kaname," he whispered.

She got up walking over to his bed sitting down beside him. All her emotions began pouring out of her as she threw her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his neck as tears rolled down her face.

"I love you so much," she sobbed as he held her in his arms. "But if you ever do something like that again, I'm going to kill you!"

"I'm sorry," he said resting his forehead on the top of her head. "How is Kurz?"

"He's fine, he was released yesterday. And Melissa and Tessa have been in twice today to check up on you," Kaname said looking up into his eyes.

"Did we miss the midterms?" he asked calmly.

"No, but we only have two weeks to study," she replied snuggling close to him. "That means lots of late night cramming sessions. And as class rep it's my job to remind you how important midterms are, they count as a quarter of our grade. You can’t just up and run off without even giving your studies a second thought! You are so irresponsible and stupid sometimes, Sousuke!" Her demeanor was becoming angrier with each second.

"How am I going to explain to the principle where we have been? If you think this isn’t going our permanent records, think again! And think of all the work we're going to have to make up! You are such an idiot, Sousuke!"

Yep, things were back to normal, he thought closing his eyes and sighing deeply with relief. Just the way they should be.

The End.

Acknowledgements

I hope everyone enjoyed the story. I know I enjoyed writing it. It's been over a year since I first started and I have to admit it was a wild ride. Giving life to the characters of Full Metal Panic was such a delight and it is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me since the very beginning, all those who have left reviews and those who have helped out so much:

Blackwolf581 for not only being a great friend through it all, we met through our stories, we discussed our plotlines and our characters, we helped each other over the bumps and writer's block. I know we lose touch sometimes but you are always with me and I now have more time to keep reading Project R! Thanks again for lending me Michael, he is the coolest FOXHOUND agent ever! Keep writing, you rock!

MizLou for being the most amazing co-website owner and the most amazing friend any girl could have. We met through one of your AMVs on LiveJournal (awesomeness still, by the way) and through that we became fast friends and decided to open the greatest Full Metal Panic Shrine and community this side of the net to quench our thirst for everything FMP. My character Amy Miller was modeled after you for her strong spirit and devotion to her causes. A person rarely meets another who they can truly call friend and you are one of them. Love and hugs girl!

James for sitting and listening to every chapter even when you were tired after work or college. For loving everything I do even if it is crap, for bringing FMP into my life that wonderful summer of 2007. And most especially for being the most amazing positive force in my life. I love you, I love us and I will always be yours forever! Us against the world, babe!

To those who had faith in me even though they had no clue who I was or what I was about. Shoji Gatoh for giving these wonderful amazing characters life through your novels. I am and will forever be in awe of your skill and can only hope one day to match even 10-percent of your ability.

Sousuke & Kaname 4ever!

♥ Trish