Author - dave-d
FanFiction.net Source
Rating: M - Romance/Drama/Action
Synopsis:
"After Kaname and Sousuke helped save the TDD-1 from Gauron, Sousuke was reassigned. Years later, going to Tokyo University, Kaname ran into a familiar face."
TGM - Best Fan Fic I have EVER read! Perfect 10/10!
Part 1
Spoiler! :
The breeze was somewhat stiff that morning.
Large groups of leaves were blowing around the Komaba Campus, dancing between buildings, darting around the students hurrying between classes.
The stunning blue hair of one girl looked to have a life of its own, lifted away from her like a living nimbus. Her skirt flapped around her long shapely legs and her scarf hovered above the collar of her fashionable coat.
One of her assignment papers dropped out of its folder, seized by a small whirling dervish of wind. She ran after it, stopping when a young man snagged it out of the air.
"Well-l-l-l, Kaname... looks like you owe me..." The young man held out the paper. "So, how about we go out again? You know you want to..."
"How much is it?" The girl answered with a sour voice.
"W-W-What?" The boy's face went slack with confusion.
"You said I owe you. How much?" The blue-haired girl opened up her purse.
"Let's see... I'll settle for dinner... a movie... and a night at my place..." By the tone of his voice, there could be no doubt that the young man thought he was hot stuff.
"Great. Let me know how it goes. Now, how much to get you to leave me alone? Forever!" The girl stamped her foot. Her face would have frightened someone with a weaker constitution.
"Huh? What? You're kidding, right?" The college student struck a pose, letting the wind pick up his shoulder length hair.
"When they let you into Tokyo University, someone was kidding. I'm not. I just want you to leave me alone." The girl snatched the paper out of the guy's hand, the started back towards the nearest campus building.
The young man grabbed the girl's arm, making her jerk to a stop. "Come on Kaname, it's common sense. The prettiest girl should be going out with the best looking guy. So, what's there not to like about me?"
"Aside from being conceited, dense, insensitive, chauvinistic, lecherous, and a first class jerk... nothing. Hmmmpppfff!" The girl pulled away, pulled her coat tight against her, and started strolling faster to make up taime.
"Hey. I'm not through with you Mikuru!" The boy stood watching her walking away, shouting at the top of his lungs. "I'm not someone to be messed with. You should be grateful. If you----"
The young man never finished what he was doing to say. Somehow, he fell or was pulled into a large thick row of shrubs. A series of solid impacts could be heard. The young man's scream echoed about the quadrangle, lost on the wind.
Kaname turned around, startled by the final high pitched yelp. She saw a young man walking away from the area, his back turned to her. There was something about his walk that was familiar, but she couldn't place it.
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Kaname sat in the far row of the classroom, tapping her pen against the desk top. The current block in Natural Sciences III was Biology. The day's topic was ecology of Pacific Islands, with a heavy emphasis on marine life.
She dropped her pen when her hand went slack. The projected picture of a wave breaking against a rocky outcrop brought back a poignant memory. She had been standing on just such a rock, a fishing pole in her hands, strong arms holding her back from falling.
Sousuke Sagara.
It had been his arms. He had taken her to his secret fishing spot, not too many days after they had helped save that submarine from that horrible man and a bunch of traitors. He had tried to reach out to her, telling her that he felt like he could do anything around her. It had gotten her hopes up.
She had finally admitted to herself that she had a crush on him.
And a few weeks later, he had informed her that he had been reassigned. He was the only pilot who could operate the damn Arm Slave that she had helped him learn how to use. Her safety took a back seat to that metal monstrosity.
She didn't want to think back to those times. It didn't make any sense thinking about him. She hadn't returned any of his calls, or his clueless attempts at written correspondence. What would the point have been?
Just another carrot dangled before her, taken away just as she had it in her hands.
The story of her life.
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The track at the athletic grounds was not too crowded. A number of sports clubs were going through drills or scrimmages on the adjacent fields, but there were few people running at the moment.
Kaname was working up a good sweat, intent on jogging until she had to stop. With each lap, her attention was drawn to a nearby series of work-out stations. That same young man was doing pull-ups. He had been doing them the last time she passed by too. Remarkable. Maybe not. He probably had taken a breather at some point.
She wished she could see his face, but he was turned away from her and at too far a distance. Just as well, since the last thing she really needed to think about now was guys. It seemed to be the solemn task of every guy on campus to ask her out. Those she turned down chased after her, begging. Those she went out with once, and ended up with no desire to see again, dogged her heels like it was their destiny.
Of course, the few that she had ended up liking could never deal with her attitude and opinions for too long.
Why did she even bother?
When she was finally finished, Kaname walked over to a large and stately oak and placed one leg on it, determined to do some stretching while she cooled down.
"Kaname!"
Kaname turned around and cringed. Now they were coming in groups! The Captain of the Rugby Club ran up, a number of his buddies in tow. He was one of the guys who had taken her out once before she realized that was more than enough. The rest had each asked her out at least once. Most had been annoying persistent.
"It's your lucky day, Kaname." The guy put his leg up and began stretching too. It was unlikely that he had his leg hooked over hers by coincidence.
"No." Kaname brought her leg down in a huff. What did she have to do just to have some peace?
"But I haven't asked you yet..." The Rugby Captain put on his most winning smile.
"I'll save you the trouble. Whatever it is, the answer is 'No.'" Kaname began to head back towards the girl's entrance to the indoor athletic facilities.
"You're a good enough athlete to play on the team. We'd sure love to have you in our scrums." The guys all laughed. "You'd also make a great cheerleader, and would do a wonderful job of filling out the mascot suit. That would bring in a whole bunch of new spectators and sponsors." A number of the guys slapped hands. "And, I hear you have great hands. Ever think of being a masseuse?"
Kaname's temper had passed critical. "I still don't understand why guys who spend so much time pushing against each other and grunting are surprised when the ladies want nothing to do with them." Kaname tossed her hair, having it blow back into her face. "No need to put on an act, girls."
"We weren't talking about ladies. We were talking about you." None of the players took Kaname's remarks kindly. The whole gang of them slapped each other on the back, guffawing.
"Idiots!" Kaname walked past the chin-up station.
The Rugby Squad began calling out rude comments, threatening to start some choice rumors. But, their game abruptly stopped. One second they were there... the next time she looked over at the tree, they were gone. Suddenly, there was a series of screams and a long loud cry for help.
What were they up to now?
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The cafeteria was busy that night.
Kaname didn't usually eat there. It wasn't that the food was bad... she simply didn't like the noise and crowded conditions. But, tonight she needed to do some work on campus, and didn't feel like taking the time to deal with a restaurant.
It wouldn't be so bad if she had made more friends than she had; but, no one she cared about ever ate there.
Scanning the crowd, she didn't recognize anyone. There were a number of tables full of International students. A few clubs were dining together as a group. Teachers and graduate students were congregating in their own little enclaves.
She missed Kyouko most of all. Her and Ryo, Maya, and Ren. Kyouko had gone to Rikkyo University... Ryo to Hosei University... Maya to Waseda University...and Ren to Meiji University. They still got together every once in a while; but now that each of her high school friends had a steady boyfriend, it was harderd and harder to find the time.
The sound of dozens of conversations blurred together in a general noise. But, Kaname could make out the word of people close to her.
"I was really scared." A girl across the table from Kaname had a bandage wrapped around one hand. "I was so busy worrying about the test tomorrow, that I wasn't thinking. I saw that woman drop her bag, then ran across the street to give it to her. It..." The girl shuddered.
"What happened?" Another girl asked with a mouth full of food.
"There was a big truck coming. I heard the brakes. It couldn't stop in time." The injured girl's fork trembled in her hand.
"It didn't hit you did it?" A third girl stirred her soup, spilling some over the edge of the bowl. "Is that what happened to your hand?"
"No. Before I knew it, somebody picked me up in his arms and ran me out of the way. He was so strong and so fast." The girl sighed. "Really cute too."
"Who was he? Do we know him? Did you get his number?" A number of other girls at the table all chimed in, eager to hear the details.
"I don't know. I've seen him around campus before, but I think he's pretty new. He put me down, suggested I be more cautious, and walked away. He said 'Perhaps the school should teach a safety course for women.' It wasn't the first time he had to save someone." The girl rearranged her bandage.
"How did you hurt your hand, then?" A girl asked while flicking the mushrooms out of her salad.
"Oh..." The girl blushed. "I was too busy watching him walk away. I fell down a stairwell."
The girls all laughed at that.
Kaname stared down at her own food, thinking back to a time when she had been in a similar situation. The man had forgotten his briefcase. She ran out to catch him, stepping in front of a truck. It would have hit her.
She'd be dead now, if it wasn't for Sousuke.
"Damn you, Sousuke." She merely muttered the words, but the girls sitting across from her flinched. It was her face that did it.
As with any Sousuke memory, there was always a catch. Sitting on the ground, his hand had wandered where it shouldn't be. But, that wasn't why Kaname was angry. So many memories vied for her attention now, all of them having a clueless Mithril sergeant as the focal point.
That moron had overlooked her new swim suit, and managed to cover her with watermelon pulp. But, thinking she was in danger, he risked his life to rescue her. The jerk had misunderstood the flirting contest and captured women in cages. But, standing by the lake in the sunset, he had said that she was beautiful. The big idiot had shouted at her when she was worried about him. But, he had charged a larger man with a gun to save her, and apologized afterwards. So many memories. So many good times and bad problems. She should feel better now, without that kind of aggravation in her life.
She didn't.
"Itsuki." She knew she wasn't being fair. She had come to believe that Sousuke would always be there for her, even though she knew he was simply on assignment. When the major attempts on the Whispered were thwarted, he was too value a commodity to waste on one teenage girl. She hadn't realized how much he meant to her until he was gone.
"I hope he's still alive." Her whispered words made Kaname feel very uneasy. She had her share of problems to fight her way through, but he routinely faced great dangers.
Would the law of averages finally catch up with him?
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Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Kaname stood on the bottom shelf, trying to reach a book high above the floor.
She didn't fell like looking around for one of the rolling step stools. Slipping, she fell into the arms of someone.
"Be careful, Kaname. Is this the book you wanted?" The handsome young man handed her a large volume..
"Yes, thank you." She blushed, swallowing.
"Well, see you around." He turned and walked towards a sitting area.
Kaname sighed. She really liked that guy, but he had never called her after their first few dates. Watching him walk away, she saw him put his arm around another girl. "She's no prettier than I am," she muttered. What was she doing wrong? Was she cursed?
Would a forceful personality and bad temper doom her forever?
Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the chill metal of the shelf for a few moments. She took in the smell of new printings, mixed with the odor of older mustier books. The air from a nearby ceiling vent caressed the back of her neck. The sound of hushed whispering, squeaking library carts, and the busy cargo lift, were muffled by the rush of blood in her ears.
Picking up her other books, she lugged them over to an isolated table near the History section. Setting aside her regrets, she continued her work on her assignment. The hours passed, and she felt a cramp coming on. Just as she was about to stand up and take a break, she heard some chuckling.
"Hey guys, look who it is. Kaname Chidori, the Ice Princess." A group of guys had gotten off the elevator, book lists in their hands. "I hope we're not disturbing you, Your Highness." He bowed.
Kaname ignored the lout. He was another unsuccessful suitor. Gathering up her things, she decide it was time for a change of scenery.
"Oooooh. Look at her walk. Every inch a Queen." Another boy joined in, wanting to be part of the game.
"Your Maaaaaaa-jesty," Another clown added.
Biting her lip, Kaname cursed herself when she began to move faster. He shouldn't let things like that get to her. As she tuned the corner and walked towards another sitting area, she heard a series of loud noises.
What was going on?
Realizing she had forgotten her purse, she gathered up her nerve and headed back. When she got to her table, everyone was gone. Looking off down the aisle, she saw a pair of shoes disappear into the stacks. From that angle, the person would have to be sitting down and sliding backwards. Either that, or he was being pulled by someone else.
One of the ceiling lights was swing wildly too, casting eerie shadows across the far wall. Curious, she almost went over to see what was going on. Thinking that it might be some kind of prank she didn't want to get involved in, she retrieved her pocket book and continued on her way.
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Rolling over in bed, Kaname checked her clock again.
3A.M.
Well, at least she had been out for an entire hour this time.
This was ridiculous! Ashe had overheard a few simple words, and now she couldn't get a peaceful night's sleep. She could kill that guy!
When she had finished at the library, she had made her way back to her apartment. Climbing the stairs, she heard someone down on the street calling out to one of his buddies, just as he was about to get into his car.
"Hey man, sorry I forgot that CD!"
"Don't worry. Bring it with you the next time. It's not a problem!"
’It's not a problem’.
Kaname didn't have to do a lot of thinking to remember where she had heard those words before. It didn't take a lot of research to discover who once had a habit of saying that.
Sousuke.
She sat there thinking about him, giving little notice to the sound of a dog barking outside. One of her windows rattled in the wind, but that didn't register on her either. She simply pulled her blanket tightly around herself, and shifted onto her side.
"I could hate him! He's not even around and he's causing me trouble..." Kaname pulled the pillow over her head, wishing again that she had sleeping pills. "It is a problem!"
Every time she closed he eyes and fell asleep, she dreamed about some incident involving that scruffy-haired otaku. The fake date with Mizuki, and that kiss. The day everyone thought they were going to die, before all the clothes started dissolving. The day they ran through a forest, enemy soldiers on their trail. The time that damn girl had stepped out of his shower with the towel on.
"Damn." Kaname couldn't fall back to sleep this time. A new thought did her in. She wondered if Tessa ever convinced Sousuke to return her affections. She let out a long sigh.
If she could somehow wish Sousuke into her life again, would she do it?
Her sleep might not be peaceful tonight, but her days generally were. No explosions. No conspiracies. No Bonta-Kun. No filet of carp... no flash bang earrings... no paint spewing security gates...
She sighed again. No one who worried about her when they thought she was covered with blood... no one who would watch over her when she was on a date with another guy... no one who would look at her in a kimono and sound like he had witnessed a miracle... no one who needed her to look after him... no one who would give his life looking after her...
No.
Tokyo University was safer this way.
Just think what might have happened if Sousuke had been around when those guys had made her life a living Hell today! Kaname sat up in bed, the pillow knocking over her bedside lamp and sending the alarm clock to the floor.
"It couldn't have been..."
No.
She shouldn't let her imagination run wild. If Sousuke had somehow been on campus today, there would have been at least one explosion. Or, she would have heard gunshots. Something like that!
Unable to sleep, she took out her High School scrapbook and leafed through it. Once upon a time, she had taken out every picture with a certain soldier in it. Instead of throwing them away, she had simply tossed them in the back of the book.
She looked through those pictures, got a bottle of glue, and started filling in the empty spaces.
If only she could do that with her life...
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"Great. Just great!"
That was the twentieth time that Kaname had said those words that morning.
She knew it would be a wonderful day when she woke up late. The alarm clock must have broken when she knocked it the floor the night before.
In a rush, she had gotten soap in her eyes. She slipped and fell getting out of the shower. Scurrying about gathering the things she needed for school, she had let her toast burn. Pulling too hard, she tore her stockings. Not realizing it was going to rain, she had run off without her umbrella.
Now, in a hurry to make it to class in time, she had to run across this. A large crowd of people were gathering at one end of the campus, making it difficult to move along the walkway. What was going on?
The lights from police cars were reflecting of the windows of the nearest building. There was a small trail of smoke twisting and climbing skyward. Firemen and police officers were holding back the milling group of onlookers.
There was the sound of gunfire.
"What's happening?" Kaname asked one girl, putting her hand up to shield her eyes when another brief sheet of windblown rain pelted her.
"Someone tried to attack the Advanced Research Lab." The girl kept jumping up, trying to get a view of the building in question.
"They should have built that at the Kashiwa campus, or maybe Hongo." Another girl made a face when the people around her kept stepping on her feet.
"I heard one of the officers say that it's probably terrorists. Why would they want to attack the University?" One boy was discussing the situation with his friends.
"I heard a lot of strange stories about that Lab and the people who work there," another boy put in.
"You hear strange stories about everything," a girl laughed. "You're the strangest story of them all!"
Kaname continue on her way to class. There was no time to stand and listen to gossip and supposition. It didn't make a lot of sense to hang around trying to watch that kind of thing, anyway. She knew that from experience. Hopefully those idiots would find out the same thing the hard way.
She stopped, when she neared on of the buildings. Her eye had caught sight of some kind of movement. It had been fleeting, located off in the shadows.
Could that have been one of the terrorists?
She bit her lip. It would be better if she didn't pay any attention and went on about her business. But, what if she might see something that would prevent some catastrophe, or save lives? How could she sit in class comfortably, if she worried about the possibility of someone with a gun or a bomb raising havoc? If someone had gotten by the cordoned off area, the authorities should know about it.
Kaname stepped carefully, back against the chill brick wall, pushing dripping wet shrubbery and low hanging tree branches out of her way. Water trickled own her neck as a result, almost causing her to curse out loud. She put one hand over her mouth.
Peering around the corner, she could just barely make out a crouching shape ducked down behind an air-conditioning unit. It was holding something up to its head.
Swallowing, she moved closer, quietly. Hand up around her ear, she strained to hear what was being said.
"An attack was made as suspected. Professional. Half a dozen men, well- armed. All of middle-eastern appearance. This attempt was neutralized, with no difficulty. Four men are dead. Two were seen being taken into official custody."
The voice was low. Kaname had trouble being certain exactly what was being said. She took a few more steps towards the poorly seen figure.
"The research staff is unharmed. Data systems were not compromised, and the equipment remains intact. The rudimentary security system functioned adequately, allowing me to arrive in time. Recommend further augmentation as previously discussed."
Kaname couldn't help herself. She knew she had no business there. If the speaker was some kind of operative, she might actually be in danger. But, this was exciting. It felt like the old days, when Sousuke was around. She crept forward, one slow step at a time.
"I have taken a superficial wound to the upper arm. Otherwise, I too am intact. My---" the voice stopped abruptly.
Before she knew it, Kaname was roughly grabbed and thrown against the side of the building. There was the cold muzzle of a pistol against her throat. How could anyone move that far that fast?
"Who are... uh... Chidori?" The voice was all too familiar.
It was Sousuke.
Spoiler! :
“Oooooh!”
Kaname kicked the garbage can as hard as she could. It was the nearest thing she could take her fury out on. The can didn’t go flying as it might have. Instead, Kaname’s shoe got wedged into the metal grillwork that formed the outer shell.
“Perfect!”
Tugging as hard as she could, the irate blue-haired girl couldn’t free her foot. Slipping out of her shoe, she tugged with all her might. The shoe came free. She somersaulted backward, her skirt ending up over her head. The gathering crowd of amused passersby all laughed, chuckled, or made snide comments. To make matters worse, her shoe was terribly scuffed and scratched.
“Damn him!”
It was all Sousuke’s fault. That jerk!When he had let her go, Sousuke had run off. ‘I must treat this wound. I should not be late for class. My apologies, I did not wish to disturb you.’ That had been all that he said before disappearing again.
They hadn’t seen each other in years, and that was all he could say and do. Mistake her for a terrorist. Hold a gun against her. Say a few words. Then go away. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. She had been thinking about him again. She even put his pictures in the album. Didn’t that count for something?
“It shouldn’t matter...”
Kaname kicked the garbage can again. Her shoe got caught again.
“Ahhhhh...”
It shouldn’t matter that she never wrote back? Well. She had every right to hang up the telephone those times that he called to talk to her, didn’t she? What else could she have done? A clean break heals better than a mangled wound.
Yes.
She had done the right thing.
Picking herself off of the ground a second time, she clenched her fists with renewed rage. She had thought she must be dreaming, seeing him standing there. She hadn’t known whether to hug him or slug him. Then, as if he had simply bumped into a stranger, he spat out a few hurried words and left her standing there.
Shivering, Kaname fought to catch her breath. Her books scattered across the wet ground. The anger churning inside her slowly fizzled out. She shouldn’t be surprised if Sousuke didn’t want anything to do with her. He had grown more handsome, was taller and broader built. No doubt he had a girlfriend somewhere, and didn’t feel comfortable talking to other women.
That would be just like him.
“It doesn’t matter...”
No. It shouldn’t matter. But, it did. Why? Was she thinking that she could simply turn back the clock... step right in where things had left off... and see what could come of it?
“With my luck? Right!”
Kaname checked her watch. She sighed. It was time to head off for her next class.
Everywhere she walked, she kept looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sousuke.
But, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Big idiot.”
Kaname wasn’t certain who she was talking about.
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Looking out the window, Kaname regretted not having her umbrella.
The skies had opened up with a vengeance this time, sending a torrent of rain down, forming huge puddles and rivers of water soon after it began. She watched as groups of individuals braved the deluge, their umbrella buffeted by strong cross-drafts.
At least her classes had gone well. There had been no ambushes by her bevy of unwanted pursuers. One boy had finally worked up the courage to approach her, but he had run off white as a sheet when he saw her face.
Her stomach rumbled. She hadn’t been hungry at lunch, but felt her appetite returning in spades. If the rain ever let up, she’d head out for a bite to eat.
A group of excited voices grew louder as one door opened.
“You could join our study group, it would be so-o-o-o-o-o-o wonderful.” The girl sounded breathless. “Yes, we could take turns cooking you meals. I’m a really good cook!” Another girl almost sounded like she was begging. “We could take turns doing your laundry. We could even do it as a group, if you like.” A third girl sounded just as besotted as the other two. “You don’t already have a girlfriend, do you? Is that it?” the voices all stopped.
“Negative.” It was a young man’s voice.
Sousuke.
Kaname turned around fast, almost knocking a teacher down the stairs. Sousuke was standing with a somewhat frantic look on his face, surrounded by a group of girls. Her hands clenched into fists, Kaname set her jaw. No matter how Sousuke might feel about her, she was going to get him to speak to her for more than two seconds! He owed her that much, whether he knew it or not. She smiled a devilish smile.
“Sous-kaaaay… She ran up to the startled young soldier and pushed her way through the crowd. She grabbed him by the hand. “I’ve been waiting for you all day...” This ought to work.
“Is this your girlfriend?” One of the girl’s looked shocked. “Tell me you don’t like someone like her...” Another girl made a face. “You’re too nice for someone like that. We’ve heard about her." A third girl tugged on Sousuke’s sleeve. “Who is she to you?”
Sousuke looked at Kaname. “We were acquainted once. Miss Chidori did not wish for the acquaintance to continue.” He didn’t look at Kaname as he spoke.
“But... Sousuke...” Kaname was brushed aside by the group of girls as they followed after. “Please...” She hated the sound of her voice. It wasn’t as if she were desperate or anything. But, she was not about to be brushed aside like yesterday’s crumbs.
He kept walking.
Kaname was struck by an idea. It might work. But, it was despicable. “Sousuke, I need your help...” As Kaname watched, Sousuke slowed down. She swallowed, deciding to go all the way. “I’m in danger.”
Sousuke stopped. He looked at the girls who swarmed around him. “I must decline your kind offer. It is true that I need assistance with my studies. But, I am determined to give it my best shot first.”
“He’s so dedicated.” One girl said. The bunch of them started talking among themselves.
Kaname stood tall as she watched Sousuke. There was no reason for her to feel uneasy. It was only Sousuke after all.
“Kaname, you said you were in danger. Specify!” Sousuke’s face was grim. “Is it urgent and imminent?”
“We shouldn’t talk here.” Kaname looked around that part of the building. “I haven’t been able to eat since breakfast. Would you come with me when I go out to dinner?”
Sousuke stood quietly for a moment as he ran his hand through his hair. Kaname stood looking at him. It was Sousuke, but it wasn’t Sousuke. Where was his camouflage and khakis? His hair was tidy and well groomed. He was pleasantly tanned, suggesting he had been on a mission somewhere in the sun. And that cologne...when did he start wearing cologne?
“It is not a problem,” he answered.
Those words had Kaname weak in the knees. She chided herself.
“Let us proceed, then.” Sousuke’s voice sounded cold and impersonal.
“We’ll need to wait until the rain stops, Sousuke. I don’t have an umbrella.” Kaname pointed out the window. She wished there had been a hint of kindness in Sousuke’s voice. Either that or shyness, uncertainty…… anything. Even anger.
“Here, you may use this.” He handed her his umbrella. “I am used to being wet. You will recall that I am a Specialist.” After walking down the stairs, Sousuke held the door for Kaname.
“You know, we can share the umbrella, Sousuke. It will be easier to talk that way” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. She could only guess what he must be thinking.
“Negative. You will walk a number of yards ahead of me. It will allow me a better view of the surroundings, and an opportunity to look for any suspicious activity. We will also not be seen as associates.” He waited for Kaname to start walking.
“But...”
“Danger is nothing to be taken lightly, Kaname. I should think you would remember that. Walk at whatever pace you like. I will follow.”
Kaname fumed. The big stupid head! This was certainly nostalgic. No one could get her to feel this way but Sousuke.
Fine.
She would give him something to think about then. “Sousuke, would you like it if I wiggle a lot when I walk. I mean, seeing that you’ll be behind me and all...” Kaname fought hard to keep from smiling.
She should be ashamed of herself, lying and now flirting. She promised herself she would feel bad later.
“Uh...”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Kaname headed out into the rain.
Suddenly, for some reason, it seemed like a beautiful day.
“Sooooouuuuussss-kaaaaaay...”
Kaname turned around. It was those girls again. They ran over to Sousuke. “Here, we can put all of our umbrellas together. You shouldn’t be getting all wet like that.” One of the girls leaned against Sousuke as she held up her umbrella. “I’ve got a washer and drier back at my place,” another girl said. “Are you hungry?” A third girl stared up at him with hopeful eyes.
Kaname started grumbling. She wished she had a halisen with her. Those girls were getting on her nerves. As she walked, she kept looking over her shoulder. Sousuke was following, but the girls were still hovering around him. He could just be keeping a low profile as he followed her. No one would suspect he was trailing her if he stayed back with that gang of leeches. Then again, he just might be drinking in all the attention.
Big jerk!
Why couldn’t he have just walked with her like a normal boy?
Her lie.
Who was the big jerk? It was OK. She would make it up to him, by treating him to dinner.
“Sousuke, that mean girl keeps looking back at you. Is she the annoying possessive type?” One girl asked with a laugh. Kaname almost tripped, hearing a girl say that as she tried to push next to Sousuke. “You don’t have a stalker, do you?” Another girl asked.
Kaname couldn’t believe it. The girl had the nerve to ask that when she was following Sousuke around.
“Wonder why she’s walking like that?” A different girl said loudly. “Is she clumsy or something?”
Kaname started to growl.
“Why are you watching her?” A demanding voice asked.
Kaname blushed, and then began to smile.
“I am not. Why would I wish to do that?” Souske’s voice was flat and unwavering.
Kaname stopped and turned. She knew he might just be trying to divert attention away from his purpose.
It didn’t matter.
The rain. The lack of sleep. Those girls. That moron’s lack of any interest. The lie. Everything.
It was enough already!
“Never mind, Sousue.” Kaname took a few steps and threw the collapsed umbrella at him.
She stomped through the puddles on her way home.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The salt shaker bounced off of the top of the refrigerator, joining a measuring cup, napkin holder, bottle of Soy Sauce, broken plate, sponge, set of tongs, and a number of oranges.
“Why would I wish to do that?” Kaname mimicked Sousuke.
She slammed her hand down hard on the cooking bench, just missing her chopping knife. Rain blew hard against her window, and a huge peel of thunder caused her to jump. The lights flickered a bit, but stabilized.
“Great, that’s all I need. To have the power go out.” Not two minutes after she had said that, the electricity went out.
Kaname cursed, trying to remember where she had put her candles. Every time she went shopping for household items she swore that she would by a flashlight. She still didn’t have a flashlight.
“Hall closet!” She remembered putting the candles in there. Now all she had to do was get there, grab a candle, find a match, and voila... light.
Walking through the dark, hand held out in front of her, she stepped on the bottle of Soy Sauce. Her foot went out from under her and she hit the floor hard.
“Damn you Sousuke!”
She should still be at dinner with him. There, or possible walking around the campus catching up on each of their years apart. Somewhere.
Moron!
“Who’s the moron?” Kaname sighed, rubbing her sore buttock.
Why did she always react that way to Sousuke? She remembered the day that he had brought her the jewelry she had made. All the girls were jealous. She couldn’t believe that Sousuke could have made an effort like that. Then she went ballistic when he told them there was a practical purpose for it all.
She had told him that he made it really easy to hate him. Why would a guy show any interest in a girl who did things like that? Well, she had brought the food over to his house as a peace offering. But, that damn girl was there, in a towel. The big idiot had then gotten her kidnapped by terrorists... again!
Of course, that wasn’t the end of the story. He had rescued her. She could remember how she felt when she saw he was safe, thinking that her stupid actions may have gotten him killed.
“No sense moping around on the floor in the dark, Kaname.” She picked herself up gingerly, stepping lightly so that she didn’t trip on anything else.
Slowly inching herself along the wall, she wondered where Sousuke was now. Maybe one or more of those girls had finally worn him down. She couldn’t figure out why those ditsy fools would be chasing after him. Hadn’t they figured out how clueless he was? Maybe he wasn’t like that any more.
A lot can happen in three years.
“Well, if that big jerk likes that kind of girl, then he deserves what he gets! Hmmmpppfff!” She banged her head hard on the closet door, forgetting that she had opened it.
For a few moments, she saw stars. It was almost like being near an explosion again. She sighed. It had been a while since she had been so ‘privileged.’ There was a reason she always felt uncomfortable at fireworks displays.
Finally, she had a candle in her hand. She rummaged around the rest of the closet, wondering why she hadn’t put the matches near the candle. Of course, they were back in the kitchen. Why hadn’t she remembered that when she was in that room? She was really tied up in knots. One useless idiot shows up back in her life, and she turns into a mindless klutz.
Maybe it was best that she stayed away from Sousuke after all!
It was spooky in the apartment. Boring too. There was no telling how long it would take work crews to bring the power back on. She might as well grab her umbrella and go some place where there was electricity.
Kaname sneezed.
“Wonderful. Now I’m coming down with a cold.” Holding the candle, she headed back towards her foyer, intending to grab her coat.
She sneezed again, blowing out the candle. A moment later, a large flash of lightning lit things up. She caught her breath. The lightning hadn’t frightened her. A man’s figure had been outlined at her window. The shadow had been very tall. She didn’t know anyone that tall. Was that just a trick of the light?
Her friends always scolded her about living alone. A number of them had gotten together to rent a house. Why hadn’t Kaname joined them? She was a private person. But, right now she didn’t want to be alone! No, she DID want to be alone. She didn’t want somebody standing outside of her home.
There was a knock at the door.
What should she do?
One of her friends would have called first.
There was more knocking. Louder and more persistent this time.
Kaname began reaching for her phone, but realized that it wouldn’t be working now. There was no back way out of her apartment. She hadn’t bothered to attach the security chain when she came home.
The knocking repeated.
“Kaname?”
That was Sousuke’s voice! How did he know where she lived? Idiot. That otaku could find out anything, by himself or with the help of Mithril.
What should she do? Let him in? Tell him to go away and leave her alone? Stay quiet? The third option wasn’t very good. She had told him she was in danger. He might have seen the candle before it went out. Any moment now, he might be kicking down the door or crashing through the window. If he cared enough to do that, of course.
“Sousuke? Is that you?”
"Affirmative!" Are you OK? Has something happened?” He sounded concerned.
Concerned? That’s a good thing, right.
“Wait a minute. I’ll open the door for you. The power’s out.” Kaname made her way to the front door and opened it. The two of them stood face to face for a few moments before either spoke.
“I’m sorry, Sousuke. I shouldn’t have reacted like that earlier. Seeing you was a bit of a shock. It hasn’t been a very good week.” The words just flowed out of Kaname. “Were you surprised to see me?”
“No.”
“Why? Have you been following me around? Am I your assignment again? Your duty and obligation?” Anger crept into Kamame’voice.
“Negative. I have a different assignment. You have crossed my path on a number of occasions. Respecting your desires, I stayed out of your way.”
The power came back on. Sousuke looked into the apartment, his attention drawn to the clutter on the kitchen floor. His eyes scanned Kaname as well. “There is a red mark on your forehead. The way you stand suggests that you are injured. You were never that messy before. Have you been attacked, Kaname?” Sousuke’s voice had changed. His eyes were intense. He was furious, thinking that someone might have harmed her.
Furious was good too.
“No, Sousuke. I was angry earlier, and didn’t handle my temper very well. I fell in the dark, and banged my head on the closet door.” Kaname stiffened her shoulders and decided to come clean. “I’m not really in any danger. I lied to you.” She braced herself for his answer.
“I see. I suppose you had a reason for that.” His eyes took her measure, reading her every facial expression and postural change.
“Yes, Sousuke. I wanted to speak with you. But those girls...” Kaname blushed. Her actions sounded so immature when she spoke about them out loud.
“Kaname?” Now he looked curious.
Curious was OK.
“I suppose I was impatient, Sousuke. I apologize.” Kaname bowed. “It’s... I... well, you show up out of the blue after three years, then just disappear.” Kaname’s anger flared up again. “Can you understand how that made me feel?” She put her hands on her hips.
“No, Kaname. I cannot. Not after you never once answered my letters or spoke to me on the phone.” Sousuke now looked stiff again.
Stiff was not good.
“But... you have to understand... it was hard...” Kaname felt like she was going to fly apart.
“Yes, it was hard for me too. No doubt you wanted me gone. Perhaps that is understandable.” A tough of sadness entered Sousuke’s features.
Was sadness good or bad?
“Sousuke, I did not want you gone. You had to go. I was really...” Kaname tried to maintain her composure. It wouldn’t do any good to break down into tears, or to kick Sousuke where a man should never be kicked.
A telephone rang. It was Sousuke’s. Taking it out of his pocket, Sousuke flipped it open. “Sagara.” He listened a while. “Understood.” He listened a while longer. “Roger.” He closed the phone and put it in his pocket. Looking over at Kaname, he said “I have to go.”
As quickly as that, he was gone.
