A/N: This is only my second ever fanfic, so enjoy and be nice!! Thank you so much Morrigan Fey!! You officially go on my "You Rock" list!!!

Updated: 9/20/07; I just had to change a scene that was brought to my attention by my husband. It seemed much more Sousuke-ish.

Disclaimer: I only wish I owned these characters and this series, but alas, I do not. I love them though! Does that count for anything??

"SOUSUKE!!!"

He tried to duck, but wasn't in time to avoid that fan. He was never in time to miss that ever so painful thwack upside his head.

"Ouch Ms. Chidori, that really hurt this time." Sousuke found himself face first on the hard packed soil outside of the girls locker room.

"And just what do you think you are doing outside the girls locker room you military maniac??" There was a vein on the side of the blue haired girls head that was pounding in sync with Sousuke's heartbeat.

"It is not a problem, Ms. Chidori. I was merely-"

"You know what, Mr. Sagara… just forget it. I'm going home now." Chidori interrupted his less than adequate explanation for his behavior. With her head down and a defeatist set to her shoulders, she walked back into the locker room from wince she just came.

I wonder what's wrong with Ms. Chidori, thought the young man with a cross shaped scar on the left side of his jaw. I better follow her home again today to make sure she really is in satisfactory condition. It wouldn't do for her to be upset if a terrorist were to attack. If she were up to her normal standards, Sousuke was sure she could probably take care of her self, but not if her fighting spirit was gone. That spirit was what got a soldier out of many a dire situation.

Just a few short hours later, Kaname found herself being followed. She doesn't find this to be outside the ordinary realm of her existence. Not with that moody military…erg…I'm not going to think about him! It only angers me even more! She thought he was doing better after the Hong Kong incident. From what she had heard, he stood up to MITHRIL and told them how he wanted to live from here on out. Going to school, like a normal teen. He wanted to protect her, of his own free will. Piloting the Arbolest only when needed. So, why the sudden reversion back to what he had been when he first arrived? He had even blown up some more shoe lockers for crying out loud!

In a thought-induced daze, Kaname walked to the train station and found her way to the car that would take her to her stop. Without looking around at her overly familiar surroundings, she stepped onto the train and took a seat in her usual spot. She uncharacteristically looked down at her feet the entire ride to her station. She was never this down. The last time had been in the hallway the first day back at school after Hong Kong, when she was crying on Sousuke's shoulder. That was months ago. So what's my deal? Never mind, when I get home I'm going to make a nice big dinner! She smiled at the thought and looked up, only to stare at what she saw.

Sousuke was stuck at school. It would seem they didn't like the scene he had caused at the locker room earlier today. How was he to know that they were changing clothes in there? It's not like there was a sign or anything to announce such an activity. He was upset that Ms. Chidori did not wait for him to walk her home. It made the brunette nervous to not know where she was and how she was doing. What if someone tried to mug her or even worse, what if someone found out she was Whispered? He wouldn't be able to protect her. He should get her a new bracelet and earring set. With the tracking device and the mini flash bangs, she would have a fighting chance and he would be able to find her. He would look into that again.

Sighing, Sousuke dumped the last of the trash into the trashcan and dusted off his hands on his black uniform pants. Feeling the weight of his Glock 17 in the back waistband of his pants and the extra clips in his pocket, he felt a little bit better. He would just have to make an excuse to visit Ms. Chidori on his way home. Maybe he could have a question on his Classical Japanese homework. That would work.

Something was wrong. There was someone in his apartment. It wasn't obvious, but with the years of training and practical experience of a soldier, Sousuke knew that he wasn't alone. Instantly pulling out his gun, he backs against the wall next to his front door. Taking his key in his hand he quickly places it in the hole and unlocks the door. Barging into his own apartment, gun in front, business end pointed at the head of…Kurz?

"Hey there buddy! Long time no see. So, are you gonna stand there with a gun pointed at my head and a dumb look on your face, or are you gonna say hello to your comrade and superior officer?" Weber had a typical smirk on his face. His bright blue eyes were wide with amusement.

"What? Why are you both here?" Sousuke put the safety back on and put his gun away.

"Well, we were given an opportunity to either take over your post for a week, thus giving you a nice and much needed vacation, or go on some stupid Intel mission in Serbia. Needless to say, we wanted to see how our ever clueless comrade was doing in his mission." Mao walked out of the kitchen with a beer in each hand. Throwing one to Kurz, she popped the top on hers and took a long gulp.

"To be honest, I was on my way to Ms. Chidori's when I forgot that I left the coffee pot on. I thought I would turn it off and then head over to her place. I didn't walk her home this afternoon and I wanted to make sure she arrived safely." As he was talking he walked towards his kitchen only to hear Mao say, "I already turned it off."

"I was just hooking up the sound system to her apartment when you so rudely burst in and pulled a gun on me. Well, there we go. All ready for surveillance!" Kurz looked rather proud of himself as he downed his beer.

"I guess you won't need to go over there after all, huh Sousuke?" Melissa smiled with an evil look in her eyes.

"What? I-no…well, I was-No Ma'am!" Sousuke saluted his superior officer with sweat dripping down his face.

"That just means that you'll need a new reason to go over there now, right?" Why did that question make Sousuke feel like a terrorist was toying with a soldier?

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, I do not understand! Please explain!" He felt like he was in over his head.

"Oh, nothing in particular. Just, now that you can tell from your apartment that she is there and safe, you don't have a ready excuse for going over there to play the 'knight in shining armor.' So, maybe we can give you a reason to go over there." Mao and Kurz exchanged a knowing look.

Sousuke took a deep breath and stated, "I've already come up with a reason to go over there. I was going to ask for help with my Classical Japanese homework. I was hoping to see if she was okay as well, since earlier she seemed rather down and unlike herself.

Melissa's jaw hit the floor about the same time that Kurz fell out of his chair. Nothing was said for quite a long time. They both were just looking at their friend and fellow soldier like he had grown a third eye and he was calmly looking between the two of them waiting for an explanation to their odd behavior.

"I'm sorry. Did I say something I should not have? Is that an unacceptable reason for visiting a friend?" Sousuke was genuinely concerned. The longer they were silent, the more uncomfortable the young soldier became. He began to doubt his own reasons and excuse for going over there in the first place. He was also becoming more and more aware of how late it was getting. He was still unsure as to her safety after all.

"No, it's actually a very good reason. It's just that neither of us expected you to be able to come up with a normal reason for going to see her. Not to mention that you wanted to know if she was okay emotionally. Usually you are more concerned with battle readiness and physical health. We weren't sure if you knew about emotions, at least coming from the female non-militant type. I'm proud of you Sousuke." Mao had finally picked her jaw up off of the floor and smiled at her subordinate.

"Way ta' go Sousuke! I knew you liked her!" Kurz grinned, getting up from his position on the floor.

"Well, there is no way she would be able to defend herself if her fighting spirits were flagging. You two should know how important it is to be mentally and physically prepared for a battle or fight." Sousuke smiled as Kurz fell off the chair a second time.
She had never been this mad in her life and that included all the stupid crap that Sousuke had pulled! How dare this, this…she couldn't think of a word bad or evil enough to describe the man in front of her. I can't believe it. The first time that I go home by myself, this happens! Kaname had been stupid to not pay attention. She knew that Sousuke was told to clean up the gym after school. She should have known that it couldn't have been Sousuke watching and following her.
A/N: Well, I guess you'll have to wait for the next chapter. But I hope it won't be to long in coming!!

Please R&R. Reviews are the nectar that wannabe authors live off of! Or something like that! Oh, the drama.