Warnings (story as a whole): Second Raid and Season 1 spoilers, violence, mild swearing, and maybe a few not-so-savory events later on in the story.

Disclaimer: Full Metal Panic and all characters and settings are the creative property of Shouji Gatou, Shiki Douji, Retsu Tateo, and are tortu—I mean, used without permission for no profit to this humble little authoress. X3 ADV currently has Season 1 of the anime and the primary manga series licensed in the US.

Desperation
Full Metal Panic!
(repost)

Chapter 1

6:18 pm.

The digital black letters plainly stated their business uncaringly, not trying console the chocolate eyes that stared intensely into them, willing them to stop, pause, or, even better, move backward. Nothing, however, would force those numbers to change against their will. An angered, frustrated sigh – which, to the other customers in the shop, really sounded more like a strangled, feminine growl – escaped the young woman's lips as she sipped on her Coca-Cola.

That little—UGH! I can't believe him! Forty-eight minutes late, and no notice! No phone call, no e-mail or text message, nothing! When – if – he gets here, he's SO going to get a piece of my mind! I skipped out on a shopping trip to help him with his Japanese history studies, and he repays me by… standing me up!

A soft, delicate hand reached up to brush stray silky blue strands from the fuming brown eyes. The gentle movement belied the much harsher tone that rambled incessantly in the seventeen-year-old's mind. The only hint of her rage on her exterior – besides the fire in her eyes – was a slight, brow-furrowing, nose-wrinkling frown, one that could easily be mistaken for an expression of concentration.

Chidori Kaname balled her fists as she imagined ways in which to punish her 'tardy' – rather, absent – study partner, her fury quickly becoming more apparent on the outside.

Sagara Sousuke, when I get my hands on you…!

The fact that he'd saved her life, and not to mention her sanity, nearly a year ago didn't even cross her mind. Even the fact that they'd been through so much since didn't speak through her anger. He was supposedly done with the long-term missions for a while, wasn't he? He'd been assigned to watch her by attending school with her like a normal person – well, as normal as he could be for a 'military nut' - and to help out only to pilot the Arbalest, right? He was only supposed to be gone for Thursday and Friday. It was Sunday.

The note he'd left her said, "Leaving Wednesday night, gone for a few days, but will return in time for our study session on Sunday. Sousuke." Hah. Liar. Recalling the note only made her more furious.

"That's IT!" she roared, slamming her fist down hard on the table and nearly knocking over her half-drunk soda. Suddenly noting that others in the diner were regarding her with wary stares, she offered a nervously embarrassed chuckle as she waved off the onlookers, sinking back into her seat and burying her head in her palm, grumbling inwardly.

Sousuke, you JERK! She made a conscious effort to keep her thoughts internal this time, trying to keep a smile plastered on her face despite her raging frustration. I can't believe you stood me up!

Her expression softened a bit, the anger beginning to fade as she had doubts about the soldier's absence. Maybe I shouldn't be so mad at him. He usually tries hard to avoid standing me up, since he knows how much I hate it after…well, after he left that time. I'm surprised he hasn't called me yet, though! He could at least –

A sudden thought quenched the fire of her anger like cool water, stealing the fire from her furious features.

I wonder if he can't call me! That time he wasn't allowed to contact me at all – maybe something's changed within Mithril, or something happened while he was gone. I wonder if he's alright…? He's missed two days of history like he said he would, but he didn't call me yesterday like he usually does, either. Where has he been?

As if in response to her question, the bells of the diner's door jingled, adding to the background noise, as a young man entered cautiously. Kaname's fury returned as she recognized the intense brown eyes and unruly brown locks as that of Sagara Sousuke, her now very tardy study partner and close friend. Well, more than that, really. Very close… No, even more than that, too; or at least that's how Kaname would have liked it. But even after all she'd gone through with the boy, she still was hesitant to admit it, and still hadn't told him directly how she truly felt.

"Sagara-kun!" she hissed dangerously as he approached, but just as she opened her mouth to give him a thorough tongue-lashing, she paused, and really looked at him. Anger bled from her expression.

Gods, he looks absolutely wasted!

Sousuke had bags under his normally alert hazel eyes – which, at the moment, seemed glassed over and weary – and was unusually sluggish moving towards her. Shoulders hunched, pinched, pained expression; these were so uncharacteristic of the usually jumpy, zealous, attentive undercover soldier. He looked painfully exhausted.

"Please forgive me, Chidori," Sousuke forced a slight grin as he softly uttered the apology, flinching lightly in expectation for a lashing from the girl – either verbal or physical. "I–I really have no excuse to be so –"

"Are you alright, Sagara-kun?" Kaname cut him off worriedly, noting that Sousuke was a bit unsteady on his feet. She also caught his hands shaking as he reached for a chair to pull it out, and the slight grimace that briefly passed his features in the process. He had an almost ghost-like pallor to his face, making the cross-shaped scar on his chin stand out even more than usual.

"Aa, I'm fine," he replied tersely through clenched teeth. Beads of sweat formed along his brow, revealing what was already an apparent lie. A hint of a pained hiss escaped his lips when he stepped around the front of the chair.

Panic bells sounding in her mind, Kaname stood quickly and ignored the stares as she rushed to Sousuke's side, hoping to steady him. "Sagara-kun?"

"No, no… I'm… I'm al…right…"

Sousuke's eyes rolled upward as he fell to the side, too quickly for Kaname to catch him. He crumpled to the ground with a loud thump, knocking into the table and upsetting Kaname's soda with a wet crash, drenching her blouse and his hair. Neither noticed. A shocked gasp buzzed through the restaurant as all heads turned to the sudden commotion. Kaname's eyes widened as she knelt next to Sousuke's fallen body, her hands shaking this time as she reached for him.

"Sagara-kun…?" She shook his shoulder gently, but when he didn't respond, she began to panic. Ohgodohgodohgod! What's happening? What's wrong with him? Is he wounded? Is he sick? A small crowd had gathered around the pair now, a hushed murmuring spreading through the restaurant.

"Is he alright? What happened?"

"Excuse me, miss…?"

"Call an ambulance!"

Kaname placed a hand on his side to roll him onto his back when she felt a sticky wetness. Withdrawing her fingers, she noticed they were stained with crimson, and she stared at them numbly for a moment in shock before crying out in horror.

"Sousuke!"

.end chapter 1.

Just for the record, this will be the only time I write this much down here. I thought it'd be nice to have some background information on the series because it's a lot bigger than I thought it was originally. Haha.

First thing I want to mention is that there are MULTIPLE canons for Full Metal Panic. The original FMP was a novel serialization by Shouji Gatou, with a few illustrations by Shiki Douji. Then two manga series followed, with the same author but different artists for each. The 'primary' Full Metal Panic season is the more well-known one and is published in the US as "Full Metal Panic" (art by Retsu Tateo). The secondary season ('Ikinari Full Metal Panic') apparently is what Fumoffu is based off of.

Then we have the 3 seasons of the anime. Season 1 is the 'main' one, with the original action and drama stuff. 'Fumoffu' is 'season 2' with all the slapstick humor and less-serious violence, a lot of it from 'Ikinari Full Metal Panic' (from what I understand). 'The Second Raid' is the recently-aired (and completed) season 3, and is even more actiony and dramatic than season 1. There is also an OVA for season 3, which is Tessa-centric and not very important to the overall plot.

I will be using the anime – namely, Second Raid and season 1 – as my canon bases, mostly because I have only read volumes one and two of the 'Full Metal Panic' manga. Just so you know. XD

This story is currently in revision, so everything you see here and up until chapter 8 (plus two ending chapters) is older, but edited. Some of the changes will be fairly big, but nothing too drastic. I just felt it needed a face lift, since I am never pleased with my writing. :P I'm also working to integrate Second Raid elements into the original, since TSR hadn't aired when the original was being written. Just FYI.

The ending will get me killed, likely. But I don't care. It's staying.

Anyway! Comments are love - especially constructive ones (meaning, if you see something wrong, let me know and maybe even give a suggestion on how to go about fixing it).