OUR HEARTS JOURNEY

By: saihei

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Full metal panic'.

CHAPTER 1: "Kyouko's invitation"

"Now you're leaving me huh, Sousuke?!" Kaname bellowed as she watched Sousuke packed his things to his huge traveling bag.

"I'm sorry Kaname, but I don't think we could still continue in this kind of relationship..." Sousuke answered without removing his eyes on his bag.

Kaname began crying and threw a pillow to Sousuke. "Just because I don't want to cooperate with the plans of Mithrill, you're now throwing our relationship away?!"

Sousuke paused from his packing and turned around to see Kaname's crying face. It hurts him. To see her cry like this. To know that the reason of her tears was him. "Forgive me Kaname, but...Mithrill gave me an ultimatum, I love you...so much Kaname...but I have to do this... commander Mardukas told me that the organization will cut their service for your protection if I will not return to the service...I need to protect you." Sousuke explained, he could feel his heart aches between his words.

This time Kaname walked to him and gave him a slap on the face. "Shut-up moron! Stop including me to your reasons! I never wished to be protected by anybody! The one I want is you! Can't you understand?!" Her tears never stopped falling.

Sousuke pulled Kaname into a tight embrace. "Please Kaname! If you want to be with me, come with me to the ship...please Kaname..."

"No." Kaname answered bluntly. "I will not let Mithrill use me for wars, I won't let them use me as a weapon for killing...no." Kaname gently pushed Sousuke away from her and turned around.

"Kaname..." Sousuke watched Kaname's shaking shoulders relaxed. Her breathing became normal. Her crying is beginning to subside.

Kaname stared to their apartment's door. "Listen Sagara Sousuke, listen carefully. Once you stepped out of that door, I am no longer your woman; you'll never see me again. I will forget you...for good."

Sousuke swallowed hard and felt his heart's constriction in beating. "Kaname..."

"I love you Sousuke, but I don't want to be a tool for killing, I will sacrifice my own happiness...just to know that I saved even a single life from being killed. Sousuke, you have to understand me, war is war. However way you look at it, the only thing it could give is suffering. Don't let them use you again Sousuke, you've killed enough." Kaname pronounced in e very calm voice that even her self was not used to hear. "We could live without their assistance Sousuke, believe me."

Sousuke's face darkened. He picked his bag and began walking toward the door. Walking passed Kaname. His own tears are now covering his impassive face. "Forgive me Kaname..."

Kaname did not wavered from her position, she let her hearing senses succumb to the words that are coming out from Sousuke.

"But I don't bet in odds."

With those last words, Sousuke left Kaname alone to the apartment that they both chose to start their new lives with, but now...all their dreams had faded. And they both decided to commence their own journey.

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After 5 years...

America, New york; Chidori Manor...

"Shizuru, come over here sweetie, your mommy is not yet here, aren't you hungry?" Shunya chidori asked at the 4 years old brown haired girl with big grey eyes.

"Not yet grandpa, where's mommy?" Shizuru asked.

"She's still in school, now we can have our dinner first, what would you like?" The head of the Chidori clan asked.

Shizuru pouted and stared out of the window. "Chi-ga-u! I want to wait for mommy!"

When suddenly there was a knock on the door. Shizuru jumped cheerfully and ran to the door. "MOMMY!" But her smile faded when she noticed that the person who was standing at the door was her auntie Ayame.

The high school girl smiled down to the toddler and picked her up. "Hello sweet Shizuru, did you miss your beautiful auntie?" Ayame said and walked inside the house.

Shizuru smiled and nodded. "But I thought you were mommy."

Ayame laughed. "Are you kidding? Neesan won't be home tonight, she told me that there'll be a lab project at the university so she has to stay there till morning."

Shizuru became sad and pouted. "But mommy promised to eat dinner here."

Shunya frowned and approached them. He glared at Ayame. "Call your sister; tell her to come home now. That's an order."

"But dad--" Ayame sighed when he noticed the serious look on her father's face. She set Shizuru down on the floor. "Alright." Ayame released her mobile phone from her skirt's pocket and dialed the phone number of her school laboratory. "Hello, this is Chidori Ayame, may I speak with Chidori Kaname?"

On the other line;

"Yes Ayame? What's wrong?" Kaname asked.

"Neesan, dad commanded you to go home now." Ayame answered.

"What? I told you already I have--" Kaname's words had been left hanging when Ayame interjected.

"Your daughter keeps on crying, she said that you promised to eat dinner here neesan." Ayame said. "You know dad, he'll bring Shizuru away if he noticed that you're neglecting your parental job, you don't want that right, so just go home."

Kaname sighed. "Alright, I'll be there after an hour. Bye."

Ayame heard the other line ended. "Yosh." She kept her mobile phone and picked Shizuru back in her arms. "Your ugly mom said that she'll be here in an hour, so should we play some game?"

Shizuru smiled juvenilely and hugged Ayame's neck. "I love you Autie!"

Shunya smiled. "Alright, I'll be preparing our dinner now." She turned around and sauntered to the kitchen.

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An hour passed;

"Mommy!!!" Shizuru ran to her mother as soon as she stepped inside the mansion.

Kaname put down her satchel and received her daughter with a warm hug. "Hello there princess, did you miss mommy?"

Shizuru nodded in manic gladness. "Mommy...let's eat dinner together okay?"

Kaname nodded and carried her daughter to the dining room where the rest of Chidori family was waiting.

Shunya watched his older daughter sat on her place on the table next to Ayame. Shizuru is sitting upon her mother's lap. "Good evening Kaname."

"Good evening dad, I'm sorry for the trouble." Kaname answered.

"So shall we start our dinner?" Ayame asked as her eyes settled on the gourmet set of foods upon the cozy table.

Shunya nodded and the family started their dinner quietly. They were already having their dessert when the head of the family began a conversation. "Kaname, I think you should quit in your job at the university."

Kaname looked at her father. His suggestion was not new to her, whenever he could ask about it he always grabbed the opportunity. "Dad, you know I love my career. I don't want to be a useless bum you know, I am now 21 years old and I think I'm old enough to decide for myself." She moved her gaze down to her daughter when the toddler offered a mouthful of chocolate pudding to her. Kaname smiled and shook her head. "No baby mom's on a diet."

Shizuru smiled gleefully at her and took the offer to herself. Kaname felt delighted on how that simple smile could relax all her tired muscles from her all day work at the laboratory. Her train of thought got disrupted with Shunya's interjecting voice.

"Kaname, you can manage one of our businesses if you want, I just want you to spend more time with my granddaughter." Shunya's keen eyes deviated to Shizuru. "She's a growing child; she needs you more than anything."

Kaname heard those words. Silently she responded to that comment. ["I know that dad, but I need this career, I want to tire myself with all the responsibilities...to not allow my mind to drift back to the past...to allow myself to forget.

"Mommy!" Shizuru called when she noticed the sad look on her mother's face. Kaname snapped out of her oblivion and looked at Shizuru. "Mommy, aunt Kyouko called."

"Oh yeah, your former classmate named Tokiwa Kyouko called earlier." Shunya said as he finished his dessert and stood up to leave the table. "Ayame, you're in charge with the dishes."

Ayame frowned. "What?!"

Shunya looked at his youngest daughter and eyed her like a hawk. "You were 20 minutes late when you came home from school. You know the rules."

Ayame sighed in defeat. "Fine officer."

Shunya nodded and left.

Kaname smiled and stared to her daughter expectantly. "So Shizuru-chan, what did your aunt Kyouko told you?"

Shizuru smiled and let of the tiny spoon to embrace her mother. "She told me that she's getting married!"

Kaname's eyes widened. "Really?! Ow! She and Shinji! I thought they'll wait until Shinji finishes his mastering in college!"

"Japan! Japan! Mommy let's go to Japan!" Shizuru repeatedly said with excitement and happiness. She was born in Japan and she really misses her mother's bestfriend who always has a camera in her hand.

Ayame smiled. "That's good, my winter vacation will start next week and it would be nicer to spend it in our homeland."

Kaname's beaming face suddenly fell worried. "Japan? It's been five years since I've been there...been so long."

Ayame noticed that and frowned hard. "C'mon neesan! Stop being so caught up in the past! It had been five years! And let's not disappoint Kyouko-neesan's request, I'm sure she doesn't want her bestfriend to miss her wedding!"

Kaname laughed. "Of course! Who says we're not going? Of course we're going! Ne, Shizuru?"

The young girl giggled. "Japan! Japan!"

Ayame smiled and looked at her sister with concern eyes. "Neesan, I'm sure he won't be there, so let's just enjoy our vacation okay?"

Kaname nodded. She stared down to Shizuru with solemn eyes. "I'm eagerly hoping that you're right Ayame."

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By shimmering winter noon, the three maidens of the Chidori family stepped their foot on Tokyo Airport.

Kaname watched her little angel ran excitedly toward her waiting group of friends. Ayame smiled as she pushed the metal cart which holds all their bags and packages from New York.

Tokiwa Kyouko with her fiancé and former high school mates welcomed their arrival. She smiled sweetly at the sight of a small girl running toward her. "Shizuru-chan! Is that you?"

"Aunt Kyouko!" Shizuru jumped to the young woman who wore eyeglasses.

Mitsuki stared at the small girl. "Who's that kid Kyouko? Brown hair and grey eyes, I don't think she's Kaname's youngest sister."

Kyouko shook her head and raised the toddler within arm length to study the child's face. "She's Chidori Shizuru, Kaname's precious daughter."

"What?!" Mitsuki's eyes turned wide and examined the young girl who's now laughing gleefully while Kyouko tickling her. "Kaname already has a daughter?"

Shinji bowed his head toward Kaname and Ayame. "Welcome back to Japan Chidori-san, Chidori-chan."

Ayame smiled and patted Shinji's shoulder. "Please call me Ayame, it'll will be easier for you!"

Shinji nodded. "How's your trip? I'm sure you're both tired, let's be on our way now, I prepared a simple feast in my place." He smiled and took the cart from Ayame.

"Sure Shinji thank you." Kaname said and bowed politedly.

Hayashimizu, who's now working for the government intently look at Shizuru. "Um, she looks a lot like her father."

Kaname smiled and took the child from Kyouko to her arms. "Hello there Mr. Student Council President, where is your assistant?"

The silver haired man smiled and opened his infamous fan. "She's at Shinji's place, she's the one who prepared the foods."

Ono D. smirked and stared to Shizuru. "Hello there youjo-chan, did you inherit your mom's temper?"

Shizuru felt uneasy with foreign people suddenly surrounds her and buried her face to Kaname's neck. Kaname smiled and caressed Shizuru's back. "C'mon guys don't frighten my child."

"Wow! What a good mother!" Tsubaki commented. "So Chidori would you like me to give my Myo to your lovely daughter, I'm sure she would love a strong daddy!" He joked and was rewarded by Mitsuki's punched.

"How dare you flirt in front of me you bastard?!" Mitsuki bellowed.

The group laughed simultaneously. Kyouko stepped forward to Kaname and gave her bestfriend a warm hugged. "Welcome back Kaname, I'm glad I could have a bridesmaid!"

Shinji smiled at the moving reunion. "Let's go now guys, the van is waiting."

All of them agreed and proceeded to Shinji's house.

TBC

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A/N: That's it, this is my first fan fiction, I would be glad to receive some reviews and comments. Anyway please be easy on me since I am obviously a newbie!

Thank you very much for reading please R and R!