Authors Note~ I DO NOT OWN FULL METAL PANIC OR ANY OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF Shoji Gatoh
Full Metal Panic! Operation Bravo Alpha Bravo Yankee
Sousuke looked around his living quarters on the Tuatha De Danaan with the legal documents spread across his cot. This would be the last time he would have a chance to do this. Writing down his possessions in a pragmatic, concise list, was not a problem. It was what to do with his possessions that was the real question. He had no family to speak of and nothing of value besides the money he's earned being a mercenary of which he has used little.
Nami.
He would rebuild the school in that small village in her memory.
-It's the least I can do.
Chidori...
If she was still alive after this was over...
If he couldn't be there to protect her...
He could at least provide for her...
It was a clear solution. If she were still alive after this battle, and he was not, she would become the beneficiary of his estate. She was the closest thing to family outside of the crew of the De Danaan he had ever came the particularly hard part for Sousuke, what to say to his friends, commrades, aquanitinces and so forth. What would he talk about? His life? Justice? What kind of man he was? Nothing good came to mind. As far as he was concerned he had caused just as much pain in the world, if not more, than others. He danced with the flames of fate and constantly found himself on the edge of getting burned, and this time, he thought, he would be consumed by them. There was only one thing he could think of to write:
Good Luck.
At this he closed the documents and filed away the papers.
Chidori...
The thought of her kept his hand still on a piece of blank paper.
-I'm not any good at expressing myself in words, but maybe if I can write down these thoughts to her I can steel my nerves before the final battle.
Somehow became normal for them to talk candidly during some crisis, incident, or under pressure. Did it mean they relied on the peril itself to be honest with their feelings? If he were to meet and talk to her again, would it be under the same circumstances? He couldn't even begin to guess. To begin with, she had now lost her sanity. She thought she was acting according to her convictions, while in fact she was being manipulated by the consciousness of that girl in the TAROS. Even Tessa did not know any way to turn her back. Was it too late already? Would she never go back to the girl he knew? Wasn't what he was about to do completely futile and meaningless?
-This is a bad idea but then again...
At that thought he took a pen from his pocket and began to swiftly write, finding the words coming more freely than he had ever anticipated he found himself filling the front and back of the first sheet of paper. Several sheets later he felt like he had spilled his soul and lifeblood into every word of that letter. She would probably never get the chance to read it, but it felt good to get everything out. He folded the paper and slipped it into an envelope writing "Angel" on the front and placing it into the manila envelope with the rest of his will. A lithe shadow then envelops the dim light coming from the doorway when Mao enters the small berraks.
Souske remained silent ruminating on what he had written.
-Hey there Sergeant Serious. What are you doing?
-Getting my affaris in order.
-Your affaris? Like your will?
-I figured this may be my only chance. There's not much to sort out anyways since I don't have any family.
-So what are you going to do?
-I'm giving it all to her if she survives.
-You're a very kind person, you know. Someone like you shouldn't even have become a soldier.
-Me? You're making a big deal out of nothing.
-I'm not Sousuke you've got a gentle soul that was thrown into this world of war.
-I'm a mercenary as much as you are.
-No. You just learned the skills necessary for your survival. You shouldn't have ever had to hold a gun, kill to eek by, even learning to pilot that damn robot. Me? Clouseau? We're here by choice, and you're not, - Mao's voice shook lightly as she then paused.
-Look... I'd like to ask you something. No... it's not a question it's an order.
- Yes?
- Please. When this is all over, stop it. Don't do it anymore. Forget about good-for-nothings like us, just live for yourself. Don't ever take up a gun again. Be kind to people, laugh with them, go back to school, be a normal kid while you still have the chance.
She then turned him around and wrapped him in a warm sisterly embrace.
- You can live like that, I know it...
She tilted her head to the side and looked straight into his eyes, tears welling up in the corners. She had lost so much and so many since this started and she didn't want Sousuke to end up dying in vain like the rest of them.
- Impossible.
Those words shook her out of her revere.
- Don't say that. Don't say things that would make Kaname sad...
- Kaname...?
- You have to save her and let her know that everything's going to be alright.
Sousuke couldn't think of anything to say. If she was here, then he probably wouldn't be feeling this way, and would believe her if she said that everything's all right. But then, who would say that to Mao now that Weber was gone? He tentitively put his arms around her back and whispered.
-He would be proud of you Mao. He loved you.
She sniffled and pulled back to look Sousuke dead in the eye.
-No pressure, but it's up to you to save her.
-Affirmative.
At that Melissa pats him on the shoulders and heads towards the hangar. The final battle will be commencing soon and then they will have to part ways. This may be the last time he meets with Mao so he stops her forcefully and looks her straight in the eyes.
- I also have an order.
- What you can't order me?
- Then think of it as a promise between commrades in arms.
- Then what's that Sousuke?
-Never give up. Never give in. Believe in me.
He gripped her shoulder at this and gave her an akward smile. Trying to cheer her up was harder than he anticipated, but at the last she gave him a big punch in the shoulder and with a big grin said:
- I won't die that easily!
- Roger!