Seven Months
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Panic, Kim Possible or Street Hawk. Wish I did though.
Author's Note: Here's the second prequel for 'Specialist and the Schoolgirl'. This picks up right where it left off at in the story 'Thunderbird Wedding'. Each chapter will be a month remaining on Sousuke and Kaname's preparation for parenthood. Also, at the end of each chapter after this one, they'll be hearing from their Team Hawk friends. Enjoy.
Summer in Middleton: Month 3
"TWEEBS!"
Kim Stoppable and the others arrive at the Possible house and find it still standing, surprisingly enough. The only thing out of the ordinary is the massive billow of smoke coming from the upper rooms. On the front lawn are Nana Possible, the tweebs and the soundly sleeping triplets. The tweebs are heavily coated in soot, having been in their lab at the time of the blast.
All through the drive, Kim kept wringing her hands together, hoping that the triplets and the tweebs were all right along with Nana. Behind the wheel, Ron grasped his wife's hand with his right and softly ran his fingers along hers. Kim weakly smiled in thanks for Ron's support.
The Drs. Possible were at their work places when they heard the explosion and felt the rumble in the ground. Realizing what had happened, James called Amanda to let her know he'd be picking her up. Upon arrival, they see the others, get out of their Jaguar and go right to Nana's side, arriving in time for her chewing out the tweebs.
"I swear, you boys will be the deaths of your parents or maybe even the world. Need I mention your nephews and niece? What were you thinking?"
"Sorry, Nana."
"But we were working on a new fuel mixture and were testing it."
"When it blew up in our faces." Both twins finished it at the same time and are now awaiting their punishment from their parents.
James Possible can't quite conceal a smile at the sight of his sons' forlorn faces as he asks, "What have I told you about fuel experiments in the house, boys?"
In a soft, forlorn tone, they reply, "Not to do it without supervision."
"Then why did you two experiment without me there to check your calculations?"
"Well, we didn't know when the wedding would end."
"So we thought we'd do some extra legwork just to be sure."
"That's when it blew up."
Kurz Weber, getting to be really annoyed, grasps his head and says, "This finishing each others' sentences is really unnerving! If my mind winds up as scrambled eggs, I'm cursing your descendants!"
"Watch it, Sgt. Weber! Be it as it may, twins usually wind up finishing each others' thoughts and sentences. Lest you forget, I have an older brother. Sometimes, we'd do the same thing." Teletha Testarossa gasps as she realizes her error in using Kurz's rank, as they are supposed to be undercover.
Sousuke Sagara spotted it as well and elects to move forward. "The convention Captain is correct, Sgt. Weber! So watch what you say from here on out. Is that clear, Sgt. Weber?"
Kurz lets a wry grin escape before replying, "Yes, Lieutenant Sagara!" He then assumes a rim-rod stance and salutes Sousuke, given his rank. 'Way to cover Tessa, Sousuke. You'll make a fine Officer yet.'
"Hicka-bicka-boo?"
"Hoo-sha!" The tweebs then come forward to greet the new arrivals. Instead, they get a hard glare from 'Lieutenant Sagara' and notice that his eyes are the color of steel.
"As for you two. Have you ever considered a safer hobby? Like fishing or video games? Reading books is pretty safe as well."
"Well, we do use video games."
"But only for parts when it comes to our mechanical projects."
Sousuke looks over at Kim for verification. "That's right. What you see is what happens when a brain surgeon and a rocket scientist reproduce. Of course, they got me as well. But I think I'm a lot less destructive."
James then grins and says, "Actually, Kimmie-cub, you were very 'high-spirited' and 'rambunctious'. No babysitter could ever handle you." Kim's jaw drops in shock as she looks over at her little brothers. She then looks at the still-sleeping triplets and softly smiles.
"We so rock, Ron. Like our children do and will." Ron comes up behind her and wraps her in his arms from behind.
"You bet we and they do, KP. Our incoming children and they will definitely overpower anyone unlucky enough to babysit them." He then laughs his most sinister laugh, with Kim joining him. Kissing her, he gently rubs her stomach, not quite oblivious to the scene around him.
Both tweebs yell out, "Major cootie alert! Kim's Frenching her husband while getting her belly rubbed and liking it! Eeewww."
Kim comes out of the kiss, smiles at them and says, "It'll happen to you guys sooner or later." She then scowls and says, "If you endanger the triplets again, Heaven help you." Both tweebs nod, knowing that Kim is like a lioness when it comes to their nephews and niece.
Both twins bow their heads down and say, at the same time, "Sorry, Kim."
Kim can't stand their forlorn looks any longer. She bends down, ruffles their hair and says, "Next time, wait for Dad to get home before you do your experiments. He's the expert. Next time, you might not be so lucky. Mom and Dad wouldn't want to lose you. Neither would I, guys. So please, no more unsupervised experiments. Deal?"
"Hicka-bicka-boo?"
"Hoo-sha!"
The tweebs embrace Kim and, at the same time, say, "It's a deal, sis!"
Kim smiles and says, "Good work, boys." The tweebs then break away from Kim's embrace and go to their parents' waiting arms. "Just gotta know how to talk to them at times."
Kaname Chidori smirks at that and says, "Usually, I just use a halisen whenever Sousuke does one of his detonations at school."
That gets everyone's attention, with the tweebs the most attentive.
"Detonations at school?" James Possible is curious about that as he turns his head Kaname's way.
"Yeah, about that. You see, Sousuke had been raised in various hot zones all over the world. It's where he had picked up his otaku habits from. Be it from using high-yield explosives to firing firearms in closed quarters. Ever since we met, my life has never been the same, and it's only getting better each day."
Amanda gasps as she asks, "He does all that at school? That's hardly normal behavior, even for a youth suffering from Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder."
"That's because he's usually a little busy doing the Traumatic-Stress number on the others. Be it gang toughs or other classmates. One of our former teachers even fell victim to this maniac's graceful antics." Kaname is oblivious to Shunya's cut sign as she goes on.
"One day, he fired a gun into the air and demanded a plain roll. He then leveled his gun at the others and warned that he will shoot unless he had gotten the roll. Needless to say, the other students panicked and trampled the lunch ladies. Even the bakers were trampled. In any case, we were appointed to serve lunch for the next week while the bakers recovered."
"What happened then?" James is morbidly fascinated by the tale, as are the tweebs. Surprisingly enough, the others are deeply interested as well.
"Our gym teacher, Mr. Kogure, wasn't happy with the situation. He yelled at Sousuke and told him that he'll get him. This maniac here told him that he was looking forward to it. He then explained to me that he was behaving like a drill sergeant, the perfect way for a Military nut to think. The next day, Sousuke felt that someone would try to steal the bread, so he set a high-voltage trap in one of the bread baskets."
Bonnie Rockwaller grins and says, "Here it comes."
"Mr. Kogure was intent on putting grasshopper legs on the bread to sabotage our efforts. When he grabbed the cover, he literally got the shock of his life!" Kaname can't help but laugh as she thinks about the incident. As she calms herself down, she sees that the others were chuckling as well. Even Sousuke was with a proud grin on his face.
"Mr. Kogure was then taken to the Hospital. Of course, I wasn't happy with Sousuke at the time. I mean, he could have killed Mr. Kogure with that trap. The next day, Mr. Kogure was somewhat prepared. He was wearing rubber gloves when he removed the sheet. This time, he was intent on putting laxative on the bread."
Amanda gasps as she says, "That's unethical. Laxative on bread could be bad for people's general health. They wouldn't have time to absorb the nutrients a body needs to sustain life. What was the trap that time?"
Kaname smirks as she replies, "Tear gas, rigged to go off when the sheet was removed. Once again, Mr. Kogure had gotten caught in one of my maniac's delightful traps." She then blushes at what she had just said. 'My maniac. I like that.' Shaking her head, she goes on.
"Once again, I wasn't happy with him. The next day, Mr. Kogure went all out. Hard hat, shades, gas mask, vest and rubber gloves. When he removed the sheet, nothing happened. He then proceeded to stick needles into the rolls. Unknown to him, however, the Principal was right behind him. My guess is that she was curious as to why Mr. Kogure was going to the Hospital so much in the last two days and felt she should stake out the area."
Her face then blushes as she thinks, 'I am talking like Sousuke now. Stake out and everything he'd usually associate with surveillance.'
James grins and says, "The ultimate trap is one that is not set up. Trapping 101." He then gets curious and asks, "How did you find out about that, Kaname?"
"The Principal told us after our job as food vendors ended. Mr. Kogure had told her everything about what he had done before he was sent to the mental institute. In a way, Sousuke saved more lives with his two traps alone. I mean, if Mr. Kogure had gotten any of that stuff into the bread, someone might have gotten hurt, or maybe even killed."
"Yeah, that's Sousuke for you. Always going the extra mile to ensure everyone is kept safe, even if it means getting someone ensnared into one of his traps. Mr. Kogure sounds like he's bad news." Kurz gets a wry chuckle out from Melissa's comment. "Besides, it certainly wouldn't warrant the use of a land mine in the bread trays. But, with Sousuke, you never really know." Thinking fast, she then asks, "How much ordnance do you have remaining, Sousuke?"
"I still have 9 wedges of C-4, 10 Claymore mines, detonator switch, detonation cord spool with 19 blasting caps, 9 fragmentation grenades, 10 concussion grenades, the TNT sticks and bottle of Nitroglycerin. Small arms consists of my Glock, magazines for same, Steyr SPP, magazines, M-16A2 rifle with M-203 grenade launcher, magazines and five 40mm grenades, Franchi SPAS-15, 85 shells of 12 gauge. That is all, Melissa." He then looks around and sees the faces of his friends' parents and Nana's face pale. "Oh no. Not good!"
Nana shakes her head and says, "It's not that, dearie. It's just that you are so young. You shouldn't have all that equipment all the time. Wouldn't you agree, Andrei?" At that, everyone, except for Nana and Kalinin, drops their jaws in shock. "Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin, you certainly don't look any worse for wear. The years have been good to you."
"You as well, Marion. It's good to see your fighting spirit has been inherited by your grand-daughter and her husband." He then turns to Kim, who has just now gotten her jaw off of the ground, and says, "Your Grandmother even trained with me for a time at the Spetsnaz facility. Of course, you wouldn't find that in her file. She was very formidable opponent. It'd be my luck if she still is. I'd prefer not finding out, as those that underestimate her often get hurt, very badly."
Nana chuckles slightly and says, "I only go easy on family. Kimberly's no different. She has skills that are only unmatched by myself and Sheila. I'm glad that Sheila's on the right side again. The world needs more people like these. Kimberly, Ronald and Sheila." That has all three blushing as Nana goes on. "Of course, more people like Sousuke may not be a bad thing exactly. No doubt, with his skills, he'd make an excellent disciplinarian."
Now it's Kaname's turn for her face to pale as she thinks about Sousuke and his idea of discipline.
"You little rugrat! I've got seven days to transform you into a well-disciplined student! So by this time next week, you'll be fully prepared to tackle your schoolwork!"
"Sousuke! He's only five years old!"
"Kaname, his first day was a disaster. He was sent home for a week. He couldn't even make any new friends because the other kids considered him to be weak. Even the teachers said that much. You know what happened to the last teacher that called our son weak."
"Yeah, I do Sousuke. That teacher wound up stepping on a land-mine on her way to her car! How do you justify that, you maniac? You're lucky she wasn't killed, only got stuck to the ground. The adhesive held up very well, though. It was even pretty damn funny come to think of it."
Kaname shakes herself out of it, only to see Nana Possible staring her right in the face. Sheepishly smiling, she laughs a nervous laugh, only for it to fade when she sees Nana's eyes narrow.
"Easy, Marion. Miss Chidori is with child."
Nana smiles softly at Kaname and says, "Believe it or not, Kaname, Andrei and I are old friends. So, here's the deal. You think about Sousuke's idea of discipline a little more and I'll wait until after the little one is born to show you my moves. Sousuke, I expect you to keep her and the child safe the whole time, and even more afterward. If not, you'll be facing against me in one-on-one hand-to-hand combat. Of course, I could use a work-out right now. Watching Jim and Tim is one thing. But Julie, Andrew and Edward? They can drive someone up the wall when they get older. Just like a little, red-headed, pig-tailed girl I know used to do until she started babysitting at fourteen."
"Nana!" Kim can't help but blush at her outburst. What's even more, Nana goes on.
"Ronald was certainly no different. He'd always sleep over during the weekends, on the floor beside Kimberly's bed. He always felt he had to protect Kimberly. Just like a German Shepherd. At only five years old, too." That has Ron blush as well as he wraps Kim in his arms.
At that, Bonnie nods in agreement, knowing full well what Nana had meant by it. "That's right. They were always together, even as little kids. Need I mention just how cute they looked together at that age? I always figured those two would wind up together and have beautiful children. Even when I was nasty toward them, I felt there was something special about them." She is then surprised when she feels Kim's arms around her, along with Ron's.
"Bonnie, that so hurricane rocked!" Bonnie laughs at Ron's wording before he goes on. "I guess that chew-job I did on you helped after all."
"Yeah, it did, Ron. Once again, you rock, Ron. Very, very hard." She then turns to Kim and says, "We better get going. Mother hasn't been feeling well, so she's been at the mansion watching the twins." Sousuke's ears perk at the word 'mansion' and he turns to Kaname with a fearsome glint in his eyes and a wildly feral grin on his face.
"No, Sousuke. No, no, no. You'll not be planning home security for Bonnie's Mother."
"I must at least give an opinion. Consider it exploration of a new career." He turns to Bonnie and Hirotaka, saying, "Ready when you are, Mr. and Mrs. Rockwaller." Bonnie grins in gratitude at Sousuke's offer and guides him to their sports car. She then holds up her hands in a waiting gesture for Kaname.
"I guess I better. Who knows what that maniac might recommend for the mansion?" She then steps over to the car and whispers to Bonnie, "Just so you know. I'm only doing this to be sure no one gets hurt."
"I realized as much. After all, Sousuke may be a soldier, but he's also unpredictable. With your presence there, the mansion just might survive. Especially given Sousuke's method of appraisals of threat assessments and weak points. Kalinin had shown me Sousuke's file." She then shudders as she adds, "His skills are admirable, as are his perception and reflexes. But, his common sense level leaves something to be desired."
Kaname laughs softly as she says, "Yeah. At least he's trying though. Awkward is it is, he's trying." Bonnie can only giggle in agreement as she closes the door after Kaname gets in. At that, the group leaves the Possible residence and head for the Rockwaller family mansion. At the same time, Kim and Ron leave, saying they have to go see someone.
Upon arrival, Sousuke sees two key points that use some 'hardware' and 'upgrading' from the driveway alone. Even the driveway could use some 'hardware' just from being on it. When he looks at the house, he determines that .50 caliber machine guns on the side brick walls would provide ample suppressive fire against hostile intruders. In the yard, concussion and anti-personnel mines spaced out by fifteen feet, parallel to each other, would be effective in warding off the same.
Kaname examines the house and sees a five-story structure, brick-construction with white window-shutters at the sides of the windows. Also outside is a woman with curly brown hair with a medium frame, watching over two infants with showings of brown hair.
"Oh Bon-Bon! You brought guests. Oh no!" Judith Rockwaller suddenly lets out a massive sneeze and smiles sheepishly. "Sorry about that, dears. How'd the wedding go? It's too bad I couldn't make it to see my eldest daughters get married."
"It went fine, Mom. In any case, this is Sousuke Sagara and his Fiancee, Kaname Chidori. Sousuke and Kaname, this is my Mother. Judith Rockwaller."
"It's nice to meet you, Sousuke and Kaname. Oh, you poor dear. You have a nasty scar on your face. What happened to you?"
"An Afghani rebel leader dragged his knife across my cheek in a cross fashion. However, I've come to accept it as part of me. It's not a problem."
"Didn't your parents object to that? Where are they anyway? I'd like to meet them."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Mrs. Rockwaller. Sousuke's an orphan. His parents died when he was eight years old. Ever since then, he's moved around, just trying to survive. When he took up with the Afghani rebels, he learned various battle tactics and was abused at the same time." Judith gasps at Sousuke's nod of agreement at Kaname's testament.
"Are they alive still? I'd like to write a book on their atrocities to go alongside my book on atrocities by the Soviets." At Sousuke's puzzled look, she goes on. "I wasn't always Judith Rockwaller. I was once a writer in Los Angeles. I wrote a book exposing a murderer at a local college there."
Kaname smiles and says, "Street Hawk saved your life once. Didn't he?"
"Yep. The original one, anyway." Judith remembers what Bonnie had told her about her other identity and elects to keep it classified, not wanting her daughter, son-in-law or grandchildren coming to harm at all.
Sousuke then says, "Mrs. Rockwaller, the Afghani rebels I took up with are dead. Their camp in Helmajistan was destroyed by two RK-92 Arm Slaves. However, I can tell you a bit about my skills. For example, your driveway could use electronically-controlled treadles embedded into the pavement. If any vehicle you do not recognize drives up, you can activate the treadles and disable the vehicle. If you're away from home, a laser grid around the perimeter will act in your place. Any vehicle breaks the beam, the tires get destroyed. At the same time, Police will be notified about the intrusion of the perimeter or treadle activation. The yard can be defended by both concussive and anti-personnel land mines. .50 caliber machine guns on your windowsills will lay down suppressive fire, should any intruder come up to be armed and/or extremely hostile."
Judith blinks unbelievably at the scar-faced young man before her. She then smiles and says, "That's pretty funny. A teen raised, trained and abused by Afghani rebels being an expert on home security." Judith starts laughing, only for it to fade when she sees Kaname scowling.
"Sousuke may be a teen still, but he's also very good and knowledgeable about what he's talking about. If you had seen the things I have, just by being around him, you'd see that there is more to him than meets the eye."
"It's all right, Kaname. It was merely my opinion regarding her home's security measures. She is not obligated to follow my advice. However, I would be disappointed if she were to ignore it completely, given my otaku habits." Kaname slumps her head in agreement, knowing that the Mithril soldier has a valid point. His cover must remain intact so the organization can stay secretive.
Judith looks at Bonnie and Hirotaka. She then gasps at the looks on their faces as they watch over their twins. Soft, warm and proud. Just like the day they were born.
Feeling a desire to help protect them, she says, "Okay. Say I were to use some ideas. The treadles would be a nice touch, along with the concussion mines. I just don't want anyone dying on my family's grounds at all."
Now curious, she asks, "Just where did you get your schooling from regarding home security, Sousuke?"
"You might say I did some climbing to get my expertise." Kaname giggles then laughs at the memory of Sousuke scaling a cliff just to get to her position inside a massive mansion. His concern for her was evident on that day, even though he didn't show his reaction to her new white bikini that day.
She then sees Judith looking at her strangely and elects to cover her tracks. "He is always going to new heights associated with getting his skills. He even faced off against a trio of bodyguards as well. These guys served with the French Foreign Legion, no less."
Bonnie then cuts in before more is said. "In any case, Sousuke and Kaname, Hirotaka and I would like you to meet our twins. Ron and Kim Rockwaller. Here, you two could use some practice. Sousuke, take Ron while Kaname takes Kim." A very uneasy Sousuke and an equally ecstatic Kaname take hold of the infants, both mindful of the tiny bodies within their arms.
Kaname looks down at Kim's tiny face and smiles softly, eager to see their own son come into the world. Meanwhile, Sousuke is visibly sweating, as he was not trained to handle children with the utmost care. Getting a brainstorm, he then elects to treat the child in his arms like a highly-sensitive explosive. Slightly shifting his arms, he finds a comfortable position. He is now holding Ron in an upright position with his left hand behind Ron's head, supporting it's weight, while his right hand is on Ron's bottom.
Surprisingly enough, Ron doesn't even cry out in protest. Instead, he just smiles and giggles at the scar-faced man holding him.
"What's so funny? You like this, little fella? Very well, I'll save the information for later. It's not a problem."
Bonnie smiles and says, "I never thought I'd see this. A hard-core otaku being a natural at handling a child. Maybe there's hope after all." Kaname nods in agreement as she sticks her finger into Kim's mouth after getting an insistent tug from the tyke.
"Well, that's Sousuke for you. He's capable of pulling off surprises and the most impossible things at times. I guess you might even say we surprise each other at times. He's certainly come a long way, Bonnie."
Both Bonnie and Hirotaka nod in agreement as Judith comes up with an idea of taking a picture. She then goes inside and gets a Polaroid instant camera. Coming back out, she is relieved to see both teens holding her grandchildren still.
"Smile, say cheese!" Next thing both teens know, Judith has snapped a shot of the both of them. "We'll just wait for this one to develop. Bon-Bon, why don't you take the kids inside. I'm going to stay out here before I come inside and get to know our visitors some more."
"Sure, Mom. Come on, honey. Let's take them in." She then walks over to Kaname and smiles at the sight. Kaname with a soft smile on her face, with Kim's mouth around her finger still.
"Kaname, you'll definitely make a wonderful Mother. You're a natural as well. Strange thing is, she doesn't usually take to strangers. Oh well. Is Kimmie-kins ready for her nappy-nap? Come to Mommy, Kimmie."
Kaname softly hands Kim over to Bonnie while Sousuke hands Ron to Hirotaka, a highly befuddled look on his face. Hirotaka then bows to both teens, with them returning the bow, before going in behind Bonnie.
Kaname softly asks, "You okay, Sousuke?"
"Affirmative. It's just that I've never done that before. At all, Kaname. Strange thing is, I enjoyed it. Do you think I'm going soft? Could this have to do with impending parenthood?"
"I don't think you're going soft, Sousuke. You're starting to become a human again. When I first met you, you were an awkward Military machine. Like a 'Terminator', only you hadn't been in a peaceful setting before. This is so new for you and it's scaring you to death. Sure, impending parenthood has something to do with it, but, you're still human, Sousuke. Your natural instincts are starting to emerge. Underneath all that training, there beats a proud heart of a Father-to-be. Just like, under all this fire within me, there's a proud heart of a Mother-to-be. I'm proud to have fallen in love with you and having our child. Only, this one will have the childhood you were so cruelly denied."
With tears falling from her brown eyes, she wraps the Mithril soldier into her arms and kisses him softly. Suddenly, she feels a familiar twinge and bolts away from him, only to vomit on the lawn.
"Kaname, are you all right?" Sousuke gets to her side and helps her up, very gently.
"Yeah, I'm okay, Sousuke. It's part of pregnancy on the part of the expectant Mother. Morning sickness, only it happens in the afternoon as well. I needn't say anything further, do I?"
"Negative, Kaname. As long as you're all right, it's not a problem." Kaname can't help but giggle at her beau's wording and leans over to kiss him.
"I'll never get tired of hearing you say that, Sousuke. In a way, it reassures me that everything is going to be all right. Just like you always make bad situations get better after you make them worse, you delightfully wonderful Military maniac." She then tilts her head all the way back and kisses him passionately, with him rubbing her belly. Judith smiles in the background and snaps another picture.
That night, Judith gets more background on her guests while Bonnie and Hirotaka are feeding the twins. To say that she finds Sousuke's whole story to be horrific would be an understatement. Combine that with Kaname's life before meeting Sousuke made it sound so very lonely. She even said as much to the both of them.
"Let me see if I got this straight. Your parents were killed in front of you by Soviet troops. You were then taken in by Afghani rebels that shortly afterward scarred your face, permanently. You learned all kinds of survival and combat skills, only to go to Japan years later and turn Kaname's world upside down. Meanwhile, Kaname lost her Mother to Cancer. A young teenage girl, living alone in Japan. Highly vocal and active in sports. So vocal, people resented her for it. Prompting her to consider suicide at one point. Then, she meets the one boy that both turns her world upside-down and awakens a passion within her. Does that sound about right?"
"Yep, pretty much, Mrs. Rockwaller. Of course, I always have to duck in cover anytime Sousuke does his demolitions work. All because he feels that someone is always trying to kill him with a bomb in his shoe locker. When he first started doing that in the high school, it was a cry for help from a young boy trying to make sense of the world around him. After all, we're talking about a young man that has been in various hot zones all over the world."
Judith's jaw drops as she says, "I can't believe you managed to survive all of that insanity, Sousuke. Are you the last Sagara?"
"Negative, Mrs. Rockwaller. I have an older cousin that looks just like me. The only way to tell us apart now is my scar. Now, there's going to be a Sousuke Jr., coming in the next seven months." He then reaches over and takes Kaname's hand, adding, "With her around, I can do just about anything."
Bonnie snorts and laughs, saying, "Just like Kim and Ron back in their day. With Ron around, she can do anything. Just like these little ones along with Kim and Ron's will. We're going to be sure that they have solid friendships with each other. No matter what we or they come up against, where or who. These friendships will bloom and thrive, like mine did with Kim and Ron. Albeit slightly delayed, but bloomed and is thriving nonetheless."
Judith smiles and says, "If only your Father could see you now. He'd have a heart attack, stroke and lose both bowel and bladder control. All at the same time."
"Mom! Too much info!" Bonnie cringes in disgust as she thinks about it and then smiles wickedly, her barracuda smile arising. Suddenly, she yawns and says, "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for bed. How about Mommy's babies? Are you ready for bed, too? Come on, let's go night-night. Yes." As Bonnie and Hirotaka go upstairs, they are both cooing at their infants, with Bonnie doing the most cooing.
Judith smiles at Bonnie's antics and softly says, "She has certainly made a lot of progress in her friendship with Kim and Ron. The day she came home from school as a little girl was the worst day in her life, at least in her words. She told me that she wanted to be friends with them, but her Father wouldn't let her. He felt that rich people should only have rich friends, not those in Middle-Class neighborhoods. That's what started our nightly arguments with each other. One night, he never came home from his office job."
Kaname puts it together and says, "He abandoned you, Lonnie, Connie and Bonnie." At Judith's nod, she goes on. "Why did he leave you guys behind?"
"I don't really know, Kaname. I'll tell you one thing though. If I ever saw him again, I'd rub their pictures in his face and taunt him mercilessly. A fair payback, I believe, for ditching us and making Bon-Bon so cold and bitter toward others. Believe it or not, her elder sisters even loved her at one point. But, when their Father left, they blamed Bonnie for it. That fueled her bitterness even more."
Sousuke then clears his throat and says, "I know some people with resources that are pretty much unheard of. If you were interested, I could put in a query as to his location so you can perform a retaliatory strike. Be it with nuclear warheads or court papers." At Judith's dropped jaw expression, he smiles and adds, "Very well. We'll just stick with the court papers unless he's in a deserted area. Then we can use nuclear warheads."
"Sousuke! No talk of nuclear warheads being used against deadbeat parents! Although, that idea does have some appeal." Kaname can't help but throw her arms around Sousuke's neck and kisses him, a bright smile on her face.
"I can't believe I'm hearing discussion of using nuclear warheads against my wayward husband. Kaname, please tell me he's joking."
"Mrs. Rockwaller, it is never a good idea to joke about using nuclear warheads against another person. It's serious when it comes to matters like that. Just like when I offered Kaname a nuclear warhead for her thoughts." That has Kaname's eyes bulging out and her wildly laughing.
"A nuclear warhead for her thoughts? Now I've heard everything." At that, Judith yawns, giggles and says, "Look at the time. I suggest we get to bed so you guys can go shopping together tomorrow. Sousuke, did you get her ring yet?"
"Negative. I think I'll make that one of my stops tomorrow during our shopping recon. No doubt, I could find a custom shop that specializes in custom rings."
"Well, Middleton Jewelers has a custom section inside. You might just find what you're looking for."
Kaname chuckles weakly and says, "Somehow, I don't think they'd have what Sousuke has in mind. But, like the saying goes, 'You never know what you'll find until you do'. The same will probably go the same for Sousuke."
At that, Judith guides Sousuke and Kaname to their room, especially since Kaname had requested that Sousuke be in the same room with her. Even though she found it odd, Judith agreed after seeing the warm smile on Kaname's face as she stroked her belly.
As they turn in, Sousuke strips down to his tank top and shorts while Kaname gets down to her bra and panties. They both get into the bed together and just cuddle with each other.
"Good night, Kaname."
"Night, Sousuke. I love you, you big goofball."
"I love you, too, you fiery spirit." He then kisses her cheek and she pulls herself closer into his side.
As she dozes off, she softly says, "Good night kisses are the best. Especially with you, Sousuke."
"Hmm. Affirmative." That night, Sousuke and Kaname just hold each other close, soft smiles on their faces.
The next morning, Kaname opens her eyes and smiles at the sleeping form beside her. Suddenly, she feels a squeeze on one of her breasts. Evidently, Sousuke was sleep-wandering with his hand and had it wind up on there. Kaname blushes and smiles even bigger as she softly kisses his forehead.
Sousuke opens his eyes at the contact and sees a blue-haired, brown-eyed angel smiling at him. He then feels a familiar shape and looks at her chest. His eyes then bulge out when he sees his hand on her breast and lightly lifts it off, offering an apology.
To his surprise, she puts it back on there and smiles, saying, "We're going to be together. So we might as well get used to these occurrences, Sousuke. Let no one tell you any different, Sousuke. You are so cute when you get flustered like that. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to go shopping. How about you?"
"Affirmative. I think I'll swing by the jewelers that Mrs. Rockwaller told us about. I have an idea for a custom design if they don't already have one."
"Nothing weird or dangerous, is it?"
"Neither, Kaname. Just unique and unusual."
"Just like you, Sousuke. Uh, you can take your hand off my breast now." She giggles as Sousuke springs his hand up off of her breast and blushes at the same time. "We got plenty of time for when we move in together, Sousuke. Big question is, where do we live?"
"I have enough in my account to buy a massive house, Kaname. But, I think we should start small. Maybe a two bedroom to three bedroom house, were we to add on to the family. Or I do something idiotic." Kaname can only giggle as she gets her clothes on, with Sousuke right behind her.
"Sousuke, you've evolved quite a bit in the past year. Only thing we need to work on now is your moodiness. The loss of your parents still hurts you, doesn't it? That's why you're still somewhat gloomy."
"Affirmative. But, if I can save parents of other children, that at least would spare them the loneliness I had as a child. Even with Zaied as my friend, it was pretty lonely. When our camp was attacked, it was by sheer luck I was out spying. Otherwise..."
"Say no more, Sousuke. I get your meaning. If I had met you when my Mom died, I wouldn't even have thought about killing myself later on. However, if you hadn't come into my life when you did, there's an extremely high chance that the world would have been destroyed had my knowledge been gained."
At that, both teens finish dressing and go to the living room, arm in arm. When they get there, they see Bonnie and Hirotaka smiling at the twins.
"Morning, Bonnie and Hirotaka. Sousuke and I are ready when you are." Bonnie nods as does Hirotaka. At that, the two couples leave the mansion and get into the sports car.
Their destination for the day? A new store that just opened up named 'Infants R Us'. Upon arrival, they see the Stoppables' Hummer H2 in the parking lot, with Ron behind the wheel and Kim right beside him. Right beside the Hummer is Felix's wheelchair, along with Felix and Tara in Felix's lap.
Only now does Sousuke take notice of the wheelchair, as it does not match any of the models he's familiar with. Not even with the Mithril Hospitals. He then elects to ask Felix about it.
"Oh, it's a cyber-robotic wheelchair. My Mom made it for me. Only been repaired once. I'm sure you can guess who it resulted from."
"The drunk driver."
"That's right, Sousuke. Well, I'll save that story for later. Shall we go in?"
Ron then grins and says, "Sousuke, zero body count."
"Roger."
"Sousuke, I heard about your reputation through Kim and Ron. I hope you're not planning any demolition work. This is a new store that just opened up and we might like to return here someday for things for our grandchildren."
"Negative, Mrs. Renton. All my remaining equipment should be with my 'foster' family by now. All I have on me right now is a concussion grenade and my Glock, loaded with rubber bullets. Undoubtedly, Mr. Chidori has handed the remainder of my equipment over to them to ensure I do not succumb to the desire to do serious mayhem during the remainder of our vacation."
"What kind of family is it, Sousuke? I've never heard of a foster family like that one. I mean, foster families do not normally or regularly put dangerous weapons in the hands of minors." Felix nods in agreement with Tara's question.
"You see, my foster Father, Mr. Kalinin, was with the Soviet Spetsnaz. I was with another 'foster' family at the time. I was treated poorly by them. When they died, he took me in and entrusted me with weapons, given my expertise with them. Essentially, I'm an 'Army of One', to paraphrase a slogan. Even if I'm an otaku."
Tara nods and Felix says, "That makes sense, in a way. You're kinda following in your foster Father's footsteps." At Sousuke's nod, they all go inside.
When they get to the door, the ladies head for the stuffed animals section while the guys get stuck at the door. The guys then see a stuffed-figure moving around and making a pest of himself. Some people hug him while others hit him.
"Remember, tell your parents if they love you, they'll buy you a Harry Hippo doll."
"We will. Bye Harry."
"Bye bye. Oh, hey there, fellers. How'd you like to buy some high-quality Harry toys?"
Ron smiles and replies, "No thanks. We're just trying to catch up with our better halves."
"How about a 'Harry Loves You T-Shirt'? Comes in Extra-Medium."
"Once again, no thanks."
"A Happy Hippo doll?"
Finally, Ron snaps and says, "I said no! Are you deaf and stupid? My kids think your show is bullshit and I'm inclined to agree with them!"
'Harry' lets down his eyebrows and says, "Oh. Sorry to put so much pressure on you. I take it you fellers feel the same way." At their nods, he nods and adds, "Well, no hard feelings." As they walk away from him, he says, under his breath, "You cheap shit losers."
That gets their attention and Sousuke, bringing out his Glock, asks, "Did you just say something, 'Harry'? It would be in your best interest to answer truthfully."
Ron softly says, "Sousuke, remember what I said. Zero body count."
Confused, 'Harry' asks, "Body count? What do you mean body count, you wiener-head?"
Ron then grins sadistically and says, "We're clear to engage, boys."
'Harry' is now getting nervous, seeing manic grins on the mens' faces before him. "Engage? Engage what, fellers? Fellers? Fellers?" Suddenly, they charge him. "Uh-oh."
Felix extends his wheelchairs' arms and wraps them around 'Harry's legs, tripping him in the process. Hirotaka starts kicking him in the mid-section.
"Come on, can't you do better than that, Karate boy?"
"Actually, it's ninja boy, hippo-boy. But, it's about a mile off the mark. Now, you must die."
Ron then kicks the figure right between the legs, resulting in a massive groan of pain. "Boo-yah!"
While this is going on, Kim, Tara, Kaname and Bonnie are chatting and getting along famously.
Kaname then asks, "When your children were born, was it painful?" All three nod, proud smiles on their faces.
"Since Norman was born a preemie, I had to have a C-section done. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived. I don't even have much of a scar. Of course, being assaulted by Josh Mankey didn't help matters any." She then tells Kaname about both Felix and herself being assaulted by Josh. Needless to say, this gets Kaname's fire going with a vicious gleam in her eyes.
"Where is he now? I'd like to introduce him to my halisen."
"He's in a funny farm, right now. At least, the last we heard anyway." Bonnie nods with Kim's answer and feels that he is right where he belongs.
"Well, it's just too bad the guys can't experience what we go through during the first few months of pregnancy."
Tara grins and says, "Oh, they have sympathy pains, Kaname. It's slight compensation, but very well worth it. Besides, without the men in our lives, we'd be very lonely and bored." That has the others laughing until Bonnie sees something new.
"I've never seen that before. It's a Womrog. I guess it's a cross between a wombat and a frog." At Kim's nod, Bonnie sighs and mutters, "I should have remembered that you're a big collector of Cuddle-Buddies. Maybe about as big as that Paisley guy."
Next thing they know, they hear a giddy male voice. "Oh, it's finally come out. The Womrog. Oh, Miss Possible, how nice to see you again. Where's your friend at?"
Kim turns around to greet the eccentric collector. He had slimmed somewhat and increased his hair-mass. His oval spectacles had been replaced by square-rimmed glasses and he still has an affinity for Cuddle-Buddies.
"It's nice to see you as well, Mr. Paisley. You look great. My husband and our friends should be with us soon."
"Thank you. Oh my, congratulations on your wedding. I would have come, but there was a Cuddler Convention on your wedding day. I suppose you're wondering why I'm here today." At their nods, he goes on.
"My elder sister is having a baby shower for a friend's daughter and I thought I'd help out a little bit. Along with getting the latest Cuddle-Buddy. As to your husband and friends, I do hope they can get through the ruckus at the front door. Four men are beating up 'Harry the Hippo'. Can't say I really blame them. After all, he was trying to sell them what they weren't interested in. Ms. Possible?"
Mr. Paisley looks around and sees that he's alone, having closed his eyes as he had explained. "Huh. Maybe they know who it is and want to watch. Oh well. Come to me, Womrog."
At that point, Kim and the others are making a beeline for the front door and see the ruckus. They then see their men beating the figure senseless.
"Felix!"
"Hirotaka!"
"Ron!"
"Sousuke!"
All four had shouted at the same time, prompting their guys to turn their heads around.
The guys are now thinking, 'Not good!' As they start walking away, 'Harry' twists himself around and sees them walking away.
"Yeah, that's right. Go back to your Mommies!" Suddenly, he sees the scar-faced youth bring out a round object. "What are you doing, scar-face? Came to get some more from me?"
"Negative. I've returned to end it. Completely."
"Sousuke! Ron said zero body count!"
"Actually, Kaname, I gave him some leeway. The guy was being a jerk. Go ahead, Sousuke. Do you want us to back the crowd up?"
"Negative. It's not necessary for you to do so."
At that, Sousuke pulls out the pin on the grenade, lets the spoon fly off and stuffs the item into the figure's foam mouth before bolting away. Once he gets clear, the figure's head is blown right off, revealing a pudgy young man's face.
The young man then passes out from the force of the concussion grenade. At that moment, store security lifts the figure up off of the floor. At the same time, Kim and the others are dragging their guys out by the ears while paying for their items.
Once they get outside, however, it's a different story. The ladies are hanging off of their guys' arms, proud smiles on their faces. They even gush over what Sousuke had done at the end.
"I can't believe Sousuke used a concussion grenade like that. Have you ever done that before, Sousuke?"
"Negative, Tara. It was my first time combating a stuffed animal. However, I have fought as one myself, several times." At the others' dropped jaws of disbelieving shock, Kaname jumps in.
"That's right. The first time, he was dressed as Bonta-kun when he was watching over me. A trio of drunken Yakuza was making trouble. Needless to say, he 'Fumoffu'd their asses." That results in another blush on the somber soldier's face.
"The second time around, there was a weirdo, going around and giving girls ponytails. Without their consent and wearing a horse's head, saying 'Pony'. Needless to say, that was the weirdest encounter yet. It would have been safer if Wakana hadn't tried killing Sousuke with her weapons."
Bonnie recovers her jaw in time to ask, "Who's Wakana?"
Sousuke replies, "A highly-disturbed Police Officer. Essentially, she's a nutty whack-job." He then clears his throat and goes on. "The third time I was Bonta-kun was helping a friend of Kaname's with a problem. Her friend's family is part of the Yakuza. I prefer to not mention any names, as it would endanger her friend, needlessly. In any case, they were weak and under-powered, in danger of losing their ground to a stronger group. The intent was to give them enough strength to show their opponents they can give them a good fight."
Kaname jumps in from there. "They started getting very cocky, yet they were starting to show tremendous progress. One day, my friend and I were abducted, leaving Sousuke and some raw recruits to pull off an impossible rescue. The gang that captured us wanted to use us as bargaining chips to get the group off of their turf. However, they never counted on Bonta-kun being armed and having a S.W.A.T. unit composed entirely of Bonta-kuns. At least, that's the way they worked."
Felix grins and says, "I would have loved to have seen that. You should submit it to Police Agencies."
"Actually, I've already done so. But, sales weren't very good. Miami PD and the FBI bought some, but that was it." Bonnie ponders Sousuke's story and suddenly remembers the spot on the news.
"Fumoffu." At that, they all start laughing, Kim, Tara and Kaname laughing the lightest, not wanting to hurt the unborn children within their wombs. "Sousuke, you are definitely one of a kind!" Bonnie gasps out between giggles before letting loose another belly laugh.
When the laugh-fest is over, they all go to Bueno Nacho together. Upon arrival, Kaname and Sousuke elect to keep the promise they had made to themselves. Trying a Naco. For Kaname, her cravings have yet to begin, so she goes with a regular Naco while Sousuke does the same. Felix and Tara are at another booth, sharing a chimerrito together.
Kaname swallows after chewing and says, "These are good, Ron! How did Bueno Nacho come up with it?"
"Actually, it was my creation, Kaname." Sousuke and Kaname's jaws drop at this revelation. "I get royalty checks every six months now. A nickel for every Naco sold."
Curious, Sousuke asks, just before taking a bite out of his Naco, "How much was the most recent one?"
"Ninety-million dollars. They're very popular." Sousuke's eyes bulge out as he tries to swallow the bite.
Kaname pounds on his back while asking, "Sousuke, are you all right?"
"Affirmative, Kaname. You mean that you make more money in a year than I do? But, why fight crime?" That question was asked in a quiet whisper. "You and your family are set for life. Why not retire and enjoy life?"
Ron smiles and replies, equally quietly, "I'm like you, Sousuke. I can't stand to see bad things happen when they can be prevented. However, there does come a time when one has to admit they're starting to get too old for it. The only time I'll give it up is when Kim, Bonnie, Hirotaka and I, along with Jessica, see Norman's dream come true."
Intrigued, Kaname asks, "What's that, Ron?"
"To have a Street Hawk in every Police garage in the country. That was his dream when my predecessor was alive and still is his dream today. I have no intention of letting him down, at all. Nor do the others. They want to see their vehicles used by the Police as well. I mean, War Birds would be ideal for patrolling the skies of cities and towns. Sand Hawks on beaches of coastal cities. Every town and city Police force having a Street Hawk in their garage could cut crime down to near non-existence. Or at least to the point where criminals that are violent are kept behind bars. Right where they belong, for good. I believe in that dream too."
Bonnie smirks and says, "Same here."
Kim nods and smiles, saying, "I feel it, too."
Hirotaka grins and says, "I believe in that as well. I've served alongside them for a good while now. To say it would be declined a second time would be a travesty against all our hard work. For right now, though, we're with Global Justice. Any job they feel they can't handle, they call on us to step up to the plate."
Kaname smiles brightly and says, "Mithril's the same way. With Sousuke on the side of right, no evil shithead has a chance in hell." At the others' dropped jaw expressions, she flips her blue-hair and adds, "What can I say? Pregnancy is making me act nuts." She then sees Felix and Tara right at their sides, frowns on their faces. "Hey, you guys okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine, Kaname. After all, it's not every day you hear about Ron and the others being 'Team Hawk' and a group named 'Mithril'. Just one question, Ron-man. How long have you been doing this?"
"Two and a half years, F-dawg. Two and a half years." Suddenly, he's glomped by two mechanical arms in a crushing embrace. "Felix, air is becoming an issue."
"Oops. Sorry, Ron." At that, Felix releases Ron from his arms' grasps, allowing Tara to step forward.
"It was you that night, wasn't it, Ron?" At Ron's nod, she thinks back to the night she was attacked and came across Street Hawk for the first time.
(Flashback)
Tara had finished her homework and was out getting some ice cream from a store near her house. Suddenly, two burly boys came out of the shadows, disgusting leers on their faces. One had grabbed her by the hair while the other ran his hands all over her body. Next thing she knew, there was a motorcycle with a glowing-blue nose.
"Too late. I'm already here." The rider spoke with a distorted voice before firing a volley of tranquilizer rounds. "Nighty-night, boys." The rider then nodded to Tara before taking off, yelling, "Hi-ho Silver, away!"
Tara comes out of the memory, smiles at Ron and says, "Thank you. But, why were you out that night?"
"I was on a shakedown run for the cycle, just to be sure everything runs smoothly on it. I had just come off of Series Two. When I saw you being attacked, I went right to Series Three."
Bonnie cackles and adds, "Norman told him that he wasn't cleared for encounter and Ron told him that it was too late. He was already there." Tara giggles as she leans forward.
"Kim, I'm going to kiss your husband on his cheeks. You know what? There's not a damn thing you can do about it." At that, she kisses Ron on both cheeks, saying, "Thanks for saving my butt that night, Ron."
"You're welcome, Tara. I'd also thank you if you and Felix would keep this between yourselves. Surprisingly enough, Monique already knows. Of course, being Thunderbirds, you should know that secrets are important after all."
"Whoa, Ron-man, what makes you think we're Thunderbirds?"
"Monique told us that you guys along with Joss, Lonnie and Connie were Thunderbirds. In a way, we all have something in common. A common goal. Safety of the planet and it's inhabitants." Kim smiles at Felix, Tara and even Bonnie's dropped jaw expressions.
Bonnie softly smiles and says, "That's why Monique left the house that day. To work a rescue. How'd she do?"
Tara frowns and replies, "She lost a family of five. They were already dead by the time they had been found. An investigation found that their windows were slightly open while the other vehicles' were securely rolled up. Monique kicked herself all night long. Scott was the only one that gave her strength to go on with being a Thunderbird. So, Sousuke. What's it like being with Mithril? What is Mithril anyway?"
"Essentially, we're mercenaries on the side of Justice. We destroy drug factories and terrorist camps. We even do protection work on the side. We have no Nation to answer to, as it allows us to intervene in a bad situation should the need arise." He then grins and adds, "As for being with Mithril, your average Ground-pounder doesn't pull in the wages we do. But, it's not really the money. It's the action and hardware we use to get the job done."
Felix is now stumped as he asks, "How did you two meet anyway? With being a mercenary, you don't have time to go to school."
Sousuke flushes before replying, "It would be better to converse in a more private setting. It's after lunchtime and we really need to get going." His cue is subtle enough for Felix and Tara to get the hint. Matters like that are not to be discussed in a crowded restaurant.
Kim smiles as she says, "Well, the girls and I could use some time at Club Banana. Ron, why don't you take Sousuke to a jeweler's and help him see about a ring for Kaname?"
"Sound idea, KP. Sousuke, any ideas on a store in particular?"
"Affirmative. I'm quite curious as to what Middleton Jeweler's has in it's inventory." Ron nods in agreement as Felix and Hirotaka casually move away, whistling nonchalantly.
"Oh, Felix."
"Hirotaka."
"Quick, get on the back, man!"
"Right behind you, Felix-san. On board, now haul ass, man!"
At that, the wheelchair switches over to flight mode and flies away from the shop-crazy femmes within their wives. As they watch the wheelchair fly away, Tara and Bonnie pretend to pout before they start giggling.
Between giggles, Tara remarks, "He's got incredible stamina. Too bad I can't say the same for his shopping tolerance."
"I know. Hirotaka's the same way. He just doesn't understand fashion like we do. We'll just surprise them when we get home to them. I'm thinking.." She then leans over and whispers into Tara's ear, smiling massively at the bubbly blond's red face and panting breaths.
"Here's what I'm thinking for Felix." Tara whispers into Bonnie's ear, smiling when she sees the brassy brunette's reaction is the same as hers.
"They won't know what hit them!" Both woman crowed out in unison, prompting the others to look at them strangely.
Kaname turns to Kim and asks, "What was that all about?"
Kim grins as she replies, "You'll see, Kaname. Some things just aren't meant to be discussed around men. Especially ours. Right, Ron? Ron? Huh. He and Sousuke slipped away already."
"I think they are very much alike. Does Ron have any siblings?"
"No. He was an only child. When we were only friends, he was like a brother to me. To him, our friendship was all that mattered to him, since he didn't have many friends. For a long time, I was his only friend, along with Monique, Felix and Tara."
"Yeah, Bonnie told us on the sub in the tub about her rotten self in the past. It's good that she established a friendship with you guys."
"Yeah, very good. Well, let's go to Club Banana, shall we?" At the others' nods, they all pile into Bonnie's sports car, seeing as Ron and Sousuke went in the Hummer.
Upon arrival at the jewelry store, Ron and Sousuke go into the store that had only been broken into almost two months ago by an RK-92 Savage and a group of Sho-Da-Kah goons.
"Over here is the custom section. For Kim, I got a standard ring for our engagement. However, seeing as you are not quite standard, this will be more fitting for you, Sousuke."
"Understood. Let's see what we can find here." At that, both men peer into the cases. Ron sees rings for just about any taste while Sousuke sees nothing to fit both his and Kaname's.
"Can I help you, fellas?" Both men turn and see a kindly, slender Caucasian woman in a red pantsuit with long brunette hair. "Oh, Mr. Stoppable. How nice to see you again. Here shopping for your wife?"
"No, Ms. Morris. I'm just helping a friend pick out a ring for his Fiancee. Sousuke, any luck?"
"Negative, Ron. Ms. Morris, do you do custom designs?"
"Yes, of course, Mr.?"
"Sagara. Sousuke Sagara."
"Mr. Sagara. A unique name. And the lucky young lady?"
"Chidori. Kaname Chidori."
"Miss Chidori and Mr. Sagara. I can tell your rings will be quite memorable already. What did you have in mind?"
At that, Sousuke explains what he has in mind for the engagement ring for Kaname. When he's done, Ms. Morris' jaw is on the floor in stunned shock. She then collects her wits and adds up the figures.
"Here's the total for a ring of that description, Mr. Sagara. Mind you, we don't exactly get that kind of custom job order very often. Needless to say, it'll be very unique." Her hand shaking, she hands it to Sousuke and allows him to peruse it. To her shock, he smiles like a shark.
"How long would it take, Ms. Morris?"
"It would take one week, Mr. Sagara. Shall I go ahead and put the order in?"
"Affirmative. Would you like a deposit down on it?"
"Yeah, sure. Here's the amount needed for a deposit." Her hand is still shaking as she writes the amount down on the back of the receipt. To her shock, he nods and brings out his phone. Or at least something that looks like a phone.
"This is Sagara, B-3128. Requesting a monetary transfer of $5,550 into an account. Yes, I'll put you with the owner. Wait one, please." He then hands it to the woman and says, "My accountant's on the phone. He requires to know your bank account number. Or, do you prefer a check to be done?" Ms. Morris has to sit down as she puts her ear to the earpiece.
"This is Evelyn Morris. Please send a check in that amount to Middleton Jewelers." She then gives the accountant the store's address and is, in turn, informed the check will arrive the next day by courier. In stunned disbelief, she hangs up the phone and hands it back to Sousuke.
Shaking herself out of it, she says, "I better get your order processed, Mr. Sagara. If you'll wait for a few minutes, I'll get your receipt for you."
"Of course, ma'am. It's not a problem."
Ms. Morris smiles weakly as she ambles over to the store's computer and clicks on the 'Special Orders' icon. When she gets the screen, she enters the information and submits it. A confirmation slip comes out of the printer and she lightly removes it.
"Oh, the detail on one of the portions may not be precise. Will that pose a problem?"
"Negative. Like you said, ma'am, you don't get this kind of order very often. As long as it comes close to what I have in mind, it's not a problem." Ms. Morris lightly giggles as she hands the slip to Sousuke and watches him fold it precisely.
"See you next week, Mr. Sagara."
"Likewise, Ms. Morris."
At that, Sousuke and Ron leave the store, and a fainting Evelyn Morris, behind. By the time they have left the store's area, a crowd of people have swarmed over to the unconscious woman. As Ron drives the Hummer, both men see an Ambulance heading the way they had just come from.
"Hmm. I wonder what's going on back there. Maybe someone's having a heart attack."
"Possibly, Ron. Quite possibly. Are things really this hectic when you're out here as Street Hawk?"
"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But, I'll say this much for this town. Never a dull moment. You must feel the same way, being with Mithril and all."
"Hmm. Affirmative. I've seen a thing or two, long before you and Kim started saving the world as Team Possible."
Ron grins in agreement and nods, knowing exactly what Sousuke was talking about. He then brings out his Ronnunicator, keys it up and says, "Hey, KP. What are you doing right now?"
"We're leaving Club Banana right now, Ron. Ready to head home for dinner yet? Tara and Bonnie are getting hungry, as are Kaname and I."
"Great, KP. We'll eat at the house tonight. I'm thinking Nacho Lasagna with Chocolate Torte for dessert."
"Spankin'. Oh, Kaname has something to show Sousuke. He'll see it when you guys get to the house." At that, the Ronnunicator's screen blinks out.
At the same time, Kaname grins as she looks toward Kim. "Do you think he'll like it, Kim?"
"It certainly blew Ron's mind when I wore one before we became official, Kaname. Of course, with Sousuke, it just might detonate his head."
Kaname grins as she goes back to the dressing room to put on her 'surprise' for Sousuke. "I'll just have to hope it doesn't. Sousuke blowing things up is one thing. Sousuke being blown up is an entirely different matter. If he dies, I'd be devastated." Five minutes later, Kaname and the others are on their way to the house.
When they get to the house, they see Felix and Hirotaka waiting outside, holding four bouquets of roses, all red. Hirotaka and Felix hand Ron and Sousuke a bouquet each and exchange a quick signal. Grinning massively, the guys turn toward the women in their lives and hand them to them.
When Sousuke sees Kaname, his brain freezes. Her figure is glorious, wrapped within a little black dress. Ron looks over at Kim and mouths, 'You?' over to her. At her nod and smile, he gives her a thumbs up.
"Sousuke, what do you think?"
"Uh."
"Sousuke?"
"You look incredible, Kaname. Incredibly lovely." Kaname blushes as Sousuke struggles to find the words. "This is getting to be difficult for me. I've never seen this side of you before, Kaname."
"Well, when in territory you're not familiar with, you gotta blend in. That's what you try to do, isn't it?" At Sousuke's nod, she goes on. "This is my way of blending in, Sousuke. Being in love with you is bringing out a whole new side of me. Both being in love with you and carrying our child." With that, she kisses Sousuke passionately.
The rest of the month goes by quickly for Sousuke and Kaname. One week after Sousuke's order was placed, it arrives at Middleton Jewelers. A fully recovered Evelyn Morris is looking forward to seeing Sousuke's face when he sees the ring. The craftsmen seemed to have known their stuff, as the detail on the ring was very exemplary. When Sousuke arrives with Ron, Kim and Kaname in tow, Ms. Morris smiles softly and nods, bringing the ring out with her.
Sousuke opens the lid on the box and his normally somber face is replaced by a face of proud happiness. He then brings out his sat-phone and makes the arrangements for the balance to be paid. Ms. Morris, having received the payment the day after she passed out, allows Sousuke to give the ring to Kaname. With a nod, Sousuke does so, a smile on his face as he gets onto his knee.
When he hands Kaname the box, she smiles as she opens it. Her jaw then drops as she takes in the view of the ring. A gold twin Diamond with two settings. One setting is a cherry blossom and the other is a grenade, blending both her world and Sousuke's together.
Kaname gets enough control of her voice to say, "It's beautiful, Sousuke." With tears falling from her eyes, she allows Sousuke to put the ring onto her ring finger and kisses the soldier passionately.
She then turns to Ron and asks, "You knew about this, didn't you?" At Ron's smug nod, she smiles and says, "Kim, I'm kissing your husband on his cheek. Please, allow me to do so, as I'm inviting you guys to our wedding." At Kim's smile and nod, Kaname does so, saying, "Thanks for all you do, Ron."
"It's not a problem, Kaname." Ron's remark has everyone, including Ms. Morris in stitches.
Ms. Morris then says, "This ring will definitely go down in the books as the most unusual ring in my career." With that, they wave good-bye to each other as Kim, Ron, Sousuke and Kaname leave the store and get into the H2.
As they leave the store, Kaname is looking at her ring, a proud smile on her face. Her smile then fades with a thought.
"A nuclear warhead for your thoughts, Kaname."
"Sousuke, I would like to see Yori's grave so I could tell her how much I miss her. Ron, do you know where she's buried?"
"Affirmative. If you like, I can go ahead and drive you guys there now."
"Thank you, Ron. Arigato."
"You're welcome, Kaname."
With that, he redirects the H2 to the Cemetery where Yori Ashemi had been buried for the past two years. When they get to the gravesite, Kaname sees Yori's headstone and gets out with Sousuke's help. Kim and Ron elect to stay in the H2, knowing that it'll be best for them to leave them be.
When they get to the stone, Sousuke looks over at Kaname and says, "Take as long as you need, Kaname. It's not a problem."
"Thank you, Sousuke." Sousuke nods and steps back, allowing Kaname her space. Kaname kneels down to Yori's headstone and says, "Long time, no see, Yori. Yeah, it's me. Kaname Chidori. I wish I could have gotten to see you again, at my wedding at least. That's right. I'm getting married now. He's a soldier and the Father of the baby within me. However, that's not all the story. You see, I'm 'Whispered', Yori. The soldier was originally assigned to be my protector, but we have fallen in love with each other. He's not just any soldier, but a Specialist. He's a master of various forms of combat. With that, Yori, I'd like you to meet my Fiance. Sousuke Sagara, Lieutenant of Mithril."
Sousuke steps forward, kneels down and takes Kaname into his arms, saying, "It's nice to meet you, Yori. I may not know much about life in general, but I'm learning now. I've been a warrior for so long, it's kinda hard for me to get used to this. Basically, I'm an orphan. I ran with the Afghani rebels, joined Mithril and am now Kaname's protector and Fiance. I'm a master of all forms of combat. Be it hand-to-hand combat to piloting Arm Slaves. I'll keep watching over Kaname and our son. Rest assured of that."
He then asks, "Was that appropriate, Kaname?"
"Let's see. It was your first time talking to a headstone, so I think you did a good job, Sousuke." At that, the couple gets up from the ground and walk back to the H2.
As they leave the Cemetery, they decide it'll be a good idea to go ahead and plan their departure. Shunya and Ayame had already departed three days after the wedding, with Shunya smiling proudly at his eldest daughter and her beau as they boarded the plane from Middleton back to New York. That night, Shunya called the Possible residence to let them know they had arrived without problems. That same day, Robocop, Sheila, Alexandra, James Murphy, Marishka Ovelika, Bob Norton and Luke Sagara had departed for their trip back to Detroit. They arrived safely as well.
Tessa, Kurz, Melissa and Kalinin returned to the TDD-1 the same day as the wedding after getting Sousuke's equipment bag from Shunya. A Mithril safe-house would later arrange for the bag to find it's way into Sousuke's apartment.
The week of Sousuke and Kaname's departure has arrived. Since Kaname had gotten her ring, Street Hawk had responded to five robberies and one attempted homicide. Also, Rolling Base had broken down in traffic and was in the process of being replaced when Norman Tuttle's friends found a new van to act as Rolling Base. With some modifications, it's proven to be a worthy replacement for the battered old Chevy Step-van.
At Middleton Airport, Sousuke and Kaname wait for their Mithril charter flight back to Tokyo. They look back at their friends and smile. Hirotaka had to stay home and watch over the twins, seeing as Judith had to leave town on a business trip. Bonnie grins massively as she brings out a Polaroid Instant Camera and sets it's timer.
"Let's get our picture taken together, guys." When they get into position, the flash goes off and Bonnie gets her camera without any incident this time. When she gets it, she pulls out the picture and hands it to Kaname. "Here, Kaname, when your little one sees this, you can tell him all about us. Well, maybe not all, but you get the point."
"I do, Bonnie. Thanks. Say, where's Felix and Tara at?"
Ron replies, "Doctor's Appointment. Tara wants to be sure that their latest bundle of joy will be all right monthly."
"That makes sense, Ron. Well, this is where we part ways, Ron. My Brother-in-Arms. We look forward to seeing you guys at the wedding when Sousuke Jr is born." That has Kaname laughing along with Kim and Bonnie as Ron and Sousuke exchange a hearty clap on each other's back.
"Take care, Sousuke, my Brother-in-Arms."
Sousuke nods just as Bonnie's beeper goes off. "Great timing, Norman. Just when they're about to leave. Sousuke, Kaname, see you guys at the wedding. I gotta go. War Bird duty calls." At that, the brassy brunette walks at a crisp pace out of the terminal.
"Must be pretty big for her to leave like that. Will she be all right?"
"Yeah, she will, Kaname. Bon-Bon has done this kind of thing before. Looks like your flight's about to leave. Kim and I'll have to tell you the story later on. Idea. We'll tell it to you guys in segments in our letters to you."
"Great idea, Ron. All we gotta do now is decide where we're going to live until we can get a proper house. Sousuke, why don't we move in together? Share your apartment. Since we're getting married, we could use the practice."
"Affirmative, Kaname. It's not a problem. Also, the balcony would be ideal as an escape route, should any attacks occur."
"Oh Sousuke. Only you can go otaku at a romantic time like this. But I love it and you!" Kaname then wraps Sousuke in her arms and kisses him passionately as they board the plane. Kim and Ron wave good-bye, with Sousuke and Kaname returning the wave as the door closes.
Kaname and Sousuke take their seats, right beside each other, and smile softly into each other's face. The month of fun in Colorado finally catches up with them and they both fall asleep, smiles on their faces as the Mithril charter leaves the ground and makes it's way to Tokyo.
Author's Notes: Got a little long-winded here. I've been working on this story and two other stories for a while now. If you want to know why Bonnie left after getting that beep, please check out 'Kim Possible and Street Hawk: A Hazzardous Sitch'. In the meantime, I'll have to submit this story chapter by chapter as they come along. Something this monumentous simply cannot be submitted in one broad stroke. Not without making the readers of my other stories upset. On that note, please bear with me on this. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.