Author's Note: Here's Sousuke's story with spoilers for Burning One Man Force and Come And Make My Day. Here he tells Kaname all about Nami.
Part 1-His Story
Without a word of protest Kaname nodded and took his hand following Sousuke over to the sofa where they sat, side by side…shoulder to shoulder indicating closeness, intimacy…but each looking like they were on trial…like they were about to confess to the crime of the century; something for which neither expected forgiveness. Sousuke, especially felt as if he had a tremendous burden to unload and uncertain how Kaname would take it he unconsciously looked around for her harisen…his usual mode of punishment from her and not seeing it he relaxed…
Okay…here we are talking…so where do I start? "As I said to you at school I have so much to tell you…so much to say that you need to hear but this isn't easy for me. Baring my soul, pouring my heart out…is something that I just don't do."
Kaname, still and grave said gently, "I know…I know this is hard for you…and I've never made things easy for you, either." She then gazed into his eyes and said, "But you go ahead, Sousuke…say everything you need to say to me…I'm listening."
Her expression was calm and expectant…encouraging him so he went on…
"After you went away with Leonard Testarossa I went back to Jindai to face our class and explain everything and apologize…for all the trouble and chaos…Tokiwa's abduction especially…"
"She was the first to greet me today," Kaname said with a sad smile. "After all she went through because of her friendship to me she still came to me and hugged me, telling me how worried she was. Then she reassured me about Hammy." She made a funny sound…like a cross between a sniffle and a giggle and added, "After almost dying because of me…she was concerned that I was worried about my hamster."
Sousuke reached and took her hand to squeeze it. "She's a true friend…loyal. Like most everybody I've had the privilege to know since coming here which is why I was compelled to make them a promise…that I would go and find you…and bring you back no matter what. So that's what I set off to do, make myself available to do mercenary jobs so I could search Amalgam down…set bait to flush them out so they would reveal themselves and lead me to you." His face then became haunted and he released her hand as he continued…
"I came to a town in southeast Asia called Namsak…to find an acquaintance named Rick who I thought could help me get a hold of an AS. But as it turned out he was killed during a match that they had down there."
"A match?" Kaname asked. "Between Arm Slaves?"
"Yeah…seems that there were matches held for spectator sport down there using Soviet abandoned RK Savages."
"Just like the one you stole the first time you rescued me during the hijacking of our class trip."
Sousuke nodded sullenly. "Yeah…I actually met up with the team of fighters named Crossbow who he had fought for. It was there that I met Michel Lemon."
Kaname remarked, "Lemon-san…he and I escaped the helicopter crash together in that abandoned Russian chemical plant, Yamsk 11." Her face became nostalgic as she added, "He was injured and as we made our escape he wanted to give up…but I refused and after we made our getaway he said he knew why you had fallen for me."
At these words Sousuke felt guilt inside him build about what he had to tell her. Taking her hand in both of his he said with a lowered head, "Kaname, I want you to listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you…and please understand that it was the circumstances and my state at the time. Since Mithril was all but obliterated and I had lost you I felt I was truly alone. Crossbow took me in and again I had comrades…Lemon, Ashe, the other mechanics…and Nami. She was their leader and she hired me as Rick's replacement. As comrades we were all close…and grew closer as I won more matches." He glanced up at Kaname and instead of the expected hurt or anger at the mention of another girl he was amazed to see a pensive expression on her lovely face…
"Nami, huh? So that was her name." She then bit her lip and asked tentatively, "What was she like?"
Sweat beading on his face Sousuke continued, "She was our age…separated from her family and village which were destroyed by unnecessary battles she wanted to win enough money in the matches to go back to her home village and rebuild her life." His eyes shadowed he went on. "She was strong and in many ways was just like you…stubborn, resolute, fearless…but also loyal and honorable…a great leader. She rebuilt and retooled the Savage and poured her heart into that AS." His face and tone became gentle as he finished, "Yet she was also sacrificial…burying her own needs for the sake of the team and always supporting me and cheering me on."
"Did you think she was pretty?"
"Yes."
With her head bowed Kaname was barely audible. "Did you like her, Sousuke?"
Holding her hand firmly in both of his he said earnestly, "I won't lie to you, Kaname…as I became more part of Crossbow Nami and I became close…she confided in me about her wishes and hopes and I found myself wanting to support her the way she supported me." He looked almost ashamed as he admitted, "Also at that time I was losing my memory of you…your smile and even the color of your hair ribbon, which greatly distressed me. Then there was a time, before a match that had serious implications. The corrupt police force wanted to fix matches so they arrested Lemon and threatened to execute him unless I agreed to a death match. That was when for a moment I entertained the thought of forgetting everything and beginning a new life with Nami. It was at that moment I wanted to take her in my arms…"
"Why didn't you?" She turned her head, unable to look at him.
Kaname's voice was derisive and its cold tone had icy prongs that tore his heart…so he hastened to reassure her, the one who carried it. Leaning in closer Sousuke took hold of her chin and gently turned her to face him…then gave his answer.
"I had an instant vision of you…your many wonderful faces and then thought of everything that I've gained from being with you…how you showed me how to laugh, taught me how to feel…how to care. You gave me back my humanity." He came even closer as he added, "From that moment on I was focused on one thing…finding and confronting Amalgam…taking you back and having you back by my side…and nothing was going to stop me." He then released her and said in bitterness, "No matter what sacrifice or cost."
Kaname asked warily, "What kind of sacrifice?"
With a heavy sigh Sousuke replied, "During the death match as I defeated their opponent the corrupt chief and his minions had taken Crossbow to an abandoned pig farm for execution and they had taken Nami away somewhere else. This was unknown to me until I realized during the match as they addressed me with familiarity about the M-9 they pit against me that they were members of Amalgam…and when they were defeated they told me that my comrades…were dead. But they weren't finished, they had their trump card…the assassin that tried to turn Tokiwa into a living bomb, who I stupidly let live…Kurama...using Nami as a bargaining chip." He lowered his head as if he was in deep pain. "I was hidden, waiting for the right moment to save her and be victorious without being killed or wounded to the extent that it would keep me from saving you…and in my hesitation the bastard shot her…systematically in the ways of prolonging her pain to torture me…then his final shot was to her head, killing her. Finally I ran out as he and the police began shooting at me. Help came in the form of Crossbow and Lemon's DGSE comrades as Kurama and the chief escaped. But then…Lemon, Ashe, and the rest all saw Nami…and rightfully blamed me for allowing her to die."
He then went on as if driven to exorcise all the demons trying to devour him alive…
"I then had Crossbow repair the AS…and went after Kurama. He had challenged me before he fled to meet him at the sports arena in the town of Munamera. So that's where I went. While he was killing Nami he taunted me, saying he knew where you were…my important woman…and then proceeded to tell me how after killing me he planned to do vile things to you. This is what drove me as I went to confront him…to find out where you were. But before that the chief had prepared a welcoming party for me of ten of my former opponents from the matches…to slow me down. And as Kurama counted down as he shot Nami, I counted down as I killed all ten. But the AS that Nami loved and had beaten more powerful foes finally had reached its limit so I alone went to the sports arena to face Kurama. We battled literally to the death…two master assassins in an endgame of pursuit wanting each other dead…and almost succeeded meeting that objective as he blew a hole in my chest just missing my heart…and I blew two holes in him, killing him. But before he died I demanded to know where you were. He told me you were in Mexico then as he died mocked me for giving in to the power of love."
"The power of love, huh?" Kaname was subdued as she sat transfixed before him.
Sousuke nodded staring ahead. "I collapsed then and the next time I opened my eyes I was in a makeshift clinic on Hiva Oa Island in Polynesia run by the DGSE. Lemon told me they found me and barely were able to save my life with half my insides blown away. I was recovering when Lemon also told me that I was delirious during my month long coma…calling out places and about taking back, which meant you. He told me how he and the team buried Nami then admitted to loving her."
"I could tell that she was a cheerful girl...even if I only heard her voice," Kaname remarked quietly as Sousuke halted talking to eye her quizzically.
"What…are you saying?"
"She resonated with me in San Carlo one night…in a dream I heard a voice that spoke to me, telling me farewell, that she was dying or already dead…that she hadn't replaced me with 'him' and knowing that she was talking about you I asked where you were. She answered that in Namsak you were still fighting, alone. We spoke about you as being special and I knew that she had fallen for you…but I had claimed you as mine and apologized, saying if it had been a different time…but she interrupted saying she had to go. As her final word to me told me to forgive you and give you a hug. I refused at the time, not knowing if I would be out of line after betraying you but she said that it would be best."
"So Nami was a Whispered," Sousuke said pensively. "I had my suspicions as I saw her rework the schematics of the Savage…as I witnessed her work I could see the evidence of a superior knowledge of Arm Slave operation." Heaving a sigh he admitted, "And she was a brilliant tactician."
"I see."
So she appeared to Kaname when she died…I never said anything about her to Nami but as a fellow Whispered she could sense my bond with Kaname…a bond that even she could never break…so I let her die The atmosphere was thick and choking with silence as Sousuke felt his heart twist with remorse and residual guilt…but as he languished in his agony of old and festering emotional wounds, he was surprised when soft cool hands reached out to grasp him as Kaname lent quiet comfort within her embrace. Holding him close with her hand cradling his head she became the vessel for repentance he craved…
As she held Sousuke she assured, "I don't think she hated you…she knew why you hesitated which is why she told me to hug and forgive you. So this is from Nami…and me."
Kaname tightened her hold on Sousuke as he in turn squeezed her while he allowed the forgiveness to come from her in proxy for Nami, permitting another wound to heal. And as he felt Kaname let herself be the balm to that wound, he was obliged to reveal everything to her about the months that passed during their separation. Sensing that she was waiting for him to do just that he gently pulled back and continued his saga…
"Lemon told me the DGSE wanted to get me functioning just so they could torture me for information on Mithril and Amalgam…I told them they could try but if they wanted any information they had to supply me with weapons, ammo, funds, an AS, transport ship and a safe house…my plan was unchanged…to find Amalgam and take you back. As I waited for their reply Amalgam…found me. They busted in, killing DGSE operatives to finish me off but I disarmed my attackers and killed them with their own gun, my instincts to survive for the lone purpose of saving you overriding my weakened condition. Even in a sense of delirium as I escaped I called your name…like I did often; it was like a lifeline for me to hang on, to help me focus before Lemon found me…and took me away. We then ended up in America…Florida of all places in the Everglades with a hard-ass retired Marine Viet Nam vet who put me through special ops training to help me regain my strength. He also hooked me up with a modified M-6 Bushnell AS…certainly not the Arbalest but adequate for what I was planning…to get to that mansion in Mexico where I knew you were…and take you back." His voice then reflected his disgust as he said dourly, "But try as I did you were still taken away from me."
Kaname remained still as Sousuke continued purging himself of all the bile created by numerous failures and blown opportunities that for the past year had frustrated him to his wits end…but never deterred him from his objective…
"Before I got to the mansion I was reunited with the remaining forces of Mithril…my SRT teammates Mao, Kurz, and Lieutenant Clousseau were deployed to the same location. After everything went bad I went back to the TDD-1 with them and saw that the Captain and Chief Mardukas among others…had escaped on the sub when Merida was attacked."
"So they all had survived Amalgam's attack." Kaname murmured fervently, "I'm so glad."
"Initially yes…at least temporarily," Sousuke pointed out. "But many lost their lives in the final siege…just before I came to Merida and took you from the Lieu—Kalinin." A shadow flickered for a second over his eyes then he continued, "And when we all went to Russia to search out and destroy the Omni-Sphere…and discovered that Leonard and you were there…was when we nearly lost Kurz. I'm sure Leonard told you that he had died."
She nodded then with a raised brow asked, "Nearly? You mean Kurz didn't die?"
Sousuke smirked and shook his head. "We all thought he had. When Tessa and I realized that you hadn't killed us we saw him and Amalgam's sniper in a fire fight and saw him fall. He told us to leave…so we did, believing he had been killed. We all mourned his loss…especially Mao because before leaving for Russia they had become lovers. But during the final battle he surprised everybody by showing up…saving the day and cheating death."
Kaname grinned as she said, "I'm not surprised…you Mithril SRT guys have a habit of doing that…saving the day and cheating death."
"Yeah."
Sousuke thought about it and realized that what she said was true. Cheating death was a normal trait of the Special Response Team and the skills and weaponry they possessed but he figured that Kurz's desire to live burned bright for one reason…to be with the woman he loved…Mao. And he was kindred in that concept because as he was trapped and waiting for the nuclear missile that was sent to destroy Merida Island he had been resigned to his fate…but wanted desperately to live so he could be with Kaname. And when he was brought to the American base in Okinawa for questioning, his one purpose to escape from there was to get to Kaname…meeting up with Kurz, Mao, Wraith, and Clousseau he left the AI unit from Leviatein, took the Humvee they had arrived in…and headed straight to her. And now…here they were…
Her grin faded as she gazed at him and said, "When Tessa told me that you died in the nuclear explosion on Merida part of me accepted your death…there was a huge hole in my heart thinking you gone but another part of me knew that if there were any way that you could survive a nuclear blast you'd find it…and live."
His heart pounding and with a tender hand Sousuke reached to cup Kaname's cheek and said softly, "I wasn't about to let myself die…I had two important promises to keep…to bring you back to Jindai…and to kiss you when we finally reunited."
"And you kept both." Slowly leaning closer Kaname whispered, "Thank you, Sousuke."
Their lips met again in another lingering sultry kiss…clinging to each other in sweet revelation as the reflections of the past year of separation had begun the rebuilding of bridges between them. Still locked in each other's arms the kiss ended but now it was Kaname's turn to speak…
NEXT…PART 2…HER STORY