Chapter 3: Getting back into shape…

Sousuke woke up the next morning quite early. He rolled out from under his cot and sat up, yawning and stood up getting a clean pair of pants on as well as an undershirt and his military Jacket. He sighed as he checked the pockets of his jacket for a pen so he could leave a note on the door. He paused feeling something soft and silky. He pulled it out of his pocket a crimson red ribbon cascaded out of the bunch it had been rolled up in. It was the ribbon Chidori used to tie her hair back. She must have put it there when she hugged me. He thought to himself as he rolled it around his finger in a neat roll and put it in his pocket. Once again his door was opened, Sousuke blinked looking up. It was Mao again.

"Don't you ever knock?" He said as he looked at her.
"Nope" She placed his black journal on the desk. He watched her and sighed.
"Sousuke from what I've read you've gotten close to Chidori, you just don't realize it."
"Mao…Why was I given the order not to speak to her upon my return to Jindai…It's ridiculous…" He said as he zippered and buttoned his jacket.

"Sousuke you are close enough to her…Military and Romance do not mix. She nodded to him and sighed. "You shouldn't get close to the people you are protecting…."
Sousuke had known that, but he couldn't help but to get close to Kaname, he cared for her. She was more than just his mission objective.

"You are very hard to get close to, Chidori has found a way around your emotionless personality. As have I, we see you for who you really are." She smiled a little. "Sergeant Sagara…you are in love with her…that wasn't supposed to happen."
Sousuke blinked taking everything she said in. He sighed. How can I be in love when I don't even know what it is? There were now many thoughts racing through his mind.
He straightened the collar of his jacket and opened the door to find Kurz standing on the other side.

"So I've heard you and Chidori got close, well it shouldn't be to hard to get her to fall for me then huh?" He chuckled after saying that.

Sousuke narrowed his eyes at Kurz and then ignored him as he let go of the door and started walking down the hallway. Mao left his cabin and looked at Kurz and shook her head. She sighed as she walked passed him. Kurz just shrugged and headed down the hall to his cabin yawning.

Sousuke pulled a key card out of his pocket and swiped it to open a door. He pushed the door open and looked around, it was the training room full of work out equipment. He had finished part of his basic training in this room. He walked in letting the door slam shut behind him. He looked around his grey eyes studying the room. He walked over to the chin up bar and looked up. A few seconds later he jumped up grabbing on to the bar.

"One…" He counted as he pulled himself up.
"Two…" He did it again. Since he was facing the wall he did notice Mardukas had quietly entered the room. He walked midway over to Sousuke watching him. He smirked a bit as he noticed Sousuke was having trouble when he reached number thirty five.
"SAGARA!" He yelled. Startled Sousuke dropped from the bar to the floor and turned around.
"Sir!" He said as he saluted. Sousuke sighed he wondered what Mardukas had against him.
"You are out of shape…does this mean we'll have to send you back to basic training?"
Sousuke blinked and responded.

"No Sir! That is not the case!" He said firmly and with a hint of certainty.
"Then I want to see fifty chin ups with no hesitation!"
"Sir!" Sousuke yelled as he jumped back up onto the bar following orders and restarting his count at one.