A/N: Okay, so here is the fourth installment. Let me just take this time to say, I never really expected this to go over 3 chapters. I guess we'll all see how and when it ends together! Thanks everyone for your support! Thank you Morrigan Fey for volunteering to make this story better (and flow with ease!) Thanks to Perpetual159, LokiGirl, It'sAlreadyWritten, animeboy-12 and Hel14 for the reviews, I certainly need them. Thanks also to Firefly-Fox! Author claps hands together and rubs briskly back and forth, 'Now, down to business.'
Disclaimer: I don't own FMP! I'm glad I don't, they have brought a much more amazing story to life than I ever could.
Sousuke was adamant and Kaname couldn't believe his suggestion. Why should she stay at his apartment? That was absurd! Where was her fan when she wanted it? She really needed to knock some sense into this over-reacting military manic!
"Sousuke, there is no reason why I'm not perfectly safe at my own place. The guy's behind bars for crying out loud! What more do you want? Or do you have someone else from your past that you're worried about?" Kaname's foot was tapping an annoyed beat.
Sousuke flinched slightly before answering, "No, there is no one else from my past that I expect to show up, but I would feel better if you were to stay within reach for the next couple of days." His address was one to a superior officer, straight backed and arms at his side.
After two nights in the hospital, Kaname had been released to go home. Only, she just now found out that "home" was going to be Sousuke's place, but at least she wasn't going to be poked and prodded throughout the night. Those military nurses must have taken a lesson from that creepy bastard. She was trying to make light of the situation. She didn't want anyone asking her if she was "all right" or hovering over her like she was one of those delicate porcelain dolls she had as a child. She reverted back to her normal self, on the outside at least. She cut her eyes to the left with uncertainty before regaining her resolve and looking him straight in the eyes.
The battered teen glared but for once her friend didn't back down. Instead, after a long pause, he took a breath and quietly pleaded, "Please, it would give me peace of mind knowing you are safe and taken care of."
It would seem that, though socially inept, he could see right through her façade. It appeared he was giving her pride a way out by "begging" her to satisfy his urge to protect her. She knew the battle was never in her favor to begin with. He won before she ever even attempted to argue. It was more for appearance sake than anything else. She wanted to stay at his place. She didn't want to step foot back in her apartment. It wouldn't be the same. It was no longer "home." It had turned into the place where she was tortured and tormented by a madman. It was evil there. She didn't know when or if she could ever go there again. Well, she thought, I tried to fight his decision, but it looks like I'll be staying over there for the time being.
"Fine," she grumbled, "but can we go now? I'm tired of sitting in this stupid wheelchair."
The young sergeant motioned with his hand to a nearby white van, which promptly pulled up to the curb. He pulled open the door and turned to help the injured girl out of the wheelchair and into the vehicle. Before he could turn around however, she stood up and almost immediately began to fall forward. Her swift intake of breath was enough to alert the soldier's instincts. Reaching out he gently caught her in his arms and pulled her closer trying his best not to aggravate her injuries further.
"Ms. Chidori! Are you okay?" One of the remaining medics quickly started forward.
"Kaname?" She felt him say her name more than heard it. It was a soft whisper against her ear.
Blushing furiously she mumbled, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little lightheaded is all; I guess I stood up too fast."
Waving the medic away Sousuke helped her into the van to make the quick journey from the Tuatha de Danaan's port to the SRT Member's apartment. He placed her small bag of items that Melissa had the foresight to bring for her in the back seat and climbed in next to the blue-haired teen.
"Ms. Chidori, are you feeling quite well? Your face is red. Maybe it was too soon for you to leave the medical facilities." Sousuke never seemed to change.
"What happened to 'Kaname,' Mr. Sagara?" She smirked, skillfully changing the subject.
"Uh…whatever do you mean Ms. Chidori?" Sousuke had what appeared to be a small attempt at a smile playing across his lips.
"What's this? Does the somber and stoic Sousuke Sagara have a sense of humor? Was that a smile?" She couldn't help but tease.
"I'm just glad you're alive. That…that makes me…happy." The normally unemotional young man looked uncertainly down at his hands.
"I'm glad too. What would you do without me? You would utterly fail Classical Japanese, if not high school altogether! It's a good thing you found…erm…what I meant to say was, 'Thank you.' I never thought I would need you more than when you left for Hong Kong, but now, now…I'm so glad you were there. I'm…I'm really tired all of a sudden." Kaname steamrolled through until petering out and barely keeping her eyelids open long enough to complete her rant and lay her head on Sousuke's shoulder. She was asleep before the poor guy had a chance to register all that the girl had said.
MITHRIL's young sergeant decided that he liked her leaning on his shoulder to sleep. He quickly found that his arm was slightly uncomfortable in its current position and thus chose to move it. In doing so he ended up with his arm around her shoulders. Pulling her slightly closer he felt her snuggle in next to him. It was a good feeling. This was peace. Usually he would be uneasy in this situation, maybe it's because she's asleep. Maybe he enjoyed this because he finally realized in that terrible moment of clarity, seeing her blood pooling about her slender frame, that he might lose her. He couldn't lose her. It was bad enough in Hong Kong when he thought she was already dead, but to have her back only to lose her again? That he couldn't do.
"Sir, we're here. Do you need any help getting her up to the apartment?" The young driver asked breaking Sousuke out of his reverie.
"No, thank you. That will be all."
Sousuke gently pulled his arm from around the sleeping girl, trying not to wake her. She whimpered slightly in her slumber at the loss of warmth and physical contact. He threw her bag onto his shoulder and knelt down to pick her up. She didn't weigh much and was easy to carry into his apartment building and up the stairs. During the whole trip she didn't stir at all. Walking down the short hallway to his door he briefly wondered how he was going to unlock the door while still holding her sleeping form. It's not a problem for a Specialist, he thought. It turned out it wasn't.
He carried her inside and through the living room to his bedroom. Sousuke placed her carefully down on the unused mattress and began untying her shoes, which he then gently tugged off and placed beside the bed. He turned back towards her and tugged the blanket up around her slumbering form. She looked comfortable, or at least as comfortable as one could be in the condition she was currently in. He watched her steady breathing for a few moments before leaving the bedroom and closing the door behind him.
She saw, in slow motion, the tip of the blade pierce her skin and leave a bloody trail of pain in its wake. The knife slowly made its way down her shoulder towards her cleavage and the look in his eye was inhuman. He truly was a monster. He threw her to the side and began kicking her mercilessly in the stomach, chest and upper legs. Each kick was a torrent of pain throughout her already battered and bruised body.
He slowly crouched down next to her writhing form and calmly pushed his thumb into the gash he had created only moments before. She screamed, as much as she could with three broken ribs, as agony tore through her aching body. She began to shake uncontrollably and all sound was beginning to ebb away with the blood that was already flowing freely from her various injuries. She was shaking again, more intensely. She vaguely heard her name, whoever was saying it sounded frantic.
She snapped awake and cried out as pain radiated out from her lungs and tore through her body in waves. Not wanting to risk any more agony, Kaname stilled and took slow shallow breaths. She felt arms around her and tensed, fear coming to her eyes.
Sousuke could tell she was about to panic. He did the first thing that came to mind. He pulled her into his embrace and made soothing noises all the while trailing his left hand up and down her back. He slowly began rocking back and forth. The gesture was calming as if one were on the ocean, gently swaying back and forth. He felt her body jerking and realized when his bare shoulder was gathering moisture that she was crying. The young student pulled her ever closer, mindful of her broken ribs.
"Kaname?" His voice was hopeful.
"Yeah?" Came the tear-filled response.
"It was just a nightmare. You're safe. I have you." He didn't know where the words came from, but he knew that he wanted her to understand. She had to understand that he would never let anything like this ever happen again.
She shouldn't be having nightmares of terrible monsters trying to kill her. Not his Kaname.
She looked up into his eyes when she felt him squeeze ever so gently. What she saw through her tear-laden eyes shocked her.
Sousuke leaned down slightly and brushed his lips softly against hers.
What she saw in those usually cold gray eyes, was love.
A/N: Okay, that's it, but only because I have to go home now!! I promise there will be more. Assuming of course that y'all do indeed want more.
Please Review! I love to read them, not matter how short and sweet!