Told you I would post the next one quick! So proud of me! Though I was still easily distracted by random stuff here and there, but it got done on the same day! Woot! See ya next time! ^^

Chapter 12 - Lurking In Shadow

Rolling breathlessly off of his lover, Kashim only had enough time to register that he was once again on his back before soft hands took hold of his face, turning it so that she could kiss him a few more times before giving into exhaustion. Glancing over to her from the corner of his eye, her eyes half closed as her breasts moving slightly atop her chest with heavy breaths, he had to resist the urge to pinch himself, curious if it would prove to himself that the last twelve hours had been nothing but some heavenly dream. 'Five times...' he mused to himself, a lazy yet satisfied smirk coming to his face. His amazement would likely never subside at the knowledge of what they had done. Five times she had riled his ardor and responded fiercely with her own. Five times he'd been graced with the sight of her nude form, her skin glistening in a light sweat and flushed as blood pounded in her veins. And five times he could have sworn that he had died. Never in his entire existence had he ever even dared to dream that he would taste such unbelievable pleasures, and he was sure that if he had to go back to the near lifeless existence he'd had to live before, it may very well drive him to madness.

He could still feel the memory of her nails as she dragged them along his skin, caught in the heat of passion yet being careful of the injuries that still had yet to fully heal. The feel of her thighs as they wrapped tightly around his waist, her body soft and pliant as she welcomed all of his advances, encouraging more contact as she whispered orders of what she wanted and needed him to do. The feel of soft skin under his teeth, harsh breaths against his face, and deep moans in his ear. His breathing finally slowing, he felt her shift next to him, rolling over so she could throw an arm across his chest, her fingers lightly tracing the defined muscles of his abs. "What are you thinking about?"

"Hn. I'm not really sure exactly." Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, a light chuckle came through when her hand trailed lower below his waist. That she could possibly have any more energy at the moment was amusing, if not a bit frightening. If she tried to get any more out of him at the moment, then she will have successfully achieved what so many had failed at. Though he had to admit, if he was ever given a choice on how he would prefer to die, that would definitely be the most pleasant way to go about it. "Can you really find no better use for me?"

"Who's to say you even have a better use?" He was really starting to enjoy her more defiant and spunky attitudes that had been coming out lately. Though he was thoroughly enjoying himself, he was glad that she would be able to hide her true self once they made it to the city. The last thing either of them needed was for her to walk around and making a scene when she was unable to tell what it was she would have done to offend anyone. He wasn't even sure if the city was all that safe anyway. There was no way of telling if that facility had any back-up or networks of any kind hidden there, and knowing that, once reaching their destination both of them would need to tread extremely lightly.

"I am unsure if that was meant as a compliment or an insult." Sporting a devious grin, Kaname shifted until she straddled his hips, leaning down for a light kiss before simply staring back into satiated silver eyes.

"Some things are better kept as secrets, Sousuke Sagara." He should have seen that coming. He had said those very same words to her the day before, right before all of this started. That she was taking such enjoyment out of using his words against him, especially since she now understood exactly what saying his name in such a way did to him. The power she radiated as she sat atop him, the energy that seemed to crackle around her, the sheer beauty that glowed from within, he was rapidly becoming helpless to it all. She was one new delicious addiction after another. Smirking back at her as he lifted himself up by his arms, sitting upright for the first time in the last hour, he leaned in and bit harshly at the junction of her neck and shoulder.

"You, are a very devious woman...Kaname Chidori." Apparently her name on his lips had a similar affect as his. Her breath hitched a moment, her back arching as her arms went around his neck, hands fisting in his long hair as her head drifted back. Quickly lifting his arms, one wrapped around her waist, securing her against him as his other hand tightly grabbed hold of her hair, leaving her unable to move and baring her neck to him. Dragging his lips over her pulse, her chest heaved in excitement, whining lightly when he stopped. "However, I have ways of breaking rebellious spirits..."

Tessa looked about the dimmed conference room, the faces she knew so well, now illuminated only by the screen behind her. It had taken a lot of negotiating, but she had finally managed to convince the higher ups that the soldiers under her command deserved to know even the smallest fraction of why they were going to be risking so much for one subject. Taking a quick sip of water from the bottle she had brought with her, she moved to stand in front of the screen, making sure to be situated just to the left so that the majority could be easily seen. "First off, I'd like to thank all of you for your patience in regards to the lack of adequate intelligence with our recent missions. Fortunately, it has been decided by high command that due to the circumstances of this mission, I am to provide you with further information so that you may understand exactly why the situation is as serious as it is."

Taking hold of the remote, Tessa clicked open a photo of a young Japanese woman, probably no older than 16, her long cerulean hair blowing in the breeze as she happily walked with another girl who wore glasses and pigtails. Clearing her throat, Tessa took a second to put her words in order, making sure that any of the finer details that still had yet to be cleared would not raise any unnecessary questions. "I'd like to introduce you to Kaname Chidori. She was 16 years old, and attended Jindai Tokyo Municipal High School as a junior. She was also her class representative and Vice President of her school's student council."

"Ma'am?"

"Yes Corporal Yan?"

"You keep saying 'was'. Did something happen to this girl?" The sigh of regret she had wanted to hold in at the question she dreaded had managed to slip out. Thankfully, it had been quiet enough, and Tessa willed herself to continue.

"Unfortunately, something did Corporal. This picture was taken in mid February of last year, less than two weeks before the Tuatha de Danaan would have received orders that she was found to be on the list for possible terrorist abductions. We received the orders early the morning of April nineteenth, and three members of the SRT would have been dispatched the night of the twentieth and take station to keep an eye on her for a short time until those who targeted her made themselves known. Miss Chidori was last seen leaving her apartment on the morning of April twentieth. She never made it to school." Pausing for a moment, Tessa took a drink from her water bottle before continuing.

"With thanks from Mr. Kalinin, and the Intel he has so graciously provided us with, we now have a face to go with our enemy." Clicking the remote once more, a new window brought up Gauron's image. It wasn't a very good one, but something had always been better than nothing, and as it was, they had been working with nothing for far too long. "This is the man who kidnapped Kaname Chidori on the morning of April 20th last year. His real name is unknown, but among terrorist circles, he is called Gauron, or referred to as the Nine Dragons. From what we've learned, this man is incredibly dangerous, and may also be in league with a very powerful opposing organization, possibly the one we have been attempting to track down. Because of this, it is top priority that we extract Miss Chidori as soon as possible, and preferably before he has any access to his allies."

"Ma'am?"

"Yes Sergeant Weber?"

"Even if he has back-up, he still shouldn't be able to compete with our M9's right? So why would we need to worry so much?"

"Unfortunately, due to the information from Mr. Kalinin, it has been confirmed that he uses a next generation mech armed with a device known as the Lambda Driver." The confusion on her subordinates face was endearing, though it only continued to drive home the fact that the device in question should never have fallen into enemy hands. "Recently, you have all been undergoing a series of mental tests with a device known as a portable N.I.L.S. This device is used to measure how compatible a person is to successfully activate and operate a Lambda Driver for combat use. As always, I appreciate your constant efforts, but so far the reality is that if the subject does not reach certain critical levels in the brain, or has been treated with various drug cocktails, that it is almost impossible to use properly."

"So, that weird box-thing you've had us trying to get to react is like a false Lambda Driver system? Have any of us been able to do it yet?"

"I'm sorry Sergeant Major, but despite constant efforts, none of you have been able to properly activate it. However, it has nothing to do with your competencies as soldiers. This is a very complicated device that will only react when the circumstances are right, and you should know that neither myself, nor the higher ups blame any of you for not being able to do it."

"So then we just have to find this Chidori girl and snatch her out of the city before this Gauron guy gets hold of her? Captain I don't want to sound rude, but both sides are looking for a needle in a haystack."

"I know the situation seems grim, but we have two advantages in this. One is that whether she realizes it or not, Miss Chidori is looking for us, just as we are her. The other, is that apparently her companion has operated a Lambda Driver successfully in combat. Whether he is aware exactly of what he has accomplished we're not sure, but it promises that if Gauron is in the city, there is already someone who won't allow her to be taken by him again."

Looking carefully around the corner, Kashim's frown went deeper. The crowd was larger than expected for this late in the afternoon, and that was going to make moving about that much more difficult. Turning back behind the wall, he kneeled close to her and made sure Kaname had on her disguise properly. It was the only reassurance either of them would get until reaching an inn. In all reality they should have just pushed themselves to locate the American base as soon as they had arrived, but the exhaustion of constant traveling was beginning to wear on her, and he had decided to wait one final night so that she could rest properly in an actual bed.

Gently adjusting the charadi to make it appear as though she had always known how to wear it, his movements slowed when he caught the saddened look in her eyes. He didn't need to ask why though, he was also aware that after tomorrow, it was doubtful that they would ever see each other again. She was just a normal girl who had gotten caught up in all this. His life was far too violent to be able to walk away from so easily, no matter how much he may have wished to. Her eyes were all he could see now that the charadi was in place, and though it was necessary for her immediate safety, he could tell that he wasn't the only one who didn't like it. Over the last few days it had been a wonder to look back and see her long hair blowing so freely in the wind, and the happy expression on her face at knowing such freedoms once more. Even just as a simple disguise, covering up such beauty just didn't feel right at all.

Her eyes had already started watering as the knowledge that their time together was almost at its end, and if he could have, he was sure his would have looked the same. Careful not to mess it up too much, he lowered the part of her charadi that hid her face from the nose down, gently kissing her as a single tear slipped past her lashes and rolled down her cheek. "I know, Kaname."

"I could stay with you...I-I could-" Sniffling quietly, Kaname wiped at the wetness still on her face, her other hand shaking in its tight grip on her tunic.

"No." He hadn't been forceful, in all honesty he wasn't sure he could muster up the energy to be so, but it was a simple truth. It would be unfair of him to ask her to stay. He could never take away her chance to return to everything that had once made her so happy, even if that meant being with her for the rest of his days. In all respects, both of them knew this moment would come, but still, they had allowed themselves to be selfish, and give in to the strength of their attraction, finding much needed comfort and acceptance in a place that seemed to shun them both. "If you stayed, I know you would regret it. I could never do that to you."

"Then...come with me?" It was a tempting offer. A life, peaceful and happy, with her. It was an idea unlike any other he had dared to dream of, only believing that he would spend however much time he had left fighting, only to die at some soldiers hand during battle. But, to have a real life? To wake up each morning next to her, and knowing that he didn't have to fight for anything he didn't choose to? No. That was only a dream within a dream, and he had a job to do here. The tears broke free from her eyes, trailing down her face when he didn't answer her. She also knew he couldn't, but that didn't make it any easier. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... Sousuke."

"It is no one's fault Kaname. I don't blame you for anything, and I regret nothing that has happened between us."

"I know. Me too." Taking another moment to just be in the other's presence, an idea occurred to him. Perhaps there might be a way for him to see her again, however slim it seemed at the moment. Reaching in his pocket, he took hold of her free hand and held it with the palm face up, placing his only treasure on its surface. "What's this?"

"This is a piece of lapis I found when I first came here. For years it has been my only possession. I want you to hold onto it for me." Kaname looked between his face and the small gem in her hand, disbelief that he would really give up his only real possession, and that he would give it to her.

"But, how will I ever-"

"If you have this, I will always be with you. Even if you can't see me." The tears clearing from her face, Kaname felt another retort come through, though thankfully, it was enough to pick up the mood and remove most of the gloom that had settled around them.

"I think I may have accomplished that the other day actually..."

"Uh...ahem, y-yes well, ah..."

Leaning up for another kiss, she smirked at the blush that had come to his face at the mention of their joining in the desert. "Promise me, you won't ever change."

Closing her hand over the small gem, he leaned in close for one last kiss before readjusting her charadi and making sure it was in place properly. "I'll try."

Checking once more on the crowd behind the corner, they secured their backpacks and made their way out onto the street. From a distance, both of them looked like just another couple, possibly on their way to the market for the day or returning home early from afternoon mass. Kaname had to force herself to keep quiet when it seemed everyone was making an effort to bump into her shoulders, keeping in mind the rules that Kashim had told her that morning back at the camp. It was taking every effort to not put the rude man who had nearly knocked her over in his place by yelling at him, but she bit her tongue, continuing to follow behind Kashim and keeping her eyes trained on his back.

Dodging a small group of men as they sped by in their jeep, Kashim scanned the crowd for anyone that looked as if they were more than they should have been for this particular gathering of people. Everyone here looked as though they either had a family or was returning to one, so trying to see if anyone was out of place wouldn't be too difficult. Killers carried themselves differently than normal people. It was seen best in their eyes, but most of them, especially in this area, held themselves higher and tended to walk with more confidence. They knew what they had done, how simple it had been, and how easily it could be done again. Even if you were an expert at espionage, somehow real killers could always sense when they were near each other.

Managing to avoid possible conflict with a man who had thought Kaname had bumped into on purpose, they were finally able to locate a small inn just past the western outskirts of the city near the base of a small mountainous outcropping. It was nice enough, though it was obvious that not many foreigners ever stayed there, so a few normal amenities that Kaname may have been used to might not be provided. Easily booking a room for the night, both felt immediate relief as soon as the door was closed behind them. Both had been tired enough already, and with the added stress that neither was sure if the people who had taken Kaname had contacts within the city, the bed in the center of the room looked just about the closest thing to heaven Kaname had ever seen. A small smile came to Kashim's face when she tiredly wandered over to the bed and just about fell on top of it, a soft moan of satisfaction coming from her as she buried her face in the comforter. "Oh my god, I never thought I could miss a real bed so much."

Finally moving into the room, Kashim set down the heavy backpacks before pulling the curtains closed and turning on a small table lamp. Inspecting the room and bathroom, he made sure there was no way anyone could peep, as well as seeing just what the rooms had been stocked with. While it wasn't much, they at least had some soap and a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, so that much should make Kaname happy. Coming back out, he found she still hadn't moved from the portion of the bed she had fallen on, most likely falling asleep during his check of the room. Deciding to allow her a short nap, he took a small notepad and left her a note saying that he was going out to find some dinner and would be back in a short while, just in case she woke up after he had gone.

The silence of the room causing her to wake, Kaname glanced around, confused at first as to the whereabouts of her lover. Finding the note Sousuke had left near her hand on the bed, she stretched out on the comforter, her overworked muscles feeling slightly eased with the action. Laying still for a moment, Kaname wanted so badly to refuse any movement, but the call of the real bathroom with a shower was too much of a temptation. Sitting up, she gave her hair a sniff, recoiling at the scent and texture. Yeah, that shower would do her a world of good. Though, the more she thought about it, if she smelled that horrible and Sousuke still wanted to be near her, maybe she wasn't as bad as she made herself out to be. Shedding her clothes, Kaname made her way into the bathroom, brushing out the tangles in her hair before stepping under the hot water.

The small baths she had taken in the river during their travels had been nice enough, what with the incredible heat blowing through the desert, the cooler water was more than welcomed. Still, the feel of hot water running over her skin, relaxing her every nerve and muscle felt amazing. Turning to pick up the small bottle of shampoo, she worked it through her hair before rinsing it out, simply standing under the hot streams as it ran through her hair. The sound of flowing water filling the room, Kaname never heard the door as it slowly came open.

Still caught up in the feeling of the steaming water on her, the shadow moved closer, stopping once in front of the semi-clear shower curtain. A mad grin spreading on his face, the curtain was quickly pulled back, Kaname's eyes going wide with fear and shock. She tried moving out of his line of sight, her mind panicking and convincing her that if she could just make it to a place he couldn't see that she would be safe. He came at her quickly, allowing only a few precious seconds for Kaname to attempt a scream before his hand came down over her mouth. His other arm coming around her to trap her arms at her sides, he dragged her from the shower to lay on the floor. Kaname tried struggling in his hold, the water still on her skin making the attempt a little less futile, but still, his grip held fast. Tears came freely from her eyes as she looked up at him from the floor, her heart racing as he took out a syringe from the inside pocket of his coat and poked it into the skin of her neck.

Kaname felt all strength leave her body, the unknown medicine working quickly as her eyes drooped, and her once racing heart began to slow. At last his hand left her mouth, but she couldn't force herself to scream as she wanted. Finally, before the world disappeared into black, she heard his voice echo in the small room. "Nighty night, Kaname-chan..."

Making his way through the slowly thinning crowd, Kashim held the bags holding their dinner close to him, hoping to avoid drawing any undue attention should he be bumped and the contents go flying. He hoped he had chosen something Kaname would like, the small kabob stand he had found three blocks away had certainly looked edible enough. He was just hoping more than anything that she wasn't overly picky or had some sort of food allergy that she had yet to mention. Still, at the very least, despite their mutual exhaustion, it was going to be their last night together. It was definitely possible that neither would be able to see each other ever again after tomorrow, and he already felt a strange pain growing in his chest at the thought. It just wasn't fair.

Years of dedicated service, putting his life on the line for comrades that half of which would probably celebrate his passing if it happened, always thinking of himself second before anyone else. Just this once, this one and only time in his whole life, he wanted more than anything to be selfish and just be with her. But being selfish never accomplished anything fruitful, and he knew that if he asked, she would stay with him. She would regret that decision though. Even he knew that she was not meant for the life he lead, no matter how capable she seemed at times. His steps had slowed, the weight of his thoughts distracting him for a moment. Shaking his head to clear it of less than pleasant thoughts, he trekked up the stairs and turned down the hallway to where their room was located. As soon as he set foot on the correct floor, something seemed off for some reason, as if the air itself had shifted while he was gone.

His nerves instantly on edge, he carefully moved down the hall, eyes finally widening when he noticed the slight damage to the keyhole that had not been there before. Dropping the bag of food, he tried the door, finding it completely unlocked. The door lazily swung open, allowing him a second to kneel and take hold of the knife he kept on the inside of his bootstrap. The room was still dark, but this time it seemed eerily so. Moving quickly within the shadows, his adrenalin flowed the longer he went without locating Kaname. "Kaname?"

Complete silence answered him. Practically running around the room in a panic, he checked every nook and cranny he could think of that she might be, including the places she might have hid in if she had gotten scared. "Kaname! Kaname answer me!" As if on cue, he heard the sound of a phone ringing. The sound had stopped him cold, his thoughts confirming that his worst fears had come true. Turning to face the nightstand closest to the window, he noticed for the first time the black cellular phone that had been placed there, the green screen on the outside glowing in the relative darkness of the room. At once he wanted to smash the dammed electronic, as if doing so would erase what had happened and allow her to walk through the bathroom door, still wet from a shower or something. Picking it up, he willed his hand to stop shaking and steadied his voice. Whoever was on the other end of this phone knew exactly who they would be talking to, so normal greetings could be forgotten in lieu of more important things. Things like where the hell Kaname was. "Where. Is. She?"

"I'm so sorry Kashim, but you'll have to try your luck behind curtain number 2." Of course. All others who had raided the facility since then had been killed. All except one.

"Where is she Gauron! Tell me or I'll-"

"You'll do what exactly? I highly doubt that you're good enough to kill me with just your thoughts Kashim. You would have done so long ago if that were the case."

"Where is she! What have you done to her!"

"Calm down honey, I haven't done anything to our little angel. Although..."

"What?"

"I've seen your marks on her Kashim. Tell me, how does she taste? Or should I find out for myself?" He could taste the blood in his mouth from biting his cheek, using every effort in him to stop from growling in anger and frustration.

"If I find you've touched her..."

"Awww. Have you so little faith in me Kashim? I only have eyes for you."

"...I will not stop until every piece of you has been ripped from your very bones with my own two hands."

"Wonderful, so you're free tonight then. Well, as much as I do enjoy Kaname-chan's company, she's not being a very good conversationalist at the moment. An unfortunate side affect of having a sock stuffed in your mouth I suppose. Anyway, if you want her so badly, then you'll have to come and get her."

"Tell me where she is bastard!"

"We're going to take a midnight tour of the Ghazi Stadium. That gives you six hours to think up something special for me Kashim."

"Why are you always doing this! Why give me any advantage if I'm just going to kill you with it!"

"I told you Kashim. Killing you wouldn't be any fun if you weren't giving it everything you've got. I want to know I've killed you using everything I have in me so that the moment I do, that moment will be the most amazing moment it could possibly be." Gripping the edge of the comforter as hard as he could, he began wracking his brain for what he could do in the time Gauron had given him. "See you in six hours; I love you Kashim."

"Fuck you." Pushing down the button to disconnect, he felt himself getting twitchy. He had to move, any movement would do, but sitting still and thinking had never been his way. He had to be moving, especially now. Standing up, he paced the small sitting area near the large window, thin lines of light coming from behind the heavy fabrics edges. Stopping for a second, he pulled up the backpacks and emptied their contents on the bed. He still had more than enough ammunition for his AK, thanks to what Kaname had gathered after he had passed out from blood loss back when he had killed Afzal. Other than that though, he really only had his knife and kukri, and that wasn't going to be enough to take down Gauron at all.

The only reason he kept living, was because people constantly made the mistake of thinking that he was a normal terrorist. Kashim wouldn't take that for granted this time. Still, he had to be rational about this. Kaname was in Gauron's custody, and the chances of her staying alive were relatively high. He'd overheard at the facility that he had been sent to take her back to the people who were trying to experiment on her, and if she died, that would mean Gauron wouldn't receive payment. If anything else, Gauron was a businessman, and it wouldn't be able to collect if the package was dead, so Kaname had to be alive. The biggest hurdle was whether or not Gauron was working with potential allies.

With the addition of allies in the equation, things became much more complicated. Kashim had allies, but his were far more difficult to get in touch with. He could attempt to find a way to get a hold of Majid and have him send him one of those advanced A.S.s, but the time it would take to find a way to do that, let alone how long it would take for the unit to arrive, he couldn't bet everything on that. Majid had contacts within the city, and there were the few factions of resistance fighters located there, but trying to convince them that he was one of them would probably end up being more trouble than he could deal with. Scratch two options off the list.

Suddenly, with that thought, another came through. 'List...the paper Kalinin gave me...' Searching his pockets he finally found the scrap of paper he had been looking for. Studying it for a moment, he started punching in the numbers, faltering just before he entered in the last. What if the number was too old? What if the people Andrei had once been contacted by were no longer offering services? If they refused, he would be right back where he started. Kashim was more than sure that Gauron still had his A.S. with him. Gauron may be many things, but he wasn't a fool. A memory of Kaname's smiling face went by his mind, and it was just enough to make his finger push the last digit in the sequence. His mouth went dry when he heard it start to ring, his other hand closing into a fist as he tried to make sure he didn't sound anything else but pure calm. Finally, the sound of the call being received echoed on the line, and the sleepy voice of a woman came over the phone. "Hm...Hello?"

"..."

"Hello? Someone there or can I go back to sleep?"

"I-I am a comrade of Andrei Kalinin. I-"

"Hm? Comrade? W-wait a sec,... you know Kalinin? Who are you?" His mind stopped at that question. He hadn't contemplated it for a while, and while he was probably thinking a lot deeper about it than the woman meant for him to, it was still a tough question to answer. Just...who was he anymore? For the last nine years he had been Kashim, fighting to the best of his abilities for the country his leader cherished, and against the Russians who had taken him away from everything he might have known. Kashim was a man with nothing, and therefore, had nothing to lose. But now, he had spent the last couple of days learning how to feel again, spending all his time with a wonderful young woman, even giving everything of himself to her. Kashim would never have gotten so close to anyone, he couldn't afford to when any battle could be his last. Flashes of recent memories flew by his mind's eye, contrasting to the memories he had kept only for the purpose of learning from them. Hearing the voice through the phone again, his heart gave him the answer his mind could only hint at. "Hey, come on who are you already?"

"I...my name is Sousuke Sagara. I have been escorting a young woman named Kaname Chidori to the city of Kabul to seek assistance in returning her to her homeland. She has been captured, and I need allies to take her back." From the other side, he could hear her faint gasp, holding his breath for a second and hoping that this woman could be the connection he needed. When she spoke again, he felt his spirits lift from the gloom they had settled in.

"We've been hoping we'd hear from you, Mr. Sagara."

Hee! Don't you just love when it's dropped off like that? It's so wonderfully evil! ^^