HEART UNDER WRAPS
Here is another resurrected story retrieved from 'the Blissful Ignorance site. It is reprinted with only a few minor modifications.
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The sound of the alarm clock woke her.
'Awk! Wake up! Awk! Kaname! Awk! You'll be late for school!'
Yawning, Kaname rolled out of bed, slipped into a pair of fuzzy slippers, and then went straight to the calendar. The day was circled. She smiled shyly, before tossing her pajamas and undergarments in the laundry basket.
"Today's the day." She smiled, turning on the water in her shower. "It's something I have to do." Pulling aside the shower curtain, she stepped into the luxurious stream of warm water. "I can do it. I… can… do… it. I know I can!" She began lathering up.
After bathing, she put on a bath robe and started her breakfast. Popping a couple of pastries in the toaster over and setting it to the appropriate time, she hurried off to get dressed, humming to herself.
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Metal banged on metal, as the early morning garbage crew worked outside of his apartment.
Sousuke was already awake. He never needed an alarm clock. If the sanitation workers didn't wake him, or the neighborhood dogs did not roust him from his light sleep, his internal clock never missed a beat.
"The start of another day." He looked up at the bedsprings situated inches from his face. Sleeping under the bed made it look as if the room was empty, in case an intruder should gain entrance. Also, the close quarters reminded him of tight and claustrophobic places where he slept as a child. "I will perform my mission well." It was his duty, after all.
Sliding out from under his bed, the young soldier began his usual calisthenics routine, working out until he ended in a light sweat. Wiping off with a towel, he threw the fuzzy cloth in a hamper, along with his dirty clothing. Frowning when he found the cupboard empty of white rolls, he opened an MRE pack and set the chemical heater going.
"It seems that another visit to the bakery will be necessary." He began running through a grocery list in his head. He should visit one of the small corner grocers as well. But, not until Kaname was safely home from school.
Grabbing a can of shaving cream and a recently sharpened combat knife, edge glinting in the incandescent light, he headed into the bathroom to begin preparations.
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The mirror hung patiently.
Inanimate, the reflective glass item found nothing to be curious at, as the young woman standing in front of it tried on her fifth outfit of the morning. Likewise, it found no reason to chuckle at the running commentary coming from that youthful lady, as she viewed herself repeatedly from various angles.
"It has to be jusss-ss-st righ." Kaname pulled at a thread on one of her favorite blouses. "Not that the big idiot will notice." She sighed. The matching skirt made her look a tiny bit overweight. "If he does, he never tells me?" Why was dealing with her bodyguard turned classmate such a chore?!
Finally settling on her clothing, Kaname moved over to her jewelry box. "What about these?" She held a pair of dangling earrings up to her ears, looking over at her Bonta-kun stuffed toy. "They're definitely not practical." That had her frowning, thinking about two of her least favorite curse words: 'duty' and 'obligation'. "But, at least these don't explode!" Thinking back to months past, she decided to put on the bracelet that Sousuke had given her, when he returned from the South China Sea after missing their study session.
Perfume came next. That was simple. She only had one scent that she currently liked. Done. So that meant that it was time for… shoes! She still had to select the right pair of shoes. Glancing at the clock, she sighed, putting her hand over her chest. There was still time. That's why she had set her clock early.
"Ooo-oo-ops" She smelled something burning. Caught up in her whirlwind preparations, she had forgotten about her breakfast. That was alright. She was too exited to eat, anyway. "I don't know why." She laughed a happy laugh. "it's really not that special a day?"
Bonta-kun's silly smile made it look as if he agreed. The other stuffed animals did not look very convinced.
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The face in the mirror was studying him.
Well, of course it was, since he was studying that reflection. Sousuke pulled at a lock of hair. Kaname had insisted on cutting things again, not wanting to risk another meltdown at a hair cuttery.
"I do not see why it needed to be shorter." He shrugged. Her comments on his appearance had been non-complimentary, bordering on confrontational. "I saw nothing wrong with it." But, as with many things, it was best to humor her.
Taking out a half-squeezed tube of toothpaste and a Mithril-issue tooth brush, he began working on his dental hygiene. Too many soldiers ignored this step, even though proper teeth cleaning and oral prophylaxis was listed in the military manual.
"Thratt ith a probphlem." Sousuke spat out a mouthful of foam and froth. "That is a problem."
He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. He had just remembered something noteworthy. After routine weapons maintenance, he had left his apartment to do a surveillance run outside of Kaname's apartment the night before, playing a quick cat-and-mouse game with Wraith. When he finally returned, he forgot to finish his Japanese History homework. "Perhaps Kaname will let me borrow hers." He wiped some errant toothpaste off of his chin with a damp olive drab face cloth.
It was all about strategy and tactics. If he were to ask Kaname for her assistance, she would acquiesce after chiding him for a short duration. She probably would not strike him. However, should he avoid making such a request, and receive another 'Incomplete' on an assignment, her remonstration would be much louder and prolonged, most likely punctuated with a strong strike of the customary paper fan.
"Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive." He nodded his head after quoting Sun Tzu. "I will ask her first thing."
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The throbbing in her ankle had stopped.
Feeling anxious, and overcome with anticipation, Kaname had decided not to wait for the elevator. Hurrying down the stairs, she had slipped and twisted her ankle. A rather ignominious start, but she wouldn't let it get her down.
Now, walking along the sidewalk, she felt the anticipation growing again. She knew the danger in that. Every time she let her hopes get up, a certain soldier kept pulling her down from the clouds, causing her to crash headlong into reality. But, this would be something different. Even a clueless ne'er-do-well like him couldn't mess things up today!
"I wonder what he'll do first." She fluffed her hair with one hand, using the other to hug a nondescript paper bag to her chest. "If he's smart, he'll compliment me on my looks." Sure, he had never done that unprompted, but there was a first time for everything. She smiled, thinking back to what he had said when she wore her mother's kimono, after she had saved him from a naked swim in the lake. "He might mention how nice I smell." He had done that once before, when she had spilled some of his gun-cleaning solvent on her hands. She conveniently did not remember that happenstance at the given moment.
Kaname found herself walking even faster now. The big stupid head should be waiting for her on the corner. He might remark on the bag she was carrying, wanting to know what's inside. That would work too, even though it wasn't very romantic. It would be the perfect segue.
"There he is." She swallowed hard. Her heart skipped a few beats. With both hands, she pulled the bag tighter against her.
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The bed did serve a purpose.
It was not simply something to sleep under. This morning, it was a suitable place to lay all of his weapons out. He needed to decide what to bring with him that morning.
"Miss Kagurazaka probably will not check again." Sousuke nodded. He had taken to booby-trapping his bag with pepper spray or other irritants, much the way that Mi-6 craftsmen had rigged James Bond's briefcase in 'From Russia With Love.'
The first few times that his teacher had checked his bag… without moving the latches to the correct angle to disarm the device… she had been very upset. The Principal had been ecstatic, as it had allowed her an opportunity to covertly ask the Mithril Finance Division for larger sums of hush money. In any case, after having her eyes water, not to mention finding it hard to breathe, and suffering the indignity of drooling over her nice clothes, Miss Kagurazaka had started ignoring his bag.
"Glock 17. modified with the 'amphibious kit'. Sousuke picked up his pistol and placed it in his satchel. The kit allowed the gun to be fired underwater at shallow depths, even though underwater firing had very little effect. That was not the reason he had applied the kit. He wanted to make certain the pistol was good to go, in case Kaname threw his bag in the school fountain again. "Two clips, rubber bullets. One clip blanks. one clip 0.9mm." He pursed his lips, looking at a lonely unchosen clip. He wouldn't bring the hollow points. Those might get him in trouble. He was proud of his thoughtful decision.
He blushed, and then coughed. The image that came to mind was quite striking. 'Striking' was an appropriate descriptor, since he had been struck repeatedly moments after seeing what he had seen. Pistol in hand, he had rushed into a foggy shower a number of days earlier and came across a naked and rather unhappy Kaname. OnoD had lied, saying that he had seen two strange men in masks running into the girl's locker room. The water had not done his gun much good that day. A knee to the groin area had done him even worse.
"MP9 submachine gun." Sousuke was running out of effective SMGs. After a number of incidents, Kaname had started making him promise not to bring automatic weapons. He made certain his wording was precise. "I promise I will not bring the TMP," was followed by "On my honor, I will not include the HK-MP7" and "That is the last you will see of the FN P90." He sighed. He really liked those guns. "One thirty-two round clip, 0.9mm."
The M9, essentially an improved Uzi, has three positions: 'safe… 'semi-auto'…and 'full-auto'… as well as a separate firing pin block to increase safety. Kaname had three similar positions herself. But, she did not seem to have any blocking mechanism. That led to her going off without warning at times, even though the situation did not always warrant such behavior.
"Grenades." Sousuke put in a few assorted grenades. They didn't do him any good sitting at home in a closet gathering dust.
Finished with his weapons, he made room for his daily required textbooks. All of them, quite the heft. He would not leave any out to make room for additional weapons, as that usually moved Kaname from 'safe' all the way to 'full auto.' Brushing some lint off of his school uniform, he left through the door, and walked calmly and sedately over to the elevator. Reaching the bottom floor, he made his way out of the building.
At the appointed time and place, Kaname showed up. She was moving quickly, but he saw no threat that would explain such behavior She was clutching a bag to her chest, and looked to be carrying her books in a separate bag slung over one shoulder.
"Good Morning, Kaname." Sousuke stood at attention. "I find myself needing to tell you something… immediately, if not sooner."
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The words hung in the air.
Kaname had tried not to smile, wanting to appear somewhat aloof and alluring. Instead, a huge grin spread over her face.
Heart aflutter, she had waited with baited breath to hear what Sousuke might say. All her hard work was worth it. She must have finally gotten through to him. The pressure to speak his mind must be great, if he had to get his feelings out 'immediately, if not sooner.'
"I must apologize. I forgot to finish my homework last night." Sousuke hung his head. "Do you think you could let me borrow yours, first thing after we reach school?"
"Thank you, I went to a lot of trouble and… wha-aa-aaat?" Kaname?s throat went dry. She felt as if her stomach had turned inside out. "What did you say?" The chill wind blew around her, but she didn't notice. There was already an icy feeling spreading up and down her spine.
"I became distracted with necessary activities," Sousuke said, glad to see that the halisen was nowhere in sight. "I neglected to return to the schoolwork I had started when I returned home." She should be glad that he took her safety seriously.
"Th-Th-That's what you wanted to tell me?" Kaname felt her anger growing. The paper of the bag she carried began to crinkle as she clenched her hands tightly. "You were doing some kind of otaku stuff, and forgot to follow through on your responsibilities?" Her eyes narrowed. She should have guessed it would be something like this. She was so stupid! "What exactly were you doing?"
"Well… initially, I had busied myself with proper weapons cleaning and maintenance." Sousuke swallowed hard. The look on Kaname's face had gone from a tranquil spring day to a raging winter storm in the space of a few heartbeats. "After that-" He was interrupted.
"You play with those stupid weapons again?" She eyes his school bag with suspicion. "You forget to do your own homework?" Her throat was beginning to feel a little raw. "And the first thing you say to me was that you want to copy my work?!"
"That is incorrect, Kaname." Sousuke took a step back. "The first thing that I said to you was 'Good Morning.' You must have forgotten that."
"There's a lot that I wish I could forget!" Kaname looked away. Her anger gave way to sadness, an instant sea change . She had gotten so excited. She had allowed herself to get her hopes up. It was business as usual.
"You sound upset" Sousuke looked somewhat concerned. "I apologize?" He wouldn't have thought that she would be this unhappy. "I will try to be a better student?"
"I sound upset?" Kaname began getting angry. "You think so?" She looked down at the bag, debating whether she should throw it at him or not. "What makes you think that?!"
"You were-" Sousuke was cut-off again.
"Of course I'm angry, you big idiot!" She had almost called him an asshole, even though that was out of character for her. That's how steamed she was. Kaname stamped her foot. "And it has nothing to do with your schoolwork." She sighed. "I can't believe how big a jerk you are!"
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Sousuke stood flummoxed.
What had he done this time? It was not the homework. He couldn't think of any study session that he had missed recently. There couldn't have been one last night. He clearly remembered her saying that she had a number of things that she needed to do last night, and that he was not supposed to follow her.
Could that be it? Was she upset because he hadn't been trailing her, despite for verbal request. Had it been a test of some sort?
"I still do not understand," Sousuke said. "Does it have to do with last night?"
"(sigh) I guess it does, in a way (sigh)." Kaname had gone to a number of stores the prior evening, buying new clothes, some make-up, and the contents of her bag.
"But." Pause. "You told me not to follow you." Sousuke scratched his head. "Are you irritated because I followed your orders? Did something happen to you, that I could otherwise have prevented?" If that had been the case, shouldn't she have called him at home immediately after any untoward event?
"BAKA!" Kaname trembled with rage. "Maybe you're not a jerk after all. You're too stupid and clueless to be a jerk!" She knew that she sounded harsh. She couldn't help herself.
For the umpteenth time in the last week, Sousuke found himself wishing that teenage girls came with a manual. If this kind of thing was training for civilian life, maybe he would be better off staying in the military for the remainder of his days.
"I-" Sousuke opened his mouth to ask one more time what was wrong. He stopped when Kaname waved her hands in dismissive fashion.
"Don't hurt yourself, Sousuke." The blue-haired girl sounded sarcastic as she tossed her hair. "Thinking is not your forte." She shook her head. "I would think a operative for a super-secret organization would be a bit more observant, though."
"Uhhh…." Sousuke made it a point to look Kaname up and down. He furrowed his brow.
"The clothes, you imbecile..." Kaname stomped her foot again. "The clothes… the perfume…." She shook the bag in his face. "…The bag."
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There was no sign of danger.
Even though she wasn't about to die, Kaname found her recent life flashing before her eyes. She couldn't help but think about the way her routine had changed, once she found out that she was Whispered and under the care of two branches of Mithril.
So many things clamored for her attention, many of which appeared to be conflicting. Sousuke gave her the Lapis Lazuli. The big idiot left her homework at home, leading to that first incident with Officer Wakana. She was floating down from a cliff in his arms, as he held onto a large balloon. The big jerk had gone off to Hong Kong without saying anything, causing her to go find him and bring him back. The kimono. Riding on the back of a bicycle with him.
"Perfume?" Sousuke almost got clobbered, just for the look on his face. "You do smell very nice." That saved him. At least, it gave him a longer lease on life.
"And the clothing, Sousuke?" Kaname wanted to curse herself. Her voice was wavering. She sounded so needy.
"They are not functional," Sousuke mused, rubbing his chin. "You are correct, I should have noticed. It is not the school uniform." He took another step back. Given the noise Kaname made, he was certain that there was something else that he was supposed to recognize. For some reason, he looked at the girl personally, and not professionally. "It all makes you look… uhhh… ver…." He swallowed hard.
"Yes,' Kaname loosened her grip on the bag, her fingers fluttering. "And…." She held her breath.
"The clothing looks very nice," Sousuke said. He coughed to clear his throat. He fought the urge to stare at her, feeling somewhat tense for some reason.
"Thank you," Kaname said, sweetly at first. "That wasn't really so hard, was it?" That came out with a hint of exasperation.
"Negative" Sousuke answered. It had not been difficult. What it had been was uncharacteristic. "It is not difficult to look at you?" Looking at Kaname, he found that he wanted to continue doing so. But, unprompted, he had not tumbled to that himself. And, awkward in such a socially naked setting, he felt a strong urge to backpedal.
"I should think not!" Kaname preened, managing a small smile. 'It is not difficult to look at you' was just his way of answering the question. But, she chose to interpret it as 'I find you very attractive.' "So… misterrr-rr-r…what do you think is in this bag?"
"There is no way for me to know," Sousuke replied. "You do not usually bring your bento to school in that type of bag."
"You should be able to guess," Kaname said, making a face. "Don't otakus have calendars like normal people?" She frowned. "Sheeesh?"
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The silence stretched on for a few moments.
Sousuke blinked rapidly, considering the question. His initial instinct was to say 'I have no way of knowing,' since he did not consider himself to be an otaku.
Otaku is a word that had shifted meaning over the last few decades to such an extent that establishing a precise definition was problematic. 'It is a complex and elusive term that addresses varied practices and fandom-related activities,' Sousuke thought to himself.
In Japanese, otaku may function as a formal second person pronoun, and also has the meaning of 'house.' But the word had come to mean 'obsessive enthusiast' and began to be applied to the subcultures of anime, manga, and computer technology.
He knew the current flavor of the word... and the fact that people who could speak English often equated the term with 'geek' or 'nerd'… and so assumed that Kaname must know that as well. She may have had some reason to think of him in that way, earlier in their relationship. After all, she had not always been aware of his covert position.
However, now she was well aware that he was a soldier. It was not otaku for a member of a high-tech mercenary organization to discuss military issues… to carry firearms and other necessary devices… or to pay strict attention to possible threats and securities issues.
"Today is February 14…." Sousuke said, looking down at the small number displayed on his wristwatch. "I fail to see any significance." Sousuke shrugged. He wondered what he had said wrong this time. Kaname was closing her eyes and clenching her teeth. 'I do not recall any specific school function scheduled for this date.'
'Why do I even bother?' Kaname hung her head and let out a long whoosh of air. Even a clueless young soldier raised by wolves or something should know what February 14 was.
"I do not know," Sousuke answered amiably.
"Ahhhh-hhh-hh-h!" Kaname stiffened. "That was a rhetorical question, you big moron." She didn't stop to think that the boy might not even know what that meant, but instead shook the bag again. "Don't the words 'Valentine's Day' ring a bell? Huh?"
"Hmmmm-mmm-mm-m." Sousuke thought a moment, and then nodded his head eagerly. "Yes! I recall now."
"Finally." Kaname let out her breath. "I may just forgive you after all…." She began reaching inside the bag. She had jumped the gun.
"I am surprised you recognize the reference, Kaname." Sousuke wondered why she had brought the subject up. He frowned. There wasn't any more trouble between Ren's father and other yakuza, was there? "I suppose that I should not be. You lived in the United States for a number of years. The St. Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the shooting of seven people as part of a conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago, USA many years ago." He thought a moment more. "I believe that a South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone was feuding with a North Side Irish gang led by George 'Bugs' Moran."
"B- B- B-" Kaname couldn't get her word 'But' out, or any of the other words that would have followed. Her mouth hung open.
"Yes," Sousuke said, nodding. "Bugs. I do not know the reason for that nickname." He would look into getting her a book on the subject if she was truly interested. "Six members of Moran's gang and an optician who enjoyed associating with gangsters were lined up against the rear wall of a building and brutally shot and killed by five members of Al Capone's gang, two of whom had cleverly disguised themselves as police officers."
"B- B- But…." Kaname began to feel the rage building again. Suddenly, it didn't matter so much if he thought that she looked nice and smelled great.
"I believe that they made a movie on the subject," Sousuke continued. "I am certain that I can locate a copy for you, if you wish." He looked at the bag. "Unless that is what you are carrying in that bag.? He wondered if she might bring such a film into English class. The teacher did say that he would teach them something about slang and colloquialisms.
"YOU… BIG… IDIOT!"
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The familiar landmarks passed faster and faster.
Kaname fought the urge to kick off her high heels and run. As it was, she was walking much faster than any of the other pedestrians.
A number of people stopped to stare at her. She didn't care. Hopefully it would make their day. She knew one thing: that big stupid head had certainly made her day… not in a good way…and they hadn't even made it class yet. Yes, on top of everything, the other students would do a lot of whispering, when she got scolded for being out of uniform. She had risked getting sent home, but had thought it all worth the risk!
"Kaname… wait…." Sousuke tried to match her stride for stride.
"Why should I, Sousuke?" Kaname?s voice was flat and emotionless. She had reached her Sousuke-limit for the day, and had long since red-lined. "I spent a lot of my life waiting. I deserve some happiness, while there's still time?"
"I do not understand," Sousuke stated. "If I have not had opportunity to learn something, because of the places and manner I have spent my life, why should that make you angry at me?"
"It's because…." Kaname began slowing down. She sighed. Sousuke was right. For once. "Well, I just…." Who was really to blame for her mood? Sousuke, because he truly was the most clueless boy alive? Or, herself, for expecting something different out or him? "Why can't you just be like everyone else? Just a little bit…."
"I believe I have told you enough about my life for you to know the reason," Sousuke said, heading up the walkway to Jindai High School. "I have not been in Tokyo long enough to change." He stopped for a moment, watching as she continued on a bit before stopping too. "Although, people have told me that I am getting better."
"Well, they're wrong!" Kaname lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling churlish. She walked back to where Sousuke stood and straightened his collar. "They're just trying to make you feel better." She smiled, everything miraculously forgiven. "But… making you feel better should be my job…." She reached inside of the bag and removed a big red heart-shaped box. "Here!" She handed it to the young mercenary.
"Kaname?" Sousuke took the box, flipped it over, and began reading small print. "Consists of sugar… whole milk…cocoa butter… soy lecithin…an emulsifier… vanillin… an artificial flavor... may contain tree nuts… eggs-" He was interrupted
"Sheeeesh. It's candy, you big dunce." Kaname found herself sighing again. "Chocolate. And, you need to put it back in the bag before anyone sees." She grabbed it from his hand and stashed it back in the bag, which she promptly thrust into his grasp. "They might ask you who gave it to you.?
"Is that a bad thing?" Sousuke asked, looking down at the bag, peaking in at the red object. "If it is bad to give someone candy, then why did you do so?" Would someone consider her an Eco-terrorist?
"It's never easy with you, is it!" Kaname almost stamped her foot. Almost. People were striding close to them, now." There's nothing wrong with giving someone candy." The two of them began walking again. "But… well… today, if someone found out I gave it to you, they might think… um…."
"What would they think?" Sousuke asked. "Why should today make any difference."
"It's Valentines' Day!" Kaname spoke too loudly. She frowned when a number of guys and gals looked in their direction, hearing that. Who knows what they might start thinking, the big busybodies? "That's a day… you know…." Her face felt warm. It had finally come time for Sousuke to understand why he had gotten candy, and why she had gone to so much trouble looking nice. "In this country… you see… it's a day when a girl gives chocolates to a boy she likes?" Those words came out in a rush.
"I see…." Sousuke said, suddenly feeling very tense. He began to sweat ever so slightly. "But… you have many friends who are boys… don't you like them too?" Despite that question, his eyes gave a hint that he had some suspicion of what Kaname was trying to say. There had been a day that Tessa had pestered him continually, telling her about the contents of Romance novel that she was reading, never savvy to the fact that he might be a boy that someone 'likes.'. He had wisely never mentioned Tessa's actions to Kaname.
"Yes," Kaname said, grinning. Sousuke looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He might actually have caught on to things. "But not the same way…." She smiled. "…Right?"
"A-" Sousuke had to cough. "Affirmative." He looked down at the bag. "If people saw me with candy, they would think…."
"Exactly," Kaname said. "They would think we were dating or something." She knew just what to say to get an 'Uhhh.' "They might even think we are… lovers."
"Uhhh." Sousuke's eyes went very wide.
"Let's go, Sousuke." Kaname took him by the sleeve and tugged, before letting go. "We want to get inside before the bell rings."
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The hallways were crowded.
As everyone headed for class, Kaname pushed Sousuke from behind, since he was moving slower than usual.
He was too busy thinking about what Kaname she had said to walk quickly through the surging mass of teenage humanity. He was certain that she was joking when she brought up the subject of 'lovers.' There was no indication that she intended to pursue him in that fashion.
But, she had said that she liked him. Clueless as he might be, he had finally begun understanding what that meant, even though he hadn't come to the obvious conclusion when she showed up in Hong Kong in time to shake him out of his depression and lack of interest in life. It wasn't as if he was totally unaware of his own feelings, too. He had given her that precious stone after the Pacific Christmas mission. But, a soldier in his profession learned never to hope for too much.
"Look out Sousuke!" Kaname?s shout brought his attention to the fore, as she began pushing him through the crowd. "Stop running into everyone!" Whose fault was that?!
Sousuke dug his feet in. That had Kaname slamming into him, pressing herself tightly against him. He swallowed hard. She felt very soft. It was a cliché anime or manga moment.
"You better have a good reason for that, mister!" Kaname quickly stepped away, blushing. A lot of the other students were looking at them. "Hmmmpppfff." Boys weren't the only ones who had manga-like moments.
"It is not necessary to push me," Sousuke said. He almost said 'I'm a Specialist,' but wisely chose not to. "We still have time."
"Not with you standing there daydreaming," Kaname said, feeling an instinctive need to be contrary. "Although, it is kind of nice that you're all turned around." She smiled, glad to see that she wasn't the only one to be blindsided by personal feelings now and then. "And speaking of having time… you do realize that March 14 is White Day… right?" She should have known otherwise.
"Kaname?" Sousuke's expression said that he didn't.
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The students were all leaving the hallway, making their way into the various homerooms.
"What is White Day, Kaname?" Sousuke asked.
"Shhhh-hhh-hh-h" Kaname looked to see if anyone had been listening. "Don't talk about that so loudly."
Sousuke stood just outside the door, letting some of his classmates go in before him. This time, it wasn't pushing… it was pulling again… as Kaname yanked on his arm. He stepped a short distance away from the door.
"White Day is a holiday where the men who received chocolate on Valentine's Day return the favor and give gifts to women." Kaname said. "I think the tradition started before I was even born, when some marshmallow maker started marketing to men that they should pay back the women who gave them chocolate and other gifts with marshmallows. Originally it was called Marshmallow Day, and later it was changed to White Day."
"I understand. A commercial holiday." Sousuke looked back towards the classroom. "One eyebrow went up. "Wait. I remember hearing about this. Kurz told me something regarding the holiday, saying I should be prepared."
"It's not just a commercial holiday, you big idiot? Kaname shook her finger at him. He better understand that it was about reciprocation. Not just in gifts, but in feelings, too. "What did Kurz say?" She should have asked later. Seeing that Miss Kagurazaka was walking down the hallway, the two of them made their way into the classroom.
"Kurz said that white chocolate was appropriate." Sousuke nodded, thinking back to the conversation. He pictured Kurz, trying to remember what else the lanky sniper had said. "Also, non-edible gifts.? The young operative thought harder. He didn't notice as Miss Kagurazaka walked past them, stopping to stand aside her desk, waiting for the class to settle down. "He said I should get you lingerie. That is supposed to be the most common gift." The moment that last word left his lips, he froze. He had spoken without thinking. And he had spoken when everyone else had gone silent.
Everyone turned to look at Sousuke and Kaname. Kyouko in particular had an impish smile on her face. She took a couple of pictures. With and without blinding flash.
"Psss-ss-st! Sounds like the boy's gonna need a condom," a wiseacre cracked, wanting to show how utterly sharp his wit was.
"I already have two in my wallet," Sousuke responded automatically, as clueless as usual, referencing his handy emergency water canteens. The clever lad's prompting quip had long since been forgotten. The students stared at Sousuke and Kaname with rapt attention.
"Eh hem!" There was a staccato cough. "Is there something else that you wish to share with the class, Mister Sagara? The teacher had a look of disapproval on her face. "Or may I get started?" She blinked rapidly for a moment or two. Her face was warm.
"Uhhhh…." Sousuke began to sweat.
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The sound of the smack echoed through the hallway.
"I can't believe you said that!" Kaname winced. She had swung the halisen so hard, that her arm ached. "In front of everyone!"
"Kaname… that hurt." Sousuke rubbed the top of his head. There was no welt. Yet. "I apologize. It was an accident.? He hadn't noticed Kaname take the paper fan from one of her emergency stashes.
"That's what you say about everything, Sousuke." Kaname felt the urge to take him by the collar and shake him until his neck snapped. "That excuse just won't cut it any more." She shivered. "I was so embarrassed. Who knows what people will think now?" She took a breath and let it out. She had to calm down. She wasn't some kind of violent wacko, was she?
"They may think we are lovers," Sousuke replied, repeating something she had said earlier.
"BAKA!" Kaname swung again, striking Sousuke on the other side of his head. She was a big fan of symmetry. Oops. She had done it again. Ah well, Sousuke deserved it.
"I do not understand why you are still hitting me. I asked for forgiveness." Sousuke frowned. "And, earlier, you made the same comment about lovers. I realized that you were not implying anything."
"Idiot!" Kaname added one last tap with the fan. "It's different when a girls says it." She shook her head. "It's not so gross." She stopped short of grinning. "Don't you know anything?'
"Apparently not," Sousuke said.
"You're going to have to make this up to me," Kaname demanded. "Big time."
"Kaname?" Sousuke rubbed his head again. Now there was a welt. More than one, actually.
"There's something I want on White Day." Kaname tossed her hair. "You have time to prepare."
"Chocolate?" Sousuke asked.
"No." Kaname shook her head. "But, you better get plenty, just to play it safe."
"Marshmallows? Sousuke tried to think what she might want.
"No," Kaname replied. "But, you should get those too."
"You cannot mean l-" Sousuke cringed when Kaname raised the paper fan again. He had caught himself in time. So had she.
"Of course not." Kaname said. She correctly guessed that he had stopped short of saying 'lingerie.'
"Then I find myself at a loss." Sousuke sighed. That would probably earn him another hit with the halisen. Right? Or was Kaname on some kind of a swing count?
"Naturally," Kaname said, sticking her nose up with an air of sufferance and superiority. "I guess that I'll have to tell you."
"OK." Sousuke waited patiently.
"Did you think I meant today?" Kaname smiled and fluffed her hair.
Sousuke remained silent. He would guess thirty seconds for her to break silence. Forty-five at the most. Mentally, he began counting. At '25,' she sidled up next to him.
"A kiss," was all that Kaname said. It was all that she needed to say.
Sousuke went as stiff as a board.
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THE END