Chapter 4 That's Classified...

Sousuke and Kaname returned with breakfast and her halisen - to ensure as little guff as possible. But Kurz and Melissa weren't around. She shot a quizzical look at Sousuke, who shrugged a 'darned if I know, but it can't be good' expression and began setting the table. Who could tell what those two might dream up?

The couple had begun breakfast, when Kurz and Melissa sauntered in. "We're ba-a-ack!" they teased and it reminded Sousuke of a bad horror flick. Melissa was carrying a bottle that looked like cheap wine, while Kurz had a brown sack in his hand. Melissa pulled four wine glasses out of the sack, popped open the bottle, and started pouring. Silently, Kaname pleaded with Sousuke to stop these two lunatics. He was about to intercept as Melissa raised her glass, "To Sousuke and Kaname – we thought you'd never get around to it!"

"Here, here!" Kurz lifted his and gulped down the whole glass, then handed the sack to a non-plussed Kaname. Snatching it before it reached Kaname, Sousuke feared Kurz's perverted plans, as the blonde sergeant blabbed, "Those are for you two. You may need 'em - they're for more than hauling water in the desert you know, Sousuke."

The younger sergeant bolted up slamming his hands on the table, seething in embarrassment, then tossed the sack over into the trash. "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" Sousuke commanded and Kaname slapped Kurz with the halisen, which sent his plastic wine glass tumbling. Kurz and Melissa looked blankly at each other then at Sousuke. Sagara continued, "You are my comrades, but this is rude – it's embarrassing me AND KANAME. None of THAT happened! I was sick and Kaname took care of me."

Giving a yeah right nod – Kurz loved to push his luck. "But, you two on the couch... it was so... kawaii ..." Kurz protested.

Readying her halisen again, Kaname aimed for Kurz. He ducked behind Melissa, but Sousuke grabbed him by the shirt collar and decked him, as if it was a fight to the death. Still holding Kurz's collar, Sousuke watched the blonde's head whip back. Released with a growl from Sousuke, Kurz plopped down nursing his jaw.

Kaname mentally noted Sousuke did seem to know what THAT was. Sometimes she had actually wondered. Seeing more of the human side of Sousuke- especially his innocence and honor, made her so proud.

Straightening her grin and as best as she could, Melissa stated boisterously, "We're just glad you two have admitted your feelings for each other. We wanted to show you we were thrilled, Sergeant!" She smartly snapped him a salute. Glaring, Sousuke didn't bother to return it. Kaname glowed, he'd defended her reputation, when some guys would have been tempted to bolster their own in front of friends.

"Boy, you sure have changed Sagara. You're lucky we're all off duty right now," she retorted.

"But he's also stayed the same, Sis," Kurz jumped in and winked, "always doing what he understands to be right. I knew they'd be a couple, ever since the plane hijacking incident when he tried to get her to run, and she wouldn't leave us there wounded."

Wondering to herself if Kurz and Melissa had ever admitted their own feelings for each other, Chidori didn't ask for fear of too many details.

Kaname leaned back in her chair, sighed and shook her head. This seemed to be the end of the teasing for a while anyway...for once she didn't have to slap her Sousuke with the halisen – it was someone else. The aroma of fresh food was a siren to the two hooligans and they dug in with gusto. When Melissa finally dabbed her mouth with a napkin, she asked, "So, now what?"

Kaname raised an eyebrow to Sousuke in question, before asking the other two, "What would it take to get him reassigned to protect me again?"

"At least you're direct Missy," Kurz noted. "Well, we anticipated this. The Captain didn't sign that transfer. Above her head. And we can't predict what happens if he fights it."

Sifting back through his memories to all the times Kaname had said she hated him, wouldn't talk to him, or just put up with his persistent presence, Sousuke reveled in seeing her trying to help him stay. She'd changed too.

Settling in, the four of them talked about the best way to get Sousuke's transfer cancelled or postponed. It was unanimous that Sousuke should go back early. While Kaname knew it would be the easiest way for him to work on the problem, her disappointment showed clear as day. She'd counted on the time left with her boyfriend. Now instead of seven days with him – she had only two. Why did she wait until the last week to show her feelings? It was obvious Sousuke would never be the first one in that department. They'd acted like they had all the time in the world.

"Our little angel looks like she'll miss you, Sousuke. She's pouting." Kurz beamed.

"Who? Me?" Kaname tried to laugh it off – in her typical that's not really the situation at all guise. No one fell for it.

...

After Kurz and Melissa left, Kaname was wondering just how much of the next few days she could spend with her beau. The obnoxious pair had already threatened to stay in town until Sousuke left. They weren't planning anything else were they? Well, make the most of it girl! "Sousuke, what all do you need to do in the next two days? You'll have to talk with the landlord, deal with bills, and - oh - it's Sunday. Tomorrow we'll do bills. What do you need me to do?" She insisted on helping.

"Hmm..." he wrinkled his brow and thought. Apparently she wasn't familiar with a mobile military life. He just had a little packing to do. "Maybe we should get ready for the day. I can take care of what I need to and meet you at your apartment," he suggested.

She gave him a disbelieving look and suppressed a sleepy yawn. For her sake he continued, "I'll take care of this quickly." Looking at his watch, he suggested more boldly this time but revealing no hints, "I'll be there at 1500 to pick you up. That will give you sufficient time for a nap and be ready to go."

"Go where?" she inquired.

His plan wasn't quite complete. He'd only been mulling it since the four of them decided he should leave in 2 days. "That's classified until 1500. I will call you if there is anything you'll need to bring."

Sticking her tongue out at him, she contorted her face with her hands – like she did on the train the one time she tried to get away from him. It irked her when she didn't know the plan.

Seeing her pick up the halisen, his eyes darted to it. Standing there motionless, unresponsive, he waited. Once again the slap didn't come. "Well, then I guess I'll take the hint and go. Are you sure you're feeling well enough?" she shared her concern.

He nodded.

"Make sure to eat some soup – or else, you're just getting better." Tucking the halisen under her arm, she marched to the door.

"Understood," he remarked. As he watched her look back at him, there seemed to be a question on her face. Then she lifted her chin, left and shut the door.

Now, to implement his new plan.

...

Thinking to herself, she wondered if she should have kissed him before she left. "Oh well, it's Sousuke," she reasoned. Her stomach growled and she lamented not grabbing some of the soup for lunch. Oh well again – she was too tired to think straight anymore. There was serious need for a nap before he arrived. Of course, he'd be right on time. Knowing him, he probably set his watch each day to match atomic time.

(2) kawaii = cute