Things went smoothly once Urzu 6 and Urzu 7 reached the scene. The cargo ship took on water quickly, its hull pierced by a large number of missiles. For no visible reason the Egyptian troops or dock workers could tell, the containers on top burst into flame, putting off great clouds of black smoke until the fires hissed on contact with the water.
The target sunk, the three Mithril pilots moved their machines off towards the pick up point. Word had come in from the other team. Their mission had been an unqualified success.
It was time for everyone to head home.
Sousuke had been offered a chance to go to New York, to resume his duties as Kaname's bodyguard there. He declined. It would not feel right for him. He listened with relief---but also some trepidation---when he was told that he would pick up with his Tokyo mission just where he had left off.
He would fly back to Japan as soon as the long debriefing was done.
Melissa had ordered Kurz to keep one thing secret from Sousuke. He surprised her---and himself---by maintaining that secrecy. The operative in New York had made himself known to Kaname. She had been very concerned about Sousuke, wanting to know if there was any word on him. Sgt. Major Mao firmly believed that seeing something for yourself sometimes shows a person more than words might get across.
Besides, Sousuke had been moping around altogether too much. He needed a good shock to the system.
The exit meetings went well. The mission as a whole had accomplished everything it could have. But, as it turned out, they had gotten there too late to prevent one catastrophe. Word came in from South Korea. Large numbers of people were sick or dying in Seoul. Someone had no doubt snuck out at least one small test shipment earlier. They could only hope that was the only one.
Only time would tell.
Mithril would send covert information to the South Korean officials. Without knowing what to look for, they would not know to test for Amanitin. As usual, their success in this mission would make its way to the ears of men in power. The coffers would stay full a bit longer.
Unfortunate as the poisoning in Seoul was, it would serve as a great example of what could have happened if those facilities hadn't been shut down permanently. There was no way that the Egyptian Armed forces could have moved in a quickly or stealthily as the Mithril troops had. The sovereign forces might have eventually stemmed the flow of the deadly substance, but significant amounts would have reached men who had no compulsion against using it.
The plane ride back to Tokyo was not a pleasant one for Sousuke. He had opened up a lot of painful memories during the days in Egypt. Though he felt a renewed confidence in the work he did, he still had significant doubts. There was still more thinking to be done.
When he dozed off, he dreamed. He saw an image of Anubis. The jackal-headed god was laughing. It threw his heart to the Devourer, then spoke. "I love you, Kashim!"
That startled Sousuke straight out of his sleep. Despite that shock, he dozed off again. This time he saw the Sphinx. It had Kaname's head. She too spoke: "What is a jerk on four legs... a moron on two.... and a big idiot on three?" A great paw came sweeping towards his head.
He woke up again.
His dreams were mixing together. His thoughts were tied up in knots. It was still the weekend. There must be some way to get his mind in order again before school on Monday.
He knew just the thing.
Fishing.
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Sousuke gathered what he needed for his excursion.
He would head out to Ookagou, Hachijo-machi. The beach has a unique landscape with a rocky expanse formed by the lava discharged into the sea by the eruption of Mt. Hachijo-Fuji. There is a good view of Hachijo-Kojima across the waters from this beach which is also a popular site for surf fishing.
Just as he was about to head out the door, the bell rang. He set his equipment aside, out of view. Looking out the view port, his breath caught in his throat. It was Kaname. What did she want. Had she come over to order him to stay away from her? There was no box lunch in sight. She held a long wooden staff.
"I know you're in there, Sousuke. You'd better open up if you know what's good for you." Her voice was firm, strong.
Sousuke knew what would happen if he delayed too long. He opened the door.
"Kaname?"
"Yes, Kaname. Do you know anyone else who looks like me? HMMPPFF!!!" Her words briefly brough to mind the errorist girl in the tunnel. He shook it off. Kaname caught his action, but held her tongue.
"I had word that your sister would be OK. I was glad to hear that." He bowed his head, finding it hard to speak. Looking down, he noted a flash of gold at Kaname's wrist. It was the bracelet he had given to her. It was part of the jewelry that she had thrown out into the hall.
"Well, Sousuke?" Kaname began banging the staff against the door frame.
"Kaname?"
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Kaname did not sound angry.
"Yes. I am sorry. Please come in." Sousuke closed the door and asked if Kaname would like anything to drink.
As soon as the door closed, and they were isolated in their own space, Kaname's face changed. Tears came to her eyes. Her shoulders trembled. She threw herself into Sousuke's arms and began sobbing. "I'm sorry, Sousuke. So sorry."
"For what, Kaname?" Sousuke didn't know what to do. Kaname was not attempting to be affectionate. That would have confused him even more. Still, he did not know what he could do to comfort her.
Kaname backed away and wiped her finger across her eyes. "I said some terrible things, Sousuke. Terrible things."
"You were upset, Kaname. You were not yourself." Sousuke felt better. Still, there was a catch in his voice. He had been through too much to have an apology bring him back to where he was before.
"Thank you, Sousuke. Those words... they...they would have been wrong no matter had happened. They would be terrible no matter what." She looked deeply into Sousuke's eyes, trying to regain some composure.
"I saw the news, Sousuke. About Seoul. Can you tell me---was that the poison you were worried about?"
"Yes," Sousuke said after a long pause. He could trust Kaname.
"My God. But there won't be any more?" Kaname's eyes were intense.
"I hope not. Both facilities were completely destroyed. No one is certain how much they may have taken out before we got there,"
"I see. You are a hero, Sousuke. I never should have said what I did." The tears came to her eyes again.
"I am not a hero, Kaname. At least, I do not feel heroic. I did what I was trained to do. I did what I was ordered to do. It was what needed to be done." He went quiet for a moment. His hands twitched.
"I have more blood on my hands, Kaname." He looked away.
"YOU LOOK HERE MISTER!" Kaname's spunk returned when she saw Sousuke's mood turn south.
Sousuke looked at Kaname.
"You are a hero to me, Sousuke." Kaname spoke quietly, almost in a whisper. She took one of his hands. "Your hand looks clean to me." She patted it and let it go. It was her turn to look down at the floor.
Sousuke didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think. For a moment, the silence grew awkward.
"I wanted to apologize." Kaname bowed and held out the thick staff. Sousuke took it. It was surprisingly light---it must be hollow.
Melissa had phoned ahead, letting Kaname know when Sousuke would be arriving. It didn't take her long to figure out what gift might mean something to the young soldier.
Sousuke opened the 'staff.' It was a fishing rod case. Inside it was a Shimano Surfleader FV carbon composite rod. A nice piece.
"Thank you Kaname. It is well chosen. It will mean a lot to me."
"Great. Then, when are you going to take me fishing again, Sousuke?" She meant it as a reference to their time together after the Gauron incident. Saying that, she happened to look over and see the gear that Sousuke had placed aside. Her eyes widened.
Kaname smiled. Sousuke came close to smiling.
"Would you like to go to the beach, Kaname?"
"You know a girl's thoughts always go towards the beach, Sousuke...."
"Affirmative."
"Will there be anything weird?"
"No." Sousuke knew this routine.
"Anything dangerous?"
"No." He thought of a twist to throw in.
Kaname walked up and stared Sousuke in the eyes. "Will Tessa be there?"
She had beat him to it.
Sousuke walked over to the phone. He picked up the receiver. "Do you want her to be?" He began dialing at random.
"Don't you dare!!!" She yelled, laughing.
"It is not a problem." he put the phone back down.
"Well then, we will need to stop by my place so I can get a few things." Kaname headed back to the door.
"You look fine as you are. I have an extra set of boots." Sousuke went to a closet, opened it, and started removing items.
"Sousuke, you do NOT ask a girl to go surf-fishing in an outfit like this!" Kaname spun around once, then posed.
"It looks to have adequate functionality, Kaname...." Sousuke felt proud. He had avoided using the word 'practical.'
"SOUSUKE!!!" Sousuke did not mind that shout. He was glad he could hear it again.
"As you say, Kaname."
"Good. We will also need to stop at a bait shop. We will need to find something to catch a whale with. You owe me a whale, Sousuke." She tossed her hair.
"There may be no whales there."
"I said a whale, mister. Do I need to get the halisen as well? It might fit in that case." She made a show of looking at the case's diameter.
"I will see what I can do."
Kaname smiled.