There will be no updates for a while for two reasons 1) I nearly broke my wrist and can hardly write. 2) I am moving overseas soon, so this will be the last chapter for a while. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: What about Tessa-chan?
Sagara was prepared for every contingency. He had planned this excursion to the last detail. All his preparations were complete and he had only to wait till the door bell came and Chidori came to begin his mission. 'No it isn't a mission. I mustn't think of this as a mission. I'm taking Chidori out for a date like a normal high school kid. No weapons, except my trusty Glock, which is easy to conceal.' He had gathered a bouquet of her favourite flowers a few roses of mixed colours. He had made reservations at a classy Italian restaurant, one where she had wanted to eat at for ages. He had put on a nice suit, but not too flashy, although he refused to change his hair, it was still raggedly cut and sticking up oddly. In other words, it was perfect.
The doorbell for his new apartment rang. Sagara glanced at the clock, and saw it was a little early, but he had expected that. Opening the door, he received a shock that left him speechless.
"Ca...cap...Captain Testarossa!" he exclaimed in shock, before throwing a quick and picture perfect salute.
"At ease, Sergeant," Tessa said shyly.
"Uhm, why are you here?" Sagara asked, curiosity burning.
"Well, uhm, could I come in?" Tessa asked shyly.
"Of course, Captain!"
Tessa walked in, carrying a large suitcase, which Sagara immediately took and placed somewhere safe. Tessa made a quick tour of Sagara's apartment, "You seem to have adjusted well to the settings, Sousuke-kun."
"Thank you, Captain!" Sagara replied immediately standing at attention despite Tessa's orders. "May I ask why you are here Captain?" Sagara repeated his earlier question.
"I'm not a captain any more, Sousuke. I was found unfit for duty three weeks ago and offered a research position, which I declined," Tessa replied.
"So what are you doing now, Cap...Tessa?" Sagara asked, hesitating slightly over the use of her name.
"Well, I decided to finish high school for one, and then see from there." She encouraged Sousuke with a smile.
"Dare I ask why you are here then?" Sagara asked.
"Well, since I know you, I thought you could let me live here until I can find my own place to live." Tessa stated, blushing slightly at the forwardness of the demand. "It would be a big favour," she added.
"But, Tessa, you are Whispered and therefore may be in danger."
"That is another reason why I wanted to stay around Tokyo, so that you could protect me. Besides it seems that Gauron was one of the only ones attempting to use the Whispered for evil ends and against their will."
Sagara was quiet as he thought about it for a little while, and then answered. "I guess it is okay, Tessa. So long as you try and find your own place I don't mind if you stay here," Sagara's mind drifted to Chidori, "Here, let me take your suitcase to the bedroom."
"The bedroom?" Tessa asked, blushing slightly.
"Err..." came Sagara's typical response, and then quickly recovered, "Of course you will be sleeping in the bed, I have several futons and will sleep elsewhere."
"You must be tired from the trip," Sagara said as he carried her suitcase, "Allow me to prepare the bath."
"That would be wonderful," she said warmly. "And Sousuke?"
"Yes, Tessa?"
"Why are you dressed like that? And why are there roses on the table?" she asked pointedly.
"Uhh..." Sagara started.
"Is it something to do with Chidori?" she asked, tapping her foot.
"Err..."
"More specifically is it a date?"
"Uhm..." sweat was beading and running down Sagara's face by now.
"Are you two going out often?" Tessa asked, dangerously calm. 'The calm before the storm,' Sagara thought irrationally.
"No, we do not." He answered quickly, and then explained, "I was merely fulfilling a favour that I owed Chidori. She replied that she would like to be taken out to dinner."
Tessa smiled evilly, "You know Sagara I think I will take that bath. Enjoy your evening with Chidori," she said sweetly before heading towards the bathroom. 'I can get him back later on when he comes home!' Tessa thought.
Kaname was impressed, to say the least. Sagara had surprised her by meeting her at the door with a beautiful bouquet of roses, and brought to one of favourite Italian restaurants. He hadn't blown up anything, checked the food for poisoning or even tackled the waiter when he reached into his jacket. Although Sagara had tensed because old habits die-hard, he had further surprised Kaname when he ordered a nice bottle of red wine and drank some. She didn't know he drank alcohol.
"I am really surprised with you Sousuke!" Kaname said warmly.
"How so, Chidori?"
"Well, with everything," she said indicating the entire restaurant with a wave, "I didn't think you could get us into a high class place like this."
"The proprietor owed me a few favours, I set up some of his security measures."
"And that explains how you got the wine as well, normally I don't like your otaku traits, but this time I'll make an exception."
"That is reassuring, Chidori."
"But don't think you can get away with it more often," Kaname said waving her finger.
"That is a shame, I had access to the French restaurant Maitre D, but since you disapprove of 'otaku' maybe I should go with Tessa." Kaname spat out the wine in her mouth. "Do you need a napkin, Chidori?" Sagara asked politely. He had begun to learn how to 'play' Chidori's game.
"Did you say Tessa?"
"Yes I believe I did."
"Why didn't you call her Captain like you always do?"
"She is no longer my commanding officer, in fact she is no longer part of Mithril."
Although Kaname didn't like Tessa overly much, she was saddened by the news of her dismissal, "Why did she get dismissed?"
"She resigned," Sagara corrected, "She was deemed unfit to Captain the TDD-1 and was offered a research position instead. She declined and chose to resign from active duty."
"So what is she doing now?" Kaname asked.
Sagara looked at his watch, "Probably taking a bath," he stated.
"Huh?"
Seeing Kaname's confused look, Sagara explained, "She is living with me until she finds her own place to live in Tokyo."
"WHAT?" Kaname screamed.
"She will be attending our school again, as she is known there. She wants to finish High School and look for a normal job. I must admit I am slightly jealous."
Kaname was rendered speechless. "Sousuke..."
"Yes, Chidori?" Sagara felt all the warning signs; he was going to be halisened.
"You mean that Tessa is staying with you?"
"Yes, at least until she finds her own place to stay."
"What if she doesn't?"
"I do not know, then I guess she will be living with me." The halisen that Sagara was waiting for descended with a resounding KA-TWHACK!
"Sound a little sorry when you say that!" Kaname snarled.
Besides the discussion about Tessa, Kaname found the date above standards; obviously Sousuke had done a little research and knew what girls liked. After their delicious dinner, they enjoyed a stroll through the park, where Sousuke brought her favourite flavour ice cream. Their peaceful stroll was only interrupted once, when Sousuke went to the aid of a woman who was being harassed by a few gangies. Seeing Sousuke, one of them screamed and pointed a quick whispered discussion followed and the gang members fled into the night without a fight.
"Apparently news about you spreads far," Kaname said good-naturedly, not realising the truth.
"So it would seem," Sagara said, not mentioning the fact that those gang members had challenged the 40 Riders of Apocalypse and had seen Sagara's victory.
It was around eleven o'clock when they parted ways. Sagara politely but firmly refused Chidori's request to go home with him; he didn't want Tessa and Chidori to start fighting in his apartment.
Sagara opened the door into his dark apartment.
"Tessa?" he called out into the darkness. He cursed; the nearest light switches were half a room away. Sagara suspected some trap and drew his Glock; ready for anyone or anything that could be a threat. Sagara nearly jumped out off his skin as two thin arms circled his waist.
"Welcome home, Sagara," Tessa said, hanging on tightly.
"Ahh, ca-Tessa?"
"I was getting worried, Sagara."
"You should know Tessa that there is no foe that could stop me," Sagara said in confidence.
"No, I was worried that Chidori had dragged you off home to..." Tessa hesitated.
"Do not worried, Chidori would not do that, we are friends. I doubt she would attempt to ambush me, despite how much she does not like me. She knows how much training I have."
Tessa sighed, 'Can he really be so oblivious?' she thought.
"Although she did seem quite keen to come here, maybe she wanted to see you?"
Tessa laughed awkwardly, "I don't think so, Sagara."
Sagara shrugged, "Anyway, would you like to go to bed now? I am sure that you are tired after the trip here."
"Sure," Tessa said brightly heading towards the bedroom. She stopped and turned, "Can you take me around Tokyo tomorrow?"
"Why?"
"Because I want to see how much it's changed after a year,"
"Sure."