Chapter 6

"Classified?" Souke asked as he raised an eyebrow while they ate dinner at their apartment. "I'm your brother! Don't I get to know?"

"No." Hope said.

"I'll call Mom to find out." Souke said with a smirk.

"Mom wouldn't tell you anyway!" Hope said back with the same smirk.

"Dad would! Dad doesn't know how to keep a secret!" Souke said with another grin.

"Dad wouldn't know. Do you think Mom would tell Dad? C'mon, Souke. Mom knows her duty. Besides, she wouldn't want to worry Dad with the way he's been feeling lately."

"Just one hint!" Souke pressed.

"NO!" Hope boomed out. "That's it! No more! I do not want to hear about it again!"

"But…"

"Shut up!" Hope boomed.

Souke sighed. "Okay. Still, how is it you can be promoted to Major and not tell anyone why!"

"Okay, fine. Here it is, Souke. I've been promoted to Grand Paper Pusher. That's my new job. Exciting, isn't it?"

"NO FAIR!" Souke yelled out. "I saved your life once! Do you forget that?"

"I know that!" Hope said. "Still, you can't know. That's it! I am not discussing this any further!"

"Okay, I get it." Souke said as he ate.

Hope smirked at him and continued to eat as she asked. "So, what was the final grade on the exam?"

Clearing his throat and stammering, Souke answered. "Uh…. what exam?"

"Don't play stupid with me!" Hope said. "You had the huge exam last Friday. How did you do?"

"Uh…huh what?"

"Souke?" Hope asked. "What was your final grade?"

"Uh…c'mon, Hope, I don't want to talk about it."

"What was it, Souke?" Hope asked.

Under his breath he whispered something incoherent.

"Huh? Say that again, Souke?"

"A!" He screamed out happily.

"You little creep!" Hope said with a snicker. "Souke, I hate when you do that."

"Well, at least I didn't classify that information!" Souke said with a smirk.

It was then the phone rang and Souke got up from his chair with a mouthful of food. "Mawshi Mawshi!" he answered.

"Excuse me?" The voice on the other end said.

"Er, I meant Hello?" he asked as he swallowed down his food in one large gulp.

"Is the home of Major Hope Ikari?" the voice asked.

"Who wants to know?" Souke asked in a protective voice.

"Is Major Ikari, there currently?" the voice asked.

"Who are you?" Souke asked.

"My name is Sawyer Dell. Put her on the phone now, you twit!"

"TWIT?" Souke boomed out. "Listen, buddy I'll…."

"Who is that?" Hope asked.

"Do you know a guy named Sawyer Dell?" Souke asked her.

Immediately, Hope jumped up from her chair and wrenched the phone away from her brother. "Idiot!" She growled. "That's my superior officer! He's my boss you fool!"

"Oh." Souke said sheepishly as he put his hand behind his neck and blushed.

Hope cleared her throat and then said. "Major Ikari here. I apologize for my brother, sir."

"I should hope so." Dell said on the other end. "Major, get in your car and meet me at the address inside of the box the Colonel gave you in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Hope asked.

"Yes, ten minutes." Dell said as he hung up the phone.

Quickly, Hope ran to the small shelf on the wall and opened the box, taking out the piece of paper from inside of it. She quickly stuffed into her pocket and then straightened herself up as she grabbed her car keys.

"Where are you going?" Souke asked.

"It's classified!" Hope told him. "Stay here."

"What the…" Then Hope ran out the door and left Souke with a raised eyebrow saying. "Huh?"