Journey to Insanity and Romance p 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Panic! Wish I did though.

Departure and Flight

The next day, Sousuke and Kaname get ready to leave their apartments to meet at their usual corner. Since school had let out for the summer according to the revised schedule, this allowed the two teens to make their plans even though in short notice.

Sousuke checks his standard weapons cache while Kaname checks her luggage. Sousuke nods in approval at the cache and proceeds to pack his clothing. Kaname ponders whether or not to take her halisen. She then shrugs and puts it in her luggage anyway. As an afterthought, she adds an extra one.

She smirks and says, "Just like Sousuke would say, 'Just in case'. And this time, the trip will not have a problem. If there are any hijackers on the plane today, they may want to consider a career change. If they do not, I personally know someone that'll do his job and make them all disappear." She then giggles, only for it to turn into a laugh that would do a hyena proud.

She calms down enough to say, "I'll say this much for Sousuke. There's never a dull moment with him around."

Smiling, she twirls around her apartment, picks up the picture of her Mother and says, "I finally did it, Mom. I told Sousuke how I feel about him. He feels the same way. Only he didn't do it the conventional way. He used a gun to determine his answer. I just hope Daddy'll understand about Sousuke's weaponry and not ask too many questions."

She then softly giggles again and adds, "Then again, it might do him some good to meet a soldier that's my age. Not just any soldier, Mom. A Specialist. He lost his parents at an early age, that much I'm sure of. I just wish I knew how he got that scar on his cheek. If the people that he took up with gave him that scar, they'd better be dead. Nobody does that to an innocent boy before he becomes the ultimate warrior or before he meets the girl whose life and world he forever changes. Let alone turns upside-down with his actions."

Her giggle soon becomes another loud and raucous laugh. Very soon, she's close to going onto the floor and kicking her feet in hilarity. She then calms down enough to catch a glimpse of Sousuke as he finishes putting his clothing into his bag, lifts both bags onto his shoulders and exits the dwelling. Checking her watch, Kaname leaves a note for Kyoko as she had asked Kyoko to watch her hamster and fish. Looking around the apartment one more time, Kaname smiles and leaves the apartment.

Down on street level, Sousuke had just reached their usual meeting point when he sees Kaname coming at him, a bright smile on her face. When she gets to him, a white Mithril van with laundry service markings on it arrives to pick them up. Behind the wheel is Sergeant Kurz Weber and in the passenger seat is Sergeant Major Melissa Mao.

Kaname smiles and says, "Hi Kurz and Melissa. How are you doing today?"

Kurz, ever the blond-haired flirt, replies, "You know, getting pleasure from sis here. Oww." Raven-haired Melissa removes her elbow from Kurz's stomach, smiles wickedly and nods at Sousuke and Kaname.

She then says, "I've been doing fine, Kaname. Ready for your flight?"

Kaname asks, "Is it weird?"

"Nope."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Nope, no danger. The flight is a Mithril charter. Just like when you visited us on the Tuatha de Danaan. Hopefully, this time around, you won't have to swim attached to a Turtle while breathing through a regulator."

Kaname smiles and says, "That was fun, in a way. Just a little unexpected, that's all. Thanks to Sergeant Serious here." Melissa nods as Sousuke loads their luggage into the back of the van.

Kaname then asks, "How many weapons in your cache, Sousuke? We won't be going after terrorists while in New York. Hopefully, that is." She snaps her fingers and remembers one way she can honor Sousuke and the job he does without ruining his cover.

Sousuke is thinking the same thing as he remarks, "This will be an ideal opportunity to see Ground Zero. But I can't help but wonder if we'd have time to go to the Pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania."

Kaname smiles, takes his arm and says, "It's your trip too, Sousuke. We just gotta tell my Father all about the situation. Maybe he'd understand. I know I do." She then pecks him on his cheek and smiles before she gets into the van. Sousuke grins and shakes his head as he gets into the van as well and shuts the door behind him.

With that, the masterful sniper of the Special Response Team pulls away from the curb, trying to stir up conversation with Kaname and Sousuke. Needless to say, his questions and comments are getting to be downright annoying. The questions and comments stop coming after Melissa hits Kurz in his stomach and grins savagely.

Within twenty minutes, they arrive at Tokyo Airport and Melissa goes to check on the plane. Five minutes later, she comes back, her face pale, and asks, "Did you tell anyone your travel plans, guys? Because a bunch of your classmates are here to see you off. What's even worse, they saw me in my fatigues. Thank goodness our Mithril patches are removable."

Kaname blushes as she says, "I only told Kyoko, Ren and Maya. I guess they told everyone else that gathered. I'm sorry Melissa. I didn't figure on them coming to see us off."

Sousuke looks at his duffel bag, smiles and says, "Kaname, you might want to exit the van now. I've got an idea. Kurz, make like you're getting ready to go on a convention circuit and tell Kaname all kinds of Military stories. Kaname, make like you're humoring him."

The others smile as they catch on and Kaname says, "If they expect you to be a Military otaku, you'll actually dress the part. Sort of like a spin to your actual purpose here."

"That's affirmative."

At that, Kaname and Kurz get out of the van, with Kurz telling Kaname all about his training as a sniper. Kaname, in turn, laughs out loud at how ridiculous he sounds. Melissa then comes up and tells Kaname out loud what kind of guy Sousuke really is.

"He's the only one I know of that can run a marathon through a minefield and come out clean, even under enemy fire."

Intrigued, but eager to keep up the act, Kaname smiles and says, "Tell me more, Melissa, please. I'd like to know what is in my future with Sousuke. Or if I even have a future."

Melissa softly smiles and replies, "If you two have a future, make it a good and happy one. Heaven knows Sousuke deserves some happiness in his life. He hasn't had any in the past. Not since he lost his family to a violent shooting by Soviet troops. He hasn't even laughed in front of me since they died. Except for the first eight years of his life, he's been pretty gloomy. Kalinin has the rest of the necessary details."

Gasping, Kaname puts her hand to her mouth and softly whispers, "How awful. Is that how he got that scar as well?" Before Melissa can answer, the van's door opens and Sousuke steps out, fatigues and Mithril patch on. Melissa points at her shoulder. Sousuke pulls the patch off and stuffs it into his pocket.

Kaname can't help but grin at how good Sousuke looks in his fatigues. She manages to hold her laughter in check as she watches Sousuke salute Melissa even though she's a superior NCO. Shinji and Kyoko manage to get Kurz's best model pose for when he appeared on 'Tag' magazine. Shinji even manages to get a picture of Melissa decking Kurz after getting her butt grabbed by him.

The Rugby Team even gives their regards to the new couple by expressing themselves the way that Sousuke taught them as their Instructor.

"You both are worthless slime! You took way too long in realizing your feelings for each other! When you return, we want to see you both hanging onto each other like your lives depended on it! Is that understood, Sergeant and Miss Manager?"

"Affirmative!" Both teens shoot off a salute at the Squad Captain. He then surprises them both by giving them a soft yet strong hug.

"Just because he made us a little more savage than before doesn't mean we are totally barbaric. We're all proud of you, Miss Chidori and Mr. Sagara. We can't even begin to think of a finer couple than yourselves." The Team then walks away from them, roughhousing with each other as they leave.

Maya Mukai grins as she looks Sousuke over in his fatigues and says, "You sure pull the look off well, Sousuke. Don't you agree, Ryo?"

Ryo Kojima nods as she replies, "It's almost as if he was meant to wear fatigues, Maya."

Ren comes up, bows and says, "Congratulations, Miss Chidori and Mr. Sagara. I cannot think of a finer match-up than the both of you. Miss Chidori, I look forward to seeing you wearing fatigues when you return to school."

Starting to giggle, Kaname nods at Ren and replies, "It could set a whole new fashion trend." She then turns to Sousuke and asks, "Ready for the next convention, Sousuke?"

Sousuke grins and replies, "Affirmative. I'll see you later, Sgt. Major, Sergeant. See you both in three months, if not sooner." This has the girls and guys gathered laughing.

Melissa chuckles then laughs as she wraps Sousuke in a hug and says, "Take real good care of Kaname, Sousuke. Not many girls like her out there."

Kurz nods and hands him a box, saying, "Yeah, Sousuke. Real good care." Cackling madly, Kurz runs away from the gathered teens, with Melissa right on his heels, yelling furiously. Sousuke and Kaname look at the box and see the word 'Condoms'.

Sousuke nods and remarks, "At least we'll have plenty of emergency canteens."

Blushing, Kaname whispers into his ear, telling him the actual intent of the items. When she's done, she sees their friends giggling and whispering. This causes both their faces to blush deeply, jaws to drop and Sousuke starts sweating heavily.

"Uh." Kaname's explanation has him stunned, as he's used to using various items like they are emergency supplies. Instead of their intended purpose.

Kaname recovers her jaw, gets really angry at Kurz, whips out her halisen and throws it at his head, knocking him senseless upon impact. Impressed with her aim, Sousuke, whispering into her ear, reminds her of when he threw her up into the air in order to bring down a Hind with an Anti-Armor dagger from Arbalest.

Of course, Kaname remembers that as well. So she whaps him with her spare halisen, laughing as she does so. She then kisses him on his cheek and blushes. Sousuke smiles fully at her, prompting her to look around to see about an instant camera. Finding none, she resolves to buy one for the next time Sousuke smiles. Suddenly, they hear Kyoko giggle as she comes up to Sousuke, holding her little camera.

"Sousuke, I got your smile on my camera. I'll be sure to make copies for everybody." She then scampers over to Shinji so he could see Sousuke's smile.

Mizuki walks up to Sousuke, takes a deep breath and says, "I'm sorry I punched you, Sousuke. I should have realized you were trying to help me save face one more time with my friends. They told me that they had realized it when you reappeared and pulled out your gun on Shirai."

She then sighs, blushes and adds, "The kiss was nice, if not a little unexpected. Next time, give a girl some kind of warning, all right?"

Mizuki, with her red hair at shoulder length, blushes deeper as she thinks about the kiss that was given to her. "Kaname, you are so lucky to have Sousuke in your life. Just like he is lucky to have you in his. Sousuke, you take good care of Kaname. Please."

"Affirmative, Mizuki Inaba. I'll do just that." Next thing they know, they see Tsubaki walking toward them, limping. Kaname looks at him with a question in her eyes.

Sousuke then shrugs and replies, "I shot him in the groin with rubber slugs from my Glock yesterday." This causes Kaname to grimace and wince in pain from Sousuke's description.

When he gets to them, he nods in greeting to the others. He then cringes slightly at Mizuki's face, only to change to a pleasant smile for her. Looking around and seeing everyone else, he addresses Sousuke.

"Sagara, we sure come from different worlds. You, from the world of warfare. Myself, the world of Martial Arts. Yet, somehow we became something akin to friends, especially when we were helping Mr. Onuki with his duties."

Sousuke nods and adds, "Then things got really hectic with the business about his koi. Who would have thought that he was taking care of it? Perhaps he should have put up a sign that says 'No Fishing' at the pond it was in. That would saved ammunition and his sanity." Tsubaki nods, grins and turns to Mizuki.

"Mizuki, I know you have feelings for me. But, could we go slowly, please? I don't think I could survive another 'Full Monty' situation. Sagara barely survived the last one." Mizuki nods and giggles, looking right at Sousuke as she does so. This has Sousuke feeling quite nervous as Kaname is running her fingers through his hair.

"Kaname, I have something to tell you." Kyoko had come back up to her friend with a sweet smile on her face.

"What is it, Kyoko?"

"I was the one that told Sousuke about your friend, Senior Fuwa. He wanted to put the screws to him, but I managed to talk him out of it. When he saw those Yakuza hassling you, he told me that he was a professional soldier. It didn't matter who you're friends with, he will protect you. Once he put on his shades, I could have sworn he was going to go 'Terminator' on them. The way he handled them as Bonta-kun was heroic, just like when he pulled you out of that truck's path."

"Yeah, he is good at giving off that effect, Kyoko. I even saw him doing some 'Terminator' action at the conventions." Melissa had walked back to the gathered teens after giving Kurz a series of good sized belts to his chops. Giving Kaname a wink, she cackles as Kyoko and Mizuki ask Sousuke to do his 'Terminator' bit. Surprisingly enough, he pulls it off rather well.

He even adds the famous line from one of the movies. "Hasta la vista, baby."

After saying their goodbyes to their classmates and friends, the two board the twin turboprop and take their seats. Kaname looks outside and sees Mizuki and Tsubaki, holding each other slightly, smiling and waving goodbye. Mizuki then brings up a sign.

It says, 'Have lots of kids, guys. It's the only way you and Sousuke'll settle down. Especially Sousuke.'

Right then and there, Kaname's wishing that she was hitting Mizuki with her halisen right now. But she settles for blushing and pressing herself close to Sousuke. Sousuke wraps his arm around her and holds her tight. At that, the plane starts taking off, with the others scrambling to get clear.

He then snaps his fingers and says, "I've got a couple of items for you, Kaname. One is this." He reaches into his bag, brings out and hands her a book.

It reads, 'From a Soldier's Mind and Mouth to a Civilian's Ears and Heart. An Otaku Translation Guide. By Sergeant Sousuke Sagara (Uh, Please Disregard the Sergeant Part)'.

Laughing, Kaname throws her arms around Sousuke and kisses him on his lips, saying, "I love it, and you. Don't ever change, Sousuke. You may be an odd bird, but you've also found the girl that'll understand you and your personality." Still laughing, she kisses him again, with Sousuke returning the kiss with passion.

When they separate from the kiss, Sousuke then says, "I understand that New York is a very rough place to be. So I had these made especially for you." He brings out a small jewelry box and opens it. Inside is a pair of globe-shaped earrings and a silver/gold bracelet.

Kaname grins and says, "Let me guess. The bracelet is a tracer and the earrings are flash-bang type grenades."

Sousuke replies, "Not quite, Kaname. While you're correct on the bracelet, it's also a vocal transmitter. I can hear every word you're saying with this earpiece. It's in case we're ever separated from each other. Radius is three miles. The earrings are fragmentation-type grenades."

In shock, Kaname lowly whistles and says, "Crowd pleasers, oh boy. Blast radius?"

"Five feet."

"Amount of time before detonation?"

"Ten seconds upon pulling the stem off of the earring. Once you pull it, run as fast as you can. Having watched you run, you can get out of the blast area within five seconds, leaving the thugs confused until the big bang comes."

Shyly and sinisterly chuckling as she blushes, Kaname says, "I think I'll put them on when we get to New York, Sousuke. It might be safer that way. Either way, those thieves and perverts won't know what hit them."

Now concerned for her family's safety, she asks, "So, what shall we tell my Dad and sister, Sousuke?"

"Let's just tell them that we're friends that just recently discovered our feelings for one another. The less they know, the safer they'll be."

Kaname nods, smiles and says, "Yeah, I can just imagine Daddy saying, 'What? He's a soldier? He's too young to be one. He's also assigned to protect you? Because you contain technical knowledge before you even learn it? That's absurd!' That's probably what he'd say."

Sousuke stretches out on the seat and says, "In any case, we'll just wing it, I guess. This is the first time I've been on leave for a long time. I don't think I've ever had leave. Not since..."

"Since your parents died and you took up arms, Sousuke?" He looks at her and Kaname goes on. "Melissa told me back at the airport. How did you even survive, Sousuke? Other than fighting back, that is."

"I did what I had to do, Kaname. My parents were innocents, helping others. I still remember that day. Soviet troops came to the village my parents were at and opened fire. My Russian was spotty at the time, but I later learned that some of the soldiers were trying to get their comrades to stop firing. My parents died helping the wounded when those that were firing turned their weapons on them. I felt so vulnerable, so helpless, so angry. When the soldiers left, one of the Afghani warriors for the area came along and took me to their camp. The leader of the rebel camp drew his knife and dragged the blade across my cheek in a crossing pattern. That resulted in my scar. He then named me 'Kashim'. I never asked to be named that."

"Say no more, Sousuke. I get the picture. If I was in your shoes, I'd do the same thing. I'd take up arms and go after those that hurt me so badly. Then I'd turn my attention to all the other fruit loops in the world." She then goes over to Sousuke's seat, climbs into his lap and curls her body against his.

She sees his rare tears, dries them and hers, adding, "I'm so proud of you, Sousuke. You and Mithril accomplish what only a handful of people dream of. That's keeping this crazy, messed up world from going to pieces. Let no one else tell you different. You really are a great guy. You're awesome, just like I told you on the Tuatha de Danaan." She then gives him another kiss on his lips, this time using her tongue against his lips.

Sousuke slightly understands, given he's completely new at romance, and opens his mouth, allowing her tongue entry. Thinking he'd be wise to return the gesture, he does so. To his surprise, he hears Kaname giggling softly as they kiss.

When the two separate from their first French kiss, Kaname smiles her approval of his first romantic kiss. They then hold each other close and fall asleep together on the plane's seat. As this happens, the plane is already at 10,000 feet off the ground.