The last of the snow had melted.
Tokyo's streets and sidewalks were free of slush and ice patches. But, even when the ground had been white, Japan had looked nothing like Norway.
"You will be fine," Sousuke said to Kaname, noticing how she was fidgeting. "You look fine."
"That's easy for you to say. You have a nice haircut." Kaname replied. Giving Sousuke a haircut had been one of the first things that she had done, after setting foot back in her home city. "There's still a long time to go, before my hair grows back!"
"Affirmative," Sousuke agreed. Weeks had passed since they left the beautiful but deadly snow-covered mountains. Their travels in more civilized climates had been fraught with peril too, as agents from Amalgam had hounded them for a while. There was no telling what the future might bring; but, now was not the time to be thinking about that. "I still think that your own hair looks nice. The style was popular in Europe." She had shaped her remaining hair into an attractive page-boy bob.
"This is not Europe, Sousuke." Kaname made a face that clearly said 'You just don't get it, do you?' She shook her head. "It is not the way I looked when I left." She checked her wig for the tenth time. Fortunately for her, medical supply stores had a fair selection of wigs for cancer patients and anyone who had undergone cranial surgery.
"Either is this," Sousuke added, unwisely. Kaname was not in the mood to be contradicted. Then again, she was never in the mood for that. "You look good as a brunette… but…" he shrugged.
"Baka!"
Kaname reached over and pinched him. She pouted when he didn't even look the slightest bit discomforted. Big inconsiderate ogre! "It's long. It's beautiful. It doesn't have to be blue." It didn't have to be blue since they had checked every wig manufacturer in Japan, and had spent considerable time on line. Their was no market for blue wigs.
"If you pinch me again, you will regret it." Sousuke made it a point to brush off one sleeve. He was growing more vocal in these little spats. "I never finished telling you about the Vikings." Whenever Kaname had gotten too uppity during their travels, he resorted to his new trick. " I told you that the name Viking is a borrowed word from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, the British Isles, and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century. But, while I mentioned that the Vikings traveled to the west, I never spoke of the Varangians, who traveled east. They were best known as the Varangian Guards of the Byzantine emperors…"
"Don't you tell me what I will regret!" Kaname tossed her substitute hair, hitting Sousuke in the face with it. "I have a long list already. Hmmmpppfff!" She looked around her, feeling her heart beat faster. The two of them were standing on a street corner, with a good view of Jindai High School. She was drinking a latte while Sousuke finished off his second protein bar of the morning. "I regret finding out I was Whispered. I regret becoming a member of the Kidnapping-of-the-Month Club. I regret meeting Leonard Testarossa, even though he and his stupid robots saved my life." She also regretted his stealing her first kiss; but, she had made up for that by kissing Sousuke whenever possible. "If you keep talking about all that Norse stuff, I'm going to regret leaving with him to save a certain ungrateful soldier's life!"
"No doubt you will regret my rescuing you, too." Sousuke said, knowing that always made her lean against him, no matter how many times he said it.
"Nice try, mister." Taking another sip, Kaname sidled over next to Sousuke, placing her weight on him. She smiled when his arm automatically found its assigned place around her waist.
"Your rescue need not be an exclusive thing," Sousuke said. "You know that I heard from Tessa." He felt Kaname twitch. "I remember telling her once that she was a friend, not just my commanding officer. I promised her that I would come to her assistance, if she ever needed help." He frowned. Latte just spilled on his freshly polished shoe. That was probably deliberate. "With Mithril rebuilding, she will need operatives that she can trust."
"Negative," Kaname said, putting her arm around Sousuke after flipping the empty cup into a nearby trash can. "No way." She squeezed him tightly enough to make his eyes go wide. "Not going to happen." They had been in Japan for a short period of time. She was not about to picture Sousuke leaving her side any time soon.
"Kurz and Melissa will want to hear about my mission against Amalgam," Sousuke said. "I would also like to find out if there is any further word on Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin."
"That's what they have telephones for, Sousuke." Kaname looked up at his face, wrinkling her nose. "If you like, we can send them a fax. I'll pay."
"It is not the same," Sousuke said. Truth be told, he was in no hurry to leave Kaname's side. But, there was also something honest about the words he spoke. He did want to see his friends. It had been a tremendous relief, hearing that they had survived. No doubt, they had tales to tell, too.
"You wouldn't really leave me, would you?" Kaname swallowed hard. She knew that he was playing along with her. But, just the same, her insecurity rose to the fore.
"I do not like pinching, Kaname." Sousuke took a rag out of his bag. It was the one he used to clean the weapons he had acquired. Bending over, he cleaned off the tip of his shoe. "No one aboard Da Danaan treated me that way."
"Cry baby." Kaname said, letting go of Sousuke. She smiled when he almost lost his balance, bent over like that, bereft of her support. The analogy was perfect! She would make certain that he understood that soon enough.
"If you have your nerve now, may we finish our walk?" Sousuke found himself feeling impatient. It wasn't because he was in any rush to see his old classmates. He did indeed want to do that, but knew the opportunity would come soon enough. No. It was their being out in the open. He scanned the buildings in their vicinity, wondering if someone would come after Kaname again. "You woke me up early this morning so that we could prepare properly." Preparing properly meant that he got to watch as she kept trying on the new outfits that she had bought during their travels. She had arranged to get money wired from her jubilant father.
"If it's not one thing with you, it's always another." Kaname made a face. "Honestly. I know you had a hard life; but, it's not like you were raised by wolves or something." She followed his gaze. For a moment, she wondered how Wraith was. What country might the North Korean woman be in now?
Sousuke shivered when a chill breeze blew past him. He saw images from their escape across the mountains. The journey out had been nearly as bad as the trip in. The wolves at their heels had been men. But, they had died while he and Kaname lived.
They hold no quarter. They ask no quarter.
The pain, the pain without quarter.
They ask no quarter.
The dogs of doom are howling more!
"Sousuke?" Kaname sounded worried. She shook him gently. "Sousuke, are you OK?" She scrutinized his face. "Were you thinking about Norway again?" As difficult as the journey had been for her, she knew that Sousuke had borne the brunt of it. Not only that, he had fought his way to her side before they ran off together.
"Yes," Sousuke admitted. "But, it was just another mission. He took a step back when he saw a look of anger appear on his girlfriend's face. "You know what I mean."
"Affirmative," Kaname said. "If you're done daydreaming, could we please head on over to the school now?" She couldn't hide her grin. She couldn't put into words how much it meant to her, being able to trade quips with him like this.
As they were nearing the top of the stairs, a car drove past on the street below. The passenger side window was down, and music was blaring. The lyrics were in English:
You need coolin', baby, I'm not foolin',
I'm gonna send you back to schoolin',
Way down inside honey, you need it,
I'm gonna give you my love,
I'm gonna give you my love.
Wanna Whole Lotta Love
Wanna Whole Lotta Love
Wanna Whole Lotta Love
Wanna Whole Lotta Love
Kaname and Sousuke looked at one another. They blushed, and then looked away. . Kaname laughed that characteristic laugh of hers, as she looked for familiar faces in the school windows. Sousuke made it a point to study the clouds overhead. He froze. He had heard that song before. Kurz again. One particular line stood out.
I'm gonna give you every inch of my love
That was not the kind of thing he should be thinking about, not with Kaname standing there. Being who he was, he began sweating again. He hadn't done anything wrong. He hadn't asked for that car to drive past. He hadn't purposefully thought those thoughts. Involuntarily, he stood at attention.
"Sousuke, why are you sweating?" Kaname was glad to have something to focus on. She too had thought things that she wasn't ready to think yet. She and Sousuke weren't ready. Period. "Sheee-ee-esh. They're your classmates. They're our friends." She misinterpreted his reasons for perspiring. "You did what you promised…"
"Yes," Sousuke said after coughing. "I did." He found himself sneaking a look at Kaname. He was doing that more and more. Again, this was not the best time. Especially since Kaname caught him.
"Just what do you think you're looking at?" Kaname put her hands on her hips. Sousuke had not been looking at her face. She didn't know whether to kick up her heals, or to clobber him. "Hmmm-mm-m…" She flexed the fingers on one hand. She wondered if the halisen was in her old locker, where she had left it.
"I… it is nothing bad…" Sousuke began walking stiffly, much the way he had after telling Tessa that she was more than a friend, after their virtual meeting with General Ammitt and the other Mithril council members. "We should be going now… there is nothing to be gained by delaying further…"
"We'll talk about this later then," Kaname drawled, a twinkle in her eyes. Sousuke was certainly one of a kind. She wouldn't trade him for anyone else in the world. "When you're up for it."
"Up?" Sousuke gulped. He couldn't help but hear those lyrics in his head again. "Kaname?" He moved his weapons bag in front of his crotch area. He stared straight ahead, sweat drenching his collar.
"Huh?" Kaname raised one eyebrow. Her eyes went wide, and then narrowed to mere slits. "Let's go, before you get in more trouble." Not caring if anyone was watching, she reached out and grabbed Sousuke's ears. She began pulling him after her. "Pervert. I should beat you to within an inch of your life!" That word 'inch' did not help matters. Neither did the rest of her admonition.
Sousuke was lucky that she didn't realize what her words sounded like. If she had, she would have blamed him. His ear hurt enough as it was. But, it was better than the pinching. "One step at a time." He had meant Kaname's behavior. But, he knew that the words applied to other things as well. Kaname's kidnapping had brought great change to his world. Her rescue promised to do the same.
"What?" Kaname stopped and let go of Sousuke's ear. "Did you say something?" She felt torn. She wanted to know what he had said. But, she felt anxious. She needed to get this done. She hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and the anticipation had grown even stronger. Anticipation, and fear. "No dawdling!" She grimaced. Her voice had cracked.
"Kaname…" Sousuke stood still for a moment. He nodded his head, walked over to Kaname, and put a hand on each shoulder. "It is alright to be afraid…"
"Afraid?" Kaname tossed her hair. She had to stop doing that. The last thing she wanted was for the wig to fall off or get crooked. "What makes you think I'm scared of something? Big idiot!" She waved one hand about. "Ah hah hah hah hah hah hah hahhh."
"They will not blame you for anything," Sousuke insisted. "If anything, they will hold me responsible." He stood straighter, the breeze tugging at the tips of his hair. Taking the train through the city, he had seen where buildings were being repaired, or where they had been torn down all together. He thought back to the fight against Belial. It was unfortunate, that Arbalsest and Al didn't have a grave of sorts.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Kaname spoke quietly, but her face promised trouble for anyone who saw Sousuke as something other than a hero.
"Thank you," Sousuke said. At that moment, he realized again how many good things he had in his life."
"For what?" Kaname's eyes looked vulnerable. She too had a lot to be thankful for.
"Everything," Sousuke said.
"Oh." Kaname leaned her head against him. "If you make me cry… I'll kill you…" She sniffed. "You know how much time I took with my make-up."
"To the minute," Sousuke replied.
"You…" Kaname willed herself to be calm. "OK. Let's go. For real this time." With that, she turned around and walked up to the doors. Taking a deep breath, she opened one and stepped inside the school. It was like stepping into the past.
"We should visit the Principal first," Sousuke said, walking through a throng of students hurrying between classes. He watched as Kaname sought out everyone's face, wanting to find someone she recognized. They were all from the junior-most class, and had started at the school after a certain sergeant and the Student Council Vice President had left. "She is the professional here."
When they walked into the administrative suite, everything went dead quiet. The secretaries and administrative assistants recognized the two of them, even with Kaname's wig.
"Sousuke Sagara, previously of Class 4, second year." Sousuke stood at attention, eyes forward.
"We're here to see Mrs. Tsuboi," Kaname said, rolling her eyes. That brought a smile from the shocked women.
"She's in her office," one secretary said. "She's alone. Why don't you go in and see her." She grinned. She thought about buzzing the room, but decided against it. The Principal had been feeling under the weather. This ought to shake her out of her funk.
Sousuke moved to knock on the doorframe to the office in question. The door was part open.
"Yes?" Takako Tsuboi's voice called out.
"Ma'am," Sousuke barked out, as if he was addressing a commanding officer during inspection. "Sgt. Sousuke Sagara requesting permission to enter."
"Baka," Kaname said with a sigh.
"Oh… yes… and Kaname Chidori, too." Sousuke watched as the middle-aged woman stood up so quickly that she almost knocked over her heavy desk chair.
"That's not what I meant," Kaname said, hanging her head. It was going to take a lot of work to break some of Sousuke's habits.
"Please! Come in!" The startled woman ushered the two teenagers into her office, had them sit, and asked if they wanted anything to drink. After that, she wanted to hear everything they felt comfortable telling her. She winced when she saw Kaname pinch Sousuke. He had felt compelled to say something about Vikings. For some reason that word was taboo.
After spending a pleasant thirty minutes chatting, Kaname began moving about in her chair more and more. That had Mrs. Tsuboi smiling. "Eager to see your friends?" She looked over at Sousuke, who sat up straighter. "I think you will get a warm welcome."
"I hope so," Kaname said, standing up. "At least, for me." She elbowed Sousuke lightly. "A certain boy doesn't need any encouragement… if you know what I mean."
"I do," the Principal said. Her smile didn't fade, even though she thought back to the things that had happened on one particularly fateful day. "Were you thinking of enrolling again?" Their names had been struck off of the register after a certain period of time. "I might be able to accomplish that, even without the usual monetary inducements for Mister Sagara."
"I think so," Kaname admitted, looking down at her feet. Before she wanted to commit to anything, she needed to see whether or not she would be accepted. "To be honest… I haven't really thought that far ahead yet…" She stiffened, thinking of something. "I wouldn't want to… if Sousuke wasn't allowed back, too…" She reached out to grab his hand. The older woman nodded knowingly.
After bowing and saying their good byes, it was time for the two of them to take the next step. As they walked through the halls, they each relived past moments, both good and bad.
"They have new lockers," Sousuke observed.
"I wonder why," Kaname said wryly.
Passing by so many familiar rooms, trophy cases, and placards, Sousuke almost felt as if he were returning home. It was strange how he had come to feel about the school, seeing how much he had dreaded coming there on that very first day. In a way, this visit was like starting over. But, at the same time, he felt like a Norse warrior returning from a long raid, bringing his booty home with him. He was not about to mention any of that to Kaname.
He would most certainly say nothing about 'booty.'
"No grenades," Kaname said. "No guns." She grabbed his arm and brought him to an abrupt halt. "No knives." She looked him directly in the eyes. "No trouble."
"If there is no… owww-ww-w… Kaname, that hurt…" Sousuke cringed after Kaname pulled on his ear again.
"No trouble, Sousuke. No matter what." Kaname sounded and looked adamant.
The two of them found themselves outside of the classroom they wanted. Kaname was speechless for a moment. They had hung a large picture of her on the wall outside. It was wreathed with fresh flowers. All sorts of well-wishing statements had been written on cards attached to it.
There was no picture of Sousuke. He had not expected one. The only thing that mattered was that they still seemed to hold Kaname in high esteem. He rapped on the door frame.
"Yes?" That was Eri Kagurazaka's voice. She must have agreed to lead the class again, after they had all moved up a grade. There was the sound of footsteps. The door slid open. "…" The teacher's eyes went wide. She looked ready to pass out. The chalk she had been holding slipped out from between numb fingers and rolled out into the hallway.
"May we come in," Kaname asked politely, bowing.
"You may check my bag if you wish." Sousuke held his satchel up. It held weapons. The teacher was a wise woman. She should be expecting that.
"Is something wrong, sensei?" That sounded like Kyouko's voice. That brought tears to Kaname's eyes.
"Ky," Kaname whispered, She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Eri nodded her head, tears coming to her eyes too. "Class… we have some visitors… I expect you all to be on your best behavior…" She shook her head when Sousuke held out his bag again.
Kaname stepped into the classroom. Sousuke hesitated a moment, until Eri told him everything would be fine. The room went dead silent for a few moments. No one could believe what they were seeing. The spell was broken when a girl with pigtails stood up.
"Ka… na… maaaa-aaa-aa-ay…" Kyouko ran to hug her friend. The two of them were soon crying.
Sousuke looked around the room, ready to accept whatever angry stares he saw. He saw Shinji's mouth fall open. He watched as Maya, Ryo, and the other girls hurried to surround Kaname. Taking a deep breath, he looked over at Ono-D.
"Well, look who came back guys." Ono-D leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. "It's the soldier boy." He shrugged. "So… do you think this makes everything better…"
"I do not know," Sousuke said, tensing up some.
"Well I do." Ono-D raised one hand, silencing the boys who had all spoken up at once. He stood up, straightened his uniform shirt, and walked over to stand in front of Sousuke, a stern look on his face. Without warning, he smiled. "Thanks." He gave Sousuke a light punch to the arm. "And sorry." After that, the boys hurried to stand around the young soldier.
When things settled down a bit, and everyone began returning to their seats, Ono-D walked over to Kaname. He eyed her brown hair critically. "Is that dyed?" Before Kaname knew what was happening, he reached out his hand. "Or is it a wig?" He picked the wig up off of her hair.
Everything went quiet again. Kaname began seething. She looked over at Sousuke. "Forget what I said about trouble."
"If you wish." Sousuke reached into his bag and took out a tazer.
"Wait… I didn't do anything to hurt her…" Ono-D began backing up, until he was stopped by the wall. "Sousuke… buddy… pal…"
Sousuke wasn't go to do anything to hurt his friend; but, Ono-D didn't know that. "No quarter…"
THE END