The Whisperer

Disclaimer:"…"

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Chapter 3

"Leonard…" Tessa had tears in her eyes as Leonard was loaded onto a helicopter. She was sure he was a prisoner. But he was her brother so he would be cared for. She wondered considering the circumstances would she be able to go back to Mithril. Could she go to school for awhile instead. She pushed those thoughts away as Kurz, and Melissa informed her that a transport helicopter was ready to take them to Merida island base. There they'd meet with Mardukas, and the rest of the TDD-1, or what was left of them.

Kaname and Sousuke were still looking into each other's eyes. She wanted to say more but was afraid. He didn't plan this. Back then when he first came after her he would have embraced her without second thought. Now he hadn't planned on seeing her after saving her, much less this rush of emotions coming from him, yet he still held her. Normally he would have been worried, but before she was taken he would have thrown away everything for her, he knew his feelings. These past few months gave him a lot of time to think about it. He decided instead of leaving, saying he couldn't see her, or continue with her, he'd do things her way this time, she deserved it. After all, as he learned, this wasn't her fault...at all.

Kaname stared at him intently. She was sure of his and her feelings. But here they were standing there. She had hit him again. She didn't regret it, he deserved it. The look on his face told her he understood that. She also saw that he wasn't going to pull anything like he did during the plane jacking in Khanka a long time ago. Nothing heroic. No movie type bullshit about him leaving. She was content to just hold his gaze, and him, or so she thought.

Kaname started to close the 4 inches between her, and Sousuke. Sousuke was lost in her eyes again. Sousuke placed both his arms around her waist. Kaname clutched his chest the plug-suit not really giving her anything to cling to. She closed her eyes as her face flushed, and she began tip-toeing to close the distance. Her heart was racing in her chest.

Sousuke leaned down a bit closing his eyes as well. He felt her breath as her lips came closer to his. His heart was beating fast enough to be registered as dangerous to his health.

"Whew!" Kurz yelled then whistled as he watched the two. Kaname jumped back, and fell on the floor. Sousuke only stepped back, and stared at Kurz. Déjà vu' he thought seeing Kurz sly smile.

NO FAIR! Kaname was blushing but she was angry because Kurz had interrupted. She missed another chance to kiss Sousuke. She knew she was unlucky.

Sousuke glared at Kurz who just held his all-knowing smile.

"Well Well, wait 'til this gets out. I'm sure Tessa would like to hear about this." Kurz chuckled a bit realizing the gold he now held.

"Nuh...Nothing happened!" Kaname was able to get out.

"Uhh…" Sousuke was still Sousuke. Still staring at Kurz as he held his hand out to Kaname.

Kurz chuckled some more then raised his hand in surrender. "Okay you can bribe me later." There was a mischievous tone in his voice." But right now the transport copter 's going so we gotta go to." Kurz laughed out loud as he walked back towards the copter.

Kaname and Sousuke stared at each other before following the blonde pain. Soon the helicopter was up, and gone.

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-Transport Copter-

0020 hours

-Somewhere over the ocean-

Sousuke was ready to hit himself with the Harisen a million times. (Harisen would be right since Japan has no L sounds.)

It was her. Gauron was right in saying Sousuke had a weakness for her. But that's all it was a weakness for her. He was not weak anywhere else because of that. He wasn't weak from her. He had held her, almost kissed her. He didn't plan on that. He remembered what had happened just before she was captured. She had said she was afraid of him. He held that thought a moment. Apparently liking him also hurt her. "I like you so much it hurts!" she had cried.

He left that thought and dwelled elsewhere. She had looked at him like he was a monster when Leonard stated how many people he'd killed. That number paled in comparison to his real count. He had planned to stay away, but seeing her again he couldn't. His mind continued to dwell on those thoughts leading into the memories of events that happened during his quest. Nami had been killed. That was a simple problem compared to the little bits, and clues of information he found later. A short while ago actually. Every fiber of his being was in pain analyzing the information he had collected, and absorbed. He had failed to stay away and therefore made what he thought to be a big mistake, perhaps one of his biggest. Guilt had swallowed him whole. Luckily no one noticed what was going on in his mind. He hoped.

He then thought about how the situation with Tessa was. She hadn't been on the best of terms when she had left.

"Go ahead, state my name, age, rank, and post!" the voice was still sweet but the tone was vicious. He remembered hearing that from her shortly before she left, he also remembered being told by Kurz she had done the same thing before when the soldiers were trying to escape Merida Island. She had gone with Amalgam a bit easier than he expected. Though she was not exactly its enemy. She was not a spy while she was there. Could she be trusted?

"Sousuke…" The heavenly voice carried his name.

Sousuke's mind quickly turned to the blue haired girl resting on his shoulder. She had uttered his name even in her sleep. He promised to bring her back to Jindai, but could he? Would they accept her or him? He really needed to stop thinking so much. His anxiety building the more he dwelled on it. Melissa, Kurz, and Tessa had fallen asleep. The only other people awake were in the cockpit. He decided he should rest as well. As he began to lay his head on Kaname's a sudden pain stabbed the center of his chest. He clutched it with his right hand making sure to leave his left arm down, trying not to move too much as to not disturb Kaname. He realized that even if he tried to rest he would eventually have to take care of his problem.

"Mmm…" Kaname roused from her sleep, obviously Sousuke failed at keeping her asleep. Kaname didn't move her head but she did rub the tiredness from her eyes.

"What time is it?" Her question came out in a soft whisper. Sousuke looked at his watch. "It is approximately 2436 hours." Sousuke was greeted now by light breathing. She had fallen asleep again. This time so did he.

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-Merida island Base-

0130 hours

April 12.

Kaname was light-headed. They had landed on the base nearly 40 minutes ago. After many formalities they had given her and the others rooms for rest. Kaname blushed under the sheets. Her mind kept going back to her almost kiss with Sousuke, which Kurz had so annoyingly interrupted. Just like before she thought. She couldn't sleep. She hadn't seen him in so long. Even worse a short while before they had been separated they had admitted their feelings, sort of. She even thought him dead. Now she could see him but instead she was lying in a bed on some base. That wouldn't due. She was used to bad luck with relationships so decided to take an initiative now.

Sousuke's room wasn't far. She knew how to get there she made sure of it before she went to bed. After about 30 seconds she was at his door. She took a deep breath preparing her self.

"I hope he's awake." As Kaname brought her fist up to knock on the door it was pulled open. Kaname met his grey eyes. She blushed her mouth was left slightly open as she continued to stare at his face.

"Chidori." Sousuke raised one eyebrow. He was surprised to see her. Kaname noticed he had something on his back. It was a long case. She also noticed the black case he was carrying at his side. She quickly realized what he was doing. Her face gleamed as she closed her eyes, and smiled. Sousuke smiled as well. He couldn't help it. It was a small almost non-existent one as usual but it was there.

"Would you like to go fishing? I was planning on asking" Sousuke's voice remained neutral.

"At our secret location of course."

Kaname blushed. He had said "our secret location". She simply nodded not being able to form words at that moment. They both began walking towards the nearest exit of the base, neither saying anything during their stroll.

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-Secret location-

Kaname walked ahead of Sousuke to look at the view. She'd never seen it at night. In fact she'd only seen it once in day. Sousuke finished setting up the fishing rods.

He cast one, and handed it to Kaname then cast his right next to hers, and they sat. Kaname was amazed at how he could cast them so perfectly. None of them were really focused on fishing however. They each wanted to say something but couldn't figure out just how to start. Sousuke kept glancing at her from the side of his eye. Kaname was blushing, her eyes watching the ripples coming from the two sunken lines.

"Kaname…" Sousuke spoke first. He was unsure exactly what to say but knew he had to say it. "I apologize for letting you be taken, and taking so long to rescue you."

Kaname's head fell and she sighed. She was angry at this statement considering he had said it before. She figured like her he was having trouble saying some things, but he could have tried a better approach.

Kaname's reaction didn't go unnoticed. Sousuke's head fell as well. He once again failed to do the right thing. But he could rectify the situation. He loosened his left hand from the rod. He was slowly reaching over to Kaname when his line got a tug. Normally he would be happy about this but not now.

"Sousuke you got something." Kaname's voice showed a hint of surprise. She was pointing at the rod in his hand. He was just holding it not trying to reel in the fish.

"Uh." Sousuke quickly and easily reeled in the fish. I was only about 2 feet after checking it he let it go. He never kept the fish he caught here. He was glad to be rid of it. He didn't cast his rod again and this caught Kaname's attention. He put down the rod stood up. She reeled in her line and placed the rod down next to where he had just put his. She walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He placed his hand on hers but did not turn.

"Kaname I'm sorry I did not mean to disappoint you a moment ago. That is not what I wanted to say. I realize your frustration at my inability to say or do the right things many times." Kaname now felt bad. She didn't think that could bother him so much.

"Sousuke it's okay. I'm not good at doing or saying things I want to either." That should make him feel a little better. Now he turned to her. He didn't look disappointed anymore. He did indeed feel a little better that she wouldn't scold him for some of his deficiencies. Sousuke took a deep breath now he would say everything he felt comfortable saying, he still had to withhold information but he would let Kaname know what he felt was necessary. He opened his eyes. Kaname noticed he looked very determined. He locked her gaze.

"Kaname as you know many things have happened. I feel it is my responsibility to inform you of some things." He gave her a second to register that and prepare herself.

"Kaname I informed your classmates of my former position. I also promised to bring you back." He gave her another moment watching the looks in her eyes. "They should not blame you for anything. I made sure to inform them of that. After all it is truly in no way your fault." Kaname noticed his face change into what seemed like guilt when he said the last statement. She wanted to ask him what he meant but figured now was not a good time. She should at least let him finish. His face returned to its determined state.

"I dedicated all my time to retrieving you. I had entered a tournament for Arm-slaves. I lost a fellow pilot. Her name was Nami." Kaname remembered a girl with red hair had contacted her a while ago. She had told her Sousuke was coming to rescue her, but that was before she believed him dead. He informed her of some events with the girl but quickly left the subject. Kaname was a bit jealous that Sousuke was living with a girl while they were separated.

"I had no intimate feelings for her."

Kaname blushed. She was surprised, had he read her mind?

"After that I had continued on my own trying to rescue you. I ran into some difficulties but as you can see I was in the end successful." Sousuke showed no sense of pride as he said that. He didn't show anything. Sousuke was ready for any reactions and questions Kaname had. Or at least he thought he was.

"What about when you died?" Kaname just plainly asked it. "I mean almost died. I think that's how it would be anyway." She had corrected herself. He IS standing right in front of her she thought.

He was shocked. He didn't realize she'd know anything about that though she screamed something about it at the battlefield earlier. He made another mistake. She noticed his surprise, and he looked away.

"Sousuke…" Not again he thought. She used that voice. He finally looked at her again. He knew she would not let him disregard it. So he used the next best thing.

"Nothing." He was obviously lying, but maybe she'd get his hint that he didn't want to talk about. She did. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Maybe another time. You can also tell me more of what happened to you these past few months." Sousuke gulped. He had informed her of some things not thinking she would want to hear detail. He was right she didn't, but she wouldn't tell him that if it would get him to tell her everything.

"So how did they react? I mean our class." Kaname had wanted to know the whole time how everyone was doing. Even during his explanation. Sousuke took second to breathe. How would he tell her what happened

"First I should inform you." He took another second bracing himself for Kaname's reaction. Hopefully it wouldn't be unexpected this time.

"Miss Tokiwa, Uh. I mean Kyouko was in the hospital in a critical condition when I left." His guess was right. She was horrified. He knew she would feel guilty about it. "Do not worry. She is okay. I made sure. Also it was my fault so you do not need to feel guilty." Kaname was starting to wonder why he kept blaming himself for everything.

"Sousuke it's not your fault it's Leonard's." Kaname was trying to reassure him, and herself. Sousuke had indeed failed. She felt better knowing Kyouko was alright.

"So how did everyone react to the news?" Sousuke flinched when he heard her question. Kaname noticed. This couldn't be good.

"Uhh." He began to sweat.

"Sousuke.' She was not going to put p with this.

"Umm…" he just continued sweating.

"Sousuke!" She began raising her voice.

"They…ugh…" He still wasn't ready to tell her. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned it.

"SOUSUKE!" Kaname was fed up she grabbed his shirt collar, and began shaking so hard his head looked ready to come off.

"Don't…make…me…hit…you." Kaname said through her teeth making sure he got her threat.

"Uhh." He just didn't get it.

FWAP!

The Harisen seemed to materialize out of nowhere as she slammed him into the ground. Her anxiety and anger possessed her as she began to pummel his head with her foot. Once he felt she was done he began to stand. Kaname saw an almost unnoticeable smirk on his face.

"Why are you happy?" Kaname was holding the fan in one hand, and patting it in the other. Sousuke hadn't realized he was grinning. He gave her one answer quickly.

"I missed that, since my body is registering it, it means this is real." Sousuke held her gaze again. Kaname had stopped patting the fan, she was blushing. She shook her head.

"Well answer my question." Kaname didn't look angry anymore. In fact she put on annoyed face, and looked to the side. Then she noticed his puzzled look.

"But I just did." He was clueless.

'Boy he knows how to make me mad' Kaname thought. But she stayed calm.

"The one about how everyone reacted to our secret." Oops. She said 'our' when it was his secret. She blushed at the thought of how that might sound to someone else.

Sousuke knew better than to hesitate again.

"As I stated before they should not be blaming you. It's not a problem. They should be welcoming you back warmly."

Kaname knew there was more than that. She glared at him. Her eyes stabbing daggers into him. "Soooouusuke…" The malice in her voice could have scared an army away.

"I believe-"He hesitated again. "That they truly hate me, and are scared of me." He didn't mind. He was used to it. Kaname hated, or was scared of him a few times before. So he told her.

"It's not a problem. I'm used to it."

Those words chilled Kaname to the bone because she knew she was part of that answer.

"Well we'll fix that later." Kaname gave a small worried chuckle.

Sousuke decided to speak up again. "Why don't you inform me of what happened to you while you were umm…captured?" He hated realizing his failure but he did everyday he was going after her.

Kaname did not expect to have to talk about that. She thought back to what she went through. How she did occasional tests. How she put up with Leonard. How she was constantly worried. How she had been treated like a queen. How she got everything she wanted, or needed. How she had a very accommodating living space. How she did sometimes forget her worries. How Leonard had sometimes showed her a good time despite how she hated him or being there. How he had complimented her despite her hate, how he had given her gifts. How he noticed her the way she hoped a certain otaku would. How she was hardly a prisoner except for her limited free travel. Her constant chaperon when she wanted to go somewhere else. How Leonard made sure she was always okay. How far her whispered powers could go. How he kept kissing her. She had kept him from doing that at first but eventually she had to at least let him peck her if she still wanted it to be easy, and keep everyone safe. He did more than peck her at times. Sometimes he had tried to get much more, the occasional grope happened. She would have only been able to keep him from that a little longer. Could she tell him? Did she want to? How would he take it? She decided she had to try.

"Sousuke I'm going to tell you everything, even though you won't tell me." She made sure he got her clue. He just continued watching her. She told him how she had been a prisoner but treated very well. He didn't seem to respond to that. She mentioned her whispered power extent. He didn't move. In fact he looked like he knew something. She also mentioned how it had been when Tessa got there. She mentioned everything more or less Leonard-less.

She took a deep breath. She would now tell him what she thought he would not want to hear.

"Leonard treated me very well." She started. "I hated him, but he kept pushing."

Sousuke finally gave a reaction though almost no one would notice it. She told him about various dates. About his constant little pecks on various spot on her face. His deeper kisses.

"He tries tongue a few times. I put a stop to that immediately, don't worry he never got it anywhere." Sousuke clenched his fist. He thought about Leonard kissing her multiple times. Kurz had taken Sousuke's chance earlier. She told him about Leonard's advances. Sousuke's eyes were shining in the moon light. He was angry. The red tint Kaname noticed earlier became slightly visible to her again.

"I hated him kissing me. He took my first kiss, and everything." Kaname began to tear.

"I didn't want that. You may call me silly but I wanted my first kiss to be with someone I liked, not some stranger on a rooftop while I was in a bathrobe." She told him he whole incident about when he first left her months ago just before winter.

"I could've when I cut…" She stopped. She didn't want to say too much. She began crying.

Sousuke couldn't take it. His guilt built to a level 3 times what it was now. Kaname never told him about what happened then. Now he truly regretted leaving her. She had said she trusted him when she cut his hair, and he left her.

'Cut my hair.' He realized what Kaname's unfinished statement had meant. He really was clueless. Not realizing these things before. His guilt went higher. He wondered if it could stop increasing.

"I…missed…you…" Kaname said through sobs as she clung to him. Sousuke didn't hesitate to hold her.

"I missed you too…" That was the truth, as well as an apology. His eyes were tender when Kaname looked back up at him. They were soft no hint of malice or anger was in them. Just affection. He said he was sorry his eyes had said them, now he was just looking into her eyes. They were beautiful.

Her eyes shimmered from the reflection of the moon light in her tears. They were a perfect chocolate color. Those big brown eyes. He thought he could drown in them. He also noticed the sadness, and pain hidden deep in her eyes, as well as a sense of longing. A beautiful feeling was there that he couldn't describe.

Her lips were perfect he thought. Not too full, but no too thin. She thought the same looking at his lips. He wanted to taste her, and she wanted a taste as well. They exchanged each other's breath as they drew closer. Each kept their eyes half-open this time. Wanted to keep seeing the other as they fulfilled they current deepest desire.

Finally what seemed like an eternity ended. Their lips met. Sousuke placed his lips gently against hers applying little pressure. He loved her taste he realized. Her lips were soft. His gaze still held hers.

Kaname was surprised. His lips were surprisingly soft despite how she thought they'd be considering his life. They still had a firmness to them. She stood on her toes to apply a little pressure as well to match Sousuke's. She placed her arms around his neck one hand going through his hair. She loved the look in his eyes.

Sousuke played with the bottom of her hair but still kept his hold on her. He didn't realize he could feel this. He wondered how he felt so good kissing Kaname, yet nothing when kissing other girls. He couldn't think of other girls right now, he couldn't bring up a name or face he didn't want too anyway, he lost himself in Kaname's eyes. They continued for about 20 minutes not once letting go. They breathed through their nose of course. A lot of pent up emotion was being released in this one action.

Kaname was a little more affected. Leonard's advances had affected her indirectly. Her mind had drifted to some thoughts with Sousuke. Her mind quickly thought about using her tongue the way Leonard had attempted. She quickly dismissed them, now was no the time to ruin a perfect moment.. Her cheeks had however turned incredibly red.

They were definitely going to remember this if it ever ended. Sousuke felt amazing. The thought that he could do anything with Kaname around filled his mind. He lost all fear of staying with her at that moment.

Kaname's anxiety was swept away. She wanted to go back home. Put all this, well not this, but the other things behind. She could go on even if her friends now hated her, and Sousuke. She remembered as well. She could do anything with Sousuke by her. The pain in her eyes left for that moment.

Now it had been a while as they explored their new emotions. They had been out there now thirty minutes just enjoying each others company. Their thoughts just held each other. Their eyes and mouths keeping each other distracted.

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AN: That took forever...Uhh 30 minutes and going wow what a kiss. I hope it came out well. Hopefully the next chapter won't take to long. I am making this up as I go. I hope everyone is satisfied with this. I didn't do a real entrance to Merida island base because it would be formal, and boring, and I wanted to get through that. Next chapter will get everyone back on a normal basis, and the thing with Tessa will be fixed.