AN: Well here is the next chapter. I hope the length is alright. I havent gotten used to clearly defining where one chapter should end and another begin. I hope you all enjoy what happens next. Keep the reviews coming! I find them rather inspiring often. )
As always, i do not own fmp or its characters.
The new dawn brought with it the old problems they tried to bury with the night along with new revelations of the day. Sousuke Sagara promptly woke at 4:30am like he did every morning. It was not a result of his military conditioning but one of his childhood where it could mean the difference between life and death. He awoke in the same position he fell asleep in which quickly rushed the blood to his….cheeks. He retraced his hand and rolled over on his back with his mind plagued with uncertainties. That just wouldn't do for one Kaname Chidori who sensed his retraction. She promptly replied by rolling over and resting her head against his bare chest, a soft "mmm" trickled through her lips.
His mind ran through a mental checklist of what needed to be done but most was now irrelevant. As a master at adapting to his surroundings, Sousuke wasn't bound to mindless repetition that would get you killed. His mind traced back to the events that led him where he was as he stared down at the girl snuggled up against him. That certainly was not a problem. A smirk the result of Kaname's luck appeared on his face. The moody military maniac finally let a smile hurdle through his defenses, and she remained asleep.
If you had asked him a few years ago if he ever wanted a girlfriend, Sgt. Major Sousuke Sagara would have merely stated that if Mithril intended for him to have one, they would have issued him one. Rumor has it an unknown submarine captain began motions to bring about such initiative but Sousuke knew it had to have been just a rumor. Then Sgt. Major Kurz was also very welcome of the idea of standard issued female companions with optional upgrades. Sousuke however failed to see the humor in all this. He honestly believed he would be issued one should the organization require he needed one.
Leaving the familiar high school behind o enter college had the warrior thinking about the future. His last occupation didn't exactly provide a retirement program; the situation had never come up before. Truthfully he couldn't do it anymore. His parents were killed as child, he killed while he was young, he killed through his teen years and he had had enough.
The weight of his actions caught up to him. A man who had been through his turmoil should have had nightmares, should have had regrets, should have felt guilt, but he couldn't count on 'should haves'.
The decision to leave came quite easily to him despite the loyalty he felt towards the organization that had nurtured him into adulthood for a number of reasons. As a man of honor, betrayal never sat well with the mercenary who valued his honor. It was the primary reasons he accepted Mithril.
He didn't want to remain a weapon anymore. Weapons were just tools, cold and made of steel complying without thought to obey whoever held the trigger. Weapons could not be human. Kaname had helped him discover feelings and experiences he never knew existed. He was a man who saw the world and yet had missed so much.
And then there was that mission. Taking lives was nothingnew for the 20 year old veteran but it was never a task he enjoyed. He took solace in the fact the men he killed were murders, terrorists, men who abandoned their souls to satisfy their own inflated egos, but that still didn't mean he liked to do it. Truth be told the Sgt. Major had remembered every single kill despite the fact he didn't know half their faces and the names of even fewer. Only the walls of the TDD-1 could speak of the sorrows he felt. The dark submarine was the only place he felt safe enough to fall into a deep enough sleep. The only place he dreamed.
And yet this one mission was different, this mission changed everything. It was another extraction mission requiring his advanced skills as the whispered were involved. It was a young boy who escaped Mithril's radars since he was held since birth. To the organization he never existed.
The mission had gone well, Intel was accurate, preparation was complete, and contingencies were made but unnecessary. And then something happened. A guard, one not even worthy of name had come between Sousuke and his escape, gun in hand. An operative who acted without hesitation he eliminated the guard. Failure was never an option. Sousuke escaped with the target and the mission went off without a hitch.
So then why had he almost passed out in the helicopter on the way out? Why was he unable to focus, his nerves shot and his concentration shattered? For the first time in his career, his life, then Sgt. now Sgt. Major Sagara felt no remorse as he pulled the trigger and stole the life from the guard. He felt nothing at all, and that over all else terrified him. Was he such a monster that he was desensitized to all the killing? He was not going to be just a weapon, he was more. He could not go on living like that.
His thoughts where interrupted by a gentle kiss against his neck as the one sleeping next to him stirred, almost aware she wasn't getting any attention even while she slept. He fed his eyes with her form pressed against him which was outlined by the thin sheets that covered them both. For her he abandoned both lives, the soldier and the student. How could he live on? Would he forever be confined to her apartment fearing he may be spotted or would he be forced to leave the city he grew to love? If he left, would she come with him? Could he even bring himself about to ask? The closer Kaname got, the farther away from himself he felt. It seemed the Sgt. Major failed to see things through after all.
He nestled his nose within the carefree strands of her silky blue hair which draped over both their bodies taking in the intoxicating scent, the scent of Kaname. Here he invoked the one aspect of military training he truly came to appreciate, the ability to fall asleep anywhere. There was no hope of her waking up soon and Sousuke didn't want to think about the future alone anymore. Being vulnerable wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
God finally decided to turn the lights back on and thrust the sun back into its throne in the sky. The light tickled the eyelids of the vixen causing her to wake, stretch, and yawn making sounds reminiscent of an infant. The first thing she noticed was her solder boy still snoozing the day away which allowed her to give way to a smile. 'I must have really tired him out after last night…or …I hope it wasn't too much with all those injuries…' Her thoughts dwelled there until she noticed something blue on the floor in Sousuke's pants.
Curiosity got the better of her as she rolled of the bed and found suitable garments to wear feeling awkward to walk around nude. Sousuke never kept anything that isn't camouflaged with him. Why would he have something... It was the dolphin keychain she had given him several years ago on his desert mission where he faced Gauron once more. 'I thought he never liked it, he never kept it with him saying it 'wasn't military issued''
She kept the chain back into his pants and stood up knowing she was truly loved. 'Damn that Sousuke, Why does he have to keep building up points? Stupid otaku jerk good at everything he does!' She never told Sousuke she found out he wasn't actually bad at Japanese History, there was no way someone so otaku could be. Then again who wouldn't fake being horrible at a subject if it meant getting to spend evenings being tutored by an attractive girl who cooked and offered massages to ease the stress?
Kaname was preparing breakfast for them both, still deciding on how to wake up that dunderhead when two arms wrapped around her waist and a voice seeped into her ears... "Requesting evaluation on final mam!"
She turned her head just enough so he could see her arch one eyebrow while staring him straight in the face. "You are going to need to spend more time with teacher after class for additional instruction, but your performance was still exemplary."
Sousuke was quite for a moment before responding. When he adapted, he did it well. "I would not want to monopolize the instructors time. I will find an adequate study group for advanced instructions."
But he was still out of his environment.
"That sounds like a good idea. I made a list of names of highly recommended tutors who might be able to help you practice and left it on the table." That should shut him up, trying to outsmart Kaname Chidori.
Poor Sousuke was left sweating an ocean. He remained shirtless at the moment and his bandages no longer needed to remain causing him to be eyed like a starving dog would a piece of meat.
That is until a familiar chirpy voice broke the silence as a platinum blond girl's head bobbed as she peered in from the entrance. Mithril has keys for just about anything. "Hi everyone, sorry, am I interrupting anything? Oh my! Sousuke! Did you wear that little getup just for me?" She giggled as she strolled in once again without Kaname's permission, holding a small bag in hand. She reached in and pulled out a nice shirt to hand to Sousuke.
"Here, this should fit." She smiled and tilted her head innocently. Just because Sousuke fell into the arms of his charge doesn't mean she couldn't still try to win him over with a little flirting.
Almost too innocently for Kaname's liking. 'Just how did she know Sousuke's size? That big stupid head is going to have hell to pay later!'
Captain Testarossa continued, unconcerned with the evil glances she gained from the resident of this particular domicile. "I know I dropped by a little early, but we do have many things to discuss. Perhaps you two should freshen up while I wait here?"
Like blue lightning Kaname ran to the bathroom to shower and change, not wanting to leave the captain alone with a fresh and clean Sousuke. 'At least this way he will have my scent lingering on him' she thought evilly.
Once the two had their chance at freshening up it was time to get down to business. They sat at the table, Sousuke by Kaname's side holding her hand just below the flattop. The captain reverted to her more authoritative voice, which resulted from forging a relationship with one Melissa Mao.
"First of all Sgt. Major, you have acted in an irresponsible manner which could have jeopardized the mission, not to mention the lives of your comrades. You have betrayed the organization with your reckless disregard for protocol along with the trust of the higher ups. Before I go any further, was anyone else involved in your little ploy?"
"Mam! I was the one responsible for placing the charges within Arbalest and making my escape from the battlefield via predetermined routes." Sousuke would never lie, but he would always remain loyal to his teammates, no matter how obnoxious they may be at times. His roundabout manner was not missed by the captain, but she would not press the issue further.
"Finally the destruction of the ARX-7 is inexcusable. It remained one of our most valuable tools and its loss severely hampered the abilities of the TDD-1. What have you to say Sgt.?"
"Mam I disagree mam! The Arbalest or ARX-7 was unreliable and could only be considered a liability in combat. It was unpredictable as to when it would work without the presence of Kaname Chidori and can not be trusted. Its loss was tragic but needed to avoid suspicions about my death. There are other lambda driver capable ASs onboard with far more reliable results."
He didn't need to add his utter distaste for the machine. Its existence had already taken him away from Kaname once; He never forgave Al for that.
Once satisfied with his answers and motive, Tessa spoke in a much more gentle voice with which she enquired "Would it have been so bad for things to go back to the way they were, to become a fulltime member of the SRT aboard the Tuatha de Dannan again?"
Kaname feared his answer and blurted out "Of course! Why would he want to go back to that damp cramped sub anyways when he has such a wonderful life here? AH HA HA HA HA HA!" She remembered every time she had hit him with the halisen as she spoke, regretting each one even though it just wasn't needed as much anymore.
"Kaname is correct. I have outlived my usefulness as a soldier. It is no longer a position I see for myself in the future."
The captain tried to hide her hurt upon hearing that but her voice revealed all. "Oh I see, but we could have transferred you to a training facility or placed you in a…"
Sousuke did not normally interrupt people but the company's treachery was riveted into his mind "You know what those in charge had planned for me. A transfer would not have been accepted. No possible transfer would have allowed me to remain here in Tokyo. I have a life here now."
"Technically Sgt., you don't. You're dead."
Both Sousuke and Kaname winced at that statement. There weren't exactly a lot of opportunities for a dead man in Tokyo now was there?
"The reason I'm here Sgt. is to finalize your withdrawal from the University and file a death certificate with the government. I felt I should do it personally."
Sousuke began to worry. The anxiety present on his face was comforted only by the warm looks he received from Kaname. 'Would I really have to leave Tokyo, Maybe even Japan at the hopes of living a normal life? Would I have to leave Kaname?'
"However I find myself dragging my feet this morning. It seems that Tokyo is not in the direct interest of Mithril at the moment." That much Sousuke knew was true. Something evil was boiling up down in the Southern Pacific Islands, something that required a significant amount of Mithril's resources.
Kaname, who was feeling left out, realized she needed to get more than just a few words in "So what does that mean? Does he have to hide here for the rest of his life or what? Tessa, what's going to happen? Are we going to have to move?" All Sousuke heard was the word 'we'. He felt relieved. He felt terribly guilty.
The captain had certainly thought about matters long and hard earlier as she provided an answer without hesitation. "That remains to be seen. For the moment there would be no problems for you to continue on as if nothing happened, in your social lives I mean. I will handle Mithril as best I can till we figure something out. In the meantime, do try to stay out of the news Sousuke. That means no guns, no explosives, and no causing vast amounts of damage. It's for your own good. I don't need to remind you that you currently don't have the backing of a well funded organization." That was true, much to the crew of the TDD-1's detest, the financial branch of Mithril celebrated the soldier's demise.
Kaname however was focused on just one thought 'No guns, no explosives, no causing vast amounts of damage!' She could have kissed Tessa right on the lips for that. God only knows how that would have left Sousuke feelings.
"I see. Thank you cap- Tessa. I appreciate what you are doing for us, but won't this get you in trouble?"
Tessa was deeply touched for his concern. "Don't worry about me Sousuke, I can handle myself. But I better be off. There are still many matters that I need to clarify before anymore can be said."
The young captain excused herself and made her way to the door where she signaled for Kaname to join her in the hallway. The young student complied and joined Tessa outside who checked to make sure whether or nor Sousuke could hear them. Once satisfied her voice returned to one far more vicious than someone as innocent looking as her should have been able to muster.
"If you hurt him Ms. Chidori you will find me and my brother are more alike than you would care to find out." With that threat she walked off briskly leaving Kaname stunned hearing such harsh words from someone so tiny.
Yes, it seems Captain Testarossa's friendship with Melissa Mao was having some adverse effects after all.
Ok guys, how was it? The next chapter will probably be up in about a weeks time, as i will be leaving town for the weekend on business. I hope i am welcomed back with many reviews (both good and bad welcome). If you have any concerns or just something to say about me or my stories that you do not want reviewed, please feel free to E-mail me. Thanks everyone and see you at the next update.