AN: Hi guys. I hope i haven't completely trashed my reputation in the FMP world with that stupid ending i did in Aftermath. Its not a real ending and i will be going back and changing it later one. The reason it is up, is more of a psychological thing to lemme think im done with it, and that its not somethign i have to worry about. Saying i put it on Hiatus is never good enough with me. So hopefully i will be inspired enough to go fix that.
In the meantime i have been thoroughly inspired to write this what if fiction. Its something fresh and new for me, so its got my interest. What if Sousuke and Kaname met, but he wasn't destined to be her 24/7 bodyguard? Would they fall in love? Would they still 'like' each other?
Also what if they had meet each other so many years ago? How did a japanese boy end up abandoned in afghanistan? This is just my take on some of these questions and what ifs, so i hope you enjoy. As always, please read and review. The more thorough, the better!
"Aw, they look so cute together, don't they?" cooed a young woman with dark brown hair while adoringly watching her child. She had deep brown eyes that cautiously watched every movement her little baby boy made as he interacted with yet another child.
She was met with a rather gruff response from a man who looked well beyond his years as a slight hint of grey was working into his otherwise jet-black hair. It did manage to serve as a sign of maturity and sophistication, but was more so the results of years of stressful work at the United Nations.
"Yes, they do seem to have become quite attached to one another quickly over these past few months." His discomfort was quickly shown at the compromising situation their children seem to have found themselves.
It wasn't that Shunya Chidori had any problems with the boy, who was the son of his long time friend's the Yamatos, rather the fact his daughter was the one who could use a lesson in manners.
While the two sets of parents were discussing matters in the kitchen, their children were in plain view as they played in the living area. Every time one looked away only to turn back moments later, they noticed that both children seem to have moved a little bit closer together.
Now only a small pile of blocks stood between them as they tried to assemble what could only be a majestic castle worthy of a princess. The young girl stricken with blue hair finished off a tower by placing a cone shaped piece on top which caused her to smile and tilt her head to the side a little bit.
"What do you think Sousuke? Isn't it pretty?" She immediately began twirling her shimmering blue hair around a finger as she awaited the boy's approval. Most other boys her age didn't want to play knight and princess at such a young age, but Sousuke seemed willing enough. He even agreed to do the manly job of building the medieval castle, with satellite television, hot tub, and naturally a microwave.
"Mm hmm. It looks very nice Kaname." He had only glanced up a brief moment to survey his friend's work knowing that if he took too long to judge his friend's talents as a construction worker, he may get hit on the head again.
What he didn't expect, though he really should have by now, was for Kaname to lean over and peck a little kiss upon his cheek for paying her such a well-earned compliment. That being said, it shouldn't have mattered that Kaname knocked over many blocked in the process.
From the kitchen, a loud grumbling noise was emanating from Shunya while his wife managed to hold back a giggle. "Kaname! Behave!" Immediately the little blue haired girl backed away from Sousuke while lowering her head to the floor. There wasn't any shame or embarrassment in her demeanor, not when she was smiling and blushing so profusely.
Sousuke however looked as if he had recently seen a ghost. It wasn't that he disliked or wasn't used to what Kaname got away with three of four times a day, but rather a tinge of guilt that overcame him. While he was very young and didn't understand the ways of adults, he knew his parents respected Kanames. That meant he had to make sure he and his friend Kaname always showed good manners.
Sousuke immediately stood up and did a little salute, something he memorized after watching a few hero films on TV. "Sir, I'm sorry Sir. I will not let such a thing happen again sir!" That much would have been true if Sousuke hadn't crossed his fingers behind his back.
While Kaname went back to recollecting the scattered blocks, she could hear the sound of an amused laugh coming from her father.
Jokingly he spoke, "At ease soldier. You're a good boy—errr man for sticking up for your friend like that, but Kaname has to take responsibility for her actions."
As much as Sousuke liked to pretend and play soldier, it just wasn't in his nature to go out and attempt such a profession. He had too much kindness in him and hated to see others hurt. That's why it was so important for Sousuke to become strong. If he could just become strong, then maybe the bullies would leave the other kids alone just by him using some kind of threat. Someone had to protect those who could not protect themselves yet.
With a stupid grin on his face, Sousuke bowed and turned around before restarting their game of knight and princess. Seeing as he got Kaname in a little bit of trouble, he had that inkling feeling that told him he would be playing the princess this time.
Returning to far more important matters, Shunya returned his attention to the matters being discussed with his long time friends. His wife, whom Kaname received her unusual hair color from, sat quietly at his side.
She was never one to be the quiet domesticated housewife who could only take orders from her husband. Far from it actually. Aya was a wild and free spirit that could never be forcibly contained, though she would also never disgrace her husband by objecting with what he said in public.
"Those two will make an excellent match I think when they grow up. It's uncanny to see two children become so attached like that so quickly. They've only been together for four or five months!" Shunya's observation was quite correct. While he had known the Yamatos for an extended period of time, they had not lived in the same country for years. Now that everyone was back in the United States, at least for the moment, their children could finally meet.
Oh and no, this was hardly the part that Aya Chidori found disagreeable. She, like her husband found Sousuke Yamato to be a delightful and responsible little boy. One who had been raised with priorities placed on honor.
"Perhaps we can work on creating some sort of arrangement between the two as they grow older. If their relationship keeps going as they are, we may not have to do much." Arashi Yamato leaned back in his chair as a confident smile swept across his face. It was always encouraging to see one's son become popular with the ladies at quite a young age.
"Ahem. Perhaps we should get back to business. Kaname and Sousuke's future can be discussed another time." While Shunya did like the idea of committing her daughter to a seemingly straightforward and honest boy like Sousuke to keep away some of those more liberal American brats, there were far more serious topics to discuss.
"That we should." Nami Yamato found she had quite a bit in common with her old classmate Aya. Those two new the moment they saw that spark of fire in each others eyes yearning for wild adventures and excitement so many years ago that they were destined to be best friends.
"I must say, I am a little disturbed about the location. Afghanistan isn't exactly the safest place in the world." Arashi and his wife had an oath to medically treat an injured person no matter what kind of past they held. That didn't mean they wanted to travel to a third-world country in order to do it.
"Yes I know, it is quite a bit to ask of you and your family, but it is a rather short mission and we need more noteable doctors and peacemakers on this project in order to make it a success." Shunya had been pushing for a peacekeeping program in the Middle East to open up for years now. Someone had to provide them with the aid they needed. Sadly most of the Europeans while openly supporting the program, fought from providing it with any substance. That left things in the hand of Shunya.
He had called over the Yamatos who were experienced and well respected doctors, not to mention champions of peace on the world stage. There addition to this project would suddenly be a boost toward their funding and expected aid.
"I suppose two months really isn't that long." Nami's main concern was the well-being of her darling little boy. Taking him to a dangerous country like that for an extended period of time was a bit too much.
"We would be more than willing to take care of Sousuke while you were gone. I'm sure that would make Kaname very happy." Just as Aya finished her proposal, they all overhead a wack to the head delivered to Sousuke as someone just refused to put on the princess gown.
Arashi and Nami looked at one another and smiled. An agreement between them had been made long ago on how to handle their family matters, and they wouldn't change it for anything. "Nami and I will accept this project, however Sousuke should come with us I think."
"No matter what, no matter how short a time, Arashi and I refuse to have this family split up like that. Where one goes, we all go." Aya's smile was sweet and loving as she continued to gaze into her husbands steel grey eyes, the same ones that managed to tame a wild young thrill seeker like herself into married life.
"Then its all settled then!" Shunya extended his arm across the table to shake Arashi's hand. A handshake was as good as signing contract papers between them. "Thank you Arashi, I really couldn't have done this without your help." In truth it would have been an embarrassing end to his career at the UN to have his flagship project receive so little funding and support, and the Yamatos knew it. "Sousuke will have the best of education and every advantage we can find for him once you return. I'll even try to get Sousuke into Kaname's class."
The Yamatos didn't lack the money necessary to provide all these comforts and advantages, but they did lack the appropriate connections in order to gain them. The problem with standing up for your ideals is that one must step on a lot of toes in order to do so.
Kaname was currently enrolled in a very prestigious school reserved for the who's who of New York City. She was surrounded by the children of ambassadors, millionaires, political figures and other noteable people so needless to say, she was utterly miserable there. Sousuke was the first real bond she had formed in any length of time outside of this family.
"Thank you Shunya. I take it we need to leave soon?" Arashi knew for a fact that deployment for this mission was later on this week. They would need the rest of their time to prepare their personal items for the trip. Both mother and father had a feeling this would be the last time Sousuke got to play with Kaname for a few months. He would be rather feisty during part of their trip because of it.
"I'm afraid so. We can't change the date of departure for the first wave of supplies and personnel without putting a heavy strain on our support and budget. We need to get started now before the situation there deteriorates any more than it already has." Both husband and wife of the Chidori family could offer only a sympathetic smile for the family who was sacrificing so much for the good of others.
"I see. Then I am afraid we must leave immediately to prepare for our departure." Arashi Yamato looked at his wife fondly before finding his son in the living room again. "Sousuke! Say good bye to Kaname for now. We need to go home!"
Sousuke's eyes pleaded for more time at his friend's house though he too could never go against the orders of his father. "Yes father."
The brown haired boy put away the blocks he was playing with while Kaname openly looked upon his parents with an angry scowl. She had just convinced Sousuke to wear the princess hat too. Oh well, there was always tomorrow.
When the two had finished cleaning up their mess, they stood in a slight awkward silent as the children could feel four pairs of eyes watching their every move, waiting to see how they would say their goodbyes.
Kaname, being the more bold of the two walked forward and gave Sousuke a hug. While it was not the most shocking action to take, what Sousuke did was.
This time it was his chance to place that same sweet yet simple kiss upon Kaname's cheek and thus completely ignoring the false promise he made Shunya moments ago.
She immediately let go of Sousuke and began twiddling her fingers while looking down upon the floor to hide her blush. No, she wasn't embarrassed at all. There was just something interesting…happening on the carpet?
Whatever the excuse she was telling herself, nothing could hide the fact that something about that boy's innocent gesture made her feel cuter than she ever had before in her life.
"Perhaps our marriage plans need to come much sooner than we anticipated " Aya managed to raise quite a bit of laughter at that remark, more so from Shunya's panic stricken face. While he did like Sousuke and agree he was a potential match, Kaname still was his innocent baby girl.
"Enough, come we must go!" Sousuke ran over and stood next to his mom, clasping the edge of her skirt with his hands as the family walked out of the door.
Kaname was still stuck too much in her little trance as she was absorbing what happened. She often pushed many pecks on the cheek onto Sousuke, but he never had even attempted thinking about doing anything similar to her. Today…was the best day ever.
Except something was wrong with her parents. Her mom seemed to be quite upset with her father for some reason. She knew when to make herself scarce in their household. No child wanted to be around to overhear a fight.
"You know sending them there is dangerous and wrong!" It was Aya's fury unleashed.
"Aya, please calm down. You know that in your condition…" His wife was pregnant with another baby girl. Too much stress on her like this was bound to cause complications.
"I will not calm down! I can't believe you asked them!"
"Aya, they will be safe, guarded by U.N. troops and well…"
His secretive nature at the end sparked her curiosity while putting an ease to her rage. "Mithril? You hired Mithril to guard them, didn't you?"
Shunya nodded. It was the best he or anyone else could do to guarantee the safety of his friends. Nothing but the finest would do here, no matter how much of a strain on their finances would put.
"I suppose that would make me feel better." Aya, while not officially knowing about the top-secret mercenary organization, had dealt with them before. They had provided bodyguards for her and her family on several dangerous occasions in the past and had proven their worth, and their cost.
The Chidori adults hugged briefly as they guided themselves towards the bedroom. Breaking the news to Kaname would have to wait until tomorrow. They didn't need two fired-up Chidori women in one night.
However Kaname had overheard parts of her parents' cryptic talk.
'Hmm, I wonder what Mithril is and who is going away. Mom and Dad won't tell me. They never tell me anything. But Sousuke will! I'll just give him another kiss tomorrow when they come back.'
Unfortunately, the Yamatos will never walk through those doors again.
Well thast my story. Crappy place to end it? Hate the cliffhangers? Don't worry, i plan to update soon (little over a weeks time, possibly sooner if i get a lot of responce) and i don't plan on overdoing the use of cliffhangers. I do hope you guys will leave me your questions, comments, critique's and general reviews. While i don't mind the 'great job, update soon', somethign a bit more...involved is always most appreaciated. Thanks for everything guys. Until next time, take care.
