A/N: Much luv to my beta Parallel-Blue13115. She's awesome and her stories are great- go check 'em out!
Sorry this installment is tardy, but the chapter after it was trying to get written first.
I actually really like the character of Ryuho- he offers great opportunities for subtext and character development and in the meantime I'm entertaining myself poking fun at him through the other characters. So don't get mad if it seems he's getting a raw deal in this installment. The next one will make up for it.
For those who want to know if this will be a CougMim or RyuMim pairing (along with the other obvious pairs I've set up) I'm leaning more towards the Doublemint Theory as applied to love interests- just kidding! But really- it's entirely too early to make her choose- the triangle is way more fun.
Chapter 3b
Asuka Tachibana struggles in vain to concentrate on the shipping manifests floating on the computer screen in front of him. Apparently the room in which Ryuho is recovering is within literal shouting distance from the living room. It is painfully easy to discern from his perch at the desk that Ryuho and Mimori are in the throws of a passionate argument.
Tachibana can guess at the topic even though he cannot hear all the words and is furious that Ryuho would put Mimori in such an uncomfortable position. After all, it must be Ryuho's fault.
For as long as he's known Mimori Kiryu- both at HOLY and during their time spent together in the Inner- he has never heard her raise her voice in such a manner. Even in the harshest circumstances, when her world had been turned upside down- when he found her traipsing though the ruined streets beyond the city walls, moments from an imminent attack, she had still maintained her politeness and composure.
Of course Cammy is the sun in his galaxy. However, over her stay with them, both he and Cammy have become more than fond of Mimori and he feels very protective towards her. For Tachibana, even more disturbing than the fight waging in the next room is the wide gamut of emotions conjured in response to the argument.
There is trepidation- he knows how Mimori feels about Ryuho and hopes he doesn't pull her apart. There is also anger- he can't believe that Ryuho is evil enough to use Mimori's feelings against her at such a critically vulnerable point. Then there is shock and pride- hearing Mimori evenly match her tone with Ryuho's reminds Tachibana of how strong she has become, especially in the past three months. He marvels at the surreal quality of the situation and silently wishes for all their sakes that the shouting will end soon.
When the door finally slams he silently curses Ryuho and hopes Mimori won the argument. Tachibana mentally vows that if Ryuho has hurt her he will throw him out of his house onto his prudish, self-absorbed ass.
When he looks up at the door to the hallway he gets a half-second glimpse of Mimori as she strides past the doorway behind Elian. She is unmistakably pissed, but otherwise fine. With a twinge of satisfaction he shifts his attention back to the shipping schedules.
Girl genius- 1, brooding narcissist- 0.
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When Mimori finally crosses the threshold of Straight Cougar's room, nearly all traces of her verbal spat with Ryuho have disappeared. She shoots the occupants of the room- a recovering orange-haired speedster sitting up in bed and a hulking yet amiable watermelon man filling the wingchair- a convincing smile.
Urizane takes the opportunity to signal his departure. "Well, enough chit-chat. I'd better leave so the doc can do a thorough examination on her patient." He meant to tease Cougar but instead conjures the hint of a blush from Mimori.
"Not that it hasn't been a blast, but Elian and I should head home now that everything's dying down- or should I say back to normal. Of course we'll be back, but we don't want to overstay our welcome. Besides, my own bed is a hell of a lot more comfy than that overstuffed chair there." He leaves the two behind as he retrieves Elian from the hall for their trip home.
Mimori narrows her eyes at Cougar, searching his propped-up form for any atypical signs. He seizes the opportunity to goad her. "Seems the ladies can't help but stare," motioning towards his shirtless torso. When Mimori rolls her eyes in an exaggerated fashion he challenges, "Well why else would you be holding my clothes hostage?"
"How else am I going to keep you in bed?" she says, shaking her head and playing along. She sits down on the edge of the bed and picks up the stethoscope from the bedside table.
"You know all you have to do is ask," he shoots her a devilish grin.
She gives him a 'tsk' and instructs, "Time to be quiet and let me work."
Before she can insert the earpieces she hears a very sincere "I'm all yours."
She places the diaphragm of the stethoscope on the center of his chest, trying to ignore his involuntary jump from the cold metal touching his warm skin. She moves the device over his heart, listening for the quality of the tell-tale double beats. After several seconds she can tell that the rhythm is strong and consistent. It beats with the steadiness of a second hand, but the resonance of a bass drum. If she were to give it a non-clinical appraisal she would definitely find it soothing.
Though she isn't looking she can also tell that he is staring down at her unabashedly. "Slow deep breaths so I can listen to your lungs, please."
He wordlessly complies by silently expanding his chest, holding the air for a moment and then letting it escape from his mouth, repeating every time she repositions the metal. Through the stethoscope Mimori is lulled by the deep, cavernous breaths. In her mind they are reminiscent of whispered prayers echoing evenly off an ornate cathedral ceiling. A muffled murmur draws her back to the room and she realizes Cougar is speaking to her.
"What?" she asks, pulling the earpiece from one ear and letting it flip around her neck. She finally looks at his face.
"I said, 'I hope I'm being a good patient'." Still softly smiling.
"I keep telling people I'm not a doctor…" she blushes.
"Then surely you are the treatment for my 'heart condition'," he grins deviously when he says 'heart condition' indicating the double entendre. "I will be receiving thrice-daily doses, correct?"
"Cougar, are you developing a rescuer's complex for me?" She is losing hold of any serious tone she could have mustered earlier that might be appropriate. And she can't help but return his friendly smile.
"Actually, I'm quite pleased and impressed by your actions. Not many people would take responsibility for- let alone try to repair- the damage they inflicted, even if only unintentionally."
"What are you talking about?" Is he blaming me for his near-death experience?
"Well, truth be told, Ms. Minori, you've been giving my heart quite the heated workout ever since I first met you…" Her blushing is furious, but he continues, "Under such stresses, having it give out seems inevitable. The fact that you would put forth such a valiant and successful effort to rectify the situation and mend this heart is admirable."
She's more flattered than offended, although she really isn't quite sure what her reaction should be. Before she can respond or even correct her name (yet again), a gentle knock on the door breaks the confusing spell.
"Come in."
Kanami enters the room. "Hi there. I see you are awake. Mimori, Kazu-kun wants to know how Mr. Cougar is doing and if he can come and visit."
"Yes, what is you clinical diagnosis, dear lady? Am I fit as a fiddle?"
Under their scrutinizing gazes she easily acquiesces. "I'd say you're well enough for visitors. Would you like some company, Cougar?"
"Does Pinocchio float? Let's get everybody in here!" Mimori chuckles, but Kanami just gives them both a puzzled look. The young girl has probably never heard the story of the little wooden boy. Her reaction only contributes to the humor.
"Go ahead and tell Kazuma that if he can get out of bed then he has my permission to harass this gentleman."
As Kanami turns on her heels to fetch her guardian Cougar sneaks in one more comment, "I hope this doesn't mean that you're finished harassing me, Ms. Minori."
"I might be more inclined to keep you company if a certain individual could bother with learning my proper name."
"Ouch! Ms. Mi… uh, point taken." Conspiratorial grin, then with slightly inflated gusto, "If that is what will please the lady then I shall be more than happy to oblige."
Mimori can't help but laugh at her accidental fanning of the proverbial fire. She can't even remember that moments ago she was ready to scream the roof off of Tachibana's house.
However, a cloud settles on her mood when she thinks back to a moment she and Cougar shared at a work camp months ago. Realizing that Kanami will be back any minute she poses one more question to the recovering patient.
"Cougar, what happened to you… almost dying. Was that from what they did to you on the Mainland? From the refining?" She can't quite look in his eyes as she asks. She's not really sure that she wants the answer.
"Yes."
"Just yes?" She decides that she does indeed want an answer.
"Well, I've felt it coming for a while now. It was a combination of my natural Alter ability and the refining process I underwent on the Mainland. The revival was a bit of a surprise. After I closed my eyes I hadn't considered ever opening them again. I was trying to accept my fate."
"Oh..." Mimori ponders this new revelation. With trepidation, "should we have… do you regret that we brought you back?"
"Of course not," he says with the deepest sincerity. Then he whispers so low that Mimori must lean in to hear him, "Dear lady, you don't seem to understand how very deeply I am indebted to you."
Mimori can only stare at him in wonder before the spell is broken by the sounds of an animated Alter user clumping his way down the hall towards them.
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At Kazuma's entrance Mimori has retreated, still somewhat sore about her last encounter with the bold teen. He lets her slip past him wordlessly, feeling a bit guilty at her discomfort around him.
Cougar takes in the sight of his friend, bruises and bandages covering him from head to foot. "Guess I'm not the only one that needed some reassembling. You look like hell, Kazuya."
While Kazuma would normally first defend his 'battle scars', Cougar's abuse of his name demands immediate attention. "Are we gonna do this again? It's Kazuma, dammit! She may have fixed you up but your memory is still shot to hell."
"Tsk. So touchy. Are you always so crass in front of pretty young girls?" He chuckles, sending a wink in Kanami's direction. Kazuma has forgotten that she followed him in the room and he steams at Cougar.
"It's okay. I'm used to it, although I do ask Kazu-kun to try harder to behave," Kanami shares.
"Stop grinning at her like that! And where's your shirt? Kanami, go wait outside! I don't want you around this nutcase." She looks up at him in protest, but retreats at the stern glare he is giving his 'friend'. Still, she gives Cougar a little bye-bye wave before carefully closing the door behind her.
"Gracious, was that really necessary? Don't you trust me with your little friend?" He's grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Not as far as I can throw you, man. Would you wipe off that smirk and be serious for a sec?"
"Alright, I can do serious," and with that all hints of humor fall away from Cougar's face and voice. The room is suddenly eerily quiet, surprising them both.
Kazuma vacillates between concern, anger and confusion. It takes several moments of Cougar just staring up at him expectantly before he can decide upon his course of words. "What happened to you?"
"Do you have to ask? Apparently joining HOLY was more costly than I realized…"
"So they did do this to you." Kazuma collapses at the foot of the bed a bit more heavily than he meant to. "I told you you were getting in over your head. You're always so damn stubborn."
"Yeah, just like you. Well the good news is you don't have to worry about me working for HOLY anymore." When Kazuma shoots him a scowl he replies, "Come on, you can't still be mad after all this time."
"Yes I can! It was stupid and reckless and…" his voice softens, "…and you just left. Just like that. Like it was no big deal." He tries to hide the hurt, but knows with miserable clarity that Cougar can sense his feelings.
"I knew you wouldn't understand. Still, I'm sorry. But I was sure you would be okay, and I was right. You've gotten a lot stronger without my help. I'm really impressed."
"Yeah, well, turns out you were right about the Alter Forest. Then again there was also the burning desire to beat the living shit out of Ryuho's pompous ass."
"He tends to have that effect on people. You both do. But still, you've come farther than any other Alter user I've known and you didn't need me to accomplish that."
"Are you making excuses? Are you planning on cutting out of here the first chance you get?" Kazuma is entirely unsuccessful in hiding his worry.
"Excuses? No. I'm just stating facts. But as far as sticking around, I'm not planning on going anywhere just yet."
"But don't we still have to worry about you trying to drop dead on us again? I know the doc's good but…"
"Don't fret about me, Kazuya. When it comes time to worry I'll let you know."
"Arghhh! It's Kazuma! Ka-zu-MA! What the hell is the matter with you and names anyway?"
Cougar slides back into his nonchalant attitude as easily as a pair of pants. "Sorry. As fast as my mouth can be I guess my brain is often in such a hurry that it works even faster. I only bother with the important details. Names only matter to the people to whom they belong."
"Is that so? Then you wouldn't mind if I go around calling you… Squiggly Kitten or something?"
The look of horror and disgust cracking Cougar's face surprises even Kazuma. It seems there are some things that the elder can still learn from the younger man. "I see your point. I guess from now on I'll be more mindful when addressing you and Ms. Minori."
"Her name is Mimori and you're never gonna get into her pants if you can't even get a simple name right."
Unfortunately for Kazuma the mere mention of Cougar's love interest is enough to send his words speeding from his mouth once again, "Shesaidthesamething!WellnottheexactsamethingWedidn'ttalkaboutherpantsjustmyshirtbutnotthewayyou'rethinkingalthoughIwishitwaswhatyouwerethinkingGoshI'mstartingtoconfusemyselfButI'mnottooconfusedtoknowthatIdon'twanttogetintoyourpantsandheyhowdoyouknowhername?AreyoutakinganinterestbecauseI'mgoingtohavetowarnyouthatI'mcourtingherandIwon'thesitatetofightdirtyifitcomesdowntoyouandme-"
"Shut UP!"
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Across the great expanse of water separating the Lost Ground from the Mainland, in a sterile, windowless room, a meeting of very influential yet anonymous people is convening. Participants are military and civilian alike, though none would be recognized by the average Mainland citizen as a political figure. The group operates in stealth and secrecy towards one common goal- a goal concerning the presently tumultuous Lost Ground.
Since the massive evacuation of the City by Kyoji Mujo the population of the island is now comprised of poor City dwellers, poorer Inners and Alter Users. With the exception of the Legendary Alter Users, the Lost Ground has been left defenseless following the disbanding of HOLD and HOLY. Yet the Mainland government has done little in the past three months to take advantage of the situation other than to indebt the Island by offering emergency aid. The members of the conference in the windowless room have plans for that to change.
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A/N: Yes, Kazuma is crude and Tachibana is possessive and Straight Cougar is- well, a Squiggly Kitten.
Upon reflection I realize I could be including a lot more detail and description, but I'm really more interested in moving the story along. The compromise is the finished product but I'm open to suggestions. I've settled for 'pretty good' rather than 'perfect' for the sake of speed :giggles, huggles Cougar: but I don't know, whatever.
Next chapter- prep for a hint of limey goodness (earlier stuff was just a warm-up).
Reviews Oxygen! Must have to survive!