Chapter 7: He is a man of dedication…Sousuke helps out.

The rest of that day had gone by quickly. It was around eleven and everyone's lights were out except for one apartment. Behind door 505 the lights were still on Sousuke's apartment. He sat up studying his classical literature. He was distracted though; He couldn't seem to keep focused as he ran his hand through his hair and rested his elbow on the table in front of him staring at the book.

Kaname sighed as she watched Kurz leave for his apartment and sat down on the couch looking at her door to Sousuke's apartment. She noticed the light and blinked walking over to the window. She could see him through the window since the curtains were kept in a box. The last time he had them up was when Tessa had come for her exchange at Jindai. She pressed her hand against the glass leaning watching him.
"I wonder why he studies so late…" She said noticing he was staring at the book.
Sousuke's attention was directed from his book as he heard noises outside. It wasn't something you would commonly hear at this hour it was about five men shouting about something. He couldn't make it out through the window. Kaname didn't notice as she was busy staring at him almost forgetting she was part of the world. She wanted to be over there with him. He stood up blinking and walked over to the door of his apartment that led to the balcony connected. He slid it open carefully and stepped out. Kaname watched him blinking, unsure of why he had suddenly gotten up she brought her self back to reality and heard the noises as well.

Down below was a group of assassins, all dressed in dark colors they were talking about Kaname and not doing a good job of keeping themselves undercover. Sousuke listened carefully recording some of it on his cell phone that had a built in recording system. He watched as they turned the corner as if they were going to enter the building. Chidori watched them as well until they were out of sight. She sighed.
"Oh well…probably just a bunch of drunk yakuza…what else is new?" She sighed as she went to her couch and sat down. She stretched and looked around. She wasn't tired and was looking for something to do.
Sousuke had already left his building armed with a hand gun and a stun grenade he was on the move. But why? This wasn't his mission anymore…why did he continue to try to protect her. He didn't care if the surveillance cameras were there or not. He knew Kurz was not suitable for this job, he reached the hallway were the five men that had been making so much noise outside were. They were now being quiet as they walked a steady pace down the hallway. Sousuke tracked them carefully and after a few minutes he ran up behind one giving him no time to react he ran his knife across his throat, cutting the vocal cords. He dropped the man to the floor. Causing the others to turn around.

"What the hell!" One of them yelled.

Kaname blinked hearing the yelling a floor below. "Now what…" She said looking towards her door. Sousuke looked at them.
"If you want Kaname…you'll have to get through me first…" He blinked as he noticed they were armed with AK47s. They all laughed and surrounded him. Sousuke took the safety off his gun and made sure he circled around watching each on of them. But there was one missing out of the four that were left there were only three circling Sousuke. The assassin had broken from the circle and went to go take care of getting Kaname by himself. Sousuke didn't want to disturb the neighbors too much so he cracked the assassins that were still there over the head with his gun, knocking each unconscious after a series of fist combat. He rushed up the stairs to find the assassin that was still missing.

Kaname's apartment door burst open the chain lock breaking apart like it was nothing the assassin ran in. Kaname stood up and looked at him.
"SOUSUKE! KURZ!" she yelled, she knew yelling Sousuke's name would be pointless but she did it anyway. Kurz was in his apartment down the hall sleeping soundly, not quite aware that anything was going on he slept through everything. She blinked knowing she couldn't fight this guy she stood looking at him and slowly backed up. She flinched as a bullet came across her shoulder. This guy was armed with a hand gun like Sousuke's. Sousuke had reached the top of the stairs and got to her apartment door walking in he stood behind the assassin for moment as he got his gun ready and fired a shot directly into the center of his back.

The man fell over and Sousuke was able to be seen. Kaname blinked almost speechless as she looked at him.
"Sou-" She blinked as Kurz ran in.
"What happened?" He said confused. He couldn't believe that he hadn't woken up earlier. He watched Sousuke put his gun down to his side and click the safety lock back on. Another assassin that had woken up from Sousuke's knock out ran to the door. Sousuke blinked as the others he had knocked out earlier didn't stay unconscious for as long as expected they ran into the room. One attacked Sousuke and another went after Kurz. Kurz fought the one who had attacked him off well. Sousuke had tackled the one after him over and blinked as a bullet was fired…time seemed to freeze as he watched the bullet, it was aiming directly for Chidori and she had nowhere to go. Sousuke leaped up from the fight he was in and dove in front of Chidori taking the bullet for her. Out of ammo the assassin only had one shot. He cursed and started to walk away. Kurz cursed at him.
"Oh no you don't. You bastard…" He picked up the gun from the first man that entered the apartment and fired at the one who had started to leave killing him instantly. All of Kaname's neighbors were standing in the hall confused. Most too tired to register what was going on. Sousuke lay on the floor, the bullet had hit just above his heart and he wasn't doing well.
"Sagara!" Kurz yelled.
Sousuke drifted into unconsciousness unable to respond or move.

Kaname couldn't move, she couldn't bring herself to look away from Sousuke.
Had he just done what she thought he did? Did he give his life for hers? Why now?
He wasn't even supposed to be protecting her. She was lost in thought and began to shake as she looked at him.

Sprawled out on the floor a small area of blood started to appear around Sousuke's upper body. Kurz had taken the phone and dialed for an ambulance as well as police, as he watched Kaname and Sousuke. He could see the pain in her eyes and the total shock she was in. A tear ran down Kaname's face as she looked at Sousuke.

"…..pl…ea…se….do..n't…die…" She stared as she stood there.