Author's Note: I have to make a shout out to Google Map's Street-view feature in writing this chapter. If you want to you can actually follow the route Sousuke and Kaname take in this chapter.
Sword and Shield
Chapter 2: Grand Theft Moped?
Moped 1. n. A type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.
24 March 2000, 15:29 hrs.
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Intersection of Metro Road 114 and Komae Dori
Wakana Yoko sighed as she looked out of her Daihatsu Mira patrol car. Damn Bonta-kun, I've been transferred from one division to another since he made his appearance. They think I'm crazy. Wait, it was before Bonta-kun first showed up when I was last in the traffic division. That was when…
Her hands tightened on the wheel of the car and her knuckles went white. I was chasing two teenagers riding double on a bike. Then the pair did something insane and impossible. They ramped off a city park staircase and ditched the bike mid-air, grabbing hold of tree branches. I ran over the bike and totaled the engine.
Come to think of it, didn't that girl that helped me hunt down that pervert when Bonta-kun first showed up… didn't she kind of look like the girl from the bike? I got a better look at the boy though. A cross shaped scar on his cheek and wiry brown hair that fell down into his face. Pewter colored eyes. He'd be kind of cute if he wasn't turning into a criminal.
The light changed as she glanced out the window. She blinked. No way! There, just around the corner of the intersection was that boy, on a moped this time! A dark haired girl was sitting on the back with her arms draped around the driver and she seemed to be snuggling him.
That twerp! He's gone from stealing bikes to mopeds!
Instantly she flicked on her siren and grabbed the loudspeaker. "You two on the moped riding double!"
"Shit, riding double on a stolen vehicle!" Sousuke muttered as he slammed the gas and zoomed out of the intersection heading south.
Kaname's grasp tightened on him as he accelerated. Still, it was only a Honda Super Cub and really wasn't meant for evading a police car.
"This seems awfully familiar." Kaname muttered.
"Hold on tight!" Sousuke yelled as he headed south on 114 metro road. With a glance over his shoulder he confirmed that they were being pursued. Looks like a Daihatsu Mira, bit low powered for a police car.
Apartments and houses lined the street and a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV blocked the route ahead with its bulk. Cursing in frustration he jerked the Cub to the right and ran up onto the sidewalk via garage way. Then gunned the little moped as fast as he could. Behind him he heard the squeal of tires as the Mira sped round the Pajero on the wrong side of the street and raced beside him on the road its lights spinning and siren blaring.
Kaname stared at the vehicle and her mouth gaped as the brown haired woman behind the wheel glared at the two of them, a feral expression on her face.
"It's that one police woman!" Kaname yelled.
"What one?" Sousuke asked racking his brains as green metal fencing between the sidewalk and street flashed past.
Glancing over his shoulder he gaped in surprise as the Mira's window rolled down and the black polymer stock of a P90 personal defense weapon appeared.
"Oh my God! Sousuke!"
Gritting his teeth he swerved to the left, speeding off the sidewalk and into the street as the chatter of 5.7x28mm ammunition leaving the barrel echoed between two apartment buildings. Branches from the small trees and bushes that were planted between the sidewalk and street fell as they were cleaved by the gunfire. Then as he swerved in front of the car the gunfire stopped as he was now out of her line of fire.
Sousuke glanced over his right shoulder at the woman as she lifted the P90 in the other hand and aimed straight out of the front window of the car.
Shit.
He jerked left again, ramping up onto the opposite sidewalk and slammed on the brakes as 5.7x28mm rounds hissed through the space he would have been, deflecting against the green metal fencing and tearing through an unfortunate tree. Kaname's grip tightened and he felt her head turn to watch the car.
"She's braking!"
"Kaname!" Sousuke swallowed as he saw an intersection up ahead. "My left rear pocket, there's a flash bang."
She fumbled through his pocket for a moment then produced the small grenade and glanced at it. "What now?"
"Pull the pin and throw it in the middle of the intersection. Before we get there!" Sousuke ordered.
After a moment the black cylindrical casing of the Mark 84 stun grenade arced over his shoulder and bounced into the middle of the intersection. She always was good at softball.
"Close your eyes!" He commanded then did the same. The bike roared through the intersection just before the small explosive went off, blinding the driver of a brand new Nissan Cube who swerved off the road and into a telephone pole. A moment later a second car slammed into its side.
Glancing back Sousuke smiled. "I think we lost—"
With a snarl the Mira bounded over the two smashed vehicles, sparks shooting from its undercarriage as it bottomed out. Blue smoke rolled from the tires as they squealed from the abuse.
"Shit." Sousuke muttered.
"She's persistent." Kaname said.
Bullets cracked past them and Sousuke gritted his teeth before turning hard right and driving the scooter through an open gate into a park. Rounds shattered the stonework of the walls to either side of the gate and Sousuke pulled the American issue M9 Beretta he'd gotten in the escape from Okinawa from a pocket.
"Sousuke!"
"She's shooting at us!" He reminded Kaname.
Kaname ducked as a ricochet off the concrete wall buzzed past her helmet. "I know! Can't you just… I don't know. Shoot the car?"
Shoot the car? Sousuke glanced over his shoulder at the Daihatsu Mira tearing through a hedgerow in pursuit and nodded. "I'll try and shoot out her radiator then."
He swallowed as he weaved through a set of hedges then rocketed out a set of gates back onto Metro Road 114. Seconds later the police car rocketed through the gates in pursuit as he drove back up onto the sidewalk. A 7-11 flashed by on the right as they approached another intersection.
A scooter buzzed out of the way just as Sousuke flashed through and looked to his left as the Mira drove up level with him, its driver tossing the empty P90 into the back and extending a stun baton.
He raised the Beretta and fired sending round after round of nine millimeter parabellum into the hood before the Mira slammed on the brakes and disappeared over his shoulder.
"Is she gone?" Sousuke asked just before he felt a thump from the Mira's fender connecting with the back license place.
"No!"
A boom of a shotgun echoed and Kaname ducked as a beanbag round struck the back of Sousuke's head. He let out a grunt and shook his head. That smarts.
Then he weaved to the right running up onto the sidewalk once again. Another beanbag round flashed past before flattening itself against a tree while Sousuke shifted the Beretta into his other and hand. Then he hit the brakes dropping side by side with the Mira once again. He set the gun's sights on the engine and emptied the magazine.
The Mira kept coming.
How on earth did that bicycle destroy the last one? Sousuke thought to himself as he tossed the useless Beretta aside and fished in his pockets, then winced as another beanbag round struck him in the side.
"Sousuke!"
"Not a problem!" He muttered as he fished another flash bang from his pocket. Then he swallowed seeing that the road ended in a T-junction ahead. "Kaname!"
"What!"
"Get ready!"
"To do what?"
"To jump off!" Sousuke yelled as the bike fishtailed from his sudden braking. Skidding to the right he felt the bike begin to slide then let go of the handlebars, reached up and clasped both hands over his head and rolled off.
The pavement stung as he rolled from the bike, sliding between two stopped cars at the lights as Kaname rolled off the hood of one car and let out a grunt. Her shins looked a bit scraped from the fall but otherwise she looked unharmed, perhaps even unfazed.
The Honda Super Cub skid into the right lane and stopped directly in front of the Mira. Brakes squealed and sparks shot from the suspension as the police car desperately tried to stop. It didn't and ran over the smaller bike, its handlebars scrapped the underside of the engine ripping coolant lines and pulling the cap from the oil tank. A moment later the engine burst into flames. The hood jumped open and the car sank defeated over its opponent.
Sousuke stood and dusted himself off, noticing a new set of scratches on his elbows and that his pant leg had been torn at the knee by the cement.
Kaname stood dazed for a moment as she dusted herself off. He swallowed, expecting a smack from the harisen, or her purse, or any other object conveniently available. Instead she grinned and folded her arms over her chest before pointing her nose in the air.
"I missed you."
Wakana Yoko sputtered in fury as she stumbled out of her wrecked car and drew her stun baton.
Twice! That bastard put me out of commission with his stolen toy! Twice!
"I guess this means we're walking. It seems I won't be able to return the bike after all." A teenage Japanese voice stated with a strange accent. Wakana blinked for a moment as she stumbled around her car and saw the two standing on the sidewalk, sporting some scrapes but nothing serious.
Damn them!
"Uh Sousuke?"
"Yes Chidori?"
"The police woman is glaring at you." The girl stated as Wakana glanced both ways down the street before charging toward them, her stun baton extending to its full length as sparks shot along it.
The boy spun out of the way of the swing then smashed into her arm joint with his fist, making her hand let go of the baton in reflex. Before Wakana could react a fist smashed her in the chest and she sputtered before stumbling back out of breath. The stun baton clattered against the pavement.
What sort of move was that? Her mind yelled as she wiped away the trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth. It's like fighting Bonta-kun, but this kid is faster. She blinked at the cross shaped scar and remembered the same scar had appeared on Bonta-kun. Not possible.
Then a fist slammed her in the face and she dropped to the ground unconscious.
Kaname wanted to be mad, hell she wanted to be furious, but after all this time seeing Sousuke back making a wreck through Tokyo filled her with an inescapable sense of joy. Sousuke was still Sousuke, no matter what the last year had put him through. He was still the crazy military otaku that held her heart.
It's almost like old times. God, I missed him… so much. But did he really have to knock her out?
Kaname slowly shook her head as Sousuke lowered his fists and relaxed. "We should leave before someone reports that we've assaulted a police officer."
"Right, let's go…" Kaname turned to the north. "It looks like we're walking." She suddenly froze. "Wait… 'We've assaulted a police officer?' You did all of it!"
"Affirmative, the distance is now approximately three times that of the normal walk from Jindai to Sengawa Station." Sousuke shrugged. "At least no one was killed, peaceful solutions are the best."
He's definitely back. If anything he's faster in a fight then before. Kaname spun on her heel and grinned at him, leaning forward with an expression like that of a cat in a vat of cream.
Sousuke's face reddened as he saw the expression, maybe after a year he finally understood what it meant. He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "You're not upset?"
"I should be." Kaname said before her grin widened. "But, after the last year… this feels good."
"Understood." Sousuke smiled slightly and took her offered hand, squeezing it gently.
24 March 2000, 09:45 hrs.
Kremlin, Moscow, Soviet Union
Lubyanka Building, Headquarters for the KGB
The black GAZ Limousine rolled to a stop before the headquarters as guards soldiers snapped to attention. Vyacheslav Trubnikov closed the folder in his lap as the door opened and he stepped out into the cold morning air, his breath condensing before him.
"Comrade First Chief Director." The guard stated blandly as he held the door open.
Grumbling under his breath Vyacheslav glanced around as he adjusted his jacket before heading up the steps into the building.
The KGB had been divided into several directorates for many years, each one having a separate function from the others much like how the CIA in America was divided into intelligence, technology, and operations branches. There were thirteen separate directorates and a number of smaller units that were under the direct control of the Chief Director of the KGB.
Vyacheslav was the director of the first directorate, the foreign espionage branch of the KGB. Grumbling to himself the man stepped inside the warm foyer and slipped off his coat, handing it to the sergeant that stood beside the rack waiting patiently. That done he adjusted the jacket he wore, running a hand across the medals upon his chest then took a moment to clear the condensation from his glasses.
"Comrade director." A young aid stated as he handed him a handkerchief.
"Thank you Sergei, I take it you are ready for the morning briefing then?" The director stated as he flipped open the folder once again and settled his glasses back upon his broad nose to resumed reading. "The process of sweeping up the pieces goes on then?"
"Da, comrade director. We have already removed all Amalgam agents we have found, many of which are now guests in the basement." The aid smiled at the traditional joke about how the basement had once held those found to be traitors by the second directorate. In truth they'd long ago moved such prisoners off site. There simply wasn't the room here.
"The Operations and Technology Directorate has been drooling over these miniature arm slaves that Amalgam had created." The chief of the first directorate stated. "I would not be surprised if we will be asked to launch operations in competition with the Americans in the rush to grab the knowledge abandoned in the wake of their defeat."
"The Chief Director has stated as much comrade director." Sergei stated as he gestured along the red carpet. "He wants a meeting this morning with you, comrade."
"I see. I wonder what Vladimir wants then. We've already taken a great deal of flak from the GRU for our… connections with Amalgam. Not to mention our inability to find the woman that launched that nuclear missile."
"It has been suggested by those in the second directorate that she may have been aided by one of our own." Sergei stated. "I hope those are just house rumors and not actual facts, comrade director."
"You need not worry Sergei, even if there is truth to such matters you can rest assured that you and I had no knowledge of such an occurrence. The second directorate may be a bit over eager in asking questions but they know not to ask too many of our loyalty."
The younger man nodded. "Da, comrade director. I heard that three of the higher members of the Science and Technology division were tried this morning for their connection with Amalgam. Their retirement has already been announced."
Retirement, a forced retirement delivered by a 5.45x39mm round most likely. They deserve it to be certain sharing secrets with such an organization nearly caused the world to end once already. There will certainly be a house cleaning this summer.
"The Premier has also stated an order on the other issue involving Amalgam." Sergei swallowed. "The whispered."
"Da, so we will finally be given direction on how to handle them." The older man chuckled slowly. "Mithril's operations may have done us a favor in the past by removing those associated with Amalgam from our ranks, by lethal force on occasion."
"Da comrade, but the order was surprising all the same sir. We've been ordered to take all appropriate measures to ensure that whispered individuals are not a threat to the soviet state." Sergei swallowed. "Comrade, I think they want us to take a much more aggressive stance on the issue. Maybe even assassinate those that are outside of our control."
There is no maybe about it Sergei Golokov, as distasteful as hunting children may be… these children are quite a threat.
"Do not trouble yourself comrade, we will do what must be done. As we always have. I hope those fools in the GRU have learned not to trust Mithril either."
24 March 2000, 11:21 hrs.
Fayzabad, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Outside the Home of the General Majhid
Sabine swallowed as the two men that led her to the door joked with each other in their incomprehensible babble. The guards there wore modern looking body armor, probably units they'd scavenged from the soviets. If that wasn't enough each held a modern Kalashnikov or a more advanced Abakan AN.94 Assault Rifle. Most of the guns featured fitted scopes on the butterfly mounts, PSO-1 or something similar.
Typical Russian manufactured gear, but quite effective. These guys aren't riff-raff. Maybe trying to kill this man will be harder than I thought.
A simple woven rug hung over the doorway, something she'd seen on most of the local homes. Walking through the market she'd seen dozens of Kalashnikovs being peddled by merchants and weapons of all conceivable types. One merchant even had a Shipunov BK-540L AS Rifle in the back of a truck. Maybe with some welds they could make something that could hold the weapon, or perhaps he intended to sell it to an AS pilot. She couldn't know for sure.
With a flash the rug opened and a pair of girls with simple scarfs tied around their heads ran out past her as she was led inside, giggling and laughing as they chased each other around the yard.
Inside a number of rugs covered the floor and a man with a salt and pepper beard wearing a knit cap over his head looked up from the low table in front of him and stood. He glanced at the guard and spoke swiftly in the local language before studying her for a long moment.
All the while she studied the table, English copies of a dozen different books were strewn atop it, and a topographical map was rolled up at one end. A worn copy of La Guerra de Guerrillas sat with a battered cover and a dozen different bookmarks inside.
The man with the salt and pepper beard ran a hand through his curly whiskers and smiled. "Now, miss pilot, who exactly are you? You don't look Russian."
Sabine blinked, surprised by the crisp educated voice as she glanced back into his face. "My name is Sabine, Sabine Refiona."
"I see, now, why are you here? Those two servants of God said they found you out by the river. Are you perhaps hiding from the soviets or do you work for them?"
"I work for myself." She stated flatly.
"A mercenary then?" He smiled and sat indicating for her to do so as well. "If so we could certainly employ someone with your talents. Your equipment indicates that someone valued your talents quite well. What organization did you work for?"
"Amalgam." She stated. Behind her the guard twitched as the man stared at her for a long moment.
"I heard about Gauron's end, his services training pilots were of great use when he was here." The man answered carefully. "Our organization has not considered Amalgam an ally as of late, or an enemy."
"Amalgam is gone, squashed, demolished, and paved over. I'm all that's left." She stated, her mouth twitching with pride. "Mostly because of an associate of yours."
"I do not recall any of my associates fighting your organization, if anything your weapons and training has aided many of my people."
"Do I not speak to Badakshan's Tiger?" She asked. Her voice laced with acid.
The safety on the guard's rifle clicked as it was slid to the full-auto position. The man met her gaze and stared at her for a moment. "That is one name I have been called."
"The boy that brought us down was your son. Kashim." She stated as she took a step back toward the guard and kicked him in the nuts. There was a grunt of pain as she reached around and grabbed a hold of the rifle's muzzle and yanked pulling it into her hand.
Majhid drew a pistol from the cloth of his robe and fired as the rifle filled her hands. She felt a stab of pain in the shoulder followed by another flash in her upper arm. Reflexes made the limb go limp and the rifle tumbled from her hands onto the floor.
The Afghan General stared into her eyes and shifted his aim to the other arm, the PMm Makarov in his hands glinting dangerously. The curtain opened and another guard entered leveling his rifle at Sabine's back.
Majhid yelled in Persian and the man froze. Then his gaze shifted back to Sabine, cradling a mangled arm. He slowly lowered the pistol.
"Now, tell me. What exactly has my son done?"
24 March 2000, 16:03 hrs.
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
50 meters south of Jindai High School
Sousuke felt naked. A bead of sweat ran down his temple as he glanced across the street at the school. For the first time in a while he was both free of any captors and unarmed.
True he had a half dozen or so flash bangs in the pockets of his uniform, some piano wire, and some small explosives, but what he now lacked was that single item that any soldier wouldn't be caught dead without. A gun.
"Sousuke, is something wrong?"
Sousuke swallowed back a lump in his throat and shook his head. "No, it's nothing."
"Don't give me that! You're a terrible liar." Kaname spun and glared at him. "Now, what is it?"
"I just realized. When I dropped the Beretta that I disarmed myself, I have no sidearm at the moment."
He almost expected the harisen, but Kaname seemed to be much more understanding after the last year. Perhaps being taken by Amalgam had made her more aware of the need for weapons. Or maybe she was just in a good mood.
"Well, that's not something you can buy off the street." Kaname sighed. "Sousuke, does it really bother you that much?"
Sousuke felt another bead of sweat run down his cheek. "Yes. How am I supposed to protect you without a weapon?"
She sighed and glanced at the school. "Alright, sensei probably still has a lot of your stuff locked up in her room, right? Lets go get it back. She won't be our sensei when school starts again anyway."
"Really?" Sousuke glanced at her then back at the school.
"Really! Sousuke, do you always have to ask if I'm sure?" Kaname stammered as she walked toward the school gates. "You are supposed to get confiscated stuff returned after a while!"
"I believe sensei said that I would have to wait for her to keel over and die last time I asked. I am uncertain if she was in jest." Sousuke stated.
"After what you did to her car, she probably wasn't joking. Perhaps you should have done something to make it up to her." Kaname stepped through the school gate and laughed. "Maybe you could buy her one of those new mini coopers or something."
"I see, I could probably afford to do that, and the value of the returned equipment would probably cover the expense." Sousuke stated.
Kaname gaped for a moment then rubbed her head. "Sousuke, just how much money do you have?"
"I am uncertain at the moment. Many of my investments have been untouched over the last year. You do recall I had a partnership with a Belgian weapons firm for the development of the Bonta-kun AS."
Kaname shook her head. "So you have money."
"Affirmative."
"Why don't you have a car, or a motorcycle of your own then?" Kaname asked as they stepped inside the main building and headed up the stairs.
Sousuke pursed his lips in thought. "I had not considered it necessary. Japan has a very efficient public transportation system. Though the additional security of not having to be so exposed on the trip to school and back would be beneficial."
"Maybe you have money because you never spend it." Kaname muttered as she stopped beside the teacher's office and frowned, glancing at the locked door.
"That's not true Chidori, all the equipment that I lost via confiscation had to be replaced at my own expense. A single pistol of the sort I often utilize is valued at well over eighty thousand yen. Military and security equipment is not cheap after all." He frowned at the door and pulled a set of tools from a pocket and knelt beside the handle. "The Soviet Union reportedly spends almost a third of its GDP on military equipment for example, and the United States military budget is the single greatest expense for their government. It's little wonder that weapons production is a highly profitable venture."
"They spend that much?" Kaname shook her head. "I don't know how much Japan spends on military gear."
"Not nearly that much Kaname, most of the military equipment utilized by the Self Defense Forces is rather old, especially among the ground forces. Only the Air Force and Navy have procured top of the line equipment, usually of American design. However Japanese electronics tend to be superior then those produced by the Americans, so there is a tendency for the government to purchase airframes without electronics so they can use local systems."
The door unlocked with a click and Sousuke slowly pushed it open and walked into the teacher's office.
"I don't know how you knew all that." Kaname stated flatly as she followed behind him and glanced around the office. Several large locked boxes sat beside Kagurazaka's desk, each with padlocks. "Huh."
Sousuke sighed as he saw the boxes. "It seems Kagurazaka sensei managed to procure some gun safes to store my items, a smart precaution if a bit of a hurdle for us. As for why I know such information, it's useful when one invests in military technology companies."
He tapped the padlock for a moment and sighed. "Perhaps wire cutters?"
Kaname rolled her eyes and walked over to the desk and opened it. Inside she found a set of keys and tossed them to him. "Try these."
Sousuke nodded and tried the keys, unlocking them easily. Opening the first box he found several of his Glock series pistols and a Steyr SPP modified for fully-automatic fire. With a sigh he took a Glock 26 compact and a Glock 17 from the box, slipping the compact into a pocket and the Glock 17 into his belt behind the back.
The Steyr is tempting but I'm unable to properly conceal it at the moment.
"It appears Kagurazaka-sensei locked the ammunition up separate from the weapons, perhaps she took a gun safety course or something." Sousuke closed the first box then opened the second pulling out two magazines for each pistol and stuffing them in his pockets.
This should be enough to protect Kaname at present.
"We should leave the rest and lock up, I'll speak with Kagurazaka-sensei on the return of the other items later." With that he closed the box and set to locking each up before returning the keys to the desk.
"Do you feel better now?" Kaname asked as she rolled her eyes.
"Affirmative."
24 March 2000, 03:50 hrs.
Chantilly, State of Virginia, United States
National Reconnaissance Office, Special Tasking Division
"We've got KH-11 images coming in from the special tasking that was requested. Man, a midnight order, how typical." The air force lieutenant sitting before the monitor stated as he rubbed his eyes and glared at the monitor. "For a nowhere place in Alaska."
The civilian sitting on the opposite desk nodded slowly. "I know, seems a bit bizarre. I took a look at a map and there's nothing there but a road that dead ends."
"Now I doubt that the CIA sent a tasking order just to screw with us late night shift people." The lieutenant shrugged and glanced at the monitor as a series of images flashed onto the screen. He gaped.
Across in the desk opposite him the civilian worker stared. "Holy shit."
Laid out in the images was an American air base, complete with onsite homes for officers, runway, hangars, arsenal, barracks, and the works. They could instantly make out a set of Humvees parked alongside a hangar and a M9 Bushnell standing beside the door like a sentry on watch. The dispersal pad was crowded with Av8b Super Harriers and two Boeing XF-32 joint strike fighter prototypes. Standing at the opposite end of the hangar a trio of C-130s fitted with an unknown set of turboprops sat at the ready and three Gulfstream diplomatic transports sat on the tarmac.
"Whoa… double check the coordinates and set up a second pass with a wider view." The Lieutenant ordered as he started typing up a report to attach to the images and began working to identify all the visible equipment. He paused when he saw the symbol painted on the wings of the C-130s.
Mithril…
24 March 2000, 17:13 hrs.
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
100 meters south of Sengawa Station
Her knees were beginning to ache, after two weeks in the hospital she felt weak. Come to think of it, her time immediately before her rescue had been one where she'd felt weaker than normal. She'd eaten less and the frantic push to get the omni-sphere operational had worn on her.
Damn it Kaname, you're stronger then this! Aren't you!
She let out a long sigh and glanced to her side at Sousuke, a slight smile sliding across her lips. Damn him, he always makes me feel weak. As much as her mind cursed she felt good being in his presence once again. That year of being in Amalgam's clutches and then being their willing tool had taken him from her and only now, with him back at her side did she realize just how much she missed him.
Hell she even missed the trouble he left in his wake. She suddenly chuckled remembering the chase through the streets with that mad police woman in hot pursuit. Classic Sousuke.
"Kaname?"
"What Sousuke?"
"Nevermind." He shook his head once and glanced around for a moment. They walked on the brick sidewalk beside Lupica: Fresh Tea side by side for a moment. He watched her stifled her laughter and glance back at him.
"Seriously Sousuke."
"I was just trying to figure out what you found so amusing." He stated simply.
"I was just thinking about that police girl, you've probably ruined her career you know." She chuckled again and smirked. "I wonder if she was that crazy before you met her."
"She did pursue us doggedly the first time, when I forgot your notes." Sousuke glanced at her. "It is one of the few bits of that day I remember clearly. I was really out of it."
"You were!" Kaname snickered. "If you'd just told me you were sick, and the teacher was sick. It would have been so much easier."
"Sorry."
Kaname rolled her eyes. He's always apologizing even when it wasn't his fault. She sighed. "It's not a problem Sousuke. It's one of those things you look back and laugh about after a while."
"I see. Though I'm not sure how my actions can incite you to laughter." He shrugged. "I have been told my sense of humor is in need of upgrading."
"In need of upgrading?" Kaname sputtered. Who talks like that?
"Well, it was Al that was the one who said that."
"Who?" Kaname said after a moment thinking back.
"The AI in the Arbalest and Laevatein, he is rather quirky." He smiled as he said the word quirky. Kaname did as well, it sounding rather strange and amusing from his lips.
They entered the station and sighed as they waited for the train to arrive. Glancing at a bench she gestured to it. As they sat a melancholy cloud settled over her and her good mood shattered.
The memories of the last year raised their head in her mind and she shivered. She'd given herself over to them to save her friends, her school… and in doing so she thought she betrayed him. She looked away and looked out into the distance of the sky, her eyes loosing focus. Damn you Sofia. Damn you Leonard. The image flashed into her mind of Tessa and Sousuke racing toward her, behind the sights of a pistol. A pistol in her hands. She flinched as a bang from the exhaust of a passing car echoed in the station. She saw in her mind the gun jump in her hands.
She swallowed down a lump. It didn't happen! I didn't! A single tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away. Damn it!
Sousuke sat in the train terminal, his gaze flicking across the dozens of people that were nearby. Cataloging, analyzing, and checking for threats. It had become so second nature that he didn't realize he was doing it. A lifetime in danger had made his reflexes, hearing, and sight into finely honed instruments. Satisfied that they were safe he leaned back on the bench and sighed. "Chidori?"
"Hmm?" Kaname Chidori answered, her gaze fixed on her hands laced together. Exhaustion seemed to pour out of her body language and Sousuke glanced at her, a lump rising in his throat.
"We're almost home."
She nodded once and closed her eyes, a long sigh drifted from her lips. Sousuke's stern expression slipped into a frown and he looked across the terminal. She's safe, alive and unharmed, you can relax… He told himself that over and over but every time he did a glance in her direction threw doubt on that statement.
She looked defeated, a burnt out shell almost. It was an expression, a look, he'd seen on every tour by the most battle worn of veterans, those that had given up. He'd never imagined he'd see Kaname's face marred by the look. Her eyes focusing on nothing, a thousand meter stare. He sighed, uncertainty coursing through every vein. Then he did something he'd seen others do but never done himself. He reached out, put a hand on her shoulder, and squeezed her against him.
Kaname jumped at the touch and then suddenly relaxed, leaning against him. A slight, almost imperceptible smile graced her lips and she rubbed her head against his shoulder. "Sousuke…"
"Yes Kaname?"
"Can you forgive me?" She almost whimpered as she spoke and Sousuke looked down at her, his eyes widening in surprise. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Sousuke blinked, confused. "Forgive you?"
She nodded and grasped his shirt with a hand. "I gave up. I… I thought I'd killed you, killed you and Tessa both." She sobbed and tears dropped onto his shoulder.
"You didn't so, it's not a problem." Sousuke said as he hugged her tighter. "I know it wasn't you, you never really meant to hurt me… even with that harisen of yours."
A nervous half-hearted laugh slipped from Kaname and she looked up at him before wiping away the tears. "Thank you."
The train rolled to a stop in front of them. Neither of them moved their focus on each other instead of the train. After a moment the doors slid shut and the train began to roll.
We'll take the next one.
24 March 2000, 18:03 hrs.
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Chofu Airport
Wraith clambered off the small commuter jet she'd managed to grab for the trip from Okinawa and sighed as she walked along the tarmac toward the terminal. Chofu wasn't much of an airport, more akin to a public airfield for general aviation enthusiasts. That made it two things.
It was private, which as far as the spy was concerned was always a plus. Her life depended on her blending into a society without much fuss. Hell, Mithril used to have a private hangar here to keep up with all the comings and goings of a certain sergeant and his friends in operations.
It also made getting a ride a bit of a problem from here on, but then again she had a deadline to meet and she wasn't going to let a bit of traffic or a bit of trouble finding a taxi get in her way.
With a sigh Wraith wandered through the terminal to the city street outside and swung her fishing pole case over her shoulder.
That idiot uses a rifle case to store his fishing rod. I bet he never even thought to use a fishing rod case to store a rifle. The smug smile graced her face once again as a taxi pulled up and the door opened. Smiling slightly she swung the baggage into the backseat and sat down.
"Tiger Maison Apartments."
24 March 2000, 18:23 hrs.
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Outside Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kyoko balanced a set of bake-ware in her hands as she fumbled with the keys. Beside her Mizuki scowled as she glanced at the pig-tailed girl. "How did you get keys?"
"Who do you think has been keeping up the apartment while she was gone?" Kyoko laughed as the door opened and the group stumbled inside.
"I see…" Ren Mikihara observed as she followed Mizuki and Kyoko inside and glanced around the room. "It is quite impressive that she had an apartment to herself all these years."
"Uh-huh!" Kyoko stated as she sat a large tray onto the center table of room and glanced around the room. "I don't know when she got back though, maybe it was just today!"
"Oh come on, who would go back to school the day they got back from… wherever she ended up." Mizuki snickered. "She's probably been back awhile."
"I don't know, I would have thought she'd have called me then." Kyoko said absently as Shinji and Ono-D stumbled through the door carrying a set of drinks.
"Wow Tokiwa-san, you made all this so fast!" Shinji said as she set down a pitcher beside the cake on the table. "I hope they appreciate this."
"I wouldn't worry about Kaname, I'm sure she will. As for Sousuke… I did ask him to distract her for a while." Kyoko grinned and pushed the glasses up on her nose.
"Should we check the news for explosions then?" Mizuki said with a feral grin.
Ono-D laughed as he shut the door behind them. "I don't know Mizuki after Sagara kissed Chidori in front of everyone, maybe he has something else in mind."
Mizuki flushed bright red at the suggestion and lifted her nose into the air. "I still say he kisses like he was practicing CPR."
"It was rather romantic." Ren said quietly. "Atsunobu said he wished he could come but he's busy with the end of his college term."
"So Ren… have you and Hayashimizu-senpai started dating yet?" Kyoko asked as she pulled the digital camera from her pocket and lifted it to photograph the cake.
"Well… umm…" Ren flushed quite red and glanced at the floor. "We have been."
Shinji stepped up to the window and glanced out it at the Maison Tiger apartment complex opposite and sighed. "Wasn't Sousuke's apartment just over there? It looks like someone else moved in."
"He was gone for a full year, maybe he lost the lease." Kyoko said as she stood and walked over to the window beside Shinji. "It's not like his father was paying for it instead you know."
"Sagara did say something about being held on Okinawa till this morning." Ono-D scratched his head. "Where will he stay then?"
Kyoko snickered and glanced around the apartment. "I don't know…"