Author's Note: Those of you that caught the original Sword and Shield have a pretty good idea what to expect in the next few chapters though I'm sure the new bits greatly improve the story. The next four chapters (Aftershocks, Arrivals, Full House, and Set to Simmer) basically are most of the original version of the story reworked and revised to fit into the much larger text that the rewrite has produced. The heroes will finally get a breather in a bit till… Things Get Worse.
Sword and Shield
Chapter 13: Aftershocks
PTSD 1. n. Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder: Any condition that develops following some stressful situation or event; such as sleep disturbance, recurrent dreams, withdrawal or lack of concentration.
27 March 2000, 07:30 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Mansion K Apartments, Parking Lot
Sousuke paused as he saw the car sitting in front of the apartments. Ono-D stood beside it, his arms crossed over his chest. It was a Mitsubishi Lancer, probably about five years old. If only I could have found a car like that for that getaway in Italy. Sousuke shook his head finally feeling a bit better as he walked toward the car's passenger seat. At least in this car getting around fast won't be a problem. I guess Ono-D got it while I was gone or something.
"So what do you think?" Ono-D asked gesturing to the car.
Sousuke shrugged. "A good vehicle, if a bit flashy."
"That's half the point." Ono-D said looking smug. "So where too?"
"429 Kaigan Dori." Sousuke sighed. "Then I'll probably need to head to one of the civilian airports nearby. Haneda is out, too big. Maybe Chofu Airport, a Gulfstream G. IV doesn't need a lot of runway space."
"That's down by the docks… is this more of your super-secret military stuff?" Ono-D asked as he dropped into the driver's seat and buckled up.
Sousuke nodded after he strapped himself in. "You could say that. Our first stop is an old Mithril storehouse, apparently much of the gear I owned and kept in my apartment was transferred there."
"Okay, fine. Hopefully we can do this without you blowing something up." Ono-D said as he shifted the car into gear and took off. "Especially, blowing up my car."
"It's not a problem. If it comes to that, I'll replace it." Sousuke said.
Ono-D stopped and looked at his friend. "Sagara, just how much money do you have?"
"I have been unable to check on my accounts much since my return but unless my investments have completely been destroyed I should have more than sufficient funds to replace this vehicle with the current model." Sousuke shrugged. "It's not like I used much of my salary anyway."
"Right from the mercenary job." Ono-D rolled his eyes. "Okay, well it doesn't sound all that dangerous."
"It shouldn't be, or so I hope at least." Sousuke said.
27 March 2000, 07:35 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Tokiwa Residence
Kyoko sat on her bed and stared down at the phone clasped in her hand. She'd known Sousuke for what, two years now? In that time she'd seen him enraged, scared, and paranoid, but most of the time he had been a stoic and somber figure. A giggle slipped out of her mouth as she remembered how he'd nervously mixed up words when he'd figured out Kaname was on a date with Fuwa.
The conversation she'd just had with him however told a different story. It must have been terribly painful, he sounded so tormented and hurt. She felt her jaw clench somewhat as her hand wandered to the scars she carried from the botched rescue from Amalgam's clutches. She'd been in the hospital for weeks. Sousuke blames himself for that too. He shouldn't but he does. A long sigh slipped from her lips.
There's so much I don't know… and what little I do know is bad. Fighting as a guerilla soldier in Afghanistan as a child, traveling from one hot spot to another, working as a mercenary for Mithril, but who is he underneath all that? Kyoko slowly shook her head and stood heading for the door. There was one thing she was sure of though from the way he acted… He loves Kana-chan, and not just a little bit either… She stifled a laugh as she thought back to the early days the two of them had been classmates, the trouble he caused and the fury of Kaname's harisen. Then she sighed remembering how the bizarre adventures in high school had occasionally turned into nightmares. Hijacking, Seajacking, and then… Her hands ran down her side where the scars from her encounter with the assassin Karuma and her time as a hostage of Amalgam lay hidden.
It wasn't his fault. It wasn't Kana-chan's fault. If anyone is at fault its Amalgam. Kyoko shook her head and closed her eyes.
Sousuke had sounded so torn up inside, and what was it he meant about Kaname's soul… What did Kaname go through over the last year? He blames himself for that too, whatever happened. If he could blame himself for every trouble in the world he would do so. She tried to laugh at that thought, but the bitterness of what happened ground on her.
Maybe I don't want to know what happened to Kana-chan. She took a deep breath and turned the nob stepping out into the foyer and slipping on her shoes. But if talking about it will help…
I need reinforcements. She stopped at that thought and giggled to herself as she opened the door and stepped out. I must be spending too much time around Sousuke and Shinji…
Wait… Shinji! He is Sousuke's friend, maybe he could help draw him out later. Plus there's those pictures he has. I bet Kaname would like to see those. Smiling she pulled out her phone and skimmed through her contacts.
27 March 2000, 07:39 hrs
Chiyoda Ward, Central Tokyo, Japan
Yasukuni-dōri and Hakusan-dōri Crossing, Jinbōchō Neighborhood
Shinji Kazama stopped before one of the book stores alongside the street and pursed his lips as he skimmed through the selection of advertisements and sighed. Maybe the rumors online were wrong… a special issue being rushed out by AS Fan to cover Mithril? Heck, it's only been a few days… I don't think they could print it off and distribute it that…
He froze as an issue from Jane's Defense Weekly hung from a rack showing a strange looking Arm Slave on the cover. An arm slave he recognized from the fighting around Jindai. Adjusting his glasses he stepped inside the store and walked over to the magazine stand and pulled it from the rack. It was only then that he noticed the gold bordering around the magazine and SPECIAL ISSUE label on it in English. His eyes widened as he glanced at the short list of information displayed under the title.
Global Security . org discusses Mithril
Mithril – What little we know
The new TZy-100(i) reportedly shown in a recent military parade in Moscow
Rumors of the destruction of the 'Toy Box'
Nuclear Detonation in the South Pacific four weeks ago
Swallowing a lump in his throat he flipped it open and turned to the first page on Mithril.
As we went to press: The United States announced that it was taking military action against the mercenary organization known as Mithril. Fortunately many of our writers here at Jane's and our associates in the military watchdog group Global Security . org had been hard at work on an investigation of the rumored organization before the announcement and we were able to quickly pull together what information we had managed to gather. It should be noted that much of the information we've obtained has not been independently verified and may be obsolete by the time this magazine has arrived on the shelves.
Shinji swallowed again and closed the magazine. It wasn't what I was looking for, but it's definitely something. He glanced at the back cover for the price before heading for the register. As he placed the magazine on the table his phone rang. Blinking he pulled it from a jacket pocket and turned it over to see who was calling.
Kyoko? Shinji blinked in surprised then flipped it open, his heart rate fluttering as nervousness struck him. "Mushi mushi?"
"Shinji, are you busy?" Kyoko asked quickly.
"Not really, I was just getting a magazine. Is something up?" He asked, surprised that Kyoko hadn't fallen back on his last name. She's been doing that more and more often lately…
"Well I was going over to Kaname's for a little while, and I thought you might want to show her the photos you found." Kyoko answered.
"Oh, sure… is Sousuke there?" Kazama asked as he paid the cashier.
"No, he's out running an errand for Mithril. He actually called me to ask if I'd keep an eye on her while he was out." Kyoko's voice hitched. "He seemed really nervous about it."
What could that be about? Shinji asked himself as he took the receipt from the cashier and slid it into the magazine. "Okay…"
"So you'll come?" Kyoko asked.
Kazama felt a smile flash across his face. "Sure, it's not like I had anything planned for today. I'll be there in about thirty minutes or so." As he was about to turn he stopped as his eyes caught sight of another magazine, one that Kyoko had occasionally borrowed from him. A shrug slipped across his shoulders as he picked up a copy of Nippon Camera and walked back to the cashier.
27 March 2000, 07:45 hrs
Near the Kuril Islands, Russian Territorial Waters
865th Interceptor Aviation Regiment (IAP), 11th Air Army
Sergei Amir swallowed as he glanced down at his fuel gauge again. The MiG-31 was an interceptor and was built for speed, not long legs. At this point it was iffy that he'd be able to get back to base.
"Control, if I don't turn back now I'll be splashing down in the North Pacific, permission to break off pursuit? The Americans are heading this way as well. I've got twenty plus on radar."
There was a sigh on the other end of the line. "Permission granted."
"Thank God." His wingman said with a sigh as the two of them broke off their pursuit. "I hate swimming."
Glancing back at his fuel gauge he felt his throat tighten. "Control, request a vector to the nearest tanker."
"Vector three-three-zero, good luck."
27 March 2000, 07:47 hrs
Near the Kuril Islands, Russian Territorial Waters
Gulfstream Nineteen
Sarah let out a sigh of relief as the two contacts on the passive radar display that represented the two MiG-31s turned north. Just as she was beginning to relax, a dozen odd blips appeared on the screen to the south moving in her direction. Her throat tightened as a few more joined the display and she stared at the transponder.
"F-16s out of Misawa Airbase, American fighters." Al stated blandly. "It seems we're not out of the woods yet Sarah."
"Damn it!" She growled as she clasped her headset. "Headquarters the Russians just broke off pursuit but there's two full squadrons heading my way! What should I do?"
After a moment Tessa's voice answered. "Al, stay on course. F-16s don't have infrared sensors like those Russian craft. With luck they'll fly right by you."
"Roger."
Sarah scowled. I am not that lucky.
27 March 2000, 07:50 hrs
Near Hokkaido, Japanese Territorial Waters
14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", 35th Fighter Wing
Lieutenant Robert J. Sanders worked the fingers of his G-suit's gloves for a moment before pursing his lips in thought. What the hell are we doing anyway? He glanced to his front right, out the canopy of his F-16 toward the flight leader. Samurai Five through Eight were flying in the classic 'finger four' combat formation. They were high, higher than the normal cruising altitude for their craft.
Because a Gulfstream IV's cruising altitude was this one.
"Second flight, come to heading three-zero-zero."
"Acknowledged three-zero-zero." Robert said as he banked his craft still in formation. As he did so he flipped through the weapons systems one more time.
As the computer selected the AIM-9 Sidewinders that hung from his wings a buzz filled his ears. Blinking he stopped the turn. "Lead, possible infrared contact." Frowning he hit the rudder and listened to the buzz catching the growl growing as he passed three-two-zero degrees. As he centered on the direction it began to dip. Then it began to diminish after a moment. Fluttering the pedals again he found it now at three-one-zero degrees. "No visual, target is heading south west."
"Second section, you're free to pursue. Eagle Watch still has no contacts on this girl. Good luck."
27 March 2000, 07:53 hrs
Misawa Air Base, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Air Wing, Northern Air Defense Force
Lieutenant Colonel Tadashi Yoshida swallowed down a lump in his throat as he directed his Mitsubishi F-2A onto the main runway. Behind him the three other members of headquarters flight followed him through the turn and now all four planes were facing down the runway.
"First Flight to Tower, requesting permission to takeoff and vector to Samurai Squadron." Tadashi coughed at the name and shook his head. Leave it to the Americans to name their squadron like that, it's almost insulting.
"Permission granted, vector to Samurai squadron is zero-three-zero, distance four hundred, angels thirty."
"Acknowledged, rolling." With that he released the brakes and throttled up his plane sending it rocketing down the runway while the other three followed just behind in close formation. As the airspeed reached three-hundred kilometers per hour he pulled back on the stick and rose over the runway and glanced over his shoulder at the rest of his flight trailing him in perfect position in their blue planes. We practice with these guys all the time and even share facilities… this feels wrong, so wrong, but orders were orders.
27 March 2000, 07:59 hrs
Hyakuri Air Base, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 7th Air Wing, Central Air Defense Force
Lieutenant Colonel Satō Sakai swore under his breath as he ran across from the dispersal office with his helmet in hand. The F-15J that sat at the scramble pad bearing his name was hastily being loaded with missiles. 'White ones on the rails' as the Americans said. He swore again under his breath as he clambered up the ladder and dropped into the cockpit followed by the crew chief of the ordnance team.
"What the hell is going Lieutenant Colonel Sat ō?" He asked as he watched the experienced pilot strap into the restraints without so much as a second glance. "We had to dig out live ordnance for this, last time we did that there was fighting in Tokyo!"
"Chief, you don't want to know." Sakai answered as he started pre-flight checks. "You really do not want to know."
Damn Americans! He thought to himself as he flipped through the switches one after another. This is just insane, completely and totally insane.
"Sir?" The crew chief asked watching the pilot work. "We're done loading, but what is going on?"
"I'll tell you when I get back!" He growled as he activated the radio system. "Tower, request vector to 'Eagle Watch'."
The crew chief scrambled down the ladder and hurried to pull it clear as the engines caught. A dull setting of dread began to creep through him as he watched the canopy descend over the cockpit and the plane began to roll.
In the cockpit Sakai licked his lips nervously. Intercept the AWACS Eagle Watch and force it to land… What the hell does command want us to do this for?
27 March 2000, 08:01 hrs
Over Mount Chubetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", 35th Fighter Wing
"Samurai Seven to Eagle Watch, this contact is steady on bearing two-two-zero, angels thirty. I haven't been able to contact them. Orders?" As he spoke he flicked the weapon selection system to AIM-9 Sidewinders to reconfirm the bandit and hit the master arm switch.
"Samurai Seven, this is Eagle Watch. You are weapons free."
"Understood, engaging." He took a deep breath as he listened to the missile's tone. He couldn't be sure of a lock, hell he couldn't be sure of much of anything but orders were orders. If this was that Gulfstream G. IV it was going down.
"Samurai Seven, fox two!" He said as his finger tightened on the trigger.
The AIM-9M rocketed off the rail and headed toward the target in the jerky spasmodic motion that gave it the name sidewinder leaving behind a snaking contrail. Ahead a plume of smoke suddenly billowed out of thin air as a volley of flares appeared in the familiar pattern shape that had given the defenses its name.
"Angel wings! Be advised the target has countermeasures!" The missile veered into one of the flares and exploded. Scowling Robert heard the buzz of the contact begin to fade and he slid the nose left and right trying to reacquire. When that hadn't worked he started to circle. "Shit, contact lost. Eight have you got anything?"
27 March 2000, 08:02 hrs
Over Mount Chubetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Gulfstream Nineteen
Sarah was screaming as the lush green mountain rushed up to greet her, then suddenly slammed back into her seat as the plane leveled out, blowing tree tops in its wake from the crash dive that Al had just performed. She tried to catch her breath. "Al?"
"I have now made an annotation to my audio logs. I now know what the phrase 'scream like a little girl' means. The two F-16s are circling. I am unsure how they detected us but the use of Sidewinders in the attack may be a clue as to that."
"Damn it, you think they're using them as improvised sensors?" She shook her head and took a deep breath. "We lost them for a moment though since they're circling… Bring us back on course to Haneda."
27 March 2000, 08:03 hrs
Over Mount Chubetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", 35th Fighter Wing
Robert scowled as he glared out the canopy down at the lush green mountains below. If it'd been a month earlier there would have been a thick layer of snow on the ground instead and the greater thermal difference might have made reacquiring their target easier. "Samurai Eight to Samurai Seven, I think I got them, same bearing but much lower altitude."
Robert sighed. "Alright, let's match their altitude, beginning descent. Ready for another go?"
"Samurai Seven and Eight be advised, JASDF has sortied from Misawa, we have aircraft on approach to our position as well." The voice of the AWACs controller sounded pained. "Stay with her."
"Understood. Maybe we should have asked for a FLIR camera for this operational load out." He growled as he rolled the F-16 onto its back and began a split S down toward the mountainous terrain below.
26 March 2000, 18:05 hrs
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
White House Situation Room
Madeleine Albright sat in the back of the room, her fingers rapping against the desk before her. On the display the feeds from the AWACS were up and the dozens of JSDF contacts on radar told everyone in the room that something was wrong, very wrong.
I should have advised against this action, the Japanese Government knows we're doing something and their reacting. The question is just how much they know.
Then one of the communications officers for the white house switchboard turned in her seat, eyes wide as she looked toward the president. "Sir, we're getting a call from the Japanese Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi."
Madeleine Albright swallowed as the President walked over and picked up the phone, picking up her own from the desk she switched to the diplomatic line and listened.
"Mister Obuchi?"
"Mister President, what the hell are you thinking?" Madeleine Albright winced at the flash of invective from the man across the ocean. It was unheard of for heads of state to speak to each other in that manner, and doubly so when their opposite was a man from a culture like the Japanese. In her mind she knew that they knew about the Gulfstream and had either guessed or been informed about the intentions of the squadrons of fighters launched from Misawa.
Glancing up she saw Bill Clinton blink furiously, clearly stunned. "I… I'm sorry but what are you referring to?"
"I'm talking about the two squadrons of F-16s you've got hunting down that Mithril jet and their orders to shoot it down if it doesn't divert to your airfield! So you can take her into your custody. That is a flagrant violation of both international law and our national sovereignty! Do you think we'd just stand by and let you do as you pleased over our home?"
The man is going to have a stroke. Madeleine Albright thought as she remembered the aging senior that the Japanese Parliament had installed. That or a heart attack, he's damn pissed!
Sweat was running down the brow of the American president as he glanced up at the radar display, his gaze focusing on two of the F-16s. "Mister Prime Minister I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't give me that! The Defense Agency has scrambled our aircraft to ensure you don't do anything illegal, they will be escorted back to base and their pilots debriefed by our personnel to ensure that we know the truth of this incident. If they attempt to continue their mission we will use force to ensure they fail. Then we will see about renegotiating the American occupation of our territories."
The line went dead and the President stared at the phone. "Hell. Madeleine?"
"He's damn pissed." She said.
"I understood that. How should we respond?"
The Secretary of State took a deep breath. "That depends on just how much you think bringing in or bringing down this one plane is worth."
27 March 2000, 08:07 hrs
Near Mount Tomuraushi, Hokkaido, Japan
14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", 35th Fighter Wing
Robert swore in his cockpit, quite certain that his plane had ingested bits of pine needles as it rocketed just over the tree tops. In his ears he could hear the growl of the Sidewinder missiles. "Jesus we're close but the damn ECS means I have no idea how close!"
A ridgeline rose ahead and he pulled up and rolled the F-16 onto its back, a classic maneuver to ensure that he had a good view of the terrain once he cleared the ridge. Behind him Samurai Eight's F-16 matched the maneuver and the two of them roared over the ridge.
"Eight, I have tone!" His wingman called out as they pulled back to tree top level and righted the aircraft.
"Then shoot!" Robert called out.
"Fox two!" His wingman yelled and a missile rocketed off the rails of his fighter. Ahead a burst of flares lit up the morning sky distracting the missile and sending it hurtling down into trees where it exploded. "Fuck! Missile went stupid! I've still got tone at least."
Robert nodded. "That's the only one you've got left right?"
"Roger."
"Okay, go for it."
"Fox two!"
27 March 2000, 08:08 hrs
Near Mount Tomuraushi, Hokkaido, Japan
Gulfstream Nineteen
Sarah was really beginning to hate the sound of a missile launch warning. She wasn't sure how long it took a sidewinder to reach them but she was sure it was fast, and her heart sunk as Al's voice crackled to life.
"We are out of countermeasures." It stated plainly.
Oh my God… I'm going to die. She thought as the plane throttled up and dove toward a ridge line. Glancing at the displays she saw the missile closing fast from the six o'clock position. Suddenly the plane rolled onto its back and dove over the ridge as low as it could get. The missile followed by the proximity fuse in its warhead detected the trees it was passing by mere meters and the weapon activated, exploding in the middle of the air and sending fragments ripping through the trees.
She felt tears run down her cheeks as the plane righted itself. "Al?"
"I am afraid to mention that if these planes have a standard compliment, they have one more missile to use."
"Oh God…"
27 March 2000, 08:09 hrs
Near Mount Tomuraushi, Hokkaido, Japan
14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais", 35th Fighter Wing
"Son of a bitch, whoever is flying that thing must be mad. I thought for sure I hit it." Eight's voice filled the radio as Robert swallowed down a lump in his throat.
"They have to be out of countermeasures, no flares. Damn it, this terrain though… it's terrible for this. We've just got one missile left." He took his finger off the trigger and sighed. "Let's save it for when we've got a clear shot, their approach to land would be perfect."
"Now that's thinking." Eight agreed.
27 March 2000, 08:10 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname blinked her eyes awake and let out a long sigh. Slowly she rolled in bed and froze as she noticed the plush toy Bonta-kun in her arms. Where is Sousuke? Instantly she straightened bolt upright her lethargy forgotten and fear ran through her. "Sousuke?" She slipped out of bed and headed for the door, panic beginning to grip her. Not again, damn it Sousuke! Where are you? Pulling the door open she yelled. "Sousuke!"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked around the living area and saw his rucksack beside her couch. Her knees felt weak and she could hardly stand. No! No, no, no! He wouldn't just leave without that rucksack. She slumped to the floor and wept, as the rational part of her mind yelled and screamed to snap her out of it. Kaname, you're not this weak! He went out to get groceries or something, he'll be back.
But we just got groceries yesterday…
Rational thought could not overcome the instinctive terror that came from his disappearance. She remembered the first time he'd gone like that without warning and the cost that came as a result. How she'd met Wraith mere seconds before an assassin came for her life. How Leonard Testarossa had walked into her life and stolen her first kiss. Then she remembered what he had done after she left with him to save her friends a year ago, and screamed.
There were levels of violation, stealing her first kiss now sat quite low on her chart. He hadn't raped her or tortured her. In retrospect she almost wished he had, it wasn't as bad as what he had done. No, what he had done had deserved divine punishment.
Stealing her first kiss had been bad, but when it came to Leonard Testarossa it was the tip of the iceberg. He'd used that ordeal as a wedge, driving it between her and Sousuke when he sat in her living room and calmly said he'd be taking her away. Sousuke had attacked him then, but that damn cloak of his had stopped the attacks cold.
Then he led the attack on Tokyo, given his approval to the plan of using the Jindai Students as hostages, and then… he'd beaten Sousuke in Arm Slave combat with his Belial. I surrendered to him then, to save everyone… Sousuke was about to be killed and all my friends. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was the right thing to do, the only thing I could do…
He used her, manipulated her… and in some twisted fashion thought he loved her. She'd been given work assisting with Amalgam black technology, helicopter designs and so forth… but it wasn't stuff of any real importance to them, they were trying to draw him out and get her to join them willingly.
Then Sousuke tried to save me in Mexico… Damn you Leonard, I wish you had died that night! She winced at the memory of the pistol and the blood on her hands.
Even that wasn't the worse… there were two incidents that were far worse in her mind. She remembered Leonard's reaction when she first cornered him on sending Kurama out to kill Sousuke, how he had resonated with her showing him the event that had made him the way he was. Was that a plea for help? Damn him, why? Why did he want me to know that? But even that wasn't the worse he'd done.
Yamsk Eleven… the birthplace of the whispered, the psytechnic device that had created them, and the tomb where the one call Sophia lay hidden. That bitch, she'd been so secure that she was right, that she could make the world how she wanted it… Leonard had given her over to Sophia, who had proceeded to violate her mind and very soul by… by possessing her! I thought I had killed Sousuke and Tessa when they came to save me… she was in control and the illusion she constructed… A cold chill ran over her shoulders at the memory and she cried again. "Oh Sousuke, where are you? I need you right now."
Swallowing down a lump that had risen in her throat she remembered her phone and ran back to the bedroom, grabbed it off the nightstand and flipped it open. Scowling she selected Sousuke's number and…
A keening sound echoed from the living room. Her eyes widening she walked out and stared at the brand new cell phone sitting on the end table beside the couch as it rang. "Sousuke?" She whimpered and then closed her eyes. Was he taken? Abducted? The fear that welled up inside her compelled her into action. She shut the phone and grabbed the Glock 26 off the table and the baseball bat that was in the closet. "You're not taking me that easy…" She growled.
You're jumping to conclusions Kaname! Surely Sousuke would have put up a struggle if they abducted him… and if they got him, why just leave when she was here unprotected? It doesn't make sense!
Her heart was hammering in her chest as she tightened her grip on the baseball bat, the logical arguments of her mind failing to override the panic once again. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. Where is he? Why would he leave me alone? Damn it! She blinked at the tears and crouched beside the closet, her finger nervously switching the safety on the Glock pistol off and back on. Sousuke… where are you?
27 April 2000, 08:13 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 509, Lions Mansion Apartments
The CIA agent pulled off his headphones and set them on the table before him, a feeling of disgust rising up in his stomach. He closed his eyes, he'd heard a lot of thing in his time, but this was the first time he felt like he was in the wrong. It was one thing to listen in on corporate execs finding out about their affairs, sneaking technology out of a nation to keep the balance of power.
What he had just heard made his heart bleed, it wasn't often that a spy felt empathy for a target, let alone a source of information, but he'd just listened to a young woman have what sounded like a panic attack.
Fuck, I'm starting to really hate this job.
27 April 2000, 08:15 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Tamagawa Station (approximately 2 km to Mansion K Apartments)
Shinji stepped out of the train and adjusted the carrying strap for his laptop case and portfolio. As he did he glanced at the magazine in his hands and swallowed, thoughts focusing on what was written on the page.
Mithril – What little we know
With the sudden announcement by America and the deployment of their forces to attack the organization much of the world is asking one simple question. What is Mithril?
Mithril is a mercenary organization believed to be related in some way with the Argyos Security Firm of Australia that's headquarters was destroyed in a vicious attack in 1998. Imagery from the site showed a unique crest featuring a winged sword and shield over a globe with the name MITHRIL in white lettering at the bottom of the crest.
Argyos Security is the single largest security company on the globe and when it last released a complete set of records on its payroll and operations showed a staff of nearly a quarter million personnel scattered across dozens of locations worldwide. If such personnel were military in nature the army they could field would be roughly equivalent to the effective strength of many nations which have built their armies around the doctrine of self-defense such as Japan.
Accounting billing statements suggest that Argyos had close contacts with a large number of companies worldwide. Records from 1998 included significant spending in the form of purchases being made to Boeing, British Aerospace Dynamics, General Dynamics, Geotron Electronics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering. Just how significant? Records indicate purchase orders with a value of over thirty billion dollars. A complete record of these orders as well as the previous five years of operations was obtained while Jane's investigated the attack on their Sydney Headquarters. Some of the individual line items are noted as being clearly obvious code names while others…
Shinji nearly dropped his laptop case as he collided with one of the passengers exiting the station and stopped short as he recognized the surprised squeak of the voice. Looking up he blinked in surprise as Kyoko picked up her purse from where she'd dropped it.
"Sorry…"
"It's okay Shinji. I can tell you're really into reading what you've got." Kyoko giggled lightly as she slung her purse over her shoulder. "What is it anyway?"
"I saw this newest issue of Jane's Defense Weekly and saw that it had some articles on Mithril in it." He said quickly. "Though so far it's just budget stuff about what they think the front company was."
"Why don't you just ask Sousuke if you really want to know?" Kyoko asked quickly.
Shinji pushed his glasses up his nose and shook his head. "I don't think he could tell me much, he's probably got a non-disclosure agreement on that." He sighed. "You said he was running an errand for Mithril?"
"Yeah, he said he had to get some equipment from a storehouse and meet his friends from Alaska at the airport." Kyoko said.
"His friends from Alaska?" Shinji gapped. "Did you see the news this morning?"
"Uh… no." Kyoko shrugged. "Was there something in it about his friends?"
"Someone broke out of American custody and got ahold of some experimental arm slave, stole a plane, and then blew up the base with AS's self-destruct mechanism. There was a CNN crew there and got most of the fight on camera, it was just unbelievable." Shinji glanced at her. "You don't think that was his friend?"
Kyoko laughed. "It's Sousuke, if they're his friends I wouldn't doubt it!"
27 April 2000, 08:20 hrs
Central Tokyo, Japan
429 Kaigan Dori, Mithril Warehouse
Ono-D glanced around the inside of the warehouse and stopped cold as he found himself facing a Bonta-kun with a combat vest and helmet. "Sousuke?"
His friend didn't even blink, walking past the suit to a set of boxes. Pulling one open he nodded. "Here we go satellite radio." He picked it up and headed back toward the car as Ono-D glanced around the crates of equipment and gear. When he turned back toward his car Ono-D found that Sousuke had opened the box, magnetized a small satellite dish to the top of his car, and plugged the radio into the cigarette lighter. With that done he flicked it on and lifted a headset to his ear. "Uruzu Seven to Gulfstream Nineteen, do you read?"
27 March 2000, 08:23 hrs
Southern Hokkaido, Japan
Gulfstream Nineteen
Sarah smiled as the radio crackled to life with a familiar voice. "Sagara? Oh thank God. I'm about forty-five minutes out from Tokyo now. There is a pair of F-16s chasing me. I don't know how but they get on my trail every couple minutes."
"I suggest you make for Chofu Airport, it's smaller and has better general aviation facilities then Haneda. You said there are F-16s chasing you."
"Affirmative." Al stated blandly. "I speculate they're using the heat signatures of our engines to track us using their AIM-9 Sidewinders as improvised sensors. I'm afraid we got a bit too close to them and they picked it up by accident."
"Alright, stay alive partner." Sousuke's voice echoed in the cockpit.
"So apparently I am a living being." Al stated in English.
There was a sharp laugh across the radio. "Uruz Seven out."
27 April 2000, 08:25 hrs
Central Tokyo, Japan
429 Kaigan Dori, Mithril Warehouse
Ono-D followed the conversation as best he could with his high school English and shrugged as Sagara set the headset down on the radio and scowled. "So we head to the airport then?"
"Not yet, she's being chased by American fighters." He headed back to the warehouse and walked to a shelf loaded with plastic military cases. Finally he pulled one from the shelf and nodded to himself and headed back to the car.
Ono-D stared as Sousuke loaded the plastic container marked with English letterings into the back of his car. "Uh Sousuke? What is an FIM-92 Stinger?"
"A missile." Sousuke said as he closed the hatch and glanced at his friend. "An anti-aircraft missile."
"Shit Sagara, if we get pulled over…"
"I have a permit." Sousuke stated simply. "I just hope I don't have to use it."
Ono-D glanced around nervously. I wonder which he means, the permit or the missile.
"Also, your keys?" Sousuke asked as he shut the door and turned to Ono-D who stood there staring blankly at his friend. "You don't have the experience with evasive driving I do."
"Right, I'll get in the passenger's side then." He muttered as he handed over his keys. After he buckled up Sousuke sat down and pulled his headset on again, flipping on the radio with one hand.
"You ready Ono-D?"
Wait, he said evasive drivi— Ono-D grabbed hold of the arm rest as the wheels spun and Sousuke hurled the car back toward Chofu. Son of a bitch!
"I'll get you some new tires after this."
27 March 2000, 08:29 hrs
East of Hokkaido, Japanese Territorial Waters
305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 7th Air Wing, Central Air Defense Force
Lieutenant Colonel Satō Sakai slowly flexed his gloves as his F-15J rose high above the clouds. He glanced down at the passive radar array and nodded. "There's the AWACS." Taking a deep breath he flipped a number of switches on the radio controls and switched frequencies.
"Attention Eagle Watch, this is Lieutenant Colonel Satō Sakai of the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Your actions have been found to be a violation of international law and the sovereignty of our nation. You are hereby ordered to cease all radar operations and mission control. We will then escort you back to base. Do you understand?"
There was a long pause as the pilot glanced down at his weapon system display. Then the curt voice of the American pilot answered. "Understood, we are ceasing military operations and changing heading to base."
Sakai let out a sigh of relief. At least they're not completely crazy.
27 March 2000, 08:37 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Hallway Outside of Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kyoko sighed as she stepped out of the elevator on the fourth floor of the building followed by Shinji, who was looking through the magazine. He'd managed to chat an read at the same time on the walk over.
"So, is there anything really interesting in there or is it just budget stuff." Kyoko said as she rolled her eyes.
Shinji stopped and blinked. "Well, not really… I finally got a name to go with the model of Arm Slave that those Amalgam guys were using, apparently the Russians just showed it off at one of their military parades. It's a Testarossa – Zostoya model 100(m)."
"Testarossa? Like Teletha Testarossa?" Kyoko asked as the name rang a bell in her head.
Shinji's eyes widened. "Tessa? But… she's with Mithril! That doesn't make any sense."
Kyoko nodded slowly. To think Tessa would be involved with them? It was just ludicrous, completely and totally mad. Then again she did pretend to be a terrorist on the Pacific Christmas. "I don't know Shinji, maybe you can ask Sousuke or Kaname about it."
She stopped before the door to Kaname's apartment and sighed. "I wonder if she's still asleep." The rapped her knuckles on the door.
27 March 2000, 08:38 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname heard muted conversation from the hallway outside and tightened her grip on the pistol and baseball bat. Taking a deep breath she forced away the panic rising in her gut. It's probably just the neighbors, or maybe Sousuke is coming home talking to someone.
She jumped at the rap on the door and swallowed down a lump in her throat. Kaname scrambled to her feet and slunk to the door much like how Sousuke would have approached it. Slowly she leaned to the peep hole and glanced through.
The bat dropped to the floor with a thump and she let out a sigh in relief. Kyoko and Shinji were talking just outside the door and a relieved smile slipped across her face as she worked the locks then pulled the door open.
"I don't know… it's probably just some guy with the same last name. Testarossa does sound Russian doesn't it?" Kazama said just as the door opened.
Fear shot through her body and she couldn't stem the rage of anger that lanced through her body. She raised her hand still holding the Glock 26 and pointed it at Kazama as the door swung open. "Kazama! Don't say that name!"
Kyoko recoiled, clutching her purse to her chest as Shinji jumped and began to shudder as he stared down the barrel of one of Sousuke's side-arms. After a moment the boy's gaze shifted to Kaname's face and he shaking intensified at her expression.
"Kaname?" Kyoko said, her voice almost cracking.
"I don't want to hear about him. Do you understand Kazama?"
"Yes!" Shinji said quivering with fear.
Slowly she lowered the pistol and let out a breath then slumped against the door, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Kyoko… I…"
"Kaname, are you okay?" Kyoko asked as Kaname pursed her lips and glanced both directions down the hallway.
"Fine, fine, it's nothing." Kaname said before closing her eyes and letting out a long breath.
"Where's Sagara?" Shinji asked leaning to peer over Kaname's shoulder.
There was a clatter of metal against wood as Kaname dropped the glock and began to tear up. "I don't know! When I got up this morning he was gone." She sobbed and leaned against the doorway.
"Kaname, would you let us in? I could make you tea or something, maybe it'll make you feel a little better." Kyoko said as Shinji glanced at her.
"Kyoko? Haven't you heard from Sagara today?" Shinji asked.
Kaname didn't hear as she glumly nodded and took a step back from the door to allow them entrance and shuddered. "Make yourself at home." As the two stepped into the living area she shut the door and barred it. What's this pain in my chest? Hold it together Kaname. She closed her eyes and drew a shaky breath before slumping against the door with the baseball bat in her hands. It felt hard to breath.
Kyoko walked into the room and knelt beside Kaname. "Kana-chan?" She stared at her still in the pajamas and felt her heart wilt a bit. No one had noticed the day before in part because she'd worn her uniform, but now in these clothes Kyoko could see that she was thinner, almost emaciated. Her eyes had a tired expression and stared out into the distance. She took a deep breath. "Sousuke is fine Kana-chan. He's with Ono-D, something about he needed an emergency ride for something."
Kaname squeezed her eyes shut. Okay, okay. That's where he is. He's safe and will be back soon. It still felt as though a heavy weight was pressing down on her chest.
Kyoko tried to smile but couldn't. "Kaname, Sousuke already unloaded on me today. If you need to talk."
She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut harder and took a deep breath to stave off hyperventilating. "No… I just wish he was here."
Kyoko pulled out her phone and thumbed the speaker function as she glanced at Shinji. "Could you order something to eat, can't cheer her up without food you know."
Shinji smiled slightly and nodded pulling out his own cell-phone as he walked to the couch.
"Will talking with him make you feel better?" Kyoko asked.
"Yes, maybe, I hope so…" Tears were welling up in her eyes again and she glanced up at her friend. "Thank you… Ky"
Kyoko nodded as she selected Ono-D's number. Then she set it on the table beside the couch where Shinji sat. As it rang she walked over to Kaname and pulled her upright and guided her to the couch. She didn't resist but walked with a slump and sat down.
"Hello?" Ono-D's voice echoed in the small room.
"Can you put Sousuke on?" Kyoko asked loudly trying to be sure she was heard over the engine roar.
"He's driving!" Ono-D said with a yell.
"Speaker phone then." Kyoko said as if it was the most obvious thing imaginable.
"Oh, right." After a moment Shinji, Kyoko, and Kaname winced as the roar of an engine echoed in the apartment.
"Kyoko?" A familiar voice asked. Sitting beside Kaname, Kyoko smiled as she felt her friend straighten.
"Sousuke! Where the hell are you?" Kaname nearly screamed at the phone.
27 March 2000, 08:43 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Chuo Expressway
Despite the thrum of the engine, the need to focus on his driving, the presence of the headset over his ears connected to the radio, and the weakness of a cell-phone's speaker even when cranked to max. He winced at her voice noting both anger and an edge of panic hidden behind it. I should have woken her up, maybe brought her with… damn it. He swerved around a slow Nissan and took a deep breath. "I'm on the Chuo Expressway heading for Chofu Airport."
"What are you doing there?" Kaname's voice answered back.
Oh screw it, I'm not in Mithril at the moment and those contract papers haven't arrived yet. He scowled. "I'm picking up a whispered. She's on the run from the Americans and is going to arrive in maybe fifteen minutes."
"Who? Tessa?"
"Negative. Tessa is in Australia right now. It's Sarah, from what Tessa told me what she did might be on the news…" Sousuke scowled as he wove between a pair of slower vehicles. "What's with you calling when I'm driving?"
There was a thump and in his mind's eye Sousuke could see Kaname's head face down on the table. "Is anyone shooting at you?"
"Not this time." Sousuke said now unable to hold back the smile on his face. "I'm sorry I didn't wake you before you left, but I didn't want to wake you, especially when I heard you whispering."
A soft sigh answered him on the phone. "Couldn't you have left a note or remembered to take your cell phone?"
"I… I was a bit flustered when I left. You know I don't want to leave you alone with the current situation." Sousuke answered. "Who all is there?"
"Uh, just Kyoko and Shinji, I think he's ordering breakfast or something." Kaname's voice betrayed nervousness. "I… I was so scared when you weren't there. I thought you'd been abducted or… recalled."
A scowl flashed across his face. "If anyone tries to recall me they'll get a resignation letter Kaname. I will not leave you again, not after all that happened. Hell, me fighting to rescue was unauthorized by Mithril, they… they wanted to write you off."
"WHAT!" Kaname yelled. "Oh, when I see Tessa…"
"I believe Tessa said something similar to high command, our attack on Merida Island wasn't exactly authorized either." Sousuke sighed. "It'd be better to yell at General Amitt or Admiral Borda if you ever get a chance to meet them."
"Sousuke… I picked up a copy Jane's Defense Weekly and there was an image of one of the Arm Slaves from the attack on the school. They labeled it a Testarossa Zost–"
Shinji's voice was cut off by Kaname. "I told you! Don't talk about him!"
Sousuke winced as he heard the vitriol pouring from her voice. "Kaname, please…"
"That bastard was behind it all, if he wasn't dead already I'd kill him!" Kaname yelled.
"Him?" Kyoko asked.
"Leonard Testarossa, Tessa's evil twin." Sousuke said quietly. "The man who led the attack on Jindai High."
Kyoko and Shinji gasped and he could hear the sound of a magazine hitting the floor. At a guess he figured it had been dropped by Shinji. Ono-D stared at him, his eyes wide. "He was the one that beat you?"
"Yes." Sousuke said. "His custom arm slave was superior to my unit… it seems that he encountered Kaname before that… Though I get the feeling he lied a bit about what occurred."
27 March 2000, 08:48 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname froze on her couch. Sousuke knows about that? He… She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and squeezed her eyes shut. I… I never told him about it, how did he… Does he think I'm soiled or what by that bastard?
"What did Leonard tell you?" She whimpered quietly.
Kyoko stared at her, her eyes wide behind the glasses. Sousuke had told them that all the incidents the class had suffered, the hijacking, the seajacking, had been abduction attempts to capture Kaname. They had known there was more to those stories then what they knew and that the strong willed girl had likely played her own part, but this was different somehow.
Kyoko leaned toward the phone realizing from the silence that either Sousuke hadn't heard her or wasn't sure what to say. "Sousuke, what happened?"
"Do you remember when I left school for a long while and Chidori disappeared after a while and we both showed up back on the same day?"
Kyoko frowned and thought back. She froze in her tracks as she remembered. Kaname stiffened then spun. She looked behind her for a long moment then pulled her phone from her pocket. Her hands trembled as she paged through her contacts and called one. I heard the phone call fail to go through 'the phone number you have dialed is…' Kaname's phone clapped shut and she turned to me, her eyes wide and terrified. "I have to go." She ran from her and disappeared from sight. Kyoko took a deep breath. "I remember."
"I was recalled. I wasn't supposed to meet her again. All contact was denied." His voice was hard and cold. Angry Sousuke, Kyoko thought to herself, angry at who though? "There was… an assassination attempt while I was gone. Kaname managed to stun the assassin, but…" His voice hardened even further. "Then he showed up."
Sousuke spoke with a voice loaded with pure vitriol. "Leonard had some miniaturized arm slaves with him just like those that were on the Pacific Christmas, they… executed the assassin." Kyoko gasped, she hadn't heard any of this. "He was the one behind the school attack last year and everything that kept us separated since then. There are… things that he did which are inexcusable."
"He's gone right?" Kyoko asked.
"He's dead." Kaname breathed quietly, as if she couldn't quite believe her own words.
Kyoko let out a long sigh of relief. "I see."
"Kaname tracked me down and I managed to renegotiate my employment contract so they couldn't do it again, but I think she was always afraid I'd leave her again like that." Sousuke audibly sighed through the phone. "I should have woken Kaname up, brought her along. I'm sorry Kaname. I just wanted you to get some sleep."
"Sousuke… he, he left out one part." Kaname said quietly as he hands whipped across her lips again.
"I figured he did, I had a gun on him at the time but I thought there was something he wasn't telling me, probably because I'd pull the trigger." Sousuke sighed.
"After he executed that Chinese girl, the assassin… he forcibly kissed me."
27 March 2000, 08:51 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Chuo Expressway
Sousuke froze behind the wheel, his blood boiling with murderous rage at that point. Before he could stop himself he yelled. "That twisted son of a bitch!" Tears streamed down his cheeks as Ono-D glanced at him in shock.
"Sousuke?" Kaname's voice was barely a whisper.
He choked on his words. "Yes?"
"Do I… do I disgust you?"
"Kana-chan!" Kyoko yelled, her voice rising in disbelief.
"Why… why would I think that? I love you Kaname!" Sousuke answered stunned.
"I'm just being stupid I guess." Kaname muttered quietly. He could hear her sobs despite the rumble of the motor and felt as though a knife had been twisted in his gut. That damned man, what else did he do to her?
"Kaname… is there anything else he did to you?" He asked.
Her voice shuddered. "Well… after he took me away…"
"Kana-chan, you… you don't need to tell us if you don't want to." Kyoko said quickly.
"No… he, he should know." Kaname said.
His gut twisted at those words. What else could she have gone through? Was she tortured? Please don't say she was raped… He rubbed his eyes to clear away some tears. What did that sick man do to her? He felt tears run down his cheeks at a rate he had not felt since his youth in the KGB training camp. I'm glad he's dead, I just wish I had killed him instead of Kalinin.
"He… he resonated with me."
Sousuke's knuckles turned white as his grip on the steering wheel hardened. A lump rose in his throat as he blinked. He… he what?
"Resonated? What's that?" Kyoko asked.
Kaname sniffed. "A… a whispered can create a telepathic link with another whispered and share thoughts and memories. He showed me… his mother offering him up to a group of kidnappers in exchange for Tessa's life. I… I actually felt sorry for him…"
I've done terrible things myself, but to do that, to make someone witness the horrors I suffered. That's just wrong, so very wrong. He closed his eyes for a moment before focusing back on the road. She's so compassionate, was he trying to use that against her? "Kaname… I, I don't blame you, you're a compassionate person. It was natural for you to feel that way."
"I… I hate him." Kaname bit out. "How… how do I tell my friends what happened after that first time you saved. How do I explain 'her'."
"Sophia." Sousuke muttered. That was a reference he instantly knew of, and one that stirred a great deal of emotions in his soul. Leonard brought her to Yamsk Eleven and had her resonate with her, at least that's the understanding I got from Tessa. He made her into a puppet for that… demon? It's the only word I can think of that truly fits.
27 March 2000, 08:56 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname's hands shook as she held tight to the tea Kyoko had made. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "After everything else I suppose this won't sound crazy… not really."
Kyoko stared at her as Shinji's gaze flicked between the two friends and the phone. Slowly Kaname closed her eyes and wiped away the tears that ran down her cheeks.
"There was a secret city in Russia. You know they have closed cities there that aren't supposed to exist. This one was called Yamsk Eleven, it was created for the construction of psytechnic device to peer into the future. I don't really know how or why they did it, but among them was a test subject to receive the information. Her name was Sophia." Kaname set the cup of tea on the table before the couch as her shakes grew worse.
I wonder why she is silent now… I hope she's gone, gone forever. She took a deep breath. "On December 24th 1981 they had an accident. A wave of strange particles swept out from the device all across the globe. Those born within three minutes of the accident are the whispered. Everyone at the site died, going mad and attacking each other. Sophia… I don't know how but her mind survived in that machine… when Leonard had me resonate with her she… she showed me an illusion. Sousuke and Tessa had come to rescue me and… Sophia." She put her head in her hands and sobbed. "I…"
Kyoko slowly wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Since Sousuke isn't here." She whispered.
"I shot them." Kaname let out. "In the vision she gave me… I picked up a gun and shot them dead, like they were nothing and I believed it. She took over, and she… she… she possessed me, Kaname Chidori!"
"I knew it wasn't you, not really…" Sousuke muttered quietly.
Kyoko rubbed her back as Kaname remembered when Sousuke had launched his final rescue attempt. Some of it was a blur of images from Sophia's illusions or when she had taken full control. But one thing did stand out…
The radio crackled and she stared at it, certain that the voice was a lie. Sousuke was dead, she'd killed him… shot him in the forehead and yet.
"...I'm serious, Kaname. I'm disappointed in you. I always thought you were a better person... no, that's not true, either. In fact, there were plenty of things that irritated me. You always hit people over the head, couldn't take an argument calmly; it often felt like you were preying on me, or trying to control me, and I got angry. You lived in your peaceful Japan, not knowing any real trouble, and didn't have the slightest bit of concern about me. Thinking about it now, that's just not fair. You were a cruel, cruel person... but that's not the most important thing. I just remembered it, and thought I'd tell it to you now, while I have the chance... so what I wanted to say is, does it look like you're the person I could throw away everything to save? In truth, I'm still thinking about it. I've been chasing you for a year, and was frustrated many, many times. In Mexico and in Yamsk-11, I was this close, but it all failed because you were slow. Think of yourself as a princess, eh? You really didn't want to do it? You thought that it was all right either way? Don't tell me you're crying now, hearing me say this? Or did the stupid girl expect comforting words from some stupid boy?"
Kaname wiped her face with her sleeve and stared at the phone, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Sousuke, the things you said to me… on Merida Island. Did you mean them?"
27 March 2000, 09:00 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Chuo Expressway
Sousuke nearly collided with the truck he'd been working to pass as he heard her voice and felt his heart all but stop. That… oh God she can't believe I meant that! He grit his teeth. "No Kaname… I, I knew it was the only way to get you out from Sophia's grip. Nothing I know can stand up to your wraith when angry, and I needed to reach you. So I said you were a princess, that you were cruel, and dared you to hit me with your harisen. The princess was Sophia, not you Kaname… I know cruelty and while I don't like being slapped around particularly, I knew you weren't doing it to be mean or cruel." He closed his eyes for a split second and took a deep breath. "I love you, flaws, temper, harisen, and all. Plus, it really doesn't hurt that bad."
Ono-D laughed.
"Why did you always say: 'That hurts' then?" Kaname asked.
"It did seem to stop you from additional blows."
27 March 2000, 09:01 hrs
Chofu, Suburbs of Tokyo, Japan
Room 404, Mansion K Apartments
Kaname sat, relief pouring from her body language as a slight smile appeared on her lips. "You devious little otaku, I should have known… you limped around Khanka with a metal splinter the size of my palm in your side and didn't once say it hurt once."
It's all out in the open now, Shinji and Kyoko heard it all and… Sousuke, there's not a hint of bitterness in him. She glanced at the door to her bedroom where the harisen sat on the dresser and smirk. "Now hurry up and get back here!"
"Working on it."