I'm horribly sorry for not writing in so long! This show, me having finished it a long time ago, is fairly crusty. I have also had a lot on my plate. So life is rather hectic. I'm trying to make the time to write. though, chronic Writer's Block isn't helping me. I was very attached to this story at first, and not so much now. I'm trying to find that attaching point, so stay tuned to see if I find it!

The rest of the day is going fairly smooth. Kaname is spending most of it avoiding Sousuke. With very little idea as to why, however. She is very eager to continue her conversation with Sousuke. Something seemed to set her off, though. She just figured he would give her another "It isn't a problem," and shrug it off. It was best if she avoided him. It's now the end of the school day. Kaname sets off to return to her footlocker and retrieve her minor electronics and useless items she chooses not to carry around school. As she approaches, however, she sees a familiar sight.

"I could have figured." She sighs. Approaching a student silently. A single man crouches behind a wall with a small device in his hand. The device is attached to a long white wire. Kaname hovers over him menacingly, her fan already withdrawn from her bag. The student looks up.

"Uh- It- It's not what it looks like." Sousuke mutters.

"Yeah.. Right.." Kaname replies. "Let me get my stuff before you blow it to hell." She sighs, turning away from him.

She opens her small locker to reveal a rugged pair of city shoes and various small items. She withdraws what she intends to take home with her and turns away. Silently brushing past the other student.

What's gotten into her? Sousuke thinks to himself. He watches as she walks away from him. Letting out a sigh, Sousuke slowly begins wrapping up his explosives. He pockets them without a word and opens his foot locker. "Oh yeah!" He exclaims. Good thing he didn't blow everything up. The intrusion was a report he paid one of the other students to retrieve for him.

He withdraws a small paper and reads it. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mr. Konaharu was an average man. Even when Sousuke wasn't watching him. Oh well. He crumbles the paper and closes his locker, walking down the path Kaname set on minutes later. "I wonder if She's mad at me.."

It's the end of the school day. These students stubbornly cease to acknowledge each other. In reality, a mistake they could have avoided.

Later.

A loud ring is heard. Sousuke shoot up, in full combat mode. He throws the blanket off himself. Throwing himself out of bed, he hits the dirt. (Or his floor.) Scanning the room, no intruders have entered. The noise was his phone ringing. He lets out a sigh of relief. A single bead of sweat rolls down the side of his face. Sousuke stands up, approaching the phone. He scans the Caller ID. A private number appears on the LCD screen. Casually picking up the phone, Sousuke answers. "Hello?"

"Sousuke. It's Melissa." The caller replies.

"I- Irzu 2. What's going on?" Sousuke asks, ready to throw his gear on and fly out the door.

"I just got word directly from Captain Testarossa." Melissa says. "You're needed at base. ASAP."

"Understood. I'll pack my things and go." Sousuke mutters.

"No. Now. That means Socks, Shoes, Jacket, and go." Melissa says urgently.

"R- Right. May I ask why?" Sousuke responds, half-asleep still.

"Don't ask questions, Sagara! Just get ready to go! Kurz is waiting for you 2 kliks south of your apartment." She hangs up. What was that about? Sousuke simply throws some shoes on, grabs his jacket, and begins walking.

Right where she said he'd be, Kurz suddenly appears in front of Sousuke. His armslave is there, accompanied by the Arbalest. "Hop in." Kurz says on the speaker. Sousuke promptly climbs into his armslave. Almost clueless. He closes the hatch and powers on the operating system. Al speaks to him, running thorugh a list of system specs that are in check.

"AI, patch me into radio comms with Irzu 6." Sousuke mutters to his armslave.

"Negative, Sergeant. I'm afraid I cannot." Al replies.

"What? Why?"

"I have been ordered to disallow it."

"Dammit."

"Incoming text protocol."

Sousuke reads the text screen. It is a message sent from Kurz's armslave. It reads "Follow me! Don't be a slowpoke!" Sousuke promptly turns on his on-screen displays and takes manual control of his armslave. Kurz is speeding away. At that, Sousuke launches himself after. Both men activate their active camo units. Ready for battle any time.

Meanwhile...

What's going on? I'm not the same girl I used to be.

Kaname thinks to herself, staring at the ceiling in her apartment. She questions her relationship with Sousuke now. As she begins to grasp the stress he causes. Finally muttering aloud to herself. "I know he doesn't mean any harm.. But.."

Rolling over, Kaname stares at the wall now. Things aren't like they used to be. Kaname doesn't see sousuke as that "Annoying stupid guy. Who happens to be a little cute."

Now.. She just sees Sousuke. Nothing spectacular about him. Just.. This guy. Maybe it's some kind of anxiety she has towards the recent events in Hong Kong. Maybe she'l settle down and return to having that little crush she always had on her guardian. Now it seems she gets more pleasure out of being away from him than spending time with him. How little choice she has, knowing that stupid guy is out there somewhere causing trouble. The dripping of a loose water faucet in her bathroom is the only sound. It seems so hollow and distant to the girl right now.

Why didn't I talk to him about it?

She wonders. She quickly ponders all reasons she would have had. The last thing that crosses her mind before her body rejects her emotions and forces her to sleep is the word "Remember" Then she passes into a deep sleep.