Aruiteku Together Forever – Chapter Three
Sousuke entered the briefing room dripping wet. There was the pause as everyone looked to see who walked in, and then the Lieutenant Commander picked up where he left off. Sousuke found his place between Kurz and Yan when the blond beckoned him over. Everyone seemed very solemn, more so than usual. Something had happened.
Mao leaned across Kurz to hand him an electronic clipboard with the details. He skimmed the information and his eyes widened. That was not good.
Captain Teletha Testerossa had been captured by the enemy.
They knew her location, thankfully, but in a way that could be a bad sign. Amalgam certainly had the resources and capabilities to squirrel her away somewhere, never to be seen again. It had to be a trap.
Most likely for him.
The Arbalest was the only defense against Amalgam, therefore it was their only threat. And Sousuke was the only one who could pilot the Arbalest. He was not looking forward to this mission at all. It would be hard, physically, mentally, and even emotionally. He hoped he would not spend too much time worrying about Kaname. That would get him killed the quickest.
The briefing ended and Kalinin called him forward. Once everyone else left, the older man went over Sousuke's specific mission. As he thought, he was bait. All his job was would be to lure the Venoms and survive until Tessa was secured.
Eyeing him critically, the Lieutenant Commander finished with business and asked a question. "Will you be all right, Sagara? You look concerned."
"I'll be fine, sir. Ah, but can I ask you a question, at risk of it being too personal, sir?" Sousuke looked nervous, gripping his files so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"You may," Kalinin was intrigued, and he even arched an eyebrow with curiosity.
Sousuke steeled himself, sucking in a deep breath, before asking: "How did you cope with being on a mission and leaving your wife behind? Did you worry that you would die and leave her alone?"
That was the last question Kalinin had ever expected from Sousuke. It took him a few moments to collect his thoughts and answer. "I worried, yes, but once I was in combat, I would push her out of my mind. Worrying about dying is a sure-fire way of assuring you do. Why this question so suddenly?"
Sousuke blushed and fidgeted, which was something he had never done in front of Kalinin before. "It's Kaname, sir. Right before I was called out I, ah, kissed her, sir. And told her I loved her. She said she loved me too. I-it won't be a problem, sir!" Once he started talking, he rambled on to the end quickly, and nervously.
Smiling softly, Kalinin placed his hand on Sousuke's shoulder. "It's all right, Sagara. If I were you, I wouldn't let this get to Mardukas, but as for me, I'm proud of you. It truly is about time that you have realized these feelings. As long as you perform the same as always on the field, you will have no problems."
The young soldier nodded gratefully. "Thank you, sir. I will keep your advice in mind and do my best on the mission."
"That is all anyone can ask. Go get some sleep, Sagara. You'll need to be well rested for this."
"Yes sir!" Sousuke turned and left the room for the barracks. He took a shower, changed, and crawled into bed.
He would need to be well rested, indeed.
School was finally out for the day. Even though it was a half-day, it seemed longer than yesterday. Kaname sighed gratefully when she switched shoes and put on Sousuke's coat. Kyouko stood next to her, bouncing excitedly.
"So where will we go? What kind of clothes are we getting him? You should pick out cologne you like, too! Maybe get him a nice dress watch!" She took out her small camera and snapped a shot of Kaname in the oversized coat looking exasperated.
"Cologne is a good idea. I don't know about the watch. I don't want to change him, just make him look more like he belongs. Get him some cargo pants, knit sweaters, that kind of thing. I want him to be comfortable," Kaname fidgeted with her book bag. "I don't know where to go. I guess we can hit up the popular stores, see what they have."
Kyouko nodded with a big smile on her face. "Makes sense. Take him too much out of his element and he'll blow up more stuff than usual!"
Shaking her head, Kaname smiled softly. Her friend took another picture. "He's been getting better. The last major incident was in October. I mean, sure, he got a little weird about the cruise and at the student council election. But when was the last time he pulled a gun on someone?"
It was so unusual for her to defend Sousuke like this. Normally she would go on a tangent about him creating explosions and pulling his gun out in peaceful Japan. When they took their seats on the train, Kaname pulled the jacket tight and got a dreamy expression on her face, giving Kyouko another perfect picture.
"So, Kana-chan," she waited for the other girl to come out of her fantasy. "What was kissing Sousuke like? Did he try to give you CPR like Mizuki complained about?" She giggled at the memory.
Kaname shook her head. "No, no, not at all. It was amazing. I don't really know how to describe it except to say that we just… let go. We both just gave ourselves over to the moment. It was wonderful."
"And then his phone rang?" Kyouko asked wickedly.
She scowled. "And then his damn phone rang. Well, really, we were just sort of cuddling when they called, but still."
"Cuuuddling, Kana-chan?"
"Ah, it was right after we said we loved each other," she was a bright shade of red. Another picture was taken just as the doors opened to their stop. Kaname rushed out and Kyouko scrambled to follow her.
Not one to give up when things were going so well, the pigtailed girl continued. "Love, Kana-chan? Already?"
"Are you really surprised? I think Sousuke and I were the only ones blind to how we felt about each other."
Kyouko giggled and nodded. "That's true! You guys have been dancing around each other since the day he transferred! It was almost painful to watch."
"Hahah! Yeah, true. Now that I've admitted to him and myself how I feel about him, it's a lot easier to admit to myself that I've been drawn to him since we met. You know, he really is amazing," that last bit was said wistfully, and she drew the coat tight again, breathing in deeply.
"Okay, so! What happened after he got the call?" As fun as it was to watch Kaname daydream, she wanted details.
Shaken from her reverie again, she cleared her head and turned into a store. "Oh, that. We said good-bye, he apologized, I told him I would make him dinner when he got back. Then we kissed again, and I told him to let himself in and say 'I'm home' when he got back."
"You gave him a key?!"
Kaname jumped at the nearly shouted words and blushed once more. She had not meant to admit that last part. "Ah, well, yeah, a while ago. When I realized he wouldn't take advantage of me, but that he also wouldn't hesitate to break my windows or door to get in if he thought I was in danger."
"What is with that, anyways? He always does all that crazy stuff to protect you. Did your dad hire him or something?"
Kaname shook her head. "If he did, he didn't tell me. I don't think my dad would hide something like that from me. I think it's just the way he was brought up. He's so used to danger being everywhere, that protecting me from all this imagined danger is his way of showing he likes me."
Kyouko was quiet for awhile as they poked through the clothes. They picked out some outfits, purchased them, and moved on to the next store. It was probably the closest to the truth that Kaname would ever admit, she realized. "What kind of a past did he have, to make him the way he is?"
It was Kaname's turn to be quiet, thinking of how to answer that while sniffing different cologne. "I don't think it would be fair of me to talk about it. It was very hard for him to admit as much of his past as he has to me, because it was very hard and he was forced to do a lot of things he's not proud of in order to survive."
"What kind of things? It's not like he killed anyone, right?" Kyouko's joke backfired. The tight-lipped, hard eyed expression Kaname had as she paid for the chosen cologne said everything. Now she was at a loss of words, and the next couple of stores they visited were shopped in an awkward silence.
Finally they finished shopping, as Kaname had spent all of her saved money on Sousuke. Sitting on the train, she finally spoke up again. "Sousuke has had a very difficult life. He has known only war and strife for as far back as he can remember. He never had a chance to know his parents, he was orphaned so long ago, and it's all he knew. Since then, he has been forced into so many situations that no one should ever experience," Kaname's voice cracked and a few tears streamed down her cheeks.
"The fact that Sousuke is as kind and gentle as he is truly is a miracle. The fact that Sousuke is as innocent about some things as he is truly is a miracle. He could very easily be a monster after his life, and he would have people sympathize with his situation because of it. He is a truly remarkable man, coming out as well as he did."
No words seemed appropriate. Kyouko just reached over and squeezed her friend's hand as her stop was announced as being next. "Thank you, Kana-chan, for trusting me enough to talk about this. Call me if you want to hang out tomorrow, okay?"
"All right, Kyouko. If not, I'll see you Monday at school."
"Yep! Well, bye! Take care, Kana-chan!" Kyouko rushed out the train doors before they closed, giving Kaname something to smile about. Her cell phone rang, and the following conversation took all reasons for such away.
Sousuke woke up late, having slept until his body was completely rested, not rising with the sun as usual. When he looked at the time, his first thought was that Kaname would be getting out of school, bringing a smile to his face. He got up and did his morning routine, including exercises to wake his mind and body, and to keep him limber through the day.
Next was a shower, then a good sized lunch, since it would be his only meal until the mission was complete. After eating, he went to the hangar to review the condition and settings for the Arbalest with Ensign Nora Lemming. A few hours had passed and the Tuatha de Danaan surfaced.
Sousuke managed the time to make a phone call to Kaname, having everything ready when the call to scramble came before hand. He flipped open his phone and hit the speed dial for her cell phone, feeling slightly anxious about how this call would go.
"Hello?" Kaname's voice sounded over the receiver, making him smile in spite of his tension.
"Hello, Kaname."
"Sousuke! You done already?" The hope and excitement in her voice had him wincing. Reluctantly, he explained as much of the situation as he could. "That's ridiculous! Sousuke, you'll get killed!"
"I won't, Kaname. I promise you."
"Don't make a promise you don't know that you can keep!"
He took in a deep breath, looked around, and then continued quietly. "If it looks like I'll lose, I'll abandon my unit and self destruct it. That's in my parameters, since we're fairly certain the Arbalest's destruction is their goal."
"What if they try to kidnap you? Pilots that can work the Lambda Driver effectively without drugs are rare enough, and without intense training… I think you're the only one."
Sousuke's voice hardened, "If they somehow manage to capture me, they will all die. I've been captured before, escape is certainly not impossible for me," he softened his voice before continuing. "Nothing will keep me from you, Kaname. Not even death, I promise."
Kaname sighed into the phone. "All right, Sousuke. I'll hold you to that. I would really hate to have to drag your sorry ass out of hell, understand?!"
He smiled at her vehemence. "If I should fail, I think I will feel sorrier for the devil having to face your wrath, than I will for myself."
"Damn straight."
The signal to scramble came, and Sousuke swore under his breath. "I have to go. I love you, Kaname. I'll see you soon."
"Okay. I love you too, Sousuke. See you soon," she sounded sad, causing him to wince again as he reluctantly hung up.
He turned his phone off and pocketed it, not bothering to take the time to return to his locker. He ran up to the ARX-7 Arbalest and hopped into the Master Room, sliding in quickly and expertly. He secured himself inside and booted up the AI.
"Identification requested."
"It's me, Al. Close hatch, set the bilateral angle to three point five, stand by in Master Mode Six."
"Sergeant Sousuke Sagara confirmed. Closing hatch. BMSA three point five. Master Mode Six initiated. Are we retrieving Captain Testerossa again, Sergeant?"
"We're leaving that to the other team. Me and you are the distraction so they can get her out. Think you can handle an unknown number of Venom-types?"
"Can you?"
"As long as you support me, partner. How's the Lambda Driver looking?"
"It should function perfectly, Sergeant, all systems are green and you seem in good mental health today."
He asked his AI scornfully, "Are you saying I've been mentally ill, Al?"
"I am saying that you are not always mentally capable of operating the Lambda Driver. We have been over this before, Sergeant, but if my initial analysis of your mental well-being is incorrect and your memory is failing, I can load the conversations we have-"
"Never mind that, Al, and if you say I'm unstable one more time, I'll scrap you. Besides, what kind of a soldier in their right mind would put their faith in such an absurd and unreliable system?" These verbal sparring matches with his AI were actually fun, and Sousuke found himself grinning in spite of everything.
"I agree. But you have seen the system at work, believing should no longer be an issue."
"Affirmative. I'm going to put my faith in it today. We need to come back from this, partner, you got that?"
"Affirmative," sometimes, Sousuke wondered if Al used military speech just to make fun of him, since he usually refrained during their personal chats these days. "Is there something waiting for your return?"
"Someone, Al. Someone who will be very upset with me if I don't return. I did promise, after all."
"And you should never break a promise, Sergeant."
"Exactly. Open communication," Sousuke saw the indicator light of Uruz Two calling in flash. Soon, Mao's voice sounded in the cockpit.
"Ready to go, Sousuke?"
"Roger, ready anytime."
"Hey, look, this is a private line. You'd tell me if there was anything that would keep you from doing your best, right?" She had noticed he seemed more anxious than usual during the briefing, and had seen him on the phone before the mission officially started, which was very strange for him. Tessa was a very good friend of hers, and she only wanted people in top shape on this.
"It is not a problem. I talked with Kalinin earlier, and anything that may have distracted me is pushed out of my mind now," sometimes, he gave too much detail, and this was one of those times.
Mao felt the need to press on. "The Lieutenant Commander? What advice did you need from him?"
"It was something I knew he had experienced before and so I asked how he handled the situation. He gives good advice often, as well, so I felt it would be resolved going to him."
"I see. You go to him for advice a lot you said? Neither of you seem the type for that sort of thing."
"We have known each other for a very long time. He understands me and is the closest to a father I have ever known, I know he will do right by me."
"I didn't know that," she was surprised. She really knew very little about what kind of a life Sousuke had before Mithril, and she knew next to nothing about Kalinin at all.
"We don't talk about our pasts much," that was true for everyone in Mithril. They all had their scars that they didn't want to itch. "By the way, will you be available when this is over? I wanted to ask your advice on something."
"Can I ask what about? Look alive, you're up next."
"Roger. This line still private?"
"Yep," Mao was curious now, Sousuke had sounded a little edgy when he asked that. He paused, blushing and trying to gather his courage. "Well? We don't have much time, Sousuke!"
"Uhh, sex."
"Whaaat?! Ooh, you and Kaname getting cozy, huh?" She sounded excited, cackling over the line. A little tension breaker was good at this moment.
"Well, yes. We kissed. I'll tell you about it later, I, ah, don't want to get side-tracked at this time."
"I bet, if you're thinking about sex, hah! I'll make myself free, I wouldn't miss this talk for the world! Aww, our little Sousuke is growing up!"
Sousuke shook his head, clearing his mind as he stepped onto the catapult's shuttle block, flipping his comm. links to the control center open. Given the clear, he launched off the TDD-1, his mech's rocket pack powering him forward and up. He detached the pack and fell onwards, landing on the beach beside his team's M9s.
Second Lieutenant Melissa Mao, Uruz Two in her standard M9E Gernsback equipped with the extra jammers and communication devices, was in the lead, keeping their arrival off the radar. First Lieutenant Belfangan Clouzot, Uruz One, was in his black M9D Falke prototype, slinking through the shadows. Sergeant Kurz Weber, Uruz Six, climbed a cliff face with a sniper rifle attached to his M9's back. Above flew several attack choppers of the Teiwaz team as well as the transports from the Gebo team, including Gebo Nine Eva Santos.
They reached and secured their Drop Zone and the transports landed. Several SRT and PRT mixed teams streamed out and unloaded various military vehicles. One team included Corporal Yan Jan-Kyu, Uruz Nine, who could drive anything except for an Arm Slave with expert skill. The same team included Private First-Class Wu, Kano Twenty-Eight of the PRT, who often was paired with Yan.
In short, only the best of the best and the tried and true were trusted to this mission. The captain was, after all, a much loved and very important person.
Once unloaded, they rushed ahead, everything with ECS capabilities running the system in full, with Mao escorting the ground troops to keep them off the radar. Once they arrived at the enemy base, they spread out into their positions and the operation officially began.
Kaname trudged into her apartment, dragging her bags. She sighed and flipped the lights on, after dropping everything and taking off her shoes she shuffled over to her couch. There, she curled into a ball and burrowed her face into Sousuke's coat and stared blankly at the empty television screen.
"I hope he's all right," she muttered to herself. After hearing what his role was in the upcoming mission, she found herself unable to control her worrying any longer. She also felt an irrational resentment to Tessa, blaming the girl for getting captured as though she had done it on purpose, even though that made no sense.
It was too hot in the coat, but she wanted what little connection to Sousuke she could manage. "Dammit," she rolled off her couch and grabbed some clothes and her toiletries, then left her apartment for Sousuke's. She tried to convince herself she wasn't being pathetic or desperate. It was hard though, with her pride screaming at her to be more independent.
"This isn't about dependency, I'm just concerned. That's all. I just want to feel closer to him. There's nothing wrong with that," she kept repeating that to herself as she entered his apartment. She hung up his jacket, threw away the note she had left the previous night, and stumbled over to his bedroom.
Once there, she took off her uniform and bra to slip into an over sized shirt and sweatpants, both belonging to Sousuke. Then she curled up in his bed, which he hadn't had the chance to change the sheets on. Being surrounded by Sousuke's various gear, the smell of gunpowder and oil everywhere, made her feel slightly better. It was enough to keep her there, skipping dinner.
When she found herself drifting to sleep, she spared a moment to pray for Sousuke's safety to any deity that might listen. Kaname wanted him back, holding her in his strong arms and saying "It is not a problem."
She fell into a fitful sleep.
AN: Having Al call him Sousuke Sagara when earlier I have Kaname call him Sagara Sousuke is not an inconsistency, it is done on purpose. It is noted, but hard to convey, that Mithril operates entirely in English, switching the name to given-family is one of the ways I try to make that point. Just wanted it known that it was on purpose. ^_~
Also, I'm going to try to use the proper spelling of the runic symbols the call signs are taken from, not the official English spellings they used when taking FMP from Japan.
And a question for you readers: Do you prefer long or short chapters? My first chapter just felt too short to me, so I'm trying for longer, brought the count up to 4-5000 words, which still feels short to me, so I may increase it, depending on what you guys think. Inquiring minds want to know!
As always, let me know what you think, please!