AN: Just a note, there's a rather crude conversation between Sousuke and Mao at the end, skip if you no likey.
Enjoy.
Aruiteku Together Forever – Chapter Four
"Disengage ECS, all ECCS sensors max-range, Master Mode Four, maximum power. We are to engage all Venom-types and keep our fighting away from the rest of the operation. Keep our comm.-links with our units open and listen for any trouble. Let's make a target of ourselves, Al."
"Roger, Sergeant. Master Mode Four, active. Military power, engaging. Comm.-links open, roger. ECCS sensors, all radar, full blip, roger. Military power engaged. ECS off. Five hostiles detected, designations Mike Eleven to Mike Sixteen, loading recommended assault pattern. Engage at will orders received."
Sousuke took in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then moved the Arbalest forward. At first it was with slow, deliberate steps, and then a full speed run exceeding one hundred kilometers per hour. He pulled out his unit's combat knife and dug it into the first Venom's neck before it had a chance to start its Lambda Driver. "Entering combat," he muttered to himself.
"One down."
"I told you before, not to say it before me. Two down," he said just as he fired his shot cannon at a charging Venom, his Lambda Driver functioning perfectly, allowing the shell to pierce the invisible shield with ease.
Sousuke tuned out most of his comrades' communications, listening only for mention of 'Ansuz,' which was Tessa's call sign when off the ship, his own designations, or if someone had AS troubles, specifically with Venom-types. For now, he worked with Al's report, aiming to destroy all of the Venoms as swiftly as possible.
"Three down."
"Three down," they were in sync with each other again. Everything would be fine. Everything felt perfect. He was in his element, just him, his enemies, and the terrain.
Sousuke rushed to where the final two identified units waited for him and took them out quickly. He fired his head mounted chain gun at the first, shredding it, and then blasted the other with an invisible shot from his Lambda Driver.
"Five down. All identified enemies destroyed," Sousuke opened his mic and continued, "Uruz Seven to all, I'm finished here, anyone need help?"
"Uruz Two to Uruz Seven, provide support to our men holding our escape route, lead any AS units you encounter away. Good work."
"Roger Uruz Two, heading to the extraction route now," he flipped off the mic and shook his head to get the sweat out of his eyes.
"Battle time zero-five-two, Sergeant. We're doing well today."
Sousuke grinned and tapped one of the instrument panels with the back of his hand. Fifty-two seconds to down five Venoms, it was no wonder Mao had sounded surprised by his report. The mission had barely begun.
Before reaching his destination, three more Venom-types were located on his radar. "Detour, Al."
"Yes Sergeant. Time?"
"Let's make it thirty seconds."
"Impossible."
"Shut up, one down."
"One down," Al confirmed after a well-placed buckshot. Scant seconds later a second target was destroyed when the explosive anti-tank throwing knife entered its cockpit, shooting hydraulic fluid mixed with blood everywhere.
"Two down."
"Two down, zero-one-seven, Sergeant."
Sousuke powered his unit up a cliff as fast as he could manage and leapt off into the forest below as he fired his shot cannon at the last, unsuspecting unit. He could not understand why these units seemed so poor compared to usual. They weren't empty, the blood from the last enemy proved that much.
"Ansuz retrieved, secure our retreat, we're coming fast," that was Mao. Sousuke rushed to the extraction route to meet up with and guard the rescue squad.
"This has been going too easily, Al."
"Agreed, Sergeant. By the way, the last encounter was zero-three-three. I told you it was impossible."
"Shut up, I didn't ask for your opinion."
"I was under the impression you had when you called me 'partner.' Is it not the purpose of a partner to provide back up, assistance, and advice to their ridiculous counterpart?"
"You're the ridiculous one, talking about having impressions and intuition. Keep quiet."
"Would now be a bad time to alert you to an unidentified Arm Slave flanking us?"
Sousuke quickly shifted in the direction of the new enemy unit. "Al, transfer all battle data we've acquired up to this point and everything from this unit as we record. Just in case," he muttered the last under his breath. This AS must be the reason for the rest, they were just there to wear him out and make him use his ammunition. This would be the real fight, he could feel it.
"Roger, Sergeant. Transferring."
"Uruz Seven to all. I've encountered an unidentified enemy AS unit, currently unsure of strength. Contact me when I have permission to rendezvous, I'll hold him off until then. Engaging enemy now," with that out of the way, Sousuke lifted his shot cannon and fired. The Lambda Driver functioned perfectly, but for the first time in a long while, his bullet was shredded.
Sweating and starting to tire from the long day's work, he swore under his breath. He had been hoping things would continue as they had been and that he would avoid a serious confrontation, but his luck was out for the time being. He truly hoped this opponent had waited for him to tire because he wasn't good, not because he was smart.
Sousuke slowly retreated towards the RV, not wanting to get too close until he knew he could leave, but he wanted to be in sprinting range. He fired off a few more rounds of his shot cannon and watched them deteriorate. "Al, how's the Lambda Driver?"
"Functional."
"You're saying this guy is better than us?"
"It would appear so, Sergeant."
Growling with frustration, Sousuke emptied his Vulcan cannon at the enemy, hoping for even one stray bullet to get through. No such luck, he opened his channels again. "Uruz Seven to Uruz Two."
"Uruz Two, go ahead Sousuke."
"I'm having trouble, the enemy unit is more powerful than mine, everything is operating perfectly but I can't get a shot in edgewise," Sousuke panted into the mic, his voice strained as he was forced to dodge a sudden barrage from the enemy's arm mounted Gatling gun.
"Shit, try to hold out for five more minutes, we're nearing the RV, we'll load up soon."
Mao cut the communication, leaving Sousuke no choice. Five minutes is a long time, he thought as he tried to dodge behind his opponent. He looked around frantically, hoping for something he could use to immobilize his enemy. He was forced to roll out of the way when the AS shot at him, interrupting his search.
"Damn! Al, suggestions, weaknesses?" He found himself hoping for a lot of things, this time that his AI might have gathered some useful intelligence already.
"Negative."
I wish Kaname were here to tell me how to destroy this thing… He grinned when he thought of her. She had taught him about the Lambda Driver, she had taught him how to destroy the Behemoth, and then she had taught him how not to hate the Arbalest. Well, that last part had been beaten into him, but with Kaname, beatings and teachings were the same, really.
Sousuke ejected the last anti-tank dagger into the Arbalest's hand and ran forward. Kaname would probably kill him when she heard about this stunt, but he would deal with it then. He charged his enemy and shouldered his unit into the other, tackling him and bringing the dagger down on the enemy's chest.
The air around him shimmered, the knife exploded before Sousuke could bring it down, taking the Arbalest's left arm with it before an invisible force shoved him back.
"Sousuke, we're ready for you!"
Shaking off the effects of the impact, he turned and ran for the rendezvous as fast as he could. The enemy unit was easily capable of keeping up and fired at him, blowing off the other arm despite his Lambda Driver shield activating. Losing balance, Sousuke directed Al to make the necessary operating adjustments so he wouldn't lose as much speed.
Approaching the clearing, he knew this wouldn't be pretty. They had prepared for a frenzied escape, and Sousuke leapt for the opened hatch of a transport. He twisted and fired his Lambda Driver at his enemy after dropping a Claymore landmine, his last show of defiance in the face of this powerful enemy. The Arbalest thudded against the back of the now rising transport, and the hatch doors were shut quickly.
Gratefully, he moved his unit around so it could be secured in the cabin. Before climbing out, he tapped the instrument panel again. "Good work, Al. Thank you."
"May I ask what you are thanking me for?"
"For functioning properly for once," he grinned and climbed out of the cockpit, amused by the fact that Al muttered something unpleasant at his retreat. He wearily walked to the passenger cabin, strapped himself in, and immediately fell asleep.
Kaname woke up grumpy and hungry, though at least she had slept through the night. She pushed herself off of Sousuke's cot, it could hardly be called a bed, and shuffled her way to the kitchen. When she opened the fridge she was disgusted to see all it contained was bottled water, milk, and various fruit and vegetable juices.
What does this idiot eat?!
She growled and went through his cabinets only to find nothing but some packaged MRE, boxes of Calorie Mates, and one miraculous and out-of-place cereal box. Shaking her head, Kaname decided that Sousuke would be eating dinner with her every night henceforth, and that she would always cook enough to have leftovers to pack as his lunch the following day.
Unwilling to eat any of the food she had found, she decided to go grocery shopping. She used his shower and stole some more of his clothes. Luckily for her, despite his muscle Sousuke was a skinny guy, and she was able to use one of his belts to secure the pants around her waist. As she pulled one of his tank tops over her head, she could not help but smile at the fact that she had spent her previous day buying clothes so he would look less like a military nut and yet here she was, only feeling comfortable in his military clothes.
She had on jungle camouflage standard issue pants, a drab olive tank top, and Sousuke's brown quilted leather flight jacket she had taken a liking to. All of this was completed with her pink and white sneakers, but as fashionable as she fancied herself, she could not find it in her to care.
Kaname knew quite a few people were looking at her oddly, even more when she got to the market she always used and people that knew her saw. It didn't bother her that it was obvious she was wearing a man's clothes. She was worried about Sousuke, and she had come to terms with the fact that feeling close to him was the only way she could keep going with him gone.
When she finished shopping, she brought her groceries to be checked out. The cashier, recognizing her, grinned. "Does your boyfriend know you stole his clothes?" Usually Kaname denied Sousuke being her boyfriend, having been teased about him before since he had tagged along some of the times she went shopping.
"No, he's away right now, so I thought I would help myself to his clothes since they're warmer than mine," she smiled at the shocked look on the woman's face and took her bags after pocketing the change. It felt good to not have to deny having a boyfriend, even though she didn't know how he was doing. If all went well, he would be home soon, either tonight or the next, so she had to content herself with that.
In a better mood than when she had woken up, Kaname returned to her own apartment and made herself a small breakfast. She contemplated calling Kyouko, but decided not to go out, just in case Sousuke got home early. She looked at the bags she had left out the night before and shrugged to herself. Just because Sousuke would probably call it pointless didn't mean he didn't deserve to unwrap the clothes she had bought for him.
She opened a closet and pulled out a stack of boxes and non-descript wrapping paper, as well as some ribbons. Kaname smiled and hummed to herself as she wrapped up everything. She would have fun watching Sousuke open everything up, and she already resolved herself to barring him from using his knife. He would just have to tear into it with his hands, since she wouldn't have it any other way.
Once she finished, she stacked the boxes next to her couch and nodded with satisfaction. Sousuke had a lifetime of no presents to make up for, after all, so this would be the start of it. She smiled and worked on cleaning her apartment. Even though it was already clean, she wanted to make sure it was at its best when Sousuke came back, despite the fact that he probably wouldn't even notice. None of those things mattered to her, really, she could tell herself that she was doing it for him but it would keep her suitably distracted for a time, and that was all, really.
Midday came around and Kaname stopped her cleaning to make herself lunch. She looked around her kitchen as she ate, wishing Sousuke were sitting across the table from her. Sighing, she cleaned up her plate, and then set to work cleaning the kitchen. Everything would be completely spotless by the time she finished, working on it with such single minded intensity.
Sousuke could not return soon enough for her nerves, she decided.
Aboard the Tuatha de Danaan, Sousuke cleaned himself up, changed into his uniform, and went to his debriefing with Kalinin. All this took very little time, and he was fighting against his exhaustion so he could get everything done and return to Tokyo as soon as possible. Once out of Kalinin's office, he headed to the infirmary, where Tessa was likely to be at the moment. He knew she would be having a lot of visitors, assuming Lieutenant Goldberry allowed anyone to see her at all.
He arrived at the infirmary and knocked on the door. Goldberry poked her head out and nodded to him. "Good timing, Sergeant. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you," with that, she waved him in and motioned to a screened off bed in the back of the room. He saluted and then went to the back.
Sousuke pulled the curtain back a little and poked his head in to see Tessa sitting up and fiddling with her hands in the bed. She looked completely fine, just a little worse for wear.
"Captain, how are you feeling?"
She looked up, startled, not noticing him before. "Mr. Sagara! It's so good to see you, come in! Sit down, no need to be so formal, I'm not on duty after all."
He managed a smile for her and took a seat on the chair beside the bed. He could smell cigarettes and knew Mao had to have been there, though there were no visible signs. She had probably just left, and knowing her, she had been smoking heavily until she had been able to see Tessa. "Of course, ah, Tessa."
"I'm doing all right, Mr. Sagara. Thank you for coming by. I'm just tired, really. My brother seems to have some compassion left, and he ordered me left alone," she was fighting to sound cheerful, but he could hear the strain in her voice.
Sousuke fidgeted in his seat, and decided he would do the only thing he could think of to make her feel better. It seemed to work on Kaname, anyways. He sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. Tessa broke down and fisted his shirt, burrowing her face into his chest and crying. He just held her, unsure of what else to do, and decided to just let her do what she needed.
Nearly a quarter of an hour passed before she finally pulled away, rubbing at her face with her sleeve and smiling a far more genuine smile now. "Thank you so much, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"It is not a problem," he was, in fact, feeling edgy, but that didn't mean he had to admit to it. He was sure she could see it in his rigid body language, but she needed to hear that it was okay. He was learning that much, at least. "Are you feeling better now, Tessa?"
She nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Thank you so much, Mr. Sagara, I think that was just what I needed!"
Sousuke smiled with relief and then glanced at the clock on the wall. "Ah, forgive me, I have to go finish my preparations before my flight. I had just wanted to see if you were well before I left."
Tessa looked a little disappointed, but she let it go all the same. At least he had been thinking of her. "Yes, of course. Thank you again, Mr. Sagara."
He stood up and awkwardly placed a hand on her shoulder. He seemed to wrestle with his words for a few moments before speaking up. "It… is a little strange that you ask me to be less formal with you in these situations, and you refer to me the same as always. Ah, that is to say, when you want me to call you Tessa, you should just call me Sousuke. I think it will be less… odd, this way," he nodded to himself. Something like that should not be so strange or dangerous, he convinced himself.
She was stunned for a moment, and then brightened up instantly. "Yes! Thank you so much, Sousuke!"
Sousuke rushed out of the room after that, hoping he hadn't made a mistake. He knew how the captain felt about him, so he sincerely hoped she would not take that the wrong way. He did like her, but as a person, as a friend, and as a commander. He didn't see her as anything more, not like he did Kaname. If anything, he could almost see Tessa as a sort of mother, with the way she fought to take care of everyone and had such faith in her crew, going far beyond the course of duty.
His next stop was Melissa's cabin, and he knocked on her door. He heard swearing and a thud before the door opened, revealing Mao in what she probably planned to sleep in, a cigarette dangling from her mouth and a beer in hand. A cloud of smoke had vented into the hall when she opened the door, and he was hard pressed not to cough. "What is it Sousuke?"
"Ah, I was wondering if you had time now, since I'll be leaving in a few hours."
She blinked in confusion for a moment, before remembering and waving him in. "Ah yes! Come in, let's talk about this, but first! Did you go see Tessa?"
He looked down at his tear stained shirt, then back up to Mao's face and nodded. "Affirmative. She seemed in better spirits when I left."
Her shoulders sagged with apparent relief and she put out her cigarette before opening a new can of beer. "That's great! Good boy! Ok, so. Spill the details, Sousuke!"
Sousuke sat down in one of her chairs while she put some clothes over her underwear, grateful that he was accustomed to seeing Mao half-naked so it hadn't been particularly distracting to him, at a time like this. He explained what had happened before he was called out, perhaps in too great of detail because of his nervousness, but Mao grinned through the whole thing.
"I don't intend to take things quickly, but considering how we both seemed not in control of ourselves, I just… I'd like some advice, in case, well, things, happen," he gripped his knees tightly and stared at his feet, uncomfortable with the topic, but forcing himself through this anyways.
Mao reclined on her bed and lit a cigarette, taking a long drag and blowing out the smoke thoughtfully before speaking. "It's good that you admit you don't know what you're doing and are looking for advice. Most guys just think they're hot shit and can't screw up sex, first time or not, and the rest that know they don't have a clue are too embarrassed to seek help.
"First off, use protection. You do know what condoms are really for, now, don't you?" Sousuke blushed and nodded. Going to school had done that bit of educating for him, having to listen to the guy's shoot their mouths off about various sexual activities they likely had not actually had. "Good boy. Make sure you have those on hand at all time, just in case. Keep one in your wallet or something.
"Second, it's going to feel fucking great for you, but remember that a girl's first time always hurts. Now, Kaname is an athletic girl, so it's possible that she broke her hymen naturally, or that she was born without one. Trust me, you'll know when you start if she has it or not. Regardless, be gentle, she's not going to be stretched out at all."
Sousuke held his head in his hands, his face bright red and his ears burning. Mao certainly spared no details, though he knew she wouldn't, which was why he had gone to her. It was still embarrassing though, listening to this, trying to absorb it all without his mind sinking into the gutter. She grinned at him and reached under her bunk to pull out a bottle of water. "Heads up," she called before tossing it to him. He barely caught it.
"Now, on the topic of stretching," Sousuke sputtered, the mouthful of water he had just taken spraying all over his chest as he coughed. Unable to help herself Mao laughed at him before moving on. "You need to make sure you do that. Fingers work wonderfully. Make sure they're wet and that your fingernails are trimmed though. You don't want to be shoving something dry up there or shredding her insides anymore than will happen naturally."
He stared at her in shock, still red, and shook his head slowly. This was far more complicated than he had assumed. He wasn't sure whether or not to be grateful he was putting himself through this or not. Kaname had better appreciate it when the time came, anyways, that was for certain.
"On the topic of condoms, either get the lubricated kind or buy a water-based lubricant to go with them. As I said, putting anything dry up there is strictly forbidden. You want to try to make it as painless as possible for her," she emptied her can of beer and sat in silent contemplation for a few agonizingly long moments. "Try to make sure she's already gotten off at least once before you go for it, her body will naturally lubricate itself, which will help.
"You can do that with your fingers, or your mouth if you're so inclined," now Sousuke choked on his water, and she got up and pounded his back with a good-natured laugh. His innocence on this topic was endearing, considering he could soak himself in the blood of his enemies without a care in the world. "I'm being completely serious, you know that, right Sousuke?"
He nodded and looked over at her. "I know, and that's why I went to you. It's still, ah, shocking, though," she laughed again and nodded, downing another can of beer in one long gulp before continuing.
Mao wiped her mouth and spoke up again, "Try to make it as enjoyable for her before, at least. Take your time, keep her relaxed, maybe give her a massage. Make it good, because I guarantee you'll enjoy the actual act far more than she will the first time," she counted her fingers, mouthing each item as she did so. "I think I've covered everything you need to know now. Any questions?"
Sousuke sat thoughtfully for a few moments and shook his head. "None. I suppose the rest I learn as I go?"
Mao nodded and grinned, raising her new can in a mock cheer, "You got it Sergeant. Each girl is different, so have fun, and don't do anything she doesn't give you permission for."
He looked offended at the implication that he might do something against her will, but had the grace to nod in acceptance of the advice. "Thank you, Mao. You were very, ah, informative."
She laughed again and waved him out the door, removing her shirt as he walked out. "Have fun, Sousuke!"
Sousuke sighed, shaking his head when Mao called after him, grateful the hall was empty. He glanced at his watch and made his way to grab his bag and head out to the hangar. The submarine would surface soon, and he would be taken to Tokyo.
In just a few hours, he would see Kaname again. It had seemed like forever.
AN: That's it for everything I had written from the holiday, I had to add to this chapter to finish it for today. Phew. Three chapters posted in one day, it's a miracle.
I hope the battle wasn't too terrible. I don't have a lot of experience writing battles, though I do find it fun. I used my husband as my check on military terminology, as well as the FMP books, so hopefully I didn't screw that up too badly.
Yes, that unknown enemy AS is supposed to be the Belial. Unfortunately, I don't much know how it performs outside of what you see in COMO, so any glaring mistakes I'd be more than happy to fix.