Surprise! Here I am with another installment!! More fluff and character development in this chapter, as well as a bit of plot progression! I promise that things will begin to pick up soon…I just love delving into these characters and it honestly helps me develop the story better! Much thanks to all my wonderful readers. Your supportive comments really boost the ego and help get the creative juices flowing, so keep the reviews coming!!

Chapter 5:

Old Fears Die Hard

Later that evening, Melissa and Kurz sat comfortably on the couch and contemplated the couple out on the balcony. It had been a long day of shopping and site-seeing, but none of them could remember a more pleasant time in each others company. Even the flirtatious sniper had been on his best behavior, which had impressed Mao to no end. Sousuke had loosened up enough to enjoy himself and had actually participated in the game of tag football in the park when they broke for lunch. After lighting a cigarette and taking a long pull from it, Mao pondered aloud, "They really do make a cute couple, huh?"

Kurz popped the tab on his can of beer before replying. "To look at them, they look like a normal teenage couple." He watched Kaname tilt her head back as she laughed at something Sousuke said. He recalled the events of the day and to anyone who had looked at the happy quartet it would have seemed like four friends enjoying a normal Sunday afternoon together. "No one would ever guess that he's a mercenary or that she has a brain stuffed with top secret technology."

The two sat in comfortable silence as they watched the developing relationship between the two teens. "Kalinin was right, you know," the woman muttered.

"What do you mean, Sis?" he asked while draping an arm casually around her shoulders.

"This mission was the best thing that could have happened to him," she said solemnly as she snuggled deeper into his side. "I don't think I've ever seen him this relaxed in the two and a half years I've known him."

"Well," Kurz drawled, "Kalinin was half right. I don't think it was so much the mission that was good for him, but the person the mission was based around. There aren't many people that would have put up with him for so long!"

"You have a point there, Weber," she chuckled. "They sorta remind me of us."

Kurz frowned. "How so?"

Melissa pushed away from him slightly to look into his eyes. "You come of as this womanizing jerk, but I know that deep down you're really an okay guy."

"Then why do you keep beating the shit out of me?" he asked incredulously.

"It's the only way I know to keep you in line!" she laughed, jabbing an elbow playfully into his ribs. "If for one second I thought you were anywhere near the person you pretend to be, I would have shot you out of a torpedo bay myself!"

"You're such a bitch, Sis," he joked, pulling her back to his side.

"Don't you forget it!"

Out on the balcony of Sousuke's apartment, Kaname snuggled deeper into the black Mithril jacket Sousuke had given her to wear. The night was unseasonably cool for late September and the air was thick with the scent of rain. She had come to hate the rain and knew that tonight's threatening storm would bring the nightmares back with a vengeance. The thought made her shudder.

Sousuke sat on the railing of the balcony, holding Kaname close to him. He didn't understand this new compulsion that took over him. For some reason, ever since the events of the previous evening, he had to touch her whenever she was near. The feeling frightened him while at the same time comforted him. As long as he was near enough to touch her, he knew she was safe. He felt the tremor pass through her and questioned, "What are you thinking about, Kaname?"

"The rain," she answered in a hushed tone. "It makes me remember that night….."

Tilting her chin up so that he could look into her eyes, he told her, "That's all it is, Kaname, just a memory; one that will hopefully fade with time."

Kaname searched his face for any trace of falsehood and found only plain truth. That was the one thing she could always count on from him. Sousuke had never lied to her. Withhold vital information perhaps, but he never lied; not even when he knew she'd end up reprimanding him for it. She gave him a small smile of gratitude. "What would I do without you, Sousuke?"

He pulled in a long breath, hating the words that formed in his mind, yet knew they had to be said. "You would continue to survive," he stated sternly. "I'm a soldier, Kaname. The reality is that someday there may be a mission that I will not be able to walk away from." Her reaction instantly caused him to regret the slightly harsh, no nonsense tone he'd used.

Tears welled in Kaname's eyes as she protested the undeniable truth in his words. "How can you say that? You're the best there is! You've always managed to come out on top of any situation that was thrown at you."

"The enemy is growing stronger by the day," he bit out. As content as he'd been these last two days, the glaring reality was that he was not indestructible. He knew that Kaname was strong, but when it came to matters of the heart she was entirely too soft. She simply had to face the fact that he may die. "They have the upper hand in AS technology and because of this I've had one too many close calls lately." When Kaname pulled away from him he felt the loss of her warmth down to his very soul. He pushed off the railing to follow her to the corner of the balcony where she firmly kept her back to him. Placing his hands gently on her shoulders he softened the tone of his voice when he next spoke. "I'm not saying this to upset you. But you have to face this fact if we are to go any further in our relationship."

Kaname sniffled, trying desperately to hold back the flood of emotions. "Sousuke, you act like this is the first time I'm hearing about you being a soldier! Do you honestly think that I never once worried that you wouldn't come home after one of your past missions?" She turned to look at him once more and he saw the fear and anger warring for dominance in her eyes. "Why do you think I was waiting outside your apartment that night? It wasn't just to give you that dolphin pendant! I had a really bad feeling right here," she said while driving her fist into her abdomen. "Deep down I knew that something was wrong, that you needed me! So don't you dare stand there and tell me what I have to face in the future! I face it every single time you leave!" Her voice increased in volume with each word of her final statement, punctuated with a sharp jab of her finger in his chest.

"Kaname…"

"NO!" she yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. Kaname curled her hand into a tight fist and slammed it into his chest in frustration. "I'm not about to let you hide behind that wall! Not after everything we've been through, both together and apart. There's a big difference between knowing I could survive without you," she whispered with her head lowered so that her bangs hid her eyes, "and knowing that I don't want to." Her hand fell limply to her side in defeat.

Sousuke could only stare in wonder at her. Once again she had overturned his arguments and used them to her advantage, leaving him feeling like an idiot. He wondered if perhaps she had been a soldier or politician in a past life. Unable to come up with any further lines of defense, he simply wrapped his arms around Kaname and pulled her to him. "Understood," he murmured into her hair. "I'll do my best to ensure that doesn't happen."

Kaname managed to smile through her tears. She loved it when he tried to reassure her in that tender military tone. "See that you do, Sergeant," she chuckled while returning his embrace. The sky lit up suddenly and a long rumble was heard in the distance. Fat droplets fell sporadically for a moment before the heavens opened up in a torrential downpour. Kaname squeaked in shock at the sudden shift in the weather as the cold spray hit her. "We'd better get inside," she yelled so that he could hear her over the driving rain.

Sousuke grabbed her hand securely in his own and dashed for the door. Kurz and Melissa laughed at their antics when they slid down the glass door to catch their breaths. "Latest satellite report says we're in for a hell of a storm, kids," the blonde informed them.

"I suppose I'll have to wait till the rain slows up a bit before heading home," Kaname said with a frown.

"Is that a problem?" Sousuke asked as he helped her up.

"Well, no. I suppose it's not," she responded with a smile. "Unless it's a problem for you?"

"Negative, Kaname. It's not a problem," he told her with that little smirk she adored.

Mao stood from the couch and announced, "I'm starving! Who's up for some grub?"

"If you're cooking, I'll have to pass," Kurz said snidely. "I'd rather eat MRE's!"

That statement got him a foot to the face. Kaname rolled her eyes and said, "I'd be more than happy to cook, since Kurz made breakfast."

"I don't think so, Kaname," Melissa said in a firm tone. "Sergeant Sagara has school work to catch up on and you and I both know his grades are horrible!"

"I am standing right here," Sousuke grumbled.

"That's what I keep trying to tell him," Kaname cheerfully agreed as she walked toward the Sgt. Major. "That's when he starts rambling off some nonsense about mission objectives and such! He just doesn't understand how his poor performance is affecting my position as class rep!"

"That's not true, Kaname! I do understand!" Unfortunately, his offended tone fell on two sets of deaf feminine ears.

"And," Moa continued in her tirade, "his handwriting is beyond atrocious! If he didn't have to type all his reports, I doubt I'd be able to make heads or tails of the mission's outcome!"

"Face it, Sousuke," Kurz said in a comforting voice, "this situation was FUBAR from the start. It's best to just let them have at it till they run out of ammo."

The defeated Specialist sighed heavily. "Agreed. Should we order in?"

"I have a better idea. Why don't you and I go pick it up?"

Sousuke took one look out the window at the pouring rain, then over at the two women who continued to give voice to each of his flaws. It took all of two seconds to make his decision. "Let's go, Kurz."

The sniper smirked at his friend's sullen expression and followed him out the door.

"Hey, Weber," Melissa shouted from her chair at the dining table ten minutes later. "Make your sorry ass useful and grab me a beer, will ya?" When she didn't get a response, both females finally assessed the quiet apartment. "Weber?"

"Sousuke?" Kaname called, but she, too, received no answer. Looking toward Melissa she asked, "Where do you suppose they ran off to?"

Mao shrugged as she stood. "Who knows? Want a beer, Kaname?"

"No thanks," she declined graciously. Kaname bit her lip while contemplating on whether or not to broach the sensitive subject of Tessa with the other woman. She wasn't quite sure how the young captain would react to the news, or how they would even go about telling her for that matter.

Melissa plopped back into the chair across from Kaname with a fresh beer in hand and an unlit cigarette dangling from her lips. She watched the young girl worry her lip while inspecting her fingernails distractedly. "What's wrong, Kaname?" she asked in concern.

"Can I ask your advice on something?"

"Fire away," she said while lighting the cigarette.

"Well, you know that me and Sousuke are a couple now, right?"

"A blind person could see that," Melissa returned sarcastically.

Kaname flushed. "Well, you also know that Tessa has a thing for Sousuke. I don't want to hurt her, but…."

Melissa ran a hand through her short cropped hair as she expelled the smoke from her lungs. "You want to know how she's going to react to this new development." Kaname nodded vigorously. "Well, best case scenario, she'll throw a royal tantrum."

Kaname was utterly shocked. "That's the best? What would the worst case scenario be?"

"She'd launch a nuke from the De Danaan and drop it right on your head," she replied with a straight face. "Or send a squad of M-9's to squash you, your friends, and anything else that would keep Sousuke here."

"You're kidding, right?" Kaname's heart was thundering in her chest. "She wouldn't actually be able to do that, would she?"

"Probably not, but Tessa would definitely think about it. In all actuality, she'll probably scream, come crying to me, I'll get her drunk, console her and the whole thing will blow over in a few days." Mao gave the terrified girl an encouraging grin. "Tessa acts like a child, but she's really very mature for her age. I think deep down she knew she lost Sousuke when he returned from the Hong Kong incident." She heaved a sigh, took a long drag from her cigarette and then chugged half of the beer before continuing. "My advice would be to have Sousuke arrange clearance for you to come back to Melida with us later this week. You'll be off school for the holiday anyway, so you three could sit down and talk about it." Melissa grinned slyly at the teen, who seemed to be weighing the option. "Besides, if you don't go Tessa may decide that it's time to launch a counter offensive to get him back!"

Kaname's back stiffened in outrage. "Like hell she will!"

Mao thought she heard Kaname mutter something about spoiled little captains and platinum airheads and chuckled. This could get real interesting! Poor Sousuke….

The men returned to the safe house before anything more on the subject could be said. Sousuke gave them a wary glance as he set the bags of take-out containers on the table. Kurz ambled up beside him and announced, "The men have successfully secured a feast for you, ladies!"

"It's about damn time you did something useful," Melissa scoffed. "Sometimes I wonder if you're actually good for anything besides holding a rifle!"

"I keep offering to show you just how skilled I am with my rifle, Babe," he joked back.

There was a definite sparkle in his bright blue eyes that had Kaname sit up and take notice of. She turned questioning eyes on Sousuke who nodded slightly. While the two older soldiers continued their good natured jibes at one another, she tried to assimilate the new revelation. She made a mental note to interrogate Sousuke later about it.

After dinner was finished, Mao and Kurz cleaned up while Kaname helped Sousuke with the Classical Japanese and Kanji class work he had missed. Whenever he became frustrated, she would simply put her hand on his arm and patiently explain what he was doing wrong. For over an hour they worked together like this, until finally Kaname had proclaimed he was done. While he packed away his books, Kaname noticed that it was nearly nine o'clock. The weather had eased some, though it was still raining steadily. Heaving a tired sigh, she said, "I suppose I should get home."

Sousuke looked up in surprise. "Why?"

"It's late, Sousuke. Besides, we both have to be up early for school and my uniform and everything is at my place. Would you mind walking me home?"

"Of course not," he told her quickly, burying the disappointment underneath his militaristic tone. He gathered a spare rain poncho while Kaname exchanged good byes with his squad mates and slipped her shoes on. Once outside, they dashed quickly across the street to her complex and into the lobby. While waiting for the elevator, Sousuke interlaced his fingers with hers, and smiled slightly when she squeezed lightly in acknowledgement. Neither spoke until they were standing before her door.

When she inserted the key into the lock and reached for the handle, he placed a staying hand over hers. "I should check to make sure the area is secure."

Kaname rolled her eyes as he kicked off his sneakers. Really, she should be used to this by now! "Whatever," she mumbled, but allowed him to enter the apartment first.

"Stay here," Sousuke whispered firmly while pulling out his trusty and ever present Glock and disarming the alarm system before carefully and thoroughly sweeping the apartment for any sign of intrusion. He returned a moment later stating, "All clear."

"This is just silly," Kaname chastised him while ruefully shaking her head. "What's the point of having the alarm system if you still have to check my apartment every time you come over here?"

"But Kaname," he protested.

"I know, I know," she sighed. "My safety is Priority One." Kaname ruffled his hair playfully as she passed him. "It's really sweet, but can't you relax just a little bit?"

"Negative, Kaname. I must confirm that there is no threat to you after the time we spent away from both your apartment and the safe house today." He followed her into the kitchen where she had put water on to boil for tea. "You were the one who insisted on coming home tonight."

Kaname didn't respond to the disappointment that was evident in his remark. She made them both a cup of tea and settled into one of the chairs at the table. "Sousuke, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" he asked with concern as he sat beside her.

"Melissa told me that the three of you were heading off to Melida Island later this week. Do you think it would be possible for me to go along with you?"

Sousuke was stunned at the request, but secretly pleased as well. Many times he had wished to take her back to Mithril's Pacific Fleet base, but unfortunately the opportunity had never presented itself. "May I ask why? Our orders aren't classified, but I should warn you that I won't have much free time while I'm there."

She smiled shyly and said, "I need to speak about some things with Tessa, actually. Is it a problem?"

"I'll put in the clearance request in my daily report to Lt. Commander Kalinin tonight. I should know by the time we return from school tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sousuke," she beamed. When he rose from the table without touching the tea, her smile slipped. "Are you leaving?"

"If I'm going to get that report sent before he retires for the night, then I must go." He cast worried eyes upon her. "Will you be alright?"

"You're only a scream away, right?" she joked.

"That's not funny, Kaname," he responded sternly.

Kaname blushed at the slight reprimand. "I'm sorry. I'll be fine." She followed him to the door and said, "If I need anything, I promise to call you, okay?"

Sousuke slipped his white sneakers back on and grabbed the rain gear from the peg on the wall. "Roger. Otherwise, I'll meet you downstairs at the usual time tomorrow morning." They stood there for a moment in awkward silence, neither of them sure who should make the first move. Finally Sousuke cupped her cheek in his warm palm and leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss.

Kaname sighed at the soft contact and moved closer to deepen the kiss. She looped her arms around his neck before opening her mouth to him. Sousuke dropped the ponchos to the floor and pulled her tightly to him, groaning at the sudden rush of desire that flooded him. He'd been keeping the need to feel her bottled up inside him all day, yet now it refused to be held in check. Kaname moved restlessly against him, fighting the same urge to rip off his clothing.

Finally Sousuke ripped his lips away from hers. Panting slightly, he said, "I have to go now, Kaname, or I won't be able to leave at all."

The girl fought the giggle that rose in her throat and pouted. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

He gave her that small smile that made her weak in the knees. "Negative, Kaname. There's nowhere I'd rather be, but I can't. It's too risky to stay here. I'm sure Wraith has to make reports to her superiors as well."

"But I stayed at your place last night," she argued while nipping at the tender flesh of his neck.

"So did Mao and Kurz. Not to mention Wraith probably had a clear view of us sleeping on the couch. Ouch!" he cried when she bit down hard on his earlobe. "What was that for?"

"For reminding me we had an audience! I think the next time I come over I'll bring some nice thick drapes for that damn window!" Kaname pulled away from him with a huff. "Go if you're going, Sergeant! I'll see you in the morning."

"Don't forget to set the alarms before you go to bed, Kaname," he warned.

"Yeah, yeah," she called back wearily as she moved into the dining room. "Goodnight, Sousuke."

Just as the door clicked shut, the phone rang. She dashed to pick it up before the answering machine kicked on. "Chidori residence," she said cheerfully. "Oh, hey Kyoko! What's up?"

"Where have you been, Kaname?" The girl cried. "I've been trying to call you all day! Are you avoiding me or something?"

Kaname shouldered the phone as she checked the locks on the doors and windows. "Of course not, Kyoko. My cell battery died and I forgot to take my charger with me last night."

"Where did you go? I know you said you were inviting Sousuke over for dinner…." The girl let the sentence hang, hoping that Kaname would feed her all the juicy details.

"Yeah, well…" Kaname laughed nervously, wondering if she should tell her best friend or surprise her tomorrow. Excitement bubbled to the surface and she couldn't resist teasing the girl a bit. "I did invite him over, and we actually talked about a lot of things."

"Like…." Kyoko was fairly drooling with anticipation. "C'mon, Kaname!"

"Oh, you know; the weather, school, the latest AS developments." Kaname grinned evilly, knowing full well what information Kyoko was fishing for.

"You're kidding me right? That's it?"

"Well, mostly. Oh! He also told me how he felt about me," she commented nonchalantly.

Kyoko squealed so loudly that Kaname had to pull the phone away from her ear. "I'm so happy for you, Kaname! Tell me exactly what he said!"

Kaname pondered exactly how to give her friend the information without revealing anything that was classified. "Well, remember when he suddenly disappeared last week?"

"Yeah, where did he go?"

"That I'm not allowed to tell you. But he did say that while he was gone all he could think about was me."

"Really? That's so sweet," Kyoko sighed.

"He also told me that I was home for him, because that's where his heart was."

"Get out! I think I'm going to die," she laughed warmly. "Sousuke doesn't have a brother, does he?"

"Not unless you count Kurz," Kaname teased.

Kyoko snorted. "He's cute and all, but a bit too perverted for me. Not to mention old!"

Kaname laughed at that and collapsed on her bed. She really hoped the blonde SRT pilot wasn't listening in on the conversation over at Sousuke's. He'd be crushed if he had heard that! "You're so bad, Kyoko! Kurz is only twenty, you know! He's only two years older than Sousuke!"

"Wow, I didn't know Sousuke was that old," she exclaimed. "And he's only a second year?

"Well, he spent a lot of time….traveling with his foster father, so he missed quite a bit of formal schooling," Kaname explained. She was kind of proud of the cover story she made up, if she did say so herself.

"I guess so," Kyoko said with a chuckle. "He can barely keep up with some of the assignments we get!"

"I know," she sighed softly. "But he really does try, Kyoko. It's got to be hard on him, though. I mean, he didn't exactly have a traditional upbringing…."

Kyoko giggled at her friend. "Yeah, but you're doing a great job of whipping him into shape, Kaname!"

She joined in with her friend's mirth for a moment. "I suppose you're right. Hey, Kyoko, can I ask a favor of you?"

"Sure thing, Kaname!"

"Don't tell anyone else about this, okay?"

"But Kaname," she whined in protest.

"I mean it, Kyoko," Kaname said firmly. "I don't want anyone else to know before we get to school tomorrow." Her chocolate brown eyes took on a devilish gleam. "I want to see the look on everyone's faces when we show up hand in hand!"

Kyoko grinned as she caught on. "I know that voice, Kaname! You have something planned, don't you?"

The girl chuckled softly. "You'll just have to wait and see, Kyoko. Talk to you tomorrow!" Before her friend had a chance to protest further, Kaname ended the call. She stood to change for bed, and with a tender smile on her lips, grabbed the Bonta-kun off her dresser. Cuddling it to her chest, Kaname then lifted the picture of her mother from its place. "Well, Mom, it looks like I finally have a real boyfriend! I just wish you were here to meet him. Even with all his little quirks, I really think you'd like him." She smiled sadly, placed a kiss on the image of her mother and set the frame back onto its designated spot. "I love you, Mom. Good night."

Kaname plugged her phone into the charger on her nightstand, set the alarm clock and walked into the living room to set the alarm system. Sneaking a peek out of the draperies, she saw Sousuke sitting at his desk, typing on his lap top. "I love you," she said aloud, then jumped slightly when he picked his head up and looked directly at her. "You were listening weren't you?" She laughed when he nodded. "Did Kurz hear what Kyoko said?" He shook his head and tapped his ear twice. "Oh, I get it; you were listening in on the head phones!" He gave her a thumb's up, which made her laugh harder. "I'm going to bed, Sousuke. Sweet dreams," she told him in a sultry voice. He saluted, and she could have sworn she saw his hand shake a bit, but couldn't be sure from this distance. Maybe I should get one of those telescope things from Kurz….. Smiling as she let the drapes fall back into place, Kaname doused the lights and went to bed.

She snuggled deep into the soft bed with the Bonta-kun and drifted into a blessedly peaceful and dreamless sleep.

And there you have it! Bet you were all hoping for a bit more citrus, weren't you? Trust me; I'm not done with them yet! I just have to work up to the right moment… I guess you'll just have to stay tuned!

Much love and thanks to clnv for your continued encouragement and friendship! Honestly, I don't think my ideas would get very far without your constant whip-cracking! I love you and all your comma splice/smartass remarks! They make writing all that much more fun!

And before you say it Guns…I promise that I'm still working on the next chapter of RT! Thanks for all your help with the details on the characters, dates and various tidbits that I'm still basically clueless about in this universe! You are a wellspring of data that makes my story that much better!

Now do your duty: REVIEW! lol... purty please???