KANAME'S APARTMENT COMPLEX
The moon was up.
A sophisticated airplane made a noisy landing in a half-empty parking area of a neighborhood bank, frightening a pair of amorous housecats.
After Sousuke climbed down from the fighter aircraft, he exchanged waves of the hand with the pilot, who then closed the jet's canopy.
When Sousuke reached a safe distance from the aircraft, the pilot pushed a button on the console, which caused the F-35 to re-enter VTOL mode prompted opening of all STOVL doors, revving up the propulsion system, as he prepared to engage the clutch.
Once all doors were open, the clutch engaged and sets of carbon plates pressed together to spin the LiftFan up from a complete stop to engine speed. Once the speeds between the LiftFan and engine became matched, a mechanical lock engaged in order to remove the torque load from the clutch and permit operation at full lift fan power.
W-h-i-r-l-w-h-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-s-h-z-i-n-g-w-h-i-r-r-r-r-r
With a bone-shaking whooshing sound, the unladen aircraft took to the sky. No weapons were carried, and the fuel supply was relatively low, so that the rarely-used VTOL take-off mode could be used over the preferred STOVL. The swirling gusts of wind cause Sousuke's hair to flutter and snap like a flag, as his long skirt spun and danced like that of a Magical Girl. People looking out of cars and apartment windows saw little of that amazing display, as the dust swirling around Sousuke obscured him while looking like something out of a fairy tale. ECS engaged, the aircraft was not visible to then human eye, and it did not show up on Tokyo radar screens thanks to its enhanced stealth characteristics.
"This is inconvenient,"Sousuke remarked, holding the skirt close against him, feeling somewhat exposed. "Kaname would have something pithy to say. But, for me, nothing comes to mind." He still had time to work on such a changeover, or to come up with a suitable excuse that explained things away. "I wonder if I should call her and…."
No doubt Kaname was very busy. She also might not be quite of her right mind. As such, Sousuke decided not to call her to ask permission to enter her domicile. She had assigned him this mission. So, he had every right to obtain the materials necessary to carry out that mission to the best of his ability. He was still a soldier, whether he was wearing a girl's body or a guy's.
"All seems in order…." Sousuke scanned Kaname's apartment building, not expecting to see any obvious signs of enemy activity, even if an enemy were present. The foe was a top-flight organization, and usually employed professionals whenever possible. Indeed, Amalgam was a force to be reckoned with, an enemy equal to or greater than Mithril. "But… to play the role… I cannot draw suspicion or do anything that will reflect poorly on Kaname." He walked towards the entry way, hoping to be able to make it to his destination without happening upon anyone who knew Kaname and would feel a need to speak with her. "This should be simple. I am a specialist!"
Sousuke walked along the sidewalk, and then made his way up a short entry way lined by small lights. He nodded his head to a polite doorman who held the way open to him. Just as his eyes were adjusting to the indoor lighting, he heard something that had him act warily. He dropped some coins out of his hand, and aimed them to bounce to the side of the double doors. He listened intently as he picked up the coins, coming to a realization that he had given the grinning doorman a panty shot. He was too preoccupied to concern himself with retribution initially.
"Yes," he had seen a woman say into a cell phone. "We are waiting for Miss Chidori to arrive." She was one of a group of elderly women, dressed in tidy outfits and sporting tidy hairdos. Each had a rather voluminous purse, hung over their shoulders by long straps. Who knows what they might be concealing! Each bag could easy hold a submachine gun and a large number of clips, or well-organized kits designed for kidnapping of civilians with little notice of the populace. "So… if you see her… grab her before she gets on the elevator…."
Sousuke immediately reached for a weapon that was not there. He cursed. He was unhappy with his orders. He was at a disadvantage here. Just the same, he made a point to put the money he picked up in a small change purse while continuing to listen. He had a habit of jumping to conclusions and to over-reacting.
"Yes," an unseen woman said to the other. "We need her brain for this." It might sound like an elderly Japanese woman, but Sousuke had been told by Wraith on a number of occasions how North Korean operatives could become almost anyone with a similar height and build. It was possible that a number of old women were held captive some place, or were rotting in some ditch or waterway. "No one in our Mission can succeed without her." What the young operative had no way of knowing was that the grandames were members of the World Mission Society Church, and they were speaking about the crossword puzzles they routinely did with Kaname on that night of the week.
"It will serve no purpose to attack here," Sousuke said, confident that he could raise havoc in Kaname's body, even without weapons. But to what end? He had to protect Kaname's body, and her reputation. And, by calling in a Mithril capture team, there would be a greater likelihood that there would be no escapees, and that any hidden enemy subordinates might be uncovered and taken into custody. "But, I cannot leave without the necessary items." He would need to find another way into the building.
Walking around the side of the building, after giving the stammering doorman a monetary tip, saying that it was in exchange for his never looking at his underwear again, he scanned the surroundings for his prior means of clandestine arrival. There. The tall and stately Japanese White Pine. The tree that he had used the night that he had discovered a black-mailed Shinji attempting to steal Kaname's undergarments, only to be discovered himself by a furious Chidori. He took off his fancy women's shoes and began a quick and determined ascent.
Reaching the level of the second story, he perched precariously at the middle of a bending bough, judging the distance to the top of the concrete wall surrounding Kaname's balcony. Bending his legs in preparation to jumping, he heard the sliding door of the adjacent apartment open. A tall gaunt woman in a night gown, large curlers in her hair, stepped out into the night air with a glass of wine in her hand. Ready to peer up at the moon, she caught sight of Sousuke instead.
"Kaname dearie, is that you?" The woman could just barely make out the young woman's outline.
"Uhhh…" Sousuke almost felt like he was painted by a spotlight in easy view of machinegun towers. "Affirma-… ummm… yes, it is indeed me." That sounded too much like Sagara-speak. "It's me, M'am."
"Well," the woman said, shivering in a sudden chill breeze, one curler unrolling some, as if it were seeking escape. "Whatever for?"
"I forgot my key," was the first thing that Sousuke thought of. "And I was in such a terrible hurry."
"Whatever for?" The woman took a sip of wine. "And why didn't you simply as the night manager for a spare?"
"It-" Sousuke was saved by a random memory, something he had overheard outside of the Merida Island medical office. "I am embarrassed to say… but…" He made certain of his footing. It wouldn't do Kaname's body any good to plummet two stories. "I.B.S…. Irritable Bowel Syndrome… I couldn't wait for the key…." He put a touch of urgency in his speech, and sped his words up. "I wasn't sure that I could last the wait for the elevator and the ride up…." He held his belly in exaggerated fashion. "I guess my bowel was thinking instead of my brain."
"Oh my," the woman looked aghast. "I know how that is! My best friend's youngest son's older cousin has I.B.S." She nodded her head. "You hurry on now… don't let me take up whatever time you have left…." She was certain that Kaname must have 'I.B.S. with diarrhea'.
"Thank you," Sousuke said before leaping. He landed on the edge of the balcony, surprised to see that Kaname's legs were that much weaker than his own. Wind-milling his arms he regained his balance, crouched down, and then slid off of the wall. Fumbling around in Kaname's purse, he located her keyring. He hoped that one of the keys would unlock the sliding door.
"Experiment with fiber. When you have irritable bowel syndrome, fiber can be a mixed blessing," the woman noted. "Although it helps reduce constipation, it can also make gas and cramping worse. The best approach is to slowly increase the amount of fiber in your diet over a period of weeks."
"Yes… I see… I will…." The first two keys did not work. He was very glad that he had declined to wear a wire and an ear-bud. Kurz and Melissa would have a field day had they heard this exchange.
"Avoid problem foods. If certain foods make your signs and symptoms worse, don't eat them," the woman took another drink of wine, so very thankful that she did not suffer from the plague of I.B.S. "Those may include alcohol, chocolate, caffeinated beverages such as coffee and sodas, medications that contain caffeine, dairy products, and sugar-free sweeteners such as sorbitol or mannitol. If gas is a problem for you, foods that might make symptoms worse include beans, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Fatty foods also may be a problem for some people. Chewing gum or drinking through a straw can lead to swallowing air, causing more gas."
"I will be certain to remember that." Sousuke dropped the key ring. Now he would have to start all over again. He had not been paying attention to the precise order of the keys.
"Eat at regular times. Don't skip meals, and try to eat about the same time each day to help regulate bowel function. If you have diarrhea, you may find that eating small, frequent meals makes you feel better." The woman recounted things she had read in a pamphlet she had picked up for that best friend's youngest son's older cousin. "Take care with dairy products. Drink plenty of liquids. Exercise with caution. Use anti-diarrheal medications and laxatives with caution."
"That is good advice, M'am." Sousuke was getting irritable, but his bowel was fine. Not that key, and not that one either. Maybe this one.
"Hmmm-mm-m… you know… that cousin is a young man, not much older than you." The woman snapped her fingers. "He was looking for a pretty girl with something in common." She smiled. "I'll tell him your name." She heard Kaname's glass door slide open and close quickly. "What a happy coincidence." She finished her wine and went back inside.
As Sousuke stood for a moment, trying to gain his bearings, he noticed the ring on his finger, bathed in the light of a large moonbeam. It looked Dark Blue. He felt the hair stand on the back of his head. Someone was there! He had been unwary, assuming that the presence of operatives downstairs meant that there would be no enemies upstairs. Amalgam might want to play things doubly safe. And, who said that there might not be more than one den of vipers after the secrets stored inside of Kaname's noggin?
Something struck his foot. He felt something plastic touch his toes. Moving through raw instinct, he leaped and twisted in mid air, landing on his feet further away, swiftly assuming a fighting crouch. He was impressed by Kaname's body's athletic prowess. But it was his soldier's skill set that was needed most now. Or was it? Leg extended, he was ready to perform a sweep if he heard any footsteps headed towards his position. Things were at an impasse.
Something struck his foot again! Was it some kind of attack drone, something like an evil twin of the Roomba automated vacuum cleaner or some similar devices? Might he be sprayed with an anesthetic gas, or feel a drugged needle plunge deeply into his flesh?
Again, a weak impact. This time he clearly heard a faint skittering sound that accompanying the sound of an object rolling across the linoleum floor. Somehow feeling less on edge, he hurried to pull curtains across the sliding door, and then moved to where he remembered the light switches to be on the wall. He turned on the lights. His adversary was revealed.
Kaname's hamster moved his furry little limbs, making the hamster ball roll across the floor. It wrinkled its little nose, and then began its aimless journey again.
"You are lucky I did not have a gun!" Sousuke told the oblivious rodent. He didn't ask himself who truly was the lucky one. In actuality, that would be the residents in rooms next to Kaname's. "Your plastic shield is not bulletproof!" String at the busy little critter, a thought came to mind. He was hungry. And, if he was hungry, the active creature must be hungry, too. He had no idea why the hamster hadn't been put back in his cage. But, there was no one who could feed it now, but him. This was an unexpected duty, but his duty just the same.
"Do you need sustenance?" It was a rhetoric question, but Sousuke felt foolish when he waited for an answer. "I do not wish for you to suffer a lack of required nutrients." He was struck by another thought. What would happen if he couldn't get his own body back? Kaname couldn't live here in his body, could she? Would he have to live here, and be responsible for this animal? That thought was just the tip of the iceberg. Eventually, he shook his head back and forth, as if to shake all of the unbidden thoughts out through his ears. He walked over to the small travel bag thatg he had been carrying and opened it up. He took out an MRE and unwrapped it.
"Here," he opened the hamster ball and held a piece of a Soldier Fuel bar under its nose. It did not nibble. He held out a piece of Xylitol chewing gum. It did not chew. "How about this." He held out a piece of carrot slathered in dripping beef sauce. No luck. "I do not blame you. I appear to be the only one who likes these. Everyone else calls them 'Meals Rejected by Everyone', 'Meals Rarely Edible', and even 'Meals Rejected by Ethiopians'." He made a face. "Because of the low fiber content, the food can sometimes lead to constipation." He coughed, remembering the I.B.S. information interlude. "That prompts other names: 'Meals Requiring Enemas, 'Meals Refusing to Exit', 'Meals Refusing to Excrete,' or 'Massive Rectal Expulsions'. It is probably best that you do not find it appealing." He sat down at a table, hamster ball fully sealed, and consumed the MRE.
Sousuke felt conflicted. He had satisfied his mental hunger pangs, noting how the meal tasted different to him in Kaname's body. But, he had not pleased his physocal body. That taste was not different in a good way. But, it did not matter, as a soldier, his mind held sway over his body. Regardless, he had been taken care of. The rodent had not. "I will find your food." But, doing a quick scouting run, he found no boxes, bins, or jars. "Perhaps she keeps it in the refrigerator."
The refrigerator held mostly condiments and healthy drinks. A half-empty carton of shrimp fried rice stood next to a sealed portion of uncooked fish filets, a daikon radish, and a small container of mushrooms. There was also a bowl covered with aluminum foil. He unwrapped that. There was an untouched pork rib coated with Korean BBQ sauce.
"I am uncertain what hamsters eat," Sousuke admitted. He had no references for hamsters in the military or in any form of armed warfare, so there was a blank spot in the Sousuke-mind. And, he had never had a pet while growing up. Small animals would have been food in Afghanistan. The KGB had no need for hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, and other cute furry things, unless there was some division he was unaware of, who turned the animals into bombs. "I could call Kaname; but she is no doubt busy or exhausted. I could radio for instructions…." He was not going to contact the TDD-1 in this matter. This was not a good reason to break radio silence in this domicile. "Let me think. What animals are similar." He thought a bit. He had seen an Easter commercial a few weeks back. Rabbits!
"But, I also do not know what rabbits eat. It would not be chocolate. That would be cannibalism." He sighed. That was a stupid thought. Chocolate rabbits were not real rabbits. "I did see 'Night of the Lepus', last week." That was the most recent entry in Medrida Island's 'Bad Monster Movie' series. That particular flick… also known as 'Rabbits'… is a 1972 American science fiction horror thriller film based on the science fiction novel 'The Year of the Angry Rabbit'. It concerns an infestation of mutated rabbits in a peaceful Arizona town. Hormones were the culprit in the movie, not the usual radiation trope. The giant bunnies had a thirst for human flesh, and survived attacks by explosives. Townspeople and the Nation Guard electrified a stretch of railroad track and lured thousands of rabbits to their doom. "Flesh is muscle and muscle is meat." Meat it would be.
"I will not sacrifice my body for you," Sousuke told the hamster, taking it out of its ball and placing it in its covered cage. "But… I have other meat." He placed the rib inside of the cage with the animal. He had no reason to rig up explosions or means of electrocution, but his unconscious otaku mind ran through a list of possibilities just the same.
"You are not alone, I see." Sousuke said to the rodent, who had not yet approached the meat. There was a large glass fishbowl on the table top near the hamster cage. A slowly moving gold fish, body sporting camouflage-like splotches of orange, white, and black, swam above a cartoonish plastic castle and small Disney figures that he did not recognize. "I shall need to feed you as well, I suppose." He began a separate search. Something colorful caught his eye. It was a package of Albanese Gummi Worms.
"Hmmm-mm-m." Sousuke rubbed his chin. He read the list of nutrients on the back of the package, but the words were unfamiliar to him. There were no instructions, in regards to whether or not the worms were intended as fish food. But, they were located close to the fish bowl. That could not be coincidence! "I will start you off with one." He dropped a blue-and-red candy worm into the water. "If you finish that while I am still here, I will give you more." Kaname would be pleased. While he was by no means domestic, he was taking good care of her animal friends. Sousuke Sagara, humanitarian!
"To business," the young operative told himself. He needed to find Kaname's school books, notes, and any assignments that might be due. Her book bag would also be needed, and might be present with or near the other sundries. "New clothes, too." It wouldn't have been good practice to don the same clothes tomorrow in any case. But, that was doubly true now, since the blouse and skirt he was wearing was covered with pines needles, bark, and tree sap. That had him thinking something else.
"And… I will need to find her gym clothing… and anything she would use for softball." That last word had him feeling unsure. How would he know what to do and say in that sport? He had seen soldiers playing it on base, but was hardly acquainted with the rules and niceties. Now was not the time to fret. He would worry about that when the time came.
"Before I forget-" He realized that he was in Kaname's body, and that meant following Kaname's hygiene requirements. "I will have to use her toothbrush, not mine." He needed to use the restroom anyway. That thought was strangely disturbing. After reaching that room, and doffing his skirt, he slid off his panties, somehow feeling like a pervert doing so. He thought of Commander Mardukas and swallowed hard.
"Somebody stole my-" No. No one had. That significant appendage was no doubt still attached to his swapped body, where it ought to be. "The plumbing is different." He wasn't talking about the sink, toilet, or shower. Without the pomp and circumstances that Kaname had suffered through, he managed to make his bladder one happy camper.
After flushing the toilet, he began gathering up toothbrush, Brilliant More toothpaste, and dental floss. He stood a while, staring at the bathroom mirror, going through another IBE, an In the Body Experience. If this was a dream, he certainly hadn't managed to wake up yet. And he was damn sure that things were way too detailed for a dream. Thinking it would be wise to smell the same way that Kaname normally did, he collected her Ichikami Smooth and Sleek Shampoo, a green bar of soap, and deodorant. "These-" He had no idea which lipstick color might be appropriate, and had no idea how to apply it properly. The same held true to mascara and other beauty products. They could remain here. "That-"
Sousuke began trembling ever so slightly. He had stumbled across something foreboding, like finding himself in a secret minefield, with no knife available to find the location of the explosives in a quick and safe manner. Feminine hygiene products. Sofy brand soft tampons. P&G Japan panty liners. Natural Moon sanitary napkins. An unopened box containing Ulula douche. "I… I will not need these for one night. I am not a specialist in these. No. I… I am less than a greenhorn…." Indeed, he could breakdown any weapon blindfolded, hanging from an exercise bar, and put it back together again while singing a pithy battle hymn. He knew nothing of microorganisms, feminine odor, and the proper maintenance of moisture.
He decided not to use the shower at Kaname's apartment. He was familiar with his own, and would keep tomorrow's change of close for tomorrow not tonight. Leaving the restroom, he resumed his search. Heading into Kaname's bedroom, he passed by a large wicker basket and stopped. The basket held a large number of magazines. Those might prove useful. He would need to have various things to speak about, masquerading as Kaname Chidori, whenever his strategy of staying silent would prove to be impractical. There might also be clues to the behavior of teenage girls. He would pack some up and take them with him. Nature. Elle. Reader's Digest. Business week. Each publication he leafed through was different than the one before it. Kaname certainly had a very broad taste in reading material. He stopped after selecting a dozen.
"I will need to search through these." Sousuke hesitated to open the drawers to Kaname's dresser. There would be private materials inside of them. He was not a stalker, a Nosey Nelly, or a thief. But, Kaname had been the one who set him on this difficult and dangerous mission. As commanding officer, she would bear any blame and accountability. "It is not a problem."
As the young soldier respectfully turned over one piece of clothing after another, he found articles that would serve for the next day's purposes. He froze, holding up a frilly brassiere. Looking at it, he was almost transfixed, like a mongoose staring into a king cobra's eyes. "Uhhh." He coughed and put it down quickly. The final thing on his mental list was bloomers in the school colors. "This-" He found a number of photos laying underneath the underwear and socks. "Is this her mother?" There were pictures from when Kaname was younger. There was a woman he did not recognize. Her identity wasn't a secret, seeing that she was in photos with Kaname's father and younger sister. "I wonder." He felt a strange feeling. It wasn't pain. What was it? He wondered what his father and mother once looked like. Did he have a brother or sister once? Might he still have one somewhere?
Searching in other drawers, he found more recent photos. There was one of Kyouko. There was one with Kyouka, Maya, Shiori, and Ryo. There was one with her softball team. "This-" There was one that had been taken aboard the TDD-1, with Kaname in a dress, standing in front of the submersible's crew. "Why?" There was one final photograph in that drawer. It had been torn completely in two, and then taped back together again. He flipped it over, looking down at his own face. The image was dressed in the school uniform, standing in front of the main school building. He sat there holding the picture for a while, half thoughts never forming a whole.
"They must be in here." Sousuke had reached the final drawer. Moving clothing around, he came across old sports medals and ribbons, some from the United States. He also came across letter-paper with inked handwriting. The ink was smeared in small concentric circles, as if water droplets had fallen on the parchment. "Tears?" Sousuke felt as if he were standing at a gravesite, as if something precious had died. He dared not read the faded note; but, it was no doubt something very sacred and sorrowful to Kaname. Maybe it was a break-up letter from a past boyfriend. "Is it true… is it better to have love and lost…." He did not complete the saying. What did someone like him know about anything besides fighting?
"Right!" Bloomers, at last. Now, he would retrieve clothing on hangars from the bedroom closet. When he finished that task, he moved methodically throughout the abode, collecting everything else that he needed. "What in the world-" He saw something that baffled him. "So many shoes! Enough for an army. Or at least a Combat Aviation Brigade or an Armored Combat Regiment. A rack on the floor held footwear of every color, style, and material that he could imagine. Kaname wasn't a shoe thief, was she?
A few minutes later, Sousuke stood staring at Kaname's bed. Should he change plans and sleep here for the night? He picked up the large Bonta-Kun doll. He thought about the time he had spied on Kaname at the amusement park. He remembered taut and treacherous battles with a crazed policewoman. "Thankfully, that was the last we saw of her." No doubt the mentally unbalanced woman had been reassigned. "Fumo fumo." He wondered how well the Bonta-kun A.S. suits were selling. He hadn't heard of any sales after the deal with the Miami police force. Mao had said the machines were 'too fucking cute' to be taken seriously by true professionals. "It's what's on the inside that counts!" He was on the inside. But, he was inside the wrong outside.
He decided that his original plan was best, if only because the radio set-up was at his place, and he might need to contact Mithril before school time. There were no secure lines in this apartment complex.
"I'm leaving." Sousuke handed the defense of Kaname's apartment over to the hamster and the goldfish.
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STREETS OF TOKYO
"It's a little late now," Sousuke said.
The boy-inside-a-girl was not talking about the hour, even though it was actually a fair bit past dinner time. No, he was talking about the opportunity to call in for transport by Mithril means, or by using the Uber app to hail a taxi cab.
"It will not be a problem," Sousuke opined. "It is not as if a Venom will break ECS, or twin Chinese assassins will jump into the street." Heavy bookbag and separate satchel draped over his shoulders, he made his way along illuminated streets on the way to his apartment. A man at heart, he didn't understand how the same walk he had taken many times before could be less safe for Kaname Chidori than it was for Sousuke Sagara.
There was also the question of how much Chidori he was, and how much Sagara. His coordination between mind and body was growing better minute by minute and hour by hour, but it was by no means perfect yet. And while he had his former martial knowledge, he also had to deal with his current level of physical prowess, or lack thereof.
"Just a few moments more, and I will work on a clandestine insertion." Souuke had buried a number of plastic crates amongst the yard area of his apartment building. Each crate held different things that he might need in some form of mission, from surveillance ops all of the way up to serious combat. He had the locations mapped out in his mind, not on paper. He just hoped that no one had found the particular stash.
"My… my… my…" An unfamiliar voice spoke. "Someone sent us a gift, a peach plucked from the heavenly garden." The speaker was a gangly looking man with a fuzzy face, long hairy arms, and hair that stood up in two sweeping arcs.
"Nah…." Another man spoke. "I'd say it's more like a cherry. You know how I like my cherries." The laugh was perverted and full of innuendo. "Only sissy boys worry about peaches." The man had a large flat nose, flappy jowls, and a very rotund belly. He emptied a bag of candy-covered peanuts in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.
"Hey now… no fighting…" The third speaker sounded like he often played the role of peacekeeper between the other two. Like the others, he wore a teal-colored satin jacket, with the word 'MONKS' emblazoned across it in vibrant golden thread. He had an orange beard, a half-bald head, and wore a necklace with small pewter skulls. "We could treat the lady nice, you know. Maybe Karaoke."
"Oh… I'll make her sing, alright." The fuzzy-faced man made a mock bow to Sousuke and said "My name is Su Hei Wukong. You may call me your handsome king. Don't worry about the ugly one. I'll keep you to myself." He licked his lips.
"Shit!" The ugly one exclaimed. "I'll make her grunt until she likes it, and then squeal until she can't take any more." He laughed, hand on his zipper. "My name is Zhu Daizi. You should tattoo that on your ass, so I'll always be there."
"Sloppy thirds again, I guess." The bearded man sighed. "But I really think we should treat her nice, first." He waved to Kaname. "Hello. My name is Sandy Wujing. But… well… those two just call me Water Buffalo."
"You can give shit a name," Sousuke started, recalling some that Mao had said before. "But it's still just shit." Those words in Kaname's voice sounded strange, and had all three aggressors go slack-jawed.
"I might keep her tied up in my basement for a while," the ugliest member of the trio remarked a few moments later. "I have good uses for a potty mouth." He brought forth something he had kept behind his back. It looked like a long thin wooden rake with nine pointed teeth.
"Sounds like she's all pit and no peach," the fuzzy dude quipped. He was holding a medium length staff, engraved with the words 'Bang Bang.'
"But-" The bearded man winced when the other two shouted 'Whose side are you on!' He reluctantly brought forth his own staff, one Be-Dazzled with pearls and shiny strips of white cloth.
"You cannot use weapons," Sousuke said in a rare moment of sarcasm. He pictured Lieutenant Commander Kalanin saying those words. But wait. Kaname was an athlete. She could probably outrun these buffoons. No. Not while carrying all this weight. And, he could not simply throw all of the items away. They were of the utmost importance for school tomorrow. He could not let Kaname down! But… wasn't taking care of her body his utmost goal? The time it took for the internal debate played his hand for him. He was surrounded. "But… of course… I am a weapon."
"What did you say, cutie?" Su Hei sweepty his staff around, intending to put the blue-haired girl on her back. It would be easy peasy lemon squeezy after that.
"Wouldn't matter if you were," Zhu snorted. "I have two weapons. If this story were an anime, the portion of male anatomy hanging from his pants would be pixelled-out. He tried to snare the girl's flowing skirt with the pointed teeth on his weapon. He coordinated his movements with the silent Sandy.
"I'm glad that they trained me in Systema," Sousuke thought to himself, thinking back to his days in KGB captivity. That style of fighting, originating with the Cossacks, and made use of by Spetsnaz and other Russian special forces, concentrates on things such as self-protection against knife, club or gun…grappling… and weapons training… as well as personal wellness. Systema students train for real-life combat situations and the potential to defend against multiple armed opponents.
To any onlooker, the motions were all too fast to see. The three would-be rapists were no slouches, by any means. But, as befit their history of past successes, they were overconfident. Staves and rakes lashed out, rising and descending from every possible angle, with different speed and spins. But, the attackers also made good use of their limbs, snapping out punches and kicks.
"Damn." Sousuke was struck several times, with glancing blows that did no real damage. He was upset. He didn't want to collect even a single small bruise. He focused on his breathing. That was an important part of Systema training. That system does not use techniques in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, it uses natural and logical movements intended for maximum efficiency which can be easily modified for any situation at hand. Not only does this mean that it can be used for anything from cradling a newborn child to disarming multiple armed attackers, but that these things can be done all at the same time. While techniques are taught, they generally have no practical use of their own; they are intended to develop certain qualities in the student's movement. That helped Sousuke bring in features of other hand-to-hand methods he had learned.
The attackers grew frustrated and furious. How could they miss? That stupid cow didn't seem to be doing anything fancy like kung fu, but she was blocking or dodging all of their attacks with ease. At least she didn't seem capable of attack. With code words called out to one another, they doubled their efforts with a fierce coordinated assault. The sound of wood striking street was staccato and scary.
Systema ignores most of the more artistic aspects of martial arts, such as forms, patterns and poomsae in favor of drills to improve proficiency in such things as awareness, three dimensional movement, grappling, striking and weapons. Now it was time for Sousuke to teach a harsh lesson.
"Shit!" Sousuke knew what to do in whichever situation arose, but he was still dealing with Kaname's reflexes and muscles. Everything seemed a few inches off, or a few seconds too slow. But, in the sense that a sharpened stick can put out an eye as well as one tipped with the deadliest of blades, good enough was more than enough. Dodging three weapons thrusts, he grappled with the fuzzy man and slammed his head hard against a brick wall. That attacker dropped to his knees, momentarily stunned.
"Bitch!" The ugly one swung his rake straight for the girl's eyes. Blind or not, she would be a good lay. He grunted in disbelief when three strong strikes pummeled his arms and chest. He dropped his weapons and squealed in pain, as the fingernails on the girl's hand sank deep into his male organ before twisting and pulling sharply. "Mother fuck!" He dropped to his knees, before his face bounced off the pavement, thanks to a chop to the back of his neck.
"Hmmm," Sousuke said, ducking under a whistling staff, light shining off of its pearly inserts. "Maybe I should teach Kaname Systema." Her body had proven itself sufficient for 'The System'. A disciple's body had to be free of tensions, filled with endurance, flexibility, effortless movement, and explosive potential. Check, at least for everything but the tension part. The psychological state… or spirit, if you will… has to be calm, free of anger, irritation, fear, self-pity, delusion, ego and pride. "Uhhh… maybe not…."
"Get up, guys!" Orange beard spun his staff like an airplane propeller, before lashing out with a wicked blow. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his two compatriots struggle to their feet, propping themselves up on their weapons. "It's just… one… little… girl…." He missed, and wound up to strike again.
Systema has four pillars: Breathing, Relaxation, Body Position, and Movement. Also key, is utilizing an attacker's momentum against them and controlling the six body levers… elbows, neck, knees, waist, ankles, and shoulders… through pressure point application, striking, and weapon applications.
"I'm growing weary." Sousuke felt a short stab of fear. Kaname's stamina for fighting was far less than his own. He would have to disobey orders, but only in the most literal of senses. He would not be using a gun, a knife, or a grenade. "I will borrow this." He grabbed the bearded man's elbow in such a way that he exclaimed in pain, before dropping his staff. The weapon never hit the ground, ending up in Sousuke's grip. "The balance is pretty good."
Motions blurred again, but much different this time. The two barely-conscious attackers shouted sexual innuendo and made demeaning comments about women. But, their strikes seemed much more girlish that Sousuke's. The third man lay unconscious, the victim of successive strikes to the temple areas. What's more, Sousuke's calmed and smooth motions suddenly turned ugly and violent. He had been trained by people other than the KGB, of course. Hearing so many Kurz-like comments, he automatically switched over into Mao-Mode. Teeth bounced across the ground, looking like large falling hailstones. Blood spurted from noses and mouths alike. Bumps arose on the bodies, like sprouting mushrooms. The beat-down looked more like something from an anime than from real life.
"Monks," Sousuke said, standing over three barely-waking bodies. His breath was ragged and he was sweating profusely, but he was unharmed and able to walk home readily enough. "I will remember that name. Yes… I… will…" With those three words, he struck three groins with force enough to rupture testicles or at least induce an enormous amount of bruising and swelling. "If I ever hear word of another woman falling prey to anyone of your description, I will seek you out and finish the job." His words carried all of the finality of a headman's axe. "You made me tear my skirt."
There had been witnesses to the fight, even though no one had called out or hurried over to offer assistance. The legend of a blue-haired demon would spread though nearby neighborhoods.
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SOUSUKE'S APARTMENT COMPLEX
"Nearly there."
Sousuke meant the supposed safety of his secure sanctuary, not his apartment building proper. He was spying on that edifice now, his shadowy form hidden behind a well-manicured hedge.
"That was quite the commotion." His fight with the three-man gang must have drawn some attention. Someone out walking their dog. Young lovers sneaking away for some time together. Snoopy people peering quietly from their windows, porches, or doors. Someone. "But… things seem quiet… for now…."
There was no screaming of sirens or bright spirals or red and blue lights as police cars converged on his location. He had no need to swat away drones, the way that he was brushing away mosquitoes. Black-clothed and masked Amalgam ninjas were not dropping from stealth gliders. There had been no return of the guerilla grannies from Kaname's apartment. "We have the green light," Sousuke told himself. It was go-time. He could find the particular stash that he needed. "Five steps from the edge of the hedge, facing north." He did so. "Two paces to my right." He did that as well. "Ten feet east." He dropped to his knees, his skirt moved out of the way. With both hands, he dug through soft soil and mulch. "I hope I do not chip a nail." He found a metal ring and pulled firmly, standing up. The ring was attached to a long thin chain. The chain was attached to a plastic box with a combination lock.
"Victory," Sousuke said softly, brushing dirt off a tan plastic bin. He keyed in a code, and the top opened. He sorted through items inside. "Perfect." He took out a sealed plastic bag, opened it, and removed a full body length camouflage-pattern parka with a hood. He had worn these inside the apartment lobby before. Anyone at the desk should assume it was a scar-faced boy underneath. "Would anything else serve?" The pistol and clips? Unfortunately, not. The brass knuckles? Also regrettably a negative. The small GPS unit? Maybe. He would take it along. Cliff Notes books in Japanese, covering a number of subjects? This is where he's left them! Great.
Now, wearing his parka with the hood pulled far over his blue locks, Sousuke made his way into the lobby of his building. When the desk manager called his name and held up some mail, he gave the man a thumbs up and grabbed the envelopes, saying nary a word. Not wanting to wait for an elevator, he took to the stairs, running. He made it to his room with no trouble… opened the door and practically jumped inside… and closed the door behind him, feeling a great feeling of relief wash over him like a cold watery wave.
"First, I will get out of these clothes." Sousuke intended to get into his Mithril-issue pajamas before finishing up his night's work. He would radio DaDanaan with updates. He would call Kaname and check up on her and her progress. He would read the magazines. "But-" He stood at the door to his weapons closet. "I am alone, now…." No one would see what he did next. He opened the door.
The closet was a veritable treasure trove of military mayhem. Sousuke cradled a Benelli M4 Super 90 Semi-Automatic Combat Shotgun like it was his newborn son. He patted a Colt M203 40mm Single-Shot Breech-Loading Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher like it was the head of his favorite nephew. Likewise, the Colt M4A1 SOPMOD Carbine Rifle with Special Forces Modification Kit, Glock 17 and Glock 18 received gentle caresses, as did the Fabrique Nationale FN SCAR Modular Automatic Assault Rifle, Heckler & Koch HK MP5K, HK 21, and HK G36, and a Sig Sauer P228. That didn't mean that he ignored his AK-74M, the Dragunov SVD, a 9×21mm Gyurza SPS, or one of many NRS survival knives. "Your father is home," he said, gently lifting a Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle off of a hook. He had to at least hold a weapon or two, or else he would feel like a dead-beat dad. "But father must get undressed, now. Maybe a bedtime story later."
For Sousuke, it was still simpler to speak to his familiar weapons than it was to talk with stranger students and instructors. They really shouldn't be strangers after all of his time at the school; but, it was his way. Not only was he always focused on Kaname and their surroundings… and always suspicious of everything living and non-living when he was around her… but he also eternally seemed like a solitary soul, even when surrounded by a sea of humanity. But… thanks mostly to the blue-haired girl… he was at least making painfully slow progress. Tomorrow, he would have to burst through that fearsome and sturdy barrier, or find a suitable excuse. He would indeed be Kanqame Chidori, and all that came with that marque.
When he made his way to the bathroom and disrobed, he felt unnerved, caught entirely off guard. "There is some blood…" There was a small red stain in the cradle of his panties. "Did I receive a serious blow without knowing…." He took a Kleenex and rubbed himself down below. Sure enough, there was a slight amount of fresh blood. "What is the significance of a wound there? What do I do to stop the bleeding? Will I need a medic?"
There was only one way to answer those questions. He was due for a check-in, anyway. He made his way over to his radio console, unembarrassed by his naked state, and dialed the number for the TDD-1 com room. Getting a reply, he asked to be patched through to Belfangan Clouseau, but he was not available. Mao would do in his place.
"Mao," Souuske said in a rush, when Melissa came on the feed. "I fear I have experienced internal injuries."
"What?!" Mao assumed a serious voice. "How serious? How did it happen?"
Sousuke described everything, from climbing up and down trees, to his embroglio in the city street, and to his bathroom discovery. He was shocked to hear Melissa say 'Shit,' and start chuckling.
"This one is above my pay grade," Mao said, trying to keep the vocal equivalent of a straight face. "I'll have to refer you to the Captain." She paused. "Tessa will be a big help, I am sure."
"The Captain?" Sousuke was confused. "Don't you mean Doctor Goldberry?"
"She would do fine, too." Mao replied. "But Tessa is your age. And… well… let's just say she's perfect." She didn't expect Sousuke to be suspicious in any way, shape, or form. "I'll go get her." The line went silent for a few minutes.
"Sergeant Sagara! Sousuke!" It was Tessa. "Melissa told me that you are injured and needed my help. Tell me everything that happened." She listened intently as Sousuke spun his tale. When he got to the final part, her eyes went wide and she swallowed hard. "That… Melissa!... drat her, she's gone…"
"Captain?" Sousuke remembered what he had been told before. "Uhhh… Tessa…."
"Ummm…." Tessa seemed subdued and shy, her voice slow and stilted: "Well… you see… it's like this, Sergeant… I mean Sousuke." There was a long pause. This time, Tessa sounded like she was on the bridge, directing Commander Mardukas to launch cruise missiles at an Amalgam laboratory or research facility. "You are experiencing Menstruation. As you may or may not already know, menstruation is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue known as menses from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The first period usually begins between twelve and fifteen years of age, a point in time known as menarche. However, periods may occasionally start as young as eight years old and still be considered normal. The typical length of time between the first day of one period and the first day of the next is twenty-one to forty-five days in young women, and twenty-one to thirty-one days in adults… but I sincerely hope that today and tomorrow are the only days you will have to go through this. You won't need to know that bleeding usually lasts around two to seven days unless Kaname does not succeed in her mission."
"But…" Sousuke shook off the obvious pessimistic thought. "So… the bottom line is that there is nothing to be concerned about…." There was plenty to be concerned about. But other than personal cleanliness issue, the bleeding would not affect his health or combat readiness.
"Not really," Tessav replied. "Girls can develop acne, tender breasts, bloating, fatigue, irritability, and mood changes during their period." She took a moment to add: "I suspect Miss Chidori is always menstruating, right?" He chuckled at her quip. "But seriously, because her symptoms may interfere with normal life, they qualify as premenstrual syndrome… you know… PMS…."
"I see," Sousuke sdaid in a clinical style of voice. "I am suffering what they call a period." He felt relieved, and yet very disturbed. Men do not have periods. He was a man. This was above his pay grade. "I am on the rag. I am having a visit from Aunt Flo. Lady Business. That time of the month. The Red Badge of Courage. Crimson Tide…"
"Sousssskay." Tessa said.
"The Girl Flue. The Red Wedding… not the one from Game of Thrones. Carrie. Mother nature's gift…." Sousuke was on a roll.
"Sous-kay Sagara." Tessa tried again to stop the flow of words.
"The Red Baron. Riding the Cotton Pony. Shark Week…." Sousuke closed his eyes tightly when he heard Tessa's scream through the com set.
"SERGEANT SAGARA I ORDER YOU TO SHUT UP!"
For a few moments, Sousuke could only hear Tessa try to regulate her breathing, before saying: "That will be enough, Sousuke." She then went on to explain what he needed to do. She finished by saying "I hope I helped," before discussing Mithril matters with her subordinate.
"Tessa?" Sousuke sought one final answer. He had thought of something. The Captain had helped him. Perhaps he could help her.
"Yes, Sousuke?" Tessa replied.
"Your shouting before," ousuke started. "Are you suffering acne… are your breasts tender… are you bloated… are you particulary tired…."
Before he finished, the line went dead.
After his communications, Sousuke got dressed in Sousuke-clothing, balled up his hair and snugged it inside of an over-sized and wide-brimmed giggle hat. He slipped on a pair over boots a few sizes too large for him now, and made a run to the nearest all-night pharmacy, a kerchief covering all but his eyes. He made it back home in record time.
"I… well… it was my error." Sousuke spilled the contents of his paper bag into the bathroom sink. "I should have brought those… items… from Kaname's apartment." He then did the things that Tessa had instructed him to do.
Once again, he stared transfixed at the mirror for a moment. He made certain that he had no visible bruises. He could stare into Kaname's eyes this way, without feeling self-conscious or ashamed, the way he always did after she yelled at him or dressed him down. During the times she had been sweet or grateful, he had not known how to meet her gaze.
"Is that-?" He squinted and leaned closer to the reflective glass. "Am I developing a zit?" He didn't think so after all. Good thing. He was sometimes a card-carrying member of the 'If all you have is a hammer, treat everything like it's a nail' club. One does not disarm a pimple like one is facing a live munition. Entrenching tools and combat knives were not the proper tools for dealing with facial blemishes. Bleach was good in the laundry, but not on rosy cheeks.
Walking past his own clothes closet, he noticed how haphazardly everything was arranged. Some clothing was appropriately creased, while others looked like it had been run over by a hovercraft during an assault landing. Remembering what Kaname's closet had looked like, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. Should he ask her to help him arrange his wardrobe better? Did he need a better wardrobe? He would draw the line at shoes, in any case. He was not foot obsessed.
"I should call her," he said, thinking of Kaname. "Hopefully at this hour, they are done for a while." He was conflicted. He didn't want Kaname to wear herself out, mentally. He was not concerned about his body's endurance and natural resistance. But, he couldn't put her mental condition before both of their overall condition. He wanted to be himself again. Whatever kind of life he had lived up to that point, it had been his own. He had no doubt that the owner of the body he was borrowing felt exactly the same way.
"Hello, this is Sergeant Sousuke Sagara-" He spoke when someone at the Neurological Hospital laboratory answered the phone.
"And this is not civilian Kaname Chidori," a male voice answered. "This is the ever so brilliant and equally handsome Dr. Necesitter." There was the sound of laughter in the background. "Shut up! Sorry, I don't mean you, Sousuke. Dr. Hfuhruhurr is being his usual jealous self again."
"Give me that!" It was a different voice. Dr. Hfuhruhurr had grabbed the phone from his compatriot. "I know what you are thinking of. Your sweetheart. And our progress." There was sound of a struggle for the phone, but he prevailed. "The first thing I will say, is that it's a good thing that she's in your body and not her own. I don't think she could keep going, if she were in her original body. Hey… owww…"
\"She'd have no need to do any of this-" a woman's voice said. It was Miss Uumellmahaye. "-If she were in her original body." There was a pause. "Which I hope you are taking very good care of."
"M'am, yes M'am!" Sousuke stood at attention, in his sagging pajamas.
"I will speak to the Sergeant," Anne's voice snapped. She directed her co-workers to straighten up the lab during their break period. No one knew how much time they had before the next wave of Whispers struck. They all made yawning noises, reaching the end of their endurance. Another group of scientists would take watch, so to speak. "Hello… I'm back… sorry to keep you waiting." She explained to Sousuke what type of work was being done… how many different work crews and scientific teams had been building how many types of machiner and devices… and how many other groups had been putting Kaname's vocalizations to one test after another.
"How is Kaname?" Sousuke asked. "May I speak to her." He was worried about her, and after the day he had had, he was filled with questions.
"She's doing as well as could be expected, I guess." Anne seemed somewhat concerned, but not extremely so. "It's been rather odd, watching her go through all those spells. If there are aliens involved, she will be sending them one hell of a bill I ewager. No… stop…."
"I'll take over now," Dr Hfuhruhurr said. "Nessie… you hold her off… she might tell the boy about some of our… mistakes…." That was not a comforting aside. "I mean… who would have guessed that we didn't need to shave all of the hair off of his head to get the Psionic Amplifying helmet to work."
"Helmet?' Sousuke had momentarily forgotten about Kaname. "Hair?" They had shaved of 'his' head? That 'his' meant him, didn't it?
"The helmet is our version of a magic cap. Unlike Fortunatus's helmet-" Dr. Hfuhruhurr couldn't finish. The body-telephone transfer took place again.
"Let me explain," Dr. Necessitter said. "Fortunatus was one of the best-known and most widely-circulated stories in medieval and early modern Europe. It would certainly have been widely known and enjoyed, by both adults and children, in England, where it was published in a variety of formats. Thomas Dekker, for instance, turned it into a play. Gradually the tale was altered and abridged until it became accepted as a children's story. In his poem 'The Prelude', William Wordsworth names Fortunatus as one of the folk tales that children used to-"
There was the sound of another struggle. It sounded like the three researchers were in on it, joined by at least one MP.
"Perhaps the most memorable parts of the story involve Fortunatus acquiring a magic purse and magic hat," Dr. Necessiter added. He did not look it, but for a wiry scientist, he was made of iron. "Famished and sleeping in a forest, our story's pundit wakes to find himself in the presence of a beautiful lady. She tells him that she is Lady Fortune and gives him a purse which continually refills itself. This enables Fortunatus to return home, where he gets married and has two sons. Many years later he goes on his travels again and tricks his way into owning a wishing-hat….'"
More struggling. More MPs. And by the sound of it, at least one irate administrator.
"A wishing hat which will transport him instantly to any place which he desired to be," Dr. Necessiter continued. "As you probably know, magical objects which grant wishes to the owner are common in fairy tales and have engaged children for centuries. Think of it as Lambda Drivers for the common man."
"You should leave medieval tales to the historians, and explain the science, moron." Dr Hfuhruhurr sounded a bit huffy. He held the hot potato now. "Unlike Fortunatas's cap, the Psionic Helmet only sounds magical. It-"
"Maybe you should get around to telling the boy about Miss Chidori," Anne said with a grunt. Dr Hfuhruhurr could be heard making a pained grunting sound himself.
"I will take over now," a stranger's voice said. "This is Toyotomi Mitsunari, Vice President of hospital operations. You may not know me, but I have heard of you. I thank you for your many services on all of our behalf." Spoken like a true diplomat. "Miss Chidori is currently grabbing some shut-eye, on a cot we borrowed from the facility's barracks. We have made him… her… as comfortable as we possibly can."
"I see," Sousuke said, sadly. He had wanted to hear the sound of Kaname's voice, foolishly realizing that he merely had to speak to do that. Just the same, he had wanted to hear from her lips… his lips, really… that she was doing fine. He had wanted some reason to hold out hope. He listened for a while as the Administrator detailed the day's events, including science learned, and theories applied. There were already enough pending and possible experiments to last a month. The trick would to be find the one that solved the problem at hand.
"It sounds like you should get some sleep, yourself" Mr. Mitsunari said. "While I may not be your commanding officer, please take that as a command."
"Yes, Sir!" Sousuke yawned. It was funny, all it took was for someone to tell him to get some sleep to have him to realize just how tired he was. "I will!"
When Kaname's head hit Sousuke's pillow, sleep came quickly and mercifully.
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When Sousuke's alarm sounded, he yawned and hit the 'Alarm off' button on his bedside console.
He slowly got out of bed, discovering the effects of Kaname's early morning low blood pressure. He methodically did all of the things that he needed to do to get ready for the school day, including taking a shower, brushing his teeth and his hair, applying make-up the way a Google tutorial taught, and spit-shining a pair of Kaname's shoes.
When he was finished with his tasks, he sat down to read one last magazine as he chowed down on his modern version of Imperial Japanese Rations, field rations issued by Imperial Japan in World War II. The food reflected the culture of the Japanese military: the rations had to be stout, durable, simple, and sturdy… just like Sousuke… to be able to survive without refrigeration for long periods of time.
A stickler for history, Sousuke served his meal in a tin box similar the historical han-gou. He had arranged that meal in haphazard fashion. mixing rice with barley, canned sausage, pickled burdock and lotus root, some mandarin orange slices, and a glob of bean paste. He washed it all down with green tea. "I doubt that Kaname is in danger of a vitamin deficiency. Unless that is the cause of her circulatory insufficiency." The reason why rice was issued with barley was to combat nutritional deficiencies such as beriberi. In wartimes, soldiers would often be forced to forage for fresh fruit to provide vitamins. "I wonder if Kaname would have preferred sushi." He was referring to the girl's tongue, which at the moment was his tongue. He hadn't asked anyone aboard DaDanaan about coordinating his tastes to Kaname's body.
Imperial Japanese rations could contain canned tuna or squid ,canned cabbage, coconut, sweet potato, peaches, lychee or beans. Three teaspoons of pickled radish, pickled cucumber, umeboshi, scallions and ginger added flavor to the rations. Sometimes less than an ounce of dried seaweed was issued for making sushi in the field. Beer and or sake was issued to help boost morale, but Sousuke omitted that. He was not Mao. And, naturally, he thought it best for Kaname's body to arrive at school not reeking of alcohol.
"No," he noticed. "I do not reek." He was sporting the smells of Kaname's soap, body wash, and shampoo, not to mention her deodorant. He had omitted the perfume that he found, remembering someone once saying that fancy fragrances were frowned upon on school grounds. "But… that accident was unfortunate…. Or was it?" He sported a goose-egg sized bruising bump on his forehead. Kaname's forehead. He had uncharacteristically slipped on the bar of soap in the shower. Perhaps it would provide a practical excuse at school.
After breakfast, he cleaned up and prepared to leave for school.
"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable," Sousuke said, quoting General Eisenhower. He quickly went over the plans that he had gone over the day before, as well as those that had come to him in his in dreams. "Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter." He would have to be great, today. There could be no slaughter. That would have made Winston Churchill a happy bloke.
For a few minutes, Sousuke simply stood standing at his front door, as if his feet had been enclosed in concrete or nailed to the tiles. He was not a coward, and was no stranger to the feeling of butterflies in his stomach before a major engagement. He was not up against tanks, arm slaves, or attack helicopters today. That was child's play. Today he was up against high school students, including the most dangerous member of that species: high school girls.
"Breathing exercises," he said. "Remember the breathing exercises." And, one more quote for the road: "World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race." That was once said by Herman Kahn, founder of the Hudson Institute; one of the preeminent futurists of the latter part of the twentieth century; a military strategist and systems theorist who had become known for analyzing the likely consequences of nuclear war and recommending ways to improve survivability; all of that making him one of three historical inspirations for the title character of Stanley Kubrick's classic black comedy film satire 'Dr. Strangelove'. Sousuke sighed. "I am tasked today with a race to prevent World War III, without arms." Indeed. School is hell.
He removed the safety latch, undid the remaining security locks, and stepped out into the hallway, large school bag in hand. After locking the door, he headed off towards the elevator. He had decided against wearing the parka again. It imparted a sour odor, and would mess up his hair and clothing. His departure was earlier than usual, and there should be few people in the hallways or lobby, and none of those would connect Kaname with him. Or so he thought.
A door down the hallway was open. A middle-aged woman with a gown and hairdo that would have been perfect on a geisha girl had stepped out to pick up a bundle of shopping magazines and store coupons tied with a waxy twine. She stood there now, having seen Kaname's body leave Sousuke's apartment… a remarkable and unique sight. first thing in the morning… or any time of day or night, for that matter. There was an easy conclusion to draw.
"My, aren't you a pretty one," Miss Iwasaki said, always ready to maintain her reputation as the biggest gossip in the building. "And I was beginning to worry that young Mister Sagara was light in the loafers." She also hosted a video blog that reached tens of thousands of subscribers. "I hope the two of you are big fans Sailor Moon and her cat Luna." Those two famous characters adorn the packaging of about sixty thousand condoms distributed to the Japanese public as part of a campaign to prevent the spread of STIs in Japan and, more specifically, a rise in the number of syphilis cases.
"I-"Sousuke felt like a deer caught in headlights.
"And if you don't get checked, Auntie Iwasaki will punish you." The grinning woman was borrowing the campaign slogan. To her, safe sex is serious business, and not something to fuck around with.
"Uhhh-hh-h-"
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The trials and tribulations of our favorite Jindai students continues.
I wonder if anyone will figure out the inspiration for the three alley-way attackers
Once again, a huge debt is owed to Google and Wikipedia.