[FIC] Cold Turkey (part 4)

[dd]

THURSDAY


Kaname arrived at school with bags under her eyes. She hadn’t gotten any sleep. Her friends were very worried about her, but she didn’t want to go into any details.

Sousuke would be fine. In fact, he should be in school this morning. The police had found him, and insisted he stay in a hospital overnight for observation, despite his insistence that he was fine. Better safe than sorry, they had said.

Sousuke had been relatively safe. Kaname spent the night feeling incredibly sorry.

Walking into the school, he had the slightest of limps. His one cheek was swollen, and there was a small cut at the corner of his mouth. He had bruises on top of bruises. A number of students made wisecracks at his expense, but most were very concerned. The games they were playing was one thing---serious injuries were another thing altogether.

“Sousuke, where were you?” Kaname was close to tears again. “I called all of the hospitals, but none knew of your whereabouts.”

“The police told them to keep it a secret. I told them I was in no further danger from gangs, but they looked at me like I had a head injury.” Sousuke’s voice was slightly slurred.

“We all think that, some times” Kaname said, trying to lighten up the mood.

“I see. I called your apartment, but you were not at home. I was concerned that you might not have made it home safe.”

“YOU were concerned about ME? While you were laying in a hospital?” Kaname’s eyes were big.

“Yes, Kaname. Even though I may not speak of it, it is my duty.” Kaname let him slip that one in. Still, she was not happy.

“O. I see. Duty.” Kaname sounded dejected. She didn’t know why.

“Is there something wrong, Kaname?”

“O, No! Why should there be. Ah hah hah hah hah hah.” The ‘Kaname Denial Laugh.’ Kaname looked away.

“I also did not want anything to hurt you, Kaname.”

“Thank you, Sousuke.” Kaname felt better. Sousuke had the unique ability to make her feel warm and cuddly one moment, and wanting to jump off of a bridge the next. “I was not at home. I waited outside of your door for you. I was worried. I wish I never made you promise what you did!”

“It is OK, Kaname. I am learning things. It is not easy being a normal student.”

“Sousuke, even without guns and bombs, you are NOT a normal student!” Kaname shook her head, smiling.


*********************************************

Kaname soon forgot about Sousuke’s misadventure. She had problems enough of her own to deal with. That morning, it appears that the other students were giving Sousuke a grace period. They needed something to fill the void.

“Kaname walked into a doctor’s office and said ‘Doctor, I hurt all over!’” One of the boys decided on making a joke about Kaname. The idea caught fire.

“The doctor says. ‘That’s impossible.’”

“’No, really’ Kaname said. ‘Just look. When I touch my arm, OUCH---it hurts! When I touch my leg, OUCH---it hurts! When I touch my head, OUCH---it hurts! When I touch my chest, OUCH---it really hurts.’”

“The doctor just shook his head and said ‘You were actually born with that blue hair, weren’t you?’”

Kaname smiled and said ‘Why yes, I was. How did you know?’”

“The doctor replied ‘Because your finger is broken!!!’”

The whole homeroom burst into a long bout of laughter. Kaname got the impression that she was in for a long day. Sousuke was puzzled.

“Kaname, is that story true? How could you miss the fact that your finger was broken?”

“It never was, Sousuke. It was just a joke.” Kaname forgot about Sousuke’s injuries. Sometimes he could just be SO aggravating.

“I see. Why did you pretend you had all that pain, then? Doctors are usually very busy. They do not have time for such nonsense.”

Kaname just stared at Sousuke. It took a whole minute before she felt ready to respond in a composed fashion. “Sousuke. The story that the boy told was a joke. That never actually happened to me.”

“The next one’s true, though.” One girl stood up, all eyes upon her.

“One morning, Kaname called one of her friends and asked her to come over. ‘I have a really great puzzle, but I have no idea how to start it.’”

“Her friend asked ‘What is it a puzzle of?’”

“Kaname answered ‘From the picture on the box, I would say it was a tiger.’”

“The friend rushed over, knowing what happened if Kaname was allowed to get frustrated. When she got to the apartment, Kaname let her in and took her to where the puzzle pieces were spread out all over the table.”

“The friend looked everything over, including the box, and then just shook her head. She said ‘No matter what I do, there is no way you will be able to make those into anything looking like the picture on the box.’”

“’Then what should I do?’ Kaname asked, saddened.”

“I suggest you put all of the Frosted Flakes back in the box.’”

Again the class had a great time at Kaname’s expense.

“Kaname, I have tried that imported cereal before. Its flavor is not unpleasant. But, the flakes do not look anything like puzzle pieces. Even you must have seen that.” Sousuke looked perplexed.

“Even….. me….. Sousuke?” Kaname growled. Kyouko and Ren grabbed hold of her arms.

“It was another joke,” Mizuke told Sousuke.

“Though I can see why you might think otherwise,” Ryo said.

“I was the one she called over,” Maya said. “Not really, Sousuke.”

Kaname tossed her hair. “HMMPPFF!!! Any more?”

“Well, since you asked.” A boy stood up and took a bow. Almost everyone clapped. “Kaname walked into a department store, pointed, and told the clerk ‘I want to buy that microwave.’”

“We don’t sell microwaves to blue-haired girls.’” The clerk was insistent.

“The next day, Kaname put on a blonde wig and returned to the store. ‘I want to buy that microwave,’ she said again.”

“The sales clerk said ‘We do not sell microwaves to blue-haired girls.’”

“The next day, Kaname dyed her hair black and went back in. ‘I want to buy that microwave,’ she said one more time.”

“’We still do not sell microwaves to blue-haired girls,’ the clerk said, exasperated.”

“’How did you know I really have blue hair?’ Kaname asked.”

“’That isn’t a microwave. It’s a TV!’”

Everyone cheered and whistled.

“Kaname, is that why you say you do not like to use a microwave?” Sousuke remembered something that Kaname had once told him.

Kaname just put her head down on her desk.

“It will be OK, Kaname.” Kyouko patted her on the back. “Really it will.”


*************************************

The day’s planned attire had been decided on BEFORE word had gone around that Sousuke was injured. Most people were wearing fatigues, camouflage clothing, or some form or ersatz military uniform. It was more of a simple joke than any form of mockery. In fact, to some students, it was almost an act of homage. The students’ actions towards Sousuke were softening considerably.

Kaname was not pleased. It almost looked like there was a school full of otakus. There was only so much she could take. Especially since she had already found a live eel in her desk. That, and one pint of lychee preserves in her book bag. Not to mention the entire Soccer teams’ set of sweaty jock straps in her locker. Or the pigs’eyes in her bento box.

“It is a learning experience, Kaname.” Sousuke tried to make the most of Kaname’s lunch time discovery.

“I fail to see how THIS could be educational, Sousuke!” She was definitely NOT in the mood for any kind of lecture.

“That is not surprising.”

Kaname couldn’t tell if he meant ‘Your lack of knowledge is not surprising,’ or ‘It is not a common topic.’ Because he was injured, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. Just this once.

“Go on, Sousuke.” He had gotten hurt because of her. She decided to humor him.

“In a pig’s eye means ‘never,’ or ‘highly unlikely.’ Also, Churchill wrote a book titled ‘In a Pig’s Eye.’”

“Churchill, Sousuke?” Kaname’s voice rose. “What did I tell you about ANY military history nonsense?” She picked up her halisen. Injury be damned.

“This had nothing to do with warfare, Kaname. He was a Prime Minister, not a soldier. He was writing about the plight of the aboriginal natives in North America.”

“OK, Sousuke. Very good. Thank you.” Kaname really did not feel enlightened, but it didn’t cost her anything to be polite for once. And, the sooner the conversation got back ti ‘normal’ topics the better.

“I am glad you feel that way, Kaname. Would you like to learn about the origin of the word ‘Jock Strap?’”

Ren, Maya, Ryo, and Kyouko backed their chairs away from the table.

“Don’t push your luck, Sousuke.” Kaname’s eyes looked like they belonged on some form of demon. “Don’t push your luck!!!”


*****************************************


Kaname’s trials and tribulations continued. But, as folks soon found out, SHE was not under any type of restrictions. Furthermore, she was more than willing to use that fact to her advantage---send a few pranksters to the infirmary, and maybe the rest would decide she was better off left alone. Blushing, she carried the thought one step further. Maybe she could protect Sousuke the way he usually protected her---minus the noise, smoke, and destruction.

The lights went off in one hallway. Kaname’s halisen was in her hand before she could take another breath. She had no trouble getting an idea of where the individuals were standing. She had developed that part of her senses on the numerous occasions when she needed to find a concealed Sousuke, before he could do something worse than he had already done.

“Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground and try to find oil? You’re crazy! Drillers who Edwin Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil, 1859.”

Kaname frowned. Her annoyance level was close to topping off already.

“Professor Goddard does not know the relation between reaction and the need to have something better than a vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools. 1921 New York Times editorial about Goddard’s revolutionary rocket work.”

Kaname began to growl. This was worse than Sousuke.

“But what………. Is it good for? Engineer at the Advanced Computing Sysytems Divison of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.”

“ARGGH!!! Enough. You’re all going to pay!” Kaname didn’t have night vision gear, but she didn’t need it. The nerds had made a serious tactical error. The darkness had not frightened Kaname---it had made their own escape impossible.

WHACK! WHAM! SLAMMM!

“Owww…. Oomph…. MOMME-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E.”

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

“No….. No….. N-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O.”

The lights went back on. The third perpetrator started to run. He was a rabbit chased by a greyhound.

“Thank you so very much. I much prefer to see whom I’m chastising.” Kaname was on a mission.

SLAMMM! WHACK! SLAMMM! WHAM! WHACK!”

“O….. God….. Please….. HE-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-P.”

Mission accomplished.


***************************************

The Drama club members were found sticking out of drums. The boys who had shown an unnatural affinity for fire extinguishing equipment were discovered tied up with the fire hose. The slower members of the Art class were cut down from the trees before their rope burns had gotten too bad. The gang in Wood Shop had pieces of wood painfully placed where wood products---other than that which came on a roll---should never go.

For most individuals and groups, the message was quite clear. Mess with Kaname or Sousuke, and you better be willing to weather the storm. For most people, that was a good reason to get back to business as usual. For others, it meant a great deal of stealth was in order---do it, but don’t get caught.

One group was entirely unaffected. They had safety in numbers. Their plan for Sousuke was already in motion. The members of the rugby squad were counting the minutes before the Sports Day game between their team and the one from their cross-town rivals. Sousuke would be playing. His injuries meant nothing to them---all it really meant was that he had a head start on aches and pains.

It was Sousuke’s own fault, when all was said and done. Once upon a time, Kaname had tried to turn a team of wimps into a team of winners, without success. Sousuke’s methods had an entirely different result. But, the Rugby Club then became a favored activity. Bigger, rougher, and nastier boys chased the meeker ones off of the team.

There were many events going on outside the school that early afternoon. Track and field. Volleyball. Softball. Soccer. Gymnastics. Feats of personal strength, coordination, and endurance. Most of the eyes were focused on the Rugby area.

When the Jindai team ran out, Souske limped out with them. He wore a bright yellow jersey, much different than the uniforms his teammates wore. It seems that someone wanted him to stand out.

After the bus from the other school pulled up on the lawn, the rival players disembarked. Rather than put on the mean face they usually did, the boys all gave their opponents a big ‘thumbs-up.’ They all stared at Sousuke. Unbeknownst to the crowd, the Jindai squad had gathered together a fair sum of money and given it to their arch rivals.


The rules and objectives of rugby are straight forward:

*All players are allowed to touch the ball, but the ball cannot be passed forward.

*The ball can, on occasion be kicked forward in an attempt to gain better field position or to catch the other team unaware.

* No player can shield or protect the ball carrier and by the same token the ball carrier cannot run behind his own players in an attempt to shield himself from the other team.

*Once tackled the ball carrier must immediately release the ball.

*There are no substitutions.

*Each team starts with 15 players and the match begins with a kickoff---the ball must travel 10 yards before the kicking team can play it.

* Kicking off is considered an advantage. The team that was scored upon kicks off to the team that just scored, allowing them to retain possession.

*The most common technique in kicking off is a team that kicks the ball high in the air 10 yards and make a play on the ball or the player about to catch the ball.

* In general, during the "loose" phase of the game, there are only two positions in rugby. Players 1-8 are forwards, often referred to as "the pack.” These are the workers on the rugby pitch that are responsible for trudging through the mud, winning the ball and presenting a clean ball to the backs.

Backs (numbered 9-15) smoothly and deftly cut through the opponent's defensive line, occasionally performing a brilliant "switch" or pausing to flirt with a woman on the sideline and then score without as much as mussing up their hair.

*The object of the game is to score more points than your opponents by moving the ball down field across the opponent's try line and physically touch the ball down.

*Supporting the ball carrier is very important in this game, especially since the ball carrier must release the ball once tackled. When you are on the ground, you are considered a part of the ground. If a team is supporting well, once a player is tackled there should be at least 2 or 3 other players around him ready to make a play on the ball.

*The first players to a ball on the ground attempt to either pick it up and secure it or try to push the other team's players away from it. At any time a player may kick the ball towards an opponents goal and try to regain possession up the pitch. This has it's advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you gain better field position but on the negative aspect, if you do not chase down and recover the ball, you lose possession to the other team.

*There are four ways to score in rugby. A try, worth 5 points, is scored when a player carries or kicks the ball over the opponent's goal line and physically touches it down.

A place kick or conversion is attempted after each try from a point directly out from where the ball was physically touched down. Hence, if a player touches the ball down in the corner of the try-zone, a place kick will be attempted from near the sideline. When successfully kicked over the bar and through the uprights, a conversion is awarded, worth two points.

The other two methods of scoring are also for kicking the ball through the uprights. Penalty goals are worth three points. A penalty situation comes about after a serious violation of the laws, and the victimized team is awarded a penalty kick from the point of the infraction.

Drop kicks can be attempted at any time during the game and a drop goal is worth 3 points.


Common penalties in rugby:

*Knock-on: Hitting or dropping the ball forward with your hands. Theforward position is most noted for this lame-brained action and are typically dubbed "stone-hands"

*Forward Pass: The ball must be passed laterally or behind, never forward.

*Offsides: Defensively, a player must stay behind the ball or the group of people trying to win the ball. On offense, you may not kick a ball forward to a teammate downfield ahead of the kicker.

*High tackle:You will know when you see it. This tackle is often accompanied with many Oscar-winning performances put on by a back-line player trying to win favor with the referee or a promising rugby queen on the sideline.

*Failure to release: The ball must be released immediately upon being tackled.


As agreed upon by both sides, there were some changes made to the rules and objectives:

*Both teams would do whatever was possible to put the ball in Sousuke’s hands.

*During the ‘loose’ phase of the game, there would be a third position: Target. Sousuke would be the target for both teams.

*The object of the game was to jump on, trample, squash, rough up, beat on, and otherwise physically abuse Sousuke in any manner imaginable.

Scoring was purely optional.

*The first players to Sousuke would try to knock him down and assist the other team’s players in reaching their objective.

*Carrying Sousuke over the opponent’s goal line and slamming him hard to the ground was worth 10 points.

*Kicking Sousuke over the bar was worth 5 points. Just kicking him was worth 1 point.

*If Sousuke was allowed to run free for more than ten yards a penalty would be assessed to the nearest team.


There would only be one penalty:

*’Knock-offs’---hitting Sousuke’s head and sending him forward---was not only acceptable, but commendable.

*High tackles were to be executed whenever and wherever possible.

*Getting up off of Sousuke before a full pile-on was cause for a penalty kick.


Needless to say, the match was not a fun one for Sousuke. Surprisingly, a number of players on both sides began feeling a great deal of respect for Sousuke’s courage and resilience. Some though he was just stupid, but most knew otherwise. Still, the boys who began to feel sorry for Sousuke did not act on their new feelings. It would have saved them a lot of pain and embarrassment if they had.

The crowd had shown up to see a rugby match, and to see what would happen to Sousuke. The shear meanness of the match and the utter lack of sport set the onlookers to grumbling and grousing.

“That just ain’t right! Sagara’s giving it his best and those bastards are only out to hurt him. His own team, too!” One boy took a couple of steps towards the playing field.

“Yeh! They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. Someone should jump on them and teach them a lesson.” That boy’s sentiments spread like wildfire.

Before anyone knew what had happened, the entire crowd was rushing forward, murder in their eyes, Sousuke was rescued, then carried away on peoples’ shoulders, the hero of the match. A much less pleasant fate awaited the boys in both rugby clubs.

After the offending players were pummeled and punched, they were all marched over to the side of the school. Their clothing was confiscated, except for their jock straps. That clothing was never seen again. Someone was able to retrieve the electric razor. Each and every player was completely shaved, down to the very last hair. They were all then spray painted yellow and given their jock straps back.

The crowd was in a generous mood. They gave the humbled boys a thirty second head start before they began chasing them again. The photographs made the evening news, worldwide.

Sousuke had begun to strip his own clothes off when Kaname headed over from her Softball tournament between games.

“What are you doing, Sousuke? There are girls present!” She put her hand on Sousuke’s arm, stopping him. “Maybe you should check in at the infirmary.”

“Those are my teammates out there, Kaname. Shouldn’t I be with them now?”

Kaname just shook her head. Only Sousuke would think that way.

“Your honor is very important to you, isn’t it Sousuke?” She tried to smile, but she was worried. Was there such a thing as being too honorable? Or, was it simply a matter of Sousuke’s interpretation of what was honorable?

“Yes, Kaname. Very important. What does a man have, if he does not have honor?”


*****************************************

After school, Kaname accompanied Sousuke downtown. Even though he claimed that he was doing fine, the school nurse had insisted that he get a pair of crutches and an orthopedic pillow. As a man of his word, he would do so. He had no intention of using them, however.

Kaname was strangely quiet. If Sousuke noticed, he gave no indication.

Block after block passed. Sousuke’s limp drove a nail deeper into Kaname’s heart with each step that he took. When he occasionally stopped and put a hand to his side, her heart jumped up into her throat. Tears came to her eyes when he would grab hold of a light post or the side of a building to help stretch his tight back muscles.

For once, she marveled at Sousuke’s silence. He didn’t moan once. She did not hear a single whimper or sucked-in breath. He just kept marching along, unimpeded. It was what he did. It was what he had always done.

When they were across the street from one of the larger banks in the city, an alarm went off.

“Move into cover Kaname, in case there is an exchange of gunfire.” Sousuke looked around to see if there were any law enforcement officers in view.

“Sousuke, what is it?” Kaname had her own suspicion.

“Most likely a bank robbery. That sedan over there has its motor idling. The driver keeps checking in his mirrors. He has a cellular phone out. The box on his dashboard is likely a police scanner.”

There was an explosion inside the bank. Windows blew out. The sound of gunfire followed.

“That may have been the vault blowing, or an accidental mishandling of explosives. The robbers are probably suppressing the bank guards.”

“Sousuke! People are probably getting hurt in there. They may be dying. Isn’t there anything you can do? You’ve helped out that way before….” Kaname was pale. She could picture herself trapped in a situation like that.

“No, Kaname. Not today. That is the police force’s job. If they cannot arrive on scene in a timely manner, it is not my responsibility. Besides, you know I cannot.”

“What?” Kaname was incredulous.

“The promise, Kaname.”

“But… but… peoples’ lives, Sousuke!” She grabbed Sousuke’s arm and began to shake him.

“Their lives would be in danger if I were not standing here Kaname. You have tried to teach me not to make every problem my problem. It is a wise lesson, I think. Furthermore, if I was allowed to do my ‘otaku thing,’ as you have named it, I would have my gun out to protect you now. As it is, I am unarmed. I suggest we leave this vicinity as quickly as possible. ”

Kaname grew very angry, ready to strike Sousuke. But, the words rang true. Sousuke was right,

“Yes, Sousuke.” Her anger drained out of her.

“Once you are safe, I will return.”

“Sousuke? WHY? You said….” Kaname looked frightened.

“There….” Sousuke pointed to the front of the bank just as they were about to pass out of view of the building by rounding a corner.

The getaway car took off, its engine whining. Close behind, a number of police cars arrived on the scene and gave chase.

“That car is a decoy. There are no passengers in it. The police have fallen for the misdirection. Those men leaving the bank now---the ones with briefcases, trying to look like businessmen---they are likely the perpetrators. I will need your cellular phone, Kaname.”

Sousuke crossed the street.

“Go home Kaname. I will purchase my supplies after I have done what I am allowed to do.”


****************************************


When it was time for bed that night, Kaname had trouble falling asleep.

‘What I am allowed to do.’

‘What I am allowed to do.’

‘What I am allowed to do.’

‘What I am allowed to do.’

The words kept echoing in her head. Sousuke was fine, having called her when he got home safely. But, she had been watching the evening news and had seen the piece about the bank robbery. There were a large number of deaths and less serious injuries. The bank robbers had been caught thanks to the actions of a bold but anonymous citizen, but there would be a number of families grieving that night.

Was some of that her fault?

If he hadn’t given his word, would Sousuke have gone in to the Bank?

Could he have made a difference, if he had been so inclined?

Might he have been able to save lives?

Those were difficult thoughts, doubly so since they carried a burden of potential guilt. But, were they fair? It wasn’t Sousuke’s duty, after all. He had no business rushing into a crime scene.

But, wasn’t that what he did for Mithril in a broader sense?

If she had gotten Sousuke to start thinking about limitations, that would be wonderful for her. But, was it also a good thing for everybody else?


*******************************************
End of part 4