[FIC] Higher Education (pt 7)

[dd]

Kaname woke up.

What was going on?

This wasn’t her room! It was…

“You’re in the hospital, Kaname.”

The voice was familiar.

Kaname rubbed her eyes, trying to figure out if she was dreaming or really awake. She remembered being the Advanced Reasearch lab for a seminar.

There had been a battle!!!

And that voice.

She sat up fast, again having reason to question whether or not this was some kind of dream.

In the chair, with her foot up, and a beer can in her hand.

Melissa Mao.

“Melissa? What? Why are you here? Where is here?” Kaname grimaced, feeling a pain in her shoulder.

“The pain killers must be wearing off. You were shot. Seems you were somewhere that you didn’t belong yesterday.” Melissa looked at a pack of cigarettes, as if wondering what they would do to her if she broke the hospital rules. “You’re in University of Tokyo Hospital. How have you been, other than that?”

Melissa laughed. She knew how ridiculous her question sounded.

Kaname looked around, staring at the doorway.

“Are you wondering if he is here?” Melissa smiled for a moment, then her face went stern.

“Y-Y-Yes….” Kaname’s voice had Melissa nodding her head and smiling again.

“Well, he’s not. You don’t have anything to worry about. Yes, he’s in town. But, I told him to stay away. He better have listened.” Melissa took a long pull from her beer can… crumpled it…. Threw it at a garbage can and missed.

“But….” Kaname’s face fell. She closed her eyes and fell back on the bed, causing another streak of pain to course down her arm from her shoulder.

“Well…. Kurz will certainly be happy to know that a pretty young lady missed his presence….” Melissa fought hard to keep from laughing. A nurse had just finished looking in the room, wondering what some of the noise had been.

“Kurz… I thought….” Kaname bit her lip then clenched her fist. She was in no mood to be toyed with.

“Sousuke carried you all of the way here in his arms, even though he was injured himself. He wouldn’t let anyone else handle you. He sat with you through the night, even though he kept falling asleep. He was called away for debriefing and asked me if I would stand guard. I shouldn‘t have, since it‘s not official business. But, I did it for his peace of mind.” Melissa stood up and sat down on the edge of Kaname’s bed.

She was wearing a nurse’s outfit.

Kaname had a flashback. She was in the hospital, right after making it out of Khanka alive. Melissa was sitting on the edge of the bed then, too.

She had so many questions to ask, but doubted that Melissa would talk about Mithril business. Kaname wasn’t under Mithril protection any longer. And, there might even be a possibility that Melissa and Kurz would resent her, given the way she had rebuffed Sousuke three years ago.

Would Sousuke come back to see her again? Had he simply carried her here and watched after her because she had saved his life? Did he consider that to be a repayment of the debt she owed him from the park?

“So, what do you want to know more? What was going on, or how does a certain soldier feel about you?” Melissa had her nailed perfectly. her voice sounded droll, but with a nasty edge to it. Why?

“Hmmmpppfff!” Kaname’s response was automatic. “I don’t know if it matters. It’s just another terrorist attack I had the pleasure to get caught up in. And, why should I care about some migratory military malcontent?”

“Uh huh. Well, that’s fine. If you don’t want to know, it isn’t any skin off of MY teeth….” Melissa opened another can of beer. “Damn. It’s getting warm. I told that idiot to set me up with a cooler!” Melissa yawned. “Don’t mind me. I figure you’re safe enough here. I’m going to catch a little shut eye….”

Kaname sat back up again. One hand grabbed the bed rail, clenching hard. She tried to slow her breathing down some.

She had spoken too quickly.

She did want answers.

Now, she was wrestling with her pride, trying to quell the urge to scream.

“Shamshir.” Melissa said.

“Exuse me?” Kaname said. What, who, or where was Shamshir? And why would she care?

“That’s the only time you will hear that word from me. It’s a Middle eastern equivalent of Mithril… or more accurately, an analog of Amalgam, if you ever came across that term before. They’re not a bunch of good guys. Their funding comes from wealthy men in the region. Fusion is a financial risk to their benefactor’s livelihoods. Small fusion reactors would prove beneficial in their own weapons systems. I suggest to you that you never heard these things.” After that, Melissa was silent.

Kaname waited, to see if the Mithril operative would say anything about Sousuke.

The silence seemed deafening.

The loud ticking of the clock on the wall seemed a personal affront.

She would have to ask.

“Sousuke?” Kaname let her breath out. Ok, now it was done.

Melissa remained quiet.

Kaname balled up her cover sheet, frowning.

This wasn’t right. She was wounded. And she had saved a Mithril soldier!

“Not getting upset, are you?” Melissa asked, her eyes still closed. “That might suggest you care something about Sousuke.” There wasn’t a spoken word for the next thirty seconds. “Not sure I’d be too happy with that, if you want to know the truth.”

What?

Kaname’s anger flared up again. “Why? He still need somebody to baby sit him? Have you taken him on as your property? Or did Tessa?” The sound of a rattled bedrail could be heard.

Melissa opened her eyes.

“Whether or not he has someone to care about is none of your business,” Melissa said with some acerbity. “I’m certainly not going to tell you either way. I wish he would find someone in Mithril. We’re not in the habit of leaving the wounded behind.”

Those words hit Kaname hard.

Her mouth hung open.

Then her eyes narrowed.

“No. Of course not. You just cause wounds. People don’t matter. Missions do.” Kaname wished there was something within reach to throw. “My heart broke the day he left. Do they even bother to issue you guys hearts?”

Melissa stood up and walked over to stand near Kaname, looking down at her.

Kaname didn’t flinch. Instead, she turned a fierce looking face up at the older woman.

“Did you ever tell him that? Even once?” Melissa’s voice was quiet. Almost too quiet.

“I… I tried….” Kaname’s anger faded away. Tears came to her eyes.

“I tried….” Melissa mimicked. “those words don’t mean a lot to people in our line of work. We do, or we don’t do. Simple.” She poked Kaname’s chest with her finger.

“Can you imagine how he felt, not hearing anything? We had to watch him struggle with that. He wouldn’t talk to anyone about it, not even Kurz or myself.” Melissa cursed and began to walk away. She stopped and spoke with her back turned to Kaname. “I’m glad to hear that you actually cared about him.” Her voice softened some. “But there is something you should never forget.”

Kaname swallowed. “W-W-What?” Her voice was timid.

“You hurt a lot, it would seem. But, you hurt safe at home.” Melissa turned and looked at Kaname. There was pain in her eyes. Kaname had never seen that before. The Mithril soldier actually wiped away a tear.

That surprised Kaname more than anything in recent memory.

“He hurt too. The difference was that when he was hurting, he was crawling through trenches… snorkeling through underwater minefields… piloting Arbalest against two, three, or even more enemy machines. He was putting other people first. And they weren’t even people who had come to mean anything to him.”

Kaname hung her head. She felt as if the whole world was sitting on her chest, making it hard to breath. One hand gripped her hospital gown. “I… I….” Tears spilled out of her eyes. “I’ve thought about that recently. I had been hurt by so many things before… I just… I just wasn’t able to see it then.”

There was a prolonged period of silence.

Melissa put her hand on Kaname’s good shoulder and squeezed, a peace gesture of sorts. “I’m sorry. I guess I just did the same thing myself, didn’t I?” She took her hand away and pushed aside her hair from her eyes.

Kaname looked up at the other woman. “I don’t know what to do.”

Melissa’s face softened some. “I was going to tell you to just let him be. No, actually I was gong to threaten you. It was painful to watch him the last time.” She clenched her hands and fought to stop from shedding another tear. “But, I shouldn’t forget the changes he had started to go through. He carried some of those through with him… and I think hey helped him grow into the man he is today….”

“And?” Kaname loosened her hold on her gown.

“It’s up to the two of you together. He may not want anything to do with you, even though I think he still cares. But, he might need just that. He has so few opportunities to experience the things that many people take for granted.” Melissa offered Kaname a beer.

“The doctors probably wouldn’t like it if I….”

“F-ck’em.” Vintage Mao. She opened the can and tossed it to Kaname.

“Uh… why not….” Kaname took a long sip of beer, sputtering when she was done. “I think Sousuke has more opportunities than you think.” Kaname face looked sour. It wasn’t from the beer.

“Oh? Fill me in!” Melissa sat down and flung a leg over her chair.

Kaname explained about Souske’s growing harem. Melissa slapped her knee and broke out laughing.

“Kurz will dearly want to hear that. I can probably coax a couple of cases out of him!” Melissa’s laughter went up a number of decibels when she saw the look on Kaname’s face. “Oh ho ho-o-o-o-o-o-o-o…. worried, huh….”

“NO!” Kaname said too quickly. Melissa laughed even more. “Well….”

“Kind of makes it more of a challenge, doesn’t it. I should just let you stew like that….” Melissa tossed her empty can in the direction of the trash can.

“What?” Kaname wasn’t certain what Melissa meant.

“Well… I can’t say that our young sergeant might not give in to his baser urges…..” Melissa left it hanging there for a while, enjoying the play of emotions across Kaname’s face. “Especially if those girls are hanging all over him… soft…. curvaceous… cuddly.... sweetly perfumed…. eager to do aneeeeeeething for him….”

Kaname choked on her beer.

“But, he’s pretty strong. And he has his heart set on a girl he shouldn’t have.” Melissa looked both ways before speaking.

“Who?” Kaname hoped it was her, but was far from certain when she saw Melissa’s actions.

“Tessa. They’ve been secretly married for a year and a half now. The shit will hit the fan if anyone in the High Command catches words of that. They will soon enough though. She’s pregnant.” Melissa nonchalantly tipped her can back.

Kaname crushed her beer can. The amber colored liquid that shot out landed square on her hospital garb.

“Just kidding….” Melissa said.

“You… you….” Kaname’s embarrassment gave way to laughter. She was way too easy….

“If you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll let you in on a story you might like. Will you give me your word?” Melissa’s look was such that Kaname would have given her a pint of her blood.

“I swear.”

“Tessa wasn’t entirely pleased with the decision to pull Sousuke out of Tokyo. If anything, she thought she was in a fair competition with a certain girl who will remain nameless. But, when the young soldier was back onboard Da Danaan full time, she decided that she was willing to flaunt some rules.” Melissa smiled.

“That… uh…. go on….”

“She arranged to have Sousuke assigned to clean some parts taken off of Arbalest after a particularly difficult mission. She made it seem as if his decisions had lead to the damage unnecessarily. She told him that a number of parts were now defective. When he went to that tub we all shared that time, he found it filled with bubble bath. Tessa was there waiting for him in a bikini.” Melissa licked her lips.

“What color?” Kaname just needed to know for some reason.

“White, and ver-r-r-r-r-r-y skimpy….” Melissa held her thumb and forefinger close together.

“Oooooh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h….” A white bikini!

“She had neglected to tie her string very well… accidentally of course….” Melissa chuckled, seeing the look in Kaname’s eyes.

“It………. fell………… off………… right………..?”

“Of course. And being as clumsy as she is, she tripped and fell into Sousuke’s arms.” Melissa wrapped her arms around herself.

“Of course.”

“Sousuke helped her up… looked at her blushing up a storm…. and asked her what parts were defective.” Melissa fell out of her chair laughing.

Kaname looked as if she had swallowed her tongue. Then her eyes closed as a huge smile filled her face.

“No matter what happens, I think Sousuke deserves a kiss for that!” Kaname gave Melissa a ‘V’-sign.

Melissa’s cellular phone rang.

“Mao.”

Kaname wondered who that was. Could it be Sousuke?

“Yes, she’s awake. Uh huh, I’m hanging in there, barely. I’m out of beer and I am dying for a smoke. In fact, I was about to leave. She’ll be alright without any protection. If no one is after her when she’s walking around unguarded on campus, why would they be looking to make a move on her in the hospital.”

“Is that Sousuke?” Kaname asked. “If it is, could I talk to him?”

Melissa continued speaking. “Have you gotten your own wounds tended to by someone other than yourself? Do that! Now! A hospital would be a great place to have that done, you know. OK. I’m heading out in a moment.” Melissa closed her phone.

“But… was that Sousuke?” Kaname looked intense.

“Yes.” Melissa smiled. “He hung up. Sorry. He’s headed somewhere else now.” Turned away from Kaname, the other girl could not see her grin. “I’ll be heading out now. Take care of yourself.”

Kaname’s heart fell a she watched Melissa walk away.

She had hoped that Sousuke would stop by and see her.

A long sigh was followed by a set jaw and clenched fists. After she had taken a bullet for him, he still kept away from her? That ingrate. That bastard.

That heatless unfeeling cowardly jerk!!!

Kaname was still fuming when there was a knock at her doorframe.

She looked up.

It was Sousuke.

[woman22980]

I did a (very!) rough sketch this morning of Sousuke carrying Kaname to the hospital. I never thought drawing one person carrying another would be so hard! I think I've got the basic anatomy down right, now to figure out what their clothes should look like. I was going to have Sousuke in BDU's of some sort, but having never drawn BDU's before... I'll have to break out my Stargate dvds and get some reference. Kaname gets to wear the basic college uniform - tshirt and shorts I also intend the main frame to have a single point perspective as the background, if I can figure out how to do it again. It'll probably be a bit before I can post anything new on this picture, your story will probably be finished.

On this chapter - I hope Kaname controls her temper on seeing Sousuke again! Just be honest girl! Stop blaming him when you're the one at fault!

[dd]

Good start.

CHP 8 is up. Kaname managed her temper fairly well.

She tried playing him along, but got played in the end. I can imagine what her face looked like when he finally left....

To her credit, she did manage to get her general message across.

[dd]

Oh, BTW:

FYI

Sousuke will not be seen wearing anything official/uniform while on campus.

For the general publc, he is just a student. Not many people will make any connection between him and the lab....

On occasion, though... THE bag will need to be with him...

[woman22980]

Hmm.... So nice collared shirt and pants then? I'm glad you said that, I was thinking that since he's going into battle he'd wear something more protective, but you're right. And when would he have the opportunity to change anyway? Yay! I don't have to practice drawing baggy BDU's just yet! I've barely gotten the hang of drawing men's clothes as is, that makes things quite a bit simpler....