[FIC] The Book (part 6)

[dd]

“Sousuke, wait!”

Kaname stepped out from behind a column in the commons area. She had a drawn out look to her face. The slope of her shoulders was unusual for her.

Sousuke turned to face her, feeling a lump in his throat. He wanted to apologize, but that would seem empty to him if he didn’t provide an explanation. How could he do that, with so many people walking pas tin one direction or another? He carried the book with him, no longer feeling safe with any of his usual hiding places.

“I just wanted…” Kaname started. Her eyes narrowed. “Isn’t there something that you want to say to me?” Her face softened. Her lip trembles ever so slightly. No one on earth might have noticed except Sousuke.

“I did not wish for you to be given extra homework. It was not my intention for you to be given detention. I had not asked for you to trespass in my locker and desk.” Sousuke tensed up some. That last one was off target. He had made efforts to watch what he said. The TDD-1 was not built in a day. Neither was Rome. “I apologize. I should not have used such a powerful agent in school. The choice of Diphenylchloroarsine was made out of consideration of my classmates, as it is non-lethal and non-persistent. The severe coughing and sneezing; constant and excessive nasal discharges and salivation; chest pains, headaches, and watery eyes; they were desired end results. I carefully titrated the solution to prevent difficult breathing and vomiting.” Sousuke rubbed the back of his neck. “Perhaps I should merely have used Ortho-chlorobenzylidenemalonotetrite… CS agent… a tear-inducing agent that…”

“S-O-U-S-U-K-E!” Kaname stood shaking. “Geeeez, how stupid can you get? You shouldn’t have used any kind of agent. No ink cartridge marking systems. No smoke bombs. No flash bangs. A stupid book is not part of you mission, so you shouldn’t amuse you military skills.” She tossed her hair. “It’s like me abusing my softball skills in gym class.”

“Kyouko has mentioned you doing that…” Sousuke tensed up again. For one who was abnormally quiet at times, he certainly had trouble holding his tongue.

“Only when I am angry at a certain military moron, and picture his face on the ball!” Kaname took a few steps closer. The angry look she gave some would be spectators sent them hurrying on their way. “Sousuke, is that stupid book more important than me?” There was a touch of heat in her voice, but her eyes made her look vulnerable.

“Negative.” Sousuke clutched the book tighter by involuntary reflex. His arms had been growing too weak. It would have been easier fro Kaname to snatch the book. But, that movement on his part might seem contrary to his words. He needed to relax. “There is no one thing more important than you, Kaname.”

Kaname teared up, but no tears fell. She mussed with her hair until she could speak. “That’s… I’m glad to hear that… I was scared…” It was hard making that admission. “I was so angry… I almost wanted to… it was bad, Sousuke.” She met his gaze. “I… I love you. You know that, right?” She had stepped closer, so only Sousuke could hear. “But you made me so mad! And you… well… you could share anything with me.”

Sousuke hung his head. It was a matter of trust to Kaname. It was also an issue of sharing. She had high expectations of him. Despite her external appearance, Kaname Chidori had problems with true intimacy and abandonment, or so Mithril analysts had come to believe. “I have similar feelings for you. I trust you. I enjoy sharing with you.” He paused. He should not give in. Not just because there would always be professional information that he couldn’t share with him, but also because he needed some personal space. He had been warned about codependency by professionals at Merida base. His background put him at potential risk. “But, I merely wanted to keep something to myself for now. Is that wrong? Am I to be denied that right?”

“Yes. I mean ‘No’. Oh, I don’t know what I mean right now.” Kaname looked confused. She hadn’t expected that kind of response.

“It is a right, is it not?” Sousuke might be clueless when it comes to relationships, but he had a flash of insight. The point should be made. The result would be educational. “It is not merely a privilege, as determined by Kaname Chidori, Student Council Vice President and Class representative?”

“What? Just what kind of…” Kaname clenched her fits, but forced herself to stop, and then cool down. Her face fell some, as she thought about Sousuke’s words, and the questions behind the words. She didn’t need a mirror to see herself. Some things were painfully obvious to her at that moment, things she usually never gave a second glance. “I don’t really want to control you, Sousuke.” Her voice came out in a near whisper. She squared her shoulders and continued. “I guess because you and Mithril control a lot of what I can do…” That sounded lame, even if it was partly true. “I… it’s… I’ve always been the one whose choices didn’t seem to matter.” She thought about going to America, her mother’s death, staying in Tokyo alone…everything.

“They matter to me, Kaname.” Sousuke spoke truly, and that was clearly evident in his voice. “They are important to me, because you are important to me.” He was not taking advantage of her emotional vulnerability. But, there was more he should say. “I would hope that things worked in both directions. I myself had little by way of choice as a child. I some ways, I‘m told, I am still like a child. I have been warned that I could be easily taken advantage of under certain precise circumstances.”

“Sousuke…” Kaname’s eyes watered again, but not as an after effect of the sneezing agent. “I know. I’m not trying to…” She shook her head. Sousuke had a point. But, the contrary part of her didn’t want to listen to it now. She would think on things later. “Maya and Ryo wondered if a girl might be passing you notes in that book. There’s no other girl, is there Sousuke?”

“Negative!” Sousuke began to sweat. Technically there were other girls. The book had numerous pictures of different women. But, while his mind realized that Kaname was talking about something else, his body had its own set of criteria. He can’t let his reactions make Kaname think the wrong thing! Wait. What had he read about quarrels? “If we are unable to reconcile through conciliatory words, you may wish to pull my hair, kick me him, twice, or thrice on my arms, head, uhhh…” He would need a substitute for ‘bosom‘. It did not sound right on a man. It was also not the perfect word when Kaname was facing him and standing at that angle. “Or my back.” He swallowed hard. He would not recite things fully. “After that, you may still use harsh and reproachful words, but embrace me just the same.” Perhaps that would pacify her.

“Huh?” Kaname bit her lip. What was all that about? Well, it was nice that he gave her permission fro reprimands. But, what was with the sweating? “That was a lot of words, mister. Are you hiding something about a girl?” She thought back to the time when she had brought food over to Sousuke’s apartment as an apology, only to see Tessa standing ther in a towel. She didn’t need another misunderstanding like that one. Not now. Things were fragile enough as it is.

“Kaname, I do not have another girl.” He managed to speak discretely that time, feeling a kind of pressure because of the other students. “I cannot imagine another girl being able to take your place. I might never try again, were you lost to me.” It might not be entirely true, but that was the way he felt at the moment.

“Oh!” Kaname managed a quick smile. “Thank you.” She began tapping her fingers against the column. “So, if I really mean something to you, will you show me that book?”

“Affirmative,” Sousuke answered. His tension ebbed some, seeing Kaname grin. She didn’t hate him after all. “Later. When it is the right time.” It was good that they were still on speaking terms. He was quite impressed with Kaname, seeing how swiftly she had dealt with her anger.

“What?” Kaname struck the column too sharply. One of her nails broke. “Later?” She clenched her fists, staring at Sousuke with disbelief. She felt her anger building again. Big idiot. “Sousuke Sagara, either show me the book now, or tell me why you won’t!”

“But… you said…” Sousuke blinked rapidly. “I have good reasons, Kaname. You will need to trust me.”

“Trust? How can I trust someone who hides things from me?” Kaname struck a pose that usually involved a halisen. She was fan-free at the moment. “Just give me the book, Sousuke.” Kaname began walking towards Sousuke, an intense look on her face. This was a challenge of wills. A competition. It was no longer about hurt feelings or bruised pride. “Right this instant. That‘s an order, soldier!”

Sousuke began to hold out the book. That last command almost got him. But, Kaname was not military. And he did have a right to his privacy. There was a line in the sand, and he could not allow himself to cross it. It was a matter of principles, and an opportunity to safeguard his future. “I must refuse,” he said. “Things must be handled on a need-to-know basis. You must take my word for it. You have no such need.”

“Need to know? With all the trouble you caused, you bet I need to know!” Kaname’s voice had gotten rather loud. Everyone had stopped, gone silent, and looked in her direction. “I will get that book, one way or another. If it is something weird or dangerous…” She folded her arms over her chest. “Sousuke. The book. Now!”

Sousuke would not give in now. Had Kaname approached him quietly, an honest sadness on her face, willing to trust his judgment as a Specialist, he may have given in. Alone, in seclusion, he could just have told her the nature of the book, and his reason for reading it.

As it was, thinking of a suitable scheme for retreat, his tactical thinking dredged up military quotations that would serve him well to remember. "It is better to live one day as a lion than a hundred years as a sheep." That was an Italian proverb. "A good run is better than a bad stand." An Irish saying. "When you are the anvil, be patient. When you are the hammer, strike." The Arab proverb made sense. "Allow your heart to remain at ease, and destiny will lead the way to accord with others." Yes, the words from the Way of the Samurai rang true. He took a deep breath and let it out. "The enemy is but weeds to be moved.“ The Aztec Proverb broke the moment for him, allowing him to act.

“Kaname, we should continue this conversation later.” Sousuke looked at his watch. He had PE in twenty minutes. It only took him five minutes to get ready for that. “I must get ready for gym class. I do not wish to be late. If I am not mistaken, the girls have gym class as well, later I the day.” He began walking, brushing past Kaname as he walked. She was no weed, but she moved.

“In twenty minutes!” Kaname looked at her fingernail. The glance she gave Sousuke said ‘I will give you one more chance, buddy. After that, proceed at your own risk’. She was not concerned about overreacting, despite her friends’ counsel to the contrary. She was well within her rights. Sousuke was the only one she ever reacted to in this way. Now that they were so much closer, her reactions would be that much more pronounced.

Take Chemistry class, for example. She could draw support from the Law of Definite Proportion: The elements in a given compound are always combined in the same proportion by mass. If she reduced her uncertainty and resistance to Sousuke’s presence, she had to make up for it somewhere!

Why not refer to Biology as well? Biological designs, processes, and laws are written in the building blocks for all living organisms: DNA. These biological laws guide the function of living cells through an elegantly simple and universal process. Information contained within DNA is transcribed in the nucleus by RNA polymerase and sent out of the nucleus as messenger RNA. Messenger RNA is then translated at the ribosomes into amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are the foundation for all life. From the cellular level to the organismic, they play a central role in the manifestation of populations, ecosystems, biomes, and global dynamics. All of life is acted out based on the functions of proteins. She had no choice but to react to Sousuke the way she did. It was in her genes.

Might as well go for the trifecta. She shouldn’t leave out Japanese History. Usually she abhorred any reference to military battles or mores, but there were a few useful facts here and there. During the Edo Period, in the mid-seventeenth century, when Japan finally arrived at an enforced peace under the authoritarian rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, the need for skill at arms decreased. The turbulent energies of the warrior class were restrained by an intricate code of conduct based upon laws governing behavior appropriate to each level of society.

The role of women in tales from that time were slight: the Tragic Heroine who kills herself at the death of her husband; the Loyal Wife who is taken captive; the Stalwart Mother who grooms her son to take vengeance for his father's death; the Merciful Woman whose ‘weak’ and ‘feminine’ qualities encourage a warrior chieftain to indulge in unmanly empathy, dissuading him from slaughtering his enemy's children, who later grow up to kill him; and the Seductress who preoccupies the warrior leader and diverts him from his task with her feminine wiles. Of course, that was better than tales of women in general, where they were slaughtered or ‘given’ to the warriors as ‘spoils-of-war.’

In some villages, women maintained an active role in maintaining order. A strong, lithe woman armed with a naginata could keep all but the best warriors at a distance, where the advantages of strength, weight, or sword counted for less. While the men were away, women formed the ‘emergency response squad,’ and they were a naturally autonomous group within the village. Protecting the neighborhood was simply assumed to be one of their functions.

She was not a tragic heroine, despite all of the tragedy in her life. She was loyal, but not a wife. She was stalwart, but not a mother. She was not merciful, as Sousuke could plainly attest. She was not a seductress… and… well… now was not the time to think about anything like that. Sousuke probably never thought about intimacy or ummm… that kind of stuff… except where she told him to. There was no way that she was going to be slaughtered, or treated like some conquest.

She didn’t need a naginata. The halisen was merely optional. Sousuke had his SRT for the rest of the world. She had her ERS for everything that touched on her life and the lives of her friends. She was quite capable of keeping up with the best warrior that she knew, and would keep him at whatever distance he earned! Thisa was not only her right, it was her duty!

“I have muscles to stretch, Kaname. We are running long distance today.” Sousuke ran a hand through his hair. “Perhaps tonight we can discuss my purpose. If after hearing that you still wish to look through it to content yourself, I will offer no resistance. You have my word at that.” It was a big concession, as his increased sweating indicated. But, he had been through numerous forms of physical discomfort and danger on Kaname’s behalf, so he must also be prepared to behave in a similar manner in regards to his emotions and spiritual strength.

Kaname smiled. She hated being angry at Sousuke. No, she hated being this angry with the big stupid head. It was nice that he made that offer. She froze. It was almost too nice. Usually Sousuke gave in right away, or didn’t give in at all. Unless he as changing… and how could she have possibly have missed that all along… he was probably trying to seem generous while dreaming up some scheme to avoid the payoff. Yes, a convenient call coming in through his com console would do it.

He also used the word ‘Perhaps’. Sousuke hates to lie, unless there is a professional reason for it. The choice of that word prevented the offer from being a promise. It also demoted it from ’strong’ possibility’ all the way down to ’Who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see!’ Ooooh! Jerk. Trying to be clever like that.

“Let’s make a deal. You let me see the book now, for a couple of minutes. We can discuss things later tonight, my treat. A big dinner, from anywhere you like.” She had sweetened the pot. The method she used was immaterial, as long as she reached her objective. Sousuke couldn’t complain. He was the one who taught her that mantra. Well, she knew it before she ever met him, but he helped reinforce it. So, it was his own fault.

“Negative. Later. I buy the dinner. Your choice.” Sousuke stopped. He sounded firm.

“I see,” Kaname said. Now she knew that she was right to doubt his intentions. Well she had tried things the nice way. It wasn’t every day that saw Kaname Chidori, Philanthropist. “Give me the book, Sousuke.” She almost added ‘if you ever want to see me again’. There was no way she would risk that. What if he said ‘OK’? She’d be devastated. “We don’t keep secrets from one another.”

“Ahhh. I suppose you’re going to that J-pop concert with Mya, Ryo, Kyouko, and Mizuki was not a secret.” Sousuke frowned. He had been worried, and trailed them. At the concert, he had actually noticed a suspicious figure, and had saved the singer from a crazed stalker that had been harassing her by e-mail. He managed to keep his name out of the press. However, Kyouko had gotten a picture of the kiss a grateful Ayumi Hamasaki gave him. Naturally, Kaname saw the image. He ended up seeing stars.

“I… it…” Kaname narrowed her eyes. If Sousuke was going to pick an example, that was the wrong one! Ayumi Hamasaki…Ayu to her fans… was the most powerful figure in Japanese pop music, having sold more records than any other musical act for two years running in the world's second-largest music market. Her frequent makeovers determine the course of fashion. Her huge black eyes peer out from billboards in every corner of the country. Fans memorize her lyrics, transform into Ayu clones, and swear she's changed their lives. Marketers clamor for her endorsements, borrowing her name and image to peddle everything from cell phones to doughnuts. Her announcement of any kind of courtship led the news for days. But, she would end up with black-and-blue eyes if she kissed Sousuke again. And that big macho military malcontent, he should know better than rescuing women who might kiss him! Ahhhhhhh. Baka! “It was not exactly a secret! But I bet you wish your kiss was, huh!”

“It was not my kiss. I did not kiss her. She kissed me.” Sousuke looked at his watch again, reinforcing his prior claim, even though he knew that Kaname saw through it. Once a military action started, it should be carried out as best as it could, unless something happened that necessitated an abandonment of the plan. “It was either a secret, or a lie. We had been scheduled to study for an exam that evening. You called and said you were ill.”

“Well, I would have been sick if I missed that concert!” Kaname’s eyes flashed. She had done her best to reconcile with that mutton head, and he was accusing her of being a liar. Technically he was correct, but that was not the point. “Just give me a book. Save us both a lot of trouble, OK? You know how these things usually end up. Hmmmpppfff!” By that, she meant that she almost always got her way, but not before numerous people were frightened, inconvenienced, or hurt; buildings were scarred, damaged, or reduced to their basic components; or, one figurative domino would fall, causing countless problems that would take days to clean-up after.

“Tonight,” Sousuke said. Any further discussion was pointless. The only thing she had accomplished was to whet Kaname’s desire, set her on a firmer path, and boosted her diminishing anger. “Later.” He pulled one of his incomprehensible vanishing acts again.

“SOUSUKE!” Kaname shouted just to get things out of her system. From now on, it was stealth that mattered, not noise and bluster. Sousuke would be sorry that he chose to cross her. They would make up, of course… after she found out what she wanted… if her discovery was a tame one. God help him if she uncovered something bad!

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The gym was empty.

There was no one in the locker room. Sousuke remembered the reason why. There had been an announcement by the gym teacher the day before. Schedules for the boy’s gym class had been shifted some, as a result of simple maintenance work being done.

Alone, sitting on one of the hardwood benches near the showers, Sousuke opened his book again. That had been a golden opportunity. He could have ended the ordeal then and there. Had it been his pride holding him back? Did his unconscious talent for strategy and tactics veto the move for some reason? Or, was the fact that Kaname had calmed down some, even after such drastic events, something that made him feel overconfident? No matter. It was water under the bridge now. There would be no repeat performances. If the instructor would not excuse him from gym class, he would keep the book with him at all times. That might look strange, but he could live it. As it was, many of the things he did were considered odd. There is no accounting for people’s reactions or beliefs.

KARMA SUTRA-ROLE REVERSAL

He would study more positions later. Too many different things were running together in his mind. It was amazing, the number of things a Medieval Indian man must have known. No doubt, it was also responsible for their being so many people on the Indian subcontinent. He wondered if the current people were as preoccupied with sex. Was that the reason that the SRT had never stepped foot on Indian soil?

When a woman sees that her lover is fatigued by constant congress, without having his desire satisfied, she should, with his permission, lay him down upon his back, and give him assistance by acting his part. She may also do this to satisfy the curiosity of her lover, or her own desire of novelty.

If Kaname saw that he was tired, she would probably find something to do that caused him to be even more weary. Of course, the quickest way to get her to do something was to tell her not to do it. He would keep that in mind as he read.

There are two ways of doing this, the first is when during congress she turns round, and gets on the top of her lover, in such a manner as to continue the congress, without obstructing the pleasure of it; and the other is when she acts the man's part from the beginning. At such a time, with flowers in her hair hanging loose, and her smiles broken by hard breathings, she should press upon her lover's bosom with her own breasts, and lowering her head frequently, should do in return the same actions which he used to do before, returning his blows and chaffing him, should say, 'I was laid down by you, and fatigued with hard congress, I shall now therefore lay you down in return.' She should then again manifest her own bashfulness, her fatigue, and her desire of stopping the congress. In this way she should do the work of a man, which we shall presently relate.

Kaname had mentioned something about taking Sousuke’s role for a day, if only he would take hers, just to see how hard her life was. There was no way for him to be Whispered, however. Her suggestions of how he could become a woman had been anatomically possible, and all the more frightening for that reason. He had given her some C4, and told her to blow up whatever she liked. He promises to smack her afterwards. Kaname had quickly changed the topic.

Whatever is done by a man for giving pleasure to a woman is called the work of a man, and is as follows: While the woman is lying on his bed, and is as it were abstracted by his conversation, he should loosen the knot of her undergarments, and when she begins to dispute with him, he should overwhelm her with kisses. Then when his lingam is erect he should touch her with his hands in various places, and gently manipulate various parts of the body. If the woman is bashful, and if it is the first time that they have come together, the man should place his hands between her thighs, which she would probably keep close together, and if she is a very young girl, he should first get his hands upon her breasts, which she would probably cover with her own hands, and under her armpits and on her neck. If however she is a seasoned woman, he should do whatever is agreeable either to him or to her, and whatever is fitting for the occasion. After this he should take hold of her hair, and hold her chin in his fingers for the purpose of kissing her. On this, if she is a young girl, she will become bashful and close her eyes. Anyhow he should gather from the action of the woman what things would be pleasing to her during congress.

“Uhhh…” It was good that he was alone, and in an environment limited to mails. His anatomy had acted without his permission again. Why should reading something like that have such an effect. The book gave no explanation, not even mentioning that precise topic.

Here Suvarnanabha says that while a man is doing to the woman what he likes best during congress, he should always make a point of pressing those parts of her body on which she turns her eyes. The signs of the enjoyment and satisfaction of the woman are as follows: her body relaxes, she closes her eyes, she puts aside all bashfulness, and shows increased willingness to unite the two organs as closely together as possible. On the other hand, the signs of her want of enjoyment and of failing to be satisfied are as follows: she shakes her hands, she does not let the man get up, feels dejected, bites the man, kicks him, and continues to go on moving after the man has finished. In such cases the man should rub the yoni of the woman with his hand and fingers, as the elephant rubs anything with his trunk, before engaging in congress, until it is softened, and after that is done he should proceed to put his lingam into her.

“Errr… Ummm… perhaps I should read this later…” Sousuke swallowed hard. He felt a tingling feeling that might precede an embarrassing event. He would not want to have to explain something like that! Perhaps he should change into his gym clothes if he planned on reading further at this moment. He did just that, after making certain he had a spare set of undergarments.

The acts to be done by the man are: Moving forward. Friction or churning. Piercing. Rubbing. Pressing. Giving a blow. The blow of a boar. The blow of a bull. The sporting of a sparrow.

Blows? That did not sound good! He would never strike Kaname. He quickly skipped ahead some.

When the lingam is removed to some distance from the yoni, and then forcibly strikes it, it is called 'giving a blow'.

When only one part of the yoni is rubbed with the lingam, it is called the 'blow of a boar'.

When both sides of the yoni are rubbed in this way, it is called the 'blow of a bull'.

Ahhh. He was relieved. Huh? Hardly! Thinking of striking and rubbing had him sweating again. A yoni or lingham by any name still stays the same. Whatever made him think he could get through all this? True, he had acted valiantly up to this point, but things were beginning to weigh heavily on him. Figuratively.

“One minute can decide the outcome of the battle. One hour - the outcome of the campaign, and one day - the fate of the country."

Those words were attributed to Russian Field Marshal Prince Aleksandr Vasilyevich Suvorov, created as a count for his victories in the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-74. He was never defeated in battle. He ascribed his success to intuition, rapidity, and impact. While those latter words were somewhat discomforting while he read the book, the quotation itself was worth remembering. He could lose Kaname’s good feeling, their relationship, or any place in her life. He could live with that, if his intentions were good, and he had tried his best. He should not quit. For all he knew, his efforts might one day help him win battle, campaign, and country.

“Remember Flavius.”

Sousuke knew many quotes credited to the celebrated Roman military writer of the 4th century. His treatise, Epitoma rei , contained a series of military maxims which were the foundation of military learning for every European commander, from William the Silent to Frederick the Great. "The courage of the soldier is heightened by the knowledge of his profession." It was not only relevant to battle, but also to his relationship with Kaname, which today by coincidence had taken on the form of a battle."When men find they must inevitably perish, they willingly resolve to die with their comrades, and with their arms in their hands."

Kaname was the only companion he wished. If he died in her arms, he could not imagine a better death.

Back to work.

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“That jerk!”

Kaname kicked a locker, too hard for her own good. She was hopping around when Kyouko opened her locker and began getting dressed.

“Are you still mad at Sousuke?” Kyouko asked. “I’m not. It was our fault.’ She didn’t rub in the fact that she had tried to be a voice of reason.

“Oooooh! The idiot!” Kaname pulled her foot back again, but caught herself that time. “I don’t care about the trap. I don’t even care about detention.” her words had Kyouk’s eyes going wide. Maya and Ryo looked at each other, having just showed up.

“Wouldn’t show you the book, huh?” Mizuki said. “The nerve of some people!” She chuckled, not seeing Kyouko grab hold of Kaname’s arm. “Guys are so stupid. All he has to do is show you some book… make it something mildly annoying, if necessary… and sat it’s the one. Then he’d be free.”

“What?” Kaname clenched her fists. “Sousuke would never do something like that. He’s too honest. He wouldn’t hurt someone that way.”

“Yes, he’s a pretty great guy,” Kyouko said, trying to diffuse Kaname’s ticking mood.

Kaname began nodding her head, stopping when she saw Maya and Ryo scrutinizing her face. “He’s alright, I guess. When you are such a nutcase like him, you can’t afford to have people hate you for too many reasons. Hmmmpppfff!”

“I still don’t get why you’re so upset,” Mizuki said, a mischievous look in her eyes. “If he was your boyfriend, it might make sense.” She neatly folded her clothes and placed them in her locker. “You two are inseparable…”

“Huh? Ah hah hah hah hah!” Kaname closed her locker, even though she hadn’t put her clothes in yet. She frowned and opened it back up again. “I can’t help it if I have two shadows. Beisdes, he’s my friend. That doesn’t make him my boyfriend, just because he’s a boy! Sheeeesh!

“Kaname’s probably upset because she hates to lose.” Kyouko said reasonably, even though she had a strong suspicion of her friend’s true discomfort.

“Tell me about it!” Ryo and Maya both laughed. They had said the same thing at exactly the same time. Ryo smacked Maya in the butt with her rolled up gym shirt.

“That’s right.” Kaname’s voice was quiet. So quiet, that it caused the hair on the girls’ necks to stand on end. “I especially hate to lose to someone who breaks the rules, blows things up, and gets other people in trouble they don’t deserve.” That had Maya rolling her eyes and Ryo covering her mouth.

“She hates to lose to Sousuke,” Mizuki said, tying her shoes. “Too bad, since there is no way that she can beat him.” She kept from grinning. “Of course, if they were lovers or something, there would be no way for him to win.”

“WHAT?” Kaname turned pale. “Don’t even joke that way. Geeez. Nobody wants to win that bad. Not even me. AH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!”

“Besides, you know Sousuke.” Maya said, pulling her shirt over her head.

“Yes, he probably doesn’t even know where ‘it’ goes.” Ryo chuckled, stretching.

“If he even knows what it’s for,” Mizuki put in. “I guess that Kaname will have to teach him…”

“Ooooooh!” Kaname took a step towards the other girl. She stopped and fluffed her hair. “I wouldn’t bother. I’d just refer him to Shirai.”

Mizuki froze. That was still a sore subject with her. She was well aware that Kname had just thrown down the gauntlet.

“So, are you going to try for the book again?” Kyouko asked. She was trying to keep things from getting ugly. Fighting among friends never accomplished anything.

“Well, if you think I should, Ky.” Kaname flashed a smile. “Thanks. That’s a great idea.”

“But… I wasn’t…” Kyouko shook her head.

“And it’s great that you volunteered to help,” Kaname added. She looked at the other girls.”

“No!” Maya said. “We only have ten minutes before gym class.”

“I sneezed enough for one day!” Ryo claimed.

“Count me out.” Mizuki sounded angry.

“Please…” Kyouk held her hands under her chin. If she was going to be dragged into helping Kaname, she didn’t want to be the only one.

“That’s not fair, using Kyouko as bait.” Maya frowned. “OK. I know that I’ll regret it.” Both Ryo and Mizuki agreed reluctantly as well.

“What? Kyouko volunteered.” Kaname squared her shoulders and spoke before their could be any rebuttal. “This should be a piece of cake. Sousuke is outside. The boy’s gym and locker room is empty. There are no locks in there, and the guys share lockers. So, there won’t be any traps.”

After a bit of a pep talk, Kaname led her friends into enemy territory, so to speak. She employed stealth techniques that she had learned from Sousuke, pushing forward with her usual indomitable will. They got into the boy’s gym unseen. They penetrated the locker room too, but not until after they all made a hideous face, their feet hanging over the tiled floor, just before they took their first step in.

“Which locker is Sousuke’s?” Maya asked.

“How should I know?” Kaname answered snappishly. “I’ve never been in here before.”

“Look for one with a picture of Kaname. Or, maybe a big heart with the initials. K.C. and S.S.” Mizuki sniffed.

“No, look for one with power cables running to it, or blast marks.” Ryo chuckled.

“Just look for one with a book in it. It will be Sousuke’s. I doubt the other guys can even read!” Kaname’s comment had everyone laughing.

They opened locker by locker. It wouldn’t take too long with all of them helping. Sometimes they found things that defied description. At others, they found things that left them cross-eyed or ready to gag. There was no sign of a book, however.

“What was that?” Mizuki asked. “I hear voices. Lots of them. It’s getting louder.” She was right. The schedule thrown off, Sousuke’s group had only just left for the athletic field. The group before his was coming back in.

“Oh Shit!” Maya almost never sore. “Boys!”

“Kaname!” Ryo looked shocked.

“The showers. Quick!” Kaname took charge. “Follow me.” She led the way.

“Earth to Chidori,” Mizuki drawled. “We have stinky sweaty boys coming in. They will be heading for the showers.”

“Not until they undress. That gives us some time. Come on! The boy’s shower room is supposed to have two sets of entrances, just like ours. I heard that at the Student Council meeting once. We can get away undetected that way!”

The girls all ran into the huge shower room. It was larger and coarser than the girls, with a greater number of shower heads and a dirty cracked floor. Kaname raced over to the far door. “If I’m right, this will lead to the maintenance corridor. It shouldn’t be locked the way that ours is. I doubt any janitor is going to peak in on the boys…”

“Out of my way!” Mizuki shot past like a missile. She was close to hyperventilating. She couldn’t stand being there, not only because she had been dumped by Shirai in a boy’s bathroom. “Oh no!”

“Move!” Kaname took hold of the door handle, She couldn’t get it to move either. It was locked.

“Ka-naaah-may…” Kyouko looked frightened. She had nightmares about the Full Monty Virus incident, where here clothes disintegrated after she saw Onuki go entirely naked.

“Be calm. We’ll be alright.” Kaname knew there was only one way out. They would have to leave the way they came in. If they ran, their reputation may take on some tarnish, but things wouldn’t be too bad.

The showers all came on at once. Someone had thrown a master switch, usurping individual control. The water was everywhere. It was hot, before everything equalized. They were cooked and soaked at the same time.

“You were saying?” Maya asked.