[FIC] Shot Through The Heart (part 1 of 2) {Chapter 23}
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2003 11:34 pm
High on adrenalin, and low on dread, Sousuke called all of the Funeral Directors in the city. None had a body corresponding to Kaname's, and none had record of anything pending with her name.
He had gone through the same rollercoaster ride with each call. Fear, as he was dialing. Anxiety and even impatience, while the phone rang. Relief, almost joy, when the answer was in the negative.
For a brief moment, he was assaulted by a worrisome thought: could the body have been taken by someone intent on the study of Whispered?
Even though he had handled the prior inquiry himself, he had to concede there was still a small chance that a misunderstanding had occured. All possibilities should be considered...that is the mark of a good soldier.
Sousuke called Tokyo General Hospital, and his call was routed to the front desk of the Short Stay Unit. The woman who answered did not sound like the nurse he had spoken to before. Good. He would have no reason to distrust this person's motives.
"Hello, this is the Short Stay Unit...how may I help you?" the faceless voice asked.
"Yes, Hello. I am inquiring about a patient of yours..." Sousuke asked, his voice clear and level.
"I'm sorry. The person who could best answer questions regarding our current group of inpatients has stepped out for a moment. If you call back in a few minutes, she may be back," the woman stated in a reasonanble and pleasant fashion.
"I do not wish to be insistant, but this is urgent. I was told before that she had died, but no one has knowledge of the body..."
"I am sorry to hear that. But, I am still not the best person to ask if you want a prompt and accurate answer. And I have other phone lines blinking now." The voice remained calm and even tempered.
"Her name is Kaname Chidori...she was in room 528..." Sousuke was not going to be circumvented.
"R-room 528...T-the room that had t-the i-incident..." the woman asked, her composure slipping some.
"Yes, that is the one. I was visiting with her earlier today. If there is difficulty with people handling the telephones being able speak with me, I will head back to the hospital and return to the unit for the appropriate briefing..." Sousuke thought that he might be able to catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.
"YOU were the one?!!! YOU were here? WAIT! WAIT!!! You don't have to come back in. I will find someone with the answer IMMEDIATELY!!!"
Her voice had gone up a few octaves, and she spat her words strongly.
As Sousuke waited to hear from the appropriate individual, he was pleased to see just how eager the woman had been to help. It must be because of Kaname. They must have all liked Kaname very much.
When he heard that Kaname had been discharged and took a taxi home, Sousuke was very relieved. After taking a moment to drink a glass of ice water and take a few bites of a protein bar, he called Kaname.
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"Hello, who is it?" Kaname asked.
"Kaname, it's me. I wanted to see how you were doing."
"Sousuke? How am I doing? Do you mean after my surgery, or after I was almost crushed and then asphyxiated by a giant freakin' balloon?" Kaname's voice was somewhat irritated...physical recuperation must be tiring her, Sousuke thought.
"Yes," Sousuke replied.
"Yes? That is all you have to say? Yes?!" Indeed, recuperation must be very tiring.
"I apologize. I should have said, 'Yes Kaname'."
"Sousuke! That's not what I mean. You embarrass me by reading from the wrong chart...you confiscate peoples' flowers...you hide from security in MY room...you threaten to draw my blood...you stir up both the Clinical and Anatomic Pathology staff...you nearly kill me with a balloon...and you almost stop my heart with the repair bill I get...and all you can say to me is Yes?!!!" She was really steamed now.
"Y-yes...I mean, I apologize. I did not wish for those bad things to happen. I was worried, and I wanted to see you. I missed you, Kaname."
There was a pause before Kaname spoke again. "I know, Sousuke. I missed you too. But...the next time you visit me, can you please leave trouble behind?"
"I will do my best, Kaname," Sousuke said cheerfully. "I am glad that you recieved your diagnosis in time to go home today. Hospitals are a very confusing and hectic place."
"Sousuke! It wasn't the hospital's fault...never mind...thank you for the sentiment," Kaname started, before she remembered something important. "That reminds me Sousuke, do you remember our deal?"
"Deal, Kaname?"
"Yes, if I did not hear the answer today, you were going to draw my blood...and if I did hear today, you were going to...." Kaname left the answer hanging.
"Ask you on a date?" Sousuke finished.
"Why, what a wonderful suggestion Sousuke. Thank you. I accept!" Kaname pounced quickly, claws ready to keep her prey from escaping.
"Uh--"
"And Sousuke, I want a real date...one we BOTH can enjoy. I expect your word on this, and I want you to supply me with a date and time. Now!" She sounded very insistant.
"Uh--"
"SOUSUKE!!!" Kaname shouted loud enough that Sousuke almost dropped the phone.
"Certainly, give me a minute. Could you be ready at ten o'clock, Saturday morning?" Sousuke offered.
"Yes, it is not a problem. I expect you to be there with bells on!" Kaname said. When she quickly realized it was Sousuke she was talking with, she added "Never mind the bells, Sousuke."
"Bells, Kaname?"
"Didn't I say 'never mind'?" Kaname's voice bordered on being exasperated.
"Yes. I apologize....there is another reason I had called."
"What reason was that?" Kaname asked.
"Do you have my...uh...homework papers?"
"You mean the papers Mr. Kalinin gave you..." Kaname started.
"Yes" Sousuke interjected.
"...and THAT CAPTAIN changed for you..." her voice had gotten a little louder.
"Yes"
"...and I SAVED FOR YOU...when I was being SWALLOWED ALIVE by that monstrous B A L L O O N ! ! !" her voice was rather loud at the completion of her her sentence.
"Exactly, Kaname. I commend you on a successful rescue mission."
"No...sorry...threw them away...too bad." Kaname said in a quieter and more cheerful voice.
"Kaname!!!"
"I'm teasing you Sousuke. You deserve it. You deserve a whole lot more! Don't think I am anywhere near being through with you, mister!" Her volume was going up again.
"I see...you sound very angry with me...perhaps I should give you the opportunity to become less angry. Maybe it would be best if I delayed our date for some time. Yes, perhaps until autumn. Autumn should suffice."
"Sousuke...bite your tongue. You WILL be here Saturday. You WILL take me on a date. And there will NOT be any postponement. I don't care if they send an Arm Slave to bring you back, Sousuke...you WILL keep your word." Kaname did not sound as if she were open to negotiation.
"Yes, it will be as you say, Kaname. I know that it is late, but could I possibly come over and get my assignment papers?"
Kaname looked down at her word processor, and looked at the papers she had already typed. "Is that the kind of thing you ask a girl at this time of night, Sousuke? A girl who has had a very trying day, and has just returned from the hospital?!"
"I'm sorry, Kaname. I just wanted to make certain I did not lose those papers. And I wanted to see you, to make certain you were OK."
"Thank you, Sousuke. I will give them to you tomorrow. I have a few more things to do, and then I'll be turning in for the night. It's just as well any way...you can use your time tonight to start planning the perfect date!"
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The perfect date.
Kaname had said 'the perfect date.'
That placed Sousuke at even more of a disadvantage. He had trouble dealing with the concept of 'date,' as it was. When thinking of the difficulty he would have in figuring out the parameters for a date, Sousuke had seen the image of a soldier doing a recon mission, alone, far behind enemy lines. But, when he thought of the expectation inherent in a perfect date, he pictured that soldier taking on an Arm Slave, armed only with a pocket knife.
He sighed. That made fifteen times in that last hour. He would get some sleep, if his troubled mind would allow. He would tackle this mission after school tomorrow. He still had a number of days left.
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There were definite benefits to this dating business, Sousuke thought after returning home after school. A number of times Kaname tried to criticize him for his schoolwork...she had instantly stopped when he told her he had been too busy working on the date to give his full attention to schoolwork. She had also been ready to instruct him in the ancient and honored art of phrenology after peppering his head with her halisen, but she refrained from striking when he said an injury might delay the date.
Sousuke placed a large tripod and its accompanying large pad of papers in the center of his room. He had asked the art teacher if he could borrow it, and his teacher had happily complied...she was so glad to see Sousuke take a quiet interest in something creative.
With a large marker, Sousuke divided the paper into columns. At the head of the columns he wrote the words GOALS...NEEDS...EQUIPMENT...LOCATIONS...TIMETABLE...RISKS.
He then took time thinking and filling in each column as far as he was able. When he was finished, he came to an unmistakable conclusion. He needed more information.
Sousuke knew exactly what to do. A mission is a mission is a mission. And, a mission without proper intelligence was a recipe for disaster. He would need to find answers.
A quick check through the Mithril manuals did not reveal anything applicable to dating. He searched the encoded Mithril on-line information base, also without success. He was NOT going to ask anyone on the TDD-1 or at school for advice! And, he would certainly not disappoint Kaname by asking her.
Sousuke grabbed his wallet and headed out of his apartment, walking down to the street below. He would locate appropriate intelligence sources. In whatever media were readily available.
Seeing a large video store, Souske walked in and searched the shelves. He saw no instructional videos of any kind. He asked the store manager if the store had videos that could help with dates. The manager looked confused for a moment, but then smiled slyly, saying he knew just what Sousuke wanted...and yes, they had the best selection in the city. He pointed towards a door, pushed a buzzer, and told Sousuke to go ahead in.
"Knock yourself out son, but don't do anything kinky in there...save that for home." Sousuke was uncertain what the man was refering to.
Walking in the room, Sousuke noted that there was an odd assortment of people in there, men and women, young and old...some acting very secretive, and some acting very excited. Yes, he should not be surprised...dating is, after all, a very popular activity.
Souske pulled a number of tapes off of the shelves. He put them back even more quickly. He walked to another shelf, and did the same. Again. And again. Looking at one box cover, he exclaimed, louder than he intended "I-I didn't know t-they got THAT large. How can she possibly walk?" A number of people around him chuckled knowingly.
Although he had figured out he didn't belong in there, Sousuke was mesmerized...he thought of himself as a ground squirrel or field rat staring helplessly at a swaying cobra. Cobras swallow their prey whole, he automatically thought. In that room, that thought suddenly made him blush.
On the street again, Sousuke ran along quicker than he usually would. When he was a sufficient distance from THAT store, he slowed to a normal pace. He was relieved when he reached a bookstore...a family bookstore. After he looked at topic headings without success, he decided to be efficient with his time, and asked for help. A young man in his twenties assisted him, saying he knew just what Sousuke needed.
"You have used this yourself, then?" Sousuke had asked, wanting to check the validity of the man's claim.
"Of course not. I do NOT need this book, thank you. I do QUITE well on my OWN!" the man seemed very determined to convince Sousuke.
"I see. Then if you do not know if it is good, perhaps I should not spend money on it. Besides, I am not a Dummy...I'm a specialist."
"That's fine..." the man replied as Sousuke turned to walk away, "...it's the best we have...but if you are so certain you do not need it, that's OK." Seeing Sousuke stop, he added "And it's the last copy we have."
Sousuke quickly bought the book. And the disc.
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In the safety of his own apartment, Sousuke quickly skimmed through the book, leaving a more detailed study for later.
He put the book back down and looked at the cover again. DATING FOR DUMMIES. Appropriate, Sousuke thought, as there was an enormous number of things he hadn't known...and hadn't even known to think about. This was not going to be easy. And, he had to be certain he was going on good advice.
He read about the author. Dr. Joy Browne. A woman...she should therefore be an excellent resourse regarding the things women want on dates. And, a doctor...a specialist! Yes, it would be wise to trust her word.
Sousuke had gotten a general feel for the areas he needed to consider:
What to say
What to do
What not to say
What not to do
What a woman meant when she did or said certain things
Guidelines for flirting
Tipsheets for restaurants
Ways to make your date miserable
foods to avoid
Opening lines
How to hug
How to kiss
What women want
Good places for a first date
Ways to ditch a date if necessary
An emergency repair kit
10 ways to know when one is in love
And so forth and so on.
27 chapters
128 pages
He thought a while longer, and wrote up a list of supplies needed for the mission. He would need to visit a Mens' Store, today. Perhaps a pharmacy. Perishable items he would get on the morning of the date. Saturday. That day was coming closer.
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Walking into the Mens' Store was like walking into a large miltary base that one had never visited before. There were so many people. So many different types of equipment. Civilian uniforms had a much wider variety of styles, colors, and cuts. And shoes! So many kinds!
Sousuke needed a moment just to drink in the enormity of it all. And, he decided, he needed a guide. Walking over to the information desk, he asked where the best place to start might be, and how he could find someone to help him. The gentleman behind the desk was very helpful, and buzzed for some assistance.
After a few minutes, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit walked up and asked Sousuke what he could do to assist him.
Sousuke was polite when he said "I thank you for your kind offer, but I was looking for a woman to assist me."
The man looked somewhat taken aback, and replied "I am quite able to show you whatever you need, sir. This is not the place to be picking up dates."
"I understand, sir. That is not my intention. I already have agreed to a date. I wanted a woman to assist me because she would know how a woman thinks. But, I would be glad for YOUR assistance, if you know how a woman thinks."
The man thought a moment, and then shook his head. "Who knows what women think?!" Inside his own head, the man had decided that he was a man, and thought like a man...NOT like a woman. A very manly man. "I will see who might be available."
"Thank you," Sousuke said. Perhaps this dating stuff wouldn't be so difficult after all.
About ten minutes later, a middle-aged woman in a colorful blouse came to where Sousuke was waiting, and helped chauffeur him through the store.
"Hello, my name is Karla." The woman had a very pleasant voice.
"I am pleased to meet you. My name is Sousuke."
"My...you are a handsome one. And I understand you have a date planned. I am certain I can help you prepare quite well, at least in regards to clothing and accessories." Her manner put Sousuke at ease.
"If I may be so bold to ask...is that a dueling scar?" She asked when Sousuke did not immediately reply to her previous statement.
Sousuke considered the question. Though his scar had not come through fencing, it had come from something one might consider a duel. "Yes, it is."
"Oh, how very distinguished. And romantic. Women love dashing heroes with hidden pasts!" She almost bubbled over.
"I have that too" Sousuke added.
"Really? That's wonderful!!!. All you need now is the proper clothes. As they say, clothes make the man."
Karla...who Sousuke quickly learned loved to talk and gossip, and who was a BIG fan of mystery and romance novels...led her young charge on a whirlwind tour of the store. When she was done, Sousuke had an arm full of underwear, socks, shirts, pants, belts, shoes, and even a 'dashing scarf.' He placed that on the counter along with the items that Karla had carried: cologne, a hankerchief, and a dress watch. After the total was rung up, and he saw the bill, he almost gasped. But...he calmed himself...he did indeed work on an expense account. He could certainly justify this purchase, and who knows: the opportunity may come again when he might need some of these items.
Sousuke thanked Karla and left her with a nice tip. For her part, she thanked Sousuke, and said it had been a pleasure to assist such a fine young man. Yes, it seems this dating thing would be simple after all!
*************************************************************
Having read the book, Sousuke knew that another establishment was on his 'must visit' list. The pharmacy.
He found the general area he wanted, but was again faced with a bewildering array of choices.
Breath mints. Breath lozenges. Breath sprays. Some with plain labels. Some with fancy labels. Some with guarantees. And the flavors...why on earth did there need to be so many flavors? Kumquat? Persimmon? Double Extra Ecstacy? Tundra Blast? This was too confusing. He needed help.
A bored-looking store clerk accompanied Sousuke back to the site of his dilemma.
"Which of these are good?" Sousuke asked.
"All of them, I think." The clerk said, pulling at his lip.
"You think? You are not sure?"
"I think I'm sure. I think." the clerk said helpfully, rubbing his nose.
"I see. And your qualification to work here is?" Sousuke probed.
"I filled out an application. My mother runs the store," the clerk said, tugging at an ear.
"She does? Excellent. Could you bring your mother here to assist me?"
"Yes, I can." And, he did. His mother was a pleasant woman in an impeccably pressed store apron, her name badge polished just a fraction away from perfection. Things were looking up, Sousuke thought.
The woman was an unending source of information. Yes, she new about each product and each flavor. And, she knew someone for each flavor she knew. Someone who liked that flavor. Why they liked that flavor. How long they had liked that flavor. Other people and relatives they had, and which flavors THEY preferred. On which days. In which circumstances. And that was just the beginning.
Sousuke left the store with a very large bag of breath products. He would try them at home. He had also puchased a roll of colorful wrapping paper...the designs on the paper reminded him of halisens. On the way out of the store he stopped, catching sight of a rack of condoms. After staring a moment, he shook his head, sighed, and headed home. He was exhausted.
*************************************************************
The day of the date had arrived. And took too damn long to get there, Kaname thought.
She had set her alarm for six o'clock that morning, to be certain she had enough time to prepare. She of course woke up an hour early, and couldn't go back to sleep. But that was fine with her: just more time to enjoy this day!!!
She was too excited to eat yet, so went straight in to shower. She took a nice warm shower...three times, each time realizing there was a shampoo whose smell she liked more. Or thought Sousuke might like more. She brushed her teeth...once. She had taken enough time with each tooth to be certain everything was perfect. Singing happily, she used four different hairbrushes to try out six different hairsyles. There were too many ribbons, bows, and other accessories that she looked at, experimented with, and tossed aside, to be able to keep track of it all.
The later the time got, the more excited she became. The more excited she became, the more things she found to laugh at. At one point, she realized she was rubbing a frozen waffle over her lips. She found her lipstick in the microwave. That was OK! She had another roll the same color!
She looked in the mirror. She looked in every mirror. From every conceivable angle. In every conceivable amount of light. Moving. Posing. Standing casually. Sitting. Reclining.
Her alarm went off. 9:55. Time for a few last checks. The mirror agreed with her...she was beautiful. She checked her breath again. Still minty fresh. She smoothed her blouse. Oh, damn!!! That thread! Where were her damned scissors!!! After a brief and frantic moment, she found her scissors and amputated the offending string.
Not a moment too soon.
10:00. On the dot.
The door rang.
Time slowed, became twisted and distorted. No, not like in the Whispered state. This was much worse! It felt as if she were trying to swim through molasses, with an iron ball chained to her ankle, moving against a strong current.
When she opened the door, she seemed very cheerful and calm.
The same could NOT be said for Sousuke.
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Sousuke had gotten to the door in time to hear Kaname's alarm go off. He hoped she hadn't just gotten up! She couldn't have forgotten, could she? This wan't just some way to get back at him for missing her tutoring session that one night?! That was so long ago!
"Settle down Sousuke. Settle down," he told himself. "You are prepared. You have done your best. And you have no backup."
He brushed off his shirt. And his pants. He moved his belt and watch just the slightest amount. He rubbed his hand behind his ear and smelled it, trying to be sure he had remembered his cologne. He had. He ate three more breath mints...he had no idea what flavor they were.
He checked his watch, synchronized to an atomic clock. When 9:59 became 10:00, he rang the doorbell.
He was shocked. The door opened immediately!!!
And Kaname was standing in the door. He had no choice but to do a double take. It was not something of free will. It was glandular. Automatic. And it was still going.
Yes, this was Kaname Chidori. But, it was more than Kaname Chidori. He had never seen her quite like THIS!
He found that he was experiencing a very small but global tremor. He found it hard to swallow. He found it hard to speak. Things became worse when he noticed her curvature..as if for the first time.
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Kaname was pleasantly surprised. Wow! She hadn't figured Sousuke could clean up THAT nice!
She looked at everything. Literally. Every piece of clothing, and every area on each piece of clothing. His shoes. His belt. His watch. Looking at his pants, she quickly withdrew her view from one area.
She sniffed expectantly from her present distance, waiting. Waiting. Waiting. THERE! Ah, but that was a VERY nice cologne. And he had gotten a haircut!
She could feel the rush of blood in her ears, and it felt as if her fluttering heart wanted to take flight. She prayed she didn't look too eager, and she hoped she wasn't sweating.
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"Sousuke, right on time. Please come in!" she was proud that she seemed calm and her voice didn't crack.
"Certainly. I must get something first. If you can wait a moment." He bent over, reached for something out of view, and stood back up again. When he walked through the door, Kaname saw that he carried a gift-wrapped package, a box of chocolates, and a large bunch of flowers.
"These are for you Kanme," he started, automatically switching over to one of the phrases he had memorized, stumbling only slightly "I tried to find something as nice as you, but that was not possible."
His statement was rewarded with a blush. And a rare occurence. Kaname was speechless.
To fill the void, Sousuke continued "I knew you liked flowers, so I brought you flowers." He handed the bouquet to Kaname who almost glowed. "I knew you had missed good food in the hospital, so I brought you some sweets." The intensity of Kaname's glow went up a notch. "And, I realized you liked getting gifts...and I saw that there was something you might like...so..." and he handed the package to Kaname, who almost burst into happy flames.
Some things hold true to form. Mischief was in Kaname's blood. "It's not BALLOONS, I hope" she laughed.
"No," said Sousuke grinning. He HAD thought of balloons though. But, he hadn't needed to think long about balloons.
Kaname had Sousuke sit down and get comfortable and went to get some cold drinks. After a brief bit of small talk, she left to put the flowers in water. When she returned, she was carrying a plate filled with the candy that Sousuke had brought, and her present. She tasted a number of the chocolates, biting them in half and giving Sousuke half as well. Sousuke blushed ever so slightly.
"Can I open my present?" Kaname asked, eagerly. What COULD he have gotten her?
"Certainly. It is, after all, something for you!"
"Nothing wierd?" she asked out of habit.
"No, I do not think so."
"Nothing dangerous?" Habit again.
"Not if used properly."
Not if used properly? What might that mean? But...this was Sousuke, and he thought that way about EVERYTHING. No time to think any more...time to OPEN.
"The wrapping is very nice Sousuke...did you do this?"
"Yes...these do not come giftwrapped." Her curiosity jumped up a couple of stairs.
"And the ribbon?" she asked.
"Yes."
Kaname removed the wrapping. The box was plain and white. No clues to what might be inside. She opened the box.
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When Kaname looked at the contents of the box, she was speechless.
Sousuke took that as a good sign. "I thought long and hard about this. I had many things to consider. I decided you were certainly worth the best!" He tried very hard not to seem smug.
"S-------?" That from Kaname
"I have made certain it is in proper working order, and I have the necessary accessories back at my apartment." Souske let a little bit of smugness creep into his voice.
"Sous---?"
"While we were at the hospital, I noticed how happy you were when I left my things with you, so I decided to get you something that would please you. And, of course, it is very practical." For Sousuke, that voice was nearly crowing.
"SOUSUKE!!! YOU IMBECILE!!! IS THIS THE KIND OF GIFT YOU BRING A LADY!!! ON YOUR ***FIRST*** DATE???!!!" Kaname, it seems, had found her voice. Actually, it sounds like she found a whole room's worth of voices.
"But--"
Kaname was glaring, hand on hip, shaking the box in her hand right up under Sousuke's eyes. "I should have expected this. Things were going just to WELL. I am SO stupid...THAT should have been an immediate warning sign."
"But---"
"Thank you so very much Sgt. Lets Go On A Mission And Kill The Mood!!! Sousuke...can you tell me what you were thinking...were you thinking at all...I mean, like a normal person?"" She sat down abruptly. Sousuke almost thought she looked on the verge of tears.
Kaname was very quiet, and turned away from Sousuke.
Things were dead quiet for a while. No one moved. No one spoke. Finally, very quietly, Sousuke tried to comfort her. "It seems all my thinking...all my learning...all my efforts have led to little. It seems that I just do not know how to act around you Kaname. I wonder why that is, since I feel I want to be around you and want to make you happy. Maybe it is just not my time or my place."
Kaname turned back to look at Sousuke.
"I was correct about clothes, I think. I was also on target with the flowers and the chocolate. But I seem to have missed the drop zone entirely on the gift. At the hospital, when I left you my things, you seemed so happy, so intense. I thought I knew the perfect gift. I seem to have failed miserably in this mission." Kaname had not heard Sousuke sound this sad before, not even when he was worried about Kurz and Melissa. "My apologies. I will continue to do my best to guard you. This will not be a problem for me. If it is a problem for you, I will see if other arrangements can be made."
When he finished, Sousuke headed towards the door. "I will go now. Before I do, I should say something. I thought you might be an angel when I opened the door. I couldn't be certain it was you. You looked so pr--...so pretty." Kaname was certain that was the first time Sousuke had ever said something like that to someone.
Souske turned and started to leave. He stopped---or, more accurately, he was stopped. Kaname was standing...and crying...and she had ahold of his arm.
"Don't be silly, Sousuke...you can't go anywhere...if you did, how could we have out date...and I have been waiting so long for this date." When she was finished, she wrapped her arms around Sousuke. "I'm sorry, Sousuke. I over-reacted. I didn't think. I...I...I always look to see what the problem is with you, and I often overlook what is so right..."
After she was finished, Kaname walked over to the couch with her present. She patted the cushion next to hers. "Why don't you come over here and explain this too me, Sousuke?"
"With pleasure!" Kaname thought that he looked happy again. She decided that she should encourage him in the things he liked, and the things he knew well.
Sousuke removed a pistol from the box. He showed it to Kaname from all angles, and had her hold it. He showed her the proper grip, how to release the clip, and how to use the sights if the situation required.
"This is the Glock 26. Perhaps the best pocket pistol in the world. Pocket pistols most often are not good general weapons, and are good only for close combat. This pistol is the exception. It allows for instant and instinctive action. It is safe. It is reliable. It has relatively few parts and is simple to take down, clean, and put back together. Do you follow me , so far?"
"Yes" Kaname said, nodding her head, trying to seem attentive.
"The pistol is made out of light but durable plastic. It weighs about two ounces empty, seven ounces fully loaded. This weapon can digest an unbelievable assortment of ammunition, able to use many available 9mm rounds. I have given you one clip of Austrian Hirtenburg and one clip of Finish Lapua. Each clip holds 10 rounds."
The way Sousuke spoke of ammunition made Kaname think of gourmets speaking about cheese, wine, coffee, or tea. She smiled.
"I promise you, it is a fine weapon Kaname!"
"I am certain it is Sousuke. I should know that you'd never let me down." She smiled warmly, and pressed his arm.
"And," Sousuke put in cheerfully, "my selection of your gift has helped me decide what to do for the first part of our date today!"
Kaname coughed a bit, but did not quite choke.
A gun?
The date?
She started to get that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
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More to come
He had gone through the same rollercoaster ride with each call. Fear, as he was dialing. Anxiety and even impatience, while the phone rang. Relief, almost joy, when the answer was in the negative.
For a brief moment, he was assaulted by a worrisome thought: could the body have been taken by someone intent on the study of Whispered?
Even though he had handled the prior inquiry himself, he had to concede there was still a small chance that a misunderstanding had occured. All possibilities should be considered...that is the mark of a good soldier.
Sousuke called Tokyo General Hospital, and his call was routed to the front desk of the Short Stay Unit. The woman who answered did not sound like the nurse he had spoken to before. Good. He would have no reason to distrust this person's motives.
"Hello, this is the Short Stay Unit...how may I help you?" the faceless voice asked.
"Yes, Hello. I am inquiring about a patient of yours..." Sousuke asked, his voice clear and level.
"I'm sorry. The person who could best answer questions regarding our current group of inpatients has stepped out for a moment. If you call back in a few minutes, she may be back," the woman stated in a reasonanble and pleasant fashion.
"I do not wish to be insistant, but this is urgent. I was told before that she had died, but no one has knowledge of the body..."
"I am sorry to hear that. But, I am still not the best person to ask if you want a prompt and accurate answer. And I have other phone lines blinking now." The voice remained calm and even tempered.
"Her name is Kaname Chidori...she was in room 528..." Sousuke was not going to be circumvented.
"R-room 528...T-the room that had t-the i-incident..." the woman asked, her composure slipping some.
"Yes, that is the one. I was visiting with her earlier today. If there is difficulty with people handling the telephones being able speak with me, I will head back to the hospital and return to the unit for the appropriate briefing..." Sousuke thought that he might be able to catch more flies with sugar than with vinegar.
"YOU were the one?!!! YOU were here? WAIT! WAIT!!! You don't have to come back in. I will find someone with the answer IMMEDIATELY!!!"
Her voice had gone up a few octaves, and she spat her words strongly.
As Sousuke waited to hear from the appropriate individual, he was pleased to see just how eager the woman had been to help. It must be because of Kaname. They must have all liked Kaname very much.
When he heard that Kaname had been discharged and took a taxi home, Sousuke was very relieved. After taking a moment to drink a glass of ice water and take a few bites of a protein bar, he called Kaname.
*************************************************************
"Hello, who is it?" Kaname asked.
"Kaname, it's me. I wanted to see how you were doing."
"Sousuke? How am I doing? Do you mean after my surgery, or after I was almost crushed and then asphyxiated by a giant freakin' balloon?" Kaname's voice was somewhat irritated...physical recuperation must be tiring her, Sousuke thought.
"Yes," Sousuke replied.
"Yes? That is all you have to say? Yes?!" Indeed, recuperation must be very tiring.
"I apologize. I should have said, 'Yes Kaname'."
"Sousuke! That's not what I mean. You embarrass me by reading from the wrong chart...you confiscate peoples' flowers...you hide from security in MY room...you threaten to draw my blood...you stir up both the Clinical and Anatomic Pathology staff...you nearly kill me with a balloon...and you almost stop my heart with the repair bill I get...and all you can say to me is Yes?!!!" She was really steamed now.
"Y-yes...I mean, I apologize. I did not wish for those bad things to happen. I was worried, and I wanted to see you. I missed you, Kaname."
There was a pause before Kaname spoke again. "I know, Sousuke. I missed you too. But...the next time you visit me, can you please leave trouble behind?"
"I will do my best, Kaname," Sousuke said cheerfully. "I am glad that you recieved your diagnosis in time to go home today. Hospitals are a very confusing and hectic place."
"Sousuke! It wasn't the hospital's fault...never mind...thank you for the sentiment," Kaname started, before she remembered something important. "That reminds me Sousuke, do you remember our deal?"
"Deal, Kaname?"
"Yes, if I did not hear the answer today, you were going to draw my blood...and if I did hear today, you were going to...." Kaname left the answer hanging.
"Ask you on a date?" Sousuke finished.
"Why, what a wonderful suggestion Sousuke. Thank you. I accept!" Kaname pounced quickly, claws ready to keep her prey from escaping.
"Uh--"
"And Sousuke, I want a real date...one we BOTH can enjoy. I expect your word on this, and I want you to supply me with a date and time. Now!" She sounded very insistant.
"Uh--"
"SOUSUKE!!!" Kaname shouted loud enough that Sousuke almost dropped the phone.
"Certainly, give me a minute. Could you be ready at ten o'clock, Saturday morning?" Sousuke offered.
"Yes, it is not a problem. I expect you to be there with bells on!" Kaname said. When she quickly realized it was Sousuke she was talking with, she added "Never mind the bells, Sousuke."
"Bells, Kaname?"
"Didn't I say 'never mind'?" Kaname's voice bordered on being exasperated.
"Yes. I apologize....there is another reason I had called."
"What reason was that?" Kaname asked.
"Do you have my...uh...homework papers?"
"You mean the papers Mr. Kalinin gave you..." Kaname started.
"Yes" Sousuke interjected.
"...and THAT CAPTAIN changed for you..." her voice had gotten a little louder.
"Yes"
"...and I SAVED FOR YOU...when I was being SWALLOWED ALIVE by that monstrous B A L L O O N ! ! !" her voice was rather loud at the completion of her her sentence.
"Exactly, Kaname. I commend you on a successful rescue mission."
"No...sorry...threw them away...too bad." Kaname said in a quieter and more cheerful voice.
"Kaname!!!"
"I'm teasing you Sousuke. You deserve it. You deserve a whole lot more! Don't think I am anywhere near being through with you, mister!" Her volume was going up again.
"I see...you sound very angry with me...perhaps I should give you the opportunity to become less angry. Maybe it would be best if I delayed our date for some time. Yes, perhaps until autumn. Autumn should suffice."
"Sousuke...bite your tongue. You WILL be here Saturday. You WILL take me on a date. And there will NOT be any postponement. I don't care if they send an Arm Slave to bring you back, Sousuke...you WILL keep your word." Kaname did not sound as if she were open to negotiation.
"Yes, it will be as you say, Kaname. I know that it is late, but could I possibly come over and get my assignment papers?"
Kaname looked down at her word processor, and looked at the papers she had already typed. "Is that the kind of thing you ask a girl at this time of night, Sousuke? A girl who has had a very trying day, and has just returned from the hospital?!"
"I'm sorry, Kaname. I just wanted to make certain I did not lose those papers. And I wanted to see you, to make certain you were OK."
"Thank you, Sousuke. I will give them to you tomorrow. I have a few more things to do, and then I'll be turning in for the night. It's just as well any way...you can use your time tonight to start planning the perfect date!"
*************************************************************
The perfect date.
Kaname had said 'the perfect date.'
That placed Sousuke at even more of a disadvantage. He had trouble dealing with the concept of 'date,' as it was. When thinking of the difficulty he would have in figuring out the parameters for a date, Sousuke had seen the image of a soldier doing a recon mission, alone, far behind enemy lines. But, when he thought of the expectation inherent in a perfect date, he pictured that soldier taking on an Arm Slave, armed only with a pocket knife.
He sighed. That made fifteen times in that last hour. He would get some sleep, if his troubled mind would allow. He would tackle this mission after school tomorrow. He still had a number of days left.
*************************************************************
There were definite benefits to this dating business, Sousuke thought after returning home after school. A number of times Kaname tried to criticize him for his schoolwork...she had instantly stopped when he told her he had been too busy working on the date to give his full attention to schoolwork. She had also been ready to instruct him in the ancient and honored art of phrenology after peppering his head with her halisen, but she refrained from striking when he said an injury might delay the date.
Sousuke placed a large tripod and its accompanying large pad of papers in the center of his room. He had asked the art teacher if he could borrow it, and his teacher had happily complied...she was so glad to see Sousuke take a quiet interest in something creative.
With a large marker, Sousuke divided the paper into columns. At the head of the columns he wrote the words GOALS...NEEDS...EQUIPMENT...LOCATIONS...TIMETABLE...RISKS.
He then took time thinking and filling in each column as far as he was able. When he was finished, he came to an unmistakable conclusion. He needed more information.
Sousuke knew exactly what to do. A mission is a mission is a mission. And, a mission without proper intelligence was a recipe for disaster. He would need to find answers.
A quick check through the Mithril manuals did not reveal anything applicable to dating. He searched the encoded Mithril on-line information base, also without success. He was NOT going to ask anyone on the TDD-1 or at school for advice! And, he would certainly not disappoint Kaname by asking her.
Sousuke grabbed his wallet and headed out of his apartment, walking down to the street below. He would locate appropriate intelligence sources. In whatever media were readily available.
Seeing a large video store, Souske walked in and searched the shelves. He saw no instructional videos of any kind. He asked the store manager if the store had videos that could help with dates. The manager looked confused for a moment, but then smiled slyly, saying he knew just what Sousuke wanted...and yes, they had the best selection in the city. He pointed towards a door, pushed a buzzer, and told Sousuke to go ahead in.
"Knock yourself out son, but don't do anything kinky in there...save that for home." Sousuke was uncertain what the man was refering to.
Walking in the room, Sousuke noted that there was an odd assortment of people in there, men and women, young and old...some acting very secretive, and some acting very excited. Yes, he should not be surprised...dating is, after all, a very popular activity.
Souske pulled a number of tapes off of the shelves. He put them back even more quickly. He walked to another shelf, and did the same. Again. And again. Looking at one box cover, he exclaimed, louder than he intended "I-I didn't know t-they got THAT large. How can she possibly walk?" A number of people around him chuckled knowingly.
Although he had figured out he didn't belong in there, Sousuke was mesmerized...he thought of himself as a ground squirrel or field rat staring helplessly at a swaying cobra. Cobras swallow their prey whole, he automatically thought. In that room, that thought suddenly made him blush.
On the street again, Sousuke ran along quicker than he usually would. When he was a sufficient distance from THAT store, he slowed to a normal pace. He was relieved when he reached a bookstore...a family bookstore. After he looked at topic headings without success, he decided to be efficient with his time, and asked for help. A young man in his twenties assisted him, saying he knew just what Sousuke needed.
"You have used this yourself, then?" Sousuke had asked, wanting to check the validity of the man's claim.
"Of course not. I do NOT need this book, thank you. I do QUITE well on my OWN!" the man seemed very determined to convince Sousuke.
"I see. Then if you do not know if it is good, perhaps I should not spend money on it. Besides, I am not a Dummy...I'm a specialist."
"That's fine..." the man replied as Sousuke turned to walk away, "...it's the best we have...but if you are so certain you do not need it, that's OK." Seeing Sousuke stop, he added "And it's the last copy we have."
Sousuke quickly bought the book. And the disc.
*************************************************************
In the safety of his own apartment, Sousuke quickly skimmed through the book, leaving a more detailed study for later.
He put the book back down and looked at the cover again. DATING FOR DUMMIES. Appropriate, Sousuke thought, as there was an enormous number of things he hadn't known...and hadn't even known to think about. This was not going to be easy. And, he had to be certain he was going on good advice.
He read about the author. Dr. Joy Browne. A woman...she should therefore be an excellent resourse regarding the things women want on dates. And, a doctor...a specialist! Yes, it would be wise to trust her word.
Sousuke had gotten a general feel for the areas he needed to consider:
What to say
What to do
What not to say
What not to do
What a woman meant when she did or said certain things
Guidelines for flirting
Tipsheets for restaurants
Ways to make your date miserable
foods to avoid
Opening lines
How to hug
How to kiss
What women want
Good places for a first date
Ways to ditch a date if necessary
An emergency repair kit
10 ways to know when one is in love
And so forth and so on.
27 chapters
128 pages
He thought a while longer, and wrote up a list of supplies needed for the mission. He would need to visit a Mens' Store, today. Perhaps a pharmacy. Perishable items he would get on the morning of the date. Saturday. That day was coming closer.
*************************************************************
Walking into the Mens' Store was like walking into a large miltary base that one had never visited before. There were so many people. So many different types of equipment. Civilian uniforms had a much wider variety of styles, colors, and cuts. And shoes! So many kinds!
Sousuke needed a moment just to drink in the enormity of it all. And, he decided, he needed a guide. Walking over to the information desk, he asked where the best place to start might be, and how he could find someone to help him. The gentleman behind the desk was very helpful, and buzzed for some assistance.
After a few minutes, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit walked up and asked Sousuke what he could do to assist him.
Sousuke was polite when he said "I thank you for your kind offer, but I was looking for a woman to assist me."
The man looked somewhat taken aback, and replied "I am quite able to show you whatever you need, sir. This is not the place to be picking up dates."
"I understand, sir. That is not my intention. I already have agreed to a date. I wanted a woman to assist me because she would know how a woman thinks. But, I would be glad for YOUR assistance, if you know how a woman thinks."
The man thought a moment, and then shook his head. "Who knows what women think?!" Inside his own head, the man had decided that he was a man, and thought like a man...NOT like a woman. A very manly man. "I will see who might be available."
"Thank you," Sousuke said. Perhaps this dating stuff wouldn't be so difficult after all.
About ten minutes later, a middle-aged woman in a colorful blouse came to where Sousuke was waiting, and helped chauffeur him through the store.
"Hello, my name is Karla." The woman had a very pleasant voice.
"I am pleased to meet you. My name is Sousuke."
"My...you are a handsome one. And I understand you have a date planned. I am certain I can help you prepare quite well, at least in regards to clothing and accessories." Her manner put Sousuke at ease.
"If I may be so bold to ask...is that a dueling scar?" She asked when Sousuke did not immediately reply to her previous statement.
Sousuke considered the question. Though his scar had not come through fencing, it had come from something one might consider a duel. "Yes, it is."
"Oh, how very distinguished. And romantic. Women love dashing heroes with hidden pasts!" She almost bubbled over.
"I have that too" Sousuke added.
"Really? That's wonderful!!!. All you need now is the proper clothes. As they say, clothes make the man."
Karla...who Sousuke quickly learned loved to talk and gossip, and who was a BIG fan of mystery and romance novels...led her young charge on a whirlwind tour of the store. When she was done, Sousuke had an arm full of underwear, socks, shirts, pants, belts, shoes, and even a 'dashing scarf.' He placed that on the counter along with the items that Karla had carried: cologne, a hankerchief, and a dress watch. After the total was rung up, and he saw the bill, he almost gasped. But...he calmed himself...he did indeed work on an expense account. He could certainly justify this purchase, and who knows: the opportunity may come again when he might need some of these items.
Sousuke thanked Karla and left her with a nice tip. For her part, she thanked Sousuke, and said it had been a pleasure to assist such a fine young man. Yes, it seems this dating thing would be simple after all!
*************************************************************
Having read the book, Sousuke knew that another establishment was on his 'must visit' list. The pharmacy.
He found the general area he wanted, but was again faced with a bewildering array of choices.
Breath mints. Breath lozenges. Breath sprays. Some with plain labels. Some with fancy labels. Some with guarantees. And the flavors...why on earth did there need to be so many flavors? Kumquat? Persimmon? Double Extra Ecstacy? Tundra Blast? This was too confusing. He needed help.
A bored-looking store clerk accompanied Sousuke back to the site of his dilemma.
"Which of these are good?" Sousuke asked.
"All of them, I think." The clerk said, pulling at his lip.
"You think? You are not sure?"
"I think I'm sure. I think." the clerk said helpfully, rubbing his nose.
"I see. And your qualification to work here is?" Sousuke probed.
"I filled out an application. My mother runs the store," the clerk said, tugging at an ear.
"She does? Excellent. Could you bring your mother here to assist me?"
"Yes, I can." And, he did. His mother was a pleasant woman in an impeccably pressed store apron, her name badge polished just a fraction away from perfection. Things were looking up, Sousuke thought.
The woman was an unending source of information. Yes, she new about each product and each flavor. And, she knew someone for each flavor she knew. Someone who liked that flavor. Why they liked that flavor. How long they had liked that flavor. Other people and relatives they had, and which flavors THEY preferred. On which days. In which circumstances. And that was just the beginning.
Sousuke left the store with a very large bag of breath products. He would try them at home. He had also puchased a roll of colorful wrapping paper...the designs on the paper reminded him of halisens. On the way out of the store he stopped, catching sight of a rack of condoms. After staring a moment, he shook his head, sighed, and headed home. He was exhausted.
*************************************************************
The day of the date had arrived. And took too damn long to get there, Kaname thought.
She had set her alarm for six o'clock that morning, to be certain she had enough time to prepare. She of course woke up an hour early, and couldn't go back to sleep. But that was fine with her: just more time to enjoy this day!!!
She was too excited to eat yet, so went straight in to shower. She took a nice warm shower...three times, each time realizing there was a shampoo whose smell she liked more. Or thought Sousuke might like more. She brushed her teeth...once. She had taken enough time with each tooth to be certain everything was perfect. Singing happily, she used four different hairbrushes to try out six different hairsyles. There were too many ribbons, bows, and other accessories that she looked at, experimented with, and tossed aside, to be able to keep track of it all.
The later the time got, the more excited she became. The more excited she became, the more things she found to laugh at. At one point, she realized she was rubbing a frozen waffle over her lips. She found her lipstick in the microwave. That was OK! She had another roll the same color!
She looked in the mirror. She looked in every mirror. From every conceivable angle. In every conceivable amount of light. Moving. Posing. Standing casually. Sitting. Reclining.
Her alarm went off. 9:55. Time for a few last checks. The mirror agreed with her...she was beautiful. She checked her breath again. Still minty fresh. She smoothed her blouse. Oh, damn!!! That thread! Where were her damned scissors!!! After a brief and frantic moment, she found her scissors and amputated the offending string.
Not a moment too soon.
10:00. On the dot.
The door rang.
Time slowed, became twisted and distorted. No, not like in the Whispered state. This was much worse! It felt as if she were trying to swim through molasses, with an iron ball chained to her ankle, moving against a strong current.
When she opened the door, she seemed very cheerful and calm.
The same could NOT be said for Sousuke.
*************************************************************
Sousuke had gotten to the door in time to hear Kaname's alarm go off. He hoped she hadn't just gotten up! She couldn't have forgotten, could she? This wan't just some way to get back at him for missing her tutoring session that one night?! That was so long ago!
"Settle down Sousuke. Settle down," he told himself. "You are prepared. You have done your best. And you have no backup."
He brushed off his shirt. And his pants. He moved his belt and watch just the slightest amount. He rubbed his hand behind his ear and smelled it, trying to be sure he had remembered his cologne. He had. He ate three more breath mints...he had no idea what flavor they were.
He checked his watch, synchronized to an atomic clock. When 9:59 became 10:00, he rang the doorbell.
He was shocked. The door opened immediately!!!
And Kaname was standing in the door. He had no choice but to do a double take. It was not something of free will. It was glandular. Automatic. And it was still going.
Yes, this was Kaname Chidori. But, it was more than Kaname Chidori. He had never seen her quite like THIS!
He found that he was experiencing a very small but global tremor. He found it hard to swallow. He found it hard to speak. Things became worse when he noticed her curvature..as if for the first time.
*************************************************************
Kaname was pleasantly surprised. Wow! She hadn't figured Sousuke could clean up THAT nice!
She looked at everything. Literally. Every piece of clothing, and every area on each piece of clothing. His shoes. His belt. His watch. Looking at his pants, she quickly withdrew her view from one area.
She sniffed expectantly from her present distance, waiting. Waiting. Waiting. THERE! Ah, but that was a VERY nice cologne. And he had gotten a haircut!
She could feel the rush of blood in her ears, and it felt as if her fluttering heart wanted to take flight. She prayed she didn't look too eager, and she hoped she wasn't sweating.
*************************************************************
"Sousuke, right on time. Please come in!" she was proud that she seemed calm and her voice didn't crack.
"Certainly. I must get something first. If you can wait a moment." He bent over, reached for something out of view, and stood back up again. When he walked through the door, Kaname saw that he carried a gift-wrapped package, a box of chocolates, and a large bunch of flowers.
"These are for you Kanme," he started, automatically switching over to one of the phrases he had memorized, stumbling only slightly "I tried to find something as nice as you, but that was not possible."
His statement was rewarded with a blush. And a rare occurence. Kaname was speechless.
To fill the void, Sousuke continued "I knew you liked flowers, so I brought you flowers." He handed the bouquet to Kaname who almost glowed. "I knew you had missed good food in the hospital, so I brought you some sweets." The intensity of Kaname's glow went up a notch. "And, I realized you liked getting gifts...and I saw that there was something you might like...so..." and he handed the package to Kaname, who almost burst into happy flames.
Some things hold true to form. Mischief was in Kaname's blood. "It's not BALLOONS, I hope" she laughed.
"No," said Sousuke grinning. He HAD thought of balloons though. But, he hadn't needed to think long about balloons.
Kaname had Sousuke sit down and get comfortable and went to get some cold drinks. After a brief bit of small talk, she left to put the flowers in water. When she returned, she was carrying a plate filled with the candy that Sousuke had brought, and her present. She tasted a number of the chocolates, biting them in half and giving Sousuke half as well. Sousuke blushed ever so slightly.
"Can I open my present?" Kaname asked, eagerly. What COULD he have gotten her?
"Certainly. It is, after all, something for you!"
"Nothing wierd?" she asked out of habit.
"No, I do not think so."
"Nothing dangerous?" Habit again.
"Not if used properly."
Not if used properly? What might that mean? But...this was Sousuke, and he thought that way about EVERYTHING. No time to think any more...time to OPEN.
"The wrapping is very nice Sousuke...did you do this?"
"Yes...these do not come giftwrapped." Her curiosity jumped up a couple of stairs.
"And the ribbon?" she asked.
"Yes."
Kaname removed the wrapping. The box was plain and white. No clues to what might be inside. She opened the box.
*************************************************************
When Kaname looked at the contents of the box, she was speechless.
Sousuke took that as a good sign. "I thought long and hard about this. I had many things to consider. I decided you were certainly worth the best!" He tried very hard not to seem smug.
"S-------?" That from Kaname
"I have made certain it is in proper working order, and I have the necessary accessories back at my apartment." Souske let a little bit of smugness creep into his voice.
"Sous---?"
"While we were at the hospital, I noticed how happy you were when I left my things with you, so I decided to get you something that would please you. And, of course, it is very practical." For Sousuke, that voice was nearly crowing.
"SOUSUKE!!! YOU IMBECILE!!! IS THIS THE KIND OF GIFT YOU BRING A LADY!!! ON YOUR ***FIRST*** DATE???!!!" Kaname, it seems, had found her voice. Actually, it sounds like she found a whole room's worth of voices.
"But--"
Kaname was glaring, hand on hip, shaking the box in her hand right up under Sousuke's eyes. "I should have expected this. Things were going just to WELL. I am SO stupid...THAT should have been an immediate warning sign."
"But---"
"Thank you so very much Sgt. Lets Go On A Mission And Kill The Mood!!! Sousuke...can you tell me what you were thinking...were you thinking at all...I mean, like a normal person?"" She sat down abruptly. Sousuke almost thought she looked on the verge of tears.
Kaname was very quiet, and turned away from Sousuke.
Things were dead quiet for a while. No one moved. No one spoke. Finally, very quietly, Sousuke tried to comfort her. "It seems all my thinking...all my learning...all my efforts have led to little. It seems that I just do not know how to act around you Kaname. I wonder why that is, since I feel I want to be around you and want to make you happy. Maybe it is just not my time or my place."
Kaname turned back to look at Sousuke.
"I was correct about clothes, I think. I was also on target with the flowers and the chocolate. But I seem to have missed the drop zone entirely on the gift. At the hospital, when I left you my things, you seemed so happy, so intense. I thought I knew the perfect gift. I seem to have failed miserably in this mission." Kaname had not heard Sousuke sound this sad before, not even when he was worried about Kurz and Melissa. "My apologies. I will continue to do my best to guard you. This will not be a problem for me. If it is a problem for you, I will see if other arrangements can be made."
When he finished, Sousuke headed towards the door. "I will go now. Before I do, I should say something. I thought you might be an angel when I opened the door. I couldn't be certain it was you. You looked so pr--...so pretty." Kaname was certain that was the first time Sousuke had ever said something like that to someone.
Souske turned and started to leave. He stopped---or, more accurately, he was stopped. Kaname was standing...and crying...and she had ahold of his arm.
"Don't be silly, Sousuke...you can't go anywhere...if you did, how could we have out date...and I have been waiting so long for this date." When she was finished, she wrapped her arms around Sousuke. "I'm sorry, Sousuke. I over-reacted. I didn't think. I...I...I always look to see what the problem is with you, and I often overlook what is so right..."
After she was finished, Kaname walked over to the couch with her present. She patted the cushion next to hers. "Why don't you come over here and explain this too me, Sousuke?"
"With pleasure!" Kaname thought that he looked happy again. She decided that she should encourage him in the things he liked, and the things he knew well.
Sousuke removed a pistol from the box. He showed it to Kaname from all angles, and had her hold it. He showed her the proper grip, how to release the clip, and how to use the sights if the situation required.
"This is the Glock 26. Perhaps the best pocket pistol in the world. Pocket pistols most often are not good general weapons, and are good only for close combat. This pistol is the exception. It allows for instant and instinctive action. It is safe. It is reliable. It has relatively few parts and is simple to take down, clean, and put back together. Do you follow me , so far?"
"Yes" Kaname said, nodding her head, trying to seem attentive.
"The pistol is made out of light but durable plastic. It weighs about two ounces empty, seven ounces fully loaded. This weapon can digest an unbelievable assortment of ammunition, able to use many available 9mm rounds. I have given you one clip of Austrian Hirtenburg and one clip of Finish Lapua. Each clip holds 10 rounds."
The way Sousuke spoke of ammunition made Kaname think of gourmets speaking about cheese, wine, coffee, or tea. She smiled.
"I promise you, it is a fine weapon Kaname!"
"I am certain it is Sousuke. I should know that you'd never let me down." She smiled warmly, and pressed his arm.
"And," Sousuke put in cheerfully, "my selection of your gift has helped me decide what to do for the first part of our date today!"
Kaname coughed a bit, but did not quite choke.
A gun?
The date?
She started to get that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
*************************************************************
More to come
