Rain. Rain for 3 days straight now. It was so fitting. Sousuke had just received orders to leave. He’d been recalled – someone else was assigned to watch over Chidori Kaname through college. In a week, he’d be back aboard the Tuatha de Daanan.
He sighed in frustration. At least he’d graduated from high school before they called him back to the military life. This was the first real civilian thing he’d ever accomplished – and he did it with style – highest honors. Thinking back to the new set of orders - he bristled at the thought of someone else guarding Kaname. He wasn’t feeling that well today, and this didn’t help at all.
“When did I start thinking of her by her personal name instead of her family name?(1)”, he mused for a moment. Then he was filled with dread, “I should tell her about my new orders.” This emotional roller coaster was driving him crazy. So much was happening inside him at once – it was hard to sort out. He wondered if something was wrong – maybe he wasn’t getting enough of some particular vitamin. He’d take some vitamins later, AFTER he went to talk with Kaname…
It was still pouring rain, as he trudged across the lake in the street between his apartment and hers. He was soaked when he reached entered her building. He didn’t care – he was on a mission to talk to Kaname. He pressed the buzzer to her apartment. No answer. “It’s Saturday, she didn’t say she had any plans. She usually does – so I don’t mess them up. I wonder if she’s ok,” he thought to himself. He pressed the buzzer again, and again. He stepped out of the building and looked up at her apartment. The lights were on – why wasn’t she answering? He felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He decided, “Well, since she won’t buzz me in, then I’m going up to her – to make sure she’s ok.”
He stepped over the nearest patio and started scaling the building. When he reached her patio, the curtains were closed. He tried opening the sliding glass door – hoping it was unlocked, so he wouldn’t have to break the door. He let out a relieved breath; he was in luck. Taking a mental note of what he thought was a good thing, “No halisen slap for breaking the door.”
He carefully stepped inside and closed the patio door, glock ready in his hands– checking out the brightly-lit room. He would talk with her about locking the patio door. Just after that mental note, Kaname stepped out of the bathroom in her bathrobe, towel drying her hair…
Her eyes popped open wide, then squinted down into the boy you are in SOOOO much trouble look. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING BREAKING INTO MY APARTMENT SOUSUKE?!?!” she was so mad that her voice squeaked as she screamed. She grabbed the halisen off the counter. He lowered his head obediently, ready for the impact. She didn’t even wait for an explanation - SMACK!!
“I’m sorry Kaname,” he whispered the reply still standing statuesque.
She picked up on the fact that he used her personal name – he never did that before. What was going on in that military otaku head of his? She patiently let him continue. “You didn’t buzz me in – I waited…buzzed several times. Your lights were on and there was no answer. I thought something was wrong. But I see you were showering and didn’t hear.”
Her look softened, he was always here to protect her. Crazy otaku. “What am I going to do with you?” she gave an over-exaggerated sigh. “Come in sit down. I’ll get changed. Be right back. STAY IN THE LIVING ROOM OR ELSE.”
He nodded, but didn’t sit down. Goosebumps were forming on his skin – the rain was cold this time of year and his clothes were soaked. There was a puddle of rainwater at his feet. He turned around, opened the curtain and watched the rain pour out side. He refused to shiver.
She hurried to get dressed and run a comb through her hair. When she stepped out of the room, she saw him staring out the window and finally noticed he was completely soaked. Something must be on his mind. “Sousuke you are drenched – you must be freezing. Let’s get you back to your apartment so you can get some dry clothes on. Then we’ll talk about what’s bothering you,” she gently chided as she grabbed her raincoat and umbrella. He wondered how she could tell – he had tried not to let it show. Was he letting his guard down?
They walked back across the street huddling under her umbrella – looking like a little walking mushroom. She put his arm around him to keep him under the umbrella and noticed him stifle a shiver. She was glad he lived so close. It was too dark to see if he was blushing.
She was sitting at his table waiting for him. His little apartment was so sparse! She noted he’d actually acquired a couch this last month – how civilized of him. She grinned at the thought of him being “civilized”. He’d never really fit in to society, would he?
He reemerged, wearing several layers and looking rather pale. But his cheeks were pink. “Sousuke – are you feeling ok?” she inquired. He nodded. Feminine intuition kicking in, she went up and put the back of her hand to his forehead. “Sousuke, you’re sick – you are burning up. Good grief!” She lead him to his couch, motioned for him to sit and started to go on and on about how guys won’t admit when they’re sick and what her mom did for her when she had a fever. She started to dig through his cupboards to see if there was anything to make some sort of soup with.
Sousuke wasn’t really listening. He had to tell her he was leaving – it was all he could do to concentrate on that thought as the fever tried to overtake him. He interrupted her, “Kaname, I have to tell you…”
She looked up at him with a package of noodles in her hand. He started again trying to sit up a bit in the process, “Kaname, I’m leaving next week. For good.” The noodles were a bomb dropping to the floor with a crunch explosion. She stared in disbelief.
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Av's notes...
(not sure if I'll keep it under this name - it's really cheesy...)
(1) In Japan students call each other by their family names, unless they know each other particularly well. But you probably already knew that!
This is my first fan fic EVER – please review with CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Thanks! (I have this posted at fanfiction.net too - but this seems a great place for it)
(I'll post more chapters soon - I have several written...)
