[FIC] Higher Education (pt 8)
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 2:35 pm
Kaname had to change gears unexpectedly.
One moment she was feeling sorry for herself and denigrating Sousuke simultaneously....
The next, she found herself looking up, seeing Sousuke in the doorway, a basket in his hand.
She looked at him, her mouth open.
Then she looked down at herself, seeing a hospital gown and smelling a strong odor of beer.
Great!
Girl thinks about boy. Girl Chases boy. Boy finds girl. Girl in beer-soaked plain-looking hospital gown.
“Uh.... Kaname.”
Why is he just standing there like an idiot.
It’s OK for him to come into the damn room. I don’t have an communicable disease or something!
“Sousuke... um, Hi...”
Oh, wonderful. I get shot in the shoulder and my tongue stops working. I wonder if the doctors will have some fancy sounding words to describe how that happened.
Just once, don’t I deserve a break?
“The doctors tell me that you will heal well with no significant side effects.” Sousuke’s eyes wandered around the room, taking in the aftermath of Melissa’s visit. His eyes lingered briefly on Kaname, then looked away.
Uh huh. Thanks for the news flash.
Don’t be bashful.... why don’t you just throw caution to the wind and discuss the weather.
“It is also a very pleasant day outside. Your trip home should be uneventful.” Sousuke’s hand twitched, making the plastic wrap surrounding the basket make a crinkling sound.
“Ooooooh.....” Kaname clenched her hands into fists.
“Kaname! Are you in pain? Should I summon your caregivers?” Sousuke’s posture changed abruptly. He looked like he did at the Advanced Research Lab, ready to act on the slightest of impulses. His face looked very concerned.
That’s a little better.
So you do care about me in some way, do you?
“I can handle the pain, Sousuke. What I cannot deal with at the moment is an otaku just standing in my door.” Kaname winced. That didn’t sound the way she wanted it to.
“Understood. I will leave then. My apologies, I simply wanted----“ Sousuke’s words were drowned out.
“SOUSUKE!!!” Kaname banged her hand hard on her bed railing. It hurt! “Owwww....”
“Should I put that railing down or ask a nurse to do it for you?” Sousuke’s face was unreadable.
“NO!” Kaname bit her tongue and worked on her composure. “No, Sousuke. You should simply walk into the room like any normal visitor would do. You’re a Specialist, if I remember correctly. Surely you can manage that without back-up....”
If you want to do something, you have to do it yourself.
Big idiot!
“I... yes.” Sousuke took one whole step into the room.
Kaname squeezed her eyes shut real hard and sat that way for a moment, trying to calm herself.
“Ahhh... if you do not wish to look at me, Kaname... I will leave this and depart....” There was a definite sound of uncertainty and discomfort in Sousuke’s voice.
“Sousuke... the chair... pull it close to the bed... sit in it.... and say nothing....” Kaname opened her eyes and watched as Sousuke did as he was instructed.
At least the moron listened. I can’t complain too much about his military training!
Sousuke still wasn’t making eye contact with Kaname.
Naturally, she noticed that.
“Speak, Sousuke!” Kaname stopped, just as she was about to bring her arm down hard again.
“I... I am sorry, Kaname....” Sousuke held out the basket to Kaname. “You are in the hospital because of me. My mistake.”
Kaname’s eyes widened. That colossal jerk fights off a group of rabid terrorists... saves who knows what... ends up wounded himself... and is ashamed that she got hurt helping him?
Of course.
It’s Sousuke.
“I will not stay long. I do not wish to cause you any emotional discomfort.” Sousuke looked at Kaname’s face for a moment, then turned away.
Kaname looked down at the basket. She opened the plastic, seeing a cantaloupe inside. Her first reaction was to be totally underwhelmed. A melon.
Great.
Then she remembered. A single perfect cantaloupe, circled with a ribbon and nested in its own wicker gift basket, retails for $100 to $250 in Japan. It was a luxury item and a fine gift at home.
“I selected one that was beautiful, blemish-free and uniformly sized. I checked with the manager, sales clerk, and produce sorter... there are no pesticide residues.” Sousuke sounded somewhat defensive.
“It’s very nice, Sousuke. Thank you.” That meant that the otaku had subsequently bought a basket and arranged things himself. Wow. Should she check to make certain it wasn’t booby trapped? No, she had something else to ask. “It’s not part of a game, is it? We’re not going to wear blind folds and shoot it are we?”
“Kaname? Should we?” Souske’s voice was incredulous.
“No, Sousuke. I was just joking. Reminiscing.” That ought to have him thinking about the old days, alright. “There’s no bomb or grenade inside, is there?”
“Kaname! Not in a hospital!” There was a spark of life in his voice. “But if you like....” He reached into his bag.
“You better not.....” Kaname had no idea what he was thinking.
If that jerk takes out a grenade, he will be wearing this melon, so help me God!
“Kaname?” Sousuke held his combat knife. “I was going to cut it up for you, before I left.”
“Oh.” That’s sweet. Wait a minute. “Sousuke, is that the knife you threw at the man who shot me?”
“Affirmative. It is a very good knife.” Sousuke blushed. Kaname had to give him credit. He wasn’t as clueless as before. “My apologies. I will get an appropriate utensil from the cafeteria....”
“Sit down! That will be fine. As long as you cleaned it.” There was something fierce stirring inside of Kaname. The thought of that knife killing the man who had shot her and tried to kill Sousuke made it an icon of sorts. “And you will not be speaking about leaving until I give you permission. Do we understand one another?”
“But----“
“SOUSUKE!!!”
“Yes.” Sousuke’s expression was one of uncertainty. Kaname didn’t mind.
He could wait.
Yes, it was his turn.
“That’s better. Now, when you walk into a girl’s hospital room, what should you do?” Kaname would have to walk him through things. At least he was there. It was a start.
“I apologize, Kaname. I should have checked the room. I assumed, that with Melissa here....”
“SOUSUKE!!!” Kaname looked at the cord that lead to her call button. She could strangle him with that. Just a little....
“I was joking, Kaname.” Sousuke sat back in his chair, still obviously uncomfortable. “How are you feeling? Hopefully the wound was well treated.”
Kaname hadn’t expected Sousuke to joke. That was certainly new. The big idiot. Well, she could play along too.
“You can tell me....” Kaname slowly slid the top of her gown off of the afflicted shoulder.
“Uh... Kaname....”
“You’re right, I should just take the whole gown off. I think they left my undergarments on underneath.” She leaned back, thrust her chest out, and began working at the tie behind her gown.
“Ummmm.... uh....”
Kaname stopped, fighting back a smile. “Something wrong, Sousuke?”
“I just wanted to thank you for saving my life.” Sousuke’s words came out in a great rush. He looked relieved when Kaname lowered her arms.
“How do you want to thank me, Sousuke?” Kaname smiled. “You can start by telling me if they doctors did a good job on my shoulder. I wouldn’t want anything to be defective....” She started playing with her gown again.
This is fun.
I can’t believe a battle-worn soldier is blushing like a school boy.
It’s good to have the power.
“I will trust in their judgment, Kaname!” Sousuke had begun to sweat.
“Oh... I don’t know... this should be right up your alley....” Kaname grinned. “If what Melissa said was true, you were able to assess Tessa well enough in the tub room.” Kaname smiled and tossed her hair. “I was joking, Sousuke.” Her eyes narrowed. “Would this be a good time to carry on our prior discussion?”
“Kaname?”
“You know. You were going to tell me how I had matured....”
That ought to teach him..
Making me run all over campus.
Avoiding me and my messengers.
Sousuke’s face went very serious. Something was obviously on his mind. Kaname found herself holding her breath.
Was something wrong?
Did she cross over some line with him?
She was just playing....
“Why were you in the Advanced Research Laboratory building, Kaname?” Sousuke walked over, picked up the trash receptacle, and sat back down. He began working on the melon.
“I….” Kaname felt tongue-tied. Why did she feel like a little girl caught with he hand in the cookie jar? She was an adult after all!
And the nerve of Sousuke.
She was in the middle of teasing him!
Sousuke had the melon halved and cleaned in the wink of an eye. With a few deft moves of his knife, he removed a number of perfectly-shaped cubes. Laying them flat on the blade, he offered them to Kaname.
“What I meant to say was….” Kaname tightened up again. Almost shy, she reached out and took the offered melon.
Sousuke traced his finger over the inside of the remaining melon skin. He didn’t look up.
“I wanted to find some way to talk with you again. I wasn’t really snooping into things I had no business with. I certainly wasn’t planning on getting shot! Hmmmpppfff!” Kaname folded her arms over her chest.
It hurt to do that.
Damn him.
“I see.” Sousuke didn’t say anything after that. He continued to examine the minute details of the melon skin.
Kaname waited. There had to be more than ‘I see.’ Didn’t there?
The silence soon became oppressive. Kaname didn’t know whether to be disappointed, worried, or furious.
“Sousuke, when a girl goes out of her way to see you….. and gets shot in the process….. you can at least pay her some attention.
“Why?” Sousuke looked up at Kaname’s face.
“What… why should you pay attention?” Kaname scowled. Her hands clenched and unclenched.
He couldn’t be that cold and inconsiderate, could he?
But, he had shown signs of….
“Why did you go out of your way to see me?” The look on Sousuke’s face was vulnerable, for just a brief moment. But, Kaname had been watching at that instant.
This is it, Kaname.
You were waiting for this moment.
Don’t blow it!!!
“Ummm….”
Perfect!
That will do it, alright.
Champagne for every one!!!
“I wanted to….”
Come on!
Out with it already.
This could be your last chance. That damn phone of his will probably ring any second now!!!
“I needed to tell you that… ummm…. You didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I…. ummmm… wanted to spend some time with you again. I…. I….” Kaname’s face reddened. Her hands trembled. "I’m so sorry, Sousuke….”
An emotional dam broke inside of Kaname. She looked over at Sousuke and began crying. Melissa’s words rang in her ears. Her thoughts from the past few days sprang up again. She remembered her own feelings of pain and desolation from three years ago. Images from the darkened park flashed across her mind. It was all vying for her attention at the same time.
Sousuke looked confused. It was obvious that he didn’t know what to say or do. His hands twitched. He probably didn’t know what to feel, either.
Sousuke stood up. He began walking. Kaname thought he was going to leave.
No. Damn you. I said I was sorry!
Stay!
Picking up a box of tissues from a cart near the door, Sousuke walked back to Kaname’s bed. Wordlessly, he held the box out to Kaname.
“T-T-Thank you….” Kaname sniffled. Sousuke’s simple gesture had her heart in her throat. Why?
“It is not a problem.” Sousuke’s voice sounded strange.
Kaname would have given anything to know what he was thinking…. what he was feeling….
His shoulders straightened. His eyes closed, then opened more intense than before. He opened his mouth, but closed it again.
What?
What was he just about to say?
Sousuke ran his hand through his hair. “You have grown more beautiful, Kaname.” The words came out in a rush. Sousuke held his hands out, spreading apart his fingers, as if he were willing himself to go on and to be calm. "Although, to be honest, I prefer your mother’s kimono to a beer-stained hospital robe.”
He looked away then.
Why?
I want to see his eyes!
Damn you Sousuke….
Kaname opened her mouth to speak. She couldn’t spare the time or energy. She kept replaying those words over and over again. Why did she suddenly feel dizzy?
“I owe you my life, Kaname.” His voice was stern, hard. His face had its stiff look again. “As a result, I must always put your well being ahead of my own, no matter what I may personally wish.”
“W-W-What….” Kaname froze. No! He wasn’t going to go all noble again, was he? That insufferable jerk! If he was going to tell her that he wanted to see her again....but wouldn’t do so in order to spare her heart… she’d… she’d… oooooooooh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h….
“Accordingly, I must inform you of the following decision. I hope you will not judge me harshly. You should realize that the following words will be extremely difficult for me.” Sousuke swallowed. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Kaname closed her eyes too.
She felt so terribly numb.
After all she had been through… to come so close… and then have it snatched out of her grasp….
“I will acquiesce. I will tell you how you have matured over the years.” Sousuke grinned ever so briefly.
“How could you…. What….” Kaname’s eyes snapped open. Did he just say….
“Uh… how should I put this….”
Souske’s phone rang.
Kaname wanted to scream.
“Sagara.” Sousuke listened. “Now?” He listened some more. “Yes, that will require my presence.”
Kaname wanted to grab that phone… break it into a thousand pieces… and tell Sousuke that she needed his presence.
“Understood. I will depart immediately. Sagara out.” Sousuke put away his phone. He looked disappointed and relieved at the same time. “My apologies, Kaname. I….”
“Duty calls?” Kaname couldn’t keep the disappointment and exasperation out of her voice.
“Yes. It was good seeing you.” He walked over to the door. “Do not feel you need to be a stranger,” he said, tossing his bag over his shoulder. He went on his way.
“Oooooooooh….. I…. Souuussskkkaaayyy….” Kaname sat in her bed, wishing she had thrown a pillow at him while she had the chance. A pillow… her bedpan… the telephone… her guard rail… the chair…
Sousuke leaned around the corner of the door. He took a moment to watch Kaname’s reaction, knowing she didn’t realize he was there.
“And I should say before I go….”
Kaname looked at Sousuke, surprised.
“You are probably less defective than Tessa….” With that, Souske was gone.
Soon thereafter, a nurse stopped by, wondering why Kaname’s pillows, sheets, and slippers were out in the hallway.
One moment she was feeling sorry for herself and denigrating Sousuke simultaneously....
The next, she found herself looking up, seeing Sousuke in the doorway, a basket in his hand.
She looked at him, her mouth open.
Then she looked down at herself, seeing a hospital gown and smelling a strong odor of beer.
Great!
Girl thinks about boy. Girl Chases boy. Boy finds girl. Girl in beer-soaked plain-looking hospital gown.
“Uh.... Kaname.”
Why is he just standing there like an idiot.
It’s OK for him to come into the damn room. I don’t have an communicable disease or something!
“Sousuke... um, Hi...”
Oh, wonderful. I get shot in the shoulder and my tongue stops working. I wonder if the doctors will have some fancy sounding words to describe how that happened.
Just once, don’t I deserve a break?
“The doctors tell me that you will heal well with no significant side effects.” Sousuke’s eyes wandered around the room, taking in the aftermath of Melissa’s visit. His eyes lingered briefly on Kaname, then looked away.
Uh huh. Thanks for the news flash.
Don’t be bashful.... why don’t you just throw caution to the wind and discuss the weather.
“It is also a very pleasant day outside. Your trip home should be uneventful.” Sousuke’s hand twitched, making the plastic wrap surrounding the basket make a crinkling sound.
“Ooooooh.....” Kaname clenched her hands into fists.
“Kaname! Are you in pain? Should I summon your caregivers?” Sousuke’s posture changed abruptly. He looked like he did at the Advanced Research Lab, ready to act on the slightest of impulses. His face looked very concerned.
That’s a little better.
So you do care about me in some way, do you?
“I can handle the pain, Sousuke. What I cannot deal with at the moment is an otaku just standing in my door.” Kaname winced. That didn’t sound the way she wanted it to.
“Understood. I will leave then. My apologies, I simply wanted----“ Sousuke’s words were drowned out.
“SOUSUKE!!!” Kaname banged her hand hard on her bed railing. It hurt! “Owwww....”
“Should I put that railing down or ask a nurse to do it for you?” Sousuke’s face was unreadable.
“NO!” Kaname bit her tongue and worked on her composure. “No, Sousuke. You should simply walk into the room like any normal visitor would do. You’re a Specialist, if I remember correctly. Surely you can manage that without back-up....”
If you want to do something, you have to do it yourself.
Big idiot!
“I... yes.” Sousuke took one whole step into the room.
Kaname squeezed her eyes shut real hard and sat that way for a moment, trying to calm herself.
“Ahhh... if you do not wish to look at me, Kaname... I will leave this and depart....” There was a definite sound of uncertainty and discomfort in Sousuke’s voice.
“Sousuke... the chair... pull it close to the bed... sit in it.... and say nothing....” Kaname opened her eyes and watched as Sousuke did as he was instructed.
At least the moron listened. I can’t complain too much about his military training!
Sousuke still wasn’t making eye contact with Kaname.
Naturally, she noticed that.
“Speak, Sousuke!” Kaname stopped, just as she was about to bring her arm down hard again.
“I... I am sorry, Kaname....” Sousuke held out the basket to Kaname. “You are in the hospital because of me. My mistake.”
Kaname’s eyes widened. That colossal jerk fights off a group of rabid terrorists... saves who knows what... ends up wounded himself... and is ashamed that she got hurt helping him?
Of course.
It’s Sousuke.
“I will not stay long. I do not wish to cause you any emotional discomfort.” Sousuke looked at Kaname’s face for a moment, then turned away.
Kaname looked down at the basket. She opened the plastic, seeing a cantaloupe inside. Her first reaction was to be totally underwhelmed. A melon.
Great.
Then she remembered. A single perfect cantaloupe, circled with a ribbon and nested in its own wicker gift basket, retails for $100 to $250 in Japan. It was a luxury item and a fine gift at home.
“I selected one that was beautiful, blemish-free and uniformly sized. I checked with the manager, sales clerk, and produce sorter... there are no pesticide residues.” Sousuke sounded somewhat defensive.
“It’s very nice, Sousuke. Thank you.” That meant that the otaku had subsequently bought a basket and arranged things himself. Wow. Should she check to make certain it wasn’t booby trapped? No, she had something else to ask. “It’s not part of a game, is it? We’re not going to wear blind folds and shoot it are we?”
“Kaname? Should we?” Souske’s voice was incredulous.
“No, Sousuke. I was just joking. Reminiscing.” That ought to have him thinking about the old days, alright. “There’s no bomb or grenade inside, is there?”
“Kaname! Not in a hospital!” There was a spark of life in his voice. “But if you like....” He reached into his bag.
“You better not.....” Kaname had no idea what he was thinking.
If that jerk takes out a grenade, he will be wearing this melon, so help me God!
“Kaname?” Sousuke held his combat knife. “I was going to cut it up for you, before I left.”
“Oh.” That’s sweet. Wait a minute. “Sousuke, is that the knife you threw at the man who shot me?”
“Affirmative. It is a very good knife.” Sousuke blushed. Kaname had to give him credit. He wasn’t as clueless as before. “My apologies. I will get an appropriate utensil from the cafeteria....”
“Sit down! That will be fine. As long as you cleaned it.” There was something fierce stirring inside of Kaname. The thought of that knife killing the man who had shot her and tried to kill Sousuke made it an icon of sorts. “And you will not be speaking about leaving until I give you permission. Do we understand one another?”
“But----“
“SOUSUKE!!!”
“Yes.” Sousuke’s expression was one of uncertainty. Kaname didn’t mind.
He could wait.
Yes, it was his turn.
“That’s better. Now, when you walk into a girl’s hospital room, what should you do?” Kaname would have to walk him through things. At least he was there. It was a start.
“I apologize, Kaname. I should have checked the room. I assumed, that with Melissa here....”
“SOUSUKE!!!” Kaname looked at the cord that lead to her call button. She could strangle him with that. Just a little....
“I was joking, Kaname.” Sousuke sat back in his chair, still obviously uncomfortable. “How are you feeling? Hopefully the wound was well treated.”
Kaname hadn’t expected Sousuke to joke. That was certainly new. The big idiot. Well, she could play along too.
“You can tell me....” Kaname slowly slid the top of her gown off of the afflicted shoulder.
“Uh... Kaname....”
“You’re right, I should just take the whole gown off. I think they left my undergarments on underneath.” She leaned back, thrust her chest out, and began working at the tie behind her gown.
“Ummmm.... uh....”
Kaname stopped, fighting back a smile. “Something wrong, Sousuke?”
“I just wanted to thank you for saving my life.” Sousuke’s words came out in a great rush. He looked relieved when Kaname lowered her arms.
“How do you want to thank me, Sousuke?” Kaname smiled. “You can start by telling me if they doctors did a good job on my shoulder. I wouldn’t want anything to be defective....” She started playing with her gown again.
This is fun.
I can’t believe a battle-worn soldier is blushing like a school boy.
It’s good to have the power.
“I will trust in their judgment, Kaname!” Sousuke had begun to sweat.
“Oh... I don’t know... this should be right up your alley....” Kaname grinned. “If what Melissa said was true, you were able to assess Tessa well enough in the tub room.” Kaname smiled and tossed her hair. “I was joking, Sousuke.” Her eyes narrowed. “Would this be a good time to carry on our prior discussion?”
“Kaname?”
“You know. You were going to tell me how I had matured....”
That ought to teach him..
Making me run all over campus.
Avoiding me and my messengers.
Sousuke’s face went very serious. Something was obviously on his mind. Kaname found herself holding her breath.
Was something wrong?
Did she cross over some line with him?
She was just playing....
“Why were you in the Advanced Research Laboratory building, Kaname?” Sousuke walked over, picked up the trash receptacle, and sat back down. He began working on the melon.
“I….” Kaname felt tongue-tied. Why did she feel like a little girl caught with he hand in the cookie jar? She was an adult after all!
And the nerve of Sousuke.
She was in the middle of teasing him!
Sousuke had the melon halved and cleaned in the wink of an eye. With a few deft moves of his knife, he removed a number of perfectly-shaped cubes. Laying them flat on the blade, he offered them to Kaname.
“What I meant to say was….” Kaname tightened up again. Almost shy, she reached out and took the offered melon.
Sousuke traced his finger over the inside of the remaining melon skin. He didn’t look up.
“I wanted to find some way to talk with you again. I wasn’t really snooping into things I had no business with. I certainly wasn’t planning on getting shot! Hmmmpppfff!” Kaname folded her arms over her chest.
It hurt to do that.
Damn him.
“I see.” Sousuke didn’t say anything after that. He continued to examine the minute details of the melon skin.
Kaname waited. There had to be more than ‘I see.’ Didn’t there?
The silence soon became oppressive. Kaname didn’t know whether to be disappointed, worried, or furious.
“Sousuke, when a girl goes out of her way to see you….. and gets shot in the process….. you can at least pay her some attention.
“Why?” Sousuke looked up at Kaname’s face.
“What… why should you pay attention?” Kaname scowled. Her hands clenched and unclenched.
He couldn’t be that cold and inconsiderate, could he?
But, he had shown signs of….
“Why did you go out of your way to see me?” The look on Sousuke’s face was vulnerable, for just a brief moment. But, Kaname had been watching at that instant.
This is it, Kaname.
You were waiting for this moment.
Don’t blow it!!!
“Ummm….”
Perfect!
That will do it, alright.
Champagne for every one!!!
“I wanted to….”
Come on!
Out with it already.
This could be your last chance. That damn phone of his will probably ring any second now!!!
“I needed to tell you that… ummm…. You didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I…. ummmm… wanted to spend some time with you again. I…. I….” Kaname’s face reddened. Her hands trembled. "I’m so sorry, Sousuke….”
An emotional dam broke inside of Kaname. She looked over at Sousuke and began crying. Melissa’s words rang in her ears. Her thoughts from the past few days sprang up again. She remembered her own feelings of pain and desolation from three years ago. Images from the darkened park flashed across her mind. It was all vying for her attention at the same time.
Sousuke looked confused. It was obvious that he didn’t know what to say or do. His hands twitched. He probably didn’t know what to feel, either.
Sousuke stood up. He began walking. Kaname thought he was going to leave.
No. Damn you. I said I was sorry!
Stay!
Picking up a box of tissues from a cart near the door, Sousuke walked back to Kaname’s bed. Wordlessly, he held the box out to Kaname.
“T-T-Thank you….” Kaname sniffled. Sousuke’s simple gesture had her heart in her throat. Why?
“It is not a problem.” Sousuke’s voice sounded strange.
Kaname would have given anything to know what he was thinking…. what he was feeling….
His shoulders straightened. His eyes closed, then opened more intense than before. He opened his mouth, but closed it again.
What?
What was he just about to say?
Sousuke ran his hand through his hair. “You have grown more beautiful, Kaname.” The words came out in a rush. Sousuke held his hands out, spreading apart his fingers, as if he were willing himself to go on and to be calm. "Although, to be honest, I prefer your mother’s kimono to a beer-stained hospital robe.”
He looked away then.
Why?
I want to see his eyes!
Damn you Sousuke….
Kaname opened her mouth to speak. She couldn’t spare the time or energy. She kept replaying those words over and over again. Why did she suddenly feel dizzy?
“I owe you my life, Kaname.” His voice was stern, hard. His face had its stiff look again. “As a result, I must always put your well being ahead of my own, no matter what I may personally wish.”
“W-W-What….” Kaname froze. No! He wasn’t going to go all noble again, was he? That insufferable jerk! If he was going to tell her that he wanted to see her again....but wouldn’t do so in order to spare her heart… she’d… she’d… oooooooooh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h….
“Accordingly, I must inform you of the following decision. I hope you will not judge me harshly. You should realize that the following words will be extremely difficult for me.” Sousuke swallowed. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Kaname closed her eyes too.
She felt so terribly numb.
After all she had been through… to come so close… and then have it snatched out of her grasp….
“I will acquiesce. I will tell you how you have matured over the years.” Sousuke grinned ever so briefly.
“How could you…. What….” Kaname’s eyes snapped open. Did he just say….
“Uh… how should I put this….”
Souske’s phone rang.
Kaname wanted to scream.
“Sagara.” Sousuke listened. “Now?” He listened some more. “Yes, that will require my presence.”
Kaname wanted to grab that phone… break it into a thousand pieces… and tell Sousuke that she needed his presence.
“Understood. I will depart immediately. Sagara out.” Sousuke put away his phone. He looked disappointed and relieved at the same time. “My apologies, Kaname. I….”
“Duty calls?” Kaname couldn’t keep the disappointment and exasperation out of her voice.
“Yes. It was good seeing you.” He walked over to the door. “Do not feel you need to be a stranger,” he said, tossing his bag over his shoulder. He went on his way.
“Oooooooooh….. I…. Souuussskkkaaayyy….” Kaname sat in her bed, wishing she had thrown a pillow at him while she had the chance. A pillow… her bedpan… the telephone… her guard rail… the chair…
Sousuke leaned around the corner of the door. He took a moment to watch Kaname’s reaction, knowing she didn’t realize he was there.
“And I should say before I go….”
Kaname looked at Sousuke, surprised.
“You are probably less defective than Tessa….” With that, Souske was gone.
Soon thereafter, a nurse stopped by, wondering why Kaname’s pillows, sheets, and slippers were out in the hallway.
Souske with a wicked dry sense of humor. ooh! 
) between the two of them in the future, this chapter they hardly got the chance to express their feelings before he was called away again. And he didn't even say when they could continue their conversation! 
