FullMetal*Panic!

KL International Airport was a masterpiece of engineering and artistic expression.

Designed by a Malaysian and Japanese Airport Consortium, and built sixty kilometers south of the capital city, it takes up an area of one hundred kilometers squared, making it ten times larger than their destination, Tokyo's Narita Airport.

Kaname and Sousuke walked through the terminal area of the world‘s largest airport, hand in hand, each of them toting a carry-on bag. While it seemed as if they were alone, they were anything but. Kurz, dressed in a garish tropical shirt, a straw hat, and a pair of dark sunglasses, kept a close eye on the pair, while he made an utter nuisance of himself amongst the pretty girls that crossed his part. He had brushed off the accent he had used when he met Kaname and Kyouko for the first time.

Likewise, Melissa was shadowing the two teenagers, wearing a halter top that was drawing quite a crowd. Before she stepped outside for a cigarette, and then headed over to the airport bar, she would make certain that her two friends made it on the plane alright.

Wraith was somewhere in the building too, but no one knew what face she was wearing. Specialists from the commando teams were posing as airport workers, making certain the jetliner was clean. They had plenty of assistance from Malaysian undercover agents.

‘Better safe than sorry’ was the tagline of the day. Amalgam had been struck a significant blow, but they were by no means down for the count. Far from it. No doubt, they would be laying low in the country for a while. Nevertheless, it didn’t pay to take unnecessary chances. Kaname had insisted on flying home in ‘normal’ fashion, on a commercial aircraft, not a military jet or a cargo-liner. That provided the busy professionals with a series of security nightmares.

“The woman at the entrance told me that the terminal’s hyperbolic paraboloid shell is reminiscent of traditional Islamic domes. The designers were striving to create a symbiosis between cutting-edge technology and Islamic tradition. “ Sousuke was in a talkative mood, something that should have pleased Kaname. Instead, it reminded her of Leonard’s tour guide routine. That had her feeling uncomfortable.

“Sousuke, I would rather hear otaku stuff than any more tourism nonsense. Okay?” She flounced her hair a bit, just because she could. Looking over at Sousuke, she marveled at the fact that they were together again. No, that wasn’t it. She was amazed at how things felt. It was almost as if they had never parted.

“So, you do not wish for me to tell you that a man-made tropical rainforest surrounds this airport, serving as one way to depict the symbiotic relationship between nature and architecture that is emphasized throughout the facility?” Sousuke kept a straight face. He found that he enjoyed getting a reaction out of Kaname.

“I was really upset that Hope had to be smuggled onboard illegally, secreted away in some dark crowded area of the luggage compartment.” Kaname furrowed her brow. Because of health regulations and the like, birds were not allowed out of Malaysia at the moment. But, customs agents can work wonders when they are influenced by covert military personnel. “I think she might like it if I put you in there to keep her company. Big dummy!”

“You were being factual, then.” Sousuke nodded his head. “Perhaps that shall prove more interesting, then. Look out there, that is the type of aircraft we will be boarding.” He pointed outside to a plane in Malaysian Airline colors. “That is the Boeing 777. It carries the largest and most powerful turbofans on any commercial airliner, and has been test flown with only one engine running, for as long as six hours and twenty nine minutes. You will be relived to know that the model has never been involved in a fatal accident.”

“Sousuke…” Kaname squeezed his hand a little harder.

“That is not otaku enough? I apologize.” Sousuke kept a straight face. “The primary weakness in U.S. military plans for worldwide power projection is a lack of strategic lift, of which cargo and tanker aircraft are prime components. That problem is given little thought as most funds are expended on programs like the F-22 and V-22. As airlift affects all the US military services, numerous large aircraft need to be purchased…”

“S-o-u-s-u-k-e…” Kaname squeezed even harder. Her jaw began to tighten ever so slightly.

“The C-17 is too small and far too expensive,” Sousuke said, glad that Kaname had shown a much lesser tendency towards violence that she did before. He wasn’t certain if that was a sign of maturity, or whether he was merely in the midst of some kind of grace period. “Although that aircraft can be unloaded without large cargo lifts, something like the 747-400 has twice its range and twice its payload. It is far more economical to use jetliner style aircraft for inter-theater missions, and C-130s and C-17s for intra-theater lifts to smaller airfields. According to some military planners, the 777 would be a good choice, as it is based on a proven Boeing design which already has a worldwide parts system in place, and is cheaper to operate than 747-400s and the new 747X stretch version.”

“SOUSUKE!” Kaname blushed when the entire concourse area went silent, and countless people turned to look at her.

“Yes Kaname?” Sousuke asked, trying to look innocent. “Did I get one of my facts wrong?”

“You… I… how…” Kaname frowned. Having stopped so abruptly, someone following closely behind her struck her leg hard with a rolling suitcase. She was too focused on Sousuke to even notice. Even so, she couldn’t help but sigh and smile, much the way she had been doing ever since they left the Petronas Towers. “”I’m just glad to be with you.” She took the opportunity to hug him again. That hadn’t grown old yet.

“Affirmative,” Sousuke said, placing his forehead against hers. “It is good to be with you again. It will be nice to return to Tokyo with you.” He looked off outside the windows, watching as an aircraft took off. Neither of them had any idea what they would do from then on. But, they were both willing to take things one day at a time.

“There’s still a chance to change your mind,” a nondescript elderly man said to Kaname. “Or, at the very least, you could take separate flights.” The final words were spoken in a very familiar voice.

It was Wraith.

“Someone needs to keep him out of trouble,” Kaname said, smirking. She had spent time speaking with the North Korean woman the night before, thanking her for the efforts made on her behalf.

“An entire secret organization could not do that,” Wraith said in a somewhat sour voice, before disappearing into the crowd.

“It seems that she still doesn’t approve of me.” Sousuke said. “But, if you wish to follow her advice, flights 0388, 0854, and 0783 all land at Narita.” He was looking up at an Arrival/Departure board. “They are not Non-stop, however. Each goes to Bangkok first.”

“Don’t be stupid, Sosuke.” Kaname made a face. “You’re not growing tired of me already, are you?” Kaname smiled, but her eyes gave her away.

It was a secret fear of hers. Having spent so many horrible months as a well-treated captive, she still had difficulty putting any hope in her future. While she and Sousuke had immediately dropped back into their playful routine as if nothing had happened, she knew that they both had a lot of issues to work through.

Now that Sousuke had done what he set out to do… and had kept his promise… would he have any real reason to stay by her side? He said that he was not bothered by the fact that she had done things that helped Amalgam; but, deep inside, was that really true? Kaname instinctively moved closer to Sousuke, leaning against him. She closed her eyes when he put an arm around her. He was becoming less tentative at doing that. It was a good sign, wasn’t it?

“Negative,” Sousuke replied. His face was very serious this time. After the shock of being with Kaname wore off, Sousuke had become very pensive. He was very much concerned about his future, something he had never worried that much about before. There were so many possibilities to consider, and so many issues to work through. Although he had not told Kaname, he had felt inferior to Leonard in some ways, and wondered if she might be better off with someone like him, only minus the egotism and thirst for dominance. “But, if Wraith is correct…”

“She’s not,” Kaname said. “I can keep you in line.” She reached out and played with Sousuke’s overly long hair the way a young cat might. “No matter what kind of messes you get us in, it won’t be anything compared to what I had to live through with Leonard.” She shivered, even though the inside of the terminal was rather pleasant.

“I will try my best,” Sousuke pledged. “I do not wish for you to experience any more difficulties.” He touched her cheek. There was pain in her eyes. Maybe she would tell him about some of the things that she had been through on the seven hour flight home. Last evening, she had insisted on hearing about his life, and had passed a lot of time reminiscing before falling asleep in his lap, leaning back against him.

“You better not,” Kaname said with some spirit. “A good way to start would be to stop mentioning Bangkok!” She grabbed hold of his shirt with both hands and shook him lightly.

Even though she knew why Sousuke had been in Thailand, Kaname had berated Sousuke about his visiting temples and playing with kites when he should have been rescuing her. Sitting in a building at one of the more secure Malaysian army facilities, surrounded by the men who had survived the combined attacks on the various sites, she had been purposefully joking with Sousuke about his prolonged absence. But, while she had been in captivity, part of her had actually blamed Sousuke for her capture, even though it wasn’t his fault. She had even harbored some resentment when he hadn’t rescued her as quickly as he had done in the past. Sure, that was illogical. But, she hadn’t been able to help feeling that way. Standing in the airport, she gave him a quick kiss by way of apology.

“As you wish,” Sousuke said. “I have told you all that there was to tell about my stay there, in any case.” He left that hanging like that, as a subtle invitation to begin opening up to him when she was ready. He might not be the best person to talk to. But, he cared about her, and hoped that would make a difference.

He also wanted her to believe the fact that he had been entirely truthful. Much of her questions had been about Nami… and any other women that he had met in his travels. She had asked him repeatedly if he had seen Tessa, and if he had any plans to report his actions to her. Clueless as he might be, he had some idea why she was acting that way. In part, it might be due to jealousy. But, he suspected that she almost wanted to find something scandalous, so she would not feel as guilty about things that had happened between her and Leonard.

“Kaname, they have a gift shop. Do you wish to bring something home with you, to remember this country?” Sosuske was not one for possessions. There were few things in his life that had actually meant something to him, beyond their necessity or usefulness. The picture of his squad in Afghanistan was one of the exceptions. That was not necessarily a bad way to be; but, he picked up a number of items and turned them over in his hands, wondering if it might be time to make some changes.

“Why would I want to do that?” Kaname snapped at Sousuke, but immediately apologized, feeling a need to touch his arm in the process. “I have Hope, Sousuke. Why would I want anything else from this place? Everything that happened to me was bad.” In a hushed voice she added “Many of the things I did here were bad too, I guess…”

“I will always think fondly of this country,” Sousuke said. “It’s where I found you again. It’s where we made some important discoveries, despite Amalgam’s efforts to keep them secret.” He thought about Belial, the machine that had defeated him and Arbalest. They never would have discovered it, had Leonard not been arrogant enough to speak classified information in front of Kaname. She had told Sousuke, and he would keep the secret for the sake of a rebuilding Mithril. When the time was right, the A.S. would be recovered clandestinely.

Amalgam was still a danger. But, if Belial wasn’t booby trapped, perhaps it could become the next ARX-7, one that was significantly more powerful. If Bunny Morauta could be made to tell what he knew, the tide might turn in Mithril’s favor again some day.

“But…” Kaname’s eyes went wide. “That’s…” She hung her head a moment, and then began smiling. She whispered “Big idiot” under her breath. Tossing her hair, she said “Of course I’m going to get some souvenirs. Sheeeesh!” Doing just that, she reflected on the way that she felt, being with Sousuke again. Maybe she had left Tokyo with doubts about him. After everything that happened, she would be returning without those doubts. She would blame the customs officials and baggage handlers.

Carrying around a small wicker basket, Kaname kept banging it into Sousuke. He gave her a look of sufferance that made her want to pinch his cheek, and then give him another peck on the cheek. This was just the beginning. If a certain soldier intended to spend a lot of time around her, he needed to toughen up. Thinking about the return to her homeland, she began to feel anxious again. She couldn’t help herself. Was this like the delayed stress syndrome people got after combat? Was she coming down with a cold or something? No. She was afraid.

“Kaname, what’s wrong?” Sousuke took the basket from her and began putting things on a counter near one of the cashiers.

“Wrong?” Kaname put on a smile. “What makes you think something is wrong. Ah hah hah hah hah hah hah.” She had picked up a number of new habits while in captivity. But, that denial laugh was not one of them. Any of her girlfriends back at school would have recognized that sound.

“We do not have to talk about it now,” Sousuke said. He reached over and clasped her hand, something he had begun doing with ever increasing frequency. “We need to find our gate. It might be wise to use the restroom facilities once again, as well.

Kaname stood quietly, staring down at her feet. She couldn’t fool Sousuke and she couldn’t trick herself. “I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Kaname said. “But, I almost wish we weren’t going home.” She took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out. She was not a quitter. Whatever she had to face, she would face. Lucky for her, she wouldn’t have to face it alone. “I’m afraid what I might find, when… well…”

“Your friends,” Sousuke said, nodding. “People you know.” He began to think back to better days himself. “The city itself.” Things had happened because of the two of the. They had not done those things. They had not wanted those things. But, had they not been in Tokyo, that city would not have been attacked. “You don’t want to return, if things can’t be the way they were.” He sighed. After Hong Kong, he had confronted General Ammitt, letting him know that he would quit Mithril if he was denied a chance to return to Tokyo. He had offered to take a pay cut, since he wanted to return to Jindai High School by choice, not because he was ordered to do so. “I too am concerned. But, I asked everyone to blame me, instead of you.”

“Sousuke?” Kaname looked up into his face. He looked so melancholy. More so than usual.

“Hayashimizu had told me that things couldn’t continue as they were.” Sousuke pictured the Student Council President in his mind. “He was correct. His words were an understatement. After the attacks… and before I set off after you… I spoke to our classmates…” He had to clear his throat. The meeting and been a memorable one, and had been burned into his memory:

Sousuke: "Sensei"

Ms. Kagurazaka: "Yes?"

Sousuke: "I need to speak to everyone. May I have a minute?"

Ms. Kakugaraza: "Um..."The teacher had been looking at the empty seat where Kaname used to sit. "Sure. Go ahead."

Sousuke: "Thank you." He walked up to the front of the class, remembering how he had done so on his first day of school. "I'm sure everyone is already talking about the matter"

Everyone was silent to listen for what Sousuke was about to say.

Sousuke: "The one inside that white AS was...yes, it was me. I was...no I am a member of a certain mercenary force. Piloting the A.S.' is my job. When I first came here, I told you that I was a transfer student from the U.S. That was a lie."

He had done on to explain everything, how he was a elite member of a secret mercenary organization… that his primary mission was to protect Chidori Kaname… the evil organization who was after Chidori Kaname… the reason why their two school trips went ended with a hijacking and a sea-jacking. He told everyone that Amalgam had stopped doing things indirectly and went after Kaname directly this time. For that reason, Kyouko was severely injured, and was in critical condition at a nearby hospital. And, Kaname had allowed herself to be taken away as captive in order to save everyone.

Sousuke: "I am sorry that I kept all of this a secret." As he quietly ended his story with that apology, someone broke the silence, shaking in anger. It was his friend, Onodera Koutaro.

OnoD: "Wait a minute....'I'm sorry'... that's all you can say? Say that to Tokiwa!"

Sousuke: "....."

OnoD: "She's still in the hospital hooked up to a respirator and tubes hooked all over her body! You know the last word she said to her parents before she fell into a coma? She gave them a key to Chidori's apartment and asked them to take care of her hamster! She said that was her promise that she made with you!!"

Sousuke: "I see."

OnoD: "Don't you guys even feel a single remorse for what you did to Tokiwa? She had nothing to do with this!" Tears in his eyes, he walked over and grabbed Sousuke by his collar while the teacher and other students tried to restrain him. "Let go of me!"

Ms. Kagurazaka: "Calm down, Onodera-kun!"

OnoD: “I've got a thing to score with this bastard! You call yourself a friend? F@ck you!”

Sousuke: "I...."

OnoD: "Why the f@ck did you come back? Do you think it's funny!? If you have nothing more to do at school, get the f@ck out of here!"

Sousuke: "I....I just wanted to say one last thing before I left." He had guessed that something like this would happen. And he also knew what he had do the moment he lost to Leonard.

OnoD: "What?"

Sousuke: "I will bring her back" That was the only thing that could make him continue onward. And he wanted it to say it, not just to his classmates, but also to himself. "I will bring her back. No matter what happens, I will bring her back to this place. That what I wanted to say." Everyone had gazed silently at him. "This is all my fault. There is no fault for her. That is why I will return her, right here. I promise."

There was one thing he had asked for, even though he doubted anyone had any desire to be charitable. "That is why...Please, welcome her back when she returns." He didn't wait around for any answers. He walked out of the classroom and out of the school, never once turning back.

“Sousuke…” Tears came to Kaname’s eyes. That was exactly what she was worried about. She was afraid how her friends would look at her… what they might say… how they would react. She touched Sousuke’s face, imagining how he must have felt, standing in front of his classmates and friends, admitting all of that. “It might be hard… but we can go back… you can show them you kept your promise…”

“Affirmative,” Sousuke said. “It will be alright, if we do it together.” He still had no way to put into words, just how different his life felt when Kaname was by his side. But, Kaname seemed to understand just the same.

“Right! That’s the ticket, Sousuke!” Kaname pointed her finger at him, striking one of her encouraging Class Representative poses. Her shoulders slumped a bit and her eyes lost focus. “It’s going to be hard…” She hugged a stuff animal she had bought for Ayame. “I have a lot of things to explain to my father.. And to my sister…”

“In battle, it is best to set out a number of objective, and then work towards them one at a time.” Sousuke looked over and Kurz and sighed. His friend had come into the gift shop and was flirting with a pair of adolescent twin girls. “They will be very glad that you are alive and unharmed.” Sousuke watched as a squat burly woman took Kurz by one ear and pulled him away from her daughters. “When the time is right, you can explain things to them.”

“I…” Kaname pulled on Sousuke’s arm, like she was a young girl trying to get something from her mother or father. “It might be best to do that kind of thing in person, you know.” She owed her father and Ayame that much. “Do you think… if I do that… will you come along with me?”

“It would be difficult to guard you otherwise,” Sousuke replied, somewhat stiffly. He caught sight of Wraith in her disguise. Things had been so hectic, he had never gotten around to asking the Intel agent if she intended to rejoin Mithril, and to keep an eye on Kaname. He had mixed feelings about things, either way.

“Oh?” Kaname made a face. Secretly, she would treasure the fact that Sousuke wanted to keep her safe. But, she didn’t want him to go back to thinking of her as a mission in even the slightest regard. “Who has to guard who, mister? If it wasn’t for me, you’d be dead. Leonard let you live because of me.” It was a lot easier thinking about Leonard, now that he was dead. She had though Sousuke morbid when he insisted on seeing the bastard’s dead body after his fall; but, she was glad he did. Otherwise, she might always wonder if he somehow managed a miraculous escape. “And, I was the one who got rid of him, saving myself. Slacker.” She neglected to mention Kurz’ shooting.

“Ahhh.” Sousuke rubbed his chin. He frowned, seeing the look that Melissa gave him. She was filling a basket full of exotic cigarettes. No doubt she was waiting to hear what he would say in response to Kaname. “Then you no longer need me,” he said. “That will make my life simpler. I wonder where I should go after seeing you safely home to Tokyo. No doubt Captain Testarossa will have people seek me out.”

“Huh? What?” Kaname froze. It was like everyone in the shop had come to a complete stop, leaving her and Sousuke the only ones moving. She saw the look in Sousuke’s eyes. He was only bantering with her. “That’s nothing to joke about, you big jerk!” In the past, she used to wondered how long Sousuke would stay at the school, before he vanished never to return. When he left for Hong Kong unannounced, it had hit her hard. “Sousuke… about, you know what… you’re not thinking about going back, are you?”

“I…” Sousuke took Kaname’s hand and pulled her out into the terminal area again. Kurz and Melissa had crowded way too close, hearing that question. “I do not know, Kaname.”

“But…” Kaname began to get angry. More and more, her old attitudes and gestures were coming to the fore, as if they were a favorite sweater that she found at the bottom of a box, having been forgotten for a while. “I thought that when we found each other again…”

“It is not such a simple question, Kaname. I do not think this is the time and place to think things through.” The word ‘time’ made him check his watch. They had plenty of time before the initial boarding would begin. “Arbalest in gone, and I am no longer an exclusive asset. However, if the organization is able to become strong again, it may be useful for us to have powerful friends.” He didn’t want to upset Kaname. But, one point needed to be made. “You are still Whispered.”

It was a hard truth. Leonard may have been the one fixated on her; but, that did not mean that other ruthless men might not have some use for her. Her only hope would be if she had been tapped of all of her useful information, and that fact was well established. Who would know that, after Leonard died, Bunny was captured, and numerous technicians and operatives died during the attacks? And, there was no guarantee that the remaining bigwigs in Amalgam wouldn’t target her for vengeance and retribution, especially if she might be able to give Mithril the same information she had given them.

“Thanks for reminding me,” Kaname said, her voice quieting.

“It is not a problem,” Sousuke said, equally as softly.

“Sousuke… do you love me…” Kaname wasn’t sure why she asked that so abruptly, in such a busy and crowded place. She looked down at her nails, as if she had asked about the weather, or whether or not he wanted a magazine for the flight.

In the past, when Tokyo was under attack and things were hectic beyond belief, the two of them had made a confession of sorts. But, when the time passed and they were apart, it felt as if that never took place. Worse, she had grown to doubt her feelings more and more, and not just because of any influence that Leonard may have had on her. Rushed words didn’t carry a lot of weight. Sousuke had chosen to stay and fight, instead of running away with her.

Standing on the Sky Bridge, she had wondered if she still loved Sousuke. Before that, at Carcosa, she had wondered if she had ever really loved him. Spending time with him after her rescue, she had little doubt that she did. But, while he had been very attentive to her, he had never given any indication of his feelings, despite subtle attempts by her to draw the truth out of him. True, he wasn’t a very romantic person; but, he could have said something.

“Yes,” Sousuke admitted. It wasn’t easy, since he doubted himself too, but for entirely different reasons. He still had little faith that he could be like other men his age. Leonard’s claims that he was a killer were nothing but trickery, but they had gotten him to wonder about himself. “I believe so.”

“You believe so?” Kaname was happy to hear the ‘Yes’. But, that ‘believe so’ ruined things a bit. “You mean you aren’t sure?” She felt a little hypocritical, pressing that point.

“Hmmmm. How should I put this?” Sousuke looked back up at the board, seeing the words ‘At Gate’ show up next to their flight number. “When Tessa approached me after the Pacific Christmas incident, she wanted to know similar things. She asked me ‘Do you love Kaname-san?’ I answered ‘I believe it is affirmative to say so.’ When she asked ‘More than me’, I answered ‘Yes.’ So, that might be a good indication.”

“Might?“ Kaname didn’t like the sound of that. “Tessa…” Kaname felt different emotions coursing through her. It was wonderful, that he had told Tessa how he felt about her. It was great that he told her who he liked more. But, he had told Tessa his feelings before he told her! “You told Tessa how you felt, before you ever told me?“

“Also,” Sousuke continued, after taking a couple of steps backward. “Before that, in Hong Kong, when Gauron told me that his spies had killed you, I felt as if I did not wish to go on living anymore. Things that had been important to me before, no longer mattered when I thought you were gone. I did not understand what that meant, then.” He looked up at the board again. “Flight 0720 goes to Narita, through Hong Kong.” Kaname just stared at him. She didn’t need to tell him to stick to the subject. “When Tokyo was under attack…” Sousuke watched Kaname’s face carefully. She had been through so much, because of that day in Japan. “I believe you remember what we said then.”

“Yes,” Kaname said, thinking back to the moment where they had confessed their feelings to one another. “You were telling me the truth, weren’t you? You haven’t changed you mind or something, have you?” She fought to keep her voice from warbling. Her knees felt a little weak. “Why are you uncertain now?” She clasped her hands together. She shouldn’t be surprised if he found himself questioning things, once they were apart. She had done that.

“It’s… I…” Sousuke looked away. He had so many doubts about himself, that he didn’t even know where to start. “It may be that I’m not capable of love.”

“Sousuke…” Kaname wondered what was bothering him. The things that she had been through were nothing compared to the troubles that he had seen in his life. Would he ever be able to love someone? Could he allow himself to be loved? “What makes you say that? You’ve really changed a lot for the better, you know. Ever since that scruffy-haired guy showed up at class with a real gun and introduced himself as a sergeant.”

“When I saw you on the balcony with Leonard, I doubted you.” Sousuke looked as if he had failed in some important mission. “For a while there, I even debated whether or not I should kill you… or could pull the trigger.” No doubt she would doubt him now. But, he had to bring that out in the open.

“For a while I doubted myself,” Kaname admitted, feeling as if she had somehow betrayed Sousuke. “You had every reason to wonder, Sousuke.”

“You were under his control,” Sousuke asserted. “I was thinking with a clear head.” That was not entirely true, given the level of stress he had been under at the time.

“Sousuke, listen to me. Anyone would have doubted me, seeing that kiss.” Kaname couldn’t believe that she was standing there having that conversation. If anything, she should be the one worried about how he felt after that. “And about pulling the trigger… you didn’t, right? You came after me, right? Sousuke… right?”

“Right.” Sousuke nodded. He looked into Kaname’s eyes. She didn’t seem to fear him.

“Was it just because of that promise you made everyone at school?” Kaname scowled. A number of people on the concourse were listening in on her conversation. The nerve of some people!

“No.” Sousuke followed her gaze. The onlookers all busied themselves with something else.

“You came after me because you love me, didn’t you?” Kaname fluffed her hair. She was very tempted to visit the airport beauty salon, but didn’t have time. She also thought back to the evening before, when Sousuke offered to cut it for her, repaying the favor. His eyes had gone very wide at her irate response.

“Yes,” Sousuke said, still harboring some doubts.

“That’s why you should listen to me, mister!” Kaname made a ‘V’ sign. “Kaname Chidori is always right. You may have forgotten that while we were apart. It looks like I have my work cut out for me.”

“Work, Kaname?” Sousuke asked.

“Exactly. But, we’ll worry about that later. If we don’t end up back in school somewhere, then I will dedicate my time into whipping you into shape.” Kaname bumped up against Sousuke.” “You don’t know just how lucky you are.”

“Uhhh…” Sousuke wondered if their definitions of ‘lucky’ were the same.

When it was their turn to board, it was not without some feeling of trepidation. They were headed off into the unknown in some ways. For Sousuke, there was an addition uncertainty, one having to do with Kurz Weber and Melissa Mao. He was pretty certain that he would see them again some day, even if he didn’t rejoin Mithril. But, life was full of uncertainty. He had mourned them when he thought them lost. He had been filled with joy, seeing them again. Now, had no idea what the future might hold for any of them.

“I’ll be in the row of seats behind you.” That was Wraith’s voice.

“Maybe if the flight’s not full, you can move up and sit with us,” Kaname said mischievously. “Wouldn’t that be great?”

Sousuke clenched his teeth. Wraith snorted.

It wasn’t a full flight. The North Korean woman stayed in her own seat. Kaname told Sousuke that she wanted to tell him everything that happened to her on the flight home. So, naturally, not long after the ‘Fasten Your Seatbelts’ sign dimmed, she was leaning against him asleep. Being a well-traveled soldier, and knowing that one should take advantage of any chance to sleep when it’s available, he soon joined her. Shaking her head, Wraith removed a couple of blankets from the overhead compartment and covered them both.

There was a softer side to the Intel agent that no one got to see. It was as if she was constantly disguised, even when she wasn’t. When was the last time she had truly allowed herself to be ‘normal’? The two sleeping youths were a lot like her in that regard. For that reason, she would keep an eye on them for a while, until she knew what to do with her life.

When the aircraft wheels touched down on Japanese soil, Kaname and Sousuke woke up. The first to rouse, Kaname blushed furiously, finding that Sousuke had been using her chest as a pillow. When he opened his eyes and realized what he had been doing, they both sat up quickly and looked in different directions. Kaname was smiling. Sousuke began to sweat, just a little.

When the All Nippon Airways aircraft pulled into Terminal 2, Gate B72 at Narita, there was no one waiting for the two of them when they disembarked. Neither of them had called anyone.

Kaname stood silently, looking at everything around her, when they stepped out where numerous Taxi cabs sat idling, their drivers waiting for another fare. She was home. Tokyo. Japan. She almost couldn’t believe it. The circumstances she had left under had been so drastic, almost surreal. Now, standing there, things were so peaceful and mundane. Was that a good sign? If things were back to normal for the city, could they go back to normal for her?

“Sousuke, should we choose a cab the old way?” Kaname let go of the strap on her roll-along suitcase. She put both hands on Sousuke’s arms, looking to see if he would catch on.

“Kaname?” Sousuke looked over at a row of Taxis… at Kaname… and then the cars again.

“Never mind,” Kaname said. “After going to all that trouble to rescue you, I don’t want to lose you here.”

“Oh.” Now Sousuke caught on. “We could take the train. It would be almost as quick, and save us money.”

“Taxicab,” Kaname lifted her nose up. She was playing the part of an adamant young woman. Inside, she was a scared child, returning home to her parents after she had done something wrong. This felt a lot like the time she had been given house detention, just a few weeks before her mother died.

Would the people in the city know why the A.S. battle had taken place in their streets? Had the newspapers and news crews managed to scrape up every little detail? Did they have names? Would Miss Kagurazaka and the students tell everyone what Sousuke had told them?

“Understood,” Sousuke said, feeling somewhat exposed himself.

“Leonard is a jerk!”

Underneath the blanket Kaname had draped over the cage, Hope was stirring. The bird seemed to have weathered the flight pretty well.

“Leonard is a jerk!”

A number of people turned to look at Kaname, wondering where the voice was coming from. Was the blue-haired girl a ventriloquist. Could the name of the scar-faced boy next to her be ‘Leonard’? They gave the two of them some space.

“It looks like I need to teach you some new things,” Kaname said, taking the blanket off for a few moments.

“Shit!”

Kaname scowled. She looked up at Sousuke, her eyes narrowed. He spread his hands apart in that way of his, as if he was claiming that he wasn’t at fault. But, they were in Tokyo again That meant he would always be at fault. Just like before. Opening her mouth, she found that her tongue felt dry. Even joking with herself about who was at fault had her feeling guilty. This certainly wasn’t going to be easy.

“I don’t think I want you teaching Hope any more words,” Kaname said, sounding somewhat subdued.

“Affirmative,” Sousuke said. He was concerned about Kaname, not the Ringneck Parakeet. The night before, during one of the rare instances when Kaname allowed him to leave her side, he had spoken to Melissa about his concerns. She had told him that certain things take time.

“AFFIRMATIVE!”

Sousuke looked down at the bird cage. Kaname looked at him. Hope began tugging at the string on her bell.

When a cab driver dropped them off in front of Kaname’s apartment building, the two of them stood staring again for a while. Nothing had changed, or so it looked. Kaname had wanted to wait to call her father when she was back in Tokyo, so she had no idea if her apartment was still hers, or whether all of the things had been cleared out some time ago.

“We should go up now, Kaname.” Sousuke rubbed her back for a few seconds, feeling her tension dissipate. “My apartment will belong to someone else, as there is no Finance Division to handle such matters any longer. If your room has changed hands, we will want to find some place to stay.”

“OK,” Kaname said quietly. She swallowed hard, seeing the Manager’s desk across the foyer. Placing the bird cage on the floor, she timidly took steps in that direction.

“Miss Chidori, what a surprise.” The kindly woman behind the desk smiled a warm and pleasant smile. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Were you away on a trip?”

“I… it’s… yes, I was.” Kaname teared up a little, not exactly certain why she did. “My room… has it… I mean…”

“Your room?” The woman looked perplexed for a moment. “It’s been fine, as far as I know. Is something the matter?”

“No… well, not really…” Kaname felt a chill go through her. She still had a room here! There was at least one safe place for her in her old city. She stood taller. “I’m afraid that I must have misplaced my key.”

“Oh. Well, that’s no problem, sweetie.” The woman opened a secure drawer, searched a few moments, and then took out a key. “Here you go.”

Kaname walked over to the elevator as slowly and as dignified as she could. She had to fight the urge to run. “Turning, she looked at Sousuke, standing with the suitcases and bird cage. “Come on, Sousuke! We don’t have all day!” She closed the elevator doors just before he got there, choosing to ride up alone to tease him. Naturally, she scolded him for letting her head up by herself.

The room was just the way she had left it. No, if anything, it was even cleaner. That fact brought tears to her eyes again. No doubt her father had paid to have everything kept up, wondering when she might return. He had probably hired a maid service, too. For a moment, she wondered if it might have been Kyouko instead. No, probably not. Her hamster cage was gone.

“After I do a security sweep, I shall head out and secure a room for myself.” Sousuke placed Hope’s cage on the floor next to Kaname’s feet. “Then I will return.”

“Baka,” Kaname said, shaking her head. “Don’t be stupid, Sousuke. You’ll be staying here with me.”

“Kaname?” Sousuke froze. His mind went back to the balcony scene at Carcosa. If she walked around in clothing like that… and if she continued with her new habit of kissing him… what would it mean? He swallowed hard, a few beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. “Here… with you…”

Kaname knew that look. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Sousuke! Just where is your mind right now?” She felt her face grow warm. “It better not be in the gutter!”

“No Ma’am,” Sousuke stood at attention, as if he were about to be dressed down by a superior officer.

“BAKA!”

“That’s right,” Kaname said, agreeing with Hope. “You’ll be staying here for now, until we know how things are around here. That’s all. I need protection. You need someone to keep you out of trouble. Right? It’s absolutely nothing more than that.”

Kaname knew it was more than that. No, she wasn’t thinking about anything risqué or bold… yet. After being apart from Sousuke for so long, she almost worried that he might disappear into thin air if he was out of her sight for too long. Standing there, she felt a bit like she did when her father and sister had gone back to America, and she stayed behind.

“We will need groceries, then.” Sousuke said, staring at Kaname a short while longer. “You will no doubt wish to phone your family. I believe that you will be safe on your own.”

“OK,” Kaname said. She pursed her lips, trying to read Sousuke’s face. “You better not go looking for any weapons or anything like that.” It might be illogical; but, standing there, she almost felt as if they could expect trouble if Sousuke was armed, but would be fine if he wasn’t. Deep inside, she knew that the opposite might be true.

“I will not buy any weapons, Kaname. Our funds are limited at the moment.” Sousuke left after that. He had been telling the truth. He would not buy any weapons or ammunition that day. He would, however, check a number of secret stashes that he had placed around the city months ago.

After Sousuke returned… and was patted down by Kaname… the two of them spent the evening talking. Slowly, a little bit at a time, Kaname began speaking about the things she had been through. For some time thereafter, they sat quietly, leaning against one another, each lost in his or her thoughts. They had both been granted a new lease on life. But, neither had any idea yet what to do with it.

After carrying a sleeping Kaname into her bedroom and placing her in bed, Sousuke went to stand on the balcony. As difficult as his search for Kaname had been, it had provided him with a goal and a sense of purpose. Now, looking out over the streets at night, he felt a little like he had in Kabul, when he had run away from the orphanage. What should he do?

“I’m not alone, this time.” He looked over at the door to Kaname’s room, and then decided to resume a calisthenics routine he had followed in his old apartment. Finished with that, he showered and headed for the couch. Sleep came quicker than he would have thought.

When morning came, Sousuke asked if Kaname wanted to accompany him to Jindai High School. Kaname asked him to wait, and to spend the day with her. She wasn’t ready to go back there yet. Instead, the two of them decided to walk around Tokyo, trying to ease their way back into the feel and flow of the city. Holding hands, or hooking their arms together, they made their way from place to place, seeing some of the noteworthy sights the city had to offer, and then visiting some of the places that held special memories.

Kaname dragged them to Harajuku, Tokyo's teenager town, a shopping and entertainment district for the young and trendy. There were many small stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafes in that area. She felt a very strong need to get her hair fixed as best she could. But, most of all, she felt the urge to buy knew clothes. That wouldn’t make her a new person. And, it wouldn’t really change things. But, it might help her feel like she had been given a fresh start.

When the visited Asakusa Kannon Temple in the Shitamachi, they felt more at home in Japan than they had that morning. But, it would take more than the sight of traditional architecture to set their hearts at ease. Later, looking up at the 333 meter Tokyo Tower, Kaname had begun trembling. She couldn’t help but think of the KL Tower and the Petronas buildings. At each of the others places they went to, she kept hoping she wouldn’t see anything else that reminded her of Malaysaia or the other countries she had been taken to.

Before heading home for the evening, they visited the park where they had encountered the Pony Man and Officer Wakana and stopped at a Shinto shrine where Kaname had worked part time. Passing through one particular park area, Sousuke walked out into the lake where Kaname had thrown him after he kissed Mizuki. That had Kaname calling him a big jerk, then running and jumping into his arms. After that, she dragged him down to the deserted hospital they had explored, and walked with him past the Mikihara estates. Waiting to catch the train home, Sousuke claimed that he was there merely as ’coincidence’. That earned him a big hug from Kaname.

The next morning was The Big Day. Kaname spent as much time getting Sousuke ready as she did worrying about her own appearance. Her actions had him sarcastically asking why she hadn’t just stepped into the shower with him, while she was at it. That had her telling him not to joke about such things and running to find her halisen. It was like an old friend, she explained. Carrying that would make things feel more normal. Sousuke, of course, was skeptical.

When Kaname was finally ready, they set off. The walk was the same. The neighborhoods seemed unchanged. The school buildings looked no different. It was as if they had successfully turned back the hands of time.

“OK, Sousuke. You can stop holding my hand now,” Kaname said. She stood at the end of the walkway leading up to the main entrance of Jindai High School. Her throat tightened up.

“That is a good idea, Kaname.” Sousuke realized why she had wanted to cease with any show of affection. He didn’t mind. That provided him with a good opportunity. “I will be going in first. You should wait a bit before following.”

“Hey, that’s…” Kaname swallowed her response. Maybe Sousuke was right just this once. He would be able to judge the atmosphere there, amongst their former classmates and teachers. And, she suspected that he wanted to approach the class on his own first. “Fine. But I’m not going to wait too long, understand?” The longer she waited, the more reasons she might come up with not to go in at all.

“Affirmative.” Sousuke made his way into the building. He expected to go stealthily, but tripped a number of metal detectors that had been added after the attacks on the city. When the security guards came to find what set things off, there was no sign of him. As he slid along one wall, the eyes of underclassmen glued to him, he bumped into someone familiar: Principal Tsuboi Takako.

“M-M-Mister Sagara…” For the briefest of instants, the woman looked as if she had seen a ghost. Regaining her calm, she stood staring at Sousuke. “We haven’t seen you around here for some time.”

“No, Ma’am.” Sousuke wondered if she would signal the security personnel. “I had something I needed to tell my classmates.” He felt naked, standing there under the woman’s scrutiny. How many times had he stood in front of her, after being called in for one event or another. She might not be so understanding any more, since there would not be any more hush money coming from Mithril.

“I see…” The principal tapped one finger against her cheek. One of her eyebrows rose. “Would it have to do with Miss Chidori?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Sousuke instinctively looked back in the direction of the front door.

“Will she be coming in, too?” The woman asked, her eyes alight. She had guessed correctly. The young man’s reaction told her that much.

“I believe so, Madame Principal. But first, I need to be certain that…” Sousuke let the words die out. The smile on the woman’s face suggested that she understood his concerns.

“Good. I think I will accompany you to Ms. Kagurazaka’a class… just in case you don’t remember the way.” Principal Tsuboi had a number of motives. The school was much more likely to remain unharmed this way. She also wanted to see the look on the teacher’s face, and on the faces of the students.

As they walked together, Kaname made up her mind to march inside, as if she had never been gone a single day. It was the alarm that did it. Sousuke had been there only a few moments, and he was in trouble again! Big idiot!

“Excuse me, Ms. Kagurazaka…” The Principal had opened the door to the classroom. “You have a visitor.”

Sousuke could have heard a pin drop when he stepped into the room. His eyes went first to the teacher, then Kyouko, and then OnoD.

“S-… S-… S-…” Ms. Kagurazaka was clearly stunned. The students were too, but soon began talking amongst themselves in excited voices, some of them rubbing their eyes or grabbing the sides of their desks tightly. Then, everyone started talking to Sousuke at once. “That’s enough, class.” The teacher found her own voice. “I think we should let our… guest… say a few words.”

Sousuke stepped to the front of the room. He looked over at Kyouko again. She looked no worse for wear.

“It’s OK, Sousuke.” Kyouko nodded. She reached inside her desk and took out a camera. Her hands shook some, seeing him. The memories of her ordeal hadn’t healed completely. But, that wasn’t the reason. She wondered if Sousuke had kept his promise.

“You will all recall how I left this school,” Sousuke said, standing somewhat stiffly. This reunion was effecting him as well. “I told you that things were my fault, not Kaname Chidori’s. I promised to return her to this place. I asked you all to welcome her back when she returns.”

“Does that mean…” Ms. Kagurazaka looked to the doorway. Kaname was standing there, not having stepped inside the room yet. She brought a hand to her mouth. Tears came to her eyes. “Miss Chidori…” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

Kyouko got to her feet, even though she couldn’t see Kaname yet. Many of the other students followed suit.

OnoD walked to the front of the class room. He took hold of Sousuke’s collar, just the way he had done on that fateful day in the past. “So… do you think this makes things OK…”

“I… uhhh…” Sousuke had wondered if his friends might still harbor resentment towards him.

“Well, I think it does.” OnoD held out his hand. “I’m sorry… I did a lot of thinking…” he smiled. “You were still at fault though… you jerk.” He shocked Sousuke by taking him into a quick bear hug.

“Ka-a-a…na-a-a… ma-a-a-y…” Kyouko ran and threw her arms around Kaname when she took a tentative step inside the classroom. The two girls were soon in tears.

Before they knew it, Sousuke and Kaname were surrounded by people, everyone wanting to pat them on the back, say ‘hello’, or hear their stories. It took a while for Ms. Kagurazaka and the principal to restore some semblance of order.

“So… Sousuke…” Kyouko looked up into his face, an impish look on her face. “You guys have been gone a long time… are you dating?”

Sousuke froze. He looked over across the classroom. Everyone was staring at him, quiet, their eyes wide and their faces attentive. “Is Kaname holding the paper fan?”

“Yes,” Kyouko said, snapping a number of pictures.

“Then I cannot answer safely,” Sousuke said.

“They’re dating,” Kyouko said, nodding her head. “They’re definitely dating.”

“Sousuke!” Kaname glared at him.

Sousuke sighed. Damned if he did. Damned if he didn’t.

Business as usual…

THE END