[FIC] Misunderstandings, part 1 {Chapter 1}

[dd]

Rain fell outside. Hard. The wind blew it in staccato rhythm against the windows of Sousuke's apartment.

The lights on the communications console still glowed somewhat cheerfully. The voice had ceased. "Expect a fax" the voice had said. Nothing more before cutting out. No opportunity for clarification. No timetable.

What could Captain Testarossa have meant by that? Why a fax? Why the delay? What could this mean for Sousuke's misson? Was he to be called away for another task requiring a special response team...another need for the lambda driver? Or...had his cover been blown? Did the episode with the incindiary device at the Duck Pond attract undue attention...no ducks had been harmed after all, and there was no reason to expect that the mime's hair would not grow back fully, was there? Or. Or, could this mean that he was being recalled permanently?

An image of a smiling Kaname flashed across his mind.

Kaname. Was she truly any safer today than she had be in days past? After all, there had been no terrorist activity directed towards her since that fateful day on the sub. The odd incident, or three, that had required her rescue since that time, had all been random events...did she, as a Whispered, deserve a bodyguard more than other people caught in the path of Fate? And, Sousuke added sadly, didn't he himself bring some level of chaos and uncertainty to her life? And perhaps...unhappiness?

An image of a scowling Kaname sped across his eyes, and he could image the sound of a halisen slicing through the air. He ducked slightly, as if expecting the phantom contact.

Sousuke wondered what his next mission might be? And where. And with whom. It would not be unpleasant to see Sgt. Weber and Sgt. Major Mao again. But what would become of Kaname?

An image of Kaname sprawled on the ground, surrounded by blood, looking somewhat like a grotesque red snow angel, caused his breath to catch in his throat. "Kaname...NO!!!!" His hand flinched sharply, almost overturning a nearby tea cup. He was surprised to realize he had verbalized his response. And, somewhat loudly, too. What might the neighbors think? Suddeness, and emotion...he must be more careful. Suddeness and emotion could mean the difference between victory and defeat, or between favorable outcome and tragedy. Emotion was also a topic of confusion and uncertainty for Sousuke, and he was a fan of neither.

The slam of a door down the hallway ended his musings. There was a more timely issue causing him confusion and uncertainty, and he must return to the task. With one last glance at the silent fax machine, he directed his attention to the top of his desk, littered by assignment papers. Algebra.

The homework was due tomorrow, so must be completed tonight. Sousuke remembered someone telling him that the root words of Algebra meant 'broken parts.' Apropos...he might indeed suffer broken parts if he did poorly on his assignment. Perhaps Sgt. Weber had only been joking when he told Sousuke he must do well at school, because the honor of Mithril was clearly at stake. Perhaps he should not have mentioned that conversation to Kaname!!! She had taken the idea and run with it. Aside from tutoring him on occasion, she made it a point to examine his homework. Every day. And she was a strict and demonstrative task master. It had been safer learning how to pilot an Arm Slave.

Sousuke glared down at his pencil, almost as if to accuse it for the delay in his work. Briefly, possible offensive tactics using a pencil tickled his memory...followed by new thoughts on offensive things that could be done TO a pencil. Sighing, Sousuke accepted responsibility himself, and returned to work.

The hours having passed, and the sweat having been wiped from his brow, Sousuke allowed himself a brief and secret moment of satisfaction when he scribbled the last number down on his paper. He was about to gather his assignment sheets together and place them in his school bag when the fax machine coughed ever so slightly, and came to life. The period of printing was brief. He hestitated to move at first, as if expecting something more. We walked to the machine, retrieved the message, and read it:


SGT. Sagara


RETURN ARRANGED


CAPT. TESTAROSSA



Return arranged? Return? Whose? His? When? Should he dress for travel? Under what conditions? Armed? Should he break down equipment, or would a sweeper team do that? How long a return?

The questions poured forth rapidly and seemingly endlessly. More confusion and uncertainty. His mind awhirl, Sousuke absentmindedly shuffled the fax copy in with his schoolwork, and tucked the papers away. He also failed to suspect the act when he walked by the paper shredder.

End of part 1

**********************************************************

Sorry for the abbreviation, as the story does not need or deserve 'parts.' But, I am a bit gunshy...I was literally a handful of minutes from total completetion whwn the power went out Friday morning thanks to the hurricane. And my attempts at saving parts of the story failed. So, I refuse to be bitten by that dog again. More coming...

[HELLFIRE]

...Another post-FMP anime fic. Loved it dd!!

Now what is our beautiful Captain up to with that ambiguously worded
fax of 'return arranged' *hehehe*





Regards

[Avlor]

poor Sousuke! He's my fave char - yet I love to see him tortured (why is that?)

Looking forward to reading the rest (as with all I have read from your stuff - since I first saw your stories on FFN.)



Avlor Kitsune

[Belisarius]

@ dd,

when is that writing hand of yours going to go on strike. You make the rest of us slackers look real bad.

Another 4.0 on the read.

[dd]

@Bel

I'm taking things slow now....

Only working on one at a time.



You gotta keep writing, man. Even if it's short tales unrelated to other ones.