A Turn of Seasons 01

trekkiexb5 · Post by **trekkiexb5** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 11:05 pm

"A Turn of Seasons"

A Full Metal Panic! Story
by Trekkiexb5

Category: Drama, Romance
Couples: SSxKC, KWxMM
Rating: R for language, lime and stupid college stunts.
Posting: I'm posting at fanfiction.net and at blissfulignorance.com, but anyone can post it, as long as my name stays attached. AND you write me and tell me how bad (or good) it was.

Summary: She put everything behind her, Whispered, Mitheral, and Japan to find a new beginning in America. He was trying to repair the damage to his life and further his career. What wasn't explained is how they met in a tiny college in Michigan, years later.

Full Metal Panic! Isn’t mine. If it was, the screw-ups in military ranking system would be non-existent and British sub captains would have British accents.

Author's notes:

I never have notes. I rant.

As much as I love this series, I feel that it is rushing, like it is missing something. I have never felt this with any other series. Then again, I have only seen four DVDs worth of this series at the time of this writing.

Because of all of the above, I can't write the story that I really want to write.

So I'm writing this.

My anal-retentiveness will make me rewrite it when I learn more of the character’s backgrounds. <sigh.>

Why not right after the series? Well, I feel I can't write a story like that due to (1) haven't seen how the series ends, but read it, (2) anal-retentive me will want to see season two first (and read all the manga), and (3) The Black Rose used her awesome mental powers and sucked my idea out of my head and called it "Dinner and Dessert!" How she could do that BEFORE I had even HEARD of the series is beyond me! Watch out for her! <g>

So enjoy- no real plot here, unlike some stories...Damn 'Sea of Stars!' Anyways, nothing is really mapped out yet; I’ll let you know when that changes.

FYI--The town and college are fictional. Michigan isn't, as much as I try to convince people. Hey! I can say that! I'm a GANder!

***

NOW, ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

***Tame as a lamb. Sorry.

"A Turn of Seasons"
Chapter 1
It's Just a Coincidence

Bill won't leave me alone. He's been stalking me all day, telling me how much I would miss him if I carried through with my break-up with him.

As if I would miss that lunkhead linebacker, anyways? What was I thinking, dating him?

He followed me out of the dorms, to the campus bookstore then back to the dorms, and now following me all over the tiny town of Bethanyshire, Michigan.

I crossed the street to the little historical main street (oddly, called Main Street), trying to shake the man. I swear, if I get to the police station/City hall before I lose him, I'm gonna report him.

Then again, who would they believe? The weird blue-haired foreign student or Bethanyshire College's star linebacker? As I learned last year, this IS the mid-west farm belt. They are still reporting Elvis sightings in fast food restaurants.

I turned the corner and spotted a cafe/used bookstore nestled on Main Street. I usually avoid these stores. They are so cliché in college towns. But this time... I quickly ducked inside, hoping he didn't see me go in when he turned the corner.

No such luck. Note to self, when being harassed by ex-boyfriends, wear tennis shoes, not fashionable clunky sandals.

I weaved past the tables that were filled with students and teachers in the storefront and headed towards the dusty shelves overloaded with smelly books of all sorts. My plan was weave back and forth between the shelves and double back to the front and make my escape.

The man has sharp eyes, damnit! I ran blindly through the store, ducking into an aisle.

"Kan-e!"

God, I HATED that nickname!

I turned to face him, backing into another row. "God damnit! What part of 'no' don't you understand?" I turned to sprint, but I tripped over something and someone.

In my haste to rid myself of my beefy ex-boyfriend, I didn't notice the person sitting in the aisle on the floor. "Excuse me," I mumbled, barely stopping falling on my arse by catching the shelves that felt like they haven't been dusted since the Meiji Era.

"You know ya would miss me, Kan-e,” He sneered. I turned to face him again, backing up to the dead end this row of shelves were. Way to go, Kaname! " I'm the best you ever get, babe. I can be compared to none."

How in the hell can that ego fit in his rock head? "Compared to what, Bill? The only thing I would compare you to is a pig. And that's insulting the pig. The only thing I'll miss from our relationship is the fact I'll won't have to use a softball bat to keep a man out of my pants. Now leave me alone, Bill!"

Of course, that only encouraged him. I should know better by now. He stepped closer to me and reached out to grab me. "Come on babe! You'll ...eeerrrk!"

The (wonderful) choking sound that came from Bill was the result of the male, the one I tripped over, wrapping his hands around Bill's neck and forcing him against the shelf. A rain of books and dust fell around them, creating a cloud that was obscuring my view of Bill being strangled. Pity.

"I believe the lady said no and had asked you to leave her presence. Can you follow her wishes or do you need some help on the subject?" His English was smooth and almost without an accent.

Although I couldn't see, I heard Bill erked something.

The stranger said, "Good, now leave the premises."

"I'll get you, you little skinny punk, and the blue-haired bitch, too! Just you wait!" You know I would be more effective as a threat, if he didn't sound like he swallowed a couple of rocks. It was a nice thought.

"I look forward to that confrontation."

The voice sounded familiar. Maybe he was in one of my classes from last year.

"Is there a problem, young man?" The dust was finally settling, and I could see an elderly woman, perhaps the owner at the entrance of the aisle, hands on hips. The tall man had turned talk to her.

"There is no problem, ma'am. That man bumped into the shelf in his haste to leave and knocked over some books. I will clean them up."

"Oh! Thank you," the lady answered, obviously overwhelmed and not expecting that answer. She left to the front of the labyrinth store, leaving the man and me alone.

I bent down to assist him with the cleanup. After all, he did help me. "I'm sorry about that. He’s a little thick, I'm afraid."

The man said nothing. In fact, my view of his shoes showed he didn't even move. Well, I'm not cleaning it up all by myself! There are a lot of books that were knock...

"Kaname? Is that you, Miss Kaname Chidori?"

It took a moment to register that it was spoken in Japanese. Surprised, I stood up, the books in my arms falling back on the floor. The recognition of his voice hit me. I finally looked at him, really looked at him, it all came clear.

Dark-skinned Middle-East look? Check.

Brown hair that would never lie down? Check.

Scar on chin? Check.

Grey/brown eyes? Check.

Great body? ... I erased that from my mental checklist and added "Drop-Dead gorgeous?" Check, check and two pluses.

Of all the people and all the places, I would meet him in a small college town in west Michigan. And if there were any doubts, he opened his mouth and confirmed my suspicions.

"Seriously, Kaname, It's REALLY a coincidence."

Sousake Sagara.

******

R&R pleez!!!!

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 1:19 am

ROTF

!!! WAAAAAY TOO FUNNY trekkiexb5...

...and welcome to the FMP! board here. I've seen you posting before
over at BI. Regards

So far, an interesting story, and I'M SO HOOKED!!
And I'll bet a few -- unnamed -- SxK fans are already drooling *looks
around warily*

I read yours, now PLEASE read mine! It's only fair

Regards

Tsushima Masaki · Post by **Tsushima Masaki** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 2:32 am

That was a tite intro. I'm looking forward to more.

And... I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything like that, but I think Sousuke is Japanese in ethnicity, his nationality is anyone's guess, or at least I don't know.

darkbane · Post by **darkbane** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 8:19 am

HELLFIRE wrote:...And I'll bet a few -- unnamed -- SxK fans are already drooling *looks around warily*

should i take the hint, among others?

@trekkiexb5
welcome

@Tsushima Masaki
Sousuke is Japanese in ethnicity, as you say. as for nationality, he carries so many different fake passports, who knows? my best suggestion is Afganistan, seeing as it's the land that awakened his killer instinct ;-)

trekkiexb5 · Post by **trekkiexb5** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 2:20 pm

Tsushima Masaki wrote:
And... I don't mean to sound arrogant or anything like that, but I think Sousuke is Japanese in ethnicity, his nationality is anyone's guess, or at least I don't know.

A Japanese national born in Afghganistan...Highly unlikely

THough the show doesn't say, the Afghan eps and the way Sousake reads off where he is from (he starts with Afghanistan) Makes me believe that is Afghan. I think he choose the name Sousake because he "killed" Kashim. Whether or not the name has meaning, I dunno.

Also, he is drawn far darker compared to the rest of the Japanese students. An indication of his ethnicity.

The is a possiblity that he is Japanese. AN aid worker, perhaps. But, he would NOT have been abandoned in that country durning the Afghan War for the fact he is JAPANESE. Maybe a mix of both, better chance of that but Islam isn't as forgiving as other religions marrying outsiders. And (possibly) out of wedlock.

Arabs and Japanese look very much different and If I was to draw an Arab in the style of manga, he would look alot like Sousake.

Then again, It's my opinion, but please understand, I'm pretty anal about tiny details, and would have not wrote this if I didn't feel he is Afghan. I feel he is Afghan, with his nationality being United States. If Kailidin and him left at the same time, the chances are they left with an CIA agent. THey were VERY MUCH a persent durning that war. Perhaps the agent was Japanese-AMerican.

I don't think his Nationality is Japan because when Melissa asked if it was a good idea using his real name, he replied that his family isn't registered in this country. Which makes me believe that he was brought to America and was either adopted or had foster parents.

Then again, I could be totally wrong...

I told you I rant!!!

Post by **Taurec** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 2:29 pm

Lol .. very nice trekkiexb5 ...

Welcome

darkbane · Post by **darkbane** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 2:57 pm

sorry trekkiexb5, but from the anime, manga, etc, it's pretty much established that his parents were ethnic Japanese (Kurz scolds him for being Japanese but not knowing Japanese food, for instance. also his real name is of japanese origin), that his real name is Sousuke Sagara ("is it ok to use your real name?" Mao says)...

nationality is just the passport you carry, ethnicity is the origin of your parents, and 'born in' is a different issue altogether. for instance, my dad's an ethnic Jew of Russian nationality, born in Kazachstan.

therefore, Sousuke would probably be an ethnic Japanese, of unestablsihed nationality (he carries many fake passports, which he uses as the need arises), and unknown birth origin (unknown to us, that is, but unknown just like many details concerning his early life). coincidentally, that's also how he's listed on full-metal-panic.com

Kashim is an assumed pseudonym that served as his name during his time in Afghanistan, although i'm not sure as to the exact origin of that name.

we don't know why/how he ended up in Afghanistan, nor what happened to his parents, but, seriously, anyone who'd spend five or six years fighting outdoors under the Afghan sun would get a serious tan... therefore his darker color in the anime

hence, i object to your opinion that he's afghan... also, there is no indication whatsoever that links him to the united states, although it's possible. as you saw yourself, sousuke's his real name. his family might not be registered in that country, but his ethnicity is not dependent on that.

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 4:59 pm

@darkbane

As for Sousuke / Kashim... well, it's open-ended enough that you could
take it anywhere you want, and that's the nice thing about it. That open-
endedness let me play around a bit with where Sousuke came with back
in Chap 4 of my fic. But I think we can all agree to the groundrule
Sousuke's ethnicity is Japanese, but as far as paperwork and
documentation goes, he's Nemo (latin for nobody).

Regards

trekkiexb5 · Post by **trekkiexb5** » Sat Oct 25, 2003 11:29 pm

Nationilty, well, I'll accept anything with that. so i agree with you all there.

From what you have told me, I have found another issue i have with this anime. I have been to Arab countries and have dealt with them BEFORE 9/11. THey 'favor' their own. I can't discribe it any other way. It's not rudness or rasisim, its, well strange. They were polite to me ( I was shopping after all) but there places I couldn't go (not because I am a girl) and people I couldn't talk to because of this 'favoritism.'

As ethnic backgound of Japanese growing up (he was, what atl east 8, right?) in very strict Islamic Afghanistan in a middle of that killing field that has become to the world as USSR's verison of Vietnam, I just don't see it. I can't accept it. But my beef isn't with all of you, but with the show's creators. <sigh>

I cannot change MY Sousake's background. It will unravel what I have little plot it do have. I will make him Japanese/Afghani , something i can accept and won't change the plot too much.

If this bothers you, let me know. I'll stop posting it. I csnnot accept this ethnic background. It doesn't make any sense. I'm sorry.

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 1:38 am

Fanfic authors are (should be) granted a wide leeway to write the stories they want. If there is a point or bit that you have to violate known cannon for in order to write the story, do it.

If people don't want to read the fic cuz of it, that's fine, it'll still be welcome. All fics break cannon, so I'm not about to start quibbling about to what degree it's permissible or not.

Go for it.

(It is true that Sousuke is supposed to be ethnically japanese. If Gatou considered or cared about the realities of that, I don't know. Perhaps he was running on the premise that a militant child assisting in the rebellion against the Soviet Union would be accepted, regardless of oirgin of his blood. Or perhaps Sousuke was never really accepted or a part of society, although he was used as a fighter. We do know that after a certain age he tended to be found wherever there was rebel/gurellia style conflict, so probably he never hung around enough anywhere to make acceptance in society an issue.)

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 4:43 am

trekkiexb5 wrote:If this bothers you, let me know. I'll stop posting it. I csnnot accept this ethnic background. It doesn't make any sense. I'm sorry.

I know I can drop my prejudices in order to enjoy your fic there trekkiexb5. Personally, Sousuke / Kashim's background's muddled enough, who really knows and is it really an issue?

...if anyone complains... *starts programming firing coordinates on personal WMD collection*

Keep it up!

darkbane · Post by **darkbane** » Sun Oct 26, 2003 8:22 am

yea he was 8 when he ended up fighting in afghanistan. implication is either the war started then, or he was somewhere else before. i'll admit it's a bit strange, but stranger things have happened in the past, in our real world.

i think one can't really fight the author's original intent by saying 'i don't accept it'. for me, a large part here is in suspending my system of beliefs and letting the author take over (as long as he doesn't go completely overboard). don't you think that arm slaves and black technology are a lot stranger than a japanese outcast growing up in afghanistan?

however, having said that, it doesn't really bother me if you violate canon for your story, either. because your story is your story. well as long as sousuke is a guy and kaname is a girl, everything will be alright

and why shouldn't you post your story? if we don't agree with it's premise, we'd just not read it, that's our choice -- that's no reason to not post it tho...

trekkiexb5 wrote: that killing field that has become to the world as USSR's verison of Vietnam

and as for this blatant comparison, _I_ as an ethnic russian can't see it... can't accept it

[clickety click .. and i can't accept the ignoring of Mr. Edit ... -T]

trekkiexb5 · Post by **trekkiexb5** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 2:11 pm

I'm being anal, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I am trying to true to the story but true to the conflict.

I didn't mean to offend you, Darkbane. My Russian friend said that about the comparsions but I thought (assumed) that all Russians thought that way. You know what assume does?

Ok, Ok!! I'll stop ranting and start writing. I've already started chapt. 2.

Sorry for the hedache!

FORGIVE ME!!!!!

darkbane · Post by **darkbane** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 3:11 pm

i know what assume does ;-)

i wasn't offended...

@Taurec
oops, sorry