(Whispered Facility… 2 hours after Kaname sent her message)
“Uh, Miss?”
Kaname glanced up from her reading to see the shy young soldier at the door of her new temporary quarters.
“Telegram for you, Mam. Sergeant Sagara said you’d understand if it was in Morse code.” He handed her the folded paper.
She beamed – he had at least received her message and had been well enough to send one back. “Yes, I do. Thank you very much. I’ll decode it,” she winked at the messenger and put her book down.
It took her only a few minutes to decode it – on a separate sheet of paper. Memorizing the code with her abilities was easy. The message read, “Msg received. Love you. No more msgs that way – almost had heart attack. Returning. Need kiss.” She covered her mouth as she giggled. She’d have to frame this first love letter from Sousuke.
…
On the plane ride back Sousuke was thinking. He’d have to give Kaname a better way to communicate with him. He couldn’t afford to let that bracelet keep distracting him on the battlefield. Looking at Hagen who was sitting next to him, “Uhm, Hagen… Did you say you could communicate with the spiders in the Whispered State?”
“Yes URZU-7. That’s possible.”
“You can call me Sagara, Sagara Sousuke,” he offered. “Would it be possible for you to make something smaller that would communicate a Whispereds thoughts if they wanted?”
“Yes, what are you thinking of?”
“Something for my girlfriend…” Sousuke blushed slightly as he used that word for the first time.
“YOU have a girlfriend? One who’s a Whispered?”
“Yes, it’s hard to believe isn’t it?”
“Uh. No! For me – A Whispered actually dating – that requires trusting a Whispered! …This means I have hope.” Hagen stammered and tucked his knees up to his chest and smiled contentedly.
Sousuke mused to himself inside his head, “Well, I didn’t think it was possible for me either, two months ago. I didn’t think she trusted me at all, even after guarding her for 2 years. Then, when I had to leave – she let me know she didn’t want me to go. Now, I’m on my way back home – TO HER.”
Sousuke finished the conversation and described what he wanted Hagen to make. Hagen nodded, yawned and lay down to take up more than his share of the uncomfortable bench. Sousuke crossed his arms and tried to get some sleep too. He didn’t want to be dead tired when he arrived. He closed his eyes and imagined the kiss he had requested.
…
(Whispered Facility – Debriefing)
Everyone was anxious to get out of the debriefing. They had just finished discussing Anton and the rest of the former A21 group’s upcoming trial and likely sentence length. Hagen had been an unwilling victim in the plot, so he was granted special consideration. He also had talents that Mithril deemed useful.
Hagen doodled on his scratch pad. Kurz twiddled his thumbs in his lap, hoping to keep them out of site. Mao and Sousuke were restless, constantly switching positions in their chairs. Mardukas rolled his eyes. Three of the four were soldiers and the other had expressed interest in joining, they ought to be able to sit still through one debriefing.
Kalinin looked at his watch and wondered why Mardukas seemed to be stalling the end of the meeting. Out of the corner of his eye, Mardukas saw it. He took a deep breath. There was no more procrastinating, “Dismissed.” The group stampeded to the door. “Sergeant Sagara – I’d like to have a word with you.”
Anxious to go see Kaname, Sousuke turned around with disappointment written on his face.
“I’ll be quick boy, I know you have things to do.”
Sousuke nodded and prepared himself for the blast, remembering what happened previously.
“I pride myself on my professionalism. Before you left on the mission, I had lambasted you unjustly. I apologize. That episode will not be repeated. … The twins are my godsons,” Mardukas left off there.
“Understood, Sir. It is not a problem,” Sousuke chanted his mantra.
“Hagen seems to have a great deal of respect for you. … Dismissed,” Mardukas couldn’t make himself say that he respected the young soldier. That grated his professional side - and he still wasn’t sure what to think this unusual Sergeant. At least Tessa had stopped going on and on about him.
“Thank you, Sir.” Sousuke bolted out of the room and booked it for Kaname’s temporary quarters.
…
Peeking around the corner into her quarters, Sousuke’s heart sank to see the void where she ought to be. On the desk lay a note with his name in big kanji at the top. He stepped over to read the note, “I went to help Tessa and Dr. Shou with the other Whispereds. Waiting for you there. Love, Kaname”
He wasted no time – she was waiting for him…
His pace slowed and he gulped when he saw her standing there next to a Whispered victim. Tessa was standing next to Dr. Shou with another victim. He’d have to wait a few more torturous minutes to hold her, but he’d sneak up behind her and surprise her when she was done.
Kaname’s head tilted back as she came out of the Whispered State. She stepped back to keep her balance, reaching for the bed behind her. Bumping into someone, she stumbled forward to avoid falling on the person behind her. Startled, she started to apologize. Sousuke’s arms just wrapped around her, helping her keep her balance. Wide eyed, she turned to make sure it was him, “Sousuke?”
Her surprise turned to a huge smile and she threw her arms around him, refusing to let him go. “Have you come to collect what you requested?” she prodded him.
“Affirmative.”
She stood on her tiptoes to reach up to kiss him. Her lips gently touched then pressed his. Then feeling a wily urge, she tapped out a message on the back of his neck.
.. / .-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- / - --- --- .-.-.- (I love you too.)
She pulled back from the kiss, grinning and winked at him.
“Message received.” He swung her around and kissed her again.
“Awwww – get a room you two!” Dr. Shou teased as he held Tessa in one of her dizzy spells. Kaname and Sousuke just ignored them. Dr. Shou laughed and carried Tessa out of the room, “It should be a few hours before the Whispereds wake up.” Tessa didn’t budge an inch, just contentedly cradled in his arms. She really didn’t mind the attention from Dr. Shou, and there seemed like there may be more to come.
The day before, Dr. Shou had confided to her why he became a Whispered specialist, while they waited for Kaname to wake up. He understood Whispereds well, since his brother had been one – before he had been kidnapped and killed. His brother’s death had prompted him to help the Whispereds in any way he could. Tessa admired the young doctor – in more ways than one. She’d not paid attention to him before, when she’d only had eyes for Sousuke. The new perspective helped her to see Dr. Shou in a very favorable light.
…
(1 week later)
Sousuke held the door at Kaname’s apartment open for her and helped drag in the bags from her shopping trip with Kyouko. “I need a nap!” She plopped on the couch exhausted from all that frivolous spending. She could justify some of it – especially the clothes for Sousuke.
He needed more civilian clothes now. Mithril had cut them a deal to pay for their college and living expenses, if they would agree to a few terms. Mithril would never again use any one – especially a Whispered - as bait with out prior consent. Sousuke and Kaname would have to be special ops through out college – on call for when they were needed, Sousuke for the Arbalest and Kaname for her Whispered abilities.
Sousuke claimed a piece of couch next to her and pulled a small box out of hiding. “Can you wait a minute for the nap? This arrived yesterday and I’ve been waiting to give it to you.”
Kaname gawked at him in surprise. She was the proverbial cat, and curiosity was now killing her as he held the suspicious little box covered in black velvet. “Well?” She hoped asking to prod him, he seemed to be taking his time.
“I had this made especially for you. I’ll explain after you open it.” He picked up her hand and gently placed the gift in her hand.
A gold ring with an opal set in the top of it gleamed against the black velvet background.
Kaname gasped and tried to utter, “Sousuke, it’s beautiful.” But, all that came out was the last word. She was so astounded. He’d even known that she didn’t like diamonds.
“Kaname, would you…” Sousuke started to ask his question, but she cut him off.
“Wow! This is so sudden Sousuke. But, yes! Yes, I will marry you,” she interrupted, put the ring on and gave him the most passionate kiss he’d ever had.
Bug eyed, he sat there quite shocked but thoroughly enjoying this unexpected reaction to his gift. He’d expected to finish saying, “…wear this instead of your bracelet. It’s a much improved version.” The ring wasn’t supposed to be an engagement ring – it was the disguised transmitter that Hagen had made.
The last two years had trained him well, he’d be a fool to tell her otherwise. Those halisen slaps had been effective in the past – he didn’t want the halisen to reappear and ruin a perfectly enjoyable moment. Besides, if MORE OF THIS was involved in marriage, it couldn’t be that scary could it? Another advantage was that she’d be protected 24 hours a day by a live in bodyguard. He didn’t even ever have to work up the nerve to ask her. Not a bad prospect, all in all. Maybe the ring should just have some “added features”, that he’d tell her about…LATER. He put his arms around her and kissed back relishing every second.
After several lingering kisses, Kaname asked, “So where are you going to take me on our honey moon?”
Sousuke thought for a moment, a Kurz-like answer was all that would come to mind and he blushed as he said it, “Uhm… to bed?”
“Moron!” She tickled him mercilessly, pinning him down on the couch and they both laughed until they could hardly breathe.
…
Chuckling, the wrinkled old manager of Sousuke’s apartment building took off his headphones and turned off the receiver. He didn’t need to pry into Sousuke’s business anymore. His mission with Mithril was complete. He’d pack up and call Kalinin in a bit. Sousuke would now guard Kaname all the time. He had a good arms stash for emergencies. He was even beginning to act normalized. It had been hard to stand back and not rush to Kaname’s aid then the attack call came in – but he’d been ordered to stand down. Sousuke came to her aid instead. He’d done well. Sousuke had stood up well under all that he’d been through. But finally he fell – fell in love. Tomorrow he’d inform Sousuke that he’d be getting a new landlord. It would be hard not to tell the young man congratulations on his engagement after watching him for two years.
THE END!!!!!
--------------------------------------------
Best of Both Worlds by Van Halen –
(Av dedicates it to Sousuke and Kaname….)
I don't know what I been livin' on but it's
Not enough to fill me up
I need more than just words can say
I need everything this life can give me
Come on baby close your eyes let go
This can be everything we've dreamed
It's not work, that makes it work no
Let the magic do the work for you
Cause something reached out and touched me
Now I see that all I want...
I want the best of both worlds
And baby I know what it's worth
We can have the best of both worlds…
A little heaven right here on earth
There's a picture in the gallery of a
Fallen angel looked alot like you
We forget where we come from sometimes
I had a dream it was really you
Cause something reached out and touched me
Now I see that all I want...
I want the best of both worlds
And baby I know what it's worth
We can have the best of both worlds…
A little heaven right here on earth
You don't have to die to go to heaven
Or hang around to be born again
Just tune into what this place has got to offer
Cause we may never be here again
I want the best of both worlds
And baby I know what it's worth
We can have the best of both worlds…
A little heaven right here on earth
-----------------------------------------------
Wah! The end is finally here! I can’t believe it. (Man I need a break! 2 solid weeks of writing, writing, writing…) I can finally just sit down to read other people’s fics. YAY! I hope you enjoyed my cheesy mush of a story. Let me know what you think.
@Bel
I REALLY thought about Sousuke having some sort of trigger that Kaname would set off as she was tickling him, for a great big KABOOM at the end. But then the Mithril operative/apt. manager leaving wouldn’t have made sense… Sorry. You’ll have to write about your own Kaboom fantasies.
(Or if I decide to write about their wedding – there could be Kaboom potential – bouquets of different types of grenades, throwing flash grenades instead of rice….hmmm)
