[FIC] Like Pulling Teeth (part 2)
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:44 pm
A number of students strolled around outside.
It was a rare day that provided such an opportunity. Career councilors were meeting with the first wave of students, and would be doing so with all students over the next few weeks.
Kaname had told Sousuke that she would be meeting with other members of the Student Council, so he would not be able to keep a close watch on her. At her insistence, he was using his free time to do extra homework in the subjects that troubled him the most.
Sitting outside, the young soldier had his papers and textbooks arranged along a short masonry wall. Scratching his head, he did his best to assimilate as many facts about Japanese History as he could. Not having spent many years in his ancestral country, he lacked the basics that everyone else took for granted.
Unbeknownst to him, Kaname was peering between a pair of tall leafy shrubs, waiting for the next step in her plan to unfold. Ignoring jibes and giggles from Maya and Ryo, she sent Kyouko into action. An angry look on her face, she shushed her friends. The last thing that she wanted was for a certain young soldier to realize she was nearby.
It had caused the girls to break out in smiles and poorly concealed chuckles when Kaname had actually taken a quick shower. But, it had been a tactical necessity. She needed to wash away any scent of her perfume, in case Sousuke might catch a whiff of it.
“Hello, Sousuke!”
Kyouko’s friendly greeting had the young agent lifting his head.
“Getting some extra studying in? I bet that will make Kaname happy!”
Sousuke shrugged.
“I am never certain what will make Kaname happy. Sometimes, I am convinced that Kaname herself has no idea what will make her happy. I have suggested that she see a psychiatrist on a number of occasions.” He closed one of his books. “That most definitely did not make her happy.
Kaname, turning red in the face, snapped one of the long boughs of the nearest plant. The snickering coming from Maya and Ryo caused her to shred the leaves off of the wounded piece. The sap had her hand itching.
“Oh…… I see….” Kyouko fought a grin, knowing that Kaname was listening in. She tried to figure out how to carry out her mission, as she had been told not to mention Kaname by name, regarding the one particular issue. Sousuke was supposed to think of her on his own, and take the necessary steps after that, no matter how rudimentary.
“I feel that it is important to look out for her well-being, but she does not usually see things that way.” Sousuke put the cap on his pen and placed it in the spiral binding of his notebook. “The other day, she was indulging in far more sugar-laden food items than one would expect. I suggested that she refrain from doing so, given some things that I had overheard.”
“Sousuke?” Kyouko asked.
“A group of boys was discussing the comparative aesthetic features of various female classmates. Kaname figured prominently in that discourse. Not wishing Kaname’s reputation to suffer, I reported what I had heard.” Sousuke looked down at the bruise on the back of his hand. It was finally fading.
“What did you tell her?” Kyouko pushed her glasses further up her nose, and then listened with an avid look on her face.
“I told her that the boys had commented on her…… uhhh…… posterior portion being battleship like.” Sousuke’s eyes lit up. He was in his element, in some fashion. “I had informed them that they were incorrect. A heavy cruiser would have been a better analogy.”
“Oh….” Kyouko covered her mouth with her hand.
A series of snapping noises accompanied Kaname’s progressive destruction of the shrubbery. Ryo and Maya wisely backed out of range. Their laughter blended in with the conversations taking place amongst the other high school students.
Kaname tripped, when she took a step forward, fists clenched. Her nose was buried in newly spread cow manure that had been mixed in with wood chips. Only a tremendous act of will kept her from rushing over to Sousuke.
“So, do you find yourself watching Kaname’s…… posterior portion?”
Kyouko couldn’t help herself. She felt justified, as just such an admission from Sousuke might dovetail well with her assignment.
Sousuke froze. His eyes looked just the slightest bit wild. The fingers on one hand twitched, before he wrapped them around one of his books.
“Uhhh….” He began sweating. “As you are well aware, there are things that take place which are not entirely voluntary.” That was all he was going to say on the matter.
Kaname used a tissue to wipe off her face. She smiled a small smile when she heard Sousuke’s answer. That ‘Uhhh’ spoke volumes to her.
Kyouko looked at her watch, realizing that she had to push forward. She would try her best, but was well aware of how clueless Sousuke appeared to be. Her best friend had asked for a favor……well, had come close to ordering her to do this…… and she would do whatever she could.
Sousuke…… did you notice that there was a girl today……” She fought for the proper words, but would have to go with whatever came to mind. “A girl who went to a lot of trouble to dress nicely….”
The young soldier rubbed his neck, adopting a contemplative pose. While he was thinking, he looked over at Kyouko.
“You appear to be dressed in a relatively attractive manner today.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Kyouko pulled at one of her pony tails. The focus was not supposed to be on her. “And did you notice that a certain girl wanted to take the time to talk about the reasons that women make themselves look special?”
“Is that what you are doing now?” Sousuke tilted his head, examining Kyouko’s face.
“No…… no, not at all….” Kyouko held up her hands, caught off guard somewhat. “Not me. Some other girl.” She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, then continued. “Have you ever thought about going out on a date with a girl, Sousuke?”
Perhaps a shift in that direction might hit pay dirt.
“I have been instructed to do so in the past. With Miss Inaba. It was not the most practical or mutually productive situation. I did as I was told, but was chastised most severely by Kaname.” Sousuke looked perplexed. “But, she was the one who supported Mizuki and I in our deception. Although, she did not instruct me to perform the touching of lips.”
Kaname broke yet another branch. Maya and Ryo rubbed their hands together. They had heard only cursory details about that incident, months in the past. No one had mentioned anything about a kiss.
As far as they were concerned, this ‘plan’ was working out great.
“Oh. OK. But, I’m talking about asking a girl out, because you want to.” Kyouko chewed on the end of her hair for a moment. “Haven’t you ever wanted to ask a girl out on a date?” She never could have asked any boy that question if she wasn’t emboldened by her situation.
Kaname moved closer, taking up residence behind a lower squat shrub. Her heartbeat was racing faster and faster. Unawares, she was beginning to gather a fair number of her own observers.
“I….” Sousuke closed his mouth, and then looked down at his shoes. Noticing a smudge, he began buffing things to a brighter shine. “I do not fully understand such matters. And, with my situation….” He looked over at Kyouko. “Why the sudden interest in my personal habits?”
“Well, I…… you know…” Kyouko was flustered. That question snuck up and bit her. But, she reacted quickly, finding a good line of reasoning. “Sometimes you look lonely. It’s nice to have someone you can share feelings with. Especially if the other students…… you know…… treat you differently….”
“Ah. Thank you.” Sousuke stared at Kyouko for a moment, thinking. “Kaname is the only one who treats me kindly, as more than just a classmate. But, she often finds reasons why I am deficient and poorly suited for school life.” His mouth tightened up some, and then relaxed. “Shinji also acts more friendly that the others.”
Kaname’s hands opened and closed. She bit her lip. There was a slight catch in Sousuke’s voice.
“It’s almost time to head in,” Kyouko said, feeling a sense of pressure. She doubted that anything she had said up to that point would be sufficient for Kaname’s purposes. “I just want to say one more thing. When a girl acts differently than usual, it often means something important. It’s important to pay attention, and figure out what she wants from you.” She looked over to where she knew that Kaname was hiding. “Take today, for example….”
Finally aware that she was being watched, Kaname put the other students out of her mind. She felt very anxious. Kyouko had scored a very important point there. Maybe Sousuke would put two and two together.
“I see….” Sousuke gathered up his books. “I think I begin to see exactly what you mean….”
Kyouko smiled brightly. A sense of warmth began to fill her. It looked like she had succeeded.
Kaname’s hands grasped the woody growth of the shrub tightly. Her scheme had worked. This could be a golden moment.
“That’s great, Sousuke!” Kyouko nodded, a relieved expression on her face. She wouldn’t be taken to task by Kaname, now.
“However….” Sousuke looked somewhat uncomfortable. “I may not be very knowledgeable about such matters….” He looked closely at the young girl’s face. “And it may have been difficult for you to express your thoughts….”
“It’s OK, Sousuke.” Kyouko wondered what Sousuke was getting at.
“But, I think of you as a friend. I must admit that I have no wish to ask you out on a date. I apologize.” He should have stopped there. “It has nothing to do with the things that those boys said about your posterior portion, or the fact that they said you were only cute in a nerdish sort of way.”
Kyouko was stunned. Maya and Ryo gave each other high fives, amused by the turn of events. Kaname stood up, holding the shrub in her hands, its roots torn completely from the ground.
Sousuke saw her.
“Ahhh. Kaname. Was this your idea?”
Kaname dropped the bush. She looked at Sousuke, and then at the enormous crowd of people nearby.
“Sousuke, I….” Kaname’s surprise was soon overwhelmed by her disappointment. But, it was her anger that grew quickest of all.
“You are a good friend, Kaname.” Sousuke nodded. “The strategy you selected for Miss Tokiwa was flawless. It would no doubt have led to mission success, had I shown any interest in her.”
“Sousuke…… you…… you….” Kaname picked up the shrub, a huge ball of moist soil clinging around its roots.
“BAKA!”
The plant sped towards Sousuke like a projectile, just as he had turned to look at Kyouko again.
Dirt flew everywhere. Sousuke dropped his books. Kyouko wiped mulch and manure out of her eyes.
“Ooooooooooh….” Kaname was fuming.
“Kaname does not take disappointment well,” Sousuke said to Kyouko. “Your own behavior is very admirable, however.” He looked up, and over at the crowd of students milling around. “Why are they laughing? Are they amused at your failure?”
“Yes. No, not really. Not my failure.” Kyouko sighed. “I wasn’t talking about me, Sousuke. Really.”
Sousuke shook his head, causing a fair amount of soil to fall to the ground. He took out his shirt tale, to allow the dirt inside his uniform to fall out. Looking at a blushing Kyouko, he cocked his head and spoke.
“I understand. I will not shatter that illusion for you. It is difficult to face defeat.”
Kyouko just hung her head.
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The water was on, full force.
A stinging rain washed over Kaname, as she lathered up in the shower. That marked the third time that say she had bathed.
Scrubbing hard, she worked to remove plant sap and dirt. Most of all, she wished that she could wipe away her disappointment. That, and the embarrassment she now felt, given that so many people had watched her scheme unravel.
“Ooooooh…… damn him!”
Slamming her hand against the shower tiles, Kaname grimaced. Despite that, she repeated her gesture, harder this time. It had been monumentally stupid, getting her hopes up like that. The whole class seemed to know how she felt about that loser. But Sousuke remained as oblivious as possible.
Really! How could anyone be that clueless? Worse! How could someone who piloted the ARX-7.….. The only Lambda Driver A.S. on the side of all that was good and right…… be so blind? If that moron acted that way in battle, Kaname would have disappeared after her various kidnappings…… Tokyo and Hong Kong would be smoking ruins…… and the TDD-1 would be an apartment building for deep sea fishes!
“Ahhhhhh…… why do I even bother?”
It was a good question, she realized. Sousuke was cute, but there were better looking boys at Jindai High School. He was remarkably brave, but that got her into trouble as often as it removed her from harm’s way. He was sweet in his own way, but that was ruined by so many idiosyncrasies and misinterpretations.
Was it merely gratitude, because he had saved her life on a number of occasions? Was it a sense of responsibility, since she had done the same for him? Was it because the two of them had each had their share of hard times in their lives?
Sometimes, it seemed to defy all logic. But, so did the fact that she was Whispered….
“Huhhhhh…… it doesn’t really matter why, does it?”
Scowling, Kaname washed soap out of her eyes. Leaning her forehead against the cold tiles, she closed her eyes and thought back to past times with Sousuke. She tried to focus on the positive things, the memories that still had the power to make her smile. In her mind, she could hear him say that she was beautiful, the day that she had worn her mother’s kimono.
She suddenly shivered. The water hadn’t gone cold. She had seen a number of images that were at great contrast to those happier recollections. Naked as she was, she felt somewhat vulnerable. It was not a good time to think about Amalgam, and the things she had suffered because of them.
“He’s certainly handy to have around!”
Her laughter echoed throughout the empty girls’ locker room. Try as she might, her forced good humor couldn’t erase a growing seed of fear inside her. Amalgam was bad enough. But, it was Sousuke and his mission that had her most concerned at that moment.
How much longer would the big jerk be around? Did it make any sense at all to let her heart be vulnerable for a lout like him? Hell, if things kept moving at this pace, she would never be able to tell him how she felt before he disappeared from her life forever.
The dreams she had about convincing him to leave Mithril were probably just that: dreams. Could he ever grow to care so much about her, that he would throw away all that he knew? Was that even possible for someone who had been through the things that he had?
“I’m so useless….”
Her pride was standing in the way again. If it hadn’t been, maybe she could have approached Sousuke and spoken to him forthright. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if she asked him out, would it?
No. Not the end of the world. Not for someone like her. She was a fighter. She had to be.
Of course, there was more than pride at work here. Kaname’s hand grasped the cold water knob and squeezed involuntarily. Deep inside, she was afraid. She did not want to be abandoned. But even more important, she did not want to be rejected.
If she asked Sousuke, he could hurt her deeply. He could say ‘no’.
“Why doesn’t he just want to ask me out on his own? Why? Is duty the only thing he thinks about? Does he think I’m some kind of freak? Hah! Like he should be the one to talk!”
No, Sousuke wasn’t a complete automaton. Kaname had realized that much when he talked about Tessa, and how his attitude towards the ash-blonde girl had changed in recent months. There was a heart in there, alright. But, it probably had him as confused as it had her!
She doubted that he considered her a freak. If anything, he showed her more of himself than he showed anyone else. Would he do that to someone he considered freakish or abnormal? Probably not. But, even though she made it a point to help him in many ways, she wasn’t the easiest person to be around.
Yes. She was back there again: the honey versus vinegar distinction. It wasn’t entirely fair, though. Even if she were a Saint, she would have trouble keeping her temper around that big stupid head!
“Time to get back to class, girl.”
Turning off the shower, Kaname walked over and took a clean fresh towel off of the linen shelf. Drying off, she considered her next options.
It was not time to give up just yet. She remembered something that Sousuke had said outside.
It might be time to take a slightly different tact.
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The room was packed.
Teenagers and young adults clustered around the game machines, intent on the flashing lights and loud special effects.
It seemed as if everyone was talking at once, as the noise level was well beyond phenomenal. As a result, Shinji came close to shouting, just to get Sousuke to hear what he was trying to say. He had convinced Sousuke to accompany him, at Kaname’s insistence.
She had not been subtle.
At first, the shy young man had been unmoved. Sousuke was his friend…… and he loved playing video games…… but he also had a passive-aggressive streak a mile wide. However, when Kaname and her posse of friends had made finely-veiled threats about his treasured game systems, military magazines, and the Gundam models that he liked to bring to school, he decided it was a good night for gaming.
Of course, Sousuke had not been about to join him, leaving Kaname unguarded on her walk home. Thinking ahead, Kaname covered that part as well. Stretching the truth well beyond anything recognizable, she had told her protector that she would be in a school meeting for a number of hours after class. He might as well find something to do to pass the time. She would find him at the arcade.
“HEY, SOUSUKE! IT’S JUST LIKE I TOLD YOU! MECH MANIA III.”
Shinji looked like he was ready to faint. A garishly painted gaming booth sported wild representations of Arm Slaves. At the side of the two-seater booth, a large TV screen flashed up characteristics for the various A.S. systems appearing in the game.
“LOOK! THEY ADDED THE CHINESE MONG HU! OH! AND THE ISRAELI MERKAB! I JUST READ ABOUT THOSE.”
Shinji clenched his hands into fists. He trembled, all the way from his eyelids down to his toes. One might have thought that he had just one the grand prize in a rather rich lottery.
Eyes riveted to the television screen, Sousuke frowned and shook his head.
“The statistics are greatly exaggerated. The Chinese A.S. is an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one. And, the facts about the Israeli machine have been greatly inflated in speed and maneuverability, yet oddly downplayed in arms and ammunition capacity.
Shinji pointed to his ears.
“WHAT???”
Sousuke sighed. The series of interconnected rooms were louder than the flight bay of Da Danaan prior to Priority One launch preparations. But, in some way, the loud volume would make the game feel more like realistic combat for him. Or so he surmised.
“I SAID THAT THE STATISTICS ARE DISTURBINGLY INNACURATE.”
His friend nodded his head, shrugged, then smiled.
“IT’S JUST A GAME. I GUESS THEY NEED TO EVEN THINGS OUT SOME.”
That had Sousuke frowning. He realized that the game would be nothing like the training simulators that Mithril had for recruits, or like the actual M9s and Arbalest themselves. But, he had hoped for some kind of realism. Not to mention a challenge.
Watching the group of guys in front of them taking their turns, he scowled and forced himself to face the inevitable. This was not much different than the console-based games that Shinji played over lunch break at school.
Making certain not to be seen by Sousuke, Kaname narrowed her eyes when she saw what kind of game that Shinji had led Sousuke to. As if that big idiot didn’t spend enough time gallivanting around in a suit of mechanized armor!
Shinji, who could accurately predict the wait until their turn based on the numbers of quarters up on the machine, decided to use the wait as an opportunity to carry out Kaname’s ‘request’.
“HEY, SOUSUKE. DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYING GAMES LIKE THIS MAKES SOMEONE A GEEK?”
Kaname nodded her head, then frowned when some sweaty smelly kid brushed against her, trying to make his way through the growing crowd of patrons, most of whom were guys.
“NEGATIVE.”
Sousuke did not think in terms of Geek and non-Geek. Nobody qualified for the ‘Beautiful People.’ There was friend and foe. He knew very well what to do in those circumstances.
Shinji grinned. Most people thought differently than his scar-faced friend.
“OTHER PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK THAT, THOUGH. YOU’RE THE ONLY OTHER GUY I KNOW THAT DOESN”T GO ON DATES.”
Kaname smiled. Shinji had identified the target area and was preparing for his initial sortie! Target area? Sortie? She was thinking like Sousuke.
“Oooooh!”
Slamming her hand against a game panel. She caused one boy to jump and miss his opportunity at a bonus round. The looks that the boy gave her had her looking for a new place to stand.
“DATING IS LIKELY OVERRATED. IT DOES NOT KEEP ONE FIT, FED, OR FREE.”
Sousuke shrugged. He knew that people dated. At times, he stared at couples, wondering just what had them looking so content or happy. But, it didn’t really matter. He had a job to do. His life was not exactly one of joy and good fortune.
The strange yearning that he felt at times was not too difficult to ignore.
Kaname stomped her foot, angered at Souske’s offhand comment. Not paying attention to the people around her, she tripped a young man hurrying to make it to an open machine. Falling, the boy started a chain reaction. A number of people turned around, furious, their games ruined or seriously set back.
Everyone pointed at the boy. Eyes wide, he gave them all a pleading look, pointing over in Kaname’s direction.
“I THINK THERE IS MORE THAN THAT. IT MIGHT BE FUN TO GO ON DATES. IF IT’S WITH THE RIGHT PERSON. SOMEONE WHO MAKES AN EFFORT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.”
Safe between two different machines, Kaname waited expectantly. For someone she had judged to be ineffectual, Shinji was making good progress. Given enough time, the nerdish boy might be able to open Sousuke’s eyes to her own efforts. And, it wasn’t like things would turn out the way they did with Kyouko!
Intent on watching, Kaname never realized that she in turn was being watched.
“IT COULD BE…… I HAVE NEVER……IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT….”
Sousuke ran his hand through his hair. For a brief moment, he pictured Kaname’s face. But, the Mithril emblem rose up in the background, causing him to shake his head and dissolve the image.
Common teenage things did not factor into his life. It was a problem. The organization never allowed him space to grow up like a normal youth, but expected him to fit in seamlessly with other teenagers. Yet, given all that, the constraints of the mission didn’t allow him full freedom to be a young adult, even if he knew what to do with such a boon.
Kaname hung her head. It was so frustrating. If Sousuke were totally devoid of feelings, she could eventually accept the situation and move on. But he did have something deep inside. She was certain of it. Not only did that make him a challenge, but it also made him somewhat like she had been, around the time that her mother had died.
Not too far behind her, Tsubaki Issei stood like a loon, his mouth open. He and the other members of the Karate Club had come to try out some of the new fighting games. Now, his buddies stood with amused or resigned looks on their faces.
“YOU SHOULDN’T JUST GIVE UP HOPE. YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO RUSHES AHEAD, NOT SOMEONE WHO HIDES.”
Shinji was growing a little hoarse, but he had his task to perform. As he shouted, he thought about his own life, and how Sousuke seemed to have a lot of the characteristics that he wished he himself could have.
But, it was something like the best armed and best armored fighting vehicles in the world. None of the offensive or defensive potential really mattered, if there is no engine, or no crew to man the machine. His friend had a lot going for him, but seemed to be missing some crucial element.
“THAT IS CORRECT. FOR CERTAIN THINGS. THINGS THAT I UNDERSTAND. I……I DON’T THINK…… I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYONE….”
Kaname smacked kicked at something on the ground hard, her irritability growing exponentially. The item turned out to be the joined male and female ends of a power cord and an extension cord. As the coupling separated, the power on one of the most popular games went off.
Suddenly, like magic, the given vicinity went silent, as groups of stunned video game enthusiasts looked on, stunned. The silence spread quickly, as whispered word spread from mouth to ear like wildfire.
“BUT, THERE IS SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL THAT WANTS YOUR ATTENTION THAT WAY.”
Shinji had shouted by habit, even though there suddenly was no need. His voice carried across the whole room.
Kaname stood frozen, feeling terribly exposed. She wondered if Shinji would somehow forget her stipulation, naming her name. That would be embarrassing. Also, the silence soon gave way to angry muttering and generally discord. A number of nasty comments revolved around ‘that girl’ and ‘the one with the blue hair’.
A sea of disgruntled faces looked in Kaname’s direction, seeing the disconnected power cord near her feet. In other parts of the room, away from the darkened gaming booth, the noise volume increased again.
“YOU ARE SPEAKING OF MISS TOKIWA….”
Sousuke thought back to his conversation with Kyouko. It had him feeling somewhat saddened, though he wasn’t exactly certain why. The girl’s affection for him was not the issue. He had been surprised to see that Kaname had been trying to further the girl’s cause.
Kaname closed her eyes and fought the urge to physically indulge her anger again. She didn’t see Tsubaki slowly making his way through the crowd towards her.
“NO. NOT KYOUKO. THAT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING. SOMEONE ELSE IS ATTRACTED TO YOU.”
Kaname’s eyes popped open. She crossed her fingers and whispered a short prayer. Sousuke had to make the connection this time. He just had to!
The young soldier stood ramrod stiff, his eyes lost in thought. He even put his hand to his forehead, concentrating harder and harder, despite the all-encompassing noise of the game facilities.
“I THINK…… I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY….”
Shinji smiled. It looked as if he had accomplished his mission. He would have nothing to fear from Kaname or any of her demonstrative friends.
“GREAT! I HAD HOPED THAT YOU WOULD!”
Sousuke looked uncomfortable. Kaame on the other hand looked excited. Smoothing her clothing, she forced herself to take on a more dignified pose. When Sousuke mentioned her name, she would appear like a goddess out of nowhere. The moment would be perfect.
“THIS PERSON…… HAS THAT KIND OF FEELINGS TOWARDS ME…… THE KIND THAT ARE EXPRESSED BY DATING?”
Sousuke tensed up some. For some reason, he looked disappointed, not pleased or intrigued. That had Kaname’s elation quickly leaking away, like the air in a poorly-tied balloon.
She leaned over, and placed her forehead against one of the game booths. That had Tsubaki’s face clouding over.
“YES!”
Shinji was practically gleeful. Jindai High School would not become a Gundam-free zone.
“I SEE…… THAT IS UNFORTUNATE…… I WILL DO MY BEST TO REMAIN YOUR FRIEND…… DESPITE THIS….”
Kaname stood upright. Her mouth fell open. No. That big jerk couldn’t have thought that….
Souske folded his arms over his chest, a disapproving look on his face.
“WH-WH-WH-WHAT?”
Shinji swallowed hard. What did Sousuke mean by that? Why would Kaname’s interest in Sousuke impact the boy’s friendship with him? Wait a minute. He couldn’t possibly have misinterpreted the conversation to mean….
“IN SEVERAL ISLAMIC NATIONS TODAY, THE DEATH SENTENCE REMAINS ON THE STATUTE BOOKS FOR HOMOSEXUALITY.”
Shinji held up his hand and shook his head vehemently. His face had gone pale. It felt as if all of the blood in his body had leaked out through the soles of his feet.
A number of guys in the crowd all turned to look at the bespectacled boy. Some began talking loudly in their friends’ ears.
Kaname shook her fist in Sousuke’s direction. Tsubaki looked in that same direction, then scowled. Sagara! His hated rival. What had he done to Kaname this time?
“BUT…… BUT…… BUT……”
Shinji was well aware of the stares aimed in his direction. He was no longer concerned about Kaname. His reputation was at stake.
“HOWEVER, ONE MUST REALIZE THE EXISTENCE OF DIVERSITY. IN SOME ISLAMIC SOCIETIES, SAME SEX PRACTICES……INCLUDING ABUSE OF YOUNG BOYS BY OLDER MALE RELATIVES AND PROSTITUTION…… HAVE BEEN RAMPANT FROM THE MEDIEVAL TO THE MODERN PERIOD.”
Kaname took a few steps closer to Sousuke, her shoulders squared and her jaw set. She wished that she had remembered to bring her halisen. She was too wound up in her own disappointment to care whether or not Shinji was unfairly tarnished at her behest.
“I’M NOT LIKE THAT SOUSUKE! I WASN’T TALKING ABOUT ME!”
Sousuke’s eyes went hard momentarily. He thought back to his youth, when he was in Afghanistan. While he had been fortunate to escape abuse…… killing his first man in just such a situation…… he had witnessed more than he cared to. He pictured things that he had otherwise banished from his memory.
He knew that Shinji was not someone who was likely to force himself on children. But, for the briefest of instants, the look he turned on his friend had the other boy weak in the knees.
It didn’t help matters that Sousuke had his hand wrapped around his trusty Glock, partially exposed in his pocket.
“MUJAHAIDEEN COMMANDERS, THOSE THAT REBELLED AGAINST PARTY LEADERSHIP, LOOTED AND PLUNDERED THEIR IMPOVERISHED COUNTRYMEN. HOMOSEXUALITY ALSO RAN RAMPANT AMONGST SUCH MEN, SOME OF WHOM WENT TO THE EXTREME OF MARRYING YOUNG BOYS, IN SOME CASES BY FORCE.”
The gun slid a slight bit more out of Sousuke’s pocket.
“THEY WOULD BREAK INTO HOMES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROBBERY AND RAPE, AND IF THEY WERE SHOT IN THE PROCESS, THE HOME WOULD BE BURNED TO THE GROUND.”
Kaname was too frustrated to be moved by Sousuke’s revelation. She didn’t even stop to wonder whether or not he had been one of the young boys that had been taken advantage of in such a situation.
“Damn you, Sousuke! Why am I here? How could you do this to me, again?”
His keen ears picking Kaname’s voice out of the crowd, Tsubaki signaled his comrades to circle Sousuke. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw set, he began gathering up his chi, preparing for a long overdue confrontation with the scar-faced boy.
“I’M NOT GAY!!!”
Shinji had shouted as loudly as he could. He was surprised to find that he was enraged, and that his hands were curved into claws. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breathing was ragged.
“I AM NOT THE ONE INTERESTED IN YOU. IT’S….”
His disclosure never took place.
“SOUSUKE!!!”
Marching forward, Kaname stumbled over more power cords, causing some machines to go totally black, while some merely flickered on and off without much interruption in play.
The rabid gaming crowd had suffered enough. They began shouting at Kaname, using words that few people would risk putting in print. Some made obscene gestures, while others shook their fists in her direction.
Kaname was oblivious to it all. Her eyes were riveted on Sousuke.
The young Mithril operative was surprised, finding Kaname there. But, he could not focus entirely on that. He recognized the Karate Club members in the crowd, and correctly surmised that their leader was somewhere nearby. An angry mob of young men were headed in Kaname’s direction. Shinji was red in the face.
“SOUSUKE! YOU TOTAL MORON! YOU BIG JERK!”
Kaname raised her hand, but let it fall limp to her side. Her sadness and disappointment diluted her anger. She put her chin against her chest, feeling as if the whole world was spinning around her then.
“SAGARA! YOU HEARTLESS BASTARD! COWARD OF THE WORST KIND! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KANAME?!”
Suddenly, all Hell broke loose. The burly Karate trainees all rushed at Sousuke, intending to corral him for their leader. Tsubaki approached Kaname, trying to tell her in a stammering voice that he was there for her. The angry crowd moved in tighter, stunned by the unfolding spectacle.
Shinji, wisest of all, pushed his way against the current of bodies, headed for the exit, his job done. He was realistic. There was nothing he could do to help Sousuke. After dropping some coins in a payphone, he called the authorities and headed home.
He would find out what happened at school the next day. But, knowing Sousuke, he would be certain to watch the evening news.
“KANAME. GET DOWN!”
Sousuke’s voice had Kaname complying immediately. In most similar situations, she would have confronted him, taking offense at his ordering her around. But, that precise tone in his voice had an immediate effect.
Almost feeling as if things were happening in slow motion, she watched as a stun grenade bounced past her, into the midst of the angry crowd that she became all too aware of. The detonation knocked dozens of teenagers to the ground.
“I HAVE YOU!”
Tsubaki prepared to leap. Were his kick to have connected, Sousuke would have been in a world of hurt, had he managed to remain conscious. As it was, however, Sousuke aimed his pistol at the enraged boy’s groin area and fired. The bullet hit the irate martial artist betwixt wind and water, causing him to make an awkward leap.
“INCORRECT!”
Sousuke ducked, paying little attention as Tsubaki soared over his head, landing hard on a gaming booth and breaking its bolts free from the floor. The machine fell over in a shower of sparks. Fragments of glass skittered across the carpeting.
Kaname began making her way towards the exit, feeling numb. She paid little heed to the moaning and writhing boys spread out along her path. They were in too much agony to care about her any more.
She never saw Sousuke deal with the large Karate Club members, who all ended up destroying one machine or another. When Sousuke hurried to her side, put her hands at her hips and tried to glare at him. She didn’t have the energy.
“KANAME. YOU ARE SAFE NOW. WE SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE THINGS BECOME UGLY.”
Kaname didn’t answer him. She just turned and walked outside, glad to be able to hear herself think.
“Kaname?”
Sousuke looked concerned. He wondered if Kaname had been injured in some fashion. He wanted to remove her from the premises as quickly as possible, even though the mob’s ire had been transferred to Tsubaki Issei and his compatriots.
“Just leave me alone, Sousuke. You are such an idiot. I can’t deal with that any more.”
As Kaname walked off down the boulevard, Sousuke followed at his customary distance. Checking behind him, he made certain that they were not being followed. He had completely forgotten about Shinji.
“Don’t follow me, Sousuke. Not now. Maybe never again. Just…… leave…… me…… alone.”
The young soldier stopped. He knew what his duty entailed. He should follow her no matter what she said, and regardless of how she acted. Her safety was paramount. But, there had been something in her voice.
“You really are an idiot, do you know that?”
It was a familiar voice. An adult voice. But, the brief glimpse that Sousuke got of the speaker suggested a teenaged boy in the usual type of adolescent apparel. The boy had somehow vanished into thin air.
“I will keep an eye on her. It has been amusing to watch your stupidity.”
That voice. Yes. It was Wraith! What did the Intelligence operative mean about his stupidity? In what way had he been an idiot?
As the confused soldier headed off towards his own domicile, flashing red and blue lights painted the fronts and sides of buildings, as police units converged on the gaming den.
Voices called out through megaphones. But, Sousuke could hardly hear what was said.
The sound of his heartbeat was loud in his ears.
He had some thinking to do.
It was a rare day that provided such an opportunity. Career councilors were meeting with the first wave of students, and would be doing so with all students over the next few weeks.
Kaname had told Sousuke that she would be meeting with other members of the Student Council, so he would not be able to keep a close watch on her. At her insistence, he was using his free time to do extra homework in the subjects that troubled him the most.
Sitting outside, the young soldier had his papers and textbooks arranged along a short masonry wall. Scratching his head, he did his best to assimilate as many facts about Japanese History as he could. Not having spent many years in his ancestral country, he lacked the basics that everyone else took for granted.
Unbeknownst to him, Kaname was peering between a pair of tall leafy shrubs, waiting for the next step in her plan to unfold. Ignoring jibes and giggles from Maya and Ryo, she sent Kyouko into action. An angry look on her face, she shushed her friends. The last thing that she wanted was for a certain young soldier to realize she was nearby.
It had caused the girls to break out in smiles and poorly concealed chuckles when Kaname had actually taken a quick shower. But, it had been a tactical necessity. She needed to wash away any scent of her perfume, in case Sousuke might catch a whiff of it.
“Hello, Sousuke!”
Kyouko’s friendly greeting had the young agent lifting his head.
“Getting some extra studying in? I bet that will make Kaname happy!”
Sousuke shrugged.
“I am never certain what will make Kaname happy. Sometimes, I am convinced that Kaname herself has no idea what will make her happy. I have suggested that she see a psychiatrist on a number of occasions.” He closed one of his books. “That most definitely did not make her happy.
Kaname, turning red in the face, snapped one of the long boughs of the nearest plant. The snickering coming from Maya and Ryo caused her to shred the leaves off of the wounded piece. The sap had her hand itching.
“Oh…… I see….” Kyouko fought a grin, knowing that Kaname was listening in. She tried to figure out how to carry out her mission, as she had been told not to mention Kaname by name, regarding the one particular issue. Sousuke was supposed to think of her on his own, and take the necessary steps after that, no matter how rudimentary.
“I feel that it is important to look out for her well-being, but she does not usually see things that way.” Sousuke put the cap on his pen and placed it in the spiral binding of his notebook. “The other day, she was indulging in far more sugar-laden food items than one would expect. I suggested that she refrain from doing so, given some things that I had overheard.”
“Sousuke?” Kyouko asked.
“A group of boys was discussing the comparative aesthetic features of various female classmates. Kaname figured prominently in that discourse. Not wishing Kaname’s reputation to suffer, I reported what I had heard.” Sousuke looked down at the bruise on the back of his hand. It was finally fading.
“What did you tell her?” Kyouko pushed her glasses further up her nose, and then listened with an avid look on her face.
“I told her that the boys had commented on her…… uhhh…… posterior portion being battleship like.” Sousuke’s eyes lit up. He was in his element, in some fashion. “I had informed them that they were incorrect. A heavy cruiser would have been a better analogy.”
“Oh….” Kyouko covered her mouth with her hand.
A series of snapping noises accompanied Kaname’s progressive destruction of the shrubbery. Ryo and Maya wisely backed out of range. Their laughter blended in with the conversations taking place amongst the other high school students.
Kaname tripped, when she took a step forward, fists clenched. Her nose was buried in newly spread cow manure that had been mixed in with wood chips. Only a tremendous act of will kept her from rushing over to Sousuke.
“So, do you find yourself watching Kaname’s…… posterior portion?”
Kyouko couldn’t help herself. She felt justified, as just such an admission from Sousuke might dovetail well with her assignment.
Sousuke froze. His eyes looked just the slightest bit wild. The fingers on one hand twitched, before he wrapped them around one of his books.
“Uhhh….” He began sweating. “As you are well aware, there are things that take place which are not entirely voluntary.” That was all he was going to say on the matter.
Kaname used a tissue to wipe off her face. She smiled a small smile when she heard Sousuke’s answer. That ‘Uhhh’ spoke volumes to her.
Kyouko looked at her watch, realizing that she had to push forward. She would try her best, but was well aware of how clueless Sousuke appeared to be. Her best friend had asked for a favor……well, had come close to ordering her to do this…… and she would do whatever she could.
Sousuke…… did you notice that there was a girl today……” She fought for the proper words, but would have to go with whatever came to mind. “A girl who went to a lot of trouble to dress nicely….”
The young soldier rubbed his neck, adopting a contemplative pose. While he was thinking, he looked over at Kyouko.
“You appear to be dressed in a relatively attractive manner today.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Kyouko pulled at one of her pony tails. The focus was not supposed to be on her. “And did you notice that a certain girl wanted to take the time to talk about the reasons that women make themselves look special?”
“Is that what you are doing now?” Sousuke tilted his head, examining Kyouko’s face.
“No…… no, not at all….” Kyouko held up her hands, caught off guard somewhat. “Not me. Some other girl.” She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, then continued. “Have you ever thought about going out on a date with a girl, Sousuke?”
Perhaps a shift in that direction might hit pay dirt.
“I have been instructed to do so in the past. With Miss Inaba. It was not the most practical or mutually productive situation. I did as I was told, but was chastised most severely by Kaname.” Sousuke looked perplexed. “But, she was the one who supported Mizuki and I in our deception. Although, she did not instruct me to perform the touching of lips.”
Kaname broke yet another branch. Maya and Ryo rubbed their hands together. They had heard only cursory details about that incident, months in the past. No one had mentioned anything about a kiss.
As far as they were concerned, this ‘plan’ was working out great.
“Oh. OK. But, I’m talking about asking a girl out, because you want to.” Kyouko chewed on the end of her hair for a moment. “Haven’t you ever wanted to ask a girl out on a date?” She never could have asked any boy that question if she wasn’t emboldened by her situation.
Kaname moved closer, taking up residence behind a lower squat shrub. Her heartbeat was racing faster and faster. Unawares, she was beginning to gather a fair number of her own observers.
“I….” Sousuke closed his mouth, and then looked down at his shoes. Noticing a smudge, he began buffing things to a brighter shine. “I do not fully understand such matters. And, with my situation….” He looked over at Kyouko. “Why the sudden interest in my personal habits?”
“Well, I…… you know…” Kyouko was flustered. That question snuck up and bit her. But, she reacted quickly, finding a good line of reasoning. “Sometimes you look lonely. It’s nice to have someone you can share feelings with. Especially if the other students…… you know…… treat you differently….”
“Ah. Thank you.” Sousuke stared at Kyouko for a moment, thinking. “Kaname is the only one who treats me kindly, as more than just a classmate. But, she often finds reasons why I am deficient and poorly suited for school life.” His mouth tightened up some, and then relaxed. “Shinji also acts more friendly that the others.”
Kaname’s hands opened and closed. She bit her lip. There was a slight catch in Sousuke’s voice.
“It’s almost time to head in,” Kyouko said, feeling a sense of pressure. She doubted that anything she had said up to that point would be sufficient for Kaname’s purposes. “I just want to say one more thing. When a girl acts differently than usual, it often means something important. It’s important to pay attention, and figure out what she wants from you.” She looked over to where she knew that Kaname was hiding. “Take today, for example….”
Finally aware that she was being watched, Kaname put the other students out of her mind. She felt very anxious. Kyouko had scored a very important point there. Maybe Sousuke would put two and two together.
“I see….” Sousuke gathered up his books. “I think I begin to see exactly what you mean….”
Kyouko smiled brightly. A sense of warmth began to fill her. It looked like she had succeeded.
Kaname’s hands grasped the woody growth of the shrub tightly. Her scheme had worked. This could be a golden moment.
“That’s great, Sousuke!” Kyouko nodded, a relieved expression on her face. She wouldn’t be taken to task by Kaname, now.
“However….” Sousuke looked somewhat uncomfortable. “I may not be very knowledgeable about such matters….” He looked closely at the young girl’s face. “And it may have been difficult for you to express your thoughts….”
“It’s OK, Sousuke.” Kyouko wondered what Sousuke was getting at.
“But, I think of you as a friend. I must admit that I have no wish to ask you out on a date. I apologize.” He should have stopped there. “It has nothing to do with the things that those boys said about your posterior portion, or the fact that they said you were only cute in a nerdish sort of way.”
Kyouko was stunned. Maya and Ryo gave each other high fives, amused by the turn of events. Kaname stood up, holding the shrub in her hands, its roots torn completely from the ground.
Sousuke saw her.
“Ahhh. Kaname. Was this your idea?”
Kaname dropped the bush. She looked at Sousuke, and then at the enormous crowd of people nearby.
“Sousuke, I….” Kaname’s surprise was soon overwhelmed by her disappointment. But, it was her anger that grew quickest of all.
“You are a good friend, Kaname.” Sousuke nodded. “The strategy you selected for Miss Tokiwa was flawless. It would no doubt have led to mission success, had I shown any interest in her.”
“Sousuke…… you…… you….” Kaname picked up the shrub, a huge ball of moist soil clinging around its roots.
“BAKA!”
The plant sped towards Sousuke like a projectile, just as he had turned to look at Kyouko again.
Dirt flew everywhere. Sousuke dropped his books. Kyouko wiped mulch and manure out of her eyes.
“Ooooooooooh….” Kaname was fuming.
“Kaname does not take disappointment well,” Sousuke said to Kyouko. “Your own behavior is very admirable, however.” He looked up, and over at the crowd of students milling around. “Why are they laughing? Are they amused at your failure?”
“Yes. No, not really. Not my failure.” Kyouko sighed. “I wasn’t talking about me, Sousuke. Really.”
Sousuke shook his head, causing a fair amount of soil to fall to the ground. He took out his shirt tale, to allow the dirt inside his uniform to fall out. Looking at a blushing Kyouko, he cocked his head and spoke.
“I understand. I will not shatter that illusion for you. It is difficult to face defeat.”
Kyouko just hung her head.
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The water was on, full force.
A stinging rain washed over Kaname, as she lathered up in the shower. That marked the third time that say she had bathed.
Scrubbing hard, she worked to remove plant sap and dirt. Most of all, she wished that she could wipe away her disappointment. That, and the embarrassment she now felt, given that so many people had watched her scheme unravel.
“Ooooooh…… damn him!”
Slamming her hand against the shower tiles, Kaname grimaced. Despite that, she repeated her gesture, harder this time. It had been monumentally stupid, getting her hopes up like that. The whole class seemed to know how she felt about that loser. But Sousuke remained as oblivious as possible.
Really! How could anyone be that clueless? Worse! How could someone who piloted the ARX-7.….. The only Lambda Driver A.S. on the side of all that was good and right…… be so blind? If that moron acted that way in battle, Kaname would have disappeared after her various kidnappings…… Tokyo and Hong Kong would be smoking ruins…… and the TDD-1 would be an apartment building for deep sea fishes!
“Ahhhhhh…… why do I even bother?”
It was a good question, she realized. Sousuke was cute, but there were better looking boys at Jindai High School. He was remarkably brave, but that got her into trouble as often as it removed her from harm’s way. He was sweet in his own way, but that was ruined by so many idiosyncrasies and misinterpretations.
Was it merely gratitude, because he had saved her life on a number of occasions? Was it a sense of responsibility, since she had done the same for him? Was it because the two of them had each had their share of hard times in their lives?
Sometimes, it seemed to defy all logic. But, so did the fact that she was Whispered….
“Huhhhhh…… it doesn’t really matter why, does it?”
Scowling, Kaname washed soap out of her eyes. Leaning her forehead against the cold tiles, she closed her eyes and thought back to past times with Sousuke. She tried to focus on the positive things, the memories that still had the power to make her smile. In her mind, she could hear him say that she was beautiful, the day that she had worn her mother’s kimono.
She suddenly shivered. The water hadn’t gone cold. She had seen a number of images that were at great contrast to those happier recollections. Naked as she was, she felt somewhat vulnerable. It was not a good time to think about Amalgam, and the things she had suffered because of them.
“He’s certainly handy to have around!”
Her laughter echoed throughout the empty girls’ locker room. Try as she might, her forced good humor couldn’t erase a growing seed of fear inside her. Amalgam was bad enough. But, it was Sousuke and his mission that had her most concerned at that moment.
How much longer would the big jerk be around? Did it make any sense at all to let her heart be vulnerable for a lout like him? Hell, if things kept moving at this pace, she would never be able to tell him how she felt before he disappeared from her life forever.
The dreams she had about convincing him to leave Mithril were probably just that: dreams. Could he ever grow to care so much about her, that he would throw away all that he knew? Was that even possible for someone who had been through the things that he had?
“I’m so useless….”
Her pride was standing in the way again. If it hadn’t been, maybe she could have approached Sousuke and spoken to him forthright. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if she asked him out, would it?
No. Not the end of the world. Not for someone like her. She was a fighter. She had to be.
Of course, there was more than pride at work here. Kaname’s hand grasped the cold water knob and squeezed involuntarily. Deep inside, she was afraid. She did not want to be abandoned. But even more important, she did not want to be rejected.
If she asked Sousuke, he could hurt her deeply. He could say ‘no’.
“Why doesn’t he just want to ask me out on his own? Why? Is duty the only thing he thinks about? Does he think I’m some kind of freak? Hah! Like he should be the one to talk!”
No, Sousuke wasn’t a complete automaton. Kaname had realized that much when he talked about Tessa, and how his attitude towards the ash-blonde girl had changed in recent months. There was a heart in there, alright. But, it probably had him as confused as it had her!
She doubted that he considered her a freak. If anything, he showed her more of himself than he showed anyone else. Would he do that to someone he considered freakish or abnormal? Probably not. But, even though she made it a point to help him in many ways, she wasn’t the easiest person to be around.
Yes. She was back there again: the honey versus vinegar distinction. It wasn’t entirely fair, though. Even if she were a Saint, she would have trouble keeping her temper around that big stupid head!
“Time to get back to class, girl.”
Turning off the shower, Kaname walked over and took a clean fresh towel off of the linen shelf. Drying off, she considered her next options.
It was not time to give up just yet. She remembered something that Sousuke had said outside.
It might be time to take a slightly different tact.
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The room was packed.
Teenagers and young adults clustered around the game machines, intent on the flashing lights and loud special effects.
It seemed as if everyone was talking at once, as the noise level was well beyond phenomenal. As a result, Shinji came close to shouting, just to get Sousuke to hear what he was trying to say. He had convinced Sousuke to accompany him, at Kaname’s insistence.
She had not been subtle.
At first, the shy young man had been unmoved. Sousuke was his friend…… and he loved playing video games…… but he also had a passive-aggressive streak a mile wide. However, when Kaname and her posse of friends had made finely-veiled threats about his treasured game systems, military magazines, and the Gundam models that he liked to bring to school, he decided it was a good night for gaming.
Of course, Sousuke had not been about to join him, leaving Kaname unguarded on her walk home. Thinking ahead, Kaname covered that part as well. Stretching the truth well beyond anything recognizable, she had told her protector that she would be in a school meeting for a number of hours after class. He might as well find something to do to pass the time. She would find him at the arcade.
“HEY, SOUSUKE! IT’S JUST LIKE I TOLD YOU! MECH MANIA III.”
Shinji looked like he was ready to faint. A garishly painted gaming booth sported wild representations of Arm Slaves. At the side of the two-seater booth, a large TV screen flashed up characteristics for the various A.S. systems appearing in the game.
“LOOK! THEY ADDED THE CHINESE MONG HU! OH! AND THE ISRAELI MERKAB! I JUST READ ABOUT THOSE.”
Shinji clenched his hands into fists. He trembled, all the way from his eyelids down to his toes. One might have thought that he had just one the grand prize in a rather rich lottery.
Eyes riveted to the television screen, Sousuke frowned and shook his head.
“The statistics are greatly exaggerated. The Chinese A.S. is an evolutionary step, not a revolutionary one. And, the facts about the Israeli machine have been greatly inflated in speed and maneuverability, yet oddly downplayed in arms and ammunition capacity.
Shinji pointed to his ears.
“WHAT???”
Sousuke sighed. The series of interconnected rooms were louder than the flight bay of Da Danaan prior to Priority One launch preparations. But, in some way, the loud volume would make the game feel more like realistic combat for him. Or so he surmised.
“I SAID THAT THE STATISTICS ARE DISTURBINGLY INNACURATE.”
His friend nodded his head, shrugged, then smiled.
“IT’S JUST A GAME. I GUESS THEY NEED TO EVEN THINGS OUT SOME.”
That had Sousuke frowning. He realized that the game would be nothing like the training simulators that Mithril had for recruits, or like the actual M9s and Arbalest themselves. But, he had hoped for some kind of realism. Not to mention a challenge.
Watching the group of guys in front of them taking their turns, he scowled and forced himself to face the inevitable. This was not much different than the console-based games that Shinji played over lunch break at school.
Making certain not to be seen by Sousuke, Kaname narrowed her eyes when she saw what kind of game that Shinji had led Sousuke to. As if that big idiot didn’t spend enough time gallivanting around in a suit of mechanized armor!
Shinji, who could accurately predict the wait until their turn based on the numbers of quarters up on the machine, decided to use the wait as an opportunity to carry out Kaname’s ‘request’.
“HEY, SOUSUKE. DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYING GAMES LIKE THIS MAKES SOMEONE A GEEK?”
Kaname nodded her head, then frowned when some sweaty smelly kid brushed against her, trying to make his way through the growing crowd of patrons, most of whom were guys.
“NEGATIVE.”
Sousuke did not think in terms of Geek and non-Geek. Nobody qualified for the ‘Beautiful People.’ There was friend and foe. He knew very well what to do in those circumstances.
Shinji grinned. Most people thought differently than his scar-faced friend.
“OTHER PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK THAT, THOUGH. YOU’RE THE ONLY OTHER GUY I KNOW THAT DOESN”T GO ON DATES.”
Kaname smiled. Shinji had identified the target area and was preparing for his initial sortie! Target area? Sortie? She was thinking like Sousuke.
“Oooooh!”
Slamming her hand against a game panel. She caused one boy to jump and miss his opportunity at a bonus round. The looks that the boy gave her had her looking for a new place to stand.
“DATING IS LIKELY OVERRATED. IT DOES NOT KEEP ONE FIT, FED, OR FREE.”
Sousuke shrugged. He knew that people dated. At times, he stared at couples, wondering just what had them looking so content or happy. But, it didn’t really matter. He had a job to do. His life was not exactly one of joy and good fortune.
The strange yearning that he felt at times was not too difficult to ignore.
Kaname stomped her foot, angered at Souske’s offhand comment. Not paying attention to the people around her, she tripped a young man hurrying to make it to an open machine. Falling, the boy started a chain reaction. A number of people turned around, furious, their games ruined or seriously set back.
Everyone pointed at the boy. Eyes wide, he gave them all a pleading look, pointing over in Kaname’s direction.
“I THINK THERE IS MORE THAN THAT. IT MIGHT BE FUN TO GO ON DATES. IF IT’S WITH THE RIGHT PERSON. SOMEONE WHO MAKES AN EFFORT TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.”
Safe between two different machines, Kaname waited expectantly. For someone she had judged to be ineffectual, Shinji was making good progress. Given enough time, the nerdish boy might be able to open Sousuke’s eyes to her own efforts. And, it wasn’t like things would turn out the way they did with Kyouko!
Intent on watching, Kaname never realized that she in turn was being watched.
“IT COULD BE…… I HAVE NEVER……IF THINGS WERE DIFFERENT….”
Sousuke ran his hand through his hair. For a brief moment, he pictured Kaname’s face. But, the Mithril emblem rose up in the background, causing him to shake his head and dissolve the image.
Common teenage things did not factor into his life. It was a problem. The organization never allowed him space to grow up like a normal youth, but expected him to fit in seamlessly with other teenagers. Yet, given all that, the constraints of the mission didn’t allow him full freedom to be a young adult, even if he knew what to do with such a boon.
Kaname hung her head. It was so frustrating. If Sousuke were totally devoid of feelings, she could eventually accept the situation and move on. But he did have something deep inside. She was certain of it. Not only did that make him a challenge, but it also made him somewhat like she had been, around the time that her mother had died.
Not too far behind her, Tsubaki Issei stood like a loon, his mouth open. He and the other members of the Karate Club had come to try out some of the new fighting games. Now, his buddies stood with amused or resigned looks on their faces.
“YOU SHOULDN’T JUST GIVE UP HOPE. YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO RUSHES AHEAD, NOT SOMEONE WHO HIDES.”
Shinji was growing a little hoarse, but he had his task to perform. As he shouted, he thought about his own life, and how Sousuke seemed to have a lot of the characteristics that he wished he himself could have.
But, it was something like the best armed and best armored fighting vehicles in the world. None of the offensive or defensive potential really mattered, if there is no engine, or no crew to man the machine. His friend had a lot going for him, but seemed to be missing some crucial element.
“THAT IS CORRECT. FOR CERTAIN THINGS. THINGS THAT I UNDERSTAND. I……I DON’T THINK…… I DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYONE….”
Kaname smacked kicked at something on the ground hard, her irritability growing exponentially. The item turned out to be the joined male and female ends of a power cord and an extension cord. As the coupling separated, the power on one of the most popular games went off.
Suddenly, like magic, the given vicinity went silent, as groups of stunned video game enthusiasts looked on, stunned. The silence spread quickly, as whispered word spread from mouth to ear like wildfire.
“BUT, THERE IS SOMEONE AT THE SCHOOL THAT WANTS YOUR ATTENTION THAT WAY.”
Shinji had shouted by habit, even though there suddenly was no need. His voice carried across the whole room.
Kaname stood frozen, feeling terribly exposed. She wondered if Shinji would somehow forget her stipulation, naming her name. That would be embarrassing. Also, the silence soon gave way to angry muttering and generally discord. A number of nasty comments revolved around ‘that girl’ and ‘the one with the blue hair’.
A sea of disgruntled faces looked in Kaname’s direction, seeing the disconnected power cord near her feet. In other parts of the room, away from the darkened gaming booth, the noise volume increased again.
“YOU ARE SPEAKING OF MISS TOKIWA….”
Sousuke thought back to his conversation with Kyouko. It had him feeling somewhat saddened, though he wasn’t exactly certain why. The girl’s affection for him was not the issue. He had been surprised to see that Kaname had been trying to further the girl’s cause.
Kaname closed her eyes and fought the urge to physically indulge her anger again. She didn’t see Tsubaki slowly making his way through the crowd towards her.
“NO. NOT KYOUKO. THAT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING. SOMEONE ELSE IS ATTRACTED TO YOU.”
Kaname’s eyes popped open. She crossed her fingers and whispered a short prayer. Sousuke had to make the connection this time. He just had to!
The young soldier stood ramrod stiff, his eyes lost in thought. He even put his hand to his forehead, concentrating harder and harder, despite the all-encompassing noise of the game facilities.
“I THINK…… I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY….”
Shinji smiled. It looked as if he had accomplished his mission. He would have nothing to fear from Kaname or any of her demonstrative friends.
“GREAT! I HAD HOPED THAT YOU WOULD!”
Sousuke looked uncomfortable. Kaame on the other hand looked excited. Smoothing her clothing, she forced herself to take on a more dignified pose. When Sousuke mentioned her name, she would appear like a goddess out of nowhere. The moment would be perfect.
“THIS PERSON…… HAS THAT KIND OF FEELINGS TOWARDS ME…… THE KIND THAT ARE EXPRESSED BY DATING?”
Sousuke tensed up some. For some reason, he looked disappointed, not pleased or intrigued. That had Kaname’s elation quickly leaking away, like the air in a poorly-tied balloon.
She leaned over, and placed her forehead against one of the game booths. That had Tsubaki’s face clouding over.
“YES!”
Shinji was practically gleeful. Jindai High School would not become a Gundam-free zone.
“I SEE…… THAT IS UNFORTUNATE…… I WILL DO MY BEST TO REMAIN YOUR FRIEND…… DESPITE THIS….”
Kaname stood upright. Her mouth fell open. No. That big jerk couldn’t have thought that….
Souske folded his arms over his chest, a disapproving look on his face.
“WH-WH-WH-WHAT?”
Shinji swallowed hard. What did Sousuke mean by that? Why would Kaname’s interest in Sousuke impact the boy’s friendship with him? Wait a minute. He couldn’t possibly have misinterpreted the conversation to mean….
“IN SEVERAL ISLAMIC NATIONS TODAY, THE DEATH SENTENCE REMAINS ON THE STATUTE BOOKS FOR HOMOSEXUALITY.”
Shinji held up his hand and shook his head vehemently. His face had gone pale. It felt as if all of the blood in his body had leaked out through the soles of his feet.
A number of guys in the crowd all turned to look at the bespectacled boy. Some began talking loudly in their friends’ ears.
Kaname shook her fist in Sousuke’s direction. Tsubaki looked in that same direction, then scowled. Sagara! His hated rival. What had he done to Kaname this time?
“BUT…… BUT…… BUT……”
Shinji was well aware of the stares aimed in his direction. He was no longer concerned about Kaname. His reputation was at stake.
“HOWEVER, ONE MUST REALIZE THE EXISTENCE OF DIVERSITY. IN SOME ISLAMIC SOCIETIES, SAME SEX PRACTICES……INCLUDING ABUSE OF YOUNG BOYS BY OLDER MALE RELATIVES AND PROSTITUTION…… HAVE BEEN RAMPANT FROM THE MEDIEVAL TO THE MODERN PERIOD.”
Kaname took a few steps closer to Sousuke, her shoulders squared and her jaw set. She wished that she had remembered to bring her halisen. She was too wound up in her own disappointment to care whether or not Shinji was unfairly tarnished at her behest.
“I’M NOT LIKE THAT SOUSUKE! I WASN’T TALKING ABOUT ME!”
Sousuke’s eyes went hard momentarily. He thought back to his youth, when he was in Afghanistan. While he had been fortunate to escape abuse…… killing his first man in just such a situation…… he had witnessed more than he cared to. He pictured things that he had otherwise banished from his memory.
He knew that Shinji was not someone who was likely to force himself on children. But, for the briefest of instants, the look he turned on his friend had the other boy weak in the knees.
It didn’t help matters that Sousuke had his hand wrapped around his trusty Glock, partially exposed in his pocket.
“MUJAHAIDEEN COMMANDERS, THOSE THAT REBELLED AGAINST PARTY LEADERSHIP, LOOTED AND PLUNDERED THEIR IMPOVERISHED COUNTRYMEN. HOMOSEXUALITY ALSO RAN RAMPANT AMONGST SUCH MEN, SOME OF WHOM WENT TO THE EXTREME OF MARRYING YOUNG BOYS, IN SOME CASES BY FORCE.”
The gun slid a slight bit more out of Sousuke’s pocket.
“THEY WOULD BREAK INTO HOMES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROBBERY AND RAPE, AND IF THEY WERE SHOT IN THE PROCESS, THE HOME WOULD BE BURNED TO THE GROUND.”
Kaname was too frustrated to be moved by Sousuke’s revelation. She didn’t even stop to wonder whether or not he had been one of the young boys that had been taken advantage of in such a situation.
“Damn you, Sousuke! Why am I here? How could you do this to me, again?”
His keen ears picking Kaname’s voice out of the crowd, Tsubaki signaled his comrades to circle Sousuke. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw set, he began gathering up his chi, preparing for a long overdue confrontation with the scar-faced boy.
“I’M NOT GAY!!!”
Shinji had shouted as loudly as he could. He was surprised to find that he was enraged, and that his hands were curved into claws. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breathing was ragged.
“I AM NOT THE ONE INTERESTED IN YOU. IT’S….”
His disclosure never took place.
“SOUSUKE!!!”
Marching forward, Kaname stumbled over more power cords, causing some machines to go totally black, while some merely flickered on and off without much interruption in play.
The rabid gaming crowd had suffered enough. They began shouting at Kaname, using words that few people would risk putting in print. Some made obscene gestures, while others shook their fists in her direction.
Kaname was oblivious to it all. Her eyes were riveted on Sousuke.
The young Mithril operative was surprised, finding Kaname there. But, he could not focus entirely on that. He recognized the Karate Club members in the crowd, and correctly surmised that their leader was somewhere nearby. An angry mob of young men were headed in Kaname’s direction. Shinji was red in the face.
“SOUSUKE! YOU TOTAL MORON! YOU BIG JERK!”
Kaname raised her hand, but let it fall limp to her side. Her sadness and disappointment diluted her anger. She put her chin against her chest, feeling as if the whole world was spinning around her then.
“SAGARA! YOU HEARTLESS BASTARD! COWARD OF THE WORST KIND! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO KANAME?!”
Suddenly, all Hell broke loose. The burly Karate trainees all rushed at Sousuke, intending to corral him for their leader. Tsubaki approached Kaname, trying to tell her in a stammering voice that he was there for her. The angry crowd moved in tighter, stunned by the unfolding spectacle.
Shinji, wisest of all, pushed his way against the current of bodies, headed for the exit, his job done. He was realistic. There was nothing he could do to help Sousuke. After dropping some coins in a payphone, he called the authorities and headed home.
He would find out what happened at school the next day. But, knowing Sousuke, he would be certain to watch the evening news.
“KANAME. GET DOWN!”
Sousuke’s voice had Kaname complying immediately. In most similar situations, she would have confronted him, taking offense at his ordering her around. But, that precise tone in his voice had an immediate effect.
Almost feeling as if things were happening in slow motion, she watched as a stun grenade bounced past her, into the midst of the angry crowd that she became all too aware of. The detonation knocked dozens of teenagers to the ground.
“I HAVE YOU!”
Tsubaki prepared to leap. Were his kick to have connected, Sousuke would have been in a world of hurt, had he managed to remain conscious. As it was, however, Sousuke aimed his pistol at the enraged boy’s groin area and fired. The bullet hit the irate martial artist betwixt wind and water, causing him to make an awkward leap.
“INCORRECT!”
Sousuke ducked, paying little attention as Tsubaki soared over his head, landing hard on a gaming booth and breaking its bolts free from the floor. The machine fell over in a shower of sparks. Fragments of glass skittered across the carpeting.
Kaname began making her way towards the exit, feeling numb. She paid little heed to the moaning and writhing boys spread out along her path. They were in too much agony to care about her any more.
She never saw Sousuke deal with the large Karate Club members, who all ended up destroying one machine or another. When Sousuke hurried to her side, put her hands at her hips and tried to glare at him. She didn’t have the energy.
“KANAME. YOU ARE SAFE NOW. WE SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE THINGS BECOME UGLY.”
Kaname didn’t answer him. She just turned and walked outside, glad to be able to hear herself think.
“Kaname?”
Sousuke looked concerned. He wondered if Kaname had been injured in some fashion. He wanted to remove her from the premises as quickly as possible, even though the mob’s ire had been transferred to Tsubaki Issei and his compatriots.
“Just leave me alone, Sousuke. You are such an idiot. I can’t deal with that any more.”
As Kaname walked off down the boulevard, Sousuke followed at his customary distance. Checking behind him, he made certain that they were not being followed. He had completely forgotten about Shinji.
“Don’t follow me, Sousuke. Not now. Maybe never again. Just…… leave…… me…… alone.”
The young soldier stopped. He knew what his duty entailed. He should follow her no matter what she said, and regardless of how she acted. Her safety was paramount. But, there had been something in her voice.
“You really are an idiot, do you know that?”
It was a familiar voice. An adult voice. But, the brief glimpse that Sousuke got of the speaker suggested a teenaged boy in the usual type of adolescent apparel. The boy had somehow vanished into thin air.
“I will keep an eye on her. It has been amusing to watch your stupidity.”
That voice. Yes. It was Wraith! What did the Intelligence operative mean about his stupidity? In what way had he been an idiot?
As the confused soldier headed off towards his own domicile, flashing red and blue lights painted the fronts and sides of buildings, as police units converged on the gaming den.
Voices called out through megaphones. But, Sousuke could hardly hear what was said.
The sound of his heartbeat was loud in his ears.
He had some thinking to do.
