Truth or Dare (chapter 1) [FIC]
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:22 pm
The lights were dimmed somewhat.
True, that made it somewhat more difficult to read the small print; but, Sousuke didn’t mind.
He had just finished doing his evening calisthenics routine, and preferred the lights to be somewhat low. He felt more comfortable that way for some reason. The blinds were down, and he made it a habit not to stand too close to any of the windows.
Looking over at the clock on his desk top, near one of the stacks of communications equipment, he frowned. He could delay this no longer. It was time to go over his Japanese History again. There was a test on Monday, and he had promised Kaname that he would study over the weekend. Saturday was almost over, and this was the first time he had picked up a book.
“The Edo Period,” he said aloud, holding the History text in front of him. He began to pace back and forth as he read, finding that constant movement made it easier for him to study. He couldn’t use that method around Kaname, as it consistently set her off. She thought that people should remain quiet and motionless when they read.
Kaname.
He felt his pulse quicken again. Should he make another trip to the rooftop with his binoculars? He hadn’t done that for hours, and the pressure had begun building again. No. She would be alright. If something was going to happen, he would have to be fortunate to be outside performing surveillance at the exact moment things took place. He needed to breath slower and focus on the task at hand.
Danger was a relative thing for the two of them. Kaname was always at risk, being Whispered. Her safety was always an uncertain thing. For him, matters were much simpler. He was in danger when he was under combat conditions. He was at even higher risk when he did poorly on exams.
“The shogunate established a rigid class system, shi-no-ko-sho, in which there was no movement between classes. Shi-no-ko-sho. Warrior farmer artisan merchant. Ranked in that order. ” Sousuke carried the book in one hand, as he walked across the room. In the other, he rolled two Chinese stress balls, one with a lacquer phoenix, and the other with a dragon. It was a good way to build agility, relax, and exercise all at once. “Only warriors …’shi’… bushi and samurai… were permitted to carry swords and have family names.” Sousuke knew that such men became bureaucrats in the new centralized state.
Sousuke wondered what it would have been like to live in those days. Would he have been Samurai? Did the fact that he used weapons suggest that he had the necessary spirit? No. Probably not. Anyone could get their hands on weapons these days, if they wanted to badly enough. But, just the same, he did follow some of the ways of Bushido. And, he would guard Kaname with his life, the way a warrior would have guarded his Lord.
“There were other classes. They included farmers and peasants… ‘no’… craftsmen… ‘ko’… and merchants and shopkeepers… ‘sho’.” Sousuke closed his eyes and tossed the two balls up near the ceiling. In one smooth motion, he caught them both when they descended. Opening his eyes again, he continued to read. “Though ranked lowest on the scale of social status, the merchants were the real power of the increasingly commercial society, and many of them enjoyed a far more luxurious lives than their nominal superiors.”
He quickly fell to the ground, rolled, and tossed both of the balls. He had targeted a stuffed animal that Kaname gave him with on projectile. The other had been thrown at an empty milk carton sitting on his kitchenette counter. Both balls hit their mark. Naturally, he could not practice in this manner when he studied with Kaname.
Sousuke had no doubt who ranked lowest on the social scale with her. The Meiji era had led to the abolishment of the caste system in Japan. In the Chidori era, one particular warrior was faced with social upheaval. Kaname was responsible for whatever luxuries he had in life. Those could be revoked at a moment’s notice.
“There were also two underclasses. One of them was the Eta … the ‘unclean’… those who dealt with the dead. That included butchers and tanners. The other was the Hinin… criminals.” Sousuke stopped in front of a mirror he had hung in his room. It was not their for vanity purposes, despite the fact that Kaname often stopped and looked at herself in it when she came to his apartment. Rather, it gave him a view of his door and hallway when he was seated at his couch.
He ran a finger over his facial scar. He tugged at a few locks of hair, which were long enough to draw criticism from Kaname in the next week or so. He used the back of his fingers to rub at the stubble on his cheek and chin. ‘Unclean’ might be a good term for him at the moment. Not because of the way he was treated by some of his classmates from time to time. Not because of the way that Kaname spoke about him, when he did something that upset her. He could use a shave and a shower.
“An elaborate espionage system…the Kogi Onmitsu… ninja… kept watch on the daimyo. Many warlords had their own spies as well. Ronin were lordless samurai, ones whose masters were killed or committed seppuku.” Coming across a list of important dates, Sousuke scanned over them for a few minutes, and then put the book down. He could repeat those facts over and over again while he cleaned up.
“In 1603, the Tokugawa government is established in Edo. 1603. Tokugawa government established in Edo. 1603. Tokugawa government established in Edo.” Sousuke turned on the water in the shower, and then began taking off his clothing.
“In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity,” he said, stepping into the small glass enclosure, the transparent panels fogged by steam. He lathered up and continued trying to memorize important points. “1614. Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity. 1614. Increased persecution of Christians.”
After he got out of the shower and toweled off, Sousuke walked over to a small basin sink and opened the compartment behind the mirror. After applying deodorant, he turned a small canister over in his hand, reading what was written on it. Kurz had given it to him, claiming it was the opposite of the stuff they carried in their gear on jungle missions. The latter was used to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. The former was supposed to attract women, some of whom might turn out to be biters themselves.
“There is no purpose for such a substance,” he said, scowling. Why would he wish to attract women? There was only one girl that he cared about, and she was around him quite frequently, regardless of what steps he took in personal hygiene. Staring at the container a bit longer, his curiosity got the better of him. He sprayed some of the ‘Axe’ body fragrance to see what it smelled like. “It is not unpleasant.” The brand name had a martial sound to it. Somehow that seemed fitting.
After that, he took out his shaving equipment and returned to his memorization. “In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity. In 1615 The Toyotomi family is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka castle. 1615. The Toyotomi family is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka castle. In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christians.”
“In 1638, the country was closed. 1638. Tokugawa Iemitsu closed the country to all foreign countries but China and Holland.” Sousuke moved the razor over his face, knocking off the excess shaving cream in the sink water. “In 1638, the country was closed to most foreigners.” He knew that the the isolation policy had been called sakoku and lasted until 1853. During the sakoku period, Dejima, a port in Nagasaki city, was the only place that foreigners were allowed to visit
Drying off his face with a clean towel, Sousuke wondered again why he had to learn Japanese History. Even if he were to reside in that country, what good would such knowledge do him? It would not help him in his duty. It would not gain him a suitable job, should he ever choose to leave Mithril. He might be Japanese by ancestry; but, he had spent little time in country.
He had asked Kaname just such a question once. It was good that he waited until he had put the razor away before he remembered the tongue lashing she had given him as a result. He flinched, cringing ever so slightly. When she got going, Kaname Chidori could put any of his instructors from Boot Camp to shame.
“In 1688-1703… the Genroku era… popular culture flourishes.” Walking over to a stack of laundry that Kaname had done for him earlier in the week, he selected a clean shirt and put it on. “In 1688-1703, new art forms like kabuki and ukiyo-e became very popular, especially among the townspeople.” A pair of trousers followed. He did not bother with underwear or socks. “1688-1703. Genroku era. High point of Edo culture.”
Sousuke scratched the back of his neck for a moment. He stared over at a pot on the stove. It was clean. That meant it was empty. So was his stomach. He hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Should he cook up some instant Ramen? Maybe grab a protein bar or two? The plain rolls were still somewhat fresh.
He often ate dinner with Kaname on Saturday night. When he asked her the day before if he should be the one who arranged for the food this time, she had told him not to bother. She wasn’t feeling very well. This would be a weekend of resting in bed and recuperating. When asked if there was anything he could do to help, she had told him that she just needed some time alone.
Thinking about Kaname trumped the rumbling in his belly. For some reason, he had to go up on the roof and take a look at her apartment. At this hour of the night, she should be asleep. If not, she should be in bed with the lights out, watching television.
“In 1792, Russia tried unsuccessfully to establish trade relations with Japan.” Sousuke opened a small closet and grabbed a pair of binoculars. “1792. Russians.” He slipped his cell phone in his pocket. “Russians. 1792.” He then left his room and headed down the hallway, opening the door to an ascending stairway. Checking his pulse, he tried to calm himself as he climbed. “In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived from the United States and forced the government to open ports for trade.”
Stepping out into the chill evening air, Sousuke squinted when a sudden gust of wind rushed past him. He shivered a bit, his hair still moist. Walking over towards his usual vantage point, he tried to keep his mind on his studies. “1853. Perry. Four black-hulled steam frigates. A symbol of threatening Western technology and colonialism.” There was probably no reason to worry. He had forgotten to grab his parabolic-shaped listening device.
Standing at one corner of the rooftop area, leaning against one of the huge metal air handling systems, he brought his binoculars to his eyes…sighted with them towards Kaname’s balcony… and then brought the image into focus.
“That’s strange.” He held the binoculars in place. Kaname’s lights were still on. Could she have fallen asleep, forgetting to turn them off? That was unlike her. He got a lecture any time he left his lights on in the morning. “What could she be doing? Is she alone?” That last question had him swallowing hard and tensing up.
What if she wasn’t alone? It would not necessarily be any sign of danger, right? But, she couldn’t have someone over at this hour, could she? Not if she was sick.
“Kaname!” Sousuke caught sight of her. She was backing away from something, her hands out in front of her. It looked like she was picking things up and throwing them. Suddenly, some unseen person closed the curtains. “Damn!” He let the binoculars fall, suspended by the strap around his neck. Reaching the stairway down, he slid quickly along the railing, running when he put his feet to the floor.
Everything seemed to happen in a blur after that. He made it to his room. He opened his weapons locker. He took out a Steyr TMP; a Glock 26; his taser; and a large bulky device that he threw over one shoulder. He ran out of his building, not taking the time to put anything on his feet. A number of people on the street were shocked to see him run past. One dog cowered at its owner’s feet, while another barked loudly, straining at the end of its leash.
“This had better work…” Sousuke squared his shoulders and set his feet, bringing the Tactical ResQmax to his shoulder. He sighted, held his breath, and fired. The device used its non-pyrotechnic air-thrust technology to shoot a line and grappling hook up to the balcony railing. Tugging on the line, he secured the hook and began to scale the climbing rope. “I’m coming…”
The climb wasn’t difficult. He had done this kind of thing on numerous occasions, and he made it a point to keep in good shape. His hands and feet were a slight bit chafed when he reached the balcony, but he felt no pain when he swung his feet over and landed on the cement. In any case, he had no time to think about such matters. As it was, he debated whether or not to throw one of the iron porch chairs through the sliding glass door.
“I better not.” Sousuke was learning discretion. Finally. The only reason he had made this kind of approach in the first place was because Kaname had not answered her phone.
The door was locked. He put an ear to it. There was a shriek, and someone calling out ‘No… don’t…’ It sounded like Kaname’s voice. It was time to act! Taking a pry bar out of his pocket, he popped the door lock, then slid the door open. TMP in hand, he leaped through the curtain hanging in front of the door, ready for any trouble he might find.
Or so he thought…
Had he been working on his English homework instead of Japanese History, he might have found dictionary entries for ‘trouble‘:
Trouble. Noun
1. problems or difficulties in general.
2. a characteristic of someone or something that is considered a disadvantage or problem.
3. problems or difficulties caused by something failing to operate as it should.
4. problems in the form of arguments, fighting or violence.
5. a situation in which you experience problems, usually because of something you have done wrong or badly
Trouble. Verb
1. to cause someone to have a problem or difficulties
Troublesome. Adjective
1. causing a lot of problems or worries for someone
Each and every one of those fit him perfectly at the given moment. He was in trouble alright. Big trouble. And despite what he may have thought before he came bursting onto the scene, he was not prepared for the trouble he found.
Kaname was standing in the middle of her living room area. She looked to be unharmed. She was most definitely not alone. Standing, sitting, or walking, a number of other girls were spread throughout the apartment. Like Kaname, each of them was wearing a look of shock and disbelief. Like her, they were all wearing pajamas.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke felt as if he was hollow, and all of his blood had dropped down to pool at his feet. He started to sweat almost immediately. This was bad. This was very very bad.
For a moment, it was if they were all part of an anime show on DVD, and someone had hit the pause button. Sousuke stood there in his bare feet, gun in hand, a large grapnel launcher cold against his back. Kaname had her arms up, no longer needing to block the pillow held in Kyouko’s hand. The other girls stared at Sousuke, as if a ghost had just passed through the wall of the apartment.
“I…” Sousuke took a step backwards. “I should get back to studying…” He turned quickly, wondering if he could escape before Kaname went volcanic. He knew he would pay sooner or later, regardless.
“Where… do… you… think… you’re… going…” Kaname clenched her fists. Her eyes narrowed. Kyouko fell to the floor, trying to move away from her friend. She didn’t want to be anywhere between Sousuke and Kaname.
The other girls looked at one another and then sprang into action. Maya and Ryo covered themselves with blankets. Mizuki pulled the collars of her pajama top tightly together and ducked down behind an end table. Ren slowly walked into an adjacent room. The other girls scattered, running and talking in high excited voices. They all wondered why Kaname had just stood their talking with the intruder, rather than shouting at him to get out. Crawling across the floor like a soldier under sniper fire, Kyouko went for her camera.
“Seeing that you are not in any danger, I will return home now.” Sousuke, sweat streaming down his face, pulled the curtain back.
“DON’T… YOU… MOVE…” Kaname trembled with rage. She took note of everything within her reach, categorizing them as ‘potential missiles’, ‘possible blunt instruments’, and ‘too valuable to risk damaging’. She ignored all of the comments and hushed whispering coming from her friends. “Take a good look girls… this may be the last that you see Sgt. Peeping Tom alive.”
Sousuke swallowed hard. Kaname’s calm exterior was more frightening than her usual tirades were. He had no idea what she might be thinking. He had no desire to find out. Slowing easing the Tactical ResQmax off of his shoulder, he prepared to shout the line over to the building across the alley.
Kaname began walking slowly towards Sousuke, cracking her knuckles and furrowing her brow. “Before I send you back over the balcony, why don’t you tell us why you’re here, Sousuke?” The flash from Kyouko’s camera projected Kaname’s shadow on the wall for brief moments. It looked as if some misshapen monster was closing in on the perspiring soldier. “This ought to be good for a few laughs…” In all actuality, she wasn’t in the mood for any levity.
Blinking rapidly, Sousuke remembered to secure his weaponry, removing the clips of ammunition. Looking at the various girls, he then focused on Kaname, who was only a few steps away. His eyes stayed mostly on her face. When they instinctively looked down at her chest, he heard her inrush of breath followed by muttered and incomprehensible epithets.
“It was you…” Sousuke swallowed hard. He couldn’t help from taking another peek at Kaname. His hands twitched. The grapnel launcher fired, sending the unfolding metal projectile off into the street below. Luckily, it didn’t strike anything significant. “I mean… you told me that you would be alone… you were ill… and…”
“What?” Kaname stopped.
“The lights were still on, at an hour that a sick person should be asleep.” Sousuke worked to retrieve his line before someone took note of it. “The curtains were open… I saw you moving backwards, warding off an attacker… the curtains suddenly closed…” He noted that some of the girls were more interested in hearing the story than they were worried about being seen in their night clothes. “When I made it to the balcony, I heard someone scream, and say ‘No… don’t…’”
“That’s…” Kaname bit her lip. She had lied to Sousuke, not wanting him to foul up this night for her. It had been a mistake, in more ways than one. But, that would not exonerate a certain unwanted visitor.
“I thought you might be in danger, Kaname.” Sousuke said. “I had to be certain…”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Maya said, seeing the setting as just another extension of school, despite being in a slightly compromising position.
“Me too,” Ryo said, grinning at Kaname, knowing that would infuriate her friend.
“What?!” Kaname put her hands on her hips and turned to face her two friends. “We’re minding our own business… enjoying a slumber party… dressed in pajamas, for crying out loud…” She shook her finger at Sousuke, without looking in his direction. “That clueless idiotic intruder bursts in unannounced and uninvited… and you think it’s reasonable?”
“You lied to him…” Maya said.
“He thought you were in danger…” Ryo added.
“It’s kind of romantic…” Ren put in, head peering out from Kaname’s bedroom.
“Huh?” Kaname couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Had she fallen asleep without knowing? Was this some kind of nightmare?
“Slumber party?” Sousuke’s usual nature tripped him up yet again. Now was not the time to challenge Kaname’s choice of words. “But, no one is slumbering?” He clearly looked perplexed. “Doesn’t ‘slumber’ mean a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended? A dormant or quiescent state ? Sleep?”
“Yes,” Ren answered helpfully, eyes on Kaname. Her friend was reaching for one of her sports trophies. It had a rather hefty marble base.
“But you were all awake…” Sousuke looked over at Kaname, and then blushed and looked away. Reaching downward for the trophy, she had given him a view down her pajama top. Catching his gaze and response, she began blushing too. She stood up straight, thoughts of violence extinguished.
“Baka...” Kaname turned away from Sousuke. She caught Kyouko’s smile and knowing wink. Face burning, she was tempted to throw her friend’s camera off the balcony along with Sousuke. “He’s going to pay… oh yes, is he going to be sorry… pervert…”
“Sousuke…” Kyouko twirled one of her pony tails in her hand, feeling a little less shy now. “A slumber party is a party for members of the same sex, where everyone stays up late talking and playing games, before they all fall asleep.” She smiled. Sousuke had his hand on his chin and paying very close attention. “This is a pajama party, a kind of slumber party. Everyone dressed in bed clothes when they got here. We all brought pillows and blankets with us.”
“Ahhh… I begin to comprehend…” Sousuke nodded. Suddenly, he flinched. His eyes went very wide. “Same… sex…” That last word had him staring at each of the girls. “Does that mean that you are all… that you are intending to…”
All of the girls froze instantly. Kaname was the first to find her tongue. “Wh-… Wh-… What?!” She couldn’t believe it. With all of the crazy or clueless things that Sousuke managed to say, he kept coming up with things that surprised her.
“I will take that as a ‘no’,” Sousuke said, swallowing hard. He was glad that was the case. However, by the look on the girls’ faces, there could be a price for gathering that intelligence. He suddenly felt like a poorly armed scout discovered behind enemy lines. His rescue came from an unexpected source.
“None of us here are like that,” Mizuki said, feeling brave enough to stand up. She kept holding the lapels of her pajama blouse together. “But, that brings up an interesting question about relationships.” There was a sparkle in her eyes when she looked over at Kaname.
“That’s right,” Maya said.
“Uh huh,” Ryo said, smirking. “It’s kind of interesting, you showing up at Kaname’s apartmen, this late at night.”
“In your bare feet!” One of the other girls said. She was standing the closest to Sousuke, and took a deep breath, her eyes closed. “Smelling really nice…”
“Mmmmm-m-m-m-m-m-m…” All of the girls except Kaname seemed to make that noise all at once. They looked at her, mischief in their eyes. Only Ren looked sedate and uninterested in teasing her friend.
“But… that… he’s…” Kaname sputtered. She clenched her teeth, biting off her words. “It’s nothing like that…” She had the uncontrollable urge to wring Sousuke’s neck. This kind of thing could get really out of hand.
“Sure…” Mizuki nodded.
“OK…” Ryo shrugged.
“We believe you…” Maya gave Kaname an ‘OK’ sign.
“NOT!” The girls all answered at once, and then began laughing.
“Oooo-o-o-o-oh…” Kaname’s hackles would have been up, if she had any. She walked over and shook her fist at Sousuke. “Tell them, you big idiot! Tell them that this is not the way it seems.”
“Affirmative,” Sousuke said, feeling a bit edgy and excited at the same time, with Kaname standing that close to him. “Kaname is correct. When I have found it necessary to show up at her apartment late at night, I have always had suitable footwear. Also, to my knowledge, I have never worn this body wash.”
“Y-… Y-… You…” Kaname pout her hands on Sousuke’s chest and began pushing him out onto the balcony. She didn’t know whether to push him off, or jump herself. “You jerk!” Under her breath she grumbled “I wanted you to help make things better; but once again, you made things worse.”
“I suppose there’s one way we could find out for sure,” Mizuki said, everyone’s eyes on her. “Sousuke could stay for ‘Truth Or Dare’.
Kaname began choking. A number of girls shook their heads or waved their arms, but a majority began calling out their assent. Now that would make for a memorable party!
“Stay?” Sousuke’s eyes went very wide. He tried not to look at any of the girls. The muttering her heard from them was clear indication that they sensed his weakness, and were gaining their own confidence. This could be worse than he first imagined. “Truth or Dare?” He stiffened his resolve and managed to look up at Mizuki. “Would a game such as that put Kaname in danger?” Maybe it was good that he showed up after all!
“It sure might,” Ryo said, smiling.
“You bet!” Maya said, laughing.
“You too,” a girl added. “And the rest of us…”
“The only one in danger is him, if he isn’t out of this apartment before I count to ten.” Kaname gave Sousuke a very pointed look. “One… two…”
“Probably afraid of the things we might have her do on a Dare,” Mizuki said, knowing that she faced the same risk that any girl there might.
“Three… four…” Kaname began to look even more uncomfortable.
“Sousuke’s an honest guy,” one girl brought up. “If he caught her in a lie, he’d tell the rest of us.”
“Four… I mean, five…” Kaname coughed. “Six…”
“Uh huh. Our Class Rep and Student Council Vice President is afraid.” Maya said, shaking her head. Ryo put a hand over her heart. Some of the other girls began whispering amongst themselves.
“Oh, Kaname…” Kyouko made one of her sad and disappointed faces.
“Seven… eight… nine…” Kaname spoke very quickly. Somehow, she felt more stress standing there like that, than she did when she and Tessa were brought before Gauron on the bridge of the TDD-1.
“I will be going, then.” Sousuke said, walking towards the balcony. “Do not worry, Kaname. I will not take the other girls’ eagerness and your refusal as a sign of cowardice.” He primed his grapnel gun and then placed the folded hook in its barrel. “You must have good reasons to fear my presence in this kind of setting.”
“What?” Kaname stopped counting, numbers forgotten. Her eyes flashed. “What did you say? Fear?” She marched over to Sousuke, looking him right in the eyes. “I’m not afraid of you, mister. If there is anyone hear who should be afraid, it’s you!” Once again, her pride had spoken before her common sense. “Fine. You can stay if you want. I don’t care. Why should I care about anything you do?”
Ryo and Maya looked at each other and smiled. Kyouko took a few more snapshots.
“If anyone is uncomfortable with the one man Weapon of Mass Destruction being here, raise your hand.” Kaname looked around the room. “After all, this wasn’t in the plans when I invited you all over.” No one dissented in any fashion. “OK. It’s settled, then. You’ll be staying, Sousuke.” Kaname went somewhat pale, hearing those words in her own ears. What had she just gotten herself into?
“Affirmative,” Sousuke said. “I will take up a defensive position, and guard you during this dangerous game.” Sousuke placed the Tactical ResQmax down, and then took up the TMP. “What precisely is Truth or Dare?”
“You won’t need a gun,” Ren said, brushing her hair. “Truth or Dare is a game that people play at parties. One player starts the game by asking another player, ‘Truth or dare?’ If the player answers ‘Truth,’ then the questioning player asks a question. If the queried player answers ‘Dare,’ then the questioning player asks him or her to do something. If the player refuses to answer the question, or will not perform the act, then they are subject to punishment.”
“I begin to see the hazard,” Sousuke said, nodding his head. “One could gather secret intelligence information in this manner. To prevent that, one might have to suffer through torture and interrogation.” He looked at each of the girls in turn. As far as he knew, guys did not play such a game. Girls were much more formidable than he realized. “If someone breaks the rules of the game, the results will be tragic.”
“It’s already tragic,” Kaname said under her breath. That had Kyouko patting her on the back.
“Will I be the one to enforce the rules?” Sousuke ran a hand over the TMP. That had a number of girls ducking down or leaning back. A few hurried for the bathroom, fighting to be the first one in. “During the Edo period, Japan utilized various punishments against criminals. These can be categorized as follows: Death penalty. Incarceration and Exile. Penal labor…”
“Penile labor?” One of the girls asked quietly. That had some of the other partygoers hitting her with pillows. A few looked at Sousuke and turned bright read. As usual, he was totally oblivious to the exchange.
“There... will… be… none… of… that…” Kaname gave the one girl a frightening glare. Before she could turn and tell Sousuke to stop spouting his foolishness, he continued. Some of the girls looked at one another and sighed.
Only Sousuke Sagara.
“Understood,” Sousuke said, standing straighter. “No penal labor. That makes sense, as there are no prison facilities here.” He ran his free hand through his wet hair. “Confiscation of property was another means, as was corporal punishment. “If execution will be necessary, the means utilized in that period included boiling, burning, crucifixion, decapitation by sword, sawing, and waist-cutting. Samurai were often sentenced to commit seppuku in lieu of these forms of punishment.” He took out his combat knife and tested the edge.
“Baka!” Kaname swung a pillow with all of her might, aiming for Sousuke’s head. Before she knew it, he had dodged, and she was overextended. Falling, she was caught by Sousuke. His hand clutched one of her breasts momentarily, causing him to stumble backward in reaction, tripping over a pile of blankets. “I was going to say there was no need for that kind of stuff,” she growled. “But…” She blushed, seeing all of the other girls staring at her, wondering what caused her to turn red this time.
“None of that will be necessary, Sousuke.” Ren spoke in a very sweet voice, watching as Sousuke managed to get back to his feet. “It’s a game played amongst friends. There are no laws involved.”
“And it’s not the Edo period!” One of the girls near the fringe of the group made a face. She had already had her fill of Japanese History, studying for class.
“I stand corrected,” Sousuke said. “As I intimated previously, I was in the process of studying before I came to Kaname’s rescue.”
“Also, you won’t be the one issuing punishment,” Mizuki said.
“That’s right,” Kyouko added. “We all will. You’ll be playing the game, just like the rest of us.”
“As you wish,” Sousuke said. He looked around the room again. “I see that I am the only one not dressed in night clothes? Will that somehow place the rest of you at an unfair disadvantage?”
“Yes, it will!” Mizuke spoke before anyone else could answer. A rather wicked idea had come to mind. “This is a pajama party; but, you aren’t wearing pajamas.” She winked at Maya who nodded, and then nudged Ryo.
“That’s right,” Maya said. “I will feel too embarrassed to play, unless you are dressed like we are.”
“Me too,” Ryo said, handing her head and putting a hand to her forehead in dramatic fashion.
“Understood!” Sousuke stood at attention. “I shall return home… change my attire… and make my way back to these coordinates.”
“Good idea,” Kaname said. “Return at sunrise. The game won’t get started until then.”
“Kaname?” Sousuke cocked his head.
“She’s just joking,” Mizuki said. “And, we can’t wait for you to run home and come back.” She smiled over at Kaname.
“True,” one of the other girls said. “It’s getting late as it is. I brought a spare top with me, just in case we were going to do anything messy.” Seeing that she was big busted, her pajama top would likely fit him. “You smell like you’re fresh out of the shower. I don’t mind if you wear it.”
“Uhhh…” Sousuke began to sweat. The pajama top was pink in color, with fancy frillwork.
“No way!” Kaname began blushing again, picturing Sousuke in various states of dress and undress.
“I have a spare set of pants,” another girl said. She was somewhat stocky. Her pants would fit.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke eyed the pants like he was staring down a cobra about to strike. They were peach in color, decorated with a green teddy-bear motif.
“That’s ridiculous!” Kaname stomped her foot. Not paying attention where she stepped, she brought her weight down on an unopened bag of potato chips. The bag burst and tossed its contents out onto the rug. “Sousuke will not be putting on your pajamas!”
“Why not?” One of the generous girls asked.
“Jealous?” Mizuki asked. “What’s wrong? You wanted Sousuke in your pajama top and pants?” That had everyone ‘ooohing’ and ‘awwwing,’ looking at Kaname.
“No… of course not… I…” Kaname couldn’t believe that any of this was happening. She had been very secretive. Sousuke never found out about the party by word of mouth. Things should have gone off without a hitch!
“I will do whatever is necessary,” Sousuke said, holding up his hand. Kaname looked uncomfortable. Perhaps she had self esteem issues, and did not want anyone to know that her frame was large enough for him to wear her clothing. He took a moment to look her up and down, swallowing hard when he realized what he was doing. He would not be able to fit in her night clothes. “The guys at school often comment on their desire to get into a girl’s pants. I did not understand the reference.”
Kyouko dropped her camera. Maya began choking on a chip she had swallowed. Ryo spat out her sip of soda, spraying Mizuki’s shirt.
“Your offer is appreciated,” Sousuke said to the girl with the peach-colored pants, trying to appear brave despite his serious misgivings. “I will try to get into your trousers.” He turned to the other girl. “I will get into your blouse.”
The two girls slowly fell over, like huge redwood trees hewed completely across. Other girls rushed to place pillows and cushions beneath them to soften their fall. If Sousuke’s words even made it to school…
“SOUSUKE!” Kaname frowned, realizing how loud she had been. She wondered what brought that on. It must have been her sense of propriety. There’s no way it could be jealousy or anything like that.
“Yes, Kaname?” Sousuke hoped that Kaname would veto the entire idea. It was beneath a Specialist’s dignity to dress up in this fashion, unless a mission called for it. What kind of operation could ever require a male soldier to wear female attire? But, he would do whatever he had to do. He had crashed this party. He was an honorable man. Just the same, he couldn’t picture a samurai from the Edo period donning the robes of a woman.
“You… I… well…” She knew that everyone was staring at her again. “Just go get dressed, you big idiot.” She shook a finger at him. “I want your word of honor, first. Don’t ever tell anyone about this. Not anyone. Ever!”
“I promise, Kaname.” Sousuke said. He looked over at Kyouko. “I would therefore hope there will be no photographic evidence.” He froze. What would happen if Kurz and Melissa got their hand on pictures of him dressed in the required fashion? They would be all over Da Danaan, if not Merida Island!
“OK…” Kyouko smiled. Behind her back, she had her fingers crossed. She flipped the switch on her camera, turning off the flash.
“Uhhh…” When Sousuke was holding the offered clothing, he began to sweat again.
“What’s the problem, Sousuke?” Mizuki smiled. She was still somewhat mortified, being around a boy in this situation. But, it was only Sousuke. She had spent one whole night training him to be that jerk Shirai. In some way, that made things okay.
“I just remembered something,” Sousuke said. “I am not wearing anything under my shirt or pants…”
“Oooooo-ooo-oo-oh…” A number of the girls began with their hushed whispering again.
“That’s a little more information than I needed to know,” one girl said.
“Do you usually dress like that around Kaname?” Ryo’s question earned her another glare from her friend.
“Anyone have a spare set of panties?” Maya’s question had Sousuke dropping the pajama top and bottom.
“How about a bra?” That was Ren. Her saying something like that had everyone else stunned. She just shrugged and smiled angelically again.
Sousuke scooped up the clothing, hurdled a seated girl, and then ran for the restroom. He had to act before the mission parameters were changed any further. When he returned, feeling self conscious, he weathered a long round of laughter and catty comments. After that, he thought the worst of it was over.
He was wrong. Very wrong.
“Doesn’t Sousuke dress up real pretty?” Maya asked, prompting more wry comments.
“But, he still isn’t ready.” Ryo held up her hand and wriggled her fingers.
“That’s right!” One girl grinned, reaching for her purse. Soon, some of the other girls were doing the same, holding up various bottles and compacts.
“Geeez…” Kaname closed her eyes and sighed. Muttering to herself yet again, she said “Not this…”
“It’s time for your make-over,” Mizuki said. She went on to explain that the girls had all done each other’s fingernails, and had spent time putting on make-up for fun.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke looked for the Tactical ResQmax
[
True, that made it somewhat more difficult to read the small print; but, Sousuke didn’t mind.
He had just finished doing his evening calisthenics routine, and preferred the lights to be somewhat low. He felt more comfortable that way for some reason. The blinds were down, and he made it a habit not to stand too close to any of the windows.
Looking over at the clock on his desk top, near one of the stacks of communications equipment, he frowned. He could delay this no longer. It was time to go over his Japanese History again. There was a test on Monday, and he had promised Kaname that he would study over the weekend. Saturday was almost over, and this was the first time he had picked up a book.
“The Edo Period,” he said aloud, holding the History text in front of him. He began to pace back and forth as he read, finding that constant movement made it easier for him to study. He couldn’t use that method around Kaname, as it consistently set her off. She thought that people should remain quiet and motionless when they read.
Kaname.
He felt his pulse quicken again. Should he make another trip to the rooftop with his binoculars? He hadn’t done that for hours, and the pressure had begun building again. No. She would be alright. If something was going to happen, he would have to be fortunate to be outside performing surveillance at the exact moment things took place. He needed to breath slower and focus on the task at hand.
Danger was a relative thing for the two of them. Kaname was always at risk, being Whispered. Her safety was always an uncertain thing. For him, matters were much simpler. He was in danger when he was under combat conditions. He was at even higher risk when he did poorly on exams.
“The shogunate established a rigid class system, shi-no-ko-sho, in which there was no movement between classes. Shi-no-ko-sho. Warrior farmer artisan merchant. Ranked in that order. ” Sousuke carried the book in one hand, as he walked across the room. In the other, he rolled two Chinese stress balls, one with a lacquer phoenix, and the other with a dragon. It was a good way to build agility, relax, and exercise all at once. “Only warriors …’shi’… bushi and samurai… were permitted to carry swords and have family names.” Sousuke knew that such men became bureaucrats in the new centralized state.
Sousuke wondered what it would have been like to live in those days. Would he have been Samurai? Did the fact that he used weapons suggest that he had the necessary spirit? No. Probably not. Anyone could get their hands on weapons these days, if they wanted to badly enough. But, just the same, he did follow some of the ways of Bushido. And, he would guard Kaname with his life, the way a warrior would have guarded his Lord.
“There were other classes. They included farmers and peasants… ‘no’… craftsmen… ‘ko’… and merchants and shopkeepers… ‘sho’.” Sousuke closed his eyes and tossed the two balls up near the ceiling. In one smooth motion, he caught them both when they descended. Opening his eyes again, he continued to read. “Though ranked lowest on the scale of social status, the merchants were the real power of the increasingly commercial society, and many of them enjoyed a far more luxurious lives than their nominal superiors.”
He quickly fell to the ground, rolled, and tossed both of the balls. He had targeted a stuffed animal that Kaname gave him with on projectile. The other had been thrown at an empty milk carton sitting on his kitchenette counter. Both balls hit their mark. Naturally, he could not practice in this manner when he studied with Kaname.
Sousuke had no doubt who ranked lowest on the social scale with her. The Meiji era had led to the abolishment of the caste system in Japan. In the Chidori era, one particular warrior was faced with social upheaval. Kaname was responsible for whatever luxuries he had in life. Those could be revoked at a moment’s notice.
“There were also two underclasses. One of them was the Eta … the ‘unclean’… those who dealt with the dead. That included butchers and tanners. The other was the Hinin… criminals.” Sousuke stopped in front of a mirror he had hung in his room. It was not their for vanity purposes, despite the fact that Kaname often stopped and looked at herself in it when she came to his apartment. Rather, it gave him a view of his door and hallway when he was seated at his couch.
He ran a finger over his facial scar. He tugged at a few locks of hair, which were long enough to draw criticism from Kaname in the next week or so. He used the back of his fingers to rub at the stubble on his cheek and chin. ‘Unclean’ might be a good term for him at the moment. Not because of the way he was treated by some of his classmates from time to time. Not because of the way that Kaname spoke about him, when he did something that upset her. He could use a shave and a shower.
“An elaborate espionage system…the Kogi Onmitsu… ninja… kept watch on the daimyo. Many warlords had their own spies as well. Ronin were lordless samurai, ones whose masters were killed or committed seppuku.” Coming across a list of important dates, Sousuke scanned over them for a few minutes, and then put the book down. He could repeat those facts over and over again while he cleaned up.
“In 1603, the Tokugawa government is established in Edo. 1603. Tokugawa government established in Edo. 1603. Tokugawa government established in Edo.” Sousuke turned on the water in the shower, and then began taking off his clothing.
“In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity,” he said, stepping into the small glass enclosure, the transparent panels fogged by steam. He lathered up and continued trying to memorize important points. “1614. Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity. 1614. Increased persecution of Christians.”
After he got out of the shower and toweled off, Sousuke walked over to a small basin sink and opened the compartment behind the mirror. After applying deodorant, he turned a small canister over in his hand, reading what was written on it. Kurz had given it to him, claiming it was the opposite of the stuff they carried in their gear on jungle missions. The latter was used to repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. The former was supposed to attract women, some of whom might turn out to be biters themselves.
“There is no purpose for such a substance,” he said, scowling. Why would he wish to attract women? There was only one girl that he cared about, and she was around him quite frequently, regardless of what steps he took in personal hygiene. Staring at the container a bit longer, his curiosity got the better of him. He sprayed some of the ‘Axe’ body fragrance to see what it smelled like. “It is not unpleasant.” The brand name had a martial sound to it. Somehow that seemed fitting.
After that, he took out his shaving equipment and returned to his memorization. “In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christianity. In 1615 The Toyotomi family is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka castle. 1615. The Toyotomi family is destroyed after Ieyasu captures Osaka castle. In 1614, Ieyasu intensifies persecution of Christians.”
“In 1638, the country was closed. 1638. Tokugawa Iemitsu closed the country to all foreign countries but China and Holland.” Sousuke moved the razor over his face, knocking off the excess shaving cream in the sink water. “In 1638, the country was closed to most foreigners.” He knew that the the isolation policy had been called sakoku and lasted until 1853. During the sakoku period, Dejima, a port in Nagasaki city, was the only place that foreigners were allowed to visit
Drying off his face with a clean towel, Sousuke wondered again why he had to learn Japanese History. Even if he were to reside in that country, what good would such knowledge do him? It would not help him in his duty. It would not gain him a suitable job, should he ever choose to leave Mithril. He might be Japanese by ancestry; but, he had spent little time in country.
He had asked Kaname just such a question once. It was good that he waited until he had put the razor away before he remembered the tongue lashing she had given him as a result. He flinched, cringing ever so slightly. When she got going, Kaname Chidori could put any of his instructors from Boot Camp to shame.
“In 1688-1703… the Genroku era… popular culture flourishes.” Walking over to a stack of laundry that Kaname had done for him earlier in the week, he selected a clean shirt and put it on. “In 1688-1703, new art forms like kabuki and ukiyo-e became very popular, especially among the townspeople.” A pair of trousers followed. He did not bother with underwear or socks. “1688-1703. Genroku era. High point of Edo culture.”
Sousuke scratched the back of his neck for a moment. He stared over at a pot on the stove. It was clean. That meant it was empty. So was his stomach. He hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Should he cook up some instant Ramen? Maybe grab a protein bar or two? The plain rolls were still somewhat fresh.
He often ate dinner with Kaname on Saturday night. When he asked her the day before if he should be the one who arranged for the food this time, she had told him not to bother. She wasn’t feeling very well. This would be a weekend of resting in bed and recuperating. When asked if there was anything he could do to help, she had told him that she just needed some time alone.
Thinking about Kaname trumped the rumbling in his belly. For some reason, he had to go up on the roof and take a look at her apartment. At this hour of the night, she should be asleep. If not, she should be in bed with the lights out, watching television.
“In 1792, Russia tried unsuccessfully to establish trade relations with Japan.” Sousuke opened a small closet and grabbed a pair of binoculars. “1792. Russians.” He slipped his cell phone in his pocket. “Russians. 1792.” He then left his room and headed down the hallway, opening the door to an ascending stairway. Checking his pulse, he tried to calm himself as he climbed. “In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived from the United States and forced the government to open ports for trade.”
Stepping out into the chill evening air, Sousuke squinted when a sudden gust of wind rushed past him. He shivered a bit, his hair still moist. Walking over towards his usual vantage point, he tried to keep his mind on his studies. “1853. Perry. Four black-hulled steam frigates. A symbol of threatening Western technology and colonialism.” There was probably no reason to worry. He had forgotten to grab his parabolic-shaped listening device.
Standing at one corner of the rooftop area, leaning against one of the huge metal air handling systems, he brought his binoculars to his eyes…sighted with them towards Kaname’s balcony… and then brought the image into focus.
“That’s strange.” He held the binoculars in place. Kaname’s lights were still on. Could she have fallen asleep, forgetting to turn them off? That was unlike her. He got a lecture any time he left his lights on in the morning. “What could she be doing? Is she alone?” That last question had him swallowing hard and tensing up.
What if she wasn’t alone? It would not necessarily be any sign of danger, right? But, she couldn’t have someone over at this hour, could she? Not if she was sick.
“Kaname!” Sousuke caught sight of her. She was backing away from something, her hands out in front of her. It looked like she was picking things up and throwing them. Suddenly, some unseen person closed the curtains. “Damn!” He let the binoculars fall, suspended by the strap around his neck. Reaching the stairway down, he slid quickly along the railing, running when he put his feet to the floor.
Everything seemed to happen in a blur after that. He made it to his room. He opened his weapons locker. He took out a Steyr TMP; a Glock 26; his taser; and a large bulky device that he threw over one shoulder. He ran out of his building, not taking the time to put anything on his feet. A number of people on the street were shocked to see him run past. One dog cowered at its owner’s feet, while another barked loudly, straining at the end of its leash.
“This had better work…” Sousuke squared his shoulders and set his feet, bringing the Tactical ResQmax to his shoulder. He sighted, held his breath, and fired. The device used its non-pyrotechnic air-thrust technology to shoot a line and grappling hook up to the balcony railing. Tugging on the line, he secured the hook and began to scale the climbing rope. “I’m coming…”
The climb wasn’t difficult. He had done this kind of thing on numerous occasions, and he made it a point to keep in good shape. His hands and feet were a slight bit chafed when he reached the balcony, but he felt no pain when he swung his feet over and landed on the cement. In any case, he had no time to think about such matters. As it was, he debated whether or not to throw one of the iron porch chairs through the sliding glass door.
“I better not.” Sousuke was learning discretion. Finally. The only reason he had made this kind of approach in the first place was because Kaname had not answered her phone.
The door was locked. He put an ear to it. There was a shriek, and someone calling out ‘No… don’t…’ It sounded like Kaname’s voice. It was time to act! Taking a pry bar out of his pocket, he popped the door lock, then slid the door open. TMP in hand, he leaped through the curtain hanging in front of the door, ready for any trouble he might find.
Or so he thought…
Had he been working on his English homework instead of Japanese History, he might have found dictionary entries for ‘trouble‘:
Trouble. Noun
1. problems or difficulties in general.
2. a characteristic of someone or something that is considered a disadvantage or problem.
3. problems or difficulties caused by something failing to operate as it should.
4. problems in the form of arguments, fighting or violence.
5. a situation in which you experience problems, usually because of something you have done wrong or badly
Trouble. Verb
1. to cause someone to have a problem or difficulties
Troublesome. Adjective
1. causing a lot of problems or worries for someone
Each and every one of those fit him perfectly at the given moment. He was in trouble alright. Big trouble. And despite what he may have thought before he came bursting onto the scene, he was not prepared for the trouble he found.
Kaname was standing in the middle of her living room area. She looked to be unharmed. She was most definitely not alone. Standing, sitting, or walking, a number of other girls were spread throughout the apartment. Like Kaname, each of them was wearing a look of shock and disbelief. Like her, they were all wearing pajamas.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke felt as if he was hollow, and all of his blood had dropped down to pool at his feet. He started to sweat almost immediately. This was bad. This was very very bad.
For a moment, it was if they were all part of an anime show on DVD, and someone had hit the pause button. Sousuke stood there in his bare feet, gun in hand, a large grapnel launcher cold against his back. Kaname had her arms up, no longer needing to block the pillow held in Kyouko’s hand. The other girls stared at Sousuke, as if a ghost had just passed through the wall of the apartment.
“I…” Sousuke took a step backwards. “I should get back to studying…” He turned quickly, wondering if he could escape before Kaname went volcanic. He knew he would pay sooner or later, regardless.
“Where… do… you… think… you’re… going…” Kaname clenched her fists. Her eyes narrowed. Kyouko fell to the floor, trying to move away from her friend. She didn’t want to be anywhere between Sousuke and Kaname.
The other girls looked at one another and then sprang into action. Maya and Ryo covered themselves with blankets. Mizuki pulled the collars of her pajama top tightly together and ducked down behind an end table. Ren slowly walked into an adjacent room. The other girls scattered, running and talking in high excited voices. They all wondered why Kaname had just stood their talking with the intruder, rather than shouting at him to get out. Crawling across the floor like a soldier under sniper fire, Kyouko went for her camera.
“Seeing that you are not in any danger, I will return home now.” Sousuke, sweat streaming down his face, pulled the curtain back.
“DON’T… YOU… MOVE…” Kaname trembled with rage. She took note of everything within her reach, categorizing them as ‘potential missiles’, ‘possible blunt instruments’, and ‘too valuable to risk damaging’. She ignored all of the comments and hushed whispering coming from her friends. “Take a good look girls… this may be the last that you see Sgt. Peeping Tom alive.”
Sousuke swallowed hard. Kaname’s calm exterior was more frightening than her usual tirades were. He had no idea what she might be thinking. He had no desire to find out. Slowing easing the Tactical ResQmax off of his shoulder, he prepared to shout the line over to the building across the alley.
Kaname began walking slowly towards Sousuke, cracking her knuckles and furrowing her brow. “Before I send you back over the balcony, why don’t you tell us why you’re here, Sousuke?” The flash from Kyouko’s camera projected Kaname’s shadow on the wall for brief moments. It looked as if some misshapen monster was closing in on the perspiring soldier. “This ought to be good for a few laughs…” In all actuality, she wasn’t in the mood for any levity.
Blinking rapidly, Sousuke remembered to secure his weaponry, removing the clips of ammunition. Looking at the various girls, he then focused on Kaname, who was only a few steps away. His eyes stayed mostly on her face. When they instinctively looked down at her chest, he heard her inrush of breath followed by muttered and incomprehensible epithets.
“It was you…” Sousuke swallowed hard. He couldn’t help from taking another peek at Kaname. His hands twitched. The grapnel launcher fired, sending the unfolding metal projectile off into the street below. Luckily, it didn’t strike anything significant. “I mean… you told me that you would be alone… you were ill… and…”
“What?” Kaname stopped.
“The lights were still on, at an hour that a sick person should be asleep.” Sousuke worked to retrieve his line before someone took note of it. “The curtains were open… I saw you moving backwards, warding off an attacker… the curtains suddenly closed…” He noted that some of the girls were more interested in hearing the story than they were worried about being seen in their night clothes. “When I made it to the balcony, I heard someone scream, and say ‘No… don’t…’”
“That’s…” Kaname bit her lip. She had lied to Sousuke, not wanting him to foul up this night for her. It had been a mistake, in more ways than one. But, that would not exonerate a certain unwanted visitor.
“I thought you might be in danger, Kaname.” Sousuke said. “I had to be certain…”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Maya said, seeing the setting as just another extension of school, despite being in a slightly compromising position.
“Me too,” Ryo said, grinning at Kaname, knowing that would infuriate her friend.
“What?!” Kaname put her hands on her hips and turned to face her two friends. “We’re minding our own business… enjoying a slumber party… dressed in pajamas, for crying out loud…” She shook her finger at Sousuke, without looking in his direction. “That clueless idiotic intruder bursts in unannounced and uninvited… and you think it’s reasonable?”
“You lied to him…” Maya said.
“He thought you were in danger…” Ryo added.
“It’s kind of romantic…” Ren put in, head peering out from Kaname’s bedroom.
“Huh?” Kaname couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Had she fallen asleep without knowing? Was this some kind of nightmare?
“Slumber party?” Sousuke’s usual nature tripped him up yet again. Now was not the time to challenge Kaname’s choice of words. “But, no one is slumbering?” He clearly looked perplexed. “Doesn’t ‘slumber’ mean a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended? A dormant or quiescent state ? Sleep?”
“Yes,” Ren answered helpfully, eyes on Kaname. Her friend was reaching for one of her sports trophies. It had a rather hefty marble base.
“But you were all awake…” Sousuke looked over at Kaname, and then blushed and looked away. Reaching downward for the trophy, she had given him a view down her pajama top. Catching his gaze and response, she began blushing too. She stood up straight, thoughts of violence extinguished.
“Baka...” Kaname turned away from Sousuke. She caught Kyouko’s smile and knowing wink. Face burning, she was tempted to throw her friend’s camera off the balcony along with Sousuke. “He’s going to pay… oh yes, is he going to be sorry… pervert…”
“Sousuke…” Kyouko twirled one of her pony tails in her hand, feeling a little less shy now. “A slumber party is a party for members of the same sex, where everyone stays up late talking and playing games, before they all fall asleep.” She smiled. Sousuke had his hand on his chin and paying very close attention. “This is a pajama party, a kind of slumber party. Everyone dressed in bed clothes when they got here. We all brought pillows and blankets with us.”
“Ahhh… I begin to comprehend…” Sousuke nodded. Suddenly, he flinched. His eyes went very wide. “Same… sex…” That last word had him staring at each of the girls. “Does that mean that you are all… that you are intending to…”
All of the girls froze instantly. Kaname was the first to find her tongue. “Wh-… Wh-… What?!” She couldn’t believe it. With all of the crazy or clueless things that Sousuke managed to say, he kept coming up with things that surprised her.
“I will take that as a ‘no’,” Sousuke said, swallowing hard. He was glad that was the case. However, by the look on the girls’ faces, there could be a price for gathering that intelligence. He suddenly felt like a poorly armed scout discovered behind enemy lines. His rescue came from an unexpected source.
“None of us here are like that,” Mizuki said, feeling brave enough to stand up. She kept holding the lapels of her pajama blouse together. “But, that brings up an interesting question about relationships.” There was a sparkle in her eyes when she looked over at Kaname.
“That’s right,” Maya said.
“Uh huh,” Ryo said, smirking. “It’s kind of interesting, you showing up at Kaname’s apartmen, this late at night.”
“In your bare feet!” One of the other girls said. She was standing the closest to Sousuke, and took a deep breath, her eyes closed. “Smelling really nice…”
“Mmmmm-m-m-m-m-m-m…” All of the girls except Kaname seemed to make that noise all at once. They looked at her, mischief in their eyes. Only Ren looked sedate and uninterested in teasing her friend.
“But… that… he’s…” Kaname sputtered. She clenched her teeth, biting off her words. “It’s nothing like that…” She had the uncontrollable urge to wring Sousuke’s neck. This kind of thing could get really out of hand.
“Sure…” Mizuki nodded.
“OK…” Ryo shrugged.
“We believe you…” Maya gave Kaname an ‘OK’ sign.
“NOT!” The girls all answered at once, and then began laughing.
“Oooo-o-o-o-oh…” Kaname’s hackles would have been up, if she had any. She walked over and shook her fist at Sousuke. “Tell them, you big idiot! Tell them that this is not the way it seems.”
“Affirmative,” Sousuke said, feeling a bit edgy and excited at the same time, with Kaname standing that close to him. “Kaname is correct. When I have found it necessary to show up at her apartment late at night, I have always had suitable footwear. Also, to my knowledge, I have never worn this body wash.”
“Y-… Y-… You…” Kaname pout her hands on Sousuke’s chest and began pushing him out onto the balcony. She didn’t know whether to push him off, or jump herself. “You jerk!” Under her breath she grumbled “I wanted you to help make things better; but once again, you made things worse.”
“I suppose there’s one way we could find out for sure,” Mizuki said, everyone’s eyes on her. “Sousuke could stay for ‘Truth Or Dare’.
Kaname began choking. A number of girls shook their heads or waved their arms, but a majority began calling out their assent. Now that would make for a memorable party!
“Stay?” Sousuke’s eyes went very wide. He tried not to look at any of the girls. The muttering her heard from them was clear indication that they sensed his weakness, and were gaining their own confidence. This could be worse than he first imagined. “Truth or Dare?” He stiffened his resolve and managed to look up at Mizuki. “Would a game such as that put Kaname in danger?” Maybe it was good that he showed up after all!
“It sure might,” Ryo said, smiling.
“You bet!” Maya said, laughing.
“You too,” a girl added. “And the rest of us…”
“The only one in danger is him, if he isn’t out of this apartment before I count to ten.” Kaname gave Sousuke a very pointed look. “One… two…”
“Probably afraid of the things we might have her do on a Dare,” Mizuki said, knowing that she faced the same risk that any girl there might.
“Three… four…” Kaname began to look even more uncomfortable.
“Sousuke’s an honest guy,” one girl brought up. “If he caught her in a lie, he’d tell the rest of us.”
“Four… I mean, five…” Kaname coughed. “Six…”
“Uh huh. Our Class Rep and Student Council Vice President is afraid.” Maya said, shaking her head. Ryo put a hand over her heart. Some of the other girls began whispering amongst themselves.
“Oh, Kaname…” Kyouko made one of her sad and disappointed faces.
“Seven… eight… nine…” Kaname spoke very quickly. Somehow, she felt more stress standing there like that, than she did when she and Tessa were brought before Gauron on the bridge of the TDD-1.
“I will be going, then.” Sousuke said, walking towards the balcony. “Do not worry, Kaname. I will not take the other girls’ eagerness and your refusal as a sign of cowardice.” He primed his grapnel gun and then placed the folded hook in its barrel. “You must have good reasons to fear my presence in this kind of setting.”
“What?” Kaname stopped counting, numbers forgotten. Her eyes flashed. “What did you say? Fear?” She marched over to Sousuke, looking him right in the eyes. “I’m not afraid of you, mister. If there is anyone hear who should be afraid, it’s you!” Once again, her pride had spoken before her common sense. “Fine. You can stay if you want. I don’t care. Why should I care about anything you do?”
Ryo and Maya looked at each other and smiled. Kyouko took a few more snapshots.
“If anyone is uncomfortable with the one man Weapon of Mass Destruction being here, raise your hand.” Kaname looked around the room. “After all, this wasn’t in the plans when I invited you all over.” No one dissented in any fashion. “OK. It’s settled, then. You’ll be staying, Sousuke.” Kaname went somewhat pale, hearing those words in her own ears. What had she just gotten herself into?
“Affirmative,” Sousuke said. “I will take up a defensive position, and guard you during this dangerous game.” Sousuke placed the Tactical ResQmax down, and then took up the TMP. “What precisely is Truth or Dare?”
“You won’t need a gun,” Ren said, brushing her hair. “Truth or Dare is a game that people play at parties. One player starts the game by asking another player, ‘Truth or dare?’ If the player answers ‘Truth,’ then the questioning player asks a question. If the queried player answers ‘Dare,’ then the questioning player asks him or her to do something. If the player refuses to answer the question, or will not perform the act, then they are subject to punishment.”
“I begin to see the hazard,” Sousuke said, nodding his head. “One could gather secret intelligence information in this manner. To prevent that, one might have to suffer through torture and interrogation.” He looked at each of the girls in turn. As far as he knew, guys did not play such a game. Girls were much more formidable than he realized. “If someone breaks the rules of the game, the results will be tragic.”
“It’s already tragic,” Kaname said under her breath. That had Kyouko patting her on the back.
“Will I be the one to enforce the rules?” Sousuke ran a hand over the TMP. That had a number of girls ducking down or leaning back. A few hurried for the bathroom, fighting to be the first one in. “During the Edo period, Japan utilized various punishments against criminals. These can be categorized as follows: Death penalty. Incarceration and Exile. Penal labor…”
“Penile labor?” One of the girls asked quietly. That had some of the other partygoers hitting her with pillows. A few looked at Sousuke and turned bright read. As usual, he was totally oblivious to the exchange.
“There... will… be… none… of… that…” Kaname gave the one girl a frightening glare. Before she could turn and tell Sousuke to stop spouting his foolishness, he continued. Some of the girls looked at one another and sighed.
Only Sousuke Sagara.
“Understood,” Sousuke said, standing straighter. “No penal labor. That makes sense, as there are no prison facilities here.” He ran his free hand through his wet hair. “Confiscation of property was another means, as was corporal punishment. “If execution will be necessary, the means utilized in that period included boiling, burning, crucifixion, decapitation by sword, sawing, and waist-cutting. Samurai were often sentenced to commit seppuku in lieu of these forms of punishment.” He took out his combat knife and tested the edge.
“Baka!” Kaname swung a pillow with all of her might, aiming for Sousuke’s head. Before she knew it, he had dodged, and she was overextended. Falling, she was caught by Sousuke. His hand clutched one of her breasts momentarily, causing him to stumble backward in reaction, tripping over a pile of blankets. “I was going to say there was no need for that kind of stuff,” she growled. “But…” She blushed, seeing all of the other girls staring at her, wondering what caused her to turn red this time.
“None of that will be necessary, Sousuke.” Ren spoke in a very sweet voice, watching as Sousuke managed to get back to his feet. “It’s a game played amongst friends. There are no laws involved.”
“And it’s not the Edo period!” One of the girls near the fringe of the group made a face. She had already had her fill of Japanese History, studying for class.
“I stand corrected,” Sousuke said. “As I intimated previously, I was in the process of studying before I came to Kaname’s rescue.”
“Also, you won’t be the one issuing punishment,” Mizuki said.
“That’s right,” Kyouko added. “We all will. You’ll be playing the game, just like the rest of us.”
“As you wish,” Sousuke said. He looked around the room again. “I see that I am the only one not dressed in night clothes? Will that somehow place the rest of you at an unfair disadvantage?”
“Yes, it will!” Mizuke spoke before anyone else could answer. A rather wicked idea had come to mind. “This is a pajama party; but, you aren’t wearing pajamas.” She winked at Maya who nodded, and then nudged Ryo.
“That’s right,” Maya said. “I will feel too embarrassed to play, unless you are dressed like we are.”
“Me too,” Ryo said, handing her head and putting a hand to her forehead in dramatic fashion.
“Understood!” Sousuke stood at attention. “I shall return home… change my attire… and make my way back to these coordinates.”
“Good idea,” Kaname said. “Return at sunrise. The game won’t get started until then.”
“Kaname?” Sousuke cocked his head.
“She’s just joking,” Mizuki said. “And, we can’t wait for you to run home and come back.” She smiled over at Kaname.
“True,” one of the other girls said. “It’s getting late as it is. I brought a spare top with me, just in case we were going to do anything messy.” Seeing that she was big busted, her pajama top would likely fit him. “You smell like you’re fresh out of the shower. I don’t mind if you wear it.”
“Uhhh…” Sousuke began to sweat. The pajama top was pink in color, with fancy frillwork.
“No way!” Kaname began blushing again, picturing Sousuke in various states of dress and undress.
“I have a spare set of pants,” another girl said. She was somewhat stocky. Her pants would fit.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke eyed the pants like he was staring down a cobra about to strike. They were peach in color, decorated with a green teddy-bear motif.
“That’s ridiculous!” Kaname stomped her foot. Not paying attention where she stepped, she brought her weight down on an unopened bag of potato chips. The bag burst and tossed its contents out onto the rug. “Sousuke will not be putting on your pajamas!”
“Why not?” One of the generous girls asked.
“Jealous?” Mizuki asked. “What’s wrong? You wanted Sousuke in your pajama top and pants?” That had everyone ‘ooohing’ and ‘awwwing,’ looking at Kaname.
“No… of course not… I…” Kaname couldn’t believe that any of this was happening. She had been very secretive. Sousuke never found out about the party by word of mouth. Things should have gone off without a hitch!
“I will do whatever is necessary,” Sousuke said, holding up his hand. Kaname looked uncomfortable. Perhaps she had self esteem issues, and did not want anyone to know that her frame was large enough for him to wear her clothing. He took a moment to look her up and down, swallowing hard when he realized what he was doing. He would not be able to fit in her night clothes. “The guys at school often comment on their desire to get into a girl’s pants. I did not understand the reference.”
Kyouko dropped her camera. Maya began choking on a chip she had swallowed. Ryo spat out her sip of soda, spraying Mizuki’s shirt.
“Your offer is appreciated,” Sousuke said to the girl with the peach-colored pants, trying to appear brave despite his serious misgivings. “I will try to get into your trousers.” He turned to the other girl. “I will get into your blouse.”
The two girls slowly fell over, like huge redwood trees hewed completely across. Other girls rushed to place pillows and cushions beneath them to soften their fall. If Sousuke’s words even made it to school…
“SOUSUKE!” Kaname frowned, realizing how loud she had been. She wondered what brought that on. It must have been her sense of propriety. There’s no way it could be jealousy or anything like that.
“Yes, Kaname?” Sousuke hoped that Kaname would veto the entire idea. It was beneath a Specialist’s dignity to dress up in this fashion, unless a mission called for it. What kind of operation could ever require a male soldier to wear female attire? But, he would do whatever he had to do. He had crashed this party. He was an honorable man. Just the same, he couldn’t picture a samurai from the Edo period donning the robes of a woman.
“You… I… well…” She knew that everyone was staring at her again. “Just go get dressed, you big idiot.” She shook a finger at him. “I want your word of honor, first. Don’t ever tell anyone about this. Not anyone. Ever!”
“I promise, Kaname.” Sousuke said. He looked over at Kyouko. “I would therefore hope there will be no photographic evidence.” He froze. What would happen if Kurz and Melissa got their hand on pictures of him dressed in the required fashion? They would be all over Da Danaan, if not Merida Island!
“OK…” Kyouko smiled. Behind her back, she had her fingers crossed. She flipped the switch on her camera, turning off the flash.
“Uhhh…” When Sousuke was holding the offered clothing, he began to sweat again.
“What’s the problem, Sousuke?” Mizuki smiled. She was still somewhat mortified, being around a boy in this situation. But, it was only Sousuke. She had spent one whole night training him to be that jerk Shirai. In some way, that made things okay.
“I just remembered something,” Sousuke said. “I am not wearing anything under my shirt or pants…”
“Oooooo-ooo-oo-oh…” A number of the girls began with their hushed whispering again.
“That’s a little more information than I needed to know,” one girl said.
“Do you usually dress like that around Kaname?” Ryo’s question earned her another glare from her friend.
“Anyone have a spare set of panties?” Maya’s question had Sousuke dropping the pajama top and bottom.
“How about a bra?” That was Ren. Her saying something like that had everyone else stunned. She just shrugged and smiled angelically again.
Sousuke scooped up the clothing, hurdled a seated girl, and then ran for the restroom. He had to act before the mission parameters were changed any further. When he returned, feeling self conscious, he weathered a long round of laughter and catty comments. After that, he thought the worst of it was over.
He was wrong. Very wrong.
“Doesn’t Sousuke dress up real pretty?” Maya asked, prompting more wry comments.
“But, he still isn’t ready.” Ryo held up her hand and wriggled her fingers.
“That’s right!” One girl grinned, reaching for her purse. Soon, some of the other girls were doing the same, holding up various bottles and compacts.
“Geeez…” Kaname closed her eyes and sighed. Muttering to herself yet again, she said “Not this…”
“It’s time for your make-over,” Mizuki said. She went on to explain that the girls had all done each other’s fingernails, and had spent time putting on make-up for fun.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke looked for the Tactical ResQmax
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