<FIC> Fox Hunt Chpt 8

[Reaper DXR-7]

Full Metal Panic: Fox Hunt
By: Azurathe

Disclaimer: I own nothing involving Full Metal Panic, except the DVD’s I bought ^_^, so anyway yeah. Read the story and I hope you enjoy.

The parts that are separated by a line of periods represent the change from one person’s point of view. Oh and you will notice that I included the fight between Sejiro/Gauron and Sousuke that was featured in chapter 6... It is word for word, I know it is a cheap way to fill up space but I think it continues the complete flow, anyways I hope you enjoy this addition to my little project!

Fox Hunt...

Chapter 8

“So Sousuke, how do you feel right about now? And who the hell was that woman?” Err that stupid jerk never told me he was getting married.

Sousuke gazed at me clueless; “I do not know Kaname. I do not remember anyone I was obligated to marry. It is possible that it was an arranged marriage that I do not remember.” He frowned as he gazed out the window, “I have no memories previous to my eighth year of life, and I do not even remember my family.” I could not believe this; Sousuke could not remember his life before age eight.

I sat next to Sousuke holding him in a gentle embrace as tears flowed from my eyes, “Sousuke, I am sorry that you experienced a pain like you did. I can’t bring your memories back but I can create new ones for you. We can be a family Sousuke.” The boy, no... The man who sat in my arms had experienced something so horrible that he chose to suppress the memory and never again live as a child.

“We can... be... a family... Kaname...” His words were scattered, surely that was the first time anyone offered to be his family. “I want...” Sousuke stood then turned to me, “I... want... a... family Kaname.” His words touching my heart, how this man could survive the life he did with out some one to care for him was... was something no words could describe other then... incredible.

A knock at the door broke the mood in the room, a man named Robert walked in. “So you must be the famous Kaname Chidori! I have heard many stories about you and Sousuke.” The man was grinning, “even your little bedtime story.” I growled at the man. “I do not mean to insult you, my only intentions here are to make sure that your relationship with Sgt. Sagara does not affect his capabilities.”

Clenching my fist and blocking Sousuke from view I stared down the man that stood before us. “You bastard,” I couldn’t believe what I was saying but I couldn’t hold it in, “how could you people put Sousuke through half the crap you did?”

“Hold on Miss Kaname I am not here to judge you two just to see if you are affecting Sousuke in any negative ways.”

“Shut up!!” I shouted out at the man, “you don’t understand what he has been through, no one does. His life is filled with horror after horror and all you people do is send him out to face more demons. Now that your pet has become his own man you shiver in fear of what he can do to you!!” I panted, how could I act this way when I can’t even understand the full extent of Sousuke’s life.

Mr. Judincia stared at me with is cold eyes, “Miss Chidori. Believe it or not I have experienced things so horrible that any man other then the one you are trying to protect would cringe at. No person could survive what we two men have, our will to live has kept us afloat.” His expression and voice then lightened as a smile grew upon his face. “I can see that you love Sousuke. You also wish that you could protect him from the evils of this world like he has done for you.”

“Y-y-yes. I do love Sousuke! I want to be with him... I want to live with him now... and. forever!” My speech must have touch this man, his eyes shined in the early morning sun light. Mr. Judicia was the only man other then Kalinin that would be able to help Sousuke cope with his past.

“Well now that I have seen you with my own two eyes and have seen the passion with which you care for Mr. Sagara I can say that you do not weaken him.” Startled by his remark I stepped back. I noticed Sousuke glance at Mr. Judicia. “Sousuke, you remind me of your father while he was sane. Your mother cherished you and your sister, and she loved your father whole-heartedly. I wish that those men from Mithril never gave him those drugs to use the original Lambda Driver.”

“What!?” Sousuke was perplexed, I couldn’t believe that Mithril was the direct cause of the death of his parents. “You mean... You mean I have been working for the same people that caused my father to go insane, they caused my families death!” Rage seemed to be boiling inside of Sousuke as he stood.

“Yes... Wha!!” A large explosion shook the cabin. Mr. Judicia ran to the window, gazing out the window we all saw seven Arm Slaves. “My... God...”

............................................................................................................................................

The cabin shook ferociously, wooden plancks shook loose from their places. “Those are Shadows out there.” Who could have led these monsters here? I know for a fact none of the Mithril operatives would be that stupid. Could it be that girl?

“Damn it!”

“Sousuke... What is it?” With out answering Kaname I dashed towards the other room. I found Captain Tesstarosa laying motionless on the floor. She had a dagger wound near her left breast. My eyes drifted from Tessa to a woman standing outside on the balcony. “You did this didn’t you... Natsuki Gaushi!!”

Natsuki swiftly turned around holding a bloodstained dagger in her hand. “Well isn’t it obvious darling. Your father will be so proud of me for getting rid of my first obstacle to your heart.”

I stood above the motionless Tessa clenching my fist. “Commander Mardukas!!! Is the Arbalest ready for battle?”

Cmdr. Mardukas ran inside the room from the hall. “Yes Sgt. but why would you...” Mardukas went dead silent, he must have discovered the body of Captain Tesstarosa. “Affirmative Sgt. We will launch the Arbalest in four seconds.” The older man radioed back to the TDD-1 and requested launch.

As the commander hurried to get Arbalest here I dashed towards Natsuki. Pulling my Glock 17 from my pants I fired at the traitor. I fired three times, two bullets hit her head on. She was now injured in both her left leg and her right shoulder. I grasped her shirt and lifted her high above me, still clutching the pistol I held it near her neck. “You will tell me why you assassinated Captain Tesstarosa! Why you betrayed us! And you will tell us who you are working for!”

Too late... An explosion sent me backward into the wall. Natsuki fell off the balcony and in to the snow. “Shit!” I rushed to the balcony but lost track of that treacherous woman, “she will die later for now I need to deal with the task at hand.” Shadows were approaching the large cabin, I had already ordered Mardukas to get everyone and evacuate the premises. “I will deal with the consequences later.”

As they ran I caught site of the ballistic missile carrying Arbalest overhead. A large packet of snow flew into the air causing a rain of foliage, debris, and snow as the missile hit the ground. It was about a fourth of a mile away. “Damn,” I hoped over the guard railing and dashed for the Arbalest. I was under heavy fire when by the time I had made it to my AS.

I quickly unlocked the hatch and hopped into the Arm Slave. “Al, start operations under mode 5, we are in a very dangerous situation. Do not hesitate on activation of the Lambda Driver!”

The a.i. quickly responded, “roger Sgt.!”

I couldn’t believe that our enemy had sent seven Shadow Arm Slaves to eliminate one enemy. Well I guess they decided to be cautious with me. “Well played but I will not be eliminated by you people.” Leaping into the air holding my rifle I fired directly at the approaching arm slaves. Two of the enemy AS fell with that one shot alone! “It appears that you are not very skilled!”

“Surround the bastard, he cannot take all of us at once!” Hmmm, it seems they do not know about the Lambda Driver. “Form a circle and fire straight at the enemy!” So that was their plan, well I will just need to alter operations.

As the circled me and fired on me I quickly activated the Lambda Driver, “ok!” In my mind I pictured a force field. Energy surrounded my AS, I had created a shield that could not be penetrated by conventional means. Leaping in to the air I let go of my shield. The latent effect was an explosion that scattered all the Shadows across the field. Mao and Kurz had managed to make it here with their M9s someone quickly intervened.

“Hehe, you guys are good!”

“Sgt., a large heat source is approaching us from four o’clock!”

“Roger!” I activated a shield as an energy wave surrounded me. My shield held up, I could not say that much for my comrades and their arm slaves. I turned to see how my fellow SRT members were holding up. “No!” All the M9s were obliterated by the energy wave, “Kurz, Mao!!”

“Well that was fun eh Sgt.!” Who the hell was that?

I gazed at the moon, it had been eight hours since this battle began. To die here among the dense forest and heavy snow would show how weak I have become. To lose to a phantom was to show the world I was afraid of the unknown. For years I have dived headfirst into the unknown, but this time it was different. I had someone waiting for me, someone who cared for me, someone I wanted to return to so that I could make her happy.

My hands shook nervously on the Arbalest command console; I was beginning to feel numb. Memories flashed through my mind, both good and bad. I remembered the times I had spent in Helmajistan, my first mission with Mithril, and the first encounter with Gauron. Kaname, the memories of her are enshrined in my mind, cherry blossoms surrounding her. I love her... My first true love... I need to win.... I need to return the Japan with her and begin a new life, one without explosions, without danger around every corner, one with just Kaname and I.

“So, has the cold gotten to you already Sgt.?” The pilot’s voice burned in the back of my mind, “I can understand though; with out Miss Chidori you are nothing. You have no inspiration to fight, no will to live unless she is with you. You could die here and it wouldn’t faze you.”

His words ran through my mind. I came to the conclusion that maybe Chidori would be better off without me. ‘Even if I won this fight who was to say I would win the next one... NO, I must focus, I want to live, to live with Chidori.’ My thoughts of her drowned out the enemy pilot’s pollutant words. “So Sousuke, will you run, or have you decided to fight here and die.”

The pilots words stung, then I figured it out. This pilot was playing a mind game with me, trying to throw off my concentration, to create mayhem with in my heart and mind. I grinned, “No.”

Snow, it began to fall again. The forest blanketed in a quilt of fluffy white snow, this place did not deserve to be smeared with the wreckage and carnage about to befall it. “This is not the end; I will keep living!” Raising the Arbalest arm parallel to the enemy AS I held my gun firmly. “You are but another obstacle I must eliminate so the world can live in peace. I will defeat you;” I glared at the enemy AS. “You can count on it!”

I fired at the enemy AS; the explosion sent snow and trees into the air. The enemy AS appeared behind my, with a swift round house kick I was sent flying into the raining debris. “Oh my Sgt., haven’t they taught you to always watch your back?” A large scythe came flying down at the Arbalest cockpit. I narrowly managed to avoid the large weapon and retreated to the foliage behind me.

I sat in the dense forest; I was tired from the fight with the Shadows. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Do you really expect to kill me like that? I thought a pilot of your caliber could do better.” Laughter echoed from the opposing AS. I was glad Kaname was sent back to Japan, Mithril could keep better watch over her there.

“I’ll kill you, just like I did your mother, and your sister.” Sitting in the dense forest I stared at my comm link. How the hell could this pilot know my mother and sister, wouldn’t my father have killed this person before they could lay a hand on mother or sister? “I see, your wondering why your father didn’t stop me from killing them aren’t you,” the bastard seemed to be reading my mind, “the answer is quite simple...”

Before my eyes the enemy AS appeared, a massive explosion sent me flying to the wreckages of Kurz and Mao’s M9s. “Sousuke, your father’s real name was Sejiro Sagara.” I heard the entity laugh; the very presence of this pilot was sending chills down my spine. “I am Sejiro!”

What, this man, how could he do it. “Your lying, you bastard. My entire family is dead.”

He laughed again, “poor boy, Mithril’s dogs told you that didn’t they?” My silence left him no doubt, “well I have some news, and I’ve been in hiding. Living under a new identity, Gauron is my new name!”

“G-G-Gauron! I killed you!”

I was in shock, I was sure that Gauron had met his end that stormy day aboard the Dadanaan. “Yes you did, three times if I can add. I still have six lives left. The nine dragons do not die so easily.” Clenching my fist I growled. From Arbalest back sprout a blue aura, the Lambda Driver was activating.

“I do not care how you survived!”

“I can’t believe we let one of Gauron’s agents in to the cabin!”

Laughter erupted from the enemy AS, shattering the silence. “Well now that you and Chidori are in love your senses are being seriously affected.” Gauron laughed again, “I took advantage of this and sent another rat in the house of Mithril after you.”

“You are referring to Miss Gaushi?”

“Oh ho, you are still on the ball aren’t you son!” Laughing, I wish he would stop laughing. There is nothing funny about this situation, this is a serious matter involving life and death. Gauron needs to die... “Natsuki Gaushi was in fact the woman offered to our family as an arranged marriage for you. It was my friends last wish that his daughter live with a respectable family.”

Gauron continued to laugh, “you should have seen her face when I told her that you had fallen in love with some one else son!”

“Shut up Gauron! You needn’t worry about my life for you have given up that right a long time ago,” I growled, “when you killed my family!”

“And the problem is?”

Flying out from the dense forest I fired straight down into the foliage. “You murdered people that could have provided a sense of love to me. You are the reason for this curse that has been plaguing me. I have no family, my friends are all dead, and you are trying to take Kaname away from me!! You will die you bastard!”

Shards of AS’s were scattered across the field, fresh parts laying in the spot I had recently been residing I knew that I had hit Gauron. “Well well son, you are getting better with that thing everyday.” I heard him chuckle then burst out laughing, “but you are no match for the bringer of death, no mere mortal can defeat a Reaper!”

The black AS stopped near the highway and pulled out its assault rifle with M203 attachment. “How much blood would be needed to paint this area in red.” Gauron fired at the highway, the early morning traffic had been building up since before the fight. A massive explosion scattered hundreds of cars and bodies across the landscape.

“No!” I shouted in vain as hundreds of people were now dead. Their cold lifeless bodies adding to the necromantic atmosphere. Blood running off into the icy water, limbs scattered across the fields of snow. The field was now painted in blood, Gauron is a mad man, why did he enjoy killing so much.

“Ooh, it’s just like a scene from a Samurai anime! The field covered by scattered bodies, the sky raining blood. Now this is my kind of battlefield, hahaha!” How could someone enjoy seeing death the way Gauron enjoyed it, he can not be my real father!

The remnants of the shattered highway blanketed the areas not covered in blood. Arbalest and I stood above the Reaper, up on a hill shrouded by trees. The ground below was scorched and the debris stood out from the blood and snow. “So how do you like my little painting? Pretty aint it?”

“Shut up Gauron!”

“Ooh some one is a little feisty now, well son let our dance continue.” From his tone of voice I could picture him smirking right about now, “lets also continue this heart warming Father-Son conversation!”

“Al what’s the status on the Lambda driver?”

Quickly the a.i. responded, “fully functional Sgt. Sagara!”

“Good,” leaping from the hilltop I pictured a katana. A katana formed in the Arbalest right hand, “you want to be in a Samurai anime well then here!!” Speeding down at Gauron with a katana in the right hand of Arbalest I readied my strike.

I saw a blue light swirling around the left hand of Gauron’s AS. “Well an old fashioned Samurai showdown, this flick just gets more exciting by the minute!” A long katana formed in the hands of the Reaper AS.

Sending a shockwave channeled through the blade Gauron was sent off balanced. Landing on the ground a ducked to dodge Gauron’s swift sideways slash. “Gauron... I... Will... Kill... You...” Tilting the blade I sent a fast, strong blow to the right arm of the Reaper.

The arm of Gauron’s AS hit the ground below him, it was completely severed from the Reaper. “Well that’s a first, time to get back to the 21st century.” He fired an energy wave at me, quickly I created a shield from the former katana. The two energies met a power struggle ensued, I materialized another energy wave in my right hand.

“This is for my family you bastard!” I fired the second energy wave through my shield, both energies were distorted and both my shield and Gauron’s energy wave were negated. My latent energy wave hit Gauron head on. Waves of energy engulfed the Reaper. Inside the ball of energy the black Arm Slave was tossed about like a rag doll. The explosion that followed engulfed the surrounding area in flames.

“Goodbye Gauron, hopefully all your remaining lives burn along with the innocent people you killed with no hesitation.” As I watched the black Arm Slave bath in the flames snow began to fall.

That was two days ago. “So I managed to impress some of the high command.” I sat next to Kalinin as the plane took off.

“Yes Sgt.” He took his hand and rubbed his forehead, “you are very impressive Sousuke, not just because of your abilities, because of how much you have grown.”

His remark took me by surprise, “what? I thought that the high command would rather me be back on the fields, back to a life with out Kaname.” I did not want to even contemplate a life with out Kaname. Her love has changed me in to someone better.

The older Russian man placed his hand on my shoulder, “they have ordered that you be assigned to Kaname permanently,” I smiled, “as long as you agree to go on other missions that are important to world stability.”

Nodding I turned to the window, all I could think about was returning to the life I had grown accustom to. “How long will this flight be?”

“About six hours Sgt.”

I frowned, “that is another six hours with out Kaname.” It was clear what held priority in my mind, anything other then Kaname would need to take a back seat.

“You know that Mithril will do everything in its power to make sure that Kaname does not die,” Kalinin covered his mouth with his hand and coughed. “The high command does not want to make an enemy out of you, and if the world knew of your exploits I am sure that every country in the world would not want you as an enemy.”

I sighed then stared at the night sky outside the plane, “I wonder what Kaname is doing right now?”
.............................................................................................................................................
“Miss Chidori, Sousuke will be arriving soon.” I smiled when I heard Sousuke was coming back to Japan.

“Thank you, I will be sure to make him feel at home.” Hanging up the phone I smiled. “Maybe I should go wait for him at the safe house.” With that being said I grabbed my coat and keys. I glanced back at my cold, empty room and sighed. “That was seriously a drag, cutting our vacation short like they did.”

After locking the doors I walked over to the stairs. I held a locket close to my heart, Sousuke gave it to me on Christmas. I opened it, a tear floated down and landed on the picture inside the locket with a gentle thud. “Oh Sousuke...” It was a picture of us after we caught that fish back after the whole stormy sea hijacking.

“Yes Kaname?” Who was that, I didn’t think that Sousuke would be back so soon. I looked around to see where he was and surely enough he was no where to be found.

“Maybe I am just imagining things...”

“Maybe, but then how would you be talking to me, are you going crazy Kaname?” What the hell, that had to be Sousuke.

I finally found him standing right behind me. “Well Sousuke... how... was... your... flight...?”

“It was fine but eaaahhh!” Bingo, I struck Sousuke where it hurt most. “Take that! And That!” I repeatably struck Sousuke with my hasilen over and over. This would surely teach him about making me worry like that.

“Ecxuess me Miss Chidori but I do not wish to see Sgt. Sagara hurt any more then he already is...” When I turned to the voice I found Kalinin standing right there, but why would Kalinin be here?

[Guest]

wow good job!