In the days of yore, sophisticated ships captains knew better than to take the weather for granted.

Still, for all their respect for the vast expanse they sailed, they had no way to prevent a sudden unexpected sea change.

Sousuke had dreaded Wakana's presence amongst his classmates. He had terrible premonitions of her saying enough to cause some energetic soul to examine the bus more than the usual apathetic teenager would.

All someone had to do was pay close attention to the rear luggage deck. It would be hard to miss the oil splashes and the dark residue left behind by the smoke generator. If they managed to pry the compartment open, the row of TMPs would not look like standard bus equipment.

For some reason, he had also worried about the crazed and amorous police officer dropping hints about her having her way with him. True, the kisses had not been voluntary on his part; but, try explaining that to Kaname!

He wasn't certain why that concerned him so much.

Perhaps because he would lose her trust, trying to keep things secret.

That was it.

Yes.

When Wakana had offered to do to Sousuke what she had done to her whistle, he fled to the captain's seat and got his craft moving again.

There was a fair distance to the police station he needed to reach, and he fervently hoped that someone or some thing would keep the unbalanced officer occupied or distracted for the necessary period of time.

He was fortunate in that regard.

His classmates resumed their joking around.

Peer pressure and the need to fit in can lead to risky behavior. When it came to one rugby player's turn to tell a joke, he could only remember one that hadn't been told yet. Jostled by his raucous teammates, he jumped right in without thinking.

"The phone rang at police headquarters," he started. Intent on telling the joke well, he failed to notice that the bus went dead quiet.

Everyone was looking at Wakana.

The police woman was looking at him.

"'Hello,' someone answered the phone, their mouth stuffed with doughnut." The boy began embellishing the joke.

The cliché had Wakana raising an eyebrow.

"'Hello, is this the police?' the caller asked. 'Yes, what do you want?' the officer asked. 'I'm calling to report that I saw small bags of a mysterious powder hidden inside the logs at my neighbor's house,' the caller said"

The boy was getting into the joke. He didn't notice everyone else's reaction.

"'Thank you for doing your civic duty. We will look into this!' the rotund officer said, watching his favorite soap opera on the TV."

A number of students slowly moved away from Wakana.

The police officer licked her lips.

"The next day, the police finally show up at the house. They searched the shed where the man kept a large amount of firewood. They broke open each piece of wood, swearing when they found no trace of drugs. After a trip to the bar, they made their way back to the station."

The boy wondered why his classmates weren't joining in, making snide comments like they had with all the other jokes.

Maybe they were simply tired of jokes. Maybe they were simply tired.

It had been an exhausting trip.

"The phone rang at the house. 'Hey, did the police come?' the caller asked. 'Yes,' the man answered. 'Did they chop your firewood?' the caller asked. 'Yes, they did,' the man answered. 'OK, now it's your turn to call. I need my vegetable patch plowed.'"

No one laughed.

Wakana stood up from the seat she had taken next to a quivering Shinji.

She smoother her clothing. She went as far as to take out her lipstick, look in her compact, and fix her face.

Then, she walked ever so slowly towards the boy who had told the joke. After she gestured, the rugby player next to him jumped out of his seat, giving her a place to sit down.

"That was an amusing joke. It touched close to home for me. Somehow I don't feel so alone or out of place." Wakana's stare cold have peeled paint. "Imagine, telling a joke about the police, when I was aboard."

The rugby player who told the joke no longer embraced his usually tough façade.

His eyes went wide. There was a lump in his throat. His hands started trembling uncontrollably. For some reason, he felt as the missionaries might have, when they were shown a huge metal pot by the overly friendly natives.

He tried to apologize.

His mouth wouldn't move.

"That took some balls. That took guts. I'm impressed. I think I like you." Those words sent more fear through the boy than a death threat could have. "I'm going to sit back here with you. Maybe we could discuss those balls."

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

In war, sometimes a soldier's sacrifice makes it possible for his squad mate to survive.

Sousuke was grateful. He would remember to do a favor for that boy. His unintentional sacrifice allowed Sousuke to drive all the way to his destination without being interrupted by Wakana.

Happy to see the police officer at the rear of the bus, Kaname walked up to chat with Sousuke.

"Are you doing OK, Sousuke. This all must be hard on you." Her voice was measured and sweet.

"Kaname? I am OK. I am a little tired, but driving a bus is not that difficult."

"No. You heard about terrorists and fighting, but never had a chance to see a thing. That must be like getting asked to join an all-star team, but never having a chance to play in the game."

"I am fine. All that matters is the safety of my passengers. I would not want you to face more danger than necessary, Kaname." Sousuke had told the truth.

There was no need to say more than necessary.

"Oh! Thank you, Sousuke." Kaname found herself blushing.

When Sousuke wasn't climbing on top of busses or making clueless deals with bar owners, he could be kind of sweet in his own way. The thought of the dance club set her on edge briefly. But, she had to do her best to forgive and forget.

She had told Sousuke that she was going to help him adjust.

"It is not a problem."

"I know it's not a problem, Sousuke. Is that the only way you look at things?" Kaname was laughing, but she found that she wanted to hear his answer.

"No, Kaname. Not everything is a problem."

"Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that, for your sake. What kind of life would that be?" Her voice dropped down an octave and her eyes went vulnerable. "Sousuke, do you see me as a problem?"

"Negative. You are someone who does not deserve problems. I try to make sure…." Sousuke stopped.

He was about to say 'I try to make sure that your problems go away.'

Remembering something Kaname said in the museum, he wondered if he caused more problems than he solved.

"You try to make sure that I always have a problem, to keep me from getting bored?" Kaname laughed, feeling a slight twinge. That was close to the truth as she saw it. But, she had a good idea of what Sousuke was trying to say.

"Kaname, I…."

"I know, Sousuke. I was just teasing you. Though, there is some truth in what I said, right?" She wanted to make certain that he never lost sight of that fact.

"Yes."

"But, don't worry. Like I said. The kindler gentler Kaname Chidori will help you fit in." Kaname walked back to her seat and returned with the halisen.

She handed it to Sousuke.

"As a sign of our new relationship, I give you this. I won't be needing that any more." She tossed her hair and smiled.

There was hope for a bright new tomorrow.

"Thank you, Kaname." Sousuke felt a groundswell of hope within him. If he were on better terms with Kaname, he could do a better job of protecting her.

There was another feeling as well, but he had no time to examine that. He put the halisen across his lap. Kaname sounded sincere, but he still had reasonable doubts.

The saying said that the road to Hell was paved with good intentions.

"But, we do have a problem. It should be ending soon, thank God!" The look on Kaname's face was intense.

"Problem, Kaname?" Sousuke's posture straightened.

"I should have known that would get your attention, Sousuke." Kaname smiled a crooked smile. "I'm talking about our special passenger."

Wakana.

"Uh…."

"Does something about her make you feel nervous?" Kaname looked as if she were a blood hound, suddenly picking up a scent.

"Errr…."

Kaname frowned. "Well?" She began drumming her fingers on the back of the driver's seat.

"Ummm…"

"Sousuke? Are you hiding something?" Kaname's eyes narrowed. Sousuke was sweating.

"Hiding, Kaname?" Sousuke wiped his hands on his pants before putting them back on the wheel.

He let out a held breath in relief, seeing a landmark Wakana had mentioned. The police station was only a couple of blocks away.

"You know. Keeping things secret. Knowing something that you don't want someone else to know. Hiding something!" Kaname's voice began climbing the octave ladder.

"What would I have to keep secret, Kaname?"

"If… I… knew… that… it… wouldn't… be… a… secret." Kaname calmed herself down. She fluffed her hair a bit and tried to put on a smile. "Now, why are you sweating?"

"I know the answer to this," Sousuke said.

"Of course you do, Sousuke. The only question is how long you get to live if you don't tell me!" Kaname's eyes flashed.

"Kaname, I thought you said you were going to be 'kinder' and 'gentler'?"

"I am, Sousuke! The death would be painless." The look on Kaname's face almost reminded Sousuke of Wakana.

But, he was learning.

He didn't mention that.

"We were talking about sweating, Sousuke!"

"That is correct, Kaname. It has been explained to me before. I was sweating because my body was responding to the 'fight or flight' response. To prevent a harmful increase in core body temperature, blood vessels in my skin are dilating, at the same time the sweat mechanism activates. The evaporation of sweat causes my skin temperature to drop, allowing the blood in the surface vessels to cool. That will keep my core temperature from going too high. That only works when the air around me is dry enough to evaporate the sweat. Fortunately, the climate control in this bus is quite capable." Sousuke was proud.

He had remembered one of the lectures the doctor had given the crew aboard the TDD-1.

"Sousuke… that's… not…" Kaname's initial disbelief was not enough to stop her growl response.

"I apologize. You are correct. There is more."

Kaname relaxed some, looking on with anticipation. She wasn't entirely certain she actually wanted to hear Sousuke's secret.

"And?"

"Yes. There is another adaptive function in sweat. It helps the skin become more slippery. That makes it harder to be caught by a predator."

Sousuke thought momentarily of Mr. Mahmud. Oil wrestling took natural defense a number of steps further.

"SOUSUKE!" So much for any illusions of peace and tranquility. Kaname took no notice of the fact that the bus had stopped and was now parked in front of the police station.

"Is there a problem up here? Were you two fighting?" Wakana had walked up without Kaname knowing.

"Sousuke, would you like to press charges? We are in my territory, after all." The police woman's face looked like that of a predator.

It was Kaname's turn to start sweating.

"It is not a problem." Sousuke answered calmly.

"Fighting? Why would we be fighting?" Kaname laughed, louder than one might normally expect. "As the class representative, I was merely discussing matters with our bus driver. I am the picture of serenity."

Wakana smiled.

She had resolved to leave without saying anything more than 'Thank you' and 'good luck.'

Kaname's reaction prompted more. She couldn't help herself.

"I see. In any case, it's time for me to leave this happy environment." Her words made a certain rugby player shiver uncontrollably. "Thank you for your assistance, Sousuke. I wish you all good fortune." She began walking down the bus stairs, but stopped to look back at Sousuke. "I look forward to our next kiss."

After that, she was gone.

"Our?" Kaname asked reflexively, numb from the neck down.

Sousuke swallowed hard. He knew where these types of conversations usually ended up, even though he wasn't certain why.

"Uh…"

"NEXT?"

Sousuke's monosyllabic response had triggered Kaname's 'fight or fight' mechanism.

"Errr…."

"KISS?" Kaname's voice carried to the back of the bus. Everybody got to their feet in anticipation.

"Ummm…."

Kaname grabbed back the halisen.

No sense in trying to be something you're not.

Noticing her classmate's watching, she lowered her arm. She was not going to put on a show for their entertainment.

Her own satisfaction?

That was an entirely different story!

"What would I have to keep secret, Kaname?" Kaname aped Souske's voice.

WHACK!

"Increase in core temperature, Kaname." The halisen swung like a headman's axe.

SMACK!

"I look forward to our next kiss." Kaname sounded too much like Wakana.

SLAM!

It seems Kaname had stored up a long list of grievances. The last one on the list was a new one. Sousuke's head broke her halisen.

Before she stopped in her mature discussion of their differences, she felt something akin to catharsis. Suddenly in a cheerful mood, she felt the urge to lecture Sousuke in return.

"Catharsis, Sousuke. The elimination of destructive emotions through appreciation of an aesthetic experience. Since aesthetics refers to beauty and taste, anything I do is an aesthetic experience, right?"

"Uh…." Wrong answer.

"Anyone have a fan I can borrow?" Kaname asked her classmates.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

The final hours passed without any further terrorist attacks.

Sousuke had long since felt the remainder of Kaname's wrath. Feeling guilty, she made an effort to make amends.

After a fashion.

"Sousuke?" Kaname sat on the floor, holding a bottle of soda with a straw. Sousuke needed some help after having been treated like a human xylophone. His arms were sore and bruised. He could hold onto the wheel, but nothing more.

Kaname was feeing him soda and snacks.

"Yes, Kaname?"

"I think I have found it in my heart to forgive you Sousuke?" She smiled.

"Forgive, Kaname? For Wakana kissing me against my expressed wishes?" Sousuke was usually low key, no matter what happened.

But now, he was close to being incredulous.

"No. For making me lose my cool. Especially after I had gotten all personal and promised to go easier on you. I don't appreciate being made to look like a fool, Sousuke!" She was still smiling, but her eyes were slits. "I hope we understand each other better now. Any situation that helps us grow as people is a good thing, in a way."

"I see." Sousuke did not seem convinced.

"Are you disagreeing with me, Sousuke?" There was a touch of iron in her voice again.

"No, Kaname."

"Good. You're learning already." She held the soda bottle up for him, feeling noble for helping someone in need.

"Your conversation up here with me earlier will help me grow."

"Yes." Kaname's eyes went wide.

He understood.

"The kindness you will show me, and the things you will help me understand, they will all help me grow."

"That's right, Sousuke!" She regretted going Medieval on him, but it looked as if she might have been able to pound some sense into that thick Sousuke head.

"Your helping me now, when I am somewhat disabled, that will help you grow as well."

"Uh huh." There certainly was more to Sousuke than met the eye.

"All of the trials and tribulations you faced as Class Representative, they will help you as well, since you managed to do a superb job under trying circumstances. You have earned the respect and thanks of many."

"I…uh…errr…thank you, Sousuke." Kaname felt herself blushing. "Can I get you one of the pillows off of the overhead rack. Would that make you job easier? Is there someway to make you more comfortable?"

In the past, she had always been focusing on the negative aspects of Sousuke. She made a resolution to look for the positive things as well.

"The mistakes you made in hiring a known incompetent bus driver will help keep you from making the same type of mistake again."

"Uh…." Kaname had begun to stand up, to get Sousuke the pillow.

She froze.

"The errors you committed in the failed attempt to arrange for room and board will also prove useful experiences."

"Errr…." Kaname felt like she had been dipped in liquid nitrogen. But, a thaw would come. There was a fire starting deep within her belly.

"Just as the mistake I made dealing with disreputable men with an unread contract will effect my future judgment."

"Ummm…." The fire threatened to become an inferno.

Sousuke was correct. But, his choice of examples was ill chosen.

"And, my mistake in accepting the word of mischievous boys, that led to me to see you and the other girls naked, that too will serve as a useful lesson."

"Grrrr…." Inferno? No. Raging conflagration.

Kaname went to get the pillow after all.

"I have also learned to be more circumspect in interpreting your words and assessing your intentions. The time I took hold of your breasts will be a very practical memory."

"S-S-S-…" Magma just under the surface, looking for a weak place in the earth's crust.

"Just as your telling Mizuki that you wanted me to see you naked will teach you greater discretion."

"SOUS-…." Pressure building up.

Pliny the Elder had made a mistake. Even though Sousuke was a student of History, he was about to make the same mistake.

"By the way. Why did you want me to see you naked, Kaname? To help identify your body if an accident damages your face? To be able to recognize you in the dark, if we are captured and placed in a dark enclosure? Some form of teenage sexual courtship ritual?"

"S-O-U-S-U-K-E! " Boom!

Any of that would have been bad enough. The clueless way he said 'teenage sexual courtship ritual' was one straw too many on the back of a camel with a bad disposition.

WHAM!

A pillow slammed into the side of Sousuke's face.

The bus swerved abruptly to the right. A horn blared indignantly, as a small car swerved too, barely avoiding a collision. Passing through a deep puddle near the curb, it tossed up a huge wave of muck and filthy water.

The people sitting at the sidewalk café were not appreciative.

"Kaname, what are you doing?"

SMACK!

The pillow, coming from above, drove Sousuke's chin into his chest.

The bus overcorrected to the left. A Taxi cab, traveling much too quickly, pulled off the road…through the parking lot of a convenience store…and back onto the road again. Three people with grocery carts dove for cover, their carts heading out into the street.

The bus was out of view when a slew of fender benders took place.

"Kaname, why are you striking me again!"

CONK!

The soda bottle bounced hard off of Sousuke's head. Chill liquid spilled down into his eyes, momentarily blinding him.

The bus bounced hard through a series of deep pot holes. His vision blurry, Sousuke steered to avoid what looked like a man standing in the middle of the road. It was a statue in the town plaza.

Running over a number of orange cones set out to warn of the road damage, he knocked the plastic objects high in the air. One landed on a jogger's head, blocking his vision, causing him to fall down an open manhole cover.

Another went through a large plate glass window at the Adult movie store, wiping out a large display holding the new editions of 'Battlefield Babes' and 'Hot Teenage Ninja Girls in Trouble.'

A third cone spooked a seeing eye dog. Its owner, a young man, was jerked forward. His hand landed on a buxom woman's breast. Her slap missed him purposefully when she realized he was blind. Instead, it hit an elderly gentleman, knocking his false teeth out into the street.

"That's OK, they're made of strong stuff!" he said to the contrite woman.

A large dump truck ran over them a moment later.

"I'm helping you learn, Sousuke. I'm helping you learn." There was only one thing written down in Kaname's lesson planner:

Sousuke must pay.

Her behavior was excessive to say the least. Not only that, it was ill-tmed. But, bad deeds do not always pass by unnoticed.

"So, I see you two lovebirds are at it again."

It was Mizuki. She stood smiling, watching Kaname's antics.

"No wonder he chose to kiss that crazy wacked-out police woman instead of you. I'm just surprised he didn't drop you off at the police station, and bring her back to Jindai. It certainly looked like she was eager to come."

Kaname stopped her swing.

The pillow slipped out of her hand and flew out the open window near Sousuke. It landed on the grill of a street-side food vendor, catching on fire. Too quick to use his fire extinguisher, the man sprayed most of its contents on the Police Chief's wife and her new fur coat.

Her shock abating, Kaname took a few steps down the aisle and grabbed a soda bottle out of one boy's grasp.

"I'll bring you another. Unless you won't let me have this?"

Seeing the look on her face, the boy told Kaname she could keep it.

"And why wouldn't Sousuke prefer someone like that over someone like you? I know you've been through a lot on this trip, but please. I've almost gone crazy myself, listening to those anime freaks discussing their favorite shows. It seems like every story has some kind of abusive love relation."Mizuki shook her head. "Pathetic!"

She really worried about Kaname sometimes.

Kaname had not witnessed the mishap with the fire-extinguisher. She came up with a similar idea on her own. Thumb over the top of the capless bottle, she shook its contents repeatedly, walking after a retreating Mizuki. She stopped in her chase, when movement caught her attention.

Miss Okibasu was obviously feeling much better.

She had gotten out of her seat, and needed no assistance to walk.

The teacher went up to check on Sousuke, having witnessed Kaname's eruption.

"Are you OK, Sousuke?" She ran her hand through his hair, looking to see if Kaname had given him any lumps.

She took the ice cubes out of a cup on the dashboard, put them in one of the stockings she had taken off, and held the impromptu ice-pack against Sousuke's forehead.

"Did that mean blue-haired girl hurt you? Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Somebody appreciates all of the hard work you've done for us." Her voice was calm and soothing.

Standing behind the two of them now, Kaname stared, jaw hanging open.

Her whole body going weak instantaneously, her thumb slipped off of the bottle.

Foam and soda jetted out under tremendous pressure, spraying Miss Okibasu.

Twe eee eeeee eee eee eeeeee eee eeee e e eeeee e eeee eeee eee ee eee eee eee e eee eee ee e e eeee eeee ee eeee ee e eeee ee eeee eee eee eee eee eee ee ee eee eee e eeee eee eeee eeee eeee eee eee eeee eeeee eeee ee ee eeee eee eee ee e eee ee eeee ee eee ee eeeee ee e e eeeee ee eeee eee e eee eee ee e eee ee!

Everyone stared in disbelief.

As it turns out, the teacher had brought a whistle with her, too.

Miss Okibasu looked fed up. Soda dripped down from her chin, splattering against the top of her shoe.

"Kaname Chidori! When we get back, it will be your job to clean the inside of the bus. Do a good job, because the practice will prove very useful. You will be cleaning the chalkboard erasers for the next month!"

Things were bad. But, as usual, they got worse.

A gentleman at heart, despite his clueless nature, Sousuke took of his shirt, asking Miss Okibasu if she needed something to wipe the soda off herself.

The teacher was too appreciative for Kaname's liking.

"I think your idea is a good one, Teacher. Kaname herself will agree. She explained to me how mistakes help one learn."

"Really, Sousuke?" Miss Okibasu smiled, wiping the soda out of her hair. "In that case, I have a wonderful idea. Jindai High School recently signed an agreement to join four other regional schools in a joint academic and economic arrangement. In the spirit of cooperation, I think I will contact them and see if they would like us to clean their erasers too.."

She turned to Kaname.

"You can handle that, can't you. After all, you are the Class Representative."

The whole bus went wild. Some of them had started feeling sorry for Sousuke. Others usually sided with Kaname, but had been subjected to far too much whistle.

"Uh…." Kaname managed.

"And you'd do anything to help your classmates, right?" Miss Okibasu put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile.

"Errr…"

"It will also be a good way for you to set a fine example for Sousuke. Obviously, he thinks very highly of you. I t-think I will m-move you into the d-desk n-next to his." The teacher found it hard to keep from laughing.

Kaname's face was comical.

"A wonderful idea, Teacher. I will get to spend more time with her that way. And, it will be easier to protect her." Sousuke accepted his shirt back.

"Ummm…." Kaname was close to catatonic.

That too would change.

"You don't have to be so formal Sousuke, we're not in class now." Miss Okibasu would have thrown her hair, but it was plastered to her head.

"By the way, I have a favor to ask. I'm just coated with sticky soda. The plumber won't be by my apartment for two days. Is there a shower at your place I might borrow?" She planned on stopping by a friend's house for that purpose, but wanted to see Kaname's reaction.

Ryo, Maya, Kyouko, and Ren rushed to restrain their friend..

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

The streets were dark now.

The beams from the bus' headlights shined on the sides of buildings and reflected of the glass of parked cars along the broad avenue. The wind blew some stray scraps of garbage here and there. Occasional cats shot across the road, tails straight out and eyes glowing in the light.

A growing forest of lamps in the distance marked the Jindai High School parking lot.

As Sousuke carefully brought the bus over the entry ramp, his passengers began talking in low excited voices.

They were back.

In one piece.

Finally.

Parents began getting out of their cars, milling around and speaking with one another. The bus had taken longer than anyone had expected, but they were relieved to have their children safe and sound.

The stories on the news had been frightening, to say the very least.

As tired as they were, some of the students found it hard to leave their friends. They had been through a lot together. They were not ready to return to the humdrum routine of their daily lives.

After just returning from a rather hectic trip, who would have expected anyone to be talking about the next trip already?

"So Kaname, has this trip made you think twice about ever organizing one ever again?" Kyouko worried about her friends state of mind. She hadn't said a single word after they had dragged her back to her seat.

"Are you kidding, Ky. It's me you're talking about." The familiar loud Kaname laugh had made its return. "All this means is that I will try twice as hard to make sure nothing goes wrong again."

"But you said nothing could possibly go wrong on this trip, Kaname." Ryo waved to her mother, but took a moment to get in on the conversation. "Especially after the last one."

"Well, nothing really went wrong, Ryo." Kaname laughed again. "Things just went a little differently than planned, that's all."

Everybody went quiet.

The students walking towards their family and their cars stopped, turned, and stared at Kaname.

"Do you live in the same world we do, Kaname?" Maya asked, shaking her head.

"Come on guys! You can't let the little things drag you down. You need to look on the bright side of things!" Kaname sounded fresh, full of vim and vigor.

"Bright side?" Mizuki's suitcase slipped out of her fingers. She rubbed one finger inside her ear. Did she hear that correctly?

Kaname was about to talk about the bonding that everyone did under adverse conditions. She was going to mention the once in a lifetime opportunities they had at the museum, before the attack took place. The time spent at the Sumo training school was also an unexpected dividend.

Someone else spoke up first.

"Oh, you mean Sousuke!" One boy offered.

Kaname stood with her mouth hanging open.

"Yeh! Killer bus ride out. I just wish we could have seen that fight!" Another guy slapped hands with the first.

Kyouko tried to drag Kaname away from the growing group of students.

"And that first hotel! They treated us like kings. Even though our class rep screwed things up!" A third boy nodded his head.

Ryo grabbed Kaname's halisen and kept it out of reach.

"That was pretty funny at the flower gardens, too." A girl had joined in. "And the way he pissed off the tour guides at the museum!"

Kaname sat down hard on her suitcase, causing one of the latches to pop open.

"And the Sumo place. Man, I loved seeing what happened to the rugby guys." Another girl was smiling. "And when Sousuke's cloth fell off!"

Ryo used the fan to try and cool Kaname down.

It seemed that everybody had their favorite Sousuke moment. No one mentioned a positive Kaname moment. But, her name came up just the same.

"That's all cool, dudes. But I really liked the way he had Chidori up in orbit most of the time. Who-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-a-a-a-a-a-a-h…. that was bitchin'!"

Kaname brought her hand down on the closed latch.

It popped open.

Her suitcase spilled her and her things to the ground.

Seeing Kaname's look, Maya said "You can't let the little things drag you down."

The noise that Kaname made was primal.

Everyone was soon in a rush to find their folks.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Finished packing up her things, Kaname said a quick good bye to those friends who hadn't left yet.

After that, she looked around for Sousuke. She knew he would be somewhere nearby, not about to let her walk home alone in the dark unwatched.

The big idiot had quickly driven off with the bus after everyone got their luggage out. But, he merely left it parked a few blocks down the road, before he handed the keys to someone who probably worked for Mithril.

Why?

"OK, Sousuke. I know you're around here somewhere. You might as well come out where I can see you!" She began tapping her foot.

"I'm right here, Kaname." His voice came from directly behind her.

Kaname jumped.

"Oooo-o-o-o-o-o…stop doing that!" Kaname's heart was in her throat.

How the hell had he gotten that close without her knowing!

"Kaname?"

"Never mind! Geeez." Kaname took a moment to catch her breath. Then she stood directly in front of her class mate and stared him straight in the eyes. "So, Sousuke. Is there something you'd like to tell me about the bus ride?"

"Uh… bus ride, Kaname?" Sousuke took hold of the handle on Kaname's suitcase and began wheeling it behind him. His own bag was slung over his shoulder.

"Bus ride, Sousuke. The ride home on the bus. The bus that looked different than it did before going for 'repairs.' Any of that ring a bell?" Kaname's suspicions grew stronger with even moment Sousuke hesitated.

"I meant to tell you before," Sousuke said, stopping. There was no sense in trying to cover things up any more. He didn't want to lie to Kaname.

"Really? But you didn't." Kaname looked cross. "I guess you didn't trust me enough to tell me. Thanks a lot." She began walking on her own. "Thanks so very much…."

"I didn't want to worry you any more than necessary." Sousuke still stood unmoving. "You had already been through so much. I hoped you could have a peaceful ride home. I didn't think that we would be targeted."

Kaname stopped. She didn't say anything or turn around.

"Then, when we were actually in danger…." Sousuke ran down. He could have told her then. But, she couldn't have done anything but worry.

"You thought I might just get in the way?" Kaname sounded bitter. "Poor helpless Chidori. Can't take care of herself or her classmates…."

Sousuke was quiet for a moment. When Kaname hung her head, then began to walk quickly away, he spoke up again.

"No. It wasn't that. I'm a professional. I have certain skills. I am very good at what I do." He was not bragging. Just telling the truth as he saw it. "But when you're nearby….."

Kaname turned to look at him. "Yes?" Her face was stiff.

"I… uhhh… I… sometimes have trouble concentrating." Sousuke didn't like to admit that. Doubly so. It was bad to be distracted by anything when he was doing his duty. It was worse to have personal feelings that he didn't understand.

Kaname stood a few more seconds, then began walking back towards Sousuke. "Oh?"

What was he trying to say?

"I… well… during the trip, a number of things happened that… uh…." Sousuke still hadn't come to terms with all of the things he had seen and done on the trip. How did teenagers ever make it to adulthood?

"They certainly did," Kaname said. She wasn't exactly in the mood to hear about certain things at the moment. "If you act that way on the submarine, I'm surprised Mithril still exists!"

"I do not have any trouble on Da Dannan, Kaname. My missions go as well as anybody else's. Probably better." Sousuke let go of Kaname bag and rubbed a hand through his hair.

"I did very well against Wakana. I handled things in the museum in an effective manner. The dancing and auction were shut down by my actions, with the help of the man who aided me against Krieger and Mishka. All of the students came home safely because of me, with some timely help from that woman."

"I see." Kaname hid the beginnings of a grin. "When I'm not around, you do very well. But when I'm near, you're distracted? Get into all sorts of embarrassing trouble? I guess I must be a terrible professional liability." She purposefully sighed.

"No… uh…. you…." Sousuke had to stop and think a bit. Were his feelings for her a liability? Had he gotten too close to her in some fashion? He had done well around her in Khanka, and against Gauron aboard the TDD-1.

But they had done a lot more together after that….

"Maybe it would be better if they assigned someone else to look after me." Kaname began walking again. "You'd probably prefer that. I remember what you told me aboard the submarine."

"Kaname… no… I…." Sousuke felt like an idiot again. Just what did he want to say? What did he really feel?

"You don't have to try and spare my feelings, soldier. I'm a big girl. I've been through a lot on my own, you know." It was true. She was a survivor. But, in some ways, she had been a lonely survivor.

The only question she had was, did Sousuke cause her more trouble than he saved her from?

If he did, then why did she found herself wanting him around? Why did she act the way she did around Wakana, Miss Okibasu, and the Sousuke groupies in her class?

Sousuke was silent for a few blocks.

"I think I understand, now. You are trying to be kind to me. After all that has happened, you no longer are willing to put up with my presence." Sousuke stopped. He wondered why he felt the way he did. It was only a mission, after all. "That is reasonable. I caused you a lot of trouble. It also explains why you treated me in the excessively violent fashion that you did."

Kaname stumbled. That ploy had certainly backfired.

Great going, girl!

"About that, Sousuke….." Kaname fought down her feelings of self-righteousness. They were misplaced there. "I'm… what I mean to say is… ummm… I'm really sorry…."

"Kaname?" Sousuke sounded perplexed.

"I over-reacted, Sousuke. Almost non-stop. I…." Kaname tried to sort through her churning feelings. "Not that I didn't have cause, mind you!"

Easy, Kaname!

"Affirmative." Sousuke began walking again. He was right after all. Kaname was just trying to be polite. He truly was a great burden to her.

"Wait. It's not all your fault, Sousuke. I know that…." Kaname bit her lip. This wasn't easy for her either. "The punishment didn't fit the crime. And, well…."

Sousuke stopped.

Kaname sounded confused, too.

But she was Class Representative and Student Council Vice President. She was rarely confused.

"There wasn't always a crime, Sousuke." It came out in a rush. "I just seem to lose my temper around you so easily." Kaname ran both hands over her head, then clasped them together up top.

"It is the last feather that may be said to break a horse's back." Sousuke said, remembering a quote from Bramhall's 'Defense of True Liberty of Human Actions.'

Nodding his head, he added another, not knowing that Dickens' 'Dombey and Son' was perhaps the first written source for the particular phrase: "The last straw breaks the laden camel's back."

Kaname had to admit there was some truth in that.

"So, you think I'm a horse? Or a camel?" She wasn't angry. Even in the middle of that conversation, she felt a desire to get a rise out of Sousuke.

Sousuke didn't answer.

"Well?" Now, true to form, Kaname began to feel just a tiny bit peeved.

"Horses and camels are very important, Kaname." Sousuke wasn't being clueless that time. He was observing Kaname's response.

"And?" Kaname's voice went up a couple of octaves. She wanted to smack her forehead, hearing that.

"You are correct, Kaname. You lose your temper around me easily. You are neither horse nor camel." At that moment, for some reason, Sousuke wondered what Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin and Captain Testarossa would say about Kaname's reactions to him during the trip.

Perhaps they would reassign him after all.

"I am a good deal heavier than a feather or a piece of straw." Sousuke waited for a truck to pass by, then began walking again, intent on crossing the street at the intersection.

Kaname put her hand on his arm, stopping him.

"That's true, Sousuke. But sometimes I'm not as strong as a horse or a camel…… though I can be as stubborn as one!" She managed a smiled, then tossed her hair. "I hope you don't think I look like one, though."

Sousuke looked at Kaname. He was about to say 'no' when he swallowed hard for a moment, then blushed.

He came dangerously close to mentioning the fact that the Bactrian camel, also known as the ship of the desert, had two prominent humps.

Closing his eyes, he knew exactly why that thought had come to mind.

"Is there something on my shirt, Sousuke. Did I spill….." Kaname's eyes went wide. She knew why too. "Sousuke!"

The shout echoed down the nearly empty street.

Hearing that, the two of them looked at each other, and then shook their heads.

Par for the course.

"Never mind, Sousuke." It was Kaname's turn to blush. "What I was trying to say is, you get distracted around me, and I get angry around you. It's not just because of the things you do wrong, or don't do right…."

"Kaname?"

"I guess I just have higher expectations for you than I have for everyone else." Kaname sighed. That was true. "And there are ways I would like you to act around me… and… well… ummm… act towards me…."

"I do not understand."

"No, you don't." Kaname sighed again. "Maybe that's the biggest problem of all." She looked over at Sousuke, realizing once again how different his life had been from everybody else's. "I suppose I need to be more patient."

Sousuke still looked puzzled. He opened his mouth, about to ask if her comment had anything to do with relationships and teenage sexual courtship rituals. No. He had made that mistake before.

He was learning. Slowly perhaps, but learning just the same.

A bit of insight struck him.

"It may be that this trip will serve a practical purpose, Kaname."

"Sousuke?" Kaname wondered just what he was going to say. If it was something otaku, she would do her best not to get upset.

"Perhaps we may both learn things about one another that we wouldn't have otherwise."

Kaname blinked hard a number of times.

Sousuke was right.

She should have made that point!

Hmmmpppfff!

"Yes. Any idiot can see that!" Kaname said with a shake of her hair. "Stop trying to distract me. You were going to tell me about the bus ride."

"I was?"

Kaname's look prompted Sousuke to tell her everything. She found some of it hard to believe at first. But, then she remembered a few other things that had been hard to believe. Sousuke Sagara climbing up on an RK-92. The battle between Arbalest and Codarl. Behemoth. Her Whispered talent aboard the Da Danaan. The Bonta-Kun powered suit.

Too many things to think about at one time!

"Well, you could have let me use some of the switches!" Kaname smiled. "You didn't have to keep all of the fun for yourself! Selfish jerk!"

"Fun?"

"No. You're right. You were probably just scared…." Kaname chuckled.

"Scared?"

"Yes. Scared that I wouldn't have given you permission to fight…." Kaname smiled.

"I did not need your permission"

"You most certainly did!" Kaname pulled her leg back, but stopped. She shook her head. "Keep going, Sousuke. You are going to need to work on your focus!"

Sousuke stared a moment, then shrugged. He went on with his tale.

"What was that?" At one point in the narrative, Kaname stopped suddenly. She clenched both hands into fists. "What did Melissa say?"

"She said 'You and that Chidori girl get naked yet?'"

"And your answer?" Kaname's voice was very quiet.

"Uh…"

"Sousuke?"

"Errr…"

"Sousuke?"

"I… ummm…"

"Sousuke!"

"I said 'She saw me with my shirt off once.' and…." Sousuke began to perspire. " I said 'Also, she saw me once in a dancer's apparel'" He swallowed then went silent.

"Oka-a-a-a-a-y. That's what you said about you. What did you say about me?" Kaname's eyes narrowed. She knew there must be more to it.

Sousuke was sweating heavily. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable. "I followed orders by saying 'On the balcony, she stepped outside with no clothing on her torso. In the pool, I saw her naked from behind, from inside the air duct. She once wore a dancer's outfit, as well.' That was all."

"I see. That was all." Kaname sounded deceptively calm.

"Affirmative."

"Only that little bit."

"Yes."

"Because it was an order."

"Correct."

"And it will be all over that damn sub by morning." Kaname began snarling.

Sousuke's 'flight or flight' response took over. He began running, faster and faster.

Kaname followed in hot pursuit.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Miss Okibasu yawned yet again.

She was exhausted.

The teacher had finally taken care of things inside of the deserted school building, and was heading over to her friend's house to borrow the shower before heading home and turning in for the night.

Something caught her attention.

In her side view mirror, she caught sight of someone running, a suitcase in one hand and a large bag in the other.

It was Sousuke.

Not far behind him, another person hurried in reckless abandon, hurdling fire hydrants and knocking over garbage cans.

Kaname.

Miss Okibasu rolled down her car window.

"Sousuke! Do you need a rescue? Would you like a lift home?"

The noise Kaname made when she saw the car was unforgettable.

"Thank you teacher. It's OK. This is good."

"How can this be good, Sousuke?" The teacher swallowed hard. Kaname was closing in.

"Miss Chidori and I are learning about each other…."

Sighing, the teacher drove on.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

THE END