Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any of the songs used herein. I am just floating an idea, because if I don't get them out I might go nuts. I am making no money, nor plan to, off of this.

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Chapter 1 You've Got Another Thing Comin'

Where the hell had he been all weekend. She had noticed a drop off in the amount of time Sousuke had spent around her. It was not severe, but he would show up to meet her a bit later in the mornings and he would excuse himself earlier at night to go home. He would even miss being with her during the weekend sometimes. It was last night that she realized that she hadn't been in his apartment for nearly 2 ½ months. Every time they got together any more it was always at her place. And last night she began to think that Sousuke was hiding something from her, but what?

So taking the normal Chidori Kaname type of action, she decided this morning to find out just what was going on. They were supposed to go out later that day to get dinner, but she figured screw it and decided to drop in on him early and "See if he wanted to have lunch instead". Yea that was a good excuse, wasn't it?

She heard it from the street. Hell, she even felt the bass as she was coming up the elevator. As Kaname was walking towards Sousuke's apartment she could hear this incredibly loud music with a deep back bass and guitar riffs blaring when she got off of the elevator on Sousuke's floor.

'Who the hell has music playing that loud at noon on a Sunday' She mused.

One life I'm gonna live it up
I'm takin' flight I said I'll never get enough
Stand tall I'm young and kinda proud
I'm on top as long as the music's loud

If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinkin' like a fool cause it's a case of do or die
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
You think I'll let it go you're mad
You've got another thing comin'

As she walked down the hall the music got nothing but louder if that was even possible.

She arrived at the door to Sousuke's apartment she belatedly realized that it was coming from the door in front of her.

'…..What in the hell is he doing in there' "Sousuke" She shouted as she tried to ring the doorbell to no avail.

She tried knocking first, then beating on the door in front of her. She quickly came to the conclusion that trying to get Sousuke's attention over what ever that music was that was screaming from inside the apartment would be useless. 'To hell with it.' She thought as she started digging in her pocket for the spare key he had given her months before Hong Kong. She knew walking in on Sousuke like this could be a risk, but she figured with his reflexes she could get away with it.

What she saw after she got the door open utterly stunned her. She was completely floored by the sight in front of her.

That's right here's where the talkin' ends
Well listen this night there'll be some action spent
Drive hard I'm callin' all the shots
I got an ace card comin' down on the rocks

If you think I'll sit around while you chip away my brain
Listen I ain't foolin' and you'd better think again
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
You think I'll let it go you're mad
You got another thing comin

On either side of the balcony window stood these 5 ½ foot tall speakers with more speakers around the room. Where the communications console used to be, stood some strange monstrosity in electronics. The damn thing looked more complex then the communications console that stood to the back of room, moved from its customary spot to make room for power hog in front of her. Wires and cables crisscrossed the room.

Sagara Sousuke, the original Otaku, the military misfit, and the most single minded person she had ever met, was standing in front of the balcony window facing the view across the street to her apartment with an electric guitar slung across his shoulder hanging low on his waist. Here was the source of the music thundering throughout 3 floors of the apartment building with the bass rattling the windows.

Sousuke must have had some sort of software program running because Kaname could hear the English vocals of the artist absolutely screaming as well as the drums and bass guitars playing. It seemed that the only thing that was not prerecorded was the lead guitar

In this world we're livin' in we have our share of sorrow
Answer now is don't give in aim for a new tomorrow

If Kaname was flabbergasted before she did a complete face fault at what happened next. The vocals died out in a drawn out wail and it was time for a riff from the lead guitar. Sousuke never missed a beat and just dropped into this incredibly hard sounding line that seemed to scream from his soul. She could see him moving and bobbing in time with the sounds coming from guitar. His fingers danced across the frets as he moved in time with the music.

When the vocals started back up she was able to recognize the English words and although she didn't know the song she could understand the fact that Sousuke would identify with the lyrics.

Oh so hot no time to take a rest yeah
Act tough ain't room for second best
Real strong got me some security
Hey I'm a big smash I'm goin' for infinity yeah

If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinkin' like a fool cause it's a case of do or die
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
You think I'll let it go you're mad
You've got another thing comin'

After everything he had been through with Gauron, A21 and Behemoth, the loss of his entire team in the deserts of Helmajistan, losing some of his compatriots on board the Da Dannan due to the actions of traitors, the fight in Hong Kong, the Pacific Christmas, Amalgam, those fucking Arastols and that bastard Leonard Testarossa. Even the trials he went through at Mithral. Damn, even some of the things he went through because of her would be wearing to a person's soul.

But through it all Sousuke remained the same semi-dense military otaku that had walked into her life over a year before. Sure he had matured over that time, a lot actually. But she knew that inside he was still the same innocent noob that he was before she knew him. She loved the fact that she could still send him into a dead sweat with a few words spoken the right way.

The thing that had her stupefied right now was where the hell that this guitar ripping Sousuke had come from.

As the song came to its end she quietly whispered "Sousuke" and he whipped around dropping in to a defensive stance.

"Kaname, how did you get in?" He asked in a confused voice with a puzzled look.

"I still have the key you gave me" Kaname replied still stunned at the display she had been witness to less then a minute prior. "Souske, what the hell is going on!"

"What do you mean Kaname?" he asked with a completely innocent voice and a face devoid of deception.

Eyebrow twitched while her fingers itched for a Halisen that was currently sitting back at her apartment. She had taken to carrying it less as time went on and Sousuke had seemed to get better at understanding the normal civilian world.

"Why were you playing that guitar Sousuke?" She asked in a voice that threatened pain.

"Because I like to play, Miss Chidori" Sousuke replied, once again looking absolutely innocent.

"My God Sousuke, I could hear it out in the street. Why the Hell was it so loud." was the next question to cross Kaname's lips.

"Well because some artists music, such as Judas Priest and Disturbed just does not sound right unless it's loud" he replied as if stating the obvious. "Other music has softer sounds and tones, and raising the volume lessens the enjoyment."

"Where on God's green earth did you learn to play like that though?"

"The dexterity required is not much greater then that required to operate an A.S. Kaname. Also I was able to acquire lessons a few months ago"

"But Sousuke, why did you start playing the guitar?" Kaname asked.

"Well, do you remember what you said to me after the last time I detonated the shoe lockers after Tsubaki Issei placed a Letter of Challenge in my locker?" Sousuke asked.

"Not really, I just remember thinking that you would think people in the school would remember not to do things like that with you" Kaname replied while chuckling lightly.

After everything she had seen and especially heard that morning, nothing he said could shock her. Or so she thought.

With a completely straight face and looking Kaname right in the eye Sousuke gave his reply. "Well, you did tell me that I should find a better hobby."