Misunderstandings, part one {Chapter 1}

[dd]

This is the first chapter in a story collectively known as DOMINO EFFECT

How does the series begin? Sousuke receives a mysterious fax, which starts the dominoes falling. Misunderstandings ensue.
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Rain fell outside. Hard. The wind blew it in staccato rhythm against the windows of Sousuke's apartment.

The lights on the communications console still glowed somewhat cheerfully. The voice had ceased. "Expect a fax" the voice had said. Nothing more before cutting out. No opportunity for clarification. No timetable.

What could Captain Testarossa have meant by that? Why a fax? Why the delay? What could this mean for Sousuke's misson?

Was he to be called away for another task requiring his participation with the Special Response Team? Was there a crucial need for Arbalest and the lambda driver?

Could his cover been blown? Did the episode with the incindiary device at the duck pond attract undue attention? Probably not! No ducks had been injured, and there was no reason to expect that the mime's hair would not grow back fully.

Or....

Could this mean that he was being recalled permanently?

An image of a smiling Kaname flashed across his mind.

Kaname.

Was she or was she not any safer today than she had be in days past? There had been no terrorist activity directed towards her since that fateful day on the sub. The odd incident---or three---that had required her rescue since that time had seemingly been random events.

Did she, as a Whispered, deserve a bodyguard more than other people caught in the path of Fate? Was he the correct choice? Sometimes Kaname acted like she wanted a bodyguard to protect her from HIM. Should he be surprised?

He had certainly brought chaos and uncertainty to her life. And perhaps...unhappiness?

An image of a scowling Kaname materialized before his eyes, and he could image the sound of a halisen slicing through the air. He ducked slightly, as if expecting the phantom contact.

Sousuke wondered what his next mission might be? Where? With whom? It would not be unpleasant to see Sgt. Weber and Sgt. Major Mao again. But what would become of Kaname?

The image of Kaname sprawled on the ground---surrounded by blood, looking somewhat like a grotesque red snow angel---caused his breath to catch in his throat.

"Kaname...NO!!!!"

His hand flinched sharply, almost overturning a nearby tea cup. He was surprised to realize that he had verbalized his response. Loudly, too! What might the neighbors think?

Suddeness, and emotion. Again! He must be more careful, more controlled. Suddeness and emotion could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Suddeness and emotion could mean the difference between favorable outcome and tragedy.

Emotions were also a topic of confusion and uncertainty for Sousuke, and he was a fan of neither.

The slam of a door down the hallway ended his musings. There was a more timely issue causing him confusion and uncertainty, and he must return to the task. With one last glance at the silent fax machine, he directed his attention to the top of his desk, littered by assignment papers.

Algebra.

The homework was due tomorrow. It must be completed tonight. Sousuke remembered someone telling him that the root words of Algebra meant 'broken parts.' Apropos...he might indeed suffer broken parts if he did poorly on his assignment.

Perhaps Sgt. Weber had only been joking when he told Sousuke he must do well at school, because the honor of Mithril was clearly at stake. Perhaps he should not have mentioned that conversation to Kaname!!! She had taken the idea and run with it. Aside from tutoring him on occasion, she made it a point to examine his homework. Every day. And she was a strict and demonstrative task master. It had been safer learning how to pilot an Arm Slave.

Sousuke glared down at his pencil, almost as if to accuse it for the delay in his work. Briefly, possible offensive tactics using a pencil tickled his memory. New thoughts on offensive things that could be done TO a pencil soon followed.

Sighing, Sousuke accepted responsibility himself, and returned to work.

Finally, the hours having passed, and the sweat having been wiped from his brow, Sousuke allowed himself a brief and secret moment of satisfaction after he scribbled the last number down on his paper. He was about to gather his assignment sheets together and place them in his school bag when the fax machine coughed ever so slightly, and came to life.

The period of printing was brief. Sousuke hestitated to move at first, as if expecting something more. When nothing additional came, he walked to the machine, retrieved the message, and read it:


SGT. Sagara


RETURN ARRANGED


CAPT. TESTAROSSA



Return arranged?

Return? Whose? His? When? Should he dress for travel? Under what conditions? Armed? Should he break down equipment, or would a sweeper team do that? How long a return?

An endless supply of questions sprang forth. More confusion and uncertainty. Sousuke absentmindedly shuffled the fax copy in with his schoolwork, and tucked the papers away. He failed to suspect his error when he walked by the paper shredder.


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