Misunderstandings, part three {Chapter 3}

[dd]

So far, a mysterious fax, and our intrepid pair questioning each others behavior. What's next? Kaname sees the fax paper. The word "mission" can have different meanings depending on context. More misunderstandings.
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Sousuke settled into his chair quietly, after having made certain the room and hallway were free of likely threats. No new students or teachers. No change in building topography. No strange noises, odors, or vibrations...at least none not easily attributable to the sea of teenagers surrounding him. His thoughts were no less jumbled, but it was time to focus...woolgathering was not a luxury he could afford in class. He must do well academically...and he must protect Kaname.

As if she caught the scent of his thought of her, Kaname appeared with a dramatic flourish in front of him. "Good morning, Sergeant Silent! Have a bad night? Thunder keep you up late?"

"Uh, Kaname..."

"So, stone CAN talk...gonna ask me a riddle, Sergeant Sphinx?" Kaname quipped, face decorated with a large grin.

"Kaname, why..."

"Sorry...not fair...too broad a question..."

Sousuke paused, reviewed his options, and made a decision. "Kaname, there is a question I would like to ask you." He stopped to carefully frame his words, and the pause cost him the chance to continue.

Kaname's gaze had happened upon Sousuke's satchel. Her need to examine, criticize, and correct overpowered her curiosity and capacity to listen. "Aha! Time to check the homework." She grabbed the case, extracted the papers, and readied her halisen with a speed that Sousuke would have admired had his question not begun digging a foxhole in his tongue.

A few moments later, Kaname spoke abruptly. "Sousuke, this mission was an complete and obvious mistake!!!" Kaname's choice of words caused Sousuke's heart to skip a beat.

"Kaname...are you saying...do you know..." Sousuke questioned with an explosion of breath.

"Yes. First, penmanship: AWFUL." The last word was emphasized with the slight caress of the halisen. Kaname seemed amused. Sousuke said nothing in defense.

"Second, you forgot to sign and date the first page. INEXCUSABLE." The halisen returned, tatooing his scalp in an altogether too familiar fashion. Kaname's eyes took on a strange and frightful glow. Sousuke forgot about his question for the moment.

"Third, and worst of all, you did Algebra. Algebra was for tonight. Last night was J a p a n e s e H i s t o r y. SOUSUKE, YOU TOTAL MORON!!!" The impact rocked Sousuke and nearly separated Sousuke from his chair, despite his readiness. Kaname's expression would frighten a beast from the deepest hell. And her eyes. Those eyes...Sousuke seriously considered retreat. The attention of his fellow students activated his pride, and his pride was the only thing that could have overridden the instinct for self-preservation.

"But," Kaname continued sweetly, "since you went to a lot of trouble, I will examine your work for you. You are free to relax. For now."

She turned her chair away from him...he was not able to see what she was doing, and as a result had no Early Warning capacity. The halisen was not in his line of sight.

Sousuke hoped that she would not find too many errors. He also hoped that she would not draw any inappropriate pictures. There had been an incident where she had decorated his assignment inappropriately, following his well intentioned attempt to alter her science project by further reducing its minimally combustible nature.

Turning through the assignment papers, Kaname came across the fax copy. She turned the page over unread, realizing immediately and subconsciously that it was not on school paper.

After examining another sheet of Sousuke's attempt at Algebra, her thoughts drifted back to that errant piece of paper. She blinked hard. Twice. Three times.

"Could it be a note...a note from Sousuke?" she asked herself. "What kind of note? For me?" She was afraid to look. But wait! She was bold. She was a leader. Suddenly, she was high on a heady mixture of dread and anticipation.

She read the fax.

Letters swirled in her head, in a fashion not disimilar to that of words she vaguely remembered seeing during some Whispered moments.

"R"...

"E"".... ... "T""...


.... "U" ...

"R"........................."N"

Return. Return Arranged. Sgt. Sagara. And Capt. Testarossa.

Tessa?

No, *NOT* 'Tessa.' Rather, 'that little bitch!"

Did this mean she was bringing Sousuke back from his mission at Jindai Highschool? Back from gaurding her? Did that...that...captain feel threatened by Kaname? Wasn't Kaname the one that was supposed to be in danger?

Did Sousuke know about this---was this the reason he had been acting differently this morning?

Did he want to leave? Did he hate the mission THAT much? Did he hate HER? Her pride came to full attention. She told herself that it did NOT matter ether way.

Sousuke could sense something was wrong. Had he done that poorly on his homework?

"Sousuke..." Kaname started flatly and quietly. "Sousuke, is your mission complete?"

Surprised by her question, Sousuke at first thought that his fears had been confirmed. For some unknown reason, he started to feel numb. How could he answer, when he knew nothing more than the words on the fax?

Inside his head, the ultra-logical tactician took over. Kaname had called his homework a 'mission.' And he could not expect her to ask about a covert operation in front of any witness, much less so many witnesses. She must mean the schoolwork. She must be very disappointed about his performance on the Algebra assignment.

He could not let her think that he did not do his best. He must not let her think he would willingly let her down. He did not want to leave even the smallest thread of doubt---lest she equate his performance at schoolwork with his performance as a covert opperative.

"Yes, Kaname. I finished all I could in the time allowed. I did my best. I did not want to let you down."

Kaname turned slowly, and looked deeply into Souske's eyes. She started to speak, and paused. She straightened her back, brushed the hair away from here eyes, and forced a smile.

She had many questions she wanted to ask. She limited herself to one: "Souske...any regrets?"

Sousuke would show no weakness in front of her now. Her confidence was required, and her respect was precious to him. No...strike that...not 'prescious'...important. Tactical. Strategic.

Smiling, and trying to look as confident as possible, he said "No, Kaname. No regrets."

"I see" she said, turning away from him again. Those were the last words he would hear from her at school that day.

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more coming