Christmas Cake (part sixteen)

[dd]

Kaname took the head phones off and unplugged them from the jack. She returned her seat to the upright position. She looked out of the airplane window, seeing nothing but darkness.

Anything could be out there.

Who knows where they were at the moment?

She remembered another fateful flight. This one better end up where it was supposed to!

Were they flying over the ocean? By now they should be! If any terrorists were on board, it would be in their best interest to lay low. They had time to reconsider. They did NOT want to mess with her.

Was Sousuke at sea? Airborne? On the ground? In battle? Getting ready to depart?

?Unless his leaving was some kind of trick!? She froze at the sound of her own words. It WAS possible. She wouldn?t put anything past Tessa! Especially if she found out about the invitation she made Sousuke.

The possibilities tumbled about in Kaname?s mind like clothes in a dryer.

?Relax, Kaname. We still have a long way to go.? It was true, in more ways than one.

She had only been in the air for a couple of hours. It wouldn?t do her any good to worry continuously for the next twelve hours.

Sosuske had shown her his heart for only one stolen moment. It was transcendant event, but how much faith could she put in it.

Was it a promise of things to come?

Or, was it all just wishful thinking?

?First things, first girl.? Yes, no sense in jumping to conclusions. The most important question wasn?t whether or not Sousuke might fall in love with her. For that to matter, he had to return home safe. Would he?

?He better. If he knows what?s good for him! Moron.?

Worrying didn?t accomplish anything. She needed to find some way to distract herself or just stop thinking altogether. It would be nice if she could get some sleep, but it was still too early in her time zone. She looked at the food carts rolling down the aisle way. They call THAT a dinner? Not likely that would hold her interest.

She tried to think about her kiss with Sousuke, wanting to dwell on the pleasant moments they had shared. She had a right to a good life, didn?t she? After all of the tough times she had been through, she deserved something good. So did Sousuke! She would be good for him, if everybody and everything would just give her a chance. He would be good for her too.

?He doesn?t have any choice. Big idiot!?

Yes. He would get back safely from whatever mess they threw him into. She would get back from New York after seeing just what her father had in mind for her. They could pick right up again where they had left off.

She thought about New York. Stepping off the airplane for the first time, those years ago, when she was ten.. The house in the suburbs. Her school. Friends. Visits to the big city. The parks. Subways. One particular Deli. The good times. The bad things. Much of it only seemed a blur now. It would be nice if she could relive some of the special moments from the three and one half years that she spent there. It would be even nicer to make some new memories. She wished she could have gone back under better circumstances.

?Well, we don?t know it?s anything bad.?

True. But, she was going at her father?s insistence, with no time to savor the idea or work up any sense of anticipation. And, she still didn?t know why. That one question had been plaguing her more and more, ever since she hung up that telephone.

It had been heard holding back the tears when she told her friends goodbye. Packing hadn?t been any easier, especially when she nestled the picture Sousuke gave her between two pairs of sweaters. Looking at her card, she had decided to put that in as well. When she closed her suitcase, it felt as if something was missing.

Not something. Someone. Big stupid head!

When she had taken her hamster over to her neighbor, and had done everything else she needed to do, she closed and locked her door, standing there unmoving when she was done.. It was hard to leave. More than anything, she wanted to be in that apartment and hear a knock on that door. She wanted to open that door and see Sousuke. She wanted to wrap her arms around Sousuke and squeeze him until he cried out for mercy.

That was not going to happen. At least not for a while.

Waiting for the cab had been a trial. She had forgotten her umbrella again. The chill wind made her shiver. The driver showed up late. She found out why: traffic was heavy. The ride to the airport was excruciating. She just wanted to be there already! No, she wanted to be in New York. She had to know what was going on. Why so sudden? Why no choice? Why now?

Why so many damn cars on the road? Probably just to spite her.

If only Sousuke could have gone with her! The thought made her smile, despite herself. She could image the effect a certain clueless soldier would have on her father?s well-ordered life. The though of parading arm in arm with Sousuke in front of her sister made her laugh. Ayame would turn green with envy. She would want all of the details. Kaname wouldn?t tell her until it was about time to leave.

She would have made it a point to give Sousuke a long and noisy kiss in front of the little brat?. if her father was nowhere to be seen.

Her smile deepened. It?s always great to have secrets to tease one?s family with. The sense of power was delicious. Then again, knowing her father, it might be best that she didn?t say anything about a certain Sergeant. She was still his little girl, despite all of the obvious anatomic refinements that suggested otherwise.

It was amusing to think the reactions she could get if she did tell him about Sousuke. Especially if she embellished things or withheld certain key points.

?Father, he?s a veteran. A Sergeant. He?s been fighting for the past eight years.? Her father was adept at mathematics. He?d figure that her boyfriend must be in his late twenty or early thirties. And, having spent time in the army when he was younger, he?d have a certain impression of soldiers.

?You?re going to be a grandfather.? That one would set him off like a Roman Candle. In his mind, Kaname wasn?t even supposed to be dating yet. ?I?m pretty certain he?s the father.? That would lead to a full fireworks display. She couldn?t help but chuckle. She had always enjoyed July 4th in the big city.

?He?s very talented father. There?s no one else out there quite like him. Wonderful writing. Classic architecture. Well manicured gardens. Fancy cars, fine wine, and gourmet foods. Trophies in the High School display case. He?s blown them all up at one time or another.? Pull pin from father?. run a safe distance away as he flies off the handle?. watch HIM explode.

The possibilities were endless. But, the last thing she wanted to do was get her father nervous. In her father?s mind, boys were supposed to be invisible to her. All she needed was for him to take away her credit card and break the lease on her apartment. Without those or her expense account, she would be left with few realistic options.

Her mood changed again, prompted by a rather frightening thought. What if the call to Sousuke wasn?t a trick to get him away from her?. but the ticket was a move on her father?s part to bring her back to America?

What if he wanted her there for good?

He was a very influential man. Finding her a spot in a prestigious school would be a piece of cake. There could be closets of clothes waiting for her---Ayame had a good idea of what she did and didn?t like. Her father might try to sweeten the pot by promising her a car on her next birthday.

Kaname was a respectful and considerate daughter. But, if her father tried something like that, he?d get an earful. No, TWO earfuls! And that would just be the beginning. Sure, Kaname. Try to remember the last time you tried to defy your father. You ended up with a juvenile record that day.

?I SAID, I take cash, checks, or credit cards. Tipping is the norm.?

Kaname had snapped out of her funk. The cab had arrived at Narita Airport and she hadn?t even taken notice. As soon as the driver had taken her bags out and put them on the sidewalk, she paid the man. He kept staring down at his palm when he was done.

?Oh, of course. Here?s my tip for the day.? Kaname had been feeling somewhat cantankerous. When the man?s eyes had brightened, she dropped her bombshell. ?When a young lady is waiting out in the rain, don?t be late. Hmmppff!?

She heard obvious cursing in a foreign language as she walked away. For some reason, it made her feel a little better. Sousuke would have appreciated her move. He was a stickler when it came to doing one?s professional duty to the utmost. She remembered his response to the last shoddy cab driver who had asked him for a tip.

?You may choose the manner of your gratuity. I can shoot you in a nonfatal area, or arrange for delivery of your body to the City Morgue.?

That cab driver had dropped the money out of his window and scraped his taxi against two parked cars in an effort to get away. Sousuke had such a way with words. That had made her furious then. She was filled with warmth and affection now.

?Sousuke?.?

As Kaname pulled her suitcase behind her, she couldn?t help but catch sight of the large brightly lit posters on the lobby walls. In each one, a happy family was enjoying some fun activity, or a loving couple walked hand in hand at some exotic or charming location. For some reason, she stopped to look at each one.

She remembered Sousuke?s invitation to join him on a Pacific island. She had been so excited. The invitation impressed her---she hadn?t thought Sousuke could be so bold. She hadn?t ever hoped that he might show that kind of interest in her. Overwhelmed, she had walked on a cloud all of the way back to herapartment, despite being unceremoniously sprayed with paint by that otaku?s overpriced security gate.

Of course, that trip hadn?t turned out the way she had hoped. Before they had boarded, that clueless excuse for a boy had told her where they were actually going. The flight was living Hell. She was so put out, she couldn?t even enjoy giving that jerk the cold shoulder. Then he hooked her up to him and jumped out of the plane, over the ocean!

She smiled. Those moments of freefall had been so wonderful, so freeing.

The events on the submarine were a different story.

?He owes me!?

Yes, that big idiot owed her a trip to some beautiful island somewhere. He always made it a point to pay off his debts and obligations. Always. So, that meant he had to come back alive.

He had to.

Kaname didn?t realize how long she had stopped to stare at one advertisement. A young man held a girl in his arms. They were kissing. She held a scarf in her hand. There was snow falling. ?Share your love together this holiday. Go somewhere special.? The caption couldn?t have hit any closer to the mark.

Checking her watch, Kaname got an unpleasant surprise. She had been standing there longer than she should have. She would need to hurry! If she couldn?t check in and get through customs quickly, she might miss her flight.

Just what she needed. More stress.

She ran, as quickly as she could. People stopped, aghast, seeing her streak past like a crazy woman. Her suitcases bounced and slid behind her instead of rolling. Turning one corner, her largest bag knocked over a row of potted palms. Speeding across one hallway entrance, she spooked the driver of a small people mover. Swerving, he ran into a decorative fountain, catapulting himself face first into the water.

The large digital clocks on the wall served to spur Kaname on. She could do this. She WOULD do this. Nothing could stop one of Jindai High?s best female athletes. Nothing that wished to remain in one piece.

She skidded to a stop. Both bags fell out of her hands. The line to the Airline counter she needed stretched across the Gate area. One of the ticket attendants posted a sign in front of her work area. It read ?Temporarily off duty. Please use next counter.?

There was only one open counter.

For a moment, kaname felt frantic. She checked the Arrival/Departure board. The next flight to NYC was fire hours after hers. There would be no guarantee she could get a seat. What was she going to do? The last thing she needed was another lecture from her father on responsibility.

A thought crossed her mind. It was brazen, but it might just work. Could she possibly justify taking the chance? What if her action caused certain people to reassess the value of keeping her safe?

?What would Sousuke do??

Guns, grenades, and incendiary devices aside, he would do something direct, something bold. How could she, a Class Representative and Student Council Vice President, do anything less.

?They owe me too!?

Ignoring the withering looks she received from the people standing in line, Kaname walked directly up to the ticket counter. She took out a piece of paper from her purse and scribbled a phone number on it, showing it to the startled attendant.

?Excuse me, I am a V.I.P. My identity must remain confidential. Please call this number and put me on the line. Arrangements will be made for you to talk to someone in high authority.?

Kaname tried to put an arrogant look on her face.

?B-But? I can?t do that?. all these people?.? The young woman with the thick glasses stammered, looking at the huge line of travelers.

?The longer you wait, the longer they wait. They longer I wait, the harder it will be for you to find your next job.?

Kaname felt bad saying that.

The girl caught the emphasis on the word ?next.? She debated whether she should call her supervisor, security, or the number on the paper. She chose the final option, much to Kaname?s relief.

?Here?.? She handed Kaname the handset.

?This is Jindai Blue. I am requesting connection to Silver Home. Authorization code 2222-X.? Kaname waited as the Mithril operative on the other end of the line checked on her information. He asked for the password Kaname had chosen.

?Halisen,? she answered. The agent set up a connection to Mithril HQ.

After a couple of tense minutes, someone with the necessary authority came on line.

?Yes. I am at Tokyo Airport and need a favor. I am at risk of missing a flight to New York City. Anything you could say to the ticket attendant to expedite the process would be greatly appreciated.? Kaname crossed her fingers.

She had done a lot for Mithril, playing a big role in saving a five billion dollar submarine. She hoped that would mean something.

?No, I am not acting on any tips heard from him or anyone else. I am traveling at my father?s insistence. Thank you.?

Kaname handed the phone to the lady behind the counter. She had no idea what was said. After she hung up the phone, the attendant dialed another number. There was no way for Kaname to know that it was the home number for the CEO of the Airline. When someone answered at that number, the nervous young lady passed along a short coded message she wrote down. Listening for a moment, her face went pale.

?Let me check you ticket, please.? The girl?s voice tightened as she turned back towards Kaname. Her hands were trembling. ?Here, I will take care of your bags personally. Have a nice flight. Please!?

?Thank you. May I have your name? Address, too? You?ve done a fine job here.? Kaname planned on sending the young lady something to make up for the trouble.

Heading off to board her flight, Kaname stopped for a moment, remembering something she had been asked. Why had the Mithril official asked her if she were traveling as a result if something Sousuke might have told her?

There had been no time to waste. A voice on an overhead speaker mentioned her flight number, saying that the announcement was last call. Kaname had stopped feeling guilty.

A conversation between two men in the seats in front of her brought her back to the present moment. At first, her attention was drawn by the stage whispers and slurred speech. Soon, however, the words themselves had her ears pricked up.

?Shhhhhhh. Keep it down. You?ve had way too much to drink. Give me those.? The first speaker was obviously concerned.

There was the sound of a brief wrestling match. A number of miniature bottles of vodka and bourbon joined an empty sake container, rolling back under Kaname?s seat.

?Of course I did. You should too. You know why!? The second man sounded rebellious.

?Quiet. Keep it down. You know that nobody else is supposed to hear anything. You know the panic it would cause.?

Kaname sat forward in her seat, not embarrassed to be eavesdropping. This ought to be interesting. Unless they ended up spilling secret Yakusa business or something. She didn?t want to be fingered as a possible witness or something. She had already had her fill of gangsters.

?Yeh. Sure. We?re the lucky ones. We get to mrbllbrllfrbfrrglll?.? The voice was garbled for a moment. ?Get your damn hand off of my mouth. You want to go back and sit in Tokyo? Go ahead. Go right ahead. I won?t stop you.?

?Shut the Hell up. You know I will have to report this. The boss will have your ass. For God?s sake, man. Just chill out.? The first man sounded angry.

?You bet. He can chew my tail off if he likes---as long as Tokyo is still there when we get back!? Those ill chosen words were followed by the sound of a loud slap. ?Owwww?.?

?Just one more word and I will have you arrested when we reach the embassy. That?s Japanese soil. As it is, you are going to get busted back down to courier. I?m not joking!!!?

Kaname froze.

Were they drunken fools, or was anything they just said cause for concern?

Tokyo might not be there when they got back?

Her father?s actions suddenly worried her more than ever. The question that the Mithril official had asked sent chills up and down her spine as well---she could only assume that the man had thought she was leaving the country because she had been slipped knowledge of some significant risk or threat.

Did this have something to do with what Sousuke was involved in?

Just how much danger would he be in?

What might happen if he and his comrades failed?

What about her friends? Kyouko. Ryo. Maya. Ren. Everybody. They were still in Tokyo. Should she try to get use of an in flight telephone? Even if she could, what would she say to them? The conversation she imagined was telling:

?Kyouko, it?s me. Hey girl, get out of Tokyo as fast as you can. No, make it Japan.?

?Why, Kaname??

?Oh, because of what two drunken guys were talking about in front of me. That, and the fact that my father sounds overly anxious to see me over the holidays. Did I ever tell you about Mithril??

?No??

?Never mind then. Can you call everyone else and pass along the message??

?What should I tell them the danger is??

?I haven?t a clue! Just make the call, call girlfriend.?

?OK , Kaname?.?

? Thanks, Kyouko. You?re a real trooper.?

There was no way she could call.

Who would believe her?

Besides, she really didn?t have any proof that there was a real danger.

She would have to see if she could get the truth out of her father, if he actually knew something. Then she could call with facts instead of conjecture or just a bad feeling. Yes. There was probably time, wasn?t there? That is, if there actually was something to be concerned about.

Kaname heard the bottles rattling around under her chair. She almost thought about sneaking a couple of bottles for herself when the carts rolled by again. She didn?t care that much for alcohol, but she was incredibly on edge.

There had been all that stress about that first card. Who had it? What was Sousuke going to say? Sousuke accepted, then told her he wouldn?t be able to make it. She had used harsh words. Shoeless, she ran after him. After making up, she had to watch him leave her. Then she got her father?s phone call. She had to rush around throwing things together. Rain. Wind. Traffic. That long line. The worrisome conversation.

It was enough.

She had even forgotten it was Christmas Eve.

The flight seemed to stretch on forever. She wished she could get up and pace up and down the aisles, working off some of her anxiety and excess energy. A stewardess brought by a selection of magazines. There was no way she would choose one of those---teen magazines about dating? family magazines about pleasant outings?. news magazines about world events.

She also had no desire to vote for the next in flight movie. There were three choices. ?The Day After?? No way. She didn?t want to watch a film where New York ended up buried under snow. The new ?Godzilla? flick? No. That would remind her of Sousuke, and she had no desire to watch Tokyo go up in flames. The feature that won at the recent Asian Films Festival? Yeh, right! A romance tragedy.

It was so great being in First Class, wasn?t it? At least she had a fair amount of leg room. More than Sousuke would have in Arbalest.

?Those kinds of thoughts aren?t going to help.?

Kaname failed to take her own advice. Remembering her time aboard the Da Danaan, and piecing together things that Sousuke had told her over time, Kaname began thinking about the kinds of things Sousuke might be going through. Briefings. Trying to catch some shut eye, despite knowing what awaited him. Systems checks, with weary mind trying not to miss something that might prove fatal on the battle field. Getting dressed up in snug and uncomfortable A.S. suits. Final pep talks and updates. Closing oneself up inside a metal machine, surrounded by a load of explosive ordinance. Waiting one?s turn for launch. Being flung skyward by a steam catapult and a powered wing assembly. The nervous moments spent in transit. Sweating as one parachuted down, a sitting duck for anyone taking notice. Then the fun stuff.

How was he doing?

Was he thinking about her?

What might that good for nothing little Captain be up to?

?Tessa? lay one paw on my Sousuke? and you will live to regret it!?

My Sousuke?

Kaname smiled, liking the sound of those words, true or not.

She began reliving every moment they had spent together, seeing many things in a different light. He truly was a fish out of water! Hmmmm, maybe a bull in a China shop was a better analogy. No, a bullet in a China shop. One bullet? Sousuke? How about a pistol, three grenades, and a block of C4 in a China shop?

Did it matter, as long as he was her fish, bull, bullet, or bag full of weapons?

Any way, he was getting better, wasn?t he? If not, he would be soon enough, like it or not. She?d make certain of that. Before, he had been subconscious project of hers. Now, he would be in for a purposeful make-over. No, she was not going to be like those foolish girls who tried to change their boyfriends. She was just going to smooth out the rough edges.

It wasn?t her fault that Sousuke was one big rough edge!

Kaname thought. She smiled. She laughed. She cried. At one point, she was pleased when the stewardess was able to bring her the stationery she asked about. She wrote Sousuke a letter, starting over a number of times, wanting to get it just right. She fell asleep in the process.

When the Captain came on the overhead announced that the plane was lining up for final approach, Kaname woke up and wondered where all of the time had gone.

Looking out the window, she saw a huge expanse of lights. They were flying over the city, headed for John F. Kennedy International Airport. Lower and lower they dropped, until she could make out countless cars headed this way and that. Before she knew it, they were merely a few feet above the runway.

After a somewhat rough landing, and during the long slow journey to the tarmac, Kaname briefly forgot about her worries and concerns. It had been a while since she had seen her father and sister. She felt the anticipation building. Suddenly it was worth every yen to be First Class. She could get off the plane before the restless multitude milling behind her.

Walking up the ramp leading to the waiting area, Kaname felt her pulse quicken. She had an urge to break into a run. She was almost there. Almost there. Almost

Someone was jumping up and down, waving her arms in the air. It was Ayame, of course. Seeing Kaname, her sister ran over to an area marked off by shiny silver poles and long felt-covered ropes. Walking sedately behind her was a well-dressed middle-aged man with glasses. Her father.

?Kaaa-naaaa-mayyyyy!?

Ayamae?s enthusiastic shout reminded Kaname of Kyouko. Thinking about her friend suddenly put Kaname somewhat on edge again.

?Here, let me take your carry-on bag.? Her sister?s smile looked too big to fit on her face.

?Kaname.? Her father?s terse acknowledgement was not accompanied by his usual affable smile and nod of the head. Instead, his major expression seemed to be one of relief. Kaname began to feel the pressure weighing down on her again, especially after the two drunken officials from the plane brushed past her.

Kaname knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to mess up Ayame?s hair and annoy her stoic father with a public show of affection. She knew what she wanted to say, planning on asking Ayame if she had a boyfriend and thanking her father for the airline ticket. The first words out of her mouth did not follow that script.

?Daddy, what?s going on?? Kaname shocked herself and her father with the volume of her voice and the rush of her words.

?Kaname?? Her father was somewhat taken aback. He looked at the people surround him and his two daughters. His eyes narrowed somewhat when he looked at Kaname.

That was not the polite greeting he expected.

The subject matter was one he didn?t want to deal with at the moment.

?Is that the way you greet your father?? It was a rhetorical question. Kaname cringed.

Ayame shook her finger at Kaname in mock severity, blushing when she saw her father catch her in the act.

?I apologize, father.? Kaname bowed. ?I am very happy to see you. You honor me by picking me up in person. I wish to thank you for the opportunity to come for a visit?

Ayame put on a big show of wiping her eyes, standing where her father couldn?t see her. Kaname scowled at her.

?That?s better. A father should expect courtesy from his eldest child, especially as an example to another child who could stand to pay more attention to the family traditions.? Her father looked over at Ayame.

?Yes, father.? Kaname grinned at the look on Ayame?s face. Her sister was none to pleased about that.

?Well then. Let us meet the limo driver down at the baggage carousel. You can identify your luggage for him. As we walk, you can update me on your academic accomplishments at school.? Her father nodded his head and began walking.

Kaname stood still, her heart beating faster and faster..

?Kaname?? Her father turned to see why she was not walking just behind him.

Kaname squared her shoulders and set her jaw. She tried to control her rapid breathing. ?Father, I respectfully ask, what is going on? I have a right to know.?

The look on her father?s face was one of sheer disbelief.

?Kaname Chidori, you need to mind your manners.? Her father?s voice was stern and unforgiving.

?This is neither the time nor the place for any such discussion. That is assuming there will ever be such a discussion.? Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began walking again.

?That?s just it father. I need to know if there is time. I want to know if there will still be a place. My friends are all back there, Daddy. I want to get some idea what Sousuke might be headed into.? Kaname knew she had made a mistake, the moment Sousuke?s name left her mouth.

Ayame knew it too. She smiled, looking like a cat who swallowed a particularly plump canary. She wrapped her arms around herself in a pretend hug.

?We do indeed need to have a talk, Kaname. I thought that living in America had been the cause of your vaguely rebellious nature, and that spending time back in Japan would bring back the obedient daughter I so cherish.? Her father began walking yet again.

Kaname followed, glad he hadn?t zeroed in on her faux pa.

?After we identify the luggage, you will do me a service by informing me about this Sousuke.? Her father spoke without ever looking back.

Kaname stumbled ever so slightly.

[TimeShifter16]

Intriguing! Wonder how her father will take what's been going on with Kaname? Wonder what's going on with Sousuke and that new drug. Update soon (or else)! :evil: