Christmas Cake (part seventeen)

[dd]

Kaname was feeling guilty. In part, it was an ingrained thing---she hated to disappoint her father in any way. But, it was also true that she had been rude and impatient. She could blame it all on Sousuke. She had gotten too used to behaving that way around a certain infuriating young soldier.

?That moody military maniac has sure rubbed off on me,? she said quietly to herself, standing in the parking garage at the airport.

A large dark blue Lincoln limousine sat near one curb. The driver stood patiently by, a bemused look on his face. Foreign customs never ceased to amaze him. Shunya and Ayame Chidori sat inside, each with a different reaction to Kaname?s behavior.

The young girl was all smiles.

Her father?s scowl deepened by the moment.

?Hmmm. Daddy is High Commisioner on Environmental Issues at the U.N. Why would he rate the use of this car?? Kaname noted the U.N. plates, deciding it was not necessary to run a check on them. Might he be involved in bigger things? No time to pursue that now.

She checked the windows. They were bulletproof glass of the highest grade. She inspected the tires. Run flat. Good! She did a quick scan of the undercarriage and wheel wells, making certain not to get her clothes dirty.

Kaname ignored the faces her sister was making at her. She caught a view of her father looking this watch.

?May I look under the hood, please?? Kaname smiled at the driver?s look. He quickly acquiesced.

Everything appeared in order. No mysterious boxes or pouched. No sign of radio receiving equipment or remotely controlled servo devices. The trunk also looked fine. She gave the limo driver a thumbs up, then went back to join the others.

?OK, we?re ready to roll. My stomach?s growling. I could certainly go for some breakfast!? She looked at her watch, set to EST. ?Or, I should say supper.?

Her father didn?t say a thing---he just kept staring at her, trying to find the right words.

?Daddy?? Kaname couldn?t imagine what might be bothering her father now. Was he still building up steam after hearing Sousuke?s name?

Ayame was giggling. Life was always so much more interesting when Kaname was around.

?Kaname? your behavior?. are you on drugs?? The way her father said it made Kaname go cold. He wasn?t joking.

?Father!!!? Kaname felt insulted. What had brought that on?

?I worry about you, Kaname. It is not an easy thing, having a daughter half a world away.?

Those words hit Kaname like a cart full of bricks. It was wonderful that her father cared; but, the possibility that he might want to permanently bring her back within his sphere of influence made her very uneasy.

She would have to watch her every step. One wrong slip of the tongue could prove disastrous. She might not be in harm?s way like Sousuke, but it appeared that she might very well be on a mission of her own. It was her task to maintain? or regain? the privilege of staying in Tokyo by herself.

That thought was ironic. Two years ago---when her father and Ayame had moved back to New York---she had been devastated when she was left on her own. Kaname had agreed to the move and concurred with all of the arguments; but, it had almost felt as if she were being abandoned or left behind.

?I?m a big girl now, Daddy. You and Mother did a fine job of raising me. It?s not too long before I head off for college. You need to have faith in me. I know right from wrong.? She kept her eyes on her father?s face, even though she had the urge to take in the sights of the city at night.

Kaname?s words were meant to be reassuring. Her father looked anything but relieved. He took a pen out of his pocket and began twirling it around. It was a nervous habit that people rarely saw.

?Do you, Kaname?? The pen stopped. His eyes scoured Kaname?s face, as if looking for written proof otherwise.

?Your behavior in the lobby was unpleasant. Your obsession with the automobile was disconcerting. Your mention of a young man raises a number of serious questions.?

Kaname?s muscles tightened. She had never enjoyed the Father-Daughter talks. Her father was well-meaning, but his approach would better fit a Drill Sergeant. If she showed him one shred of weakness or one reason to doubt, he would be all over her.

He was definitely unhappy about her impatience in the waiting area.

Her safety check of the car seemed somewhat odd to him.

But, given the politician in him, it was the words he most casually uttered that had the greatest significance. He was most worried about her behavior around boys.

Sousuke.

Kaname?s attention was briefly hijacked by some motion outside the car. They were stopped in traffic. Men were walking around with squeegees, holding cups of coins in their hands. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Her thoughts quickly returned to her father.

There was good reason to be nervous. Depending on the things he might ask, she could be faced with a difficult choice. She did not want to lie. But, what secrets could she safely share with him? What would the fact that she had been hiding things of such colossal nature do to his trust in her? Might he be frightened enough to bring her back overseas?

It would be a good time to move the conversation as far away from Sousuke as possible.

?Father, I respectfully ask, may we now discuss the real reason you brought me in for a visit at such short notice? I was originally worried about your health and Ayame?s. Now I?m worried about world events.?

There was no deception in Kaname?s look or voice. She was concerned. Very much so.

?It still remains be seen whether or not we will discuss that matter at all. Your attitude and willingness to confide in me will go along way in helping me make my own decisions. First there is an issue much closer to home. I would appreciate your cooperation. Please do not attempt to skirt the issue any longer.?

Kaname wisely refrained from asking her father what was closer to HER home than Tokyo. That was besides the point. She should have known that she could never outmaneuver him.

?Well?? Shunya obviously expected her to know what was on his mind, and to be responsible enough to initiate the conversation. His shoe toe began tapping ever so subtly.

Ayame giggled. That earned her a scowl from Kaname and her father.

?Sousuke??

?Precisely. I take it that he is a friend of yours. It is a he, isn?t it?? Her father took off his glasses and began cleaning them. He did it without taking his eyes off of Kaname?s face, as blurry as it was.

?Yes Father. Sousuke is a classmate of mine. I consider him to be my friend.?

Kaname?s father looked at her intensely. He put his glasses back on. His eyes seemed to bore right into her skull. His hand twitched repeatedly.

?When you say friend, do you mean a platonic companion...... or a boyfriend?? His voice was deceptively quiet. Still, to Kaname, the word ?boyfriend? sat there expectantly, like a landmine just waiting for a foot.

?Father, that?s....?

Kaname was not in the mood to be grilled about Sousuke. Not with him going into harm?s way. Not with her being worried about her friends. A small petulant part of her thought that turnabout is fair play.

?Your personal business? Well, unless you have forgotten, YOU... are... MY... personal business.? Hearing that tone of voice, Ayame no longer looked amused. She looked out of the car window. She wanted to put her fingers in her ears.

?But....?

?There will be no ?buts? Kaname. None whatsoever. You know what my expectations were of you. No dating before you finished high school and had taken your examinations. How long have you been keeping this a secret from me?? His last sentence came out in a slow hiss. The hairs on the back of Kaname?s neck stood up.

?Father....?

?HOW LONG??

?We never actually had a chance to go out on our date, father. We were planning to go out for dinner last night.? Kaname was not about to say anything about Belles Des Belles. She was unable to keep her disappointment out of her voice.

That could have ended her father?s version of the Spanish Inquisition, but it did not. Figuratively speaking, there was blood in the water. Her father could be more persistent than any shark alive.

?Ayame, did you know anything about this?? Her father?s tact caught Ayame entirely off guard. Without even stopping to think, she answered.

?I?m not supposed to say anything, father.? Immediately after blurting that out, she looked shocked and upset. It was an innocent answer, but it sounded bad.

?I see. Well then. Up until this time, what has this Sousuke been to you?? The absolute flat quality to his voice was much more frightening than his earlier outburst was.

?He was my friend, father.....? Kaname stopped when she saw her father?s hand grab the arm rest.

He wouldn?t stop until he heard what he thought was everything, and she was never able to hide anything from him.

Her father deserved an answer. He always had, but events had finally forced her hand.

?Daddy, is this cabin secure?? Kaname looked at the glass partition between them and their driver. She hoped that there was no chance of being overhead, given the sensitive nature of what she was about to say. Given its use in diplomatic service, the limousine should be routinely swept for bugs and the like.

?What?? The question caught her father by surprise. ?Why??

He saw the look in Kaname?s eyes and quickly answered ?Yes, as best as I can determine.?

?He?s my bodyguard, father.? The words spilled out of her easily.

Kaname?s father sat upright, pulling his shoulder belt out to its limit. His mouth hung open briefly. ?Why would a high school girl need a body guard? Have you gotten yourself into some kind of trouble, young lady?? He looked irate for a moment, but soon went pale.

?Could this have something to do with my position? Did someone attempt to harm you as a way to get at me?? He looked over at Ayame, wondering if he had reason to be concerned for her as well.

That look was easily interpreted by Kaname. She realized that there was something she needed to do later. While she had never heard anything that made her believe that the Whispered condition was hereditary, she would make certain that Ayame did not mutter technical terms in her sleep.

?Is this about me, Kaname?? Her father?s teeth were clenched.

Kaname shook her head. She hesitated a moment. It was hard to get the words to leave her lips.

She had to tell him, even though she had been discouraged from letting anyone know. The last thing that Mithril wanted was a U.N. official to start looking into their business, much less get proof of their existence. Kaname would simply have to trust her father?s judgment. This was tricky business. There were places she would have to draw the line.

?I?m Whispered, father.?

Shunya obviously had never heard that term before. ?Whispered? Are you saying you hear voices? Is it some kind of psychiatric disorder. If so, why didn?t you.....?

Kaname shook her head. Despite her acceptance of her condition, she began to cry. The response triggered the paternal instinct in her father. His eyes softened and his posture relaxed.

?I?m not certain what it really is, father. All I know is that my brain contains secrets about Black Technology, science well beyond anything known by routine researchers. I was once told that I contained such information before I was even born.?

Kaname?s father looked as if he didn?t want to believe what he had just heard. Ayame looked very worried.

?How can this be so? And why is this the first time I?ve heard any of this? Couldn?t you have confided in your own father?? The anger began to creep back in.

Kaname shook her head again, wiping away her tears. ?It would be too dangerous. Especially for you. I?ve been kidnapped multiple times as it is, Daddy. I?ve been hurt. Bad men have tried to take the information from me. I.... I.... somehow I have gotten used to it. I feel safe because....?

Her father looked helpless for a moment. Kaname had never seen anything like that, not even when he was dealing with her mother?s terrible illness. He ran a hand through his hair and put his serious face back on.

Suddenly, the car swerved. Everybody was shaken momentarily as the driver stepped hard on the brake and blew the horn. A taxi had run through a red light. Things had been very close.

It took a while for everyone to gather their senses.

?You feel safe because of your bodyguard. This Sousuke. Is that it?? He father picked up where they had left off.

Kaname nodded.

?What is he? Mob family? Private personal defense firm? Japanese military? Just some punk who has an inflated opinion of himself? And how does he remain close enough to maintain your safety??

Kaname correctly read the dual meaning of the question. It was both a query and a statement: ?How can he be at school so much of the time? and ?He better not be spending the night in your domecile!?

Kaname bit her lip. It was one thing to reveal that she was Whispered. Mentioning Mithril specifically would be a much greater risk. She didn?t want their protection withdrawn. She didn?t want Sousuke pulled away from her!

?He?s a fellow student, Daddy.? That much was easy. It was true. ?He is also a soldier.?

?A soldier? How old?? Shunya looked incredulous.

?Seventeen, Father. My age.?

?A soldier at seventeen? The Japanese armed forces would never indoctrinate someone at that age. And how would he have time to begin training, if he is always at school? That doesn?t make any sense.?

Her father scrutinized her face, looking to see if he could catch any sign of a lie.

?He?s not Japanese military, Daddy. He?s been a fighter since he was eight years old. He?s somewhat unique.? Kaname couldn?t help but smile.

That word certainly described a certain clueless Sergeant.

Kaname?s father could not help but catch that smile. He was too upset to purse that more narrow line of questioning just yet. ?Intelligence agency??

?No, Sir.? Kaname knew he would get upset if she kept him guessing any longer. ?Not really. It is a secret organization, father. I shouldn?t use the name, not even with you. They work for world peace, trying to remain undetected. They make it a point to protect the Whispered. For now, they protect me. If they believe I am a risk to them....?

Her father?s face went ashen.

For as few moments he sat in silence, fidgeting. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke. ?I occasionally overhear things I shouldn?t. Information comes to me about things I am not supposed to be privy to. Recently, with events as they are, I have caught wind of a name. I have heard rumors of a miraculous submarine.? Her father?s hand shook slightly.

Kaname was certain she knew what her father was going to say. She was concerned about the words he had used: ?with events as they are.?

What events? She still had no idea what was going on!

?Mithril.?

Kaname didn?t respond. She didn?t have too. Her face gave all the answer her father needed.

?So. They do exist. Then there?s hope.? Kaname instinctively knew that her father was talking about some bigger picture, not about her situation. His eyes regained focus, and he looked at his daughter with a hint of concern.

?If you are in danger Kaname, why isn?t this Sousuke with you? Are we being shadowed by him or people from his group??

Her father looked out of the rear window of the car.

Kaname couldn?t help herself. She hated to be so weak, but the emotional roller coaster she was riding had taken its toll. She began crying again.

?Kaname??

?I told you he was unique, Father. He is. Someone very special. Bodyguard is not his primary duty. He.... he...? Kaname faltered, putting her face in her hands.

Her father waited patiently, his heart going out to her. He had only seen her cry like this two times in the past---when her mother died, and when she learned she would be living alone in Tokyo without him or her sister.

Kaname made a Herculean effort. She set her jaw and shook her head. Her fingernails pushed deep into her palms.

?He?s a soldier, Daddy. A Specialist. He was called back to base to prepare for an upcoming operation. He had no idea where he might be going.? Kaname?s eyes grew very bright. She stared at her father. She wanted answers.

?Do you, father??

Her father looked torn. Kaname knew he was wrestling with his own difficult decision He would feel compelled to tell her something. It was a matter of how much should he divulge.

?We will speak about it when we get back to the apartment. There is nothing we can do about it, any way. Furthermore, there is nothing we SHOULD find ourselves doing about it.? The meaning was clear. No phone call to anyone, no matter what.

?I shouldn?t do it at all, but?.? Shunya continued, taking off his glasses and slowly rubing his eyes.

?Daddy??

?You?ve given me a lot more to digest than I wanted, Kaname!? Her father managed a laugh, but Kaname knew it was forced.

?While it may be disconcerting to me as your father, it must have been much worse for you. No doubt, being who you are, you have handled it all with courage and good grace. But, don?t think you have to carry the whole load yourself, lambkin.? He reached out his hand and tapped her wrist. Smiling, he pushed aside a lock of her hair.

Kaname?s lip began to tremble. Her father hadn?t used that nickname for more years than she could remember. The tears almost began to fall again, until she caught the look on Ayame?s face. Of course she couldn?t help but listen in. If that little brat even so much as whispered ?lambkin??

?Thank you, Daddy.?

?I think I would like to meet the young man who has the important job of guarding my daughter.? He noted the shocked look on Kaname?s face.

His eyes squinted.

?If he manages to?. what I mean to say is whenever it is convenient for you both. I will pay for the plane tickets, naturally.? Her father was making it a point to be generous, not only in money, but in holding off on making any big choice.

Kaname didn?t have any illusions.

He could change his mind if he had reason to suspect she was better off with him and her sister.

?But?.?

?Yes. Let me put it this way. You wish to hear about sensitive matters. I would like to meet the boy who holds your fate in his hands. It is nice to have things of value to exchange, isn?t it? Of course, with family, there is no need to view things that way.?

Ayame turned a incredulous look on her father. Kaname swallowed. She knew she couldn?t refuse his request. She might as well get something out of it.

?If it is possible for Sousuke, I will do so, Father.? She bowed her head. It wouldn?t be an issue if Sousuke didn?t come back safe and sound. If he did, could he get permission to fly to the States? She knew what the answer would be if his commanders suspected that kaname blew his cover.

?Good. Very good. So, while we inch our way through this pleasant city traffic, perhaps you can give your sister and I a preview of sorts. I would like to hear all about this Sousuke. His background. His training. What types of situations the two of you have faced. Your evaluation of his performance.? He smiled a crocodile?s smile. ?Everything?..?

So that?s it!

The offer might be real, but the whole thing would serve as a means to get her to talk. Kaname remembered why she hated every politician except her father. As far as she was concerned, diplomats were politicians, whether or not they had to run for office.

?Uh?.?

?KANAME.?

?As you wish, Father.? Kaname pilled her hair away from her face. She frowned, noticing one disheveled cab driver giving their chauffer the finger.

?Lets start with his hands, young lady.? That tact caught her off guard.

?Hands?? She had no idea what he was after.

?Yes, as in ?has he put them all over you?? Did the young man ever try to take advantage of you?? Her father?s look was very fierce.

?Sousuke?? Kaname couldn?t help but laugh. ?He?d be the last person who would ever do that! You?d have to look far and wide to find someone that clueless. You might even need a special order catalog!?

?Really?? Her father didn?t look convinced.

?Yes, Father.? Kaname?s mood sobered up quickly. ?Sousuke takes his job very seriously. He wouldn?t let anything hurt me. He would die for me. He has risked his life on a number of occasions.? Kaname did not add that Sousuke was the cause of a number of such occasions.

?But, he asked you out on a date?.? It sounded as if Kaname?s father equated that with Kidnapping, Murder and Rape. Was Sousuke guilty until proven innocent?

Kaname blushed. She had to tell the truth. Hopefully there wouldn?t be a verbal explosion. ?No, Father. I asked him.?

Shunya sat quietly. He didn?t move. Ayame drew a finger across her neck, pretending to cut her throat.

?I see. It looks as if we will have a lot to talk about during your stay in New York. If Tokyo is as dangerous for you as you make it sound, then that stay may become very long.? The sound of his voice was well-oiled, like a bear trap being set in the open position. Figuratively speaking, Kaname curled up her fingers and toes.

?Father, terrorist organizations can go anywhere. I would think this city knows that more than any other. I?m not in danger because I live in Tokyo. I?m in danger because I?m Whispered. I?m still alive because of Sousuke, who has been assigned to me in Tokyo. I seriously doubt that there is anyone else my age that could do what he does.?

Chew on that, Daddy! I know what danger you?re most worried about?.

?You seem very proud of this young man. Dare I say very attached? Enamored? More?? Her father would not resort to innuendo. He didn?t have to. His question was straight to the point.

?Yes, Father. All of those. But only lately. For most of the time, I was annoyed and irritated. What did I need with someone following me around, always seeming to be there, claiming it was coincidence? It seriously creeped me out!?

?Good!? Her father looked embarrassed at his reaction.

Kaname blinked, then set her jaw. OK, Father. It?s out in the open now. My turn!

Ayame broke out laughing. She breathed on the window, fogging it up. She traced a big heart before wiping it away. Kaname took little notice. She was about to walk a much more serious path.

?But then things happened. He was forced to reveal his identity and mission. We almost didn?t come home.? Kaname couldn?t believe how easily she could talk about things that had turned her world up side down.

?Start from the beginning, Kaname. Do not leave anything out.? Shunya?s voice was stern, unyielding. But, he hadn?t been able to mask a sudden burst of fear.

?We were on a class trip to Okinawa. I still thought Sousuke was some kind of military nut. He was in the doghouse because I caught him on my balcony holding a pair of my panties.? Kaname bit her tongue. Yes, she had become too blas? talking about extraordinary and unusual things.

Damn that Sousuke!

?WHAT?!!!?

?He wasn?t the panty thief, Father. He had seen the culprit sneaking around my apartment and stopped him. I didn?t know that. I slammed him pretty hard with my softball bat.?

Ayame clapped her hands, giggling. ?See Daddy. Sounds like your usual high school romance.?

Shunya looked at Ayame. Then at Kaname. Then at Ayame again. He shook his head and sighed.

?I have a suspicion that I am going to end up in a hospital ward before hearing the end of this. Or, you will end up in St. Mary?s convent. Both of you. Please continue.?

Kaname gave her sister the best ?Just you wait? look she could. Just whose side was she on?

It was time to sell Sousuke, even though her father was not in any mood to buy.

?Terrorists took over the plane. When we landed in Khanka, I was taken off of the aircraft and brought to a portable laboratory. I was placed in a machine, and would have been drugged. I don?t doubt that I would have eventually disappeared, never to be seen again.?

Kaname?s father looked stricken. It all sounded like something out of a spy novel or a bad TV movie. His daughter was obviously not joking.

?Sousuke was ordered to protect the hostages on the plane. They were a greater priority than one girl, Whispered or not. He disobeyed. He shot the guards who were manhandling me?covered my underwear with his school uniform? then dragged me off to a truck. He told me who he was while we drove off under heavy fire. I didn?t believe him. Seeing enemy Arm Slaves coming towards us, he crashed through the door into a hangar building. He surprised me by getting inside one of the machines himself. The others never stood a chance, Father."

Kaname still had trouble accepting the things that Sousuke did. How could someone be so masterful in some ways, but so clueless in others? "He?s one of the best A.S. pilots in Mithril.?

It was a bit too much for her father. Her looked out of the window for a number of blocks, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly his head shot up. His eyes narrowed. Kaname would have sworn that he was fighting back a grin.

?So, he refused a direct order? Not the most dependable sort then.?

Kaname almost shouted. With all that she had said, her father was obviously drowning in the truth. What did he grab for as a life preserver? The chance to discredit the boy his daughter was interested in.

?You couldn?t be more wrong.? Her voice snapped like a wet towel swung at someone?s unguarded posterior. ?I like to think he took my safety very seriously.?

Shunya looked away, then nodded. He yielded that point.

She went on to describe everything in detail, finishing with her stay in the hospital. ?He gave me the picture father. It?s in my suitcase. I will show it to you when we get home.? Kaname thought back to the time in her apartment.

She saw the package fly through the air. She heard the sound of breaking glass. She remembered the way she felt when she realized just what Sousuke had given her.

?That was the worst of it all?? Her father didn?t want to believe there could be anything worse than that episode. ?Nothing so horrible has happened since then?? His eagerness could be paternal concern. Still, the was a hint that he was looking for a reason to devalue his daughter?s protector.

Kaname actually smiled, despite the frightening and painful memories she had. They were a pretty good team, Sousuke and her! The smile went away as quickly as it had appeared. That Captain had helped as well.

Now was not the time for her mind to become rebellious. She shook away the image of Sousuke comforting Tessa.

?No, Daddy. That maniac did not die. He devised a clever plan that would have succeeded, if it hadn?t been for Sousuke and myself.?

?YOU??

?Yes, Father.? Kaname went on to describe the attempted hijacking of the TDD-1. Her father?s face seemed to turn to stone when she told him of the abilities she had discovered. She went on to describe things in too much detail, spurred on by her own pride.

It might prove to be a costly mistake.

Her father was no doubt struck by the fact that she was proud of the role she played. He might wonder if being around Sousuke made her reckless and foolhardy. He could very well see Sousuke as the world?s largest lightning rod.

What had she done?

?It seems plain to me that you would not have gotten into trouble if that soldier had not asked you to go on a trip with him!? Shunya?s eyes flashed. ?And you never went so far as to tell me why you chose to accept the offer to go away somewhere with a boy? alone.? His hands opened and closed with each beat of his heart.

Sousuke, what should I do? What would YOU do?

Yes. I know.

Kaname squared her shoulders and tossed her hair. She was going to attack this head on, whatever the cost. She owed it to herself. She owed it to Sousuke. If she had to stretch the truth some, so be it!

?I will tell you something in the strictest confidence, Father. The Captain of that submarine is a girl my age. She designed the sub. She?s Whispered too. At her orders, Sousuke brought me aboard to visit with her. It was so she could explain to me what being Whispered meant.? That was essentially true. Sousuke had actually meant to show her Mithril?s island, and to take her to that secret fishing place.

Her father relaxed some, but was not about to give up that easily.

?But, you almost died because of Mithril. Is all the protection in the world worth that. Are they causing more problems than they are solving?? He slammed his hand down hard on the seat, causing Ayame to jump.

Kaname caught her tongue in time. She almost said that Sousuke was worth any risk. That would have been the final nail in her coffin. And, she wasn?t certain if that was entirely true. She still had a lot to find out about a certain walking natural disaster.

?I know you want to protect me Father, and I can?t tell you how much that means to me.? Kaname?s eyes teared up. She hated arguing with her father. Things between them had always been a touch stiffer since her mother die. Her father obviously was afraid to lose anyone else. ?But, all the love in the world won?t keep me safe. This is hard on me, you know. I didn?t ask for it. I live it day after day. I?m doing my best.?

Ayame unbuckled her seat belt. She reached over and squeezed Kaname?s hand, tears in her eyes.

Shunya looked down, shaken. He had lost sight of the forest, so worried about the trees. He opened his mouth, but didn?t know what to think or say at that moment.

?Very few people officially know about the Whispered, Father. You could imagine what people might do or think if they became common knowledge. As far as I know, Mithril and her secret allies are the only people looking out for us. Had that submarine been stolen, the organization would have been seriously hurt. Those like me would be fair game.? Kaname rested her chin on her clasped hands.

Her father nodded his head. He could see the truth in her words. He just didn?t want to accept the new world he was faced with.

?If Sousuke and I didn?t end up on that submarine, there?s no telling what might have happened. You made it sound like you had word of the sub's existence. It certainly looked like you took comfort from that fact. We saved it, Daddy. The two of us and the Captain.?

?I see that, but this young man?.?

Kaname brought both of her hands down hard, striking them painfully against her knees.

?His name is Sousuke, Father.? At that moment, Kaname couldn?t hold back her emotions any more.

And, he kissed me.

?I know I have told you that.?

I want him to kiss me again.

?You don?t even know him.?

He means the world to me.

?He? is? NOT? the? enemy!?

Kaname knew how her words must sound. She may very well have crossed some important line in the sand. But, she would stand up for Sousuke. He was standing up for Japan at the very least, probably the entire world. He deserved no less.

Ayame looked shocked. Neither of them had ever talked to their father that way.

Shunya felt indignant at first, but soon realized just how worried his daughter must be. She had said the young man would be headed into battle, and that likely meanthe would end up in the middle of the Asian situation. He didn?t know the full details of that crisis, since it wasn?t germane to his position. He knew more than enough to be frightened out of his wits.

That was why Kaname was in America.

?I?. I apologize, Kaname. It is ungracious and insensitive of me. I?m not trying to hurt you. You have to realize that to some fathers, any boy who takes an interest in their daughter is the enemy. I mean no disrespect to someone who has taken risks to keep you safe.? He was clearly torn.

It was important that his daughter see his side of things. This needed to be handled carfully. It couldn't be rushed.

The look on Kaname?s face reminded Shunya of his late wife Shizu. She would look that way when he was being bull-headed and she felt she was right.

He had lost her to cancer.

He didn?t want to lose his daughter over this.

?He isn?t the enemy, Daddy.? Kaname?s voice was very quiet. The anger ran out of her as if someone pulled a plug. The fear remained and grew stronger. She was with the one man who had done the most for her, but she somehow felt so helpless.

She put the car window down after disabling the security override. She placed her arm on the sill and her head on her arm. She breathed deep, taking in the smells of the night.

Countless homes, businesses, and apartment complexes lit up the darkness. She wondered how many of the people in those buildings took their safety for granted. She wondered how many of those people had someone they loved... someone who treasured them in return.

It was Christmas Eve here.

She remembered celebrating the Christmas holiday for a number of years when she was younger. Christmas Eve, Japan time, had already passed, leaving her lonely, disappointed, and uncertain. Would she end up feeling the same way a second time, even though she was with two of the most important people in her life?

Kaname did not say another word before the car pulled into the driveway of her father?s home.

[TimeShifter16]

I say it every time, but awesome chapter! I love her father's reaction to Mithril and Sousuke. It's nice to know Kaname's learned a few tricks from "seargent clueless". You keep posting, I'll keep reading and responding. You've got a knack for this!