24 Sousuke and Kanames Time (1/2)
Trudging through the dark mountains away from the base, Sousuke and Kaname could no longer hear the cacophonous aftereffects of the battle.
The only sounds were their breath and the pine needles fluttering about beneath their feet.
”Are you sure everything's okay?” Kaname checked as she supported the staggering Sousuke.
”I won't say I'm not worried,” he said flatly, ”but we have to get away from the base.”
”I meant you. It looks like something's wrong.”
Sousuke's usual stern expression shined with an aberrant gloss of sweat. Although his whole body was covered in 'grime, the bloodstain on his shirt was plainly visible.
”Let's take a break. At this rate . .. ” Kaname began gravely.
Sousuke stopped and peered into the darkness behind them.
After a moment, he said, ”Yes, I could use a short rest.”
Sitting down on a large tree root, Sousuke removed his shirt.
Kaname nearly screamed when she saw him in just his tank top.
There was a piece of metal, about the size of half a CD, protruding from his left side. It must have lodged there earlier, during his AS battle. Kaname could only imagine how incredibly painful that must have been.
She sputtered and gawked.
”I was lucky. It missed all the internal organs and major arteries. There should be a case of small bottles in my jacket pocket-would you please get that out?” Then, without the slightest hesitation, Sousuke yanked out the piece of metal, groaning only slightly.
Terrified, Kaname hurriedly searched the pockets of the jacket and handed over the small case.
Kaname couldn't stand to watch as Sousuke stoically scrubbed the wound with alcohol. Although his hands moved confidently and with purpose, his eyes stared blankly at something unknown.
”There's another case in the other pocket. There should be some tape in there.”
”You mean this?”
Grabbing the tape, he tore up his shirt and taped it in place as a makeshift bandage. Kaname continued looking through the case.
”I look like there's some morphine in here,” she suggested timidly.
”Don't need it,” Sousuke said in a dead tone that made Kaname immensely uneasy.
”But, I mean, you're-”
”If I fell asleep, who would fight the enemy?”
”True, but ... ”
”Let's keep moving. They'll come for us.”
With great effort, he rose and started hiking through the forest.
What the heck? Kaname couldn't help but recognize the absurdity of it all. What's his deal, anyway?
She didn't understand how he could just treat his body like a machine, ignoring the pain.
He just pushed forward, mumbling ”opposition” this and ”enemy” that. He really was just a smaller version of an AS, she decided. Whatever.
Ever since the battle, a strange feeling began to grow in Kaname: She was scared of Sousuke. Although the young man in front of her looked very much like any other, he seemed to be from an entirely different planet.
To Kaname, in some ways, he was just as scary as the terrorists chasing them!
”What's wrong, Chidori?”
She just stood there, blankly, until Sousuke turned around.
”Hurry. The enemy's coming.”
Sousuke was met with a blank stare.
”Are you feeling okay?”
”St-stay away from me!” Kaname stepped backward, prepared to run from Sousuke. ”Don't come near me!”