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Goddess: ;Is hobbling around on crutches, has a black-eye, head injuries, random cuts and bruises;
Shinn: What happened to her?
Cagalli: Reviewers, of course. After the last chapter, what else? She's been gone for so long that they had time to track her down and attack her. ;glares; She left me on the ground bleeding, for how many months, Shinn?
Shinn: ;monotone; Fourteen
Cagalli: Fourteen! And this entire time what has she been doing? Writing other things and leaving me and Kira on the ground- half dead!
Goddess: ;Twitch; See? This is why I lose sleep… Figments of my imagination yelling at me. ;Twitch; Well, I'm back, and here's another chapter for all of you… ;rocking back and forth; Movie better save SEED… Yes, it better bring back my Asucaga… Hopefully marriage, yes? Either that or I fear Asucaga will be beaten with a stick; we can't have that, no! Asucaga, I need Asucaga!
Shinn: ;edges away; Does she do this often?
Cagalli: Alllll the time.
Shinn: I suddenly feel so sorry for you…
Cagalli: And why is that?
Shinn: Because, you're her favorite character, so you're stuck here in all her stories. I'm just here until the end of this one, or until she finally snaps and lets me go.
Cagalli: … I hate you…
Shinn: Hey, don't blame me!
Goddess: ;Blinks at the scene; Well, ain't this ironic? Ah, well… I apologize for being gone for so long. I've had a lot going on, and well, I'm just plain lazy.
I would recommend you go back and skim the previous chapters, as I've added cool headings to them and modified just a little bit in the way events take place.
Now, let's just get on with what you guys actually came here to see, right? I don't own Gundam SEED or Gundam SEED Destiny, or any of the characters affiliated with the Cosmic Era. I do own my OCs, Hido, Gikei, and Tekiya.
Chapter Three: The Longest Days
Quote of the Day: "If there are things in this world you want to protect sometimes you've got to fight for them!"
-Athrun Zala, Gundam SEED, Episode 40- Into the Dawn Sky
Colony Seihen; 10:17 P.M.
Military Docking Bay
Athrun and Lacus clambered off the shuttle, thanking the pilot and taking their luggage of one bag apiece with them. They had missed the banquet, that was for sure, but they were relatively happy to finally be at the neutral colony. Relatively meaning Lacus still had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach; she thought, for some strange reason, that it involved Kira…
But that would be silly. Kira was here, waiting for her. It puzzled her why there was no one in the holding bay, especially not Kira or Cagalli. She'd been expecting them to greet the two travelers when they landed.
It seemed Athrun had also picked up on this, and turned to her, his mouth slightly open. "Where-?"
His question was interrupted by a loud cry of pain that echoed through the silent room.
Lacus saw Athrun turn deathly pale as all the air seemed to leave his lungs. "Cagalli…"
Lacus' eyes went wide as Athrun dashed toward the sound of the scream, leaving everything else behind. Startled, Lacus stood still for a moment, but followed as fast as she could, dropping her bag as Pink-chan floated behind her, yelling, "THERE'S A PROBLEM!"
Following him through a door on the far side of the room, Lacus found herself in a large holding bay, probably where shuttles and other sorts of ships ended up when their passengers were staying in the large colony via the banquet hall. Athrun had stopped in his tracks, just staring for a moment. When Lacus moved around him to see what he was looking at, her eyes grew wide and her hands flew to her mouth.
There, laying before a boy a little younger than her, was Cagalli, bleeding profusely from her right arm, stomach, and leg, the leg and stomach wounds still producing blood. She seemed to be trying to curl into a ball, her eyes shut tight and her face contorted in pain. The boy was holding a gun, aiming it right at her head.
What Lacus spied next made her let out a high-pitched shriek of terror.
Only a few feet away from Cagalli was the same brunette Coordinator who she'd come to love, and cherish, laying in a pool of blood, his chest and left shoulder soaked with the crimson liquid, Kira Yamato. Lacus felt her eyes heat up, her heart stop, her whole body seemed to shut down at the sight of the unconscious boy. Small tears fell from her eyes, falling onto the floor, everyone bringing more pain to her heart.
An enraged yell exploded from his throat and Athrun charged forward, yelling out the name of his loved one and surprising the black-haired man who was standing over Cagalli. He grabbed the man's hand, knocking the gun out of it and squeezing it until he heard a loud crack. The man yelled, stumbling backward and cradling his now broken hand. Athrun kicked the gun against the wall behind him as soon as it hit the ground.
Athrun's cloudy emerald eyes flew to a discarded knife, lying near the blonde girl's body. He snatched it up, noticing it was laced in fresh blood. This only fueled his ire. He suddenly ran at the one before him, pinning him to the wall and holding up the knife.
"Is this what you used to hurt her?" His voice came out in a hiss, in a way he'd never heard it before.
The man seemed to shrink against the wall, trying to get away. His eyes shone bright with fear, all the presence of an assassin gone; it was like he was a child watching a horror movie.
But Athrun didn't care about this. The man- no, the boy- had almost killed Cagalli and Kira! He couldn't let this go unpunished.
"Kira…" She whimpered. "Kira."
Her left arm sunk under his back and pulled him close to her, his head on her chest as her tears dampened his hair. She stroked the brown tresses gently, not caring that her sky blue dress was slowly turning crimson. Her sobs grew louder as she stared at his calm face. He wasn't smiling, but he seemed at peace.
Stop thinking like that! Lacus berated herself. He's not dead! He's not dead! He's not… He's not… H-he's…
Lacus couldn't think anymore. The sight of Kira like this… It made a lump swell in her throat, causing her to choke back her weeping. She pulled him closer, moving her right arm around him as well.
"Kira… Kira…!" Her voice shook as the salty liquid continued to seep out, her mind only focusing on Kira, her love.
"Is this what you used to hurt her?" His question came out louder, crueler, this time.
His opponent shuddered, taking a step away. This made Athrun slam him against the wall as hard as he could with his right shoulder, the blunt side of the knife hitting his stomach. He pressed the point against the man's forehead.
"How would you like to feel this in you?" A quiver was his response. Athrun moved the knife slowly down the man's face, not making a single cut. He stopped when he reached the chest, just to the right of the heart. "Maybe here."
The man was staring at Athrun, but the eyes of a Child seeming to yell and scream, slamming against the blue-haired boy's soul. But the soul was hardened and locked away; a rough hand shoved the Child's sobbing form away. The Child didn't quit, though, this time using words to try and persuade the soul to help.
"P-please…" The Child whispered through Tekiya's lips. "H-have mercy…"
The rough hand tightened on the knife, burying the soul further. Cloudy green eyes narrowed, teeth clenched.
"Did you show mercy?" The owner of these characteristics snarled. "Did you show them any mercy?"
The rough hand's partner gestured to the two lying on the ground, injured and unconscious.
The Child wailed inside the man, inside Tekiya, begging him to apologize, to try and stop the monster before him. It said Hido would listen; Hido wouldn't blame them for wanting to live. Hido was their friend.
But the man ignored the Child; the man was grown up and didn't fear death. But the Child did. The Child was more fearful than ever before. The Child took hold of the man completely, whimpering and begging.
"I-I'm sorry, please!" The voice was no longer one of a mature human, but of the child, reaching out and pleading for the monster inside the blue-haired man to stop.
The monster –the SEED inside Athrun- didn't oblige. It pushed the knife further at the skin, cutting the cloth that protected the man's skin and making the Child flinch in fear.
"You will feel the same pain you made them suffer."
The monster wanted vengeance. The Child could see why. The man hurt the blue-haired man's friends, so the monster inside him came out to get vengeance on the man, killing the Child as well. The child didn't want to die, though. Hido had told the man that everything would be all right, but the Child had a bad feel. The Child didn't want to do this. The Child was afraid of killing, afraid of death.
The monster moved the rough hand back, the relieving pressure of the man's flesh. The Child seemed a little relieved, but then the rough hand plunged the knife toward the flesh again, faster. The Child wanted to scream, but nothing came out. The man had taken control again, closing his eyes and preparing for death. The Child thrashed, was sure death would come.
But then a voice called out, like one of a Savior.
"ATHRUN STOP!"
The man and the Child felt pain, but not like there would have been. The knife went far right, pinning the man to the wall by the shoulder. The Child was frightened, but glad he wasn't dead. The Child slunk back into its sleep, letting the man take over. The Child would sleep until it could be called out again, as the man didn't like to let the Child, his former self, show.
Athrun's vicious gaze ripped from his enemy and onto the person who had interrupted him. His gaze fell on Sai Argyle, many guards standing behind him; Athrun didn't know how many, nor did he care. He saw only a blur there, men and women, some maybe doctors, standing behind the man who had stopped him from delivering justice.
"Why did you do that?" The blue-haired man snapped at the golden brown.
Sai gave him a hard look. "Athrun, let him go."
"Why?" Athrun snapped. "Why should I let him go? Do you realize what he did?"
Sai was calm. Why was he calm? "Yes, Athrun, I am."
"Then-"
"We have to keep him alive to find out why he did this, to find out more who hired him." Sai explained, his voice seeming to lose some of its calm edge.
Athrun turned his attention back to the man. He was pulling, trying to get the knife out of his shoulder. He reached his left hand up, as to try to pull it, but Athrun was faster. His eyes spied the discarded gun on the ground and, in a flash, it was in his right hand, pointed at the man against the wall.
"Don't even try it."
From the astonished looks on the faces around him, Athrun suspected no one had even seen him move. It didn't feel like he moved. Everything went by fast, very fast, faster than he could comprehend. This didn't matter though. So long as he killed the man in front of him…
"Athrun, put the gun down."
Sai's words rang in Athrun's head. He wouldn't head them, though. "Don't try to stop me."
"Athrun!"
No, he just cocked the gun. This man before him would die. Die soon. Die now.
It was now that yet another voice interrupted his justice.
"Athrun Zala, stop right this instant!" This voice belonged to Lacus, who was now standing up, tears running down her face. The thing that shocked Athrun was that her eyes were very much like his own, clouded and pupil less; a darker shade of blue than they were before, they looked powerful, almost commanding. "You will put that gun down and step away from the boy pinned to the wall."
Athrun heard her choice of words. Boy? What did she mean? Athrun didn't care. He turned back to his victim, gun clenched tightly.
"Athrun!" He could feel Lacus' intense gaze on his back. "You want to help Kira and Cagalli, right?"
This made him freeze, his blood stop in its veins.
"No one can help if you keep pointing that thing at him! They need medical attention, now!"
Lacus' words were like a sledge hammer at Athrun's brain. They caused his hand to quiver, his motives to shake. The gun dropped from his hand and he blinked, his eyes returning to their normal pupil-filled-clear-emerald-hue. They blurred and fazed in and out until the monster in front of him was gone; all that remained was a boy not too much younger than himself. His hair was wild and messy, most likely from the fighting, and he seemed to be trying to contain his fear. Shreds of it seeped through his shell, making Athrun realize he'd almost killed a child.
Can't think of him. His mind snapped. Kira and Cagalli need help.
Athrun stepped away from the boy and guards immediately rushed over and grabbed his arms, hauling him away. He could hear them as they left the room, seemingly reading him his rights. The Coordinator tore himself away from the scene and rushed over to his unconscious friends. They were already being transferred to stretchers. Lacus stood by Kira, her eyes their normal crystal-blue as they stared down on his face.
"Hurry, get the Representative to the medical bay!" A male voice cried. Athrun turned and saw Sai, standing in the doorway. His head was wrapped with a large strip of white gauze.
A stretcher passed by him and there on that stretcher lay Cagalli, the girl who had broken through the armor he'd unconsciously built up in the Bloody Valentine War. Time seemed to slow to a stop. It was only the two of them in a sea of chaos. He reached his shaking hand out to touch her face. Almost there, just a little closer…
Time resumed and she was rushed away with Kira in toe. The hand remained out-stretched for a second longer before it dropped back to its owner's side. Lacus hurried along Kira's side, giving Athrun a spare glance before continuing on with Pink-chan floating after her, uncharacteristically quiet. Everyone was gone. They'd all left him. Athrun stood in the docking bay all alone, wondering what kind of monster he'd almost let himself become.
An Island on Earth; 10:50 PM
Reverend Malchio's House
Dearka walked into the room Reverend Malchio had given him, whistling a cheerful tune. His tuxedo was thrown aside, landing half on his bed and half on the floor. The blonde Coordinator opened the bathroom door and turned on the faucet, tossing water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror to find a smile twelve miles wide on his face. He was in heaven- he was dancing on a cloud; he was dancing on a cloud in heaven.
The one thing he'd wanted had happened. It was perfect! He could see it now- the wedding would be small, only a few friends. Yzak would be the best man, of course, and the good Reverend would be the Pastor. They would then live in a small house in the country and have two kids, Siri and Dearka Junior, and-
Dearka cut himself off. Why was he jumping to all these conclusions? Married? Hah! His relationship with Miriallia had just begun- he was thinking way too far into the future. Besides, it was just a kiss.
A kiss from an angel. His mind informed him. That was not just any kiss, Dearka, old boy.
Okay, so maybe it wasn't just a kiss, but that didn't stop Dearka from berating himself for thinking like that. Who said they would even get married? Less than an hour after he'd started this new relationship and he was already making wedding plans. How pathetic was he?
Dearka sighed, walking out of the bathroom and slipping off his pants. He grabbed the white shirt he used to sleep in and slipped it on over his head, followed by the plaid pants sitting on his chair. With an almost art-like grace, the blonde fell onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, too wound-up to sleep, but too tired to do anything. Contemplating his future with the auburn-haired girl of his dreams, Dearka wondered where they'd go from here. There were so many possibilities, but he couldn't even grasp one of them at the moment. A firm decision to talk to Miriallia tomorrow entered his mind as he felt his eyes begin to shut…
WHAM!
The door flew open, crashing into the wall. Dearka shot up to see Miriallia's frightened tear-stricken face staring at him. She didn't waste a second.
"Kira and Cagalli are in critical condition!"
Dearka found he no longer felt tired.
"Miriallia?" Dearka's soft voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Come on, it's time to board."
Miriallia nodded, her voice currently lost in the tide of the pandemonium. Dearka took her arm and led her on the small transport; she couldn't believe how calm he was at the moment. Maybe he was masking his fear. That had to be it. The Natural girl knew she wasn't at all, that was for sure. The panic was probably written all over her face. She didn't care, though. Kira… He was one of her best friends. She'd stuck with him throughout the entire Bloody Valentine War. She couldn't believe he was in critical condition, maybe dead by now. And Cagalli, the Head Representative of Orb… After the war, they'd spent a little time together and Miriallia had come to realize she was an energetic, all-around fun person. Why would anyone want to kill her?
The news had come as a total shock. She'd been in the living room, enjoying the moments of peace she had when the news had reached her ears. The announcer's shocked voice pierced her tranquil state when it declared Head Representative Cagalli Yula Athha and her bodyguard, Kira Yamato, had been hospitalized in critical condition just a half an hour ago. She and the Reverend were shocked to say the least. Malchio told her he'd make the proper preparations for her to see her friends and Miriallia quickly told Dearka. Nothing made sense, it seemed. Cagalli was such a kind leader, so why would anyone try to kill her? Why?
The rumbling of the shuttle as it pushed into the sky and pierced the atmosphere cradled Miriallia as she sub-consciously griped Dearka's arm. She had to see her friends. She had to see if they were all right.
Colony Seihen; 11:12 PM
Military Jail Cell
Tekiya sat in his cell quietly. He couldn't believe what had just happened. All four of them had The SEED? Hido hadn't mentioned this! There was no way they all possessed The SEED! Hido told him Kira Yamato may, and after the information he'd learned, that speculation may as well have been fact, but the Head Representative? And war-hero-turned-traitor Athrun Zala? And most of all, pop-princess Lacus Clyne? It was unimaginable! Impossible! And then there was Cagalli Yula Athha and Kira Yamato's relation to one another. The entire thing was crazy. Hido didn't mention any of this!
The gray-eyed boy shook his head. He couldn't think of that at the moment. How would he escape? Hido had only told him to kill the Head Representative and then escape in a Mobile Suit. It should've been easy. It would've been easy, had it not been for the simple fact that Cagalli Yula Athha was a Berserker!
Calm down, Gikei. "Tekiya" told himself. You just have to calm down and think this over. You're the elite. You've been taught things others would only dream of. You can't die here. You're going to make it out. You will make it out. The smiling face of a female blonde child filled his mind. You have to.
Colony Seihen; 1:43 AM
Military Medical Center
Athrun Zala sat outside the room where Cagalli was being treated. Guards lined the hallway, ready to reprimand anyone who may want to hurt the already-injured girl. The blue-haired Coordinator couldn't fathom the events that had happened that night. This was supposed to be the night he'd remember his entire life, but not like this. No, God, not like this. His best friend and the love of his life were both hurt- hurt bad. Their fragile lives were dangling on a string, and that string could snap at any moment.
It had already been proven that Kira could recover from practically anything. He'd survived the explosion of two Mobile Suits and was up and fighting in a matter of weeks. He was special somehow- different from any Coordinator or Natural Athrun had ever met. But Cagalli…
He didn't know with her. She was a Natural, so she couldn't heal as fast as Kira or he or even Lacus could, and when he found her… The state she'd been in…
A loud ding sound from down the hall alerted Athrun to a door opening a several doctors walking out. He stood up, Lacus, who had been seated in front of said door, doing so as well.
"He'll be fine." The first doctor, a middle-aged male, responded. "Mr. Yamato has some serious wounds and should stay in bed for the next week, I'd say, but he's a real trooper. He's already healing himself. I've never seen anyone like him."
Athrun felt one wave of relief flood his veins. It was almost expected that Kira would come out all right, but it as still comforting to hear that he would from a professional. Now, if only…
Cagalli… Athrun turned his head to the other door, still closed tight. He shut his eyes and clenched his fists for a moment, releasing them soon after. He couldn't fear the worst; she would be fine. He knew she would be fine.
"Shh… Just rest now, okay? Everything will be fine when you wake up."
Kira could recognize that ballad of a voice anywhere. "Lacus…"
A smile shined down on him from far away- so very far away. "Sleep now, Kira. Everything will be right again when you're awake."
And so Kira slept and dreamed of his beautiful songstress, the one waiting for him to awaken again.
"How's Kira?" The pilot asked the songstress.
Lacus smiled slightly, playing with Kira's hair. "He is doing much better now; I'm happy he woke up so soon, but he really should get more rest."
Athrun nodded. "He's only been here for a few hours and he's already talking. That's good." He should've been happier. Why wasn't he?
Lacus provided him with an answer. "I'm sure Cagalli will be okay too, Athrun." She had clearly sensed his concern for the blonde haired girl from his far-away tone. Was he really that obvious?
Athrun didn't say anything for a while. "I should leave you alone. You'll probably want to talk to Kira when he wakes up."
"Athrun." Lacus' voice stopped him for a moment. "You weren't trying to murder a young boy. You didn't know."
Athrun walked on, leaving Lacus alone with Kira. He knew Lacus was right, but he didn't care. He still wanted vengeance. It scared him how close he'd been to killing someone in cold-blood, but he couldn't help it. He hadn't even been able to see Cagalli yet, but he could just imagine her- lying there in pain, wanting him, needing him, trying to get up, but failing. He shook his head. Cagalli was strong- he couldn't sell her short. But still…
Athrun found himself in front of the brig. He would be there, in a cell. He would be in there, sitting and plotting and scheming. The memory of the frightened cries pierced his mind.
"P-please… H-have mercy…"
"I'm sorry, please!"
He didn't even listen to the boy. He wanted to kill him, to make him suffer. He didn't care about anything else. What had he become? The feeling… It was foreign, yet familiar- new, yet old. He only cared about getting vengeance for Kira and… Cagalli…
There his mind went, wandering back to her again. Lost in his thoughts of the blonde, Athrun didn't even notice Sai Argyle as he walked right past him, not until he felt a hand grab his arm. He turned and saw the friendly face.
"Hey, you okay?" Sai asked in concern.
Athrun put on a pitiful smile. "Yeah, fine."
Sai gave him a wary look. "You shouldn't do that."
Athrun sighed, shrugging his arm out of Sai's grip. "I just need to think for a bit."
Sai looked after him, frowning. "All right…" He then added, "You can see her now if you want."
Athrun froze. "What?"
"The doctors just authorized visiting. She's still unconscious and they don't know when she'll wake up, but…"
Athrun didn't hear the rest. He took off down the hall, sprinting to see Cagalli. He arrived at the door and skidded to a stop, not hesitating a moment before pressing the button to open the door before him. His feet moved on their own as the soft pattern of the heart-monitor echoed in his head. The soft, rhythmic breathing of the blond-haired goddess caught his attention and his emerald orbs now stared at her still form. Her right arm was heavily bandaged, as he imagined were her leg and stomach. Her hands were wrapped with gauze and he could see a tube going into her right wrist. But she was alive. She was alive.
Athrun found himself by her bed-side, sitting in a chair and gripping her left hand tightly.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, reaching out to stroke her cheek, but stopping half way and pulling back.
"I'm surprised she lived," A voice came from behind Athrun, making him turn to see a doctor washing his hands. "She was poisoned, it seemed." Athrun's eyes widened. "We had to inject a chemical into her to try and flush it out. It's still running through her blood, but we think the chemical's neutralizing it."
Athrun stared down at the slumbering girl. "Will she be all right?"
"Well, she's not dead." The doctor responded. "That's a start." He put his hand on Athrun's shoulder and shook it slightly. "Our Princess is a strong girl- she'll make it." He then stared hard at Athrun's face. "Hey, aren't you…?"
Athrun jerked his arm away, turning his head as he did. He said nothing.
The physician sighed and turned away, leaving the room. Athrun sat in silence, gazing upon Cagalli's serene face.
Athrun stared into Cagalli's eyes as they shimmered with emotion. He held her close, as if she was the most important thing in the world- more important than the war or anything after it. And she was.
"We'll protect each other." And he leaned forward and kissed her.
The soft beeps of the monitors were a constant reminder that he'd failed; he promised to protect her and he failed. All it took was one night for the future he dreamed of to shatter into a million pieces, and the remnants were lying on the bed in front of him, fighting to survive. A shaking hand found a still one and squeezed it tight.
"You shouldn't have to go through this," Athrun said even though he knew she couldn't hear him. He looked at the floor, unable to gaze upon the face of the girl he failed to protect. "Not after all you've been through. Not after everything that happened."
A small mumble reached his ears and Athrun's eyes snapped up. Cagalli still lay still, but her lips were slightly parted. Athrun leaned close to see if she would say anything he could decipher, but had no such luck. He sighed sadly and was about to pull back when something else caught his eye: The tiniest of tears, hanging off Cagalli's right eye and slowly trickling down her cheek.
"Ki….ra….."
Athrun felt his heart break slowly in two and he removed his hand from hers to sweep the tear off her face. He leaned down and kissed Cagalli's forehead, murmuring softly, "You'll never have to experience anything like this again. I promise."
He only hoped this was a promise he could keep.
Sai's thoughts lingered on Tekiya, if that even was his real name. That wicked boy… What Athrun almost did to him scared him to death, but a part of Sai agreed with the Coordinator's reasoning; if he were in Athrun's position, he may not have been able to stop himself either. Athrun's position… What was his position, anyway? He'd have to blind not to realize the relationship he had with Cagalli, but why did it feel like something was being hidden from him? He hated it.
The golden-haired Natural found himself standing outside the cell of the boy who had caused this mess. He slowly reached to open it, but then paused.
"Should I?" He wondered.
Sai let his hand drop to his side and continued his stroll.
Colony Seihen; 7:23 AM
Military Docking Bay
Morning. Even on a colony in space, it was an annoying occasion. Dearka found himself wondering why he had to wake up. The space shuttle was so comfy… The events of the night before slapped Dearka in the face and made his eyes open as the ship rumbled and landed. He blinked at his surroundings and felt his face heat up upon seeing Miriallia fast asleep on his shoulder. He swallowed his embarrassment and remembered the situation at hand, shaking the slumbering girl's shoulder.
"Mir?" He whispered, his face as red as a tomato. "C'mon, Mir, we're here."
Miriallia's eyes fluttered open and scanned him lazily. "Morning already?"
Dearka smiled softly and stood up, pulling her to her feet as well. "Let's go see how they're doing." He told her in a somber tone.
The tired eyes were gone, replaced with worried yet determined ones. "Right."
A man helped the two with their bags and hurried them on their way with a fake smile and counterfeit eyes. Everyone was on edge, though no one wanted to say. They all had to be bright for the people passing through. Dearka almost felt sorry for them, but his concern was needed elsewhere.
The two were faced with a dilemma: they had no clue how to get to the Medical Ward of Seihen. They probably would've wondered about the colony for hours if a friendly face had not greeted them outside the docking bay.
"Sai!" Miriallia caught him in an unexpected hug and a quick laugh. They parted a second later and Dearka nodded to him, smiling broadly. Such false smiles they had…
Sai nodded. "Nice to see you two. You're here to…"
Dearka nodded as Miriallia went silent. "Yeah, how could you tell?"
The question needed no answer and Sai led the two to the Medical Ward. Miriallia glanced around and frowned.
"Where are Lacus and Athrun?" She queried.
Sai shot his friends a sad smile. "Lacus is with Kira and Athrun with Cagalli. Neither left their sides all night." He continued walking and stopped in front of a door. "Kira's in here. He woke up early this morning, but he won't be up and around for a while."
"And Cagalli?" Miriallia questioned.
Sai paused. "The doctors have high hopes for her. She's … doing all right, but… We don't know anything else…"
Miriallia looked away and Dearka breathed out a large breath. "Man… He looked at the two next to him. "I wonder how Athrun's doing…"
As if on cue, the door down the hall opened and out walked Athrun. He looked as if he were in a daze. Dearka approached him slowly and cupped a hand to his shoulder.
"Hey, Athrun. Long time, huh?" He grinned weakly.
Athrun's head turned slowly and his lips curled into something that vaguely resembled a smile. "Hi, Dearka. It's … nice to see you."
Miriallia wasn't far behind. "We came as soon as we heard… We wanted to see how they were doing."
Another silence. Dearka noted there were so many of those.
"Right…" Athrun nodded and began to walk down the corridor.
"Athrun?" Dearka asked, blinking. The Justice Pilot continued to walk, not even looking back.
The three exchanged befuddled looks just as a doctor emerged from Cagalli's room. He looked at the three teens with an almost exasperated expression. "I suppose you want to see the Head Representative as well. I just sent that blue-haired boy down to get something to eat. Really, the Representative needs her rest. I would appreciate it if you wait a while before seeing her."
Dearka could see how sad Miriallia looked. She gulped and asked, "Can we see her bodyguard, please?"
The doctor eyed the teenagers for a moment and replied. "I suppose so… I can't keep you kids from doing everything, right?"
Miriallia smiled and nodded thankfully before starting for Kira's room. Dearka followed, but noticed Sai wasn't moving.
"You okay?" He asked curiously.
Sai nodded. "I'll catch up, all right? I have something I need to do."
Dearka blinked, but nodded. "Okay…" He followed Miriallia to Kira's room, wondering what Sai could be up to.
Colony Seihen; 7:35 AM
Military Jail Cell
Sai once again found himself at the door of the prisoner, Tekiya. He took a deep breath and opened it, walking in with his head held high. A soft laugh entered his ears as he stepped into the dimly lit room.
"So, are you going to kill me, Sai Argyle?" The voice of Tekiya asked in a normal accent. He sat in an almost too-small cell on the far right behind a set of almost too-far-apart bars. "Or does Athrun Zala want to finish what he started?"
Sai's irritated gaze pierced Tekiya. "What do you want with us? Who sent you? How do you know so much about us?" All of his questions came out in a rush.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The prisoner commented in a Scottish accent.
Sai felt his patience wearing thin. "Yes, I would like to know," He seethed, "And if I don't know, you'll-"
"I'll what?" Interrupted Tekiya in his plain tone. "You think you can do anything to me? I've been trained for missions your limited brain couldn't possibly wrap your thoughts around. I've been trained to kill with any items I have available, with anything close by. You think you – a puny little Natural who couldn't even dodge a kitchen pan- can do anything to harm me? Now, that's a laugh!"
Sai's fists were ready to punch this guy's lights out, but he counted to ten in his head to prevent that. "I'm not going to give in to your taunts." He responded in a relatively calm tone. "Now tell me why you went after the Head Representative!"
Tekiya smiled playfully. "Just following orders, Sai Argyle." He leaned back against the cell wall. "I'm a loyal boy."
Sai took a step closer to the cell. "You'll tell me what you know!"
An eternity seemed to pass before he received an answer. "You want to know something? Fine. I'll tell you." He stood up and stalked up to the bars, baring his teeth. "Those two friends of yours, Kira Yamato and Cagalli Yula Athha have been hiding something from you. They're related- twins."
Sai backed away from the cell, blinking rapidly. His mind was sent reeling. Twins? He didn't see that one coming! "You're lying!" He barked back. "They only just met each other a few years ago!"
Tekiya waved his hand. "Lying, huh? Well, I heard it with my own two ears! Shocked me too, don't'chya know? You can say I'm a liar all you want, but I'm just repeating what Kira Yamato said himself." Sai gave Tekiya a sharp look and walked to the door. "You can ask them if you're so sure." Tekiya half-sneered after him.
Sai closed the door and leaned against it, taking his head in his hands. Everything, everything, made so much more sense, but still it didn't. Kira was a Coordinator, wasn't he? And he had his own parents, while Cagalli was born in Orb. The stories – the facts- didn't line up.
And yet…
"Twins…?"
Colony Seihen; 7:37 AM
Military Medical Center
A soft wind tickled Lacus and she smiled softly, turning to the door and expecting to see Athrun or Sai. She was surprised to see Dearka and Sai's friend Miriallia walk in, especially together, but she quickly regained her composure. Her face shined as she welcomed them.
"Dearka. Miriallia. It's good to see you." They returned her greeting with gentle smiles and nods, lines of worry creased on their faces. Lacus gestured to Kira as she spoke her next words. "He'll be fine. He was awake a few hours ago." Her gaze returned to him, his peaceful face making her smile and caress his hair. "He needs rest, though. I'd be happy if he just stayed like this for the next few days."
Miriallia let loose a sigh of relief at this. Lacus recalled the two of them were good friends and the Natural had lost quite a few to the war; she obviously was glad she hadn't lost another one. Dearka voiced a different emotion.
"Hours? Have you been awake all this time?" Lacus' cheeks turned pink and she was grateful she wasn't facing them. Her silence answered for her, though. "You should go get some rest."
The songstress turned around, unhappy. "But-"
Dearka interjected. "Don't worry; Kira's not going to have a mental breakdown if you're not here due to lack of sleep. In fact, he'd probably kill me if I didn't send you to get some rest." Dearka grimaced. "It would be rather painful, I'd imagine."
Lacus sighed softly before standing up, giving Kira one last long look. She smiled at the two knowingly. "Just tell me if he wakes up, okay?"
Miriallia returned the gesture. "Of course."
The pink princess nodded thankfully and left the room, smiling the guards now standing outside the room.
"Do you need me to lead you to your room, Ms. Lacus?" One of them asked politely.
"If you would be so kind." Lacus responded, matching his tone with her own refined voice.
"Right this way, Ms. Lacus."
Lacus followed the man, glancing over her shoulder sadly at Kira's room. Cheer up, girl, her mind berated her. Kira wouldn't want you to be sad, would he? That would only make him sad, right? Right. She put on a smile, thinking of how happy Kira would be to see her. Knowing him, he probably thought a few hours ago was just a dream. A soft giggle escaped her throat when she imagined his bright happy face. Yes, that would be reason enough to get rest; the sooner she slept the sooner she could see it.
Colony Seihen; 8:29 AM
Military Medical Center
The young man's eyes opened, adjusting once more to the bright light. He cough and moaned, attempting to roll onto his side, but immediately finding it too painful to continue. He settled for staring at the ceiling blankly, trying to recall how he'd gotten there. Slow memories slid through his mind, making ever thought painful. Still, he concentrated on them, trying to make sense of the jumbled images in his mind. Man. Danger. Shock. Pain. Hurt. Blood. Gun. Sister. … Sister!
Cagalli!
Kira pushed himself up from his bed, once again realizing that was a bad idea as he groaned and fell back onto the bed with a thumping noise. The air left his lungs with a hiss, making him gasp for more. When his breathing returned to normal, he took a long look at his surroundings, realizing for the first time he was alive and in a hospital bed. He groaned softly, shutting his violet eyes and letting them relish in the sweet darkness.
He was alive, yes, but how was his sister? The last time he saw her, she was bleeding from a shoulder wound and hovering over him. He couldn't remember much of what he said, except that he was sure he was going to die. Bitter memories that he was the Ultimate Coordinator chided those thoughts, making him feel stupid he ever thought them. Still, he desperately wanted to see how Cagalli was. She was a Natural and therefore didn't have the same healing abilities he did; if anything happened to her…
Kira reopened his eyes and turned his head to the side, contemplating something else now. He recalled a dim memory. It seemed almost farther away than the night before, yet he knew it happened recently. He remember hearing something heavenly. The voice of an angel? No, that couldn't have been it; he wasn't dead yet. Someone signing? No, they were words, not a song. Oh, what reminded him of singing and an angel?
The Freedom Pilot's mouth curled into a small smile and he breathed a single name. "Lacus…"
She was here… Oh, that made him feel so much better. She could make everything bad go away and ease his troubles. She could help him like no one else could. Lacus…
The image of a young, pink-haired girl entered his mind. She smiled and giggled, waving at him as she did.
Kira gasped at the image, shaking it out of his mind. Where had that come from? He'd never met Lacus as a child… Had he?
Colony Seihen; 9:55 AM
Military Medical Center
Sai's footsteps echoed through the crowded hallway as if he were the only one there. The information "Tekiya" had told him had just finally set in. Now that he looked at it logically, it all made sense: Kira and Cagalli always seemed closer than normal people, but not in the lovers kind. He just thought they'd bonded during their time together in the Bloody Valentine War, but this made a lot of sense…
And then it didn't. Kira was a Coordinator, and Cagalli a Natural. The two of them could've never been twins unless Cagalli was a Coordinator as well, but she didn't have the properties of one. Sure, she had a knack for technological things, but then again so did many Naturals. It didn't add up.
Maybe Tekiya was lying. The idea had crossed his mind several times, but somehow it seemed almost far-fetched. He couldn't explain it at all.
Sai stopped in front of Cagalli's door for a moment and considered going inside to see how she was doing. He shook his head. Probably no change- If there had been, the entire colony would know by now. He instead decided to check on Kira. Maybe he had the answers Sai wanted.
When he reached Kira's corridor, he almost chuckled at the sight in front of him: Sleeping in chairs outside the door, with their heads titled just ever-so-slightly, barely touching, were Dearka and Miriallia. Of all the people his best friend would eventually hook up with, he never imagined it would be a guy like Dearka. Maybe it was because she was always with Tolle.
Ouch, bad memories. He cleared his throat quite loudly, making sure to get the attention of everyone passing and a few odd looks. He accomplished his task, though. Miriallia woke up first with a start, accidentally bumping her head against Dearka's. This caused the tan Coordinator to wake up as well, wincing and making a noise of discomfort, his hands shooting to his aching head. Miriallia murmured swift apologies, clutching her own head as well. The two suddenly seemed to realize where they were and what they must've just been doing and flushed, turning away from one another.
In spite of everything that the last 24 hours had brought, Sai laughed. It started as a chuckle and then grew to full-blown laughter. He either didn't notice the glares the duo was giving him or he didn't care; he needed a laugh.
It took a few minutes for Sai to completely compose himself. Dearka was purposely not looking at Miriallia and Miriallia still looked a little red, but overall things were back to the serious ways.
"Well?" Sai didn't need to ask the question; they already knew it.
Dearka answered, "Not sure. We were up all night, so, well…" He trailed off.
Sai nodded understandingly. The door opened with a 'SWISH' as he approached it. Sai froze in the doorway. Miriallia and Dearka peaked around him and did the same.
Kira blinked at them. He was sitting straight up in his bed, seemingly with no pain whatsoever. He smiled and waved at them. "Hi, guys," he looked at Dearka and Miriallia. "Long time no see, huh? I didn't expect to see you two here together."
Dearka sputtered. "I … We… You… How?"
Miriallia put Dearka's question into understandable phrases. "Kira … You were shot last night. Three times." She paused, waiting for him to answer her implied question. When he didn't, she continued. "You're sitting up in bed and… You're supposed to at least be... Not to sound rude, but…" She sighed, trying to find the right words. "How are you able to be sitting up like that?"
Kira smiled at his friends humorlessly. "Honestly? No clue."
Colony Seihen; 10:24 AM
Military Medical Center
Lacus tried to sleep. She really did. She was able to squeeze out about two and a half hours before her eyes opened again. She didn't feel like she'd even gotten any sleep, actually. She lay in her bed for the longest of times, just staring at the ceiling and wondering what the next few days would bring.
She finally dragged herself out of the comforting room and decided to see if there had been any change in her friends' conditions. Surprisingly, the Pink Princess took the longest route possible, using every detour she could. She outwardly refused to understand why she did this, but inwardly knew very well. She'd lost friends and family in the war. Almost everyone around her had been taken or close to death at one point or another, yet all the while she had to be the beacon of hope, the calm light shining through the darkness. She was always refused her moment to cry and breakdown, except for a few sacred times with Kira. Lacus would never tell anyone, but she was frightened that one more lose would be the end of her calm façade, perhaps for good.
Pushing the troubling thoughts away, Lacus let her thoughts wonder to happier times, to what-ifs and possible futures. She hummed a soft tune, a song she was working on, and a smile crept onto her petite face. She added words to the song in her mind, whispering them aloud as her mind repeated the melody.
"Beneath the veil of starry sky,
As cold as winter's darkest night,
It's there you sleep silent and deep.
You're all alone.
A single prayer's,
Soft melody,
Across the lonely silent fields.
A little light began to shine,
It shines on and on."
Lacus stopped her whispers, going back to the beginning. Her song had been put into a temporary hiatus a few months ago. Lacus didn't know why, but she just couldn't think of the rest of the words to her next song. She was actually beginning to doubt that she ever would.
Pink-chan hovered at her side, alerting her with a cry of, "Haro! Kira!" that they'd reached their destination. Lacus put on a calm face and opened the whooshing door. She almost choked on her own lungs at the sight of Kira, sitting up in his bed, conversing with Miriallia, Dearka, and Sai. Lacus went unnoticed for only a moment; Kira alerted them to her presence, his face lighting up ever so subtly.
"Lacus!" He didn't say anything more, but he didn't need to. His voice conveyed layers of emotion that couldn't be put into words. The simplest thing they could be translated to was "I missed you" or "At last", but anything along those lines wouldn't give her the message she knew he wanted to send.
Lacus' face shifted into its calm state, but this one was different. This one was much more natural, her blue orbs shining with a light long absent. "Kira."
The trio sitting around the bed-ridden Coordinator stood up silently, though Lacus hardly noticed them. The world around her melted away in a very clichéd fashion, leaving only her and Kira, together- really together- for the first time in one and a half years. The only sign she had that the other three were actually gone was the soft wind blowing discretely on her hair as the door opened and shut.
Lacus sat down next to the bed, her eyes never leaving Kira's.
A beat.
"Kira."
"Lacus."
She took his hand, and he gripped hers tightly despite his injured state. Her eyes fluttered to his chest and shoulder, wrapped with what seemed like all the bandages on Seihen. Kira's grip tightened and he reached his other hand to her cheek, smiling with his boyish look. His face seemed to de-age before her eyes and for a moment they were two innocent teenagers whose biggest problems were acing tests in school, not an injured bodyguard and a pop-princess- not lovers who hadn't seen each other in what seemed like forever.
She wasn't sure if he moved first or if she did, but she honestly couldn't have cared less. Her soft feminine lips met his dry masculine ones, and in a moment of pure bliss, Lacus forgot all of her problems and let herself drift in Wonderland with the man of her dreams.
Colony Seihen; 10:31 AM
Corridor to Mess Hall
Athrun rubbed his eyes as he made his way to the mess hall. He'd done as the doctors had ordered a few hours ago and gotten some food, but then they had also shown him to a room and told him to get some rest. He had protested, of course, but they wouldn't leave him alone until he did as they ordered. The former Justice pilot had tried not to fall asleep, he really had, but it was inevitable. He chastised himself for getting so used to regular sleeping patterns during the peaceful ceasefire. Back when he was a solider, he could go for days without sleep… Well, most of the time, at least.
Athrun shook his head. He didn't want to remember his time in the service of ZAFT. Too many painful memories were associated with that.
But you have happy memories too, don't you? A small voice reminded him of seeing Kira again, and meeting Cagalli, and of all the new friends he met when he joined the Clyne Faction. He hated thinking that way, but if it hadn't been for the war, he may have never met the people he did. But if it hadn't been for the war, Rusty and Miguel and Nicol… Athrun let his thoughts trail off. That was the past. He had other things to worry about at the moment.
His stomach growled unhappily, reminding him of why he was heading to the mess hall. He had gotten something to eat earlier, yes, but not much. He hardly touched the food in front of him, and now he was paying for that.
Athrun was surprised to see the mess hall wasn't empty when he entered. Indeed, sitting at one table were Sai, Dearka, and Miriallia engaged in deep conversation. As Athrun approached them, Dearka turned around to see his former comrade.
"Athrun," He nodded to his friend with a grave expression. "We didn't know were you were."
"I was ordered to get some sleep," He explained, noticing Sai and Miriallia wore the same face Dearka had. "What's going on?" He swallowed before asking the next question. "Are they…?"
Sai shook his head. "Both Kira and Cagalli are okay, as far as I know." Athrun let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Kira, in fact, is even better than okay."
Athrun smiled- really smiled- for the first time since he arrived at Seihen. "That's great!" The expressions of the three in front of him didn't change. "… Isn't it?"
"Kira's talking to Lacus right now," Miriallia continued. "He's sitting up and talking to Lacus."
Athrun understood now. He sat down in a chair next to Dearka and frowned. "… This soon?"
The three nodded. "He's always been sturdy," Sai admitted, "but to be able to sit up and talk not even twelve hours after he had three bullets sent right through him…"
"Is this how all Coordinators heal?" Miriallia asked Dearka and Athrun.
Dearka shook his head. "No. Not even the most advanced of Coordinators can heal that fast. It's like he's a … Super-Coordinator, or something like that." Miriallia rolled her eyes and stared at him with disbelief. "What, you guys have any other theories?"
Athrun frowned, his mind racing with all the information. His brows furrowed in frustration. Everything that had been going on… There had to be some sort of reason for it all. He stood up abruptly.
"Athrun?" Dearka asked in confusion.
"I have to go pay a visit to someone," Athrun responded. As he left the mess hall, he could the others get up and dash after him. If they wanted to come with, he would let them. It didn't matter at the moment.
Colony Seihen; 10:35 A.M.
Military Jail Cell
Well, we couldn't prevent it, a dry voice in Sai's head reminded him as the door SWISHed open. Sai knew the little voice- he thought it was his subconscious or something like that- was right, but he would've liked to prevent Athrun from talking with Tekiya- or whatever his name was- until much later. Sai still followed him nonetheless. Dearka and Miriallia followed in suit, keeping silent as Athrun walked through the virtually empty military prison, reaching the farthest door and walking into the small room where Tekiya's cell was.
Almost immediately Sai heard an almost giddy, "Ah, at last!" ring out from the cell. He entered behind the rest of the group to see Tekiya sitting on his cot with an amused look. "The great Athrun Zala has come to kill me, hasn't he?" His grey eyes danced almost sadistically. "He's come to finish what he started last night, hmmm?"
Sai was almost disgusted at how such a young boy could say things like that. He reminded himself he'd seen plenty of people like that a year and a half ago, but nevertheless, it was too disturbing.
Athrun remained like a stone, not revealing any of his emotions to his friends or Tekiya. His voice, however, was a different story. It exposed his rage towards the boy. "Why did you come here? Why did you try to kill Cagalli?" His eyes narrowed. "Who are you working for?"
Tekiya laughed mirthlessly. "As I told your friend over there," he gestured to Sai with his head, "I'm a loyal little boy. I'll carry my secrets to my grave, Athrun Zala."
Every time he said Athrun's name, a sort of sing-song tone accompanied it. He's mocking him. Sai glanced at the Red Knight every few seconds in order to make sure he didn't lose his cool. though it didn't help that he remained emotionally frozen.
Athrun ignored Tekiya's second words. "I should've known you wouldn't give up information so easily." He sighed. Tekiya smirked and opened his mouth, most likely to mock Athrun more. The blue-haired Coordinator, however, didn't let that happen. "You know, I've been thinking things over for awhile." Tekiya blinked with confusion. "What could be achieved in attacking Orb at the biannual peace banquet? Why would you want to attack Orb? Or, should I say," Athrun's eyes narrowed, "why would you want to disrupt the peace between the PLANTs and the Earth Alliance?"
Tekiya remained silent for a moment, his expression clouded by the darkness. He opened his mouth and then shut it. A glint of an unknown emotion –was it pain?- shot through the darkness. "You really understand nothing, huh?" Tekiya laughed softly, but this time it held no malice or scornful tones. "I've learned all about you, Athrun, and you three as well," he added to the others in the room. "It was my job to learn about you and all the others in the Clyne Faction, especially those who carry the SEED."
"The … the SEED?" Athrun asked in confusion.
Tekiya paid him no heed. "For weeks and weeks, your lives were my lives; your struggles, my struggles. We're more alike than you think, you know." He locked eyes with Athrun and for a moment they seemed like the same person. "We're both just fighting for what we think is right- for who we think is right." He smiled and chuckled. "Or for who we care about, you could say." He stood up. "Whatever the case, I'm not the monster you make me out to be, and you're not the warrior everyone says you are. We're different, but the same. We're just two people who're caught up in things they don't understand."
Sai was officially mystified. This was the boy who less than twenty-four hours ago single-handedly almost killed Orb's representative. He would most likely be walking the path of death pretty soon, and just hours earlier had mocked Sai and told him of Kira and Cagalli's 'secret'. And here he was, connecting with them.
And Sai pitied him. He felt sorry for him.
Tekiya's face turned serious. "You would kill to protect them, huh? Well, then, you better get used to dirtying your hands, Athrun Zala, because this isn't over." His eyes seemed to shine with sorrow. "This is far from over. Before everything ends, there will be death; we just don't know who."
Athrun stared at the boy in bewilderment. "Who … are you?"
Tekiya smiled again, tilting his head. A Japanese accent slipped into his tone as he responded, "Strange question. I'm not completely sure anymore." He smirked and the hint of humanity was gone. "Been too many people to try and remember." His voice sunk into its previous tone. He walked close to the bars and sneered. "Who are you? A solider of Z.A.F.T.? The son of a murderer? A war hero? The lover of a princess? Or are you all of those?"
Athrun clenched his fists and Sai took a step closer to him. "Athrun…"
Dearka and Sai exchanged a look. They were ready to stop Athrun if things got out of hand.
"If we're really not that different," Athrun growled, "then why? Why the hell are you doing this?"
Tekiya chuckled. "Did you learn nothing from my little speech? I'm fighting for someone, just like you."
"Then why are you trying to cause another war?" Athrun yelled. Sai heard Miriallia gasp behind him. "That person you care about will be dragged into it, too!"
Tekiya leaned over and pressed his face between the bars. "The war isn't our intention, Athrun Zala," he sneered. "If that's what comes of our efforts, we'll be there to clean it all up." He turned around unexpectedly and walked a few paces away from the bars. He threw his head over his shoulder a second later. "How're they, by the way? I bet Kira Yamato's already recovering, hm?" Shocked expressions spread across the faces of the four on the opposite side of the cell. "You're surprised? I told you: you're lives are mine. I know everything." He frowned playfully. "Well, I thought I did, at least. Last night I received a bit of very … intriguing information."
Sai took in a sharp breath. "Tekiya, don't!" The others looked at him in confusion, but he didn't care. If Kira and Cagalli kept their secret from them, there had to have been a reason! He wouldn't let Tekiya tell anyone else!
"Oh, why not?" Tekiya turned around to face them fully. "Friends shouldn't keep secrets from each other, right? Kira's already keeping a big one from all of you, I would assume, so why not tell this one instead?" Sai didn't know what Tekiya was referring to, but he didn't care. "Your two friends- Kira and Cagalli- just so happen-"
"Stop!" Sai urged.
Athrun's eyes widened and Sai could almost see the gears turning in his head. "He doesn't mean…?"
"-to be closer than you would think," Tekiya continued, positively giddy.
Dearka and Miriallia exchanged puzzled looks. "What are you saying?" Dearka spoke for the first time since they entered.
"I'm saying," Tekiya grinned, "that the two of them are related. One-hundred percent twins!"
The two who did not know the secret gaped, silent and confused. As Sai suspected, Athrun merely glared and took a step closer. So he knew…?
"Pity, though," Tekiya continued idly. "Seems the sister didn't inherit whatever it is that makes the brother so invincible." He locked eyes with Athrun again. "Tell me… Is she in pain?"
Sai did not have time to contemplate if the question was a literal one or not, because Athrun roared in fury and leapt at the bars. The look in his eyes told Sai he was not going to be holding anything back this time.
"Athrun! Athrun, stop!" Sai grabbed Athrun's right arm, the one he had raised to pummel the boy behind bars into a pulp. He was surprised to find Dearka had grabbed his left arm, but did not turn away the help. He knew Dearka had a better chance of holding Athrun back than he.
"Take it easy, buddy, c'mon!" Dearka yelled over his friend's yells and cursing.
"Let me go!" Athrun yelled at the two. "Let me go and let me kill him!" He turned his deadly gaze on both of his friends in turn and Sai felt his blood freeze in his veins. Those eyes… So vacant… So… cold…
Tekiya saw it too, apparently, because he gasped in pure wonder and leaned forward, mouth open in curiosity. "The SEED… It activated again…"
Sai once again did not have time to think over Tekiya's words as a loud SLAP filled the air. Athrun stopped his thrashing and the two holding him stood utterly still as they saw Miriallia, her right hand raised high, facing the cell.
Tekiya blinked and held his cheek. "That actually…" He couldn't finish his sputtering sentence.
"Miriallia?" Dearka asked, letting go of Athrun's arm.
"You … you horrible person!" Miriallia cried. "How can you say things like that, even though you know that…?" She shook her head. "How can you be so cruel, even though you too have someone you cherish?"
She spun around and Sai could now see her normally warm, blue gaze was like melting ice, lined with small tears.
"… Mir…" Sai murmured softly.
Athrun looked to the ground with shame etched into his features; his eyes were now back to normal. "Let's go, you guys…" He turned on heel and the rest followed him.
Sai took one last look at Tekiya, and for a second saw a small pleading child standing in front of him. He blinked at it was gone, leaving only the assassin who almost took the lives of his friends and himself. He turned his back on the boy, and refused to give him another glance.
Mustn't think of that, he reminded himself as he turned to face the three following him. They were staring at him as if waiting for some sort of explanation. He knew exactly what about.
"So… you knew?" Sai started awkwardly.
Athrun nodded slowly. "Ever since the end of the Bloody Valentine War… They didn't tell too many people. How did you find out, anyway?"
"Tekiya told me," Sai responded with a disgruntled expression. "I was questioning him early this morning." He shook his head. "I just … how?"
Athrun bit his lip. "I don't think I'm the one to answer that."
"Then can we go see Kira?" Asked Miriallia softly. She seemed a little embarrassed about what she had just done, but not at all ashamed. "Maybe he can put a few things in prospective?"
The SEED owner agreed. He had his own questions to ask Kira… "Right… Yeah, that would be for the best." Maybe if he kept telling himself that, he'd actually believe it.
Colony Seihen; 10:42 AM
Military Medical Corridor
The group was soon in front of Kira's room. As Athrun opened the door, he realized this would be the first time in a long time that he would be seeing his best friend conscious. The thought that he'd almost lost him hours ago was daunting and made his skin jump. The fact that he was up and talking made the same skin twist and turn in apprehension. Just what was going on? He didn't even want to ask about what was going on with Cagalli. One more piece of unexpected news may have made him explode.
Kira and Lacus were engaged in deep conversation when they walked in; however from Athrun's prospective he assumed they'd been doing more than talking a little while ago. Kira visibly brightened upon seeing his other friends.
"Athrun! Long time!" Kira grinned at his friend and for a second Athrun could barely believe he'd been injured. Lacus turned around and smiled at the arrival of the group as well.
As much as he wanted to get down to the reason he was there, he couldn't help it. He smiled. "Kira, hi. I'm glad to see you're awake."
"Yeah, same here. From what Lacus tells me, I should still be sleeping, huh?" Kira chuckled sheepishly. "I guess I'm a bit too quick for that, huh?" He winced a second later. "Ah… Better save the laughing for another time…"
Athrun's smile seemed to turn sad. "We were actually coming here to talk about that, sort of." He glanced at the other three.
"Kira…" Sai stumbled over his words. "We … we're here to … to ask you something."
Kira tilted his head in confusion. "Hm? What's going on?"
Athrun looked his best friend square in the eyes. "Kira… They know." He paused. "About your … relations with Cagalli. They know."
Kira was serious in an instant.
Location Unknown; Time Unknown
Area Unknown
"Cagalli…"
Her eyelids fluttered slightly.
"Wake up, Princess…"
Cagalli Yula Athha's amber eyes opened slowly. The world around her was infinite darkness and infinite light. She could see nothing and yet everything at the same time.
"Wha-what…?" A little disoriented, she tried to start walking, but realized she could not feel the ground beneath her feet. After looking down, she saw there was no ground beneath her feet. "Where am…?"
"Cagalli…"
She was wide awake now, turning furiously to try and locate the familiar yet unfamiliar voice. "Wh-who said that? Who's there?" She demanded. She received no response. "Answer me!" Still silence. Cagalli shook her head in confusion and gripped her head. "How did I get here? … Where is here?"
All at once, two bright lights bright lights appeared in the dark-light world, almost blinding the unsuspecting princess. Her arms shot up to her eyes as the lights too on human form. When she put her arms down, she could see they were flying towards her, their arms outstretched. Cagalli unconsciously floated away from them, not letting them leave her sight for a second.
"Cagalli…" The voice! It had returned! "Cagalli… Kill them!"
Cagalli's eyes widened at the hissing voice. "K-kill… But … why should I-?"
"They want to kill you, Cagalli… Kill them first! Kill them! Rip them! Tear them!"
The Goddess of Victory was horrified at the voice's verbal jabs. "N-no! I can't! I won't! They-!"
The figures were coming closer… One reached out to her with incredible speed and grabbed her right arm. Its lips, the only things distinguishable from the rest of its bright shape, moved wordlessly. Out of instinct and fright, Cagalli yanked her arm away with a cry.
"Kill them… It's the only way to get them to leave you alone… So kill!"
Cagalli's gaze blurred for a second, but then she clearly saw something in her mind's eyes- a round thing almost like a seed- bounce and then explode. The voice… The voice was right! They wouldn't leave unless she killed them. She had to kill them…
She felt something cold in her right hand and looked down to see a jagged knife in it. A sadistic smile curled on to her face. Perfect…
With an almost inhuman yell, she launched herself at the figure who had grabbed her arm. The two figures seemed to gasp as she did so and started to move away. Not fast enough! Cagalli swung the knife through the air, aiming for the first figure's stomach. A feel of satisfaction spread through the girl as a new color joined the black and white: red. The figure stumbled through mid-air, moving its hands toward his stomach. Bad move. Cagalli followed up her assault with a kick to its head, sending it crashing against an invisible wall that seemed to materialize. Perfect.
A sudden memory came over Cagalli, one of herself choking someone against a wall. For a second, she considered doing the same now, but then the rest of the scene played out in her mind, and she decided against it. No, that did not end well at all… So she decided to take a different approach.
With a grin of glee, she sliced the figure's left arm, making its mouth open in a silent scream. The dark-light around her was stained with the red. She wanted to see more. She wanted to see much more. She raised her knife high, ready to stab the figure's throat- yes, that was the best place to stab to make more red come out-, but her vision shifted as weight crashed against her and enveloped her in a strong embrace.
Her gaze shifted to her left to see the second figure, who had been seemingly still this entire time, had leaped on her and was now holding her in its arms. She growled in rage. How dare that thing try and stop her? She twisted and thrashed in its arms as it murmured nonexistent words to her. It tried to spin her around so she could see its 'face', but Cagalli used this to her advantage. She yelled ruthlessly and swung the knife into the light-figure's left arm. It stiffened against her, but refused to let go. Big mistake.
Cagalli continued to stab the figure until all the dark-light around her had disappeared and its arm loosened its grip. She sneered darkly. She turned toward the figure, not caring that its right arm was still wrapped around her back. Now, she would finish the job!
"Yes, yes, kill! Finish it!"
The now-red knife glinted for a second as she shoved it into the light-figure's chest. It sputtered and coughed and more red filled the air, now staining Cagalli's hands as well. She did not care. She was done! She had killed them both! It was over!
But then…
Cagalli's gaze blurred once more and she gripped her head, dropping the knife into the void-like air. Her eyes opened. And she screamed.
The figures now had recognizable features; they had bodies. The one she had just killed was the very person she had been waiting for for so long. Athrun Zala.
"No…" Cagalli pushed herself away from the corpse, still holding her head. She realized her hands were covered in blood- his blood- and screamed again, pulling her hands away. She spun around to see the figure now slumped over against the wall was her very brother, Kira. "No!" Her eyes danced wildly between the two, yet all she could see were their corpses and the blood- that horrible, disgusting blood- that filled every bit of the world around her. "No, no, no!" She shook her head and tears flew every which way. "This can't be… I didn't…! Stop it! This isn't happening!"
And through it all, the voice laughed. The voice laughed long and loud. And Cagalli realized it was her voice- her voice telling her to kill the two most important people in her life, telling her to maim them and kill them and-
She couldn't take it anymore. Her hands flew to her head and her nails dug into her skin as she tried to block out the world around her. "No…" Nothing worked. "No…" She could still see them. "No…" They were still dead. "NO!"
Colony Seihen; 12:57 PM
Military Medical Center
Cagalli's eyes shot open in fear and she gasped. Was it all a dream? No- no, all she saw was white! Did that mean she was there again? Oh, no, no, she had to get away! She pushed herself up but then let out a strangled cry and gripped her abdomen. It hurt… It really hurt. She shut her eyes and fell back to her previous position on the- was she lying on a bed?
"Cagalli!" That voice… Could it be? "Cagalli, you're awake!"
Her eyes cracked open to see two elated green eyes staring down at her. A relief filled smile. A face filled with overall joy. And she knew who it was.
"A-Athrun?" She tried to sit up again, to figure out what happened, but he quickly grabbed her shoulders- lightly, of course- and pushed her gently back down.
"Yeah, it's me," His soft voice was heaven to her ears. He was alive… He was here, with her. He took her left hand in his own as he continued. "I'm right here." He leaned closer. "You really had us worried, Cagalli. You've been out for three days."
"Th-three days?" Cagalli stammered in confusion. "Athrun, what…" Her voice was dry and her throat hurt like hell. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Athrun asked, taking her right hand and rubbing it gently.
Cagalli shook her head as best she could. "I… I remember… There was someone … a boy. He … he attacked me… He … shot me." She pulled her left hand out of Athrun's embrace –she really didn't want to- to touch her right forearm and winced as she did. "And I…" Her eyes widened as the events came pouring back. "Kira!" She once again tried to sit up, but Athrun was already there, holding her down. "Athrun, let me go! Kira's-!"
"Kira's fine," Athrun confirmed. "He's awake, and he's doing much better than you."
"But… But how? He was shot," Cagalli almost shuddered, "he was shot three times."
Athrun frowned and lowered his head. "We … don't know how, but… He's awake. And he's alright."
Relief flooded Cagalli's thoughts. "Thank goodness…"
Athrun frowned at her. "But you, on the other hand, still need your rest." He grasped her hand again. "You … you almost didn't make it," He admitted. "I was… I thought…"
"Athrun…" Cagalli stared into his eyes sadly.
Athrun shook his head. "That doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're alright." He squeezed her hand lightly. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't woken up."
Cagalli's face grew hot and she looked away for a moment, but a small smile crept on to her face. "… Were you the one who stopped him? The … assassin?"
Athrun nodded awkwardly. "Yeah… Lacus and I arrived and…" He trailed off, unsure of how to continue. "… Yeah, I stopped him."
Cagalli smiled nervously at him. "Thank you. Thank you for, well…" She glanced at her bandaged right arm. "Well, everything."
The two sat in silence, soaking in the other's presence. So much had changed, yet the two felt as if they were picking up right where they left off. They stared into each other's eyes, losing themselves.
Athrun broke the contact first and hesitantly let go of her hand. He stood up and began to head for the door. "I should probably go and tell the others that you're awake. There are a lot of people who-"
Cagalli gripped his hand as he started to leave and pulled at it slightly. "Athrun? Don't leave. Please?" After all this time, he still made her feel so strange inside, like she was weak and strong at the same time, and the way his skin felt on hers just gave her goose bumps, and everything felt so right and pure.
Athrun was stunned for a moment, but then he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Cagalli's lips, one that lasted far too short, and left his face close to hers. She could feel his warm, comforting breath intermingling with her own. "I'll be back soon," he promised. He smiled and Cagalli could almost feel her insides melt. "Okay?"
Cagalli nodded slightly. "Okay."
He straightened himself and with one final comforting look over his shoulder left the room. Despite everything that had happened, Cagalli smiled to herself and relaxed in the bed. She shut her eyes and pictured Athrun's loving face. The disturbing dream no longer haunted her thoughts, and she focused on the happy memories that now flooded her mind.
"She's awake," He confirmed. "She's tired and a little disoriented, but she's awake."
Relief spread across the faces of those in the room. "At last," Lacus sighed happily.
Athrun focused on Kira with an almost hesitant gaze. "Do you think you can-?"
"Yeah." Kira interrupted him, knowing what he was going to ask. "I'll need a little help getting to her room, but yeah." His eyes shifted to his bed sheets. "I'll tell you guys. Everything."
Cagalli: ;snorts; About time.
Goddess: Ahh…
Shinn: She's just happy it's finally up. ;smirks; And that she got her scene with Athrun…
Cagalli: What? Oh, you little… ;glares at Shinn; I'll deal with you later… And what was up with that freaky dream-thing?
Goddess: Oh, that will be revealed in time…
Cagalli: You mean in the next year when you update again?
Goddess: Hmph! A girl takes a long time to update and suddenly everyone expects me to take a year each time?
Cagalli and Shinn: Yes.
Goddess: ;groans; Oh, whatever. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It's the longest yet in Half-Breed, reaching 28 pages on Microsoft Word. It almost killed me to go 24 pages without writing with my favorite character (the first scene with Athrun in the medical center doesn't count!), but I did it. So, everyone, I hope you review and give your thoughts on the oh-gosh-that-took-WAY-too-long chapter, and guess about any of the little things I've continued to introduce in it. I'll answer all reviews, even if you only yell at me for taking too long ;grin; And I promise the next chapter won't take as long!
