A/N: this chapter had been written veeeery hastily. i was near to strangle my own head after typing some lousy words and have to retype them again. (sigh) i just wanted to meet my deadline of posting...but i failed. but still-! i hope you'll like it anyways. the previous chapters had been serious and dramtic so in this one, i tried to make things light and casual.

MY ANTI DEPRESSANT

fictionalfact

Realization #5: Rapunzel and Something More

POV: Kira

It had taken all reason not to turn around and watch her as she silently sleep beside me. And it had taken all control not to lean onto her and let my lips brushed against hers. It had taken everything so as to not make a mistake that I might regret later on. But during midnight, when I found myself waking up from the light nudging of her arms beside me, I watched her, loving the way her golden hair was scattered on the pillows, her slightly parted lips and the sweet smell of her skin.

And this is one of those nights.

It had been three days since the funeral and every night, Cagalli will knock on my door and ask if she can spend the night with me. I, on the other hand, will just stand there, loving the way she looked in her pajamas and thinking the right and wrong of the situation. But, anyway, I ended up saying yes despite the thousand protests my mind will get afterwards.

I can't help it. I guess I also wanted to be near her.

And so I lay here, beside her, watching her and waiting for my alarm clock to blast off. Then my glance slowly fell on her lips and I have this aching desire to do just what I've been restraining myself not to. Fortunately or unfortunately, the alarm clock had decided it was time to remind me and I reached out to turn it off. At my side, Cagalli did not even flinch from the sound.

Letting out a sigh, I went to the bathroom and took a shower to keep my perverted thoughts away from her boundaries. The moment I went back, she was already up.

"You already took a shower," she stated matter-of-factly, her eyes staring up and down at my half nude form. I let out a cough and she instantly blushed. "What?" she snapped.

I smiled secretly as I took out my uniform. "Are you going to shower or stay here and watch me get dress?" I said teasingly and heard her rolled out of bed. I could almost feel her ambers boring a hole on my back. But my statement did work as she walked out of the door, closing it rather loudly.

I chuckled and felt more lightheaded upon seeing that blush on her face.

The school festival was two days away and classes were suspended for that day but the school had never looked busy or crowded as ever. Outside, students were grouped according to their organizations and were busily setting up their stands. There were decorations and signs everywhere. Colorful lanterns were set up and some of the students were helping the production students in finishing the props for the school play.

I looked out of the windows and smiled. Cagalli was supervising everyone and right now, she was yelling at two guys who almost stumble as they ran off after hearing her speech. I shook my head, "Tough as ever," and my smile faded as I saw Lacus leaning on the wall along with her theater friends. I remembered she was one of the major casts in the school play.

I glanced at their downcast faces and walked to her. "What's the matter? Did something happen?"

Lacus looked up at me with those beautiful eyes and smiled. "We're just having problems. Nicol who should be playing Rapunzel can't participate. He has a high fever and won't be able to come to school for three days. His understudy, Allen had an emergency. His grandfather was rushed to the hospital just yesterday and will be away for a week. We don't know who will fill the gap and…"

Lacus stopped and I frowned at her because she started eyeing me from head to toe. Then suddenly her eyes sparkled, confusing me even more. "What? Did you think of something?"

Lacus nodded and took a deep breath. She reached for my hand and said, "Kira, you're our only way out of this," and when I looked at her blankly, she grasped my hand tighter. "Can you be our Rapunzel? There's not much dialogue and we are right behind you and…"

Her voice seemed to fade as the word Rapunzel was being slowly ingested by my brain cells. The other actors had also gone to our side, bowing along with Lacus, begging to accept their offer. I could only stare wide eyed at them when someone patted me hard on the back.

"Aw. Come one Kira! You'll look pretty being Rapunzel," it was Cagalli. She was clearly enjoying the pressure I was in and I gave her a glare. But she continued, "Look at them," and both of us stared at the bowing group, their hands in pleading stance, "if there's no Rapunzel, there's no school play and their efforts will go unrewarded. Would you want that to happen?"

All right. She was putting me in a corner with no way out. I scowled one last time at her and faced Lacus, "Ok. I'll take the part."

I don't know what I'd gotten myself into. But I could only heave a sigh as the crew jumped to their feet and gave me a hug. And Cagalli? She was enjoying it. "Now, don't give me that face. You did what is right," she stated with a grin.

My eyes softened as she continued to grin at me and somehow seeing her grinning like that paid to whatever consequences I will soon face. Then I felt someone's arms encircled me and a pink mass soon covered my chest. It was Lacus. I felt my cheeks were heating up as an earlier episode suddenly by pass my mind. "Lacus what are—?"

"Thank you very much," she cut off and turned her lovely eyes straight at mine. Her cheeks reddened and she was smiling so charmingly that I could only stare at her. "You're a great guy Kira. I hope someday I could repay you somehow."

I shook my head and smiled back. "No need. Just like what Cagalli said, I don't want any of you down. We just have to help each other out, right?"

And when I turned to look at my side, she was already gone.

POV: Cagalli

For some reasons, I could feel my hands already balling into fists. My breathing was different too. It came out in loud rasps, making my cheeks burn and reddened. But the worst of it all, I could feel my heart beating faster and being squashed like a piece of wet cloth squeezing the water out. I frowned at that. What is wrong with me? Damnit! Stop beating so fast! I mentally yelled as I clutched my pounding heart.

The pain was like someone would feel when you were betrayed. But I don't have any reason to be feeling this. Damnit. This feels so weird and I do not like it. It's freaking me out!

I slowed myself into a walk and leaned on the trunk of a tree for support. Breathing? Turning to normal. Heart? Nearly there. And the pain? Still present and no matter how much I tried to push those complicated thoughts away, it continued to linger there, mocking and killing my stubborn pride.

My gods I can't be…and my eyes widened as I fell on the grass with a horrified look…jealous?

Damnit. Damnit. Damnit!

"Cagalli!"

I heard Lacus calling me, suppressing the other noises the students were creating nearby. I guess I must've been sitting there like some stupid idiot reasoning out something that is too plainly put for over an hour or so. And just as I had expected, I heard soft footsteps approaching and saw Lacus plopping herself beside me. She has the widest grin ever.

"Everyone was ecstatic. You were right, Kira is good for that part," she enthusiastically said, hugging me tightly as always. "Thank you for convincing him."

I could only give her a weak smile and knowing Lacus, she caught my mood right away.

"Hey, anything bothering you Cagalli? Is there something wrong?" she released me from her grasp and forced me to look at her in the eye.

Now what? I just can't tell her that I realize something so stupid today, can I? So instead of replying back, I chose to remain silent. Lacus must have taken the hint because she took something out of her bag and said, "Just tell me about it when you're ready ok. Anyway, let's go back to these."

I glanced at the script on her hands and groan. Not again! "I don't know if you noticed it or not, but I could easily pass as your understudy! I could almost recite some of your parts without reading that!"

She chuckled and flipped the pages to where we last practiced. "I wanted to do this right and Kira, being Rapunzel, is still at the auditorium. Mirillia is helping him out and I can't practice with him yet when he still hadn't read the entire script."

I rolled my eyes and slumped on the grass. "All right, all right. What scene did we left off?"

After awhile, since its getting dark as well, I left Lacus. She said she'll have to stay and recheck all the props, costumes and the lights with Mirillia, the play's director. I walked alone, almost dreading to see the house and come face to face with Kira. But of course the house finally loomed down the road and I felt my strength detaching itself from my soul. I took a deep breath before going in.

"I'm home."

But I was greeted by silence and blackness. I reached for the switch and saw a note left by Kira's father who was working a little late than usual. Glad that I have the whole house to myself, I took a shower, eat my dinner and hurriedly prepare for bed. The last thing I wanted is to face Kira. For the first time since mother died, I climbed my own bed and pull the covers. Just in time, the door downstairs bang shut and footsteps resounded against the walls.

It stopped just right outside my door. "Cagalli?" Kira said and when I didn't reply, he opened the door and I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to be asleep. "Good night," he whispered before closing the door behind him.

I opened my eyes and let out a sigh as I tried to slow my pounding heart.

I can't believe he's doing these to me. Of all people!

"WHAT?"

Some of the crew that was present cringed at the shrillness of my voice. My feet immediately stopped on their tracks as I glared at the ominous bandages Mirillia was staring at around Lacus's right arm. I dashed at the foot of the stage stairs, worry and fear creasing my brow.

"Today's your rest day so what happened here? Your arm…what happened to your arm?" I demanded.

Lacus flinched warily at my tone but gave me a smile. "Nothing to worry about Cagalli. I was checking the props and stage for tomorrow's play," she said in an apologetic voice and admitted, "I couldn't help it. I just have to check everything. I want the play to be a successful one so I…"

"All right. I get it. You don't have to explain."

"We have to fix the floor on the tower. I don't want Kira having the same accident as you had," Mir muttered, clearly depressed at what had happened to Lacus. "But what about you Lacus, can you act with that thing on?"

"I don't know…" Lacus whispered, staring at her arm sling. "But it would look awful. I won't be able to climb Rapunzel's hair in this condition."

"So what now? Your understudy?" I asked.

"Meer is my understudy but I let her take the husband's role," Lacus leaned on the wall as finally exhaustion got the best of her. I mentally sighed. I've never seen her looked this despondent and tired. This was what my friend had been practicing for and without her, there's no other who can play the prince's part.

"I don't know! But I don't want this to fail either…" Lacus stopped and glanced at me. She has that gleam on her eyes that only meant something and I certainly don't like it. She stood up and grinned at the crew, "Don't worry. I got it all settled."

Mirillia gaped dumbfounded at her. "What do you mean? We don't have a prince!"

Then Lacus turned to me with a smile that certainly meant one thing: Disaster.

"We have and she's standing over here," she swung her left arm around me and I flinched. "Cagalli will be our prince!"

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your brown hair!"

I heard Cagalli's loud cry outside the gigantic papier-mâché made tower as I groped down, cursing peevishly and hauled the mound of straw hair towards the window. I threw the junk out and cursed even more when my wig got tangled with the heap.

"AHH! This is outrageous!" I muttered as I untangled the strands from the wig and placed it back on my head. Luckily, I was hidden inside the tower's walls with this horrible dress and this horribly styled hairpiece.

"My prince! You have finally come," I said in a singsong voice as Cagalli reached the window.

She, on the other hand, smiled mockingly back at me. Talk about being the good savor. She's clearly laughing at my painted face!

"O, my Rapunzel. Have you waited long? Here's the cord. If you finished it, we can finally escape from here."

I nodded, facing the crowd and avoid glancing at her glinting eyes. "O yes, my prince and we shall live happily ever after." Yeah right.

Cagalli, looking handsome and almost a boy in her costume, smiled and bowed low at the other side of the tower. "Until tomorrow, my love." She glided to the side, making a clean exit. Then Yzak entered, walking limply with a cane on hand matching his ever ridiculous grin.

"Ah ha! I, your dearest lovely witch, had seen your act, you immoral wrench! You shall be punished!"

I glanced down at the tower with a weary face as Yzak turned to the crowd laughing manically and throwing his cane in a triumphant manner. He was enjoying his part as well. Lucky him.

And by the way, I think he forgot he's supposed to be the old handicapped witch.

Sigh.

"I can't see! I can't see!" Cagalli cried as she limp around the stage, holding a hand on her eyes while the other was blindly gripping its way around. She fell on the floor with a dramatic hand clutching the air for support. "The witch had blinded me!"

Then at the far distance, we heard Lacus take the mike and started singing. The crowd grew silent as Lacus beautiful voice floated around the auditorium, sending everyone including me in a melodious trance.

I peeked behind the curtains and felt Mirillia's hand squeezing my shoulders. She gave me a final nod as I glided, for the first time, on stage. The audience suddenly drew a wild hush, seeing me for the first time in my billowing pink dress, brown hair hidden by a crafted hairpiece and my lovely painted face. Yeah right. I mentally sighed and faked a 'shock look' as I saw Cagalli, lying on the floor with a hand on her chest. I finally ran to her side, falling on my knees with a cry,

"My prince!"

I wanted to die.

"My prince."

God, please take me right now.

Then I glanced up and saw the others watching us from the backstage. Mirillia was clasping her hands in a wondrous daze as she started mouthing something and I mouthed back, "What?"

"Kiss her."

"WHAT? Are you out of your mind? No way!" I mouthed back.

Mirillia started whispering at someone who handed her a board. There, written in bold letters "I said kiss her!" and I sweat dropped. She nodded as I stared back at Cagalli and gulped. Kiss her? How? My face had suddenly gone paler as I stared at Cagalli's closed eyes and down to her moistened lips. I could feel my heart started breaking loose out of its compartment as I leaned down.

You wanted to kiss her remember?

But not in front of everyone! Damnit!

So what? And besides, this is your chance! Go for it!

I took a deep breath and gulped. "Cagalli, I'm sorry," I muttered.

My lips were finally inches from hers when she peeked from her closed eyes and screamed, "Kira what in the hell do you thing you're doing, you idiot!"

And the lights went out.

Although the play had the worst ending ever, the audience loved it anyway and even burst out laughing as the ashen faced Rapunzel and her prince took a bow. But who had turned the lights out? Well, there was only one who knows who…and why.

At the far back of the auditorium, a pair of emerald eyes gleamed and its owner walked out of the brass doors as the cast took their final bow.

A/N: is it ok? (hungs head exhaustedly) oh well.
take care everyone and please feel free to share your thoughts and criticism. because your comments really helps. thanks!

fictionalfact signing off.