Author's notes: I'm back!

Finally! The stressful school term is over and I am able to write fics again!

My multi-chaptered fics have not been updated for too long I know, but I will continue them...when I am able to... However, I will not give up on them! I will definitely strive to write on!

There is so much to write in such a short period of time! I will try my best to update as much as possible this holidays!

Please enjoy this "come-back" oneshot (that forms part of a fic) and please review!

A late thanks to all my readers and reviewers!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of its characters.

Everlasting

Cagalli shifted uneasily in her dress. She had been in it for almost the entire day, but still could not get used to wearing it. This was one of the reasons she dreaded cultural festivals. Last year, she was coerced into getting into a maid’s costume for the café her class operated. This year, her class decided on a café again. Cagalli prayed to every single divine being she knew to do away with the maid’s costume. Her wish did come true, but her joy only lasted for that very second. The class president, who was a guy, announced that they were not going to have a normal café, but a cosplay café. Cagalli nearly fainted at the word. She didn’t know which was worse, dressing up as a maid or as some ridiculous comic character. It didn’t help that to her knowledge, such characters usually donned even more revealing attires and stranger outfits.

A ray of hope shone on Cagalli when it was announced that their costumes would be decided by random using the ladder method. Also, the costumes would not be strictly based on gender and therefore there might be cross-dressing. If she was fortunate, she might end up with a guy’s costume! Or even a normal school uniform! Hooray!

It seemed however, that the gods did not favour the blond-haired girl. Cagalli’s costume was tame as compared to others, but it was something she dreaded the most.

Cagalli adjusted the pleats of her long skirt, a show of how uncomfortable she was. The princess-like dress wasn’t causing her plight; it was the fact that she was in it. She had very strong pride as a tomboy, and tomboys are not seen going around as a princess. That was what she tried to present. In reality, Cagalli had always harboured dreams of being a princess. Because of her strong nature and image, she had to rely on herself for many things. It was during one of these times she wished there was a prince who would protect and love her and whom she could rely on. However, she never let anyone in on this secret; she was too embarrassed to.

The dress suited Cagalli perfectly, even if she refused to admit it. The compliments she received from her classmates, the stares from male customers and the envious looks of some female customers summed everything up. The simple but elegant dress was pale lilac, and hugged her figure all the way to her waist, where it then puffed up and ended in a long, pleated skirt like every princess’s dress in a fairy tale. Small, puffy sleeves perched on her shoulders, flattering her well-defined and feminine clavicular protrusions and showed off her slender arms. A shiny tiara glittered under the lights as it sat above her soft golden hair. Her attire was complete with semi-translucent slippers tinted with a touch of soft purple.

“Hey Cagalli!” A voice behind her called out.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Another female voice asked.

“Ah! Lacus! Miri!” Cagalli greeted.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Mirialla repeated her question, glancing at the other students happily dancing away on the dance floor.

It was a tradition of the school to hold a dance party after every cultural festival. Every year, new couples would be born on this day. They may stay together, or break up, but no one will doubt the magic cast over this day.

Cagalli stood at the side of the dance floor away from the crowd and the dancing couples. She felt sort of…out of place. They were mostly in pairs while she was…alone.

“I…I don’t know how to dance…” she gave the most standard answer. “And I don’t have a dance partner…” she couldn’t help but add.

“So is that it Cagalli? Well, then that problem can be solved!” Lacus chirped. “Look at us. What are we?”

Cagalli glanced at the pink-haired girl and the brunette. “A magician and a witch. So?”

Lacus was the magician and was wearing the classical colours of blue with yellow stars. On her pink hair sat a tall conical hat of the same pattern. Mirialla was totally in black, dressed in a black garb with black boots and a crooked hat and in her hand, she held a broomstick, a must-have for every witch.

“Don’t you get it Cagalli?” Mirialla let out. “We have magic powers!” Both of them grinned.

Cagalli shook her head and gave out a little laugh. “You really like the costumes don’t you?”

“I mean, since we are all dressed up and all…” Lacus replied, waving her starry wand. “And I’ll show you I have magic!”

“Me too!” Mirialla added and waved her black wand.

Cagalli laughed again but decided not to comment any more. Everyone was having fun today, and she had no right to pour cold water all over them.

“We will grant your wish Princess Cagalli!” Mirialla announced.

“What wish?” Cagalli played along.

Lacus gently whispered into her ear. “Look to the right.”

Cagalli turned towards her right, expecting something funny or even nothing to be there. However, her feelings were quickly replaced by astonishment. Walking towards her was a prince. Prince Athrun.

Athrun had been put into the costume of a fairy tale prince, and looked every bit of it. He wore a smart high-collared shirt, synonymous to a military blouse. A blue cloak flowed along his back, accentuating his tall stature. A jewel-crusted sword was attached to the side of his waist, adding a regal air to him. It was not that he needed any, he already had plenty the moment he put on the prince garb.

Cagalli watched dumbfounded as Athrun approached her. She had tried very hard not to stare when he came out of the dressing room in his attire for the café. Smart, dashing, handsome were only some words she could use to describe him. She had felt her cheeks go hot whenever she laid her eyes on him but quickly dismissed it as her own embarrassment. Now however, under the lighting of the hall, he looked even better-looking than ever. Moreover, she knew from his gentle smile and his emerald eyes which were staring straight into hers, she was his target.

Athrun stood in front of the surprised princess. He smiled and bowed down politely, his right hand across his chest and his left foot was a step back.

Cagalli was mesmerised by Athrun’s actions and a faint pink surfaced from below her blusher applied on her cheeks. However, she quickly became aware of some attention they were getting and snapped out of her trance.

“What…what are you doing Athrun?” Cagalli whispered.

Athrun answered by stretching out his right hand. “May I have this dance with you, Princess?”

Cagalli’s amber eyes widened at the sudden invitation. It may have been the moment, or the spirit of the couples, or the magic bestowed among them, or maybe just due to Cagalli herself, she placed her right hand into his, accepting his invitation to dance.

The band began to play a slow number and the energetic mood on the dance floor began to simmer down to a much softer one. Male students began to ask their female compatriots to dance. It seems like the entire magic of the day was reserved for this very moment.

Athrun’s hand gently clasped over Cagalli’s smaller ones and he led her to the dance floor. He quickly took charge, placing her left hand on his shoulder and placing his right hand on her waist. He held her free hand delicately, as if it were a precious yet fragile object.

Do you remember what you said to me?

It's been ringing in my heart...

You should know that

what your words can do to me

It rumbles so high...

It tumbles so light...

With Athrun leading the dance, the couple swept gracefully across the dance floor. Cagalli was a little afraid of stepping on his toes and ruining the entire mood, however, the magic of the day seemed to favour her and cast its spell on her. Athrun placed his emerald eyes on her and no one else. His look was gentle and so was his smile. He did not know how he was able to fight the blush which threatened to expose his emotions when he saw his princess. Even if it is only for today, he was glad he was able to dance and look at her the way he was doing now. No one would suspect it was the expression of his innate feelings. A single word that came out of her rosy lips, or just even a simple smile or action from her would send his heart pounding and his mind reeling. He had to hide all of these from her, yet make it obvious to her other suitors that they would have to contend with him for her.

You're beautiful

Oh, I have to say, you're beautiful

It's hard to deny it

You smile, and I can easily cry...

The hems at the end of her dress swirled in an elegant fashion as the couple twirled as they danced. It was almost impossible for Cagalli to not notice that his eyes, deep and intense in their jade lights, were always on her, thus intensifying the pink blush on her cheeks. Athrun, to her, had always been so bright and shining. His wavy, navy-blue hair, those illuminating emerald orbs, the well-built stature and the mega-watt smile which would send dozens of girls into frenzy. He was handsome, dashing, attractive and every positive connotation to be used in that sense. He was beautiful, too beautiful for a man in her opinion. She was always jealous of the attention he got from the girls. Somehow, she hated the fact that he was so nice and polite to everyone, especially to girls.

You know, you make me feel like a girl

Since I met you, I feel like a girl

It's amazing, so different way to be

And now, it seems like I'm falling

Into love, into love...

Athrun and Cagalli were soon receiving some attention from the rest of the people in the hall. Compliments like “They look good together!”, “They are just like the fairytale prince and princess!” were whispered among them, together with envious gasps and fascinated looks. For what seemed to be the first time in her life, Cagalli was not embarrassed to be seen in public as a princess. At this very moment, she felt like a girl. Having her prince to protect her and take her in his hand just like a precious object. For once, she was looked upon as a girl.

You can answer to what I said to you

I give you the sweet part of my heart

So don't hurt me, if you feel the same way

We can make today high...

We can make it so bright...

If it was because of magic, Athrun hoped it would be an everlasting one. He was dancing with his princess now, and just that was enough for him to feel blessed. He gazed at Cagalli, and knew his eyes were brimming with his love for her, unable to hide his true feelings at this very moment. So many times, he had expressed his feelings to her, discreetly of course, but she never seemed to get the hint. His heart, he had given it to her a long time ago. A single word from her can make or break his world. Inwardly, he was afraid she might reject him. But for now, he wanted to live in the magic of the moment, where she was his and his alone.

You're an angel

When I met you, it was miracle

Impossible not to

feel it, we share the moment...

To Athrun, Cagalli was his angel, and it was an irreversible fact. When he first met her, he was instantly swept away by the amount of light she radiated. She was as bright and warm as the morning sunshine; it was nothing like he had ever felt before. As time passed, she became from his best friend’s twin sister to a close friend. Soon, he started seeing her in a different light, something much, much deeper than friends. Those butterflies in his stomach when she was around, his gaze always involuntarily moving towards her and that throbbing of his heart that had become all too familiar to him. He loved Cagalli, and he knew that very well. He treasured every single moment he shared with her and at this very moment, it was magical.

You know how much I feel like a girl

Because of you, I feel like a girl

It's like new window opening to me

So now, it seems like I'm falling

Into love...

The handsome couple twirled across the dance floor, immersed in their own world. They didn’t notice or hear the compliments of the other students or the sounds of cameras clicking away. Even if it was just for this time, they lived in their own time, where she was his princess and he was her prince.

It was a totally new sensation to Cagalli. She felt so much like a girl, and so much like a princess, so loved and cherished. And she did not hate it. She was known to be a tomboy, and pushed off anything girly. However, this was something she had never experienced before. The loved the feeling of being a girl, and it only happened with him.

Athrun.

Cagalli felt as if something within her was trying its best to be released, but she did not know what it was. It was warm and fuzzy, but also filled with anxiety and. It was waiting to be acknowledged by her. Cagalli lifted her head and saw Athrun’s gentle emerald eyes looking down at her. There was something in those charming eyes she could not place her finger on, something which seemed to resonate within her. His smile was equally gentle, and his touch was so burning hot she thought she would just melt in his arms. She didn’t know why, but all her insides seemed to be messed up at that very point of time.

You know, you make me feel like a girl

Since I met you, I feel like a girl

It's amazing, so different way to be

And now, it seems like I'm falling

Into love, into love...

Cagalli didn’t know if the magic on this day was true, or if there was magic surrounding them, but something deep down within her, she knew.

Her heart had been stolen.

Credits:

Song: Feel Like A Girl

Artist: Lia

Author's notes: I love School Rumble! This song was an insert in School Rumble Nigakki and this fic was similarly inspired by an episode of the anime! MikotoxAsou rules!

Please read and review!