Phase 1: Fragile Peace
Lacus groaned as she tried her best to sort out of the voices around her and try to make some sense as to what each and every one of them were saying.
She heard bits about economic issues, and more stuff on peace talks. However, that was all she could make out since so any people were talking all at once.
Her eyes quickly shot towards her bodyguard who was walking by her side. He however averted his eyes obviously trying to avoid getting involved in any of the politics that were going on.
Kira Yamato and politics didn't match too well. He was a top class mobile suit pilot though perhaps even the best that there ever was. This however was kept secret since there were some who had an issue with the Freedom.
'Traitor,' Lacus mentally said as she shot Kira a look that made him squirm a little. A moment later it was gone and instead replaced by a smile which made the young man next to her breathe a sigh of relief.
It wasn't until they reached her office that the crowds started to disperse and Lacus was able to breathe her own sigh of relief.
"It's so tiring being a chairman of the PLANTs," Lacus said as she collapsed into her seat and laid her head back so that she stared at the ceiling.
"You're the one that agreed to their request. You knew what that was going to entail," Kira said as he sat in a seat across from her.
"If it's any consolation, you're doing a great job. Hopefully with you here there won't be any more wars," he said giving her a smile that eased her tension a little bit.
"I would prefer if they didn't have to rely on me. I would've loved to just be at that house looking after those orphans like we used to do," Lacus said dreamily as she remembered the life that they had between the two wars.
"And leave things as they were. War would just start up again. There's even more at stake for us right now," he said the last part quietly but Lacus nodded her head with a gentle smile.
"Well with you here, sooner or later peace will last and we can go back there," he consoled her earning him a smile which gave him a lot more energy to get through the day.
"I know. I don't regret taking the job. I just prefer that old life back in ORB," she responded while thinking about all those kids they took care of.
She picked up a pen to fill out some papers but there was a knock on the door before she had the chance to do so. "Come in," Lacus called out to the person at the door.
Kira stood up from his seat but rolled his eyes when he saw who it was.
"Well I see you're as busy as usual," a young man said as he walked into the room.
He was a man that was no older than Kira or Lacus and also happened to be a council member as well.
Lacus had once told Kira that she had known the man since they were children. Kira made it pretty clear to her that he didn't like the guy though.
"I'm beginning to wonder if they chose me just so that I'd do all the paperwork for them," Lacus grumbled as she stamped one and moved it to the side before grabbing another to look over.
"Is there something you need chairman Evans?" Lacus formally asked not taking her eyes away from the papers.
"You know me much better than that Lacus. Just call me James," the man said with a smile while leaning against her desk. "We've known each other for a while so it's fine to do so," he said with a flirty smile.
"What is it you need Chairman Evans. I am extremely busy right now," Lacus muttered rubbing her head where a headache was forming.
"Very well," he muttered obviously very disappointed that what he did wasn't working.
"There is something I need to talk to you about Lacus…" he started before looking at Kira, "Alone."
"If there is something that you need to speak to Lacus about then you can say it front of me," Kira said sternly as he faced the man with a worried face. He really didn't like the idea of leaving this guy and Lacus alone.
"That is Chairwoman Clyne to you Yamato. She is your employer and you shall treat her with respect in a way that is befitting of your position," the man sternly responded with an air of superiority that seemed to enjoy flaunting his position.
"Besides, this is important business. I know you enjoy being her little dog but for someone who got such an important position as her bodyguard with no proper experience, you really should just back off," James continued while looking at Kira with emotionless eyes.
"It doesn't matter to me what Kira calls me Chairman Evans," Lacus responded not wanting the two of them to fight.
Kira flirted with the idea of mentioning that he was the pilot of the Freedom to the man to see how he would react but he held himself back for the sake of Lacus.
She saw that he was about to argue though so she cut in. "By the way Kira, didn't you have some business with Yzak?" she asked hoping to separate the two of them quickly.
'Not exactly like I had a choice in that matter,' Kira grumbled in his mind while he nodded.
"Then I guess I should be on my way," he regretfully responded. "If you need me just give me a call," he said before he bowed and left the room.
James Evans watched as Kira left with a bit of contempt.
"This isn't what I came to talk about but please consider this Lacus. Replace Yamato," he stated quite angrily.
This wasn't the first time Lacus had heard of this and not just from him. A stipulation for her joining the counsel was that no one was to know about Kira's abilities or connection to her other than as a bodyguard since there were unfortunately many political issues that came with it.
"He just showed up out of nowhere and I don't trust him. I mean I can't even find any information on him besides basic stuff. Not to mention that he seems to lack any respect for authority. I know you don't mind but think of your position. This could cause problems in the future and I just want to stop such troubles from happening," he continued to rant until he took a deep breath when he finished.
Lacus couldn't help but laugh a little as she toyed with something hidden beneath her blouse. "There is nothing to worry about. I fully trust him. I assure you that he isn't going to be a problem," she said as she stood up.
"You may trust him but I don't. I feel that he may be planning something and I'm just worried for your safety," he said looking at her gently.
Lacus suddenly started laughing in response which just annoyed him more. "What could possibly be so funny about something so serious?" he yelled in annoyance.
"You're just too serious. Kira would never try something," Lacus said a bit amused with the way James saw Kira. "Now we should get to business," Lacus said and watched as the man growled and took a seat across from her.
"Just who the hell's idea was it for you to tag along with me for this!?" Yzak screamed as he stormed along the hallways with Kira following along.
"Couldn't they have sent someone else? Anyone but you?" he growled. Sure he'd gotten to the point where he could put the past behind him but that didn't mean that he was best friends with Kira.
"Lacus simply thought that it would be a good experience for me. She just thought it would be good for me if I got a better look around the ZAFT military and gained a better understanding of it," an amused Kira said as he easily kept up with the annoyed ZAFT commander.
"And that's another thing. Not only am I babysitting you but now I have to babysit a bunch of newbie's as well. I am a captain of a warship! Not a freaking teacher!" he growled out while getting right up in Kira's face.
"It's simulation battle. They must've thought someone of your experience would be best for teaching it so that they won't go out ill prepared," Kira reasoned hoping to calm the temperamental man down.
"Well then I guess they did make a good choice for that," Yzak suddenly said proudly before shaking it off knowing he was only being praised for the sake of calming down.
"Why not just send only you then?! I mean you're the pilot of the freaking…" Yzak started before screaming out loud when Kira slammed his foot down on Yzak's as a few instructors came walking by.
'Oh yeah, they aren't supposed to let anyone know,' he thought while glaring at Kira wishing all the world's tortures on him.
The two then walked calmly until they reached a room. Yzak composed himself as he walked into the room and the rowdy students settled down at once.
"I have been asked to be the supervisor for you simulation training for today so I want all to follow my every command," Yzak said sternly while glaring at the class.
"Wow, we get Commander Joule to help us?" a small roar resounded throughout the room.
"Awesome, not only was he a survivor of the both Bloody Valentine wars but also piloted one of the original g-units," another student continued to say.
Kira couldn't help but be amused with how proud Yzak looked as they complimented him.
'So temperamental and serious but is very boastful when people point out his achievements,' he thought with a small laugh while ignoring the few stares directed at him since he was used to them by now.
"Who's that? He wears a white suit but I don't remember seeing him from anywhere before," a male student said out loud while looking at Kira.
The statement was being mimicked by the rest of the students soon afterwards.
"Don't you know? He is said to be the personal bodyguard of THE lacus Clyne. It caused quite a stir when she turned up with some no name in tow," a female student responded.
"But she has good tastes. I mean he is pretty hot," another girl said dreamily which was also mimicked by several other female students.
"WHAT?! Some no name guy like that gets to be Lacus Clyne's bodyguard?!" a particularly loud student screamed out upon hearing that. "Look at him. He looks so weak. I bet you I can beat him at the simulations!" the boy boasted.
Kira looked particularly annoyed with the boy's statement while Yzak looked particularly amused.
"Sounded like a challenge. Why not take it unless you are afraid of losing. After all, you could be useless without THAT," Yzak taunted with a big grin spread across his face.
"Then again, being the top of this class. I bet you that I could even defeat Commander Joule," the boy cockily continued which effectively wiped the grin off of Yzak's face.
"I hereby challenge both of you. I will prove that I am way too good for this academy," he cockily announced with an annoying laugh much to the instructor's and student's annoyance.
Yzak looked at a list and found the name of the student that was so boastful. "Well then Mr. Daniel Frost. Why don't we use you as a guin … out first example?" Yzak said trying to keep a smile on his face when all he wanted was to beat the living shit out of the kid.
"Now, now Yzak, calm down," Kira said though the boys boastful taunts were grating on his nerves as well. "Just beat the guy in the simulation and get it over with," he said with a twitching eyebrow.
Yzak growled as he looked over some of the records that were in front of him. 'Daniel Frost, an immigrant to the PLANTs at the end of the second war,' he look over the data in front of him.
Looking over the data in front of his, Yzak scowled.
'He's loud and annoying but he's definitely good. He's broken several records already and he's only been in the academy a short time,' he couldn't help but think while looking at the kid who was only two years younger than him and Kira.
"Very well, I'll be sure to put you in your place," Yzak cockily replied as he headed to the simulation machines.
The boy grinned as he hopped out of his seat and raced down to the machines.
"When I beat you I will prove that there is no one that can defeat me," he boldly stated while taking a seat in the machine.
'It's been so boring since I got here anyways, this ought to spice things up a bit,' he thought as the machine closed up and he found himself in a replica of a mobile suit's cockpit. The screen in front of him lit up to show an almost realistic looking outer space.
"We'll both be using a GINN mobile suit so that we are on equal ground tech-wise," Yzak voice resounded through the simulation chamber.
"The winner is the first to destroy the other person's mobile suit," Yzak continued laying down the ground rules for the simulation battles for everyone to hear.
"Fine by me. You could use a gundam for all I care and I would still beat you down," the boy responded only annoying Yzak and the entire class even more.
Everyone was really feeling the headache come on from the cockiness levels the boy was giving off.
Kira himself felt his face stiffen at the mention of the word Gundam. That wasn't a words really used outside his group so he wondered where this boy picked it up. He'd never really heard it elsewhere.
"This is why I hate kids," Yzak growled out through gritted teeth while the machines hummed as the systems in it loaded up. 'I just have to finish this quickly then I will hear the end of his annoying arrogance,' he thought as he set in the required data.
'Those two are too much alike,' Kira thought as a chuckle escaped from his mouth. He then watched as a small countdown was made and the two quickly got to work of trying to chop the other into pieces.
'Considering that he is a student, there shouldn't be too much of a match. However… I have a strange feeling here. Something doesn't feel right,' Kira thought watching the screen in front of the class.
The screen showed every move that the two made as if a real match was going on and they were just watching it on TV.
The battle had been going on for a minute or so and Kira kept an extra close eye on each of their moves.
'This kid is too good for a student. It's like he has years of real battle experience. His moves are too quick and he has little to no excess movements. If this goes on…' he thought but was interrupted when there was a loud buzzing signaling an end to the battle.
There was quite a stir in the room as people looked at the monitor and saw the results.
Yzak had lost. The loud arrogant cheering of Daniel Frost was more than enough of an indicator that the machine wasn't wrong and Yzak really had lost.
"How was that?! I guess you're not all that you were made out to be! You were just going up against naturals after all. How could you possibly be as good as the rumors said," Daniel gloated as his ego swelled more and more with his victory.
"That's… impossible," Yzak said as he just sat in the simulator in utter disbelief.
'How could I have lost? I didn't hold back at all either. I used everything I had to finish it quickly,' he thought never having felt so humiliated since Kira first defeated him. That news also came as an even worse blow when he learned that even Kira was actually a civilian with no real piloting training before then as well.
Kira stared at the boy who was hopping around in joy. The feeling of unease was still rippling through him and he wasn't sure exactly why that was happening.
'Maybe I should fight him in this thing. It might give me a better idea as to what this feeling I am having is,' he thought as he walked over and placed a hand on Yzak's shoulder.
"Move," he ordered and Yzak was unnaturally compliant when he got off the seat.
Daniel saw Kira take a seat in the machine and let off a small smirk. "So that's how it is going to be. Looks like this is going to be interesting," he muttered to himself as he popped back into the machine as it booted back up to the same settings.
"Since I am sure everyone else will want a try today. Let's put a time limit on the match," Kira suggested while quickly modifying the settings. "Besides that it will be the same as before," Kira said as the program started up.
Everyone in the room watched the screen in excitement after the excitement that was the previous battle.
Over all though they didn't appear to be too impressed with what they saw in the first minute. It was more akin to wildly swinging weapons than a proper trained fight.
'What the! This isn't Kira's normal style of fighting. Sure he could get rid of that whole no kill shit since this is just a game but he doesn't seem to be doing that or fighting his normal way,' Yzak thought as he watched in confusion.
Kira seemed to strike randomly and then pull away quickly which was even stranger since he always just moved in at the opponent quickly for quick strikes with the sword.
Inside the simulation cockpit Kira continued what he doing as the time was drained down. 'Guess that didn't work. Then how about this,' he thought as he tried what he made seem like a regular feint attack.
The mobile suit showed on the screen looked like he was going to block the feint only to change before Kira could react and blocked the real attack. Kira then quickly pulled back to try out his next test.
'This is boring,' Daniel thought since to him Kira was doing nothing but running away and then attacking. It was making it impossible to get a proper hit off which was draining the clock more and more.
As expected, the time ran out before a winner could be declared but something in Daniel told him that was the real reason for making it a timed match.
'Could he merely have been gauging my skills rather than fighting?' he thought as they exited the machines and he started to talk with some of the students.
"What was that Yamato? You seemed like a total amateur in there. Why not use some of your normal quick moves you usually use and just get it over with?" Yzak asked quietly as Kira walked over and took a seat.
"I just didn't want anyone to recognize my movements. Both Lacus and I don't want and aren't supposed to let people to find out who I am after all," Kira lied since his attacks were merely tests the opponent.
'He has quick maneuvers and is quite obviously trained in mobile suit combat,' he thought to himself as him and Yzak just watched some of the other students get in and have mock battles.
Unknown to the both of them, Daniel snuck out of the room with a yawn.
He walked away from the room but came to a quick stopped when he realized that someone else was there. "What is it you want?" he asked rudely to the familiar person.
"Oh nothing. I was just curious about your thoughts on the battle," the man said as he hid in the shadows so as not to be seen by some of the people that were randomly passing by the scene whether they were teachers or students.
"Yzak Joule is nothing special. He won't be any trouble for us. Kira Yamato on the other hand I don't know. He did nothing but try to test my reaction time," Daniel reported exactly what he had been told to do before the class.
"So you have nothing on him. Looks like we'll have to try something else to judge the full scale of his abilities," The man in the shadows said before he disappeared and it became eerily quiet like the man hadn't even been there.
"Now that we worked out the details on the new proposal, I have the paperwork for what we discussed last week ready to be signed," James said as he handed Lacus a small portfolio which she took and ready over.
Lacus's eyes swiftly moved across the paper making sure that everything that was put down was as they discussed it.
She wasn't even listening as James talked in the background about stuff she was sure probably didn't matter.
When Lacus was sure that everything was in order she neatly scribbled down her signature onto the paper and handed it back to the man before her. "Is that everything you needed?" she asked as James looked over and made sure every signature was there.
"Yes. There are a few things I wish to discuss with you but they can wait until later," James said with a smile.
"Well, then I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow," he continued as he turned and slowly left the office.
A sigh escaped Lacus's mouth at the relief that all the immediate paperwork was done and that she could relax for a while.
'I just want to get home and back to you,' Lacus thought with a pout as she opened a desk drawer and looked at an object that was inside. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as she looked at it.
Another knock on the door made her quickly slam the drawer shut and straighten herself up in her chair.
"Come in," Lacus said when everything was in order and watched as the door opened.
A smile crossed her face when she saw that it was Kira returning.
She giggled when he looked around. "Don't worry, he left a few minutes ago," she said and saw him sigh in relief.
"That's good. I'm tired and didn't want to get into another argument with that man," Kira said as he walked over and took his regular seat close to Lacus.
"He go on another rant on getting rid of me again?" he asked and sighed as Lacus nodded her head.
"It would be so easy to just tell people who you are but this would likely just bring up even more problems as well," Lacus said with a sigh from all the stress it was to keep quiet. "I really hate hiding everything," she said quietly while laying her head down on her desk.
"I really don't mind hiding my identity. I hate the spotlight. People just ignore me since they don't know me except for the usual questions I get," Kira responded trying to look on the bright side of things.
"It's not just that," Lacus murmured so softly that Kira almost didn't hear.
Then suddenly her head shot right with a bright smile. "I know something that will make things all better," she said with a big grin on her face.
"We can't leave yet," Kira said immediately shooting down the idea he knew was floating round her head. "You do have that important meeting in an hour and there'd be no way to get back on time if you left," Kira continued calmly.
"After that we need to meet Athrun at the spaceport as well. Which means we'll be pretty busy for the next few hours," he continued since he memorized their schedule for the day.
A crestfallen Lacus once again laid her head back down on the desk in defeat.
"Why'd you have to remind me," Lacus said with a pout like that of a child who didn't get the toy that they really wanted.
She knew what they had to do. She was just hoping there was a way out of at least the meeting that she had to go to.
Kira couldn't help but chuckle.
Having been raised and taught by her father in the ways of politics from a very early age, Lacus was very good at what she did. She'd always put on a proper face when at work.
Yet when no one else was around she still had that childish attitude that she had when he had first met her.
"Oh come on, no need to be such a child. You only have to wait a few more hours. I wish that we could as well but there's nothing that I could do about it," Kira said as she glared at him as if it was all his fault.
'She really does get so childish when she gets that plan in her mind,' he thought thinking of a countermeasure for the situation.
"How about we go out and get something to eat, my treat," he said and the growl he then heard come from Lacus's stomach was all the assurance he needed to know that it would work.
"Come on, you can choose where to go," he said and Lacus nodded as they both stood up and left.
A twenty-one year old man looked out into the depth of space through a small window with his brilliant green eyes from the shuttle he was taking to the PLANTS. 'Things have changed for the better these last three years,' he thought with a smile.
'Used to be that you could never look out into space without seeing the lights of some kind of battle. Now it is just as peaceful as when man first went into space,' Athrun Zala thought with a relieved sigh.
It wasn't like the false peace from after the first war. People were truly tired of fighting.
Even Blue Cosmos members had been relatively silent. 'Likely just biding their time though till they regain strength,' he thought bitterly since they were to blame for all the wars that occurred and escalating them to levels that they didn't need to go to.
'Thanks to the efforts of Cagalli and Lacus, this might just be a lasting peace. I just hope that no one tries to spoil it,' he thought knowing that the world was in good hands with those two directing things as they were.
Without the interference from the Seiran family like before the second war, Cagalli had truly become a good leader in her own right.
ORB was rebuilt immediately following the second war and with the help of the PLANTs started to thrive as they did in the days of Uzume Nara Attha.
The PLANTs took longer to rebuild after what happened to them when the Requiem was fired. The first two years were the most difficult but recently Lacus finally agreed to taking on the position of supreme chairman.
For the first six months after the second war Lacus acted as a mediator between the three major powers; the PLANTs, ORB, and the Earth Alliance.
Then for 2 years she just disappeared back into her quiet life.
From what he knew, the PLANT supreme council had contacted her for that entire time hoping to give her a position on the supreme council.
It wasn't for another two years before circumstances took their toll and Lacus finally agreed to the offer, though very reluctantly.
As for himself, he stayed in ORB as one of its military leaders. This allowed him to stay near Cagalli and help to prevent another disaster like what the Seiran's tried to do.
For a while it was hard considering their past but they were able to put it behind them and work together as just friends.
"It's so good to be home again," a voice next to Athrun said as a body reached over so that the person could get a proper look out the window.
Red hair pulled up into two ponytails on both sides fell before his face while she stared happily out the window at the view of her homeland.
When he had decided to stay in ORB, Meyrin Hawke stayed with him though she also acted as a mediator between her and Cagalli when needed.
It made him feel sad though that she was doing all this for him. She gave up on ZAFT; she gave up on the PLANTs; all so that she could be with him.
"Glad that you're so happy," Athrun said with a chuckle as their shuttle was preparing for entry into the port.
When Meyrin had heard that he was going to visit the PLANTs to see Kira and Lacus, she had absolutely insisted on coming along for many reasons.
"I can't wait to see my sister. Shinn and her are supposed to be getting married soon. I'm glad that they were even allowed with all the laws. She always seems so happy when she is with Shinn," Meyrin said getting back into her seat and fastening the buckles back up.
"I can't wait to see Kira and Lacus too, as well as…" she said but was cut off in the middle by the pilot giving entry warnings to the passengers.
The shuttle docked a few minutes after that. Athrun was glad when he finally stood up and could properly stretch out.
"Finally," he said as himself as him and Meyrin grabbed their things and made their way to the exit.
Outside the gate, Kira and Lacus were eagerly awaiting for Athrun to come out of the gate unaware that Meyrin had tagged along with him.
"Oh, there he is," Lacus said happy to see one of her oldest friends come out of the gate. "Oh! Meyrin came too," she continued happy to see the red head as well.
They had become pretty good friend near the end of the war and afterwards so she was glad to see her as well.
"Hey. You two are looking good," Athrun happily greeted his best friend as he gave Lacus a small hug and Kira a brotherly hug.
Meyrin also gave Lacus a hug as well while Kira took some of their bags into his hands.
"Come on, Waltfeld is waiting at the car. I'm sure the both are you are tired and eager for rest after the long flight," Lacus said as she ushered the two of them along quickly as she was in a hurry to get going as well.
Meyrin and Lacus walked ahead of the two males talking happily to one another while Kira and Athrun stayed behind having their own discussion.
"Nice to see that it is as peaceful on the inside as on the outside," Athrun said looking up into the artificial blue sky.
"It hasn't been easy but Lacus is doing her best to make sure things stay like this," Kira said looking up into the same sky.
"How's Cagalli doing? I haven't been able to talk to her for a few weeks," Kira inquired about his twin sister who like him and Lacus was trying her hardest to keep things moving smoothly during this peace.
"She's as busy as always. Says that she wishes that she could come but there is a major bill going through that is gonna take too much time," Athrun explained and Kira just nodded his head in understanding.
"Other than that, she will be down in a week or so for that big meeting though," Athrun continued to explain.
Kira already knew since it was a major meeting between the EA, ZAFT, and ORB.
"Good to know that she's at least keeping busy," Kira said with a chuckle as Andrew Waltfeld pulled the car up in front of the four of them.
The four of them got into the car and it quickly pulled away from the onlookers trying to get photos of the famous Lacus Clyne.
The drive was quiet. Meyrin looked ready to doze off. Athrun looked around and his eyes fell upon Kira and Lacus.
They looked so peaceful as they sat there with Lacus's head laid down upon Kira's right shoulder.
Their hands connected as a small golden band glistened off Lacus's left hand. Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne or rather now she was known as Lacus Clyne Yamato.