It was late in the afternoon in the bustling city of Orb, throughout the city people were enjoying their time underneath the warm summer sun. The beaches and water parks were full of children, families and their pets, all trying to beat the heat. The only sounds that filled the hot summer's air were the sounds of laughter and the occasional ice cream truck jingle that made its way up and down the neighbourhood streets.
Though not for one person, Kira Yamato. His house rested on a side of a hill; it was protected by a large fence that ran around his estate, it's staggering height intimidating all those who passed by.
Kira was arguably the world's most powerful man, who ran the most successful OS development company this era has ever seen. Much to say he wouldn't have gotten any of his success if it wasn't for his biological father Ulen Hibiki who gave the company to him while in his deathbed.
Kira didn't know who his father or mother was, but from what he was told his biological parents abandoned him and that he was taken in by his own Aunt. Little did he know, however, that he would be the eventual heir and successor to the biggest OS development company this world has ever seen.
The eventual heir to the technological throne was in the middle of University when he first got the call - oddly enough for him, he was an OS major and this was his chance to make it big. That very next day, he dropped out of University and began his rule as king of the technological world. He didn't know that the journey would be hard, long or sometimes treacherous, but it was something he was ready for. Kira had a vision for the future and he wanted to put it in motion, what no better time to start than right now.
He was 19 when he took full ownership of the company, six years later his company was now a multi-trillion dollar empire. With demand reaching all-time highs the past few months, and rival companies in his rearview mirror Kira had to kick it into overdrive as he worked tirelessly to meet the demands he was facing on the world stage.
-Start Flashback-
"Kira you should take a break," Athrun said as he looked through the company's financial records
Kira let out a lighthearted chuckle "Breaks are for the weak" he replied as he typed away on his computer.
His partner glanced over at him "I talked to Meyrin, she informed me about how far ahead we are"
The brunette shrugged "Doesn't matter, you've always gotta keep working in this industry"
Athrun let a sigh escape from his lips "Tomorrow, you're going to take a break"
"And if I don't?"
"I'll fire Meyrin," Athrun said smiling
Kira stuck his tongue out in protest "Fine."
-End Flashback-
Kira had no choice but to take the break, he hated when his business partner Athrun Zala did that. His friend knew how much of an asset Meyrin was to the team, and how much Kira depended on her to help him get through the day. She was the perfect Executive Assistant a business owner could ever have.
In his darkened room, Kira laid on his bed cuddled next to his pillow as he dreamt the afternoon away. His blanket had fallen onto the floor along with everything else that was on his bed at the start of the night. The only two things that weren't on the floor were himself and that lone pillow he cradled in his arms.
With his arms still wrapped around the pillow, he unconsciously turned so that he now facing his nightstand "mm.." he mumbled. Kira jumped when he heard his alarm go off, he groggily opened his eyes and stared at the alarm clock he had on his nightstand "3:00 pm" sighed Kira "Let me just sleep a little more" he slowly brought his arm up and tapped the snooze button on the top of the alarm.
He snuggled closer to the pillow and was about to fall back into his slumber when his phone started to buzz, Kira grunted out of frustration "Let me sleep!" he yelled, he buried his face into the pillow hoping the buzzing would stop. But it didn't. He angrily lifted himself up, swung his legs over to the side of his bed, and with pillow still clutched in his hand he slowly made his way to his bathroom.
He turned on the light, and stared at himself in the mirror "I'll shave later" he said as he rubbed his facial hair. He slowly walked out of his bathroom, flung his pillow back onto his bed and started walking towards the living room. With every step, he took the sound of the phone buzzing slowly grew louder and louder.
"I'm surprised the phone hasn't stopped ringing," Kira said unamused as he slowly stumbled into the living room, jumping onto the couch he reached for the phone and clicked answer.
"Hello?" he mumbled into the couch pillow.
"Open the door!" yelled a voice from the other side
"Who are you?" Kira asked
"Who do you think genius? It's Cagalli"
Sighing Kira asked, "You'll cook me breakfast right?"
"Just open the door I brought guests" she replied her tone almost bursting with emotion
"Fine, fine" Kira said holding his phone as far away from himself as possible.
Finally hanging up, Kira placed the phone back onto its charging dock and decided to slowly take his time getting to do the door. He didn't see a point in rushing especially with how Cagalli yelled at him a few minutes ago. The brunette casually walked to the door and looked through the peephole "So they really are here" he said sighing
He slowly opened the door revealing his sister accompanied by Athrun, and Kira's high school crush Lacus Clyne. Kira smiled "Yo" he looked down at their feet and noticed that they all hard with them suitcases.
"Where you guys going?" he asked pointing at the suitcases
"Cagalli. You didn't tell him?" Lacus asked unimpressed
"We all decided to stay here for a couple of days, just to chillax" Cagalli responded pushing her way past Kira and into the home.
"Blah" Kira grunted as he walked back to the living room
"How was life been treating you, Kira?" Lacus said pulling her suitcase into the living room
"Business as usual" the boy replied following closely behind her.
Athrun chuckled "Who is ready for a break?" he said out loud knowing that it would rub salt into Kira's wounds.
"You shouldn't be pushing yourself," Lacus said worryingly
Kira casually walked over to Lacus who stood sat comfortably on one of the couches, smiled and brought his hand just inches from hers "Don't worry about me" Kira said confidently "I'm doing just fine"
Cagalli sighed "You're a 25-year-old man, who spends more time working than spending time with friends. Your social life is at an all-time low"
"Yeah, I'm pretty boring" Kira replied glancing outside the window
"To be fair, friendships are basically out of the picture when you're me"
Lacus frowned "You're just not allowing them in your life"
The boy only smiled "Maybe it's safer that way" Kira got up from where he sat, walked over to the kitchen counter. Leaning forward, he reached for something behind one of the kitchen drawers before walking outside.
The 3 friends watched silently has his made his way out the door.
"Where are you going?" Lacus asked
"I'll be right back" he replied before closing the door shut behind him
Puzzled by Kira's sudden departure from the confines of his home, Lacus made her way to the window and looked past the blinds that blocked all sunlight from entering. Kira casually walks towards the big water fountain that stood in the centre ground of the estate. She squinted her eyes and noticed a small cylinder that was lightly held in Kira's right hand
"What's in this hand?" Lacus said pointing through the window
"That's a cigarette" Athrun responded pay close attention to how his friend would respond.
Lacus' eyes widened in shock "When did he start smoking?"
"I think when he started working full-time, he usually keeps it on the down low though" Athrun
"Why?" Lacus whispered
Both Cagalli and Athrun looked at each other before shrugging "You could ask him, we'd like to know too"
The pink haired girl turned towards them and frowned "You guys are that afraid to ask?"
Athrun shook his head "Not at all"
The pink haired Lacus frowned again, she pulled herself up from the couch, dusted off her clothes, let out a sigh and began to make her way towards the door "I'm going to find out" she stated before she opened the door
Once outside she watched as Kira walked around on the front lawn occasionally looking at the view of the beach in front of him or up at the sky. Slowly Lacus approached him trying her best to be as quiet as she could, in hopes that she could catch her friend red-handed "Hi Kira" Lacus said as she got closer to him.
Kira's eyes widened. Immediately without hesitation, he threw the cigarette onto the floor stepping on it furiously ensuring that it was out and that it was out for good, he then turned to Lacus and smiled "Hey"
"What did you have in your hands earlier?" she asked staring at him straight in the eyes
"Oh. Nothing, why did you ask?" Kira said calmly
"I saw you step on it with your foot," Lacus said seriously "Not to mention your breath too"
Kira placed his hand on Lacus' head and gently stroked her hair "Don't worry about it"
He moved his hand from the top of her head, and leaned back "Besides, it's a long story"
The girl nodded "It's okay, I have time"
A tired faint smile worked its way onto Kira's lips "Yeah, well I don't" he gave Lacus a long stare before he began on his walk back to the house.
"Come on," he said, never once looking back at her "It's hot out here".
Unfortunately, Kira's attempts were all for not. Lacus' mind was elsewhere. Her stayed fixated on the crushed remains of a cigarette that laid on the ground before her. She couldn't help but frown "I have to investigate" she whispered to herself.
Stress - everyone's inner demon. Never once in all the time that Lacus has known Kira, never did she witness Kira suffer from anything stress related, he always one to deal with it so easily that it was almost second nature for him. Kira was the person who could deal with any problem and find a way to solve it. To see her friend in his current state was, to say the least, unusual.
"Oh yeah," Lacus said to herself as she began her walk towards the home
"I forgot to tell Kira that I'm on a mini vacation too"
-Start Flashback-
"I don't think you should go on that mini vacation," Yzak said as they who walked down the hall to the conference room
Lacus shrugged "I really don't want to be here right now"
"Your schedule is really packed this week, I don't think we can fit it in"
Lacus frowned "Find a way to fit it in then" she replied as they neared the conference room, the voices of the media and other political members filled the atmosphere.
"Miss. Supreme Chairwoman, is it true that you're engaged with the Senator?" asked a reporter as he held out his recorder. The flashes of light and the uproar of the question was really an overwhelming site.
Lacus frowned out of frustration "That is false, I will not marry that sorry excuse of a man"
"Do you have a love interest?" yelled another reporter
"Yes I do, but this person is not a citizen of the PLANTS" Lacus responded before walking into the conference room disregarding all the other questions that were being thrown at her.
"Why would I marry someone I love anyway?" Lacus mumbled
Yzak sighed "I'll find a way to accommodate your mini-vacation. Looks like you need it"
Lacus smiled at him "Thank you" she walked to the first chair at the end of the table and sat in it. Yzak did the same sitting to the right of her.
Lacus looked out at the council members who sat at the round table with her, she smiled contently "Ready to talk everyone?" they all nodded in agreement
"Alright, let's get started"
-End Flashback-
A sigh of relief escaped from her soft lips "I'm happy, I don't have to deal with that for this week" she mumbled softly. She placed her hand against the door and slowly pushed the door open. Making sure to close the door behind her, she slipped off her shoes and placed them neatly along the side wall. "There," she said as she made her way into the living where all her friends were.
"Took you long enough," Kira said teasingly
Lacus smiled at him "You're one to talk" she waltzed over to the couch that Kira sat on and plopped down beside him "Why don't you don't smell like anything?" she asked as she sniffed his shirt
Kira raised his brow in question "I smell like a lot of man, right?"
The girl chuckled "Yeah right"
Pouting Kira, lifted his shirt up to Lacus' nose "Smells like man right?" he asked jokingly
"What the heck!" she cried out pushing Kira away
"Well, well, what are you going to do next? Touch his body?" Cagalli said disturbed by Lacus' antics
"Shush" Lacus responded flustered by her friend's comment
The brunette smiled, placed his hand on her head and pulled Lacus into a friendly hug "It's okay, you can touch me all you want"
"Now that is weird" Lacus exclaimed lightly elbowing Kira in the chest
"Whatever you say," Kira thought for a second, he raised his finger in thought "Do you guys really have to stay here for however long you'll be staying in my house?"
Cagalli smiled contently "Yes, partly because I know you hate having company"
"I'm just here for a mini vacation," Lacus said reassuring Kira
Athrun just shrugged, Kira sighed at their responses "Fine, if you need me I'll be sleeping" he slowly pushed himself up from the couch and started to begin his walk out of the room "Don't bother me" he demanded before disappearing from sight.
"What a child" Cagalli grunted
The pink haired girl looked at her and giggled "Be nice to your older brother now"
"Don't even say that!" Cagalli screamed "For all I care, I consider him the younger one"
Athrun stared at his counterpart and smirked "Whatever floats your boat"
Hi everyone,
This is Otaku Central, OOCentral for short; and I have returned from the dead! As many of you know, Friendship: Remastered took a backseat for a very long time a major factor was because of writer's block. I didn't know what I wanted to write, what direction I wanted to go in and most importantly, I wasn't happy with how this fanfic as a whole has been going. So I decided that I was going to re-write and overhaul a lot of what I've written for this fanfic.
Once I re-write all the chapters I've published thus far, hopefully by then, I know what direction I want to go in and what I want to write. I do think that everyone who has followed this story deserves to see this fanfic end and not be left unfinished for forever.
Thank you for all your continued support and I will talk to you all next time!