A/N: This is a one-shot though cut into two pages.
And it is kind of a sequel to "The Ring" and the Athrun's part of "The Girl of the Past." So it's better for you to read the two fics first.
Well, if you don't want to read those rather long fics, perhaps knowing one of the director's comments will suffice. He mentioned that he feels giving a ring to someone is similar to putting someone in chains. And it is what has most greatly influenced my interpretation of Athrun and Cagalli's story in GSD.
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English is not my first language. Please bear with grammatical errors.
And for your information, my fic is based on the remastered version (but I watched the original version, too).
Disclaimer: I don't own GS/GSD.
Chain of Love
I run out of my room and down the corridor. I'm so eager to reach my destination I feel like jumping from the window down to the garden. Of course I won't actually do it. I know it's too high for me. It's just I'm that much excited.
This afternoon, I, Kitri Zala Athha, am going to take on an important challenge.
And I have to hurry. I've been waiting for a chance to climb a tree, and this is perfect. Myrna, our housekeeper, went out for an errand a little ago. Other servants are still around, but they overlook my adventures. Not Myrna. She won't let me do the climbing if she's here.
She became even more overprotective after I fell from a tree and sprained my ankle last month. Father also scolded me for carelessness. Very strictly. Very long. I think it was too much. And it's totally unfair I got scolded twice for one mistake. Father and Myrna should've talked first and decided which of them'd do the scolding.
Well, at least Mother praised me for being brave because I tried for the tallest tree in our garden. Though I have to admit it's still beyond my reach... But Mother assured me I could eventually conquer it. I just have to practice a lot, and be more careful. I'm following her advice. I'm going to practice with a lower and easier tree. My ankle's fully healed now.
It's actually been fine for some time, but I had to wait because Myrna's so adamant. Sure, I'm sorry I made her worried and upset. But Father taught me how to reduce the damage, so I won't get hurt much if I fall again. No, I'll never fall again to begin with! So there's no reason for her to worry. But she doesn't listen! Even Mother can't win when Myrna's like that.
However, I don't give up just because I failed once or Myrna tries to stop me. As Mother often says, Athhas are stubborn and bold, which I am.
Unlike my little brother, Touka, who is wimpish. He says climbing a tree is dangerous and doesn't join me. He was even scared of climbing the ladder to our tree house first. It took him a while to find the courage to try.
And when I fell from a tree, he said he knew something like that would happen and I should've known too. What a jerk. Little brothers are such a pain in the neck. I wish I had a big brother like my cousin Marisa. Her brother, Akash, is kind and generous and totally different from mine.
But there's no point in dwelling on what I haven't got, I guess. Plus, I paid Touka back for the comment. For a whole day, I kept calling him my baby brother instead of his name whenever I talked to him or talked about him. He hates it when I call him that.
It's actually quite ridiculous in my opinion. It's a hard fact he's my baby brother. Why can't he just accept it? He can't change it however much he complains. Then why keep whining?
Well, he's not only my baby brother. He's a baby. Period. I take back what I said. He is more of a baby than a wimp. So maybe he'll be braver when he grows up. Or maybe I should teach him to be bolder as his big sister. Not today, of course, but sometime.
Making a mental note, I run around the corner, which is actually another thing Myrna will scold me about if she finds out. I bumped into people while doing this a few times...or maybe a bit more. Once, it was a maid carrying a tray with plates and cups and they all fell on the floor. And I hurt my finger, trying to help clean it up and picking up the pieces.
I'm supposed to look before I turn the corner and I usually try to. But it's a time of emergency. I'm in a hurry. So it can't be helped, can it?
With my speed and angle, my braid falls across my chest. I throw it over my shoulder and continue running. My hair's long and a bit handful sometimes. But it looks good when I dress up, so I just put up with it.
Speaking of which, some people get surprised when I say I'm okay with wearing skirts and dresses. They think I don't like it because I'm Mother's daughter. But I don't mind wearing them, though I prefer a sweat suit on an occasion like right now.
I like dressing up fine, mostly because I love jewels and I get to wear them when dressing up. They're so pretty and beautiful and sparkling. I can spend hours just watching and touching and wearing them.
I often sneak into Mother and Father's bedchamber and peek into Mother's jewelry box. She has a lot more jewelry than I do. Unfortunately, most of them are kept in a special place like mine and I can't see them easily. Myrna doesn't let me play with them. But those kept in Mother's jewelry box are good enough.
Mother even gave me one of them. It's my favorite and I've been keeping it with me all the time since. It's a very pretty...
Running down the stairs to the ground floor, I notice the person just coming in from the entrance. I stop and shout with joy, "Father!" Then I start running again. Now toward him.
He's been so busy recently and I haven't seen him for nearly a week. Well, he sometimes stops by at my room to give me a kiss when he comes home at late night, and he did so three days ago...should I say three nights ago? Whichever it is, he came to my room, but I wasn't supposed to be awake, so I couldn't talk to him. I couldn't even see him. I had to keep my eyes closed and pretend to be asleep so he wouldn't scold me.
Father turns toward me and smiles. "Hey, Kitri."
I jump at him and hug him tight and nuzzle my head against his jacket. "It's so good to see you again."
He gives me pats, hugging me back. "Good to see you, too. Sorry I haven't taken much time for you these days. But I have a day off tomorrow. We can do something together."
"You and me alone?" I ask hopefully.
He raises an eyebrow. "Me and you and Touka, of course."
I pout though I knew he'd say so. But even if it seems hopeless, you shouldn't just give up. You should at least try, right? So I tried. I think it was worth doing.
So I just go on to ask another question. "Mother isn't taking tomorrow off, too?"
"No. But we can have some family time this evening and probably tomorrow evening as well. Her schedule seems light."
I'm a bit disappointed, but it's not bad. After all, Mother hasn't been so busy and I got to spend time with her often this week. She even read to me before bed for four days in a row. Probably tonight, too.
I like her doing the reading better than Father. He doesn't make faces and voices like her. And it's a bit boring when I ask him a question about a word or something written in the book and his explanation gets long. Sometimes super long and I fall asleep in the middle.
Though it's a secret he bores me. I sometimes say it to Mother, but she promised she wouldn't tell him. She also said, it's okay if I tell him that. But I don't feel like it. It's not like I don't want to hear his explanation. Sometimes it's fun. It's just it doesn't happen so often.
Hm, maybe I can get Mother to read a few more chapters tonight since Father's home and probably he'll read to Touka. Touka likes Father doing the reading and often asks him to read a difficult book he doesn't understand. He says he can sleep more easily when Father bores him with a long, difficult explanation.
Yeah, he's weird. Why do you want to hear an explanation if you're not going to try to understand it? He should ask Father to sing him a lullaby or something instead. Falling asleep without meaning to and trying to fall asleep from the beginning are so completely different.
I don't get how I can be related to such a weirdo. Sure, Mother and Father often call each other weird. But I don't think they're as weird as Touka, and certainly I'm—
"Where did you get it?"
I blink at Father's voice. I guess I got lost in my thought a bit.
I look at him. He's staring at the ring I wear. I mean, I don't wear it on my finger. It's too big for me. I put it on a chain and hang it on my neck.
I hold the ring up with my fingers so he can see it better. "Mother gave it to me," I explain.
She caught me peeking at her jewelry five days ago. But she didn't scold me. Instead, she said I could have this. It was a gift she received years ago, I heard.
The ring is made of silver metal and a red gem and smaller clear gems. Come to think of it, I don't know what kind of gems they are. Maybe ruby and diamonds? But I think they look somewhat different, though I'm not sure. I'll ask Mother later—or Myrna. Yeah, Myrna's probably a better person to ask. If she doesn't know, I'll remember to ask the next time a jeweler comes.
"...She did?" Father replies.
"Yes. It's pretty, isn't it?" I say with a smile.
Not that I expect him to really appreciate the ring. He isn't interested in jewelry. He says he has some knowledge since it's useful when he goes to a party for work, but it doesn't mean he can really understand things like how pretty this ring is.
It actually surprised me that Father noticed my ring. He hardly comments on Mother's or our appearances except when he thinks it's not appropriate. He doesn't compliment Mother on her dress or her jewelry like Uncle Kira does Aunt Lacus.
Well, I don't think Mother minds it. She cares just as much about that kind of thing as Father, which means almost nothing. I agree with Myrna they should care a bit more. I wonder how come I love pretty things, especially jewelry, despite having parents like them?
In fact, Touka is a better person to talk with about jewelry than my parents. He doesn't like jewels as much as I do, but he loves dressing up. Sometimes we play dress-up together, with our own clothes or our parents' if we can get into their closet. It's one of our shared hobbies and similarities, which are very rare. We aren't really alike. As I've said, he's wimpier and babier and weirder.
Maybe we both take after Father? He isn't interested in jewels, but likes neat clothes and cares about his appearances, though his taste in clothes isn't so good. It's a really good thing Myrna and other servants buy his clothes for him. He looks a lot better in the clothes they bought than when he's wearing those he did himself.
And I can say with complete confidence that I don't take after him in that point. My taste is absolutely much better than his. Maybe I take after Mother's taste, which is better than Father's. Or maybe I've been influenced by Myrna since she's in charge of taking care of me. Like buying most of my clothes, jewelry, and other stuff. Maybe it's also why I like pretty things.
Where was I? Ah, yes, Father likes to keep his clothes neat...though his uniform is a bit disheveled now. Well, I guess it can't be helped. He's probably been too busy to take care of his clothes. He hasn't shaved, either.
Turning my eyes at his face, I tilt my head and ask, "Father? Are you all right?"
He has a weird face and he's still looking at the ring. Come to think of it, he hasn't given me a reply yet.
He looks like he came to senses, and shakes his head with a smile. "Sure. I was just a little surprised. Never mind." The weird look on his face is gone.
"Okay." I nod, though I'm still confused.
He slightly hesitates before saying, pointing at the ring, "Do you mind if—"
"Father, you're home!" A squeal comes, and we both turn around. Touka bursts into the entrance hall with an excited face, and hugs Father.
"Hey, Craw." Father tousles Touka's blue hair which is exactly like his, and mine.
He doesn't do that to me now. I don't like people messing up my hair. Plus, being treated that way makes me look like a baby, doesn't it? Though Mother does it anyway and I don't really mind it if it's her. I won't really mind it if Father does it, either. But he stopped doing it after I said I didn't like my hair messed up. Well, he still strokes my hair and pats my head.
Oh, by the way, Craw is Touka's nickname. Short for Crawfish. He says he likes crawfishes because they're cool and remind him of Father's mobile suit. I honestly think it's nonsense. The Infinite Justice looks nothing like a crawfish just because they're both red! Father agrees with me. He didn't look happy when Touka said it.
Besides, even if crawfishes are a bit—a tiny bit—similar to the Infinite Justice, it's still weird you want to be called that, right? Sure, I like being called lioness, but that's different. Lion is the symbol of our family. It's even in our crests. And lions are much, much cooler than crawfishes. Not to mention Mother's called lioness, too.
Actually, Father calls me his little lioness. I told him I was no longer little. I'm a big girl. But he said, it's reasonable to call me that since Mother and I are both called lioness and I'm little compared to her. I think it makes sense.
Not that I'm happy about it, but it's okay. I'm still growing. I can be taller than Mother someday. Hm, I just remembered Mother was rolling her eyes at our conversation, though. Does she think I can't be that tall?
Well, I'm sure I can. I eat a lot and exercise a lot and sleep a lot. That makes you bigger and stronger, right? So I'll surely be big and strong like a lion and called big lioness. Not small and weak like a crawfish. You can stamp on it and crush it so easily.
I don't get why Touka doesn't pick a better nickname like Leopard, or Cheetah. If I wasn't called lioness, I'd choose a strong one like that.
But not Tiger though I like tigers. Because tigers are Uncle Andy's animal and I don't want to use it. Don't get me wrong. I like him. I just don't want to be like him. I'm totally against coffee. It tastes disgusting! It seems awful to become addicted to such a bad drink.
I know tigers and coffee aren't really connected just because Uncle Andy is called Tiger and likes coffee. I'm not stupid. But I'm still a bit worried. So I decided to leave both coffee—very happily—and tigers—very unhappily—to him, just in case. I even let him take Tiger when we play War of Animals, which is my favorite board game, together. Well, I can still have Lion and the other animals I like.
Speaking of tiger, I heard Mother and Uncle Kira fought a tiger somewhere in North Africa when they were young and visiting Uncle Ledonir's hometown. That's pretty awesome, isn't it?
I didn't get to hear much about the battle, though. Father stopped Mother and said, the story isn't fit for children and she should wait until I get older. All I heard was the tiger was leading a bunch of huge dogs called...I can't remember, something like Bark. Probably those dogs growled and howled a lot. I really wish I could hear more, and I can't wait to get older. Mother promised she'd tell me the whole story then.
In fact, Uncle Andy and Uncle Mwu said they knew the story and they could tell me when I told them about it. But I said no. I made a promise with Mother, and Father, and I didn't want to break it. Aunt Murrue said, I'm a good girl.
But, well, it's possible Father gets unreasonable and won't give me permission to hear the story even on my next birthday—when I'll become eight, which is surely old enough. In that case, maybe I should consider being a bad girl and taking Uncle Andy and Uncle Mwu's offer.
Anyway, now isn't the time to think about it. I need to focus on my nearer future.
Watching Father and Touka chatter, I debate in my head if I should change my plan since Father's home. But I decide not. I'm not sure when the next chance will be, and I can spend time with Father later and tomorrow.
So I let Touka have Father all to himself for a bit. I'm the big sister, and I can be generous. Though he should repay me for this. I'll talk to him about letting me have some alone time with Father tomorrow.
"I got to go. I'll see you later," I tell them.
"Wait. What are you—" Luckily for me, a beep comes from Father's pocket and interrupts him. He takes out a mobile and starts talking.
I send Touka a warning look so he'll keep silent, and tiptoe away while Father's distracted. If he finds out what I'm going to do, he'll probably insist on coming with me. Not that I don't want him around, of course. I just want to challenge a tree by myself. I don't need a babysitter. I can watch out for myself and succeed at this on my own.
And I did! I did it!
See? I'm a good climber. It was only a onetime mistake.
And well, partly because I carefully chose the tree this time. But that's a part of the skill, right? I picked this one because the lowest branch is higher than my reach when I stand on the ground, but not very much. And the bark is rough enough for me to have good grip and footing.
It wasn't really good for my sweatpants, though. I find a hole around my right knee. But Mother said a few weeks ago she was going to get me a new sweat suit, the same one as hers—in a smaller size, of course—so I don't have to worry about it. I'll just have to remember to remind her since she hasn't got it yet.
Besides, a hole on my clothes is nothing compared to the huge achievement I just made. I feel so proud and satisfied, sitting on the highest branch I could get and dangling my feet. I'm all sweaty and my breathing is still rough, but I feel so good, better than ever. Today is one of the best days in my life!
"Look! I made it here!" I shout and wave my arm at a guard who happens to have been around doing some work. She waves back with a smile.
I look around and find two gardeners working with a tree across the garden. Unfortunately, they're too far to hear me. So I wipe the sweat on my forehead and decide to just sit, rest, and enjoy the sight from up here for a while.
Mother must be going to praise me. I hope she'll make it to dinner. Then I can tell her about this while eating...um, on second thought, probably not during dinner. Myrna may overhear it and then she'll surely give me a long lecture.
I need to catch Mother when she's alone. Or when she's only with Father. Not Touka. He may give me away. But Father can keep a secret, and I don't think he'll scold me, though he won't be as excited about my achievement as Mother.
Thinking about Father, I remember the look he had. I pull out the ring from under my sweatshirt and look at it.
Why on Earth did it make him...I don't know, uncomfortable? It seemed like he didn't like my ring. But it doesn't make sense. He usually doesn't show enough interest in jewelry to say he likes it or doesn't. Why is this ring an exception? Although it's pretty, I don't think it's so special...oops, wait.
A thought just popped into my head. Is it possible Father acted weird because this ring was a gift to Mother from another man? It sounds likely. I heard she was once engaged to someone else, though I'm pretty sure it was a long time before she married Father. She was very young.
But if this ring reminds Father of Mother's ex-fiancé, I guess it's just natural he doesn't like seeing it.
I stare at the ring with a frown, playing with it and pondering. I remain that way for a while. I'm so deep in thought I don't hear a maid calling me until she comes right under the tree.
...And I end up getting caught by Myrna while climbing down. Predictably, she gives me a piece of her mind. Well, I give her mine a bit. But she is the one who does most of the talking.
Touka says it couldn't be more than half an hour that she was scolding me—or we were arguing, whichever. But I bet it continued for more than three hours! It felt like that anyway.
Today's not such a good day after all.
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