Summary: Post GSD AxC YxS DxM KxL and other minor pairings Yzak and Shiho are married. Dearka went back to Orb to win Miriallia back. Lacus and Kira are known as a couple publicly. Athrun and Cagalli, well, read to find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny.
A.N. A rewrite, had to due to complications…hehehe…
THE SHADOWED MAN
CHAPTER 1
"Lacus, Kira! Over here!" a shout could be heard across the airport.
A brown haired man with amethyst eyes scanned the crown to see a hand sticky out amongst the crowd. His twin sister. He made his way toward her, beside him stood the Pink-haired Princess with her Haro tucked under her arm.
"Cagalli, thought you were to busy to pick us up?
"Nonsense! I, Cagalli am naturally amazing, I can do anything!" she exclaimed with a laugh.
A laugh that can fool anyone except Kira and Lacus.
Lacus gave Kira the I-told-you-so look, making Kira shrug and returned a fine-we'll-talk-about-this-later look as they observed Cagalli's actions.
On the private limo, courtesy of Cagalli, she started chatting with Kira and Lacus about their trip to PLANT.
"So…how's everybody?
"Everybody? They're fine." Kira replied, making his responses short to let Cagalli bring up the subject.
"Okay…so how's---"
"Sis, if you mean Athrun, you have to speak up." Kira said, his natural patience wearing thin, maybe from the trip.
"You know Cagalli, all you have to do is to be true to yourself." Lacus said soothingly to avoid the awkwardness that just passed them.
Cagalli felt her temper flare up. "Every time I ask how people are, you guys act like shrinks. I don't need shrinks! FOR THE LAST TIME, I.do.not.care.anymore. I let him go for him to look for his happiness! He's moved on, so have I. It was a simple question, why make a big fuss out of it?!"
"Well, obviously, you don't know yourself. You haven't been the same since you guys split up. It hurts us to see you this way, your very close to pathetic already! It's been 3 years already, Baby Sister!" he yelled back.
"I have always been myself, Lil' bro!"
"Oh sure you have. Dresses, prim and proper its all for the media! Where's the Cagalli I met in Heliopolis? In the Desert? Huh?!"
"I'm still the same Cagalli" repeating it again under her breath. "And I am not all prim and proper!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"too!"
"not!"
Lacus sat there looking back and forth between them, not knowing what to expect next.
"We're here" Lacus interrupted their heated argument.
Kira stepped out offering his hand to Lacus which she took acceptingly. After Lacus stepped out, he offered his hand to Cagalli. But she just sat there arms folded, glaring straight ahead.
"Cagalli" Lacus called, making Cagalli face her, "I thought you were going to take a day off and spend some time with the kids? They love it every time you visit." Lacus invited.
"No thanks. I forgot about the stacks of paper piling up my desk at the office, and we don't want to let the kids see a bloodbath, now do we?" Cagalli reasoned, giving Kira a dirty look, "So I'm off, tell the kids I said Hi" she said as she closed the door shut.
Kira and Lacus sent her off…went inside and lived happily ever after…REWIND!... It does not go that way, instead…
As they stepped in, Lacus gave Kira a slapped in the arm, not so Lacus-like guess she changed over the years…
"Kira! Why'd you do that?! We know how sensitive she gets whenever we mention his name!"
"Don't worry, Lacus. She'll get over it. Anyway it's about time she found someone knew. Or we could do it." Kira said, a glint in his eyes could be seen. "We have some matchmaking to do…But first things first." He said as he dragged Lacus along.
She just gave him a confused look but she allowed herself to be dragged along.
He led her to the veranda. Sunset. Beach. What a scene.
"It's beautiful" Lacus breathed.
"I know so are you…" Kira caressed her cheek. Lacus closed her eyes letting herself feel his touch.
Kira got on one knee, Lacus eyes widened, thinking 'Oh my God! He's doing it.'
"Lacus, Marry me…I…I…Love you…" Kira stuttered.
Lacus just smiled softly and answered back, "Of course, Kira"
Kira stood up, pulling Lacus closer as he lowered his head. Lacus met him halfway. Their lips touched showing how much they love each other.
They both pulled back for air. Lacus smiled at him as Kira was busy blushing furiously, he's never done that before.
Changing the topic, he started, "So you think we could do this matchmaking at the party?"
"Party? What party?"
"The engagement party of course, well you are the PLANTs chairwoman and a pop sensation. Naturally it would be publicized. After let's have a party by ourselves and close friends, shall we?"
"Can't we just bring Cagalli and Athrun back together?"
"No way! Athrun's my best friend and Cagalli's my sister I don't want either of them making such decisions again making them hurt more."
"Let's go with Athrun, obviously both still likes each other"
"No, another one."
"Athrun!"
"No!"
"Let's make a bet, we'll see who falls in love with whom first, okay? Loser has to be a slave."
"Deal."
Through Voltaire, people were busy mumbling and bustling & shouting at one another.
"Lt. Jule! Lt. Jule!"
Shiho kept walking 'Damn people, they're especially noisy today, what's with that Lt. Jule? Don't they know Yzak's the commander already?' she thought as her headache started to arise.
Then it hit her.
'Oh right! I'm now Lt. Jule, I'm now married and had a promotion, still not used to it, what a wife'
She turned around and saw a mob of girls, who were head over heels over Yzak.
"Uhhh…what's this about?"
"Lt Jule, we were just dying to ask you, how's life with Commander Jule?"
"Is he a good kisser?"
"a good husband?"
"How is he in bed?"
"are you pregnant with his child?"
Shiho was bombarded with a lot of random questions that were nonsense to her. Causing her to twitch.
"First of all, I still use Lt. Hahnenfuss and second don't you have anything better to do than ask me stupid questions regarding the commander. If you like him so much, why don't you bother him instead?" Shiho told them off, her temper flaring, her headache pounding against her head. Everyday, every hour she was always cornered with Yzak-crazed fans.
Shiho stalked off leaving the girls open mouthed. They were used to the Commander's shouting but not his wife's…
She went to Yzak's office, the door slid open and close when she was inside. She then stalked off to the nearest chair and plopped down.
"Damn you!" she muttered unfortunately Yzak heard it.
"am I your husband or your commander?"
"Uhh…does it matter"
"Yes." came a stern reply.
"uh...husband?"
"ok, now what did I do?" turning his attention to Shiho. "Every time you come here you upset about something." he said.
"It's your entire fault. All your girl fans keep on cornering me asking me if you're a good husband, am I preggy, are you good in bed? You haven't counted what your gay fans asked me yet" She mimicked them in a sickly sweet voice.
"I don't want to know" he shuddered, "anyway we never done IT be----"
"Don't answer that!" she interrupted, "I know it perfectly well. Its just I'm sick of it." Shiho snapped. "I need a vacation…"she said as she started massaging her temple.
"And a vacation you will get."
"I can't, I have work here and there, where's Dearka anyway? He ran off to Orb…He said he would be back soon, and that was how many months ago…I'm now stuck with his work!" she said exasperated.
"Yes we can"
"we?"
"Yup, Athrun called saying Lacus-san requested us to go to Orb in a month's time for her so-called plan."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Shiho rose and grabbed him by the collar, "I've been beating myself up for this and we were granted a vacation!" Shiho yelled at his face.
"If I knew better, you must have PMS, now don't you?" resulting to dirty look from Shiho. Yzak pried Shiho's hands from his collar, "Now go and finish up so we can already go to Orb." Yzak said as he ushered her out of his office.
Shiho groaned in response.
"Now be a good girl, I know you can do it…" he then gave Shiho a peck in the check causing her to flush different shades of red. 'Yzak never shows that kind of affection' she thought as she stepped out.
'Damn, she is easy to fool.' Yzak laughed inwardly.
Deep in thought, Shiho accidentally bumps into someone.
"…sorry…"
"well, well, if it isn't Shiho. You came out if Yzak's office all red people might think something, what did you guys do anyway?" a familiar voice chuckled.
"De…Dearka?"
"Dearka?"
"I'm back! I know you missed me!!!" he said as he leaned forward to give his other best friend a hug.
Shiho threw a forceful punch at his face.
"Owww!!! Why'd you do that?" Dearka hissed, "babe, you saw what she did?" Dearka whined, with his hand still holding his sore cheek, to the younger girl behind him.
"Yup!" a voice replied.
"Aren't you mad? She bruised my face that you love! Now you see what kind of people I work with." He whined again.
"Nope, I think she has a perfect reason to hit your face that I love," she mocked as she gave his sore cheek a pinch.
"Oww!!!"
"Get your butt to Yzak's office. NOW!!!" Shiho grabbed him by the ear and kicked him in the ass causing him to smack against the office door that opened shortly after.
"U-oh…didn't mean to…" Shiho said. "You're not mad are you?"
"nope, he's a big boy, he can handle it. By the way I'm Miriallia. Miriallia Hawwe. And you are Shiho Hahnenfuss-Jule, right?" she said, sticking her hand out for a shake.
"Yea…" she took her hand for a shake, "Wait…Miriallia, Milly? The one Dearka was dead in love with?"
"Well, Yup…he actually told me how he crashed your wedding with Yzak by getting drunk over me, he's didn't even wait until the wedding was finished … Call me Milly, Lt. Shiho-san."
"No need for formalities, call me Shiho, so Dearka told you everything?"
"Uh-huh…he loves telling stories about Yzak's love life…" she smiled.
"Wait till I get my hands around his neck, I'm gonna strangle him!" she threatened, "wring his neck, cut him into small pieces and so much more…" her eyes narrowed.
"I know you guys aren't that big on showing affections and you guys wanted to go slow but it was rushed, right? You're starting to fall in love with Yzak right now, aren't you?" she said reading her mind.
"…n…no…" Shiho stammered, unsure of her self.
"Love takes time, look at me for example, Dearka waited for 5 years for me," Miriallia said.
"How did you guys get back together anyway? I thought you dumped him?" she inquired.
"Well I did, but he is charming in his own way… And he loves me." Miriallia said with much thought.
"Anyway," Shiho began, purposely changing the subject, "Why are you here? I mean for Dearka, said he would return, but he didn't say he would return with a girl…"
"Dearka came back to tell Yzak he'll be on a leave again, I just came to accompany him. Lacus has some plan up her sleeve…"
"Lacus Clyne? What plans?"
"Let's talk about it over coffee shall we? You and Yzak are a part of her plan anyway…It has something to do with the Red Knight and the Goddess of Victory." Miriallia explained vaguely pulling a confused Shiho with her.
"So you kissed her?"
"Well, not really, technically no…a peck in the cheek isn't a kiss…" Yzak defended.
"This is so unlike you, dude."
"What's unlike me? You haven't been around, dude. You are a pain in the ass," Yzak retorted "Got the girl? If not I will strangle you, wasting MY precious time."
"Yes, Yzak I am fine. I am with the girl I love. God! You sound like my mother!" he said putting a finger in his ear.
"Why are you still here? Go change into your uniform and get back to work!"
"No can do. Lacus gave me a leave. We're going back to Orb!" Dearka shouted causing Yzak to twitch. "Anyway how're you and Shiho? Saw her all red awhile ago coming from out here. It's unnatural…I mean you've done more right?"
"…" If looks could kill, Dearka would have been dead a long time ago.
"Hell no, Yzak, don't say you guys haven't done it yet"
"Fine, I won't say anything. What is it to you anyway?"
"Damn, Shit! You're a sissy, Yzak!"
"Shut Up, Dearka!"
"Are you a man?! Wimp!"
"Go to hell!"
"Are you an ordinary couple, an ordinary couple?!" Dearka said trying to hold his laughter.
"Shut it! She's not ready…I'm not ready…We're not ready…" Yzak said his voice softening.
"Damn, you're afraid!"
"I'm not afraid of anything!" Yzak shouted
"Oh yes you are, you're afraid to fall in love with Shiho, but you already are. I mean, I knew you always had a crush on her, then you guys started seeing each other, and your mom and her mom heard then now you're married." Dearka said reading Yzak's confused feelings.
"Yzak, honey, I want a granddaughter or a son, any. I just want a grandchild!" Ezaria said, happily, she found out from a friend that he was finally seeing someone.
Yzak and Shiho turned around at the sound. "Wha--?" They were in a coffee shop. The people around her were watching.
Shiho's mom, was beside her. "M…mom? What are you doing here?"
"I talked to Ezaria, here. And now we decided to plan your wedding!!!" she turned to everyone around, "Don't you think they are such a cute couple?"
The people around nodded hesitantly.
"You see! I actually invited your grandparents, Shiho. They're happy for you. They're flying here next month!"
"Next month?!"
"Yeah, the set date of the wedding."
"Wedding?!" Shiho and Yzak shouted in surprise.
Yzak turned red at the thought of how they got married, "Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Screw You!"
"I'm gonna help you friend!" Dearka grinned
"Damn, I'm doomed!" Yzak said burying his face in his hands.
"Bye!!" Dearka shouted, waving his hand like crazy.
"See you in a week!" Miriallia continued
They were off on a shuttle back to Orb and Yzak and Shiho were forced to see them off.
"Yzak?"
"hmmm…"
"What did you guys do yesterday?"
"The guys night? We dragged Athrun to the bar…"
-----flashback-----
"Athrun-san!! I'm…he…here!" a Meyrin-like voice said
'God, It's Meyrin, hide! Where? There? No, here, no…Shit the doors opening!!' Athrun thought frantically, he knew Meyrin liked him but he only saw her as a sister, he didn't have the courage to tell her the truth so every time she's there he hides hoping she would get the message.
"God, Athrun what are you doing?" Yzak's voice rang across his office. Athrun was in the process of ducking under the table.
"Yzak! Dearka! Oh, it's you guys." He sighed relieved "I thought it was Meyrin."
"If it wasn't Meyrin, who was it?" he thought deeply, "Dearka…"he said in a dangerous tone.
"It wasn't me! Honest! It was…uh…" he pointed to Yzak "his new found talent…ya…pretending to be people…" he said only to be smacked at the head by Yzak.
"You're such a bad liar…"Athrun said shaking his head.
"How did the date yesterday go?" Dearka asked
"I'd rather not talk about it." Athrun said, continuing his work.
"Aww…Come on, was it good, it better be good, I'm tired looking for girls for you, and she was the fifty-first one already."
"Shut up, and no, I don't like her. She's too clingy. And I never told you to hook me up with a gal."
"I'm concern for your social life. All the girls are clingy for you, except maybe for Cagalli."
Athrun looked at him then he narrowed his eyes, "She's moved on, let it be."
"Dude, why don't you go to her? You're a coward."
"Maybe so, but at least I can let her go, rather than making her make a difficult decision: to choose Orb or me." He said sadness in his voice. "If she's happy, I can be happy for her…" He smiled yet it was a sad smile. "What are you guys doing here anyway?"
"Zala, we're going to the club tonight." Yzak said in his commander voice
"Can't, work…You guys go…"
Yzak and Dearka exchanged looks and nodded towards Athrun. They grabbed him by both arms and dragged him outside.
"Wha...wait…fuck! Jule! Elsman! Put me down!"
"Nope"
"Can't"
"too bad"
"I can't believe I let you guys drag me into a bar." Athrun said taking another shot.
"You say that but deep inside you're really thankful…huh?" Dearka pointed out
"No I'm not! I like working, I wanna work! Work!" Athrun had a tantrum obviously already drunk.
"Oh sure you love working, let's talk about work now, right Zala?" Yzak said
"NoOoOoO!!!! Yzak let's drink some more…a drink for lifee…for love and how it breaks your heart…"he toasted and took another gulp of vodka. Yzak and Dearka looked at each other, knowing what they were thinking.
"Athrun, why are you drinking so much? Why don't you go back to her" Dearka asked calmly.
"I can't, I'll be a bother in her life…I don't have a perfect life like you guys do…Dearka and Milly are a good couple, Yzak and Shiho are married. You guys... lucky…so…" Yzak raised an eyebrow and Athrun went on. "You haf ech oder... and e'm ol 'lone." He said his eyes starting to brim with tears.
"Dé jàvu, this scene looks familiar…Oh right it was you, but yours was publicized." Yzak said sarcastically. Dearka jabbed him in the rib. "Shut it, Yzak."
"If you love her, go to her."
"I can't I zont belong zer… she hash more important things toh doh…"Athrun slurred, he was actually already crying.
"If you're a man, you would fight for her…" Yzak replied quietly
"ooohhh…Yzak has a soft side…" Dearka said, poking Yzak in the arm resulting to a jab in the rib like his earlier action.
"You know this?" Athrun reached toward his neck, pulling out a necklace with a red pendant. "She gave it to me, saying it would protect me" he calmed down a bit. "I don't need protection, my life's not worth living if she's not with me!" he cried looking for more alcohol.
"He doesn't show his side now, does he?" Dearka whispered to Yzak
"Nope, he tells everyone he's fine, but obviously really hurt inside," he replied, looking at the crying drunk Athrun.
All Yzak and Dearka cold do now was to comfort their friend.
-----end of flashback-----
"Didn't know he was that emotional, he always looked cool and calm. Collected even."
"Well after the break up, he was a real mess, even messier than Dearka's apartment."
"Yzak, let's take part in the plan they were talking about."
"The Lacus-plan? Kira-plan?"
"Of course, the Lacus-plan"
"Why would we do that?" he asked
"He's your friend anyway, don't tell me you plan to beat him when he's in this state, he's lowest, didn't know you played games like this, Yzak" Shiho baited him, knowing that all Yzak ever wanted to do was to beat Athrun.
Yzak stared strangely at Shiho, and then narrowed his eyes. He then took her hand and dragged her to the car.
"I knew you could be a good boy…" Shiho smiled
"Whatever…"