Shin Asuka stormed up to the deck of the Minerva, cursing under his breath. There was a visible red mark on his cheek, the handiwork of Athrun Zala. The nerve that guy had! He may out-rank him, but did it honestly give him an excuse to hit him? Shin touched the spot where the older boy had back-handed him. It was still a bit tender. It wasn't like it was the first time Athrun had struck him either. But this time... Shin wasn't even sure why he had been hit.

The enemy far outnumbered them, ten to one. However, the Mobile Suit Pilots assigned to Minerva were possibly the best fighting the war; excluding perhaps, the legendary Kira Yamato. But Shin would never admit to that.

"Shin, behind you!" He could hear Luna-Maria warn him over radio. Shin cut down the enemy that was bearing down on him from above.

"Get the one behind me Rey!" It was Athrun. Shin aimed the mobile suit's camera system towards where Rey was a bit tied up at the moment. Shin sped to Athrun's rescue. He was cornered, fighting the other Mobile Suits off as best he could. But it wouldn't be enough. Shin dove in front of the other Mobile Suit, slashing at the enemy mobile suits with his anti-armour knives. They took down the remaining ones, and then Shin heard Athrun's voice crackle onto the radio.

"Shin, I told Rey to take care of it!" He said angrily.

"Rey was busy, and I was closer," Shin said calmly, shooting down another enemy.

Athrun, obviously annoyed, didn't speak to him for the rest of the fight. The battle ended, and Shin was the first to dock. He climbed out of the hatch, down to the crew that was already beginning to congratulate him. Then, the Savoir docked, and Athrun climbed out stiffly, his face not visible. When the other pilot began walking towards him, Shin noticed a familiar glint in the other boy's eyes. 'Here it comes,' Shin thought. But, much like he did other times, he let it happen. And he knew, somehow, he'd always let it happen.

Athrun came to a stop right in front of him, glaring at him with pure anger. Then, his hand cracked across his face, making an audible sound. The glove Athrun still wore made the impact of his knuckles all the more painful against Shin's cheek. Shin gasped slightly, but didn't make any other noise that suggested it even affected him.

"Fool, you could have been killed!" Athrun barked. Shin's face flushed. The other boy was creating a scene. As per usual.

"I was saving your sorry ass!" Shin defended. Athrun grabbed him by the collar, bringing him up towards his face.

"I am still your superior Asuka," Athrun said quietly, his face inches from Shin's. "You will show me some respect, and you will obey my orders on the battle field."

He practically threw Shin, and stalked off, leaving him spluttering in anger. He moved to run after him, but his arm was caught by Rey.

"He's probably annoyed that you saved him," Rey told him. "You're a good flyer. Any member of Faith should be jealous."

Shin blinked. He had seen jealousy before. He was the subject of much at it back at the training academy. But why, when those emerald eyes flashed at him, was there not that familiar look, but one that was more hurt and... Relieved?

The sun had begun to set over the ocean, and Shin didn't bother to turn as he heard footsteps on the stairs leading down to the ship behind him. Athrun came to stand by the rail that Shin was leaning over.

"Shin..." Athrun began.

"So now we're back to a first name basis?" Shin asked sarcastically.

"I'm sorry."

Shin drew a sharp intake of breath. It was the first time he'd actually apologized without badgering and a fight. Shin frowned. "Were you talking to Luna-Maria or Meyrin?" He asked suspiciously.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Athrun's mouth. "No," he said with a sigh. "I'm apologizing of my own accord. I should not have hit you. And, er, thank-you. You probably saved my life."

"You're Welcome," Shin said, surprised.

Athrun turned to him. "Can I see?" He asked.

"See?" Shin asked touching his cheek, now starting to swell. "There's nothing to see." He lied, turning his face away from Athrun's view.

"I wasn't born yesterday Shin, I said let me see!" He demanded, his voice rising and grabbing his arm.

Shin tried to pull away, but Athrun grabbed Shin's chin in his hand, pulling Shin's face towards his. Athrun cringed, but looked at it studiously, until Shin's cheeks started to flush with embarrassment. Athrun's face almost pulled a ghost of a smile of amusment. Then he sighed, releasing Shin's burning face.

"You should get it checked out, put some ice on it. It's starting to swell," Athrun said calmly.

Shin nodded, unsure of why he had reddened like that when he was so close to Athrun's face. He clapped Shin on the shoulder as he departed.

"Shin?"

"Um-what?"

"Uh, good flying today," Athrun said, disappearing into the hatch.

Shin blinked. 'What just happened?"

Shin sat in the infirmary, holding an icepack to his jaw while the nurse busied herself at the sink.

"Sorry about this," Shin sighed. The nurse shook her head, drying her hands off and turning to face him.

"No, that's fine," she said, smiling, and gestured to the wound "A woman's touch isn't always as rough as that one."

Shin blinked, confused. Then, he shook his head, realization dawning on his face. "Oh, no, it was-"

"They say," she said, interrupting, "That a harder she strikes, the more she really loves you."

Shin reddened. "It's not like that," he mumbled.

"Perhaps the reason you were hit has something to do with the fact that you're so oblivious," She suggested.

Shin slid off of the table, making for the door. 'Women,' He thought begrudgingly. 'They really don't know anything...'

Shin sat alone in the cafeteria, having his first bite to eat since getting back from the fight. He heard the hissing of the door sliding open, and Athrun walked in, and sat across from him, not saying anything.

"Why did you hit me?" Shin asked between mouthfuls.

"I said I was sorry, didn't I?" Athrun asked.

"You didn't answer the question," Shin said quietly.

Athrun remained quiet, his eyes cast downwards as Shin finished his sandwich.

"I didn't want to see you get hurt," He said finally. Shin's eyebrow arched questioningly.

"Like you ever cared before," Shin muttered, drinking from a can.

"I-I did!" Athrun said defensively. "I did care..."

Shin choked, inhaling the drink. "Ah... I..." He was at a loss for words.

"I feel... safer when we fight together," Athrun admitted. "It's good to know that such a skilled pilot is there to back me up."

Shin tapped the table gloomily. 'That's all?' He shook his head. Why would he care anyway? He should be flattered a member of Faith held him in such high esteem.

Athrun clapped him on the shoulder again. "Well, I'm going to call it an early night. You should too, you fought hard." Shin watched as he went down the stairs, his dark hair the last to disappear down the hatch.

"Not the boss of me," Shin muttered. But after a few minutes, Shin followed him down into the cabins.

Shin woke to the buzzing of an alarm clock, and sat up in bed, stretching. "Rey?" he yawned, switching the alarm off. Rey grunted from the other bed. Shin smiled. "Didn't take you as much of a lazy-bones," He joked, putting on his shirt. He reached for his ZAFT uniform, but suddenly, the Minerva jerked, throwing him to the floor. Rey tumbled from the bed, landing on top of him, his long blonde hair askew and obviously startled.

"Gerroff me," Shin groaned. Rey hopped up, helping the other boy to his feet. "What the hell was that?"

Rey shrugged. "Felt like we hit something," he said thoughtfully. Shin stepped out into the hallway, and found he wasn't the only one taking a peek. The rest of the crew and pilots were looking curiously out into the hall, some still in their bed clothes. Shin spotted Athrun among them, of course, already in uniform with his Faith badge pinned neatly to his collar. Athrun's eyes caught his, and he looked at him quizzically. Shin realized he was staring, and quickly looked away. But he was already headed towards him.

"Shin, you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, what's going on?" he asked.

There was muttering down the hall, and the Captain Gladys was storming towards the bridge, grumbling and still in her night clothes. Her shoulder bumped Shin's as she passed. "Watch it Asuka," she growled, not even stopping.

"BART! I'm going to kill you!"

"What's gotten into her?" Rey wondered. When she got to the bridge, they could hear her yelling from the cabin.

"Captain Gladys is usually really calm," Shin said, his voice cracking.

"Women are kind of scary if you wake them up rudely," Athrun said gravely.

The Captain's voice came on over the intercom.

"Attention, crew of the Minerva," she said testily. "Due to the carelessness of a certain driver, we have crashed into a rock shelf. We will have to dock, and repair the ship. We will take this opportunity to also restock." There was some fumbling as the radio turned off, and someone in the hallway called out "Whoo! Surprise vacation!" This earned a glare from Athrun, but everyone else chuckled, and returned to their rooms. Shin turned to go get dressed, but was held back when Athrun grabbed his arm.

"What?" Shin asked.

Athrun released his arm. "I- it's nothing..." he said quietly, avoiding Shin's eyes.

"What is it, Athrun?" Shin demanded.

"We're close to Diocuia... I think that's where we'll be docking," Athrun said quietly.

"Oh," Shin mumbled. Athrun touched his shoulder, and Shin looked up. "I'll be fine," he told him. "Really."

Athrun nodded, and made for his room, disappearing into the crowd.

Rey glanced at Shin, a questioning look on his face, but didn't say anything. This was the first place Shin met her.

The Minerva, docked at Diocuia, opened its doors let out its crew onto the port.

'It looks exactly like it did last time,' Shin thought, stepping out into the noontime sunlight. A couple of the female crew members, including Meyrin, ran down the dock, laughing happily, probably excited to be on land and spend their accumulating salary on a shopping spree. Shin got out of their way, trudging up towards the hotel. Rey and Luna-Maria were up ahead, talking quietly to one another.

"Shin?" He turned, and Athrun was, once again, at his shoulder.

"What do you want?" Shin asked.

"I was wondering... did you want a drive?" Athrun asked.

Shin blinked, not having to ask where. They both knew where. "Why would you want to do something like that?" He asked moodily.

"Well, I don't want you going up there by yourself," Athrun told him.

"Why do you care?" Shin asked.

"It's not something you want to do by yourself... Not only is it dangerous, but..."

Shin nodded. "I'd... I'd appreciate that, Athrun," he said quietly. "Thank-you."

"Ready to go?" Athrun asked as Shin headed towards the car. Shin nodded, opening the passenger door and sliding into the seat. He looked out of the window as Athrun started the engine, and the car drove off.

"It's not that long of a drive," Athrun told him. "It's a nice day, too."

Shin grunted.

"I ah, was going to get something to eat, afterwards." Shin said nothing. "Do you want to come?"

Shin shrugged, resting his chin on his hand, looking out into the ocean.

"You ok?" Athrun asked.

"Look Athrun, I appreciate the drive, but can you... stop?" Shin said, slightly annoyed.

Athrun fell silent.

"What do you want?" Shin asked.

"What are you talking about?" Athrun asked.

"You've been acting... odd lately," Shin accused.

"Shin, ever since Berlin," Athrun began, and Shin tensed up at the mention of that place. "I've been... worried about you."

"I'm fine," Shin insisted. "Look, we're here."

Athrun pulled the car over to the side of the road. To most people, this cliff looked like any along the road. But it was forever burned in Shin's mind. He stepped out of the car, stepping over the guard rail. This was the first place he saw her. Stella.

"Shin, be careful," Athrun called from the other side of the guard rail.

Shin nodded absently. "I am," he said slowly.

The sun bounced off of the waves, shining into his eyes. He blinked, then, he saw something in the water. He shaded his eyes, and then gasped.

"Shin?" Athrun said loudly.

Shin ignored him, stepping towards the edge of the cliff. It couldn't be... But then he heard it, like a dying whisper on the wind.

"Shin...!"

Not holding back for another second, Shin ran to edge of the cliff, getting ready to jump in.

He was stopped as someone grabbed him from behind, pulling him into an arm lock.

"Athrun let me go! I have to save her!" Shin screamed. But Athrun didn't let go, keeping an iron grip.

"Shin, she's not there!" He said laboriously, grabbing him around the waist.

"Look! Look at her! She's right there!" Shin tried to point to the form in the water.

"There's nothing there, Shin," Athrun said calmly.

Shin blinked, looking closer at the figure floating on the surface of the ocean. He was right. There was nothing there. Shin tried to hold back a sob, falling limp in Athrun's hold. Athrun relaxed his grip, and Shin turned to look at him. Athrun's eyes widened. The younger boy was actually starting to cry. He hesitantly put his arms around Shin's shoulders, pulling him towards himself. Shin put his head in Athrun's shoulder, beginning to sob.

"I couldn't save her... I broke my promise. I promised to protect her," Shin gasped.

"You did what you could," Athrun said, patting his back.

"It's not fair, why does something like war even exist? All it brings is pain," Shin pulled away from Athrun.

"It exists because humans will always find something to fight about. No matter how petty," Athrun told him slowly.

"Why can't the people in charge fight themselves, and not sacrifice others for them?" Shin asked desperately.

Athrun smiled gently. "That's not how things work."

Suddenly, Athrun was holding his face. Shin's cheeks burned as he tilted it towards his, and then rubbed the tears from his eyes.

"A-Athrun..." Shin said in surprise. "I-"

"Shin, you are one of the best pilots ZAFT has. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll become the very best. When you get up there, where the people in charge are, I know you'll make a difference. Even now, you change the world around you."

Shin couldn't help but be so aware of Athrun's hands on his face, and how close they were; his breath against his skin, and his green eyes piercing his own. "Athrun..."

"C'mon, let's go." the older boy said, finally releasing him. Shin couldn't help but feel a moment was broken. He looked after Athrun as he ducked into the car.

Athrun beckoned him over, leaning out of the window. Shin jogged over to the passenger seat, hopping in.