This is the rewritten version of 'Because I Want to Believe'. I found that the former version is very lacking and has many flaws. I do hope this version is better. Tell me what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of its characters.

A Moment's Madness

"Stop it, Kira!"

A bright flash.

Damn it. Athrun's emerald eyes darted up. "Kira!"

The two mobile suits, Freedom and Savior, circled each other, each battling for dominance. Clashing again, the two suits pulled back and forth, a process that had been repeated too many times, over too many arguments; a petty reminder of what once had been, and is again.

Athrun gritted his teeth as his sharp gaze zeroed in on the Freedom. Conflicted thoughts danced within the seams of his mind, invoking more of the confusion and the frustration that already clouded his sea green orbs. What is he thinking!

The cords in his neck tautened. "The Earth Alliance is attacking us! Are you trying to tell me to let the Minerva sink?" he demanded.

He heard a sharp intake of breath. "Why do you..." the older Coordinator began but trailed off just as quickly, the anger in his voice palpable.

Athrun narrowed his eyes at the brunette's poorly veiled warning. The simple words spoke of a challenge for him to continue, but also that of plea for him to stop. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the controls as raw fury coursed through him.

"That's why I told you to go back!" he growled, pushing aside Kira's words. "Why do you keep doing this? Despite saying you don't want to fight?"

He didn't understand! Whatever Kira and the Archangel were trying to do, it was completely beyond his comprehension. They weren't doing any good. The day the Archangel and the Freedom had first appeared, Athrun had been so bewildered, so lost as to why they were doing something so...meaningless. The confusion that befuddled his mind only made things worse.

Why were they doing this? Weren't the casualties already enough? Wasn't the amount of blood shed enough?

Didn't they understand the severity of their doings?

Why couldn't they at the very least ever listen to him? Did his words hold no worth at all? Didn't they trust him?

And whyis that he always finds himself on the receiving end of Kira's blade?

He just wanted answers. Couldn't they at least give him that?

"I understand..."

Athrun's head snapped up at the softly spoken words. He tensed, knowing that Kira was nowhere near finished. The tone the older Coordinator had taken had clearly shown his disagreement, his disapproval, his anger.

"I understand what you're trying to say...but..." Kira continued, his voice slowly beginning to rise, parallel to the seemingly depthless rage that hung on every word. "But Cagalli is crying right now!"

What..?

Athrun jerked back into his seat, shocked into stillness. A profound sadness began to gnaw at his insides at the mention of the blonde, but he forced himself to push it aside. Not now, Athrun. Later. It tore at him that he had to hurt her feelings; his heart was further crushed by the fact that they stood on the opposite sides on the battlefield. But now...now wasn't the time to contemplate on such things.

Vaguely aware of the words escaping Kira's mouth, he forced himself to focus.

"She's crying because she didn't want things to turn out like this! Why can't you understand that?" Kira shouted, fury lending his voice a sharp edge. "But, if you're going to say this battle and the sacrifices out there couldn't be helped... If you're going to place all the blame on Orb and Cagalli..."

Athrun's eyes widened, stunned. A rush of emotions flooded through him as his pulse quickened, too fast for the short, shallow gasps that escaped his lips. Suddenly, he felt lightheaded. Kira...I never...

Kira wasn't finished. "Are you going to say that and fight against those things that Cagalli is trying to protect?"

The green-eyed Coordinator opened and closed his mouth, momentarily without the use of his vocal chords. The only words that he managed to let out were the pathetic combination of an exclamation and gasp, "Wha... Kira..."

"If that's the case, I'll defeat you!"

Something in Athrun snapped then as the Freedom closed in on him, its intent clear as day. Whatever Kira had said, he could barely comprehend the words, let alone digest them. But those words his childhood friend had uttered sparked a raging fury that began to spread like wildfire through his body.

Why can't you understand that?

/...I realized that I couldn't do anything and that I knew nothing at all.(1)/

Sacrifices...

/Blood spattering the floor, pooling around the body of the once cheerful teenager. A loud cry. Rusty!/

Couldn't be helped...

/A single tear. Nicol.../

All the blame on Orb...Cagalli...

/When all the Naturals die, the war will be over!...That's what we're fighting for!(2)/

Are you going to say that and fight against those things that Cagalli is trying to protect?

/The explosion on the screen seemed to slow to the beat of his heart. Mother?/

Against those things that Cagalli is trying to protect?

/My name...is Alex Dino./

He snapped.

A newfound clarity engulfed the emerald eyed teenager as the thoughts stampeded through his mind, crushing what hesitation that had clung to him like a second skin.

"Don't you dare speak like I don't understand anything!" the words fell off his tongue; his vision flashed a deep crimson red.

The Savior's head tumbled off into the sea as Athrun pulled the gears into action, flying far enough from the reach of the Freedom's beam sabers. Aiming for the Freedom's thrusters, Athrun pulled the Savior back roughly, tipping it to the side to evade a blow. Just as Athrun poised to shoot, his hand froze. Kira...

He chanced a glance to the small screen situated near his right, a small gasp escaping his lips as he registered the words that stumbled out of the brunette's mouth. Harsh and cruel.

"You're just like your father."

The Savior tumbled down into the ocean.


Please review.

(1) As said by Athrun Zala, Phase 43.

(2) As said by Patrick Zala, Phase 42.