Author's note: So this is the very first chapter of my new story, Falling for You. It is completely original except the characters and the universe being used. So thanks for clicking this story and reading! All that I ask is when you're done you click the coolest button EVER to review! Who knows? You might win a bajillion dollars! :) And if you don't...
The world might explode. You know what to do! Read & Review!
EDITED: 03/11/2010
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed and/or Gundam Seed Destiny.
Phase 01: First Impressions
"Athrun, sit down."
"Yes Father." Chairman Patrick Zala coughed at this. "I mean Chairman Zala," he corrected.
Athrun Zala took his seat in a room filled with a handful of middle-aged woman and men, who were all staring at him. They were all also wearing black ZAFT uniforms which signified their high-ranking positions in the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty, which was more commonly referred to by it's acronym, ZAFT.
"May I ask the reason for why I have been called?"
But he already knew the real reason. The only time he was ever called in to the Representative's Council Room was when he was going to be assigned a mission. Athrun was only seventeen yet he had been assigned a hundred missions by these representatives - which was a great feat considering most soldiers didn't even get that far.
But he didn't care.
He hated his missions since they all involved either spying or fighting. And he hated that one day he would be in his father's position, the Chairman of the PLANTs, sitting with the sons and daughters of the people around him.
He hated the idea. He hated naturals. Most of all, he hated the war.
"We have assigned a new task for you," Chairman Zala answered.
Athrun nodded. "What would that be, Chairman?"
"WE HAVE FIGURED OUT WHAT THE FILTHY NATURAL LORD UZUMI'S GREATEST WEAKNESS IS!" the Representative of October City, Herman Gould yelled.
"Quite Gould!" Chairman Zala demanded. "Athrun, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, the ZAFT Army has found out that Orb, a supposedly neutral country, has secretly aided the Earth Alliance Federation by creating Mobile Suits at Morganreate. Obviously, Orb denies any affiliation with the E.A.F. We NEED to pressure Lord Uzumi in to giving us these mobile suits and what we want!" He slammed his fists on to the table, "We will not lose this war to Naturals! We must exterminate them all!"
"But...Orb is a neutral nation...Chairman...Father..."
"You think I don't know that?" Chairman Zala asked.
The silence that followed was deafening. Everyone in the room just looked at both Athrun and his father, Chairman Zala. It would have to be an understatement to say that they were all afraid of Patrick.
Everyone in the PLANTs - and the Earth - knew of Patrick Zala and they also knew he was one of the most elite, powerful men in the world and should not be reckoned with. He demanded respect and received it.
Athrun dropped his gaze to the floor in his shame. "Yes Father...I mean...Chairman Zala..."
"Now we ask you a simple task," Chairman Zala said coldly, "and whether or not you accept is your decision. However, if you chose to decline the mission you can no longer call yourself a Zala and you will be discharged dishonourably from ZAFT."
"And if I accept?"
"If you choose to accept this mission and completely, the regards will be magnificent and beyond your belief. You will also be the youngest Admiral in all of ZAFT history. It is your choice."
Athrun sighed.
Of course his father gave him a "choice" that made it nearly impossible for him to decline. He was just another pawn in the grand schemes that Chairman Zala concocted every so often. It made him wonder if Chairman Zala remembered that he had a son, and that Athrun was that son.
After all, Chairman Zala had once been a family man. But it had felt like a lifetime ago...
"I accept the mission, Chairman."
The Chairman nodded and pressed a button on a remote.
Suddenly a picture of a beautiful blonde girl with amber eyes appeared, lighting up the huge black screen that was hung on the wall. The girl, whoever she was, had to be the most beautiful girl Athrun had ever seen. She wore a simple mint green dress and her hair was styled elaborately. But what made his heart swell up the most was the genuine smile plastered on to her face.
"Cagalli Yula Athha," Chairman Zala announced. "She is next in line to rule the Kingdom of Orb."
Cagalli Yula Athha. He had seen her name in various newspapers but never before had he seen a picture of the Princess. He had except a woman that looked like a model...or a actress...but somehow, she was much more prettier.
Chairman Zala pressed a button.
Another picture of Cagalli appeared. Instead, this time instead of a mint green ball gown she wore one that was the steelish-blue of a midnight sky and instead of her being pinned it was curled loosely. And her eyes stood out more in this picture - this made him realize that they weren't just brown, but a unique amber...
"What am I suppose to do? Make her fall in love with me?"
"Yes, actually. Something along the lines."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Athrun laughed. "I didn't mean it! Did you seriously except me, a war soldier, to destroy an innocent girl? Shouldn't you just assign me to crack Lord Uzumi?"
Athrun knew he had done a lot of bad things during missions, things he wished he could have forgotten and things he wasn't proud off. But this would have to top the cake. It felt wrong. Even thought she was a natural...she was still innocent and that was wrong.
"YOU INSOLENT FOOL!" Chairman Zala yelled. "We have agents that have worked in ORB for two decades and haven't got a single secret from Uzumi! He would rather die than betray his country! We only have one option: his stupid, naive daughter!"
"..."
"You will attend the High School she currently attends. She goes to Archangel High under the alias Cagalli Yula, since she wants to protect her identity. All you must do is gain her trust and trick her in to her telling you her secrets.
"..."
"This is the biggest mission of your life. If you fail this mission, you will put the entire future of ZAFT in jeopardy! Do you comprehend, Athrun?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good. You are dismissed." Athrun was about to walk away when his father called out for him, "Athrun! Athrun!"
Athrun turned around. "Yes Sir?"
"If you do not complete your mission do not bother to come back."
It was a bright day in ORB's Capital city, which gave every a renewed sense of hope. The sky was cloudless; the weather was cool; the sun was shining; the birds were chirping merrily; and the air was crisp. It was about 57 degrees and zero humidity, with an occasional gust of wind.
Despite being such a stunning day, everyone was extremely depressed. That day - September 5th - marked the end of Summer vacation, which meant thousands and thousands of people had to go back to war. And students would have to...LEARN.
Learn.
The word could just make anyone cringe. Cagalli Yula Attha was no exception.
But on the other hand, it was better than being caged up in her castle-like mansion all day because unlike her fellow school mates, she was a Princess and the heir to an entire nation.
"Oh shit!" Cagalli cried as she ran down the busy street. "I'm going to make an awful first impression! Great way to start of the year! Ugh!" She was starting her senior year at Archangel, the most prestigious high school in all of Orb, and she had a feeling that if she started the year with a tardy her teachers were NOT going to like her.
Cagalli ran down the street, garnering a few looks from fellow pedestrians. She dashed down the street as fast as she could, sprinting around a corner of an extremely tall building. To her dismay she suddenly found herself wincing on the pain and on what seemed to be on the ground. Everything had happened so quickly she didn't exactly know what happened.
When her brain started functioning again she noticed the ground was too soft to be the ground. So she opened her eyes to realize she was on top of a complete stranger.
"HEY!" Cagalli chided angrily. "Why don't you watch where you're going, buster!"
"HEY! Why don't you watch who you knock down, buster!" was the Stranger's retort.
Cagalli looked down to examine the guy who she had knocked down. The Stranger was tall and had a lean physique she knew that tons of guys would kill for. Up close she realized he had flawless pale skin, midnight blue hair, and green eyes that looked like chunks of emeralds that had been polished to perfection.
He was absolutely, undoubtedly out-of-this-world handsome!
"Idiot!" she yelled. She blushed when she realized their faces were inches apart, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. "Ugh...MAYBE IF YOU HAD BEEN WATCHING WHERE YOU WERE GOING, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED!" She huffed. "Be a man. Man up. Take responsibility."
The Stranger started to laugh, which infuriated Cagalli.
"Don't you dare laugh at me, Stranger!" Cagalli barked, raising her fists menacingly.
He laughed even louder. "The name isn't stranger. It's Athrun. Athrun Dino."
"I didn't ask," she retorted dryly.
"But you wanted to know."
"Yeah, of course!" The sarcasm was evident in her voice.
"Y'know," Athrun Dino, the weird new stranger, began, "usually when one person introduces himself, the other person usually introduces herself as well."
"Usually. But not always."
"Right...but it IS proper manners. And after all, you do know what they say..."
"No, actually. I don't know what 'they' say, 'whoever' they are!"
"Well, it's common knowledge that a Lady always needs proper manners if they ever hope of attracting men."
Cagalli smiled. "Good thing you're not a man."
Athrun laughed again. This was definitely new. All the girls up on the PLANTs melted when famous war-hero Athrun Zala had walked in a mile radius near them - let alone introduce himself!
But this blonde girl was definitely different. Despite her thinking he was an annoying creep...he liked her. "C'mon, just tell me your name!" he begged.
"Alright!" she sighed in defeat. "First name Bug, last name Off."
This made him chuckle once again.
She had to admit that he was kind of semi-cute when he laughed like this. It was like his smile was a ray of sunshine or something, and it lit up his entire face and all of his features in mere seconds.
"Bug Off, huh? Pretty name. Suits you perfectly."
"Ha-ha. Too funny."
"Fine, don't tell me what your name is," he sighed, "but the very least you can do is get off of me, Cutie. I know that it's hard to resist the Dino Charm...but take the paws off of me, they are starting to hurt." He loved the shocked expression on her face. He just smiled mischievously and added something in a soft whisper, "And for future reference...I enjoy being on top."
Cagalli's jaw dropped and she blushed a fiery red when she realized she was sitting on top of the stranger in the busiest street in all of Orb. It explained why everyone walking pass them was looking at them oddly.
She jumped right up. "You are...You are...YOU ARE-"
He seemed unfazed by the looks. "Handsome? Amazing? A heartthrob? A genius? Or perhaps, handsome beyond belief?"
He had to admit he was totally acting out-of-character, but then again, he didn't get many opportunities to let loose up on the PLANTs. He was never allowed to laugh or to smile or to have fun. That was the price of being the son of Chairman Zala.
Another plus was that he genuinely liked this girl's company. He noticed that she was pretty in a different, alternative way. Most of the girls he knew had long, silky tresses; but this girl, on the other hand, had short, unruly hair.
Yet she managed to be prettier than all of the other girls...And her eyes...they were not brown...they were amber...
Where had he seen them before?
"Actually, I was GOING to say idiotic! Perverted! Rude! Chauvinistic! Asshole! Or perhaps...PIG!"
"Anything else?"
"Yeah...you...you...you stupid head!
"Stupid head? Good one, Cutie."
"AH...what...SHUT UP-"
"Want to go out on date?" He didn't actually mean it, he just wanted to see her expression.
He didn't expect what happened next - he suddenly felt a sharp, stinging pain on the side of his check. For a girl she hit really hard. He touched the side of his cheek, which was now red, and looked at the girl.
Cagalli had already spun on her heels and stormed off. He touched his cheek again and it hurt. "Wow-za..." he said to himself. "She sure is something else..."
Instead of being angry, he smiled as he watched the girl run away.
"Ugh!"
She, Cagalli Yula Attha, desperately needed to get her rage out. She had been told she had gotten her volatile temper from her mother but she didn't care. She was a hot-head and that stupid guy was making her skin boil!
The only solace was that she would never, never, NEVER have to see him again.
"What happened to you, Cags?" her best friend, Shiho Hannehfus inquired.
"NOTHING." She was a terrible liar.
"Cagalli's red! You know what that means!" Miriallia giggled. "It was a b-o-y BOY!"
"It was not!"
"What's his name!" Lacus demanded. "Spill! ASAP!"
"Cagalli has a crush! Cagalli has a crush! Cagalli has a crush!"
"SHUT UP! I DO NOT - and I repeat - I DO NOT HAVEA CRUSH ON HIM!"
"Oh. So you're admitting that there is a him."
"Was he good looking?" Miriallia asked.
"Do you love him?" Lacus demanded.
"No, no, and DEFINETELY NOT!" Cagalli yelled back. "Okay, you got me. There was a 'him.' But this 'him' in question is a no one! He's just some stupid jerk that knocked me down and made me late this morning. I definitely not love him." She laughed at the idea. "In fact, it's the opposite! I hate him! I despite him! I LOATHE him! I DETEST HIM! Now ask one more question I will kill you and make it look like an accident."
Shiho raised her hands up, surrendering. "Fine, fine, I won't ask another question..." she promised. "...But was he good-looking?"
"UGH!" Cagalli cried. The blonde then slumped in to her seat that was attached to her desk and put her hands on to the table. This just made her three best friends giggle.
"I've never seen you interested in a guy before! Oh la la."
"Leave. Me. ALONE," was all Cagalli managed to groan.
She heard the door of the class open. "Hello class," came Ms. Ramius's voice as she walked in to the classroom of thirty one students.
"Hello Ms. Ramius," the class greeted back.
Cagalli heard the door open once again and all of the girls in the class started to whisper. She didn't care enough to lift her head up but she also heard the stupid, air-head, socialite Meer Campbell talk about whoever just entered.
"Major Ten! Shotgun."
"No way, Meer! Everyone is going to be fighting for that hunk."
"And? What's your point? I called him. I always get what I want. I'm basically royalty."
"Oh goodness gracious! I'm sorry, class!" Ms. Ramius apologized. "I must have forgotten. Class, today I have the honour of introducing a new exchange student from the PLANTs. He will be having the pleasure of staying with us for the remainder of your senior year.
All the girls in the class except for Cagalli, Shiho, Miriallia and Lacus started to giggle flirtatiously.
"Please, introduce yourself," Ms. Ramius suggested.
"I think you did it for me," the boy, whoever he was, laughed. "The name is Athrun. Athrun Dino."
Athrun?
Dino?
Athrun Dino?
As in the boy break that had bumped in to her less than a few hours ago.
Immediately her head shot up and she opened her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "IT'S YOU!" she screamed at the top of the lungs as she pointed a finger to him accusingly.
"Oh look! It's Bug Off," he teased. "Long time no see, huh?"
What were the chances?
"You know Miss Cagali Yula, Athrun?" Ms. Ramius wondered.
"Cagalli Yula?"
Cagalli?
Yula?
As in the Princess of Orb/the girl he had bumped in to less than a few hours ago? He wanted to slap himself. It all made sense now - the blonde short hair, the unique one-in-a-millon amber orbs, the smile, and the alias she had since she was reluctant to share her true identity.
She was the Princess of Orb. The very same one she needed to make fall in love with him.
And by the look on her face, she was definitely feeling the opposite of love towards him.
How was she ever going to fall in love with him now?
Author's Note: I'll dedicate the next chapter to everyone who reviews. I wrote this really quickie and I hope you enjoy. I'd like to thank all of you who have read this chapter...now do me a favour and review.
Or die - JUST KIDDING! HEHEHE! No but seriously...REVIEW. PLEASE. Thanks for reading anyways! :)
Sincerely Yours,
MusicIsMyBoyfriend1234