LINGERING THOUGHTS

Prologue: First Visit – "I look into your eyes"

By: Empathic Soul

Disclaimer: Gundam Seed is not mine. This fiction is going to start as a friendship fiction and would depend on what happens as the story progresses. Couple as unknown—thereby warnings shall be done at the start of ever fiction. Please read at your own risk and review as well. Any review would be appreciated.

This fiction begins where the anime ends.

"Tori?"

Athrun nodded looking at how Kira smiled up from looking at the green robot that he made. He was about to leave the moon because of his father's intentions for PLANT. He though regrets leaving his best friend here so he made him his first robot…Tori.

"Yes, Kira, that's Tori. Keep him with you always aright?" Athrun smiled widely noticing that Tori launched itself on his best friend's head.

Athrun looked at Kira's expressive amethyst eyes—looking startled to feel Tori jump from his head, to his shoulder, then back to his palm. He looked amazed and at the same time extremely happy with the small token that Athrun gave him.

It was perhaps Kira's eyes that Athrun favored from all the traits of his best friend. He loved all about Kira because they were friends and he knew that Kira also loved everything about him. That was what best friends do anyway. And being children at that, best friends are everything in this world to them.

Kira stopped observing Tori for a while and let Tori land on his shoulder and looked at Athrun with a small awkward smile.

Of course, Athrun noticed the sudden change. He tilted his head to the side to show his curiosity and his anxiousness to Kira sudden change in demeanor.

"What is it? Don't you like him?" Athrun asked worried that his friend wasn't happy with his token. He would make Kira another then, if he did not like Tori.

Kira shook his head wildly and spoke. "Oh no! I love him Athrun, it's just that I do not have anything for you…I didn't make anything…"

Kira bowed his head in embarrassment. Athrun was able to make him something so that they would remember each other even though they are apart. Athrun shook his head with a slight smile and a sigh of relief.

"For a while there, I thought you did not like my little present." Athrun turned to Kira and Kira's eyes widened after saying that.

"What? Of course not! Tori's wonderful Athrun!" Kira looked at the bouncing robotic aerial fellow—known as a bird.

"Good then. Don't worry about giving me something Kira. My memories of us together would be enough." Athrun smiled remembering even a few as they spoke. Those memories were some of his happiest, if not already his happiest. Kira is indeed his best friend and that would not change.

"And besides, you'll follow to PLANT, won't you? So we'll see each other again." Athrun added looking expectantly towards Kira. The other boy just continued to smile and nodded.

"I'll try Athrun. It' s just that my parents are not yet ready to leave. But as soon as I can, I would." Kira nodded with a slight smile. A part of him felt that this might be the last time they would see each other and then it would be years again. But a part of him wished that the other were wrong.

"Then, it'll be alright! We'll see each other again!" Athrun nodded back while looking at Tori once again. The robot just seemed a bit restless.

Kira's eyes widened and then tried to remove his necklace. It was a silver necklace with a small blue charm on it. He grinned and Athrun's eyes suddenly widened.

"Oh no! You're not giving that to me Kira! That's been with you since I remember!" Athrun shook his head knowing full well the intentions of the other.

"But Athrun, I don't have anything to give you. And since we're gonna see each other again anyway, you can give this back. I'll just need time to make you something like Tori." Kira grinned and pulled Athrun near him so that he could place the necklace.

"But, I thought this was with you since you were born? Wouldn't you want this with you always?" Athrun asked but not moving away from his friend who concentrated on placing the necklace around him.

"Well, mom said that this was some kind of charm. It would get you away from danger. It was with me since I was born." Kira narrated and continued to concentrate. "There."

"The more reason I can't take it." Athrun muttered trying to remove the lock only to realize that Kira tied it as well as locking it. "You knotted it."

"Hehe, that makes it more difficult to remove." Kira nodded. "Take it Athrun."

"I…"

"Please?"

Athrun sighed. When Kira started to do the puppy dog look, he was always on the losing end. Although, Athrun felt bad for taking this gift, he was a flattered and extremely grateful that Kira gave him such a precious item. It was a great thing for him since Kira is his First and only friend.

"Thank you." Athrun muttered and Kira nodded.

They heard a car honk from the side and Athrun saw his mother waving towards him. He sighed. This was it.

"So, I'm going now Kira." Athrun smiled looking sad amidst it. Kira just nodded and smiled as well.

"Take care Athrun, and always remember that I would never forget you." Kira reminded and Athrun laughed.

"Of course!" Athrun made a move to run towards the car where his family is waiting. He paused and turned around. "Kira…"

"Hm?" Kira smiled forcing back a sob that was threatening to erupt.

Athrun smiled.

"Don't cry."

"Kira?"

Lacus whispered as Kira slightly opened his eyes. It was difficult to adjust to the bright white light that enveloped the room. He squinted it in the effort to visualize anyone in the room. His senses tell him that there are more than one person, if not whole battalion. But nevertheless, at least he knew one. And the other ones are a batallion of jumping round robots.

"L-Lacus?" Kira muttered weakly trying to sense where she might be coming from. Indeed Lacus helped him by holding his right hand in between her palms.

"I'm here, Kira. I'm glad you're finally awake." Lacus smiled even though she knew that the other did not see her at all. It was purely to her relief to finally be able to hear Kira's voice.

"KIRA KIRA KIRA KIRA!!!" The blue round robot started to jump up and down the bed, rewarded of course by the attention of the injured one. Lacus grabbed the toy and successfully silenced it.

Kira sighed as the nagging tone of the round object was silenced into muffled sounds, which must have been caused by Lacus covering the robot using her robes. He smiled in his mind, remembering that it was a gift from Athrun to Lacus. He focused his thoughts into the question he formed in his mind.

"H-how long has it been? Since I…" Kira knew that he was unconscious for a long time. It must have been his nerves since they were a bit uncomfortable as if they want to move for being stagnant for such a long time.

"Since you've lost consciousness? A week. You've been out for a week." Lacus pushed back a few strands of hair threatening to fall on Kira's eyes. Kira smiled when his vision finally cleared and he saw Lacus' blue sapphire orbs looking down to him with concern.

"I must have worried you a lot." Kira muttered softly looking at her beautiful face gazing down at him.

Lacus laughed.

"Yes you did. But you worried Athrun more than anyone. That best friend of yours truly does have a lot of worrying to spare. I think that's a result of not seeing and being with you for a long time." Lacus laughed.

"Athrun?" Kira made a move to sit up and Lacus assisted him.

"That's right. Athrun was always here the past five days. It was only because Cagalli asked him to come home to Orb that he reluctantly gave me this seat." Lacus giggled. "I knew Athrun was a worrywart."

"Yeah, that he is…" Kira smiled fondly towards his best friend.

"And you a crybaby…" Lacus smirked a bit and Kira pouted slightly but turned to smirk as well.

"That makes the two of us." Kira pointed playfully towards Lacus and the other's eyes widened.

"I am not!" Lacus pretended to be angry as she denied any possible accusations of her being a crybaby.

"Oh sure." Kira smiled looking at how Lacus became flustered with him unbelieving her.

"Kira Yamato! I am not a crybaby!" Lacus stood up and placed her hands on her waist to show Kira her domineering form. Kira remained motionless and did not look up at her.

Somehow, Lacus felt a slight twinge of guilt in actually engaging in a playful conversation when Kira just woke up. She slightly gave out of her position and relaxed. When suddenly, Kira grabbed her wrist and she stumbled down to his chest.

Lacus was surprised by the action that she lost her balance and her arms immediately wrapped itself around Kira's waist to stabilize herself. Kira wound his arms around her and buried his head on her hair. The smell of white lilies filled his sense of smell as he sighed.

Lacus was breathing his fresh pine scent. She was beet red with the proximity for she did not expect such contact with him this soon. But she relaxed when she heard him sigh. She positioned herself more comfortably on his lap while leaning her head on his chest. Kira merely tightened his hold on her.

There were no words needed.

There was the mere sound of their breathing that enveloped the room.

All that they need was to reassure them that they were alive

It was all they need…

As of the moment

It was enough.

Sai blushed as he closed the door quickly upon seeing Lacus and Kira embracing each other. It was not as if he never really saw anything like that, it was more like, he never saw anyone look so…right…

Yes that was it…

Right with each other

Seeing the two was like seeing two soul mates finally finding each other amidst all these chaos. Even Flay and Kira did not look that way. Not even him and Flay, nor Tohll and Millialia. But then again, this was Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne. He sighed.

"At least one couple is happy…or better yet, at least there is a couple."

Sai smiled to himself. He wasn't bitter about the Kira and Flay incident anymore. Somehow he knew also that Flay managed to love Kira. Maybe it was infatuation for both of them when they were still together, him and Flay, but now, looking at the past, he only manages to smile and laugh about it.

They were childish, thinking of romance…thinking of that…

During the time of war

He was a bit foolish as he thought. When he tried to use the Strike, he was rather ashamed of himself. Instead of finding the reason why Flay left him, he found it. Kira was indeed better than him in anything that he does. He's a coordinator and he was a natural. It was only natural that Flay would believe more on Kira than to himself combined with other people. Kira was Kira.

And yes, he was himself.

But the one that he regrets most was that when he entered the Strike, it was then that he felt everything that Kira might have felt during the times that he was piloting it. Sai felt almost every feeling that Kira has inside it.

He could feel his fear, his anger, and his sadness, even his loneliness…

The reason why he cried was that he knew somehow that he was not able to help anybody by doing just simple things as being jealous of the two. He felt guilty in realizing that a bit too late, when they're friendship was already at stake.

How could he have been so blind as to not see all those pain that Kira had to hold on to as he battled? How could he have been selfish enough to only blame everything on Kira and Flay? He felt guilty for it that was the reason why he cried.

And now, he wished to fix everything between him and Kira.

He sighed. But then again, they were human, coordinators or naturals, they were human. Therefore, they also experience such feelings. And that was normal.

But then again, now was not the time that he should fix things. He's busy with Lacus and of course he knew better than to interrupt in such a romantic situation.

Romantic?

He did not know…

He moved towards the exit of the room not knowing a pair of eyes watching him leave the area hesitant to step forwards and make her move.

"Sai…" Cagalli muttered softly while leaving her position and looking for her supposed to be "male" best friend.

TBC

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