A/N: Hello, I hope you would like this story. xD

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in Gundam Seed/Destiny, they belong to their respective company owners. Please read and review.

OoOoOoOoO

Outside, a thunderstorm raged. A great wind frightened the animals and bent the trees low to the ground, shaking their leaves almost off their branches. But inside the great mansion of the Campbell, there was light and laughter. A long table, covered with striped cloth under a freshly bought satin of gold embroidered with floral laces, was pushed up close to the wall, and it was laden with all kinds of glassware's and silverwares—all vintage—decorated by palm fronds and piled high with roasted meat and olives, with spit-roasted beef and lamb and fish, with rounds of expensive wine, with grapes and oranges and figs and sweet cakes.

Beneath the table, a sixteen-year-old Athrun sat cross-legged in silence, watching as shoes, heels, sandals, and ankles and hems of gowns go by. No one had seen him—he was almost totally obscured by the tablecloth—and he enjoyed the anonymity. He was of course a man now, but he could not resist on occasion returning to the pleasures of boyhood. This was one such pleasure: to sit hidden and watch the elders as they drank ever more wine and acted ever more foolish. In the corner, he saw Old Jack weaving as he stood with his feet far apart, trying to focus on the face before him. Wine sloshed from his flute to dribble down and sullied his well polish suit. "You will soon be on the floor," Athrun mutters, and was startled to hear a voice say, "I am surprised he is not already."

Athrun turned to see a girl squatting just behind him. "You have the seat of honor," she said. "May I join you here?"

There was something familiar about her, but he cannot put his finger in it. "We are familiar with each other?" he asked.

She nodded rather fast. "I think you have seen me one time. And I spoke to you when you last saw me." Cagalli informed referring to the time of the Zala's arrival in the Campbell mansion, appearing to them as the honored guests of the party, Athrun happen to drop his wrist watch while trying to place it around his arm and in time while he was having butter fingers, the watch fell to the ground and Cagalli, who was one of the attendant, picked it up for him and handed the thing. There was only a moment when Athrun gaze at her and walk off before he could hear her say "you dropped this".

"Your memory serves you well, but I think it's lost on me."

She was a wonder to behold, with her blonde curls escaped from her braid, her cheeks flushed dusky rose, her gazes so direct and yet mysterious. She tucked her hair behind her ears, and he saw the lines of her cheekbones' beginning to assert themselves. Her lips were full and pink. He was suddenly dry mouthed, his heart knocking about in his chest like a caged animal wild to be released.

"I'm Yula," she has decided that she might as well introduce herself to him and using her other name so as to prevent any future recognition.

"Hello, Yula," Athrun shook the hand in front of him and gave her a smile before introducing himself, "My names Athrun Zala, it's a pleasure to meet you." A pleasure indeed!

"A pleasure to meet you too!" she beamed excitedly.

Her voice was low and musical, laugh like. He was mesmerized by her voice. The utter completeness of her beauty was astonishing; it made for a rush of emotions in him so strong it felt like anger. Athrun blushed for no particular reason.

She appeared not to notice but instead stared calmly into his emerald pools.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"Sixteen in two days. And you?"

"Just turned sixteen last month."

They regarded each other carefully, and then he ducked down and pointed to the people before him who had joined hands and made a circle to dance. They whooped and called out one to the other, stamped their feet, threw their heads and laughed. "They rejoice so!" Athrun said, caught between wanting to admire them and to ridicule them. "It is as though the world was built for joys only and they care not for sorrow."

She came closer and peered from beneath the cloth to see the dancers, and then sat next to Athrun. "It makes me happy, their happiness," she said, and there was in her simple statement a truth that made him ashamed of his ambivalence.

"Of course it makes me glad as well," he said. What was it that she smelled of? It was a scent of air and water, of salt and bread, of the white blossoms that flowered on the olive branches. Of apricots and nuts. Of earth. He felt himself growing dizzy. He leaned back onto his elbows and looked at her. "Where are you from?"

She cocked her head, puzzled. "Orb."

"No," he said.

She raised an eyebrow. "No?"

He shook his head. "No."

"I am from Orb—I think, unless you mean…ah. I was born in Orb but I—"

"No," he said yet again.

She stared at him, then lowered her eyes. " I believe you must not know of my extraordinary circumstances.

He shrugged, "Perhaps."He did not know what he was saying. The girl confused and unsettled him.

She smiled a warm, rich thing full of its own intention—he had never seen such a smile. But then her face grew serious. "Behold; by a way known only unto you and God,:" she declared, acting like a fortune teller about to present her extraordinary talent upon the young man, "You have come to know of my great secret of my strange beginnings—" Cagalli was halted by a series of giggle from the boy before her. His eyes now twinkling underneath the little light that peered from under the cloth, it has set its glories on the young man's emerald pools.

"Don't laugh," she warned, "I'm being serious here."

Athrun's laughter was premature when he decided to cover a hand over his mouth to not further infuriate the girl, "I-Im sorry, please move on."

"If you must know, you should take this story seriously for no one, not even the Cook—"

"The Cook?" Athrun asked, puzzled, "Why would this matter the Cook?"

"Sshh," Cagalli shushed him bringing an index finger to her lips, "Yes the Cook, doesn't know about this. I have never spoken of this to anyone, but this was revealed to me by the head butler"

"The head butler?"Athrun thought all the more puzzled, "what does the head butler have to do with this life birth story of hers?" The more Athrun thought about it the more he got confused, so he decided to let it pass for peace of mind sake.

"I will reveal all of this to you if you promise never to tell another. Will you promise?"

He smiled uncertainly. She remained somber-faced and did not speak, waiting for him to agree to what she had asked. "I promised," he said.

She nodded and resettled herself, sitting back on her heels and again anchoring her hair behind her ears. "So be it. We have agreed that this will be known only to you and to the butler, now and forever, unto the end of the earth."

"Yes." His chest inflated with his importance.

She leaned in closer and spoke quietly. " I was found outside a door of a mansion. I was wrapped in cloth spun of gold, wearing a crown of jasmine flowers. Beside me were gifts wrap in satin gold cloth, there were golden coins inside the basket I was placed, left for the one who would take me unto herself and raise me as her own."

He tried not to laugh again. Unbelievable! even she's a better storyteller than my nanny.

"Ah," she said. "I see that you cannot believe. You must not feel ashamed. It takes a man of rare qualities to—"

"I believe," he said, "I do! I do believe!"

Now she laughed. "Then you have believed a lie. But the circumstances of my birth and where I came from is more bleak than you thought, the owner of this mansion thought—" Cagalli stopped and turned her head in the direction of a voice calling her name. Her high brow, her strong nose. "I must go," she told him, pulling something from her pocket that immediately settled on her head. Because it was too dark, Athrun could not picture what it was. Cagalli started to crawl away from him.

He put his hand on her back. "Wait!" When Cagalli turned to him, he found himself frustratingly wordless. Again, they heard her name being called, more insistently this time.

"I must go!"

"Until the next time!" he managed.

She rose too quickly and knocked her head against the underside of the table, then turned back to Athrun, giggling.

He did not smile. He would kill the table, for hurting her.

He lay down on his stomach to watch her walk across the room. Her gait was slow and easy. She moved with her back straight and her head high. Cagalli took hold of a person's hand from the pillar that covered the person from view, then turned to look in Athrun's direction and smiled. His breath was tight, his belly aching. He watched as she went away from the ballroom and into the corridors. He sat up and returned his attention to the flush-faced revelers smiling to himself. He was eager to meet her again sometime though in a better location having better conversation than the one they had.

OoOoOo

"Mother?" Athrun called. It was late into the night, and Athrun could not sleep. He had lain for at least an hour turning from one side of the bed to the other, staring up at ceiling, occasionally brushing his hand into his hair, wet after an evening bath. He had touched himself, lightly and with wonder, understanding now the reason for his manhood.

"Mother!" he called again.

It was his father's frame that suddenly filled the wide doorway of his room. Athrun's mother had become an increasingly sound sleeper.

"What is it my son?" Patrick asked. "Are you sick?"

"No."

"Then why do you persistently call when your mother and I need some rest?"

He did not answer, and his father moved closer.

"Athrun?"

"When will we see those people again?"

"What people?"

"The people who came to the party tonight."

His father lifted his shoulders and made a sound deep in his throat. "We all live in the same country. We'll see one another someday."

"No, but….the host Anne and Philip Campbell and their daughter. When will we see them again?"

"Ahhhhhh," his father said. "Have you interest in Meer?"

Athrun said nothing. What was it her name again?

His father clapped his hands together and his voice rose high and tight in happiness. "We have waited long for this moment! –your grandparents and your mother. I shall invite the Campbell's for a friendly meeting next week, so that you may look again upon your Meer. And then we shall see what will happen."

"I know already." Athrun said

His father stood up. "We shall see. And you must sleep, that you may grow strong and healthy.

Athrun turned onto his side and closed his eyes.

"I am happy for you my son."

"And I too, Father."

"Goodnight, Athrun."

He listened to his father's footsteps move away from him in the dark. Had his father felt this? This reeling sensation, big as all of the heavens, for his now sleeping wife?

Athrun draw in a deep breath and let it out. He closed his eyes tighter. But still he did not sleep. He saw again every move she made, heard again her every word. And waited for morning, which would bring him one day closer to his own wedding

OoOoOoOo

I know that this one is pretty short compared to the other fics I've written. Truth be told, I stumbled upon this idea that led me to create another fic; this one. Please tell me what you think about this whether I should continue or discontinue this one, I don't know how far my mind can go imagining stuff and that, so I need your opinions. Actually I'm an impromptu writer meaning I don't do drafts and the like, I write instantly what's in my mind and construct a plot and a storyline while I'm writing. For those who are anticipating for the update of "My Ballerina" don't fret, I'm not discontinuing it, but I rather need time to think of another plot for the events in the next chapter. If you have any questions about updates or any other questions and suggestions please p.m me or if you don't have an account you may place it in the review slot. Only constructive criticisms are accepted no flames.

Please read and Review and if you have time, please read and review my other fics. Thank you so much. 'Till next time!

~HNNKN777~