Chapter 1 – Trapped In An Island

His soul is crying for redemption for so many killings he had done for the past year. As a Zaft soldier, it was his obvious duty that he must put the welfare of his countrymen's first than of his own. Protecting them at all cost without any question is his top priority. It was for sure that blood and mayhem will be apart of this gruesome war just to achieve this but why does this bothered him so? He should have long used to this idea but these many questioning had been pestering him for a matter of weeks now. He had countless of nightmares during his sleep. Most of them had his heart arrested for a while.

This is what he gets for killing so many countless Natural's lives. He is a one of those Zaft soldiers that got blood tainted to their hands. But this time, instead of being numb to the innate smell of the red substance, it had nagged his conscience almost to the edge, questioning everything that is happening to his realm.

A soldier must not entertain his conscience and guilt whenever he strikes his enemy's vital parts. A soldier must not show any remorse feelings after the bloodshed had achieved. A soldier, like him, need not to be like human…whether you are Natural or a Coordinator.

Eyes shut, he contemplated for the gore memories of his senseless killings way back then. Leaning his head upon the frames of the window of his room, his right temple felt the icy temperature caused by the continuous fall of rain. So cold like what was outside his cottage premise. Good thing he was already inside when the rain started to pour out from the sky. Fully known that he is the only man in this secluded island, somehow he had felt cradled and pampered away from the devious effects of the war itself. Life of peace is what he wants, a life without any apathy lurking in any man's heart – both on Naturals and Coordinators. But that will be far from being achieved when war between two different human genome grown deeper and more desperate.

The rain continued to pour, leaving him to ponder with his nightmares. Both trapped from his environment and self-torment, Athrun was left alone. His only left living relative, his father, did nothing to sooth his inner rage for he too felt busy assessing to bombard the Naturals to their deserving deaths. Neither his comrades nor his closest friend Kira could fill in the hole of his agony. Not even his fiancée Lacos.

He could create his very own Hallo but the mechanical toy will also do nothing but pretense. Better not make one if that is the case.

A full minute had gone by when he stared out to the window viewing to the moving sea. Noticing the natural movements of the waves had somehow recollected him again to be calm. The fact remains that the sea of this planet is one of the most beautiful place he had ever seen. None from his Coordinator's home bases' endowments could compare to this natural beauty. Pity. In time, this beautiful, serene place will be tainted by the likes of him and those who share the same animosity to fellow beings.

Man wanted to be better, of himself and of the rest. That made all of this war to begin with. If they hadn't played God in the first place, he shouldn't have been experiencing this torment. But then again, without that technology, he might not have live to think about it. It was so ironic. He laughed to himself.

He was beginning to get tired of pondering. Nothing will change if he still continued to brood his sad fate as a Zaft soldier. Tomorrow will be still the same – him as a licensed killer. Time to go to bed and rest. When right time comes, he will be back to his Zaft army Headquarters at Sahara dessert. He just wasn't ready as of yet to face again the harsh reality of life during war.

And besides, with his new mobile suit Justice, it will be a matter of minutes for him to be able to arrive at his destination.

As he was about to leave his seat near the window, his eyes somehow captured a movement from the sand area. He was sure that it wasn't the waves of the sea. It was more of a human form. His keen senses as a Coordinator tells him that he was right about the hunch. Is he an enemy? Sure. Why not? Why would that person try to hide his presence like a hunter when his intentions are good? Is the man want to steal his Mobile Suit? Too bad. Athrun didn't feel to kill anytime sooner but when duty calls, he must defend himself in any manner. The thought shivered him. Killing again and again and again. When will this stop?

He immediately took his army knife and secured it to his safety strap belt. Time to play his most hated game.

Swept away by the sea, the person was totally lost and trapped to this tiny island. Such a poor luck! So many responsibilities to uphold and so many rescuing to be done. Now that will have to wait. Even that person needed some rescuing back to the real world. War is going on and being trapped on this island will make everything worse. Time is consuming quickly and many are dying. The help the person could give are gone to waste by staying trapped to this jungle. Cursing aloud, the person laid on beach floor. It was also still raining. Such a poor luck!

A shelter from those coconut trees will do a good momentarily shelter. When the rain stops, finding and announcing help will be the next on list. The person crawled towards the coconut tree to seek its protection, just like a soldier on battle. Walking will be much better but the legs won't listen so the concept of crawling was very acceptable.

Alas. Finally half-protected from the rain's continuous pouring, the person settled and leaned on its trunk, and sat by the base. Not enough energy was there to exert after all the swimming done a while ago. A good rest will only answer to the person's tired body.

Yes. A good momentarily sleep.

Athrun saw that the person was hiding himself behind the biggest coconut tree at the beach front. It will be a matter of minutes before he could subdue the intruder. Or perhaps, in mere seconds. But still, he had to be careful. Well, on that department, that won't be a problem because he is known to be sleek on his combat and spying moves. No doubt about that as a gifted Coordinate Soldier. Curses. That is not right to be boasted about. Naturals grew only envier as time goes by seeing with all of these special abilities to upgrade. For now, he cared nothing of it. He had to concentrate his moves on capturing the guy from the beach front and then questioned him about his sudden appearance to this secluded island.

Slowly, he approached the person. With tactic slyness, Athrun had managed to arrive to the huge boulder next to the coconut tree undetected. So much for being Naturals. They have a poor sense of spatial awareness when an enemy is lurking around. Perhaps, the island's solidarity contributed to the man's alertness to waver. Bad for him, good for Athrun.

The young Zaft captain approached the person with great stealth when a huge wave from the sea broke into the immediate surface of the beach front. That had awakened the man under the tree but not enough to completely make him aware of Athrun's ambush.

Athrun didn't let the man to fully recover to his senses to attack. He had placed his army knife under the man's throat and pulled him up abruptly. He was right about one thing, the man was very much surprised and not ready. The poor lad was an easy prey to the world of killings. He should be thankful that killing is not his top priority at this very moment. Maybe later if the going get tough.

"Why are you here?" Athrun immediately asked as he pulled the young lad's back onto his chest. His other free arm secured the caught prisoner by twisting his arm behind the back. One of Athrun's legs was placed between the young man's legs to secure it also from moving further and to end his plan of escape. It was inevitable. Athrun had finally captured the man into his tight grasp with the threat of a deadly knife placed under the slender throat.

"What?!" The man nervously replied.

"Talk soldier! Why are you here?" Athrun demanded an answer. His knife began to mock a motion of slicing just to make him confess. "Spill it out!"

"If you could just…" The man coughed and struggle a bit to break free.

"Escaping is not an option, you see. If you like, in death, there will be. If you don't talk at once, I might consider testing that last option. Now talk!" Athrun harshly shook the man once. His voice was loud enough to be heard to the other side of the island. It was so deadly, his voice could scare so many being on this island. He was like a killer on the loose. His eyes' pupil almost began to change when an unexpected happened.

The man shrieked. So loud, all of the bird in the beach front flew away from their nest.

Athrun was astonished upon the man's sudden response. What on earth made this man to shriek like a girl….unless….

"Let go of me!!!" The person demanded. "I did nothing to you! How dare you put your filthy hands on me!"

Upon the person's struggling, his arm suddenly went below to its grasp. He was holding the captive's shoulder when it unintentionally moved to the chest area.

A louder shriek came by. This time, the person did manage to get free from Athrun's grasp.

So indeed, after touching something bulging and soft from the captive's chest area, Athrun finally concluded that the man was a woman. Or so a girl to be exact. 16 years old. She is a girl with great……rounding endowments. There were undeniably shades of pink on his cheeks right now. He had touched something that he shouldn't have.

"Pervert!" The girl angrily accused. She was covering her breasts right now. More's the pity. It was a good view to begin with. All round and ready. He shook his head to escape from being tempted further.

Regaining his thoughts together as a hunter, he glared at the girl and asked again his question.

"For obvious reasons, I was swept away from the sea. I am a civilian, not a soldier!"

She was right on pointing that out. But nevertheless, a soldier can wear civilian clothes just to lure away his thoughts from the possibility of being detected. He had to make sure she was honest about it.

"I can't guarantee you that I can accept your flimsy response. This island is secluded and not easy be seen. From all the places, why here?" He stood upright and crossed-armed on his chest. Still, the knife was visibly seen to her. The threat was still there.

The girl gruffly snorted as she also crossed her arms. The rain poured upon her head. Its coldness began to make her shiver, not because of his beastly treatment. "I don't care whether you believe me or not. Just go and find other people to bother with your threats!"

"And why is that when no one else is here but you and me?!" He solemnly spat.

"I don't know. That is your problem, not mine!" Then she turned her back to him. She began searching for another place to go….or maybe to hide from him. The poor girl was cursing aloud.

The girl had her own feistiness. This was getting more interesting. He liked her spirit though he preferred not having them to his women……maybe….

Thinking about Lacus, about her being all womanly gave Athrun things to ponder about. Both of them are composed and demure. That is what they get from being breed to be of the upper class, as of noblemen. Both of them are right for each other. Nothing to be seen as a conflict, or so both of them had wrongly assessed. That is when the problem starts. Boredom will knock on their marriage life. No spice, that is.

If Lacus could have the same temperament as with this woman….maybe things will be a lot different….

What was he thinking???!!!! Hell!!!!

"Hey you! Where are you going?" Athrun had finally regained his thoughts again. He called after her without leaving his spot.

She was walking away from the coconut tree, away from him. It was her chance to flee from a crazed Zaft soldier. Too bad, the young man got great handsome looks and a scent of lavender. Funny. A man had a scent of a woman? Perhaps he had been sleeping with a woman on this secluded island. But that had to be left unchecked because he had already confirmed her that they are the only ones living on this place. If not so….then he is a gay? Not likely! With so much effort to control her body to escape, he got a strong, manly grip. And he had also touched and cupped her left breast which is still tingling from his after harass. As if it had liked the abrupt attack…as if her body like being harassed by his strong arms and hands…..

"Shut up!" She berated herself, still walking away. She was now moving fast. Her walk began to switch into a running stage. But all was to no avail. The young man caught up with her.

Athrun took her arm and made her turned around. Feisty as she was, the girl punched him to his face but was immediately evaded. That action had made them both lost their balance – as she was laid on the beach floor and him being on top on her and between her legs.

And hell broke loose. The girl shrieked again and struggled with all her might. Still, she was fighting with a man, who is basically much stronger than her. And then add the fact that he was also a Coordinator, making it a double slap for her being helplessness.

"Get off me, you oaf! Pervert!"

Athrun had no idea what had just happened. But what was more important was that he had finally secured the girl, for him to be taken as a prisoner. He will take no chances for him to be wisely cracked by this girl who seemed to be still pursuing that she was all innocent. She should be thankful that he had no taste for bloodshed. When the time comes….

"I will not hurt you." Athrun assured.

"Oh yeah! I can see what you are doing right now. Raping me!" The girl strongly accused. She also glared at him. "Get off me!!!"

"What the?" Athrun was shocked upon the girl's horrid accusation. He is a soldier, not a rapist! For Christ sake!

The young, confused man was assessing his position with her now. Slowly, he was seeing what she was accusing him off. He was between her legs, her blouse was somehow hiked up just below her delicious endowments, one of her sleeves where pulled down to her elbow now exposing her rounding breast to his view. His eyes momentarily stopped to the said area, lingering a little while. Shame on him for acting like a boorish animal wanting to mate! Or so similar to that.

Athrun abruptly stood up and help the young lady back into her feet.

"I'm sorry." Turning his back into her so that she could arrange herself nice again, he apologized even though he hadn't intentionally put them into that kind of crazy position. "It was all of a sudden. The moves…"

"Leave me alone! I am planning to get out of this island and see you no more."

Thank goodness Athrun got back to his subtle attitude. "That would be a problem, you see."

The girl glared at him some more. Her heart's beat was racing, that is for sure. "What do you mean? I already said to you that I am no soldier. I was just washed away from my speed boat by the strong storm! Do you see any guns with me?"

"I can never guarantee that…"

"Shut the fuck up! I don't care whether you want a guarantee or not. I don't have any problems with my father guaranteeing for my actions. But you?! You seem to think so highly of yourself!" She strongly pursued. "I am leaving." She then marched off to the other side of the island.

Athrun was beginning to get amused to the irritated girl. "For a Natural, you are very thick-headed."

"Thank you for the complement, lord almighty!" She retorted back as she continued marching off.

"And may I asked, how will you leave this island?" Athrun had a lopsided smile now.

That had stopped the girl from walking away.

"This is a secluded island, Miss Don't-Touch-Me-Or-Else. It will be a matter of days before your people will able to find you. There are countless of radio jammers activated right now at the sea which will make it another problem to bear."

She turned around and looked him at the eye, estimating him whether he is telling the truth or not. He seemed to be honest with what he had said. Drats!

"And how about you? How will you leave this island?"

"Oh. I have my Mobile Suit to use. Only I can use it." He mocked her at it.

"Oh?" She was beginning to smile deviously. "Well, I don't think so."

"Ha! More is the pity. Do you think I will allow you to take my Mobile Suit? More is the reason why I should take you as my prisoner." Athrun came to her side and looked down on her. The rain suddenly stopped. "No one takes away my Justice from me. I will have to kill you if necessary."

The threat was obviously there. She was beginning to see the other side of this young, handsome man – the darker side of him.

She was stunned for a moment. He was so near, almost invading her personal space.

"What is your name?" Athrun broke the awkward silence.

"Why should I give you my name?" The girl asked, doubting his intentions – again.

"What would you want me to call you? You would like to be called a Spoiled brat?"

"In your face!" She scoffed.

Athrun waited for her to answer his simple question.

It was seen in the girl's eyes that she was beginning to surrender. Then it was good.

"Cagalli," she softly mumbled.

"What?" Athrun honestly didn't hear her.

"I said my name is Cagalli, you deaf!"

Athrun smiled. "Nice knowing you, Cagali. But under this strange circumstance, I have to detain you a little while until I am sure everything is alright."

"What?" Cagalli was shocked. "You still don't believe me?"

"We are at war, young mistress. But don't worry. I won't hurt you." He assured her.

"Yeah right," she mumbled.

"Unless you do something stupid," Then his eyes began to change. He was serious about this one, of betraying him on that back. "I am a good man, Cagalli. I will be to you if you only follow my orders. Perhaps I could help you get back to your own people."

Cagalli had to believe in what he was saying. She had to. The man's cobalt blue eyes told her so too, as if they were persuading her to back down her guard against him.

Accepting her fate to be his prisoner for a while had been a great blow for her strong ego. What else could she do? "Ok," She just nodded. She just wished that he will honor his promise…..that promise.