Chapter 2
I do not own GS or GSD.
"I'm not coming back; I've done something so terrible…" Cagalli slapped lazily at her alarm radio until it was knocked to the floor. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to remember why again she had to wake up so early on her first day of vacation. Right, the stupid assignment! Sitting up, she slipped out of the warmth of her blanket and made her way to her kitchen. She desperately needed some coffee.
Cagalli had been living alone in this apartment for a little more than one year now; since her foster father had passed away. Sure being only 17, she was supposed to live with her guardian until she reached 18. But fortunately for her, her godfather, Ledonir Kisaka, had understood her need for independence. He had allowed her to sell her house and with the money, she had bought herself a small but cozy apartment, she now called home. She was very happy with it. She had great neighbours and it was located not too far from her workplace, Le Plaisir Du Palais, a restaurant, set up by her father and Kisaka, which she now half owned.
Her father, Uzumi Nara Attha had been a great man. He had adopted her when she had been 2, and had allowed her to live a very happy life next to him.
Sipping the last drops of coffee in her cup, she glanced at the clock hanging on her kitchen wall. It showed 8.15.
"I guess it's time to change" she mumbled, and then more loudly she continued, "Mr. Alex Dino, here I come!"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
That was the 27th time she was knocking on the door and there was still no answer. So, Cagalli was left standing in the hallway of that high class residential complex, silently wondering if that old man had some kind of hearing problems.
It was actually her second visit there, the first time being one of the moments in her life she couldn't possibly ever forget. It had been exactly two weeks after her father's death. Lacus had brought her there telling her that she wanted her to meet someone. Lacus; at that time she had only been a very close friend she had met years ago at the orphanage. Being told that she had been an orphan, Cagalli had taken the habit of going there at least once a week to make sure those without the chance of being adopted, still lead a happy life. Lacus had also been there to take care of those children benevolently, and their age difference, 7 years to be exact, had been no hindrance to her friendship with Cagalli, which did not even falter with their student-teacher relationship later on.
However, that friendship didn't change the fact that Cagalli had been pissed when she had realized that she had been brought there to meet Kira, someone she already knew.
"If this is some kind of prank you played to cheer me up, I'm sorry Lacus, but it didn't work," she had sighed and had been on her way to leave.
"Wait Cags! You know Kira as my soon to be husband, but the one I want you to meet is another Kira… your brother!"
She had been shocked but Kira had eventually explained everything.
After their parents' death, they had both been placed in an orphanage. Kira, aged 9 at that time, was soon adopted by the Yamato couple. Forced to leave her behind, he later succeeded in convincing his parents to adopt her too. Unfortunately, when they came back, she had already been adopted. However, Kira never gave up, spending all his time searching for his lost sister. He ultimately hired a detective who finally led him to her.
Cagalli had deeply been touched by Kira's determination to find her. Being 2 when she had been adopted, she held no memories from that time. She had even forgotten about having a brother. Though still hurt by her father's death, she had been relieved that at least she was not completely alone in the world. She had now found a brother and a sister-in-law. It had been impossible for her not to be happy.
Remembering how she had met her brother always brought a smile to her lips. Still, it was the wrong time to think about all this. Glancing at her watch, she noticed that it was already 10.30.
"I'll try once again. If no one answers, I'll just leave," she decided.
She was about to do what she had planned when the door suddenly half-opened.
"I don't need anything. Go away."
That was all she heard before noticing the door being closed right in her face. Thanks to her good reflexes, she had the time to place on of her feet in front of the door as she tried to push it open.
"Wait!" she said, sliding through the closing door. Panting, she was about to continue when she saw him. In front of her was a man sitting in wheelchair, with long hair and scruffy beard. Alex Dino? That could not possibly be him, well unless he had undergone plastic surgery which made him look 50 years younger. Scratching her head, she searched through her pocket for that small piece of paper. She couldn't have misread, right? 74! So, she had not misread. Then who could that man be?
It seems that they were sharing the same thoughts for the man finally asked her in a dark and icy tone, "Who are you?'
Looking at him, only one word came to Cagalli's mind: intimidating! His eyes, of a dark green colour were as cold as ice; piercing through her and making her lose all her self confidence. Still, she managed to extend her hand.
"Sorry for my intrusion Sir. My name is Cagalli Yula Attha. I think… um… I guess I'm here to see your dad…" she said, deciding that this man was definitely not the old Alex Dino but most probably his son.
He continued to stare at her with confusion written all over his face. Who was that girl and what was she doing here? Had she really not recognized him? At least he was relieved that it was not one of those crazy fan girls or paparazzi who had found his trail. Still, he couldn't trust her. What she had said just made no sense. His father? As far as he knew, the latter was on a business trip in England.
"Go away," he commanded without even shaking her hand.
"Wait! Could you at least let me talk to Mr. Alex Dino? I need to see him."
He froze on hearing this name. Alex Dino was his fake identity, a name he used when he wanted to stay incognito. How then could that girl he didn't even know, know about something like that? The only ones who knew were his trusted friends…
"I am Alex Dino," he decided to answer, as he waited to see her reaction.
She gasped. Alex Dino? He couldn't be!! Alex Dino was supposed to be 74, right? Maybe he had undergone plastic surgery after all. But that could not be possible. Even with plastic surgery it was impossible for him to look so young. Argh! Shaking her head, she made her mind to call Lacus, the only person who could clear things up…
"Wait for me, okay?" she said leaving the young man behind as she ran to the kitchen.
Dumbfounded, that was how Athrun was feeling right now. To think that only one hour ago, he had been in his room, silently depressing and then she had to come.
Believing that the one knocking at the door would finally give up and leave, he had decided not to answer, but then the door knocker had not looked like he was about to give up any soon. How he now regretted answering the door. That girl whoever she was sure had some nerve! He decided to follow her. In the end, she could be one of his crazy fan girls for all that he knew.
"You can't be serious! How could you mistake 23 with 74? You're just unbelievable Lacus!!"
The strange girl was having a heated argument over the phone when he entered the kitchen. So everything was Lacus's doing? He should have guessed it. Lacus was actually a pro in meddling in other people's lives, and that was about the only thing he disliked about her.
"What?! You didn't even tell him that I was supposed to come?" the blond girl was fuming when he snatched the phone out of her hand.
"Leave me," the coldness of his tone made her unable to retort. Nodding helplessly, she left the room.
"What is the meaning of all this Lacus?"
She waited patiently in the living room. Hopefully Lacus was explaining everything to him. To think that she had expected to see an invalid old man… Sigh! Embarrassed was not strong enough to describe how she was feeling. She had made a fool of herself in front of that man. Not that she would have actually cared, but still, if she was to spend one whole month taking care of him, she would have preferred his first impression of her to be a good one.
She was sulking when he finally came back. However he didn't seem to notice her. Making way to his room, he finally spoke in his usual tone, "Do what you have to do and go away."
She gulped. This was not going to be as easy as she had thought.
Here's the second chapter! Once again, I'm sorry if you think it was boring. Things will start to get interesting as from the next chapter, I promise. Anyway, thank you to those who've read the first chapter, and to those who've reviewed too :)
Strata-Assassin: i hope this chapter has cleared any doubts you had about their ages. Cagalli is 17, while Lacus and Kira are 24 and Athrun is 23 for now.
Hades.Throne.Heiress : thank you for the review :) here's an update for you!
Minatsuki: thank you! i hope you weren't disappointed by this chapter!
pinkberry: thanks once again:) Don't worry you'll get to know about this ungrateful woman soon enough! As for Lacus, I'm sorry if she's a bit OOC, but she has her reasons for acting like this... haha yeah, i'm sure Cagalli will end up being thankful for this assigment :P
dinah: I'm sorry if you waited for me to update! I've been kinda busy lately, else I would have updated earlier... Anyway, as for the rejection part, hmm wait and you'll see! In fact, I'm not too sure about it myself XD
Milisante: thank you:D
