News

When Athrun heard the news in the letter from his father the first thing he did was sit down on his bed and cry. He knew that if his father could see him, he would probably disown him right then and there, but Athrun didn't care. For the first time in his life, Athrun felt as though he had a home and even more, a family, and now he was being told to give it all up. How could he? He had finally found a friend like Kira only to lose him almost as quickly as he got him…

Birdie

When Athrun told Kira the news that he was leaving for the PLANTS, he could only watch helplessly as Kira began to cry. Athrun tried desperately to comfort his distraught friend but Athrun himself wasn't really in shape to comfort himself, let alone someone else. Finally, Athrun put his hand on Kira's shoulder and when his best friend looked up at him; Athrun pulled something out of his pocket and placed in Kira's hand. When Kira looked down the little robot stared up at him, cocked its head and asked, "Birdie?"

Lies

Athrun watched the sky everyday for transport ships, waiting for Kira to come and join in the PLANTS but he never came. When Athrun had agreed to come to the PLANTS and away from Kira, he had been under the impression that his best friend would soon follow. However, the days turned to months and still Kira had not shown up with that big smile on his face. Athrun waited and waited until one day he finally accepted the truth: Kira was never coming to the PLANTS. Athrun had seen the last of his best friend. They would never be reunited.

OK, everybody, from this point on, all of the snapshots take place during the war, in the anime timeframe. Therefore, it will all be in present tense. Well, go on, keep reading!

Dagger

The mission should have been simple without any complications. Go in, steal the mobile suits and come out. Easy. So how was it that Athrun Zala of ZAFT found himself holding a knife toward his old best friend, Kira Yamato? Athrun saw the horror, surprise, and fear in Kira's face as he slowly stood to face him. Athrun understood completely, those where actually the same feeling that where in his own heart. Standing there, facing his best friend while pointing a knife at him, Athrun did the only thing he felt he could. The ZAFT soldier disobeyed orders, turned and fled.

Blood

Kira lay on his bed thinking about the latest battle he had been a part of. He had killed a man. Killed him and there was nothing he could do to bring him back. A single tear crept out of his eye and slid down his cheek as he replayed the scene over and over in his mind. When would he be able to go back to his normal, peaceful life? How much more blood would he spill before this terrible war was all finally, finally, over?

Warmth

Athrun was lying in his bed, under three blankets staring up at the ceiling. It was strange to be in space and yet to be as warm as he was right now. He was in a small room and in a soft, warm bed. His body was so comfortable and yet his mind was filled with cold doubts. Would he really be able to shoot Kira down the next time he saw him? Athrun didn't think so. With a sigh, the prize ZAFT soldier rolled over and as he drifted off to sleep, Athrun Zala's mind focused on one statement: there was no warmth in war.

Cold

Kira lay on his bed, shivering and clutching his single blanket close to his body. The space ship he was on had just gone through another battle and know the temperature system was broken and it was freezing everywhere in the ship. As Kira twisted around on the bed, looking for any warmth at all, he began to wonder, is being dead as cold as this? Were all the people he had killed in a dark and cold place? Would he end up there for his sins? As Kira, thought of the lives he had stolen, he thought that just maybe, he deserved it.

Gundam

Kira stood in the docking bay, looking at his Gundam. It was shining from the resent cleaning it had gone through and looked very impressive. It didn't look that dangerous right now, but Kira knew there was only one purpose for a Gundam. It was a war machine and this particle Gundam was his war machine. Somehow, the Bloody Valentine war had sunk its claws into Kira and he knew that it was never going to let go. He would forever fight, in his very own death machine called the Gundam Strike.

Fear

Kira had never known real fear before the attack on Heliopolis. He had never been attacked before and had never needed to defend himself against anything more than your average bully. However, that had changed in the last few months. Fear was his constant companion now. It haunted his footsteps and his mind. Even though Kira hated being afraid all the time he also knew it was essential. Without fear of the enemy and fear for his friends, he would never be able to find the strength to fight.

Dream

More than once, Athrun had awakened in the middle of the night, sweat streaming down his face and gasping for breath. This only happened when he was the same recurring dream he had had ever since Kira had returned Lacus to him and refused to join ZAFT. In his dream, Athrun was fighting against Kira and in the end; Athrun would drive his sword into the middle of Kira's Gundam, killing his best friend. All though, Athrun knew that for now, this scene was only a dream, he began to wonder that if someday, his nightmare would become his horrible reality.