"It's okay Kira, I've got you. You're not alone, not ever," Athrun cooed soothingly while wiping the tears away from those baby-fat cheeks.

"Athrun?" the little boy questioned, surprised to have been found. Athrun smiled at him, leaning closer and nestling his nose into Kira's chocolate locks. He pulled Kira into his arms, puzzle-piecing their bodies as close as they could get. AthrunxKira (Asukira).

Pairing: AthrunxKira (Asukira).

Warning: This fic features a male x male/yaoi/homosexual relationship, violent battle scenes, and explicit language. Please note that it is rated M before proceeding.

Disclaimer: I own absolutely no rights to Mobile Suit Gundam Seed or any of its characters nor do I make any money off of this fanfiction.


Chapter Two: Enemy Ties

C.E. 71: April 9th, Orb Military Port, 19:00

"Kira?" Cagalli softly questioned the still frozen boy clinging to the fence. She reached out to comfort him, waking him out of his daze with a touch to his shoulder. Kira flinched away, crumpling to his knees. Heavy sobs wracked his body, as he clung to himself while huddled up against the fence.

"He's gone," Kira whispered, oblivious to his blonde witness. He buried his face between his knees, rocking himself as he cried. "He's gone again."

"Kira!" Cagalli didn't know what to do. Kira was falling apart in front of her. When she had found him on the upper deck of the Archangel, torturing himself over the death of Waltfeld, well, he had seemed like a mess at the time. Even then, she hadn't actually seen him crying. It looked like he may have been, but the only signs he gave away to hint at his tormented mind were a pair of reddened eyes and a far-off gaze.

This was something different. Whatever it was that had held Kira together long enough to get through all of the battles he had to fight, and to deal with the impossible decisions he had needed to make, that level-headed restraint was utterly gone now. It had shattered, leaving nothing but unbridled misery.

Cagalli crouched down next to him, wrapping him in her arms and hugging him to her chest.

"Please Kira, shhh it's going to be okay." She rocked with him, but he wasn't calming.

Kira threw himself into her arms, desperately seeking out comfort. Only, it wasn't her that he wanted. It was Athrun. It had always been Athrun, and yet he was alone. Kira needed the bluenette then so badly he felt like he might die without him.

"It's alright Kira, this is just a panic attack. It will pass, just breathe." She urged him with her own breathing exaggerated.

"It's going to be alright." She soothed him over and over, rubbing his back and helping him steady his heartrate.


C.E. 71: April 9th, Orb Military Port, 19:00

Athrun climbed deliriously into the back seat of the car his teammates were piled into.

"Finally, jeez. What were you even talking to those two about?" Dearka asked him in that ever sardonic tone of his.

Athrun didn't respond. His face was vacant as he stared out the window opposite the fence in the lot, thoughts still lost in a storm of emotions. His mind was burning with the soldered image of Kira's watery amethyst eyes desperate and begging him to stay.

Athrun could still vividly remember the long hours he had spent working on the bird at his dormitory desk. Past the synthetic fabric of the dorm curtains, he had been able to see a crack of light from outside, peeking through the overgrown limbs of a tree. The courtyard had been filled by wisteria trees with vines that climbed across the surface of the building.

While Athrun had worked on Birdy, the light from his window to the courtyard had been the only thing to indicate the many hours passing. All spent hoping that Kira liked Birdy. That he wouldn't cry when Athrun told him he was leaving because he didn't want to hurt him. But also wishing that he would cry, because if he didn't, Athrun knew there wouldn't be anything to keep himself from falling apart.

That was kind of like now. Kira was crying, so he didn't have to.

Athrun clenched his teeth, attempting to contain his staggering distress. He pulled thick walls around his heart to lock away his emotions, to stop feeling.

"What's with him?" Dearka jeered.

Nicol studied his teammate's expression, trying to decipher what he was thinking. But Athrun, who had been raised under the brutal hand of Patrick Zala, had long ago learned to keep his features carefully schooled, disregarding his internal torment. Nicol never really had any hope of figuring his solitary Commander out unless Athrun were to willingly let him in.


C.E. 71: April 9th, Orb Military Port, 20:00

It had taken some time, but Cagalli had managed to lead Kira back to a somewhat calm state. They sat on the tarmac outside the compound, which had now cooled under their skin after the sun had set. Neither was willing to go back to work just yet. Both slouched lazily against the fence staring at nothing.

"How are you feeling?" Cagalli whispered.

"Hmm, I'm ok," he reassured her, but his tone was so dark she couldn't quite believe him.

"Kira," she said his name with so much concern that he felt himself brimming with guilt.

"Why did you never mention…" Cagalli trailed off.

He sighed, knowing that he would have to answer eventually. "Because there was no option but to fight. I begged Athrun to stop over and over, but he never listened. I don't think he could. Talking about it...well, it was hard enough to fight him. I-I think I couldn't bear to make it any more real."

"Don't you think the others would want to know that they have been firing on your closest friend?"

Kira's expression descended into gloom. "If they were to hesitate to fire on Athrun, they would die. Athrun would shoot them down because they are Earth Forces soldiers, and they are his enemies."

With those words, Cagalli began to understand what Kira was thinking. He had been trying to protect the crew of the Archangel from the knowledge so that they wouldn't get themselves killed. But he had needed to keep the entire burden on himself in order to do that. Clearly, he had suffered from it. But there were still things which were not clear. Kira described Athrun as such a ruthless figure, and yet he had been so hysterical only a few moments ago when the other had left him.

"Why don't you hate him?"

Kira smiled sadly.

"Hate him? I just couldn't. Athrun believes he is doing the right thing. If he is cruel, it is because he thinks that is what he needs to do in order to protect the PLANT's."

"Hmm, when we were on the island he told me his mother was killed at Junius Seven…"

"Yes," Kira swallowed. Athrun had told him about his mother in one of their first battles. The news still ached. He had always thought of her as an aunt. Kira could still clearly picture the woman who looked so much like his friend.

Lenore had always been kind to him, and Kira had appreciated the softening effect she had on Athrun's father. Without her by his side, the elder Zala was truly terrifying. Kira wondered how much worse he must be now that Lenore was gone, and what Athrun might have needed to endure as a result. One of the earliest things Kira had ever respected Athrun for, was his ability to stand his ground under Patrick Zala's intimidating glare. But hadn't his friend followed his father's wishes and joined ZAFT?

"I can't imagine what he must be feeling," Cagalli pulled at the ends of her hair. "This whole thing is such a mess."

Kira could only nod dispassionately, feeling like someone had ripped out his heart and thrown it against the wall.


C.E. 71: April 10th, Outside ORB's Border, Gamow, 14:00

Nicol stepped out onto the deck, the sun was still relatively high in the sky, and the water was calm all around the ship. Spotting Athrun taking refuge on the deck staring pensively out at the ocean, Nicol jogged up to the other.

"Athrun! Hey, are we finished with the resupply yet?"

Nicol's Commander turned to him with an analytical gaze that felt far too seeing for the brandy-eyed boys comfort.

"All done," the bluenette confirmed.

Trying to distract from the intensity of Athrun's stare, Nicol tried a light-hearted subject. "We can see a school of flying fish just over there," he said pointing to the other side of the deck. "C'mon check it out," Nicol urged his superior.

"No thanks," he said peering back at the sea. Watching the waves had brought back unwanted memories, filling his heart with longing.


Athrun was curled up in his desk chair hunched over a textbook trying to finish reviewing the last chapter. Their dorm room was dimly lit with a few lamps, it had grown rather late but they still had a bit more studying to do. Kira, who was sprawled out on Athrun's bed, had become completely uncooperative. The boy had been fooling around for the past hour, seemingly having decided that he had studied enough for one night. The brunette had already abandoned his textbook altogether. Listening to Athrun read through a passage he had already memorized, he was nibbling on his pencil trying to see how far he could bend backward off of the lifted mattress without falling. His friend always forced them to study like this. Athrun was always so intent on perfection when it came to grades.

Kira balanced the pencil between his lips, reaching his fingers back to skim the carpet leisurely.

Athrun peeked up at him, and quickly looked away, having caught a glimpse of exposed tawny skin from where Kira's pajama shirt was riding up. The sight had stirred something in him that he needed to gulp down.

Finding his hands slightly shaky on his textbook, Athrun tried to carry on. "What is the cause of Earth's ocean tides?"

Kira plucked the pencil out from between his lips. "The pull of gravity from the moon causes a rise and fall in the sea level on Earth."

The azure haired boy cleared his throat, making an effort to focus. "That's correct."

Kira remained half hanging off the bed swaying his arms around the carpet. "Athrun, what do you think the floor of the ocean looks like?" he asked with genuine curiosity.

The bluenette paused, considering the question for a moment. "Hm, I think some parts are as deep as eleven kilometers."

"But, do you think it looks the same as the surface of the moon?"

Athrun realized he had no idea. His mind had hardly spared any thought to information that wasn't written explicitly in the textbook. His main concern had been memorizing everything which would be on his exams so he could stay at the top of the class. Kira never thought like that though. The violet-eyed boy was far more imaginative, always seeking to fill in information gaps not readily supplied. It was something he loved about his friend, his instinctive rebelliousness towards their regulated education. Kira always noticed things he didn't, always asked questions he would never have even thought of. Sure, Athrun could work through logical proofs and theorems in moments, but he would never obsess over why he needed to do the work, or what it would all mean once a problem was solved. One way or another, Kira invariably got caught up in such reflections.

"Athrun?"

The bluenette looked up at his friend, having gotten lost in his thoughts.

Kira had sat upright on the bed, tilting his head and pouting ever so slightly. "Can we go to sleep now?" They had been through all the material multiple times, both of them had memorized everything they would need to know. It seemed unnecessary to continue studying any longer.

The larger boy nodded, closing his textbook and resting it on his desktop. Kira scooted over in Athrun's bed to create some room for his companion. He liked this bed more than his own. It may sound strange, but just knowing that it belonged to the other made it special somehow. The way it smelled made him feel cozy and so he always woke up well rested whenever he shared the bed with Athrun.

The bluenette tucked them under his blankets, huddling around his friend's bundled form.


Athrun yanked himself out of his meditation. No! his mind blared. He wouldn't think of him anymore. He needed to seal off that part of his heart if he was going to survive.

"What is it, is something wrong?" Nicol had noticed the serious atmosphere hanging around the bluenette now. Nicol wondered what could be spinning through that head. What had been torturing his Commander so much lately?

"Hn," he breathed in response, mildly surprised at Nicol's concern for him and unsure of what to say. So much time had passed since someone had worried about how he was feeling. The azure haired boy wondered if he deserved such concerns.

"Everything will be fine," Nicol assured, recapturing Athrun's attention. "I believe in you Athrun. Oops! I should have said Commander Zala," Nicol's eyes sparkled as he teased making Athrun smile.

There was something so youthfully honest about Nicol that made it difficult for Athrun to remain guarded.

With the sun setting a little lower in the sky, they drifted into a comfortable silence watching the ocean.

The sea was ebbing around them. Athrun felt the beginnings of serenity wash over him. It had been a very long time since he had enjoyed any peace of mind, and with everything that had happened, it almost didn't feel right to have it now.

Like he didn't deserve it.

"Why did you volunteer for the military, Nicol?" Athrun asked what he had been wondering for some time. The brandy-eyed soldier was so soft, it just made no sense to see him in a red coat.

"Hn?" Nicol was surprised at the question.

"Oh, I beg your pardon. It's none of my business," Athrun apologized having forgotten not to ask for personal information from his fellow soldiers. He should have known that Nicol would take offense to him prying.

"It's okay." Nicol didn't mind sharing. Athrun wasn't like the others. There was something more thoughtful and considerate about him. Sure, Nicol could see that the bluenette had rage. They all did. He really couldn't blame him for that. But, unlike Athrun, so many of the other soldiers were bloodthirsty. As if they wanted to wipe out every Natural on Earth, and even though Nicol could see why they may feel that way, the thought truly scared him.

"I guess, I felt that I should do my part and join the fight after I heard about Junius Seven." It was the truth. He had felt the need to take some responsibility for the safety of his homeland. The PLANT's couldn't allow another genocide to ever occur again, and Nicol had felt an obligation to help. "And you?"

"The very same reason Nicol," Athrun said looking Nicol in the eyes for the first time in nearly a week.

The green haired boy smiled wistfully at his Commander. Athrun was always such a mystery. It was so difficult to decode what was on his mind.

Lately, something had definitely been going on, but Nicol had no idea what. Despite all his training and undeniable skill Athrun had been clearly holding back in their recent battles. His demeanor had been growing darker and darker as well. Then, the other day by the hangars in ORB, something about Athrun's encounter with that stranger had shaken him. Nicol only wished he knew what it was so that he could help him. If only Athrun would talk to him about it.


C.E. 71: April 10th, ORB Military Port, Archangel, 15:00

Kira wandered through the halls of the Archangel, heading to his room. He wanted to grab some shut eye before they left ORB. He knew they would have to go straight into battle. Athrun had seen him, and so he would assemble his soldiers on the border. Kira needed to be rested before that happened.

"Hey, kid!" Mwu flagged Kira down. "Head out to the upper deck, Captain's orders!"

"Hn, why?" Kira drawled. What is it now?

"Don't ask me," Mwu threw up his hands, walking the other way.

The moment Kira stepped out onto the deck he heard Cagalli shouting his name.

He saw her running towards the Archangel from the port bridge, in her full military garb, golden hair blowing around her face as she raced towards him. The sky loomed over him, strangely bright and in conflict with his mood.

"Cagalli, what are you doing?" Kira asked, his voice revealing the true extent of his surprise.

Birdy flapped its wings next to his head, seemingly mimicking his surprise with a call of, "Birdy!"

"Wait, your parents are here. They're right up there, look!" She pointed at the military building opposite the port.

"Huh?" Kira jerked his neck toward the large windows. It was a bit difficult to see through the glass, a great deal of sunlight was reflected back at him, but if he looked closely he could make out their familiar forms. There stood his parents amongst Chief Representative Athha, Miss Simmons, and Colonel Kisaka. His mom had her hand on the glass of the window looking as if she had been calling out to him, and his father was waving at him with a sad smile.

The scene struck Kira with guilt, and with his face revealing his troubled mind his parents noticed the change in their son. Caridad looked as if she had let out a cry shielding her eyes from Kira's view. His father simply continued smiling at him, giving him a reassuring nod.

Seeing both of them like this had not been the plan.

"Why…" Cagalli tried to catch her breath as she emerged from the deck staircase. She straightened up. "Why won't you see them?"

Kira did not respond.

"Say something, Kira!"

"L-look, could you tell them 'sorry, but not now'...for me? Please."

She just looked at him baffled, questions written all over her face. Was he trying to shut her out again? Hadn't he learned his lesson yet?

Kira tried to hold back the swell of emotion bursting in his chest. With a quavering voice, he made an effort to answer her, "I don't think...right now is..." his voice stiffened with repressed tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.

She noticed the change in his demeanor. "Okay," she assured him. Her friend had once again come to the brink of misery right before her. Kira seemed so frail like he might crumble into nothing if he had to endure anything else.

The violet-eyed boy nodded fighting to regain control of himself and began to exit the deck. "Take care of yourself Cagalli, and thanks for everything," he added softly, silently praying that it wouldn't be long before he would see her again. Kira wasn't sure exactly how to explain it, but Cagalli had become greatly important to him. The lioness had offered him compassion and friendship, expecting nothing in return. She made him feel like he was tied to something rather than some nameless soldier who would die and be forgotten. Cagalli reminded him that he was a whole person, and she had accepted the weakness he had shown.

"Kira!" Cagalli cried out, unwilling to let him just walk away from her.

He turned around at her outburst just in time to catch her as she threw herself into his arms. "Wha!"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, squeezing against him. "Listen, don't get killed?"

Kira smiled, heart warming at the clear concern in her voice. "Don't you worry. Nothing's gonna happen to me."

She pulled away a bit so that she could examine the expression in his eyes. Hesitantly she started, "I-I think you should tell Flay about Athrun."

The brunette just shook his head, mouth pursed. "No, I don't think so."

"Kira, you can't keep handling everything all on your own! It's too much for one person. You have to let someone in!" He's so frustrating. Kira is always trying to play the hero by taking everything on himself, but just look at him! This is obviously killing him, she was afraid to leave him alone with no one to help him carry his burdens. Flay certainly wasn't her favorite person, but Kira had chosen to be with her. She might be able to help if he were willing to open up to the red-head.

Kira looked steadily at her, he really couldn't deny anything she had said. "Maybe you're right, but I ended it with Flay."

It took a moment for his words to process in her mind. They came at her so unexpectedly, she wasn't sure she had really heard them. "You what?" Cagalli exclaimed releasing his neck.

Kira combed his fingers through his chocolate tresses with a sigh. "We should never have started anything. I told her it was a mistake," he said as if the whole matter was simple.

Cagalli spluttered at his laid back behavior before giving up with a loud exhalation. "I bet she didn't like that," she scoffed, her mind still spinning from the absurdity of everything happening around the brunette.

Kira's grimaced remembering Flay's wild tear-strewn face. "No..she didn't. But...I don't think I really loved her, nor did she love me." It was the only explanation he could offer her.

Cagalli nodded and tried to show her understanding. "I never liked her anyway," she said with a sad grin.

The brunette laughed with her. Being with Cagalli, and seeing the easy way she dealt with everything filled his chest with relief. An honest chuckle at the absolute ridiculousness of life erupted from his belly.

That priceless sound, Cagalli thought, it is glorious.

He squeezed her one last time thanking the stars for having met a friend like her.


C.E. 71: April 10th, Exiting ORB Waters, Archangel, 17:00

Murdoch spotted Kira calmly walking over to the Strike already dressed completely in his flight suit and helmet.

Kira had barely rested, unable to make his mind slow down his racing thoughts. His head kept replaying the look of betrayed in Athrun's fiery eyes. A dull headache had built up behind his eyes, his stomach felt soupy, all the anxiety in his chest had filled it with bile. The sensation left him queasy, wanting to retch, but having nothing in his stomach to empty.

The Archangel had started moving, it was only moments now before they would be fighting for their lives again.

"How come you're all dressed up kid?" Murdoch called out across the hanger. "We haven't received any orders yet."

Kira didn't bother looking up at the man. "As soon as we cross the border ZAFT will attack us," he said in a level voice.

"Hnn?" The kid's certainty confused Murdoch. The Captain had told him that a ZAFT engagement was very unlikely considering all of the diplomatic conversations which had taken place after the Archangel had been secretly let into ORB.

Kira paid him no regard and brushed past him climbing into the cockpit of the Strike.

Moments later the ship's intercom announced, "All crew must prepare for undersea and air battle."

"What!" Murdoch shouted in surprise. What the hell, does the kid have telepathy?

Kira mumbled to himself as he typed at his mobile suit's keyboard, "Connecting power conduits, auxiliary power online. The Strike is standing by and ready."

"Okay Strike, you're clear to head out," Miriallia's clear voice rang out over his comm.

Kira prepared himself mentally for the onset of battle as he engaged the Gundam's phase shift armor and launched.

Tolle would be entering this battle as well. He was just meant to provide air support for the Strike, but the thought of Tolle out in the fray made him nervous. He would have to keep a close eye on the boy.

Athrun, am I going to have to fight you again?

Kira's hands laid ready over his keyboard, although he was thinking about the warm light ebbing off of the sun as it receded into the distance down the horizon, and the smell of freshly bloomed cherry blossoms permeating the air. The Strike smelled like diesel, still, Kira's mind could effortlessly conjure every detail of the last time they were truly together.


Pink petals were dancing in the late spring wind, the faint rustle of grass, and the almost imperceptible sigh of blossoms opening. Kira gazed at his best friend through eyes brimming with tears.

"The PLANT's and Earth will see eye to eye. There will be no war." Athrun was trying to reassure him, catching a shimmering tear as it skimmed down his best friend's chubby cheek. Only, the war wasn't the reason for Kira's tears. Athrun was leaving him. His family was moving away because his father had an important role to play in foreign policy between the two nations. Athrun, who felt like the other half of his heart, the piece needed to make it whole, was leaving him.

"The evacuation doesn't mean a thing," Athrun continued trying to console him. He opened his palms and something flew out to land in Kira's hands. He looked at it in wonder, as his emerald-eyed friend smiled at his reaction.

The bird chirped its own name at him in a sound which the smaller boy would forever associate with his closest friend.


Kira closed his eyes for a moment, his mind having run over that one melancholy memory for the thousandth time. He wanted so badly to feel that same wind, to have his senses filled with cherry blossoms, even if it meant saying goodbye once more. He would bear it. This right now, having to fight Athrun, was far worse than any amount of goodbyes.

Was Athrun going to try and kill him? Kira wasn't sure if that was something which he could truly make himself believe. How could the one person whom he trusted beyond all others, and had always represented complete safety to him, possibly be his enemy? But there he was, mounted on a Guul, flying towards him with the Blitz, Duel, and Buster at his flanks. His enemy.

Forcing himself to let go of every thought that was not keeping everyone aboard the Archangel alive, Kira surged forwards with a battle cry.

He was vastly outnumbered. Knowing his best chance in this fight would be to separate the machines, Kira activated his high-energy beam rifle. He plowed the Strike into the Buster knocking the machine off of its Guul, effectively making his compound gun useless for the air battle. Then, Kira shot at the Duel's blaster causing a refractory explosion as it took out his Guul as well. The Aegis and Blitz scattered just in time to get away from any further attacks.


"Holy shit! Where did the E.A. find this guy?" Nicol shouted out one of his rarely uttered curses watching in amazement as the Strike dominated the sky.

Athrun honestly couldn't blame him because he had been thinking the same thing. Where exactly had Kira learned to fight this well? Violence was completely out of his nature.

"Strike stand by to convert to Aile mode," Mirialia's voice sang out. Having used up the charge of the beam rifle Kira needed to change gears to take on the Blitz and the Aegis.

Kira positioned his mobile suit to leap into the air towards the coordinates where Commander La Flaga dropped the Aile Striker pack and attached the wings. The pack would improve his air battle capabilities, though it would not be enough for true flight. Still, he was grateful for the enhancement.

"He just changed his equipment in mid-air," Nicol noted over the comm system in complete astonishment.

Athrun too was shocked at the battle fortitude his friend had been showing. He still couldn't understand how someone who had always hated any form of confrontation and received no special training could possibly operate the Strike effectively, let alone displaying the sheer mastery that Kira was.

Taking off out of the Archangel's vicinity Kira charged for the Blitz, but it managed to dodge the initial contact.

Tolle watched anxiously as he saw the fight unravel into a desperate brawl. The Strike was clearly struggling to hold back both the Blitz and the Aegis.

Diving in, the Skygrasper entered the battle, launching a missile at the Blitz. The shot connected. It caused an explosion by the mobile suit's head and knocked the entire machine off kilter.

"Damn!" Nicol cursed, his body tossed about in his cockpit. He felt something cut his shoulder. That machine just won't go down, he thought while gritting his teeth.

"Ahhh, bastard!" Nicol shouted pounding commands into his Gundam's computer and lunging for the Skygrasper.

"No, Tolle!" Kira caught the machine in time, slicing off its left arm making it impossible for it to fire on Tolle, and heaving the Blitz off its Guul by sheer force of impact. The Gundam fell into the ocean below with Nicol screaming in mixed fear and pain.

"Kira, you did it!" Tolle cried over the comms unit. Kira secured the Strike into the Blitz's forfeited Guul and rocketed towards Athrun.

"Fuck!" Athrun growled to himself slamming his fists against the wall of his cockpit. Why did it have to be this way? Why was Kira fighting him so hard?

As he locked onto the Strike, he flew his Guul closer so that he could engage in close combat. Kira reacted quickly, blasting Athrun's Guul with his own.

Athrun leaped off the sub flight system allowing it to crash directly into the one Kira had seized, forcing the Strike to also abandon the attachment. Both Guuls exploded upon impact with one another.

Athrun converted his Aegis into its mobile armor form, shooting his Scylla energy cannon directly at the Strike. Kira dodged, retreating back to the Archangel so that they could cover him with fire from the Gottfried cannons.

The Skygrasper appeared in the Strikes camera. "Kira, I'm sending the sword over to you."

"Thanks, Tolle!" Kira caught the sword in a swift movement, steeling himself against the onslaught of emotions coming up. He had to fight, he had no other choice. If he didn't, everyone on the Archangel could die.


C.E. 71: April 10th, Outside ORB's Borders, 20:00

Athrun had been forced to land on a small island near the battle. Without his Guul, he couldn't stay airborne long. His control monitor blinked a battery warning at him, but there was no time to retreat. The Strike was coming at him from above with a sword attachment readied for an attack.

"Athrun!" Kira shouted. He connected with the red machine.

An explosion separated them momentarily, forcefully throwing Kira's head back into his seat. The dizzying momentum made him hurl, stomach convulsing in a gag, without anything to spit up.

Moving through the dust that had been kicked up from the bedrock beneath them Athrun took a swing at the other machine.

"Retreat already!" Kira cried. "This battle is over," he moaned through another set of dry heaves.

"Shut up," Athrun growled back at him.

"Athrun, stop! I don't want to fight you anymore," he begged.

Athrun swung at him with his beam saber. Kira leaped into the air aiming his sword at the shoulder joint of the Aegis.

"It's too late, c'mon and shoot me!" he cried out, thrusting his beam saber at the Strike, barraging it in attacks.

Kira twisted the Gundam away from the attack, hurling the weight of the Strike forward, he punched the Aegis in the face driving it back. It propelled towards the ground, crashing into the rock. Its phase shift armor faded off as Kira readied his blade to thrust.

"Athrun, get out!" Nicol's voice shouted in his speaker. He watched in horror as the Blitz, which had somehow survived its fall into the ocean, appeared charging at the Strike with its lancer dart. If he made contact, that weapon would surely penetrate the Strikes armor detonating upon impact.

It took a moment for Kira to recognize what was happening. The pilot was trying to sacrifice himself to save Athrun. The thought rang in his mind as he moved to defend himself. This pilot, a soldier who could not possibly care for Athrun as much as he did, was willing to die for him. What was he doing fighting his emerald-eyed friend? Where was his loyalty?

Athrun felt helpless watching them fight, his machine nearly scraps of metal with all of the fire it had taken, and now almost useless with its armor down.

"Ensign Yamato, come back towards the ship!" The Lieutenant commanded knowing that he couldn't possibly have much battery left. He had taken the fight dangerously far away and his suit would likely die very soon. His engine was overheating now as well.

Athrun's heart pounded in his ears. He couldn't let Nicol die, not in front of his eyes, when he could have done something. Something shattered in his mind, the world became suddenly clear. Athrun gathered his machine, pulling it out of the rubble. Activating his beam saber once more he propelled himself towards the red and blue machine.

Kira turned towards the Blitz, managing to lurch the Strike to a squatted position, reaching out to slash at the Gundam, but Athrun managed to connect with the Strike's lurch just in time. He threw Kira's blow off kilter so that it cut through the legs of the Blitz rather than the cockpit where it had been aimed. Sparks flew around the stumps, the Blitz was rendered immobile.

Athrun twisted his stance, guarding the downed machine. He hurled himself at the Strike and Kira met his thrust with his sword. For a moment they stood equally matched. Then, a rain of fire landed on Kira from behind as his armor flickered off. He was now completely vulnerable. The Duel and Buster had managed to find them.

Commander La Flaga shouted over the comms as the machines closed in. Kira was become badly outnumbered and the Strike had taken way too much fire. A flash of red flames flew towards the Skygrasper. It swerved in the sky, and for a second Kira thought he would dodge it, but the flames caught on the small planes left wing. It lost its balance, rocketing through the air. With its last moment airborne, the Skygrasper bombarded the Buster with its machine gun, forcing the Gundam into the Gottfried's line of fire. The high-energy beam tore through the Buster's shoulder nearly hitting his cockpit. The only remaining anti-ship missile was launched at the machine before the plane nearly nosedived into a crash landing on the Archangel's flight deck.

The Buster had been downed. It catapulted towards the ground crashing on another small island close to Athrun. And just as the Archangel's Igelstellungs locked onto it, the head of a blond youth rose out of the hatch, arms raised in surrender.


C.E. 71: April 10th, Outside ORB's Borders, 22:00

"Surrender!" Athrun demanded as he and the Duel surrounded Kira. He silently willed Kira to put down his arms and submit to him. Athrun desperately needed him to stop fighting he couldn't bear to continue engaging the other in battle.

"No, I won't let you kill them!" Kira cried back in mad fury racing towards the badly damaged machine.

"Back off!" Yzak yelled firing his grenade launcher at the Strike. The blows landed exploding all around the head and shoulders of the Gundam. Kira was thrown into his monitor, head cracking against his helmet before being twisted and thrown again into the side of the cockpit. He tried to buffer the impact with his arms, but the shock of the crash split his left forearm. Kira screamed from the pain, feeling the bone poking at the top of the skin. Blood was running down his face stinging his eyes and making it hard to see.

"Kira!" a call came from over the comms system.

"Tolle!" Kira called back in panic. "Tolle, get out of here! Get back to the Archangel!" The small blue plane didn't heed his command. Instead, he began unloading anti-ship missiles on the Duel. Looping in the air, Tolle prepared to make another pass, swinging in low with the machine gun. Seeing the plane come in close, Athrun detached his shield from where it was mounted on his left forearm, he aimed it at the plane and hurled it at the cockpit.

The red shield met its target, crashing through the bulletproof glass of the cockpit, spearing through the small plane. In seconds the Skygrasper was consumed with flames and it ignited the sky in red.

"Tolle, no!" Kira screamed. Tears fell as he gasped for breath, mind erupted in anguish. His eyes were flooded with the image of fire flickering across the sky.

The plane had been obliterated. Tolle was dead. Survival would have been impossible.

They were all going to die, and it was all his fault. He had failed them. Kira's body shook with painful wheezing breaths.

The Aegis was racing towards him again, tearing at his machine and ripping off one of the Strikes arms. Kira banked hard to the left, wrenching the Gundam away from the red mobile suit. The Duel was approaching too, shooting its beam rifle directly at him.

"I've gotcha," Yzak called. Kira tried to evade, finding himself hard pressed to do anything accept throwing up his shield.

"Damnit!" Kira cried. He tried to swing his sword at the blue and white machine but did not land a hit. Before the Duel could move to make a deathly blow. Athrun cut in slicing off the Strikes other arm and dragging his beam saber across the feat.

Kira screamed as he prepared himself to die.

But the blow did not come.

"Athrun, what the fuck you doing," Yzak demanded. The bluenette ignored him and stood in front of the machine protectively. Switching through his radio channels for a publicly shared line. "Goddamit you coward, not this again!" Yzak blared. Every time they had a chance to destroy this Gundam, Athrun had gotten in their way.

"Shut up!" the bluenette snarled back at the other.

"Pilot of the Strike, exit the cockpit now and you will live!" Athrun ordered. Kira's mobile suit had been completely disabled, stripping him of all his options except suicide. Athrun could only pray that Kira wouldn't self-destruct.

Nothing happened for a minute. Athrun blared his message again. "Exit the Strike now and you will live!"

The hatch opened releasing a cloud of steam. A mangled body in a blue and white flight suit with a blood spattered helmet crawled out. It looked like the engine had overheated. The temperatures in the cockpit must have been unbearable.

Athrun felt his stomach turn upon the sight of Kira's battered form. Once out of his formidable Gundam the boy seemed frail, so small and similar to the friend from all his memories, the one he had sworn to look after.

Kira! his mind blared. What had he done?

Kira rolled himself over the glowing surface of the Strikes torso, falling into a heap and with a tortured moan he hit the rocky ground. Curling up on his side holding a deformed looking arm soaked in blood close to his chest.

Athrun's heart stopped. Had he done this to Kira? Was he to blame for his dangerously wounded state of his friend? He raced towards Kira not registering Yzak's warning for him to be cautious.

"Kira!" it was all his mind could process. Caution be damned, Kira was hurt really bad. He needed to do something. He needed to fix it.

Yzak stood frozen in his spot completely bewildered at his Commander's behavior. Had he just called the name of the pilot? How could he possibly know it? Nothing was making any sense.

Reaching the smaller boy Athrun knelt next to him trying to get his attention. "Kira?" he asked again, this time softer with a distinct note of terror in his voice. He reached out hesitantly to touch the boy's good shoulder. There was no response. He turned Kira over and his head twisted unnaturally, helmet too heavy to move with the rest of his form. Athrun gasped, heart nearly stopping. There were cracks in the glass, and it was coated in blood. He yanked the thing off of Kira's head, while tenderly supporting the boy's neck so that it wouldn't be injured further. The boy's eyes were closed, lashes curling far too beautifully for the painful expression frozen on his face, he was unconscious.

"Call for a stretcher!" Athrun yelled, voice clearly laced with hysteria.

Yzak just stared at the scene completely flummoxed and quiet for once. He had never heard Zala shout like that before. Athrun was usually so reserved and calculative. What the hell was going on?

"Now!" Athrun ordered in a mad frenzy.

The tone jerked Yzak to action. He moved back into his machine, zip lining into the cockpit so that he could send out the appropriate requests to their ship.

Athrun half laid, half crouched with Kira's body, cradling the small boys head in his lap. A storm of emotion was surging through him. Kira's frame seemed frail and close to death. The thought struck terror into his heart. If Kira died...that would be it. How could he live in a world absent of the uncomplicated brightness from the small brunette in his arms?

Kira...


A/N: Second chapter out! Several important plot shifts happened in this chapter, so this was a really exciting portion for me to write. I needed to do a bit of research on the Mobile Suit and weapon details. Hopefully, the battle scene I have here shows some intimate knowledge of the Gundams. Things are going to be changing quite a bit from here on out. Remember the canon diversion into a parallel plot thing I was talking about? Well, this is it.

My chapter three is all written up. I am beta-ing it right now so that I can make it as good as possible for you all. You should be seeing that in approximately two-three weeks.

Any feedback on this chapter is completely welcome.