This is an AU Drama/Romance/Mystery/Suspense Fic with some humor here and there.
Rated T: for Violence,
I don't own Gundam SEED or Destiny. (If I did I wouldn't be on this website)
Pairings: AthrunxCagalli, Past KiraxLacus, there are more but I don't want to spoil any surprises.
Review Replies
To-Dragon Reverb. I'm sorry but I can't tell you who was on the phone, but you will get a hint in this chapter. Thanks for the review.
To-Milisante. I suppose Athrun's house is a little strange, I wish my house was that big, okay maybe not, I would probably get lost in the house LOL. I'm sorry I can't tell you if you were close or not. Thanks for the review, and telling me your theory.
To-AsuCaga01. Thanks, for the compliment.
To-Kouhaixsempai. I glad you like it, And I will try to update as soon as possible.
To-Yuki. That upsets me so much, I went through chapter two 3 times, I need to review it more. Thanks for telling me.
To-cagallirockz. I hope you like the Athrun and Cagalli scene in this Chapter. Thanks for the review.
To-pinkberry. Wow, you must have high standings when it comes to plot. And I was just wondering if instead of hunted, you meant hundred. I was just wondering since to me that makes more sense. Maybe his name has something to do with the story maybe not. I'M NOT TELLING. Stella, or Stellar, it depends on where you live what her name is. Where I live her name is Stella, so that is how I going to address her. Wow, I glad my story brings out emotions like those, I shall have to have a lot of scenes that draw those out. I don't believe that it was that short of a chapter, I have seen people who update with like 600 words per chapter, now those are short. Thank you agreeing not to use profanity in your reviews, well at least for my story. Thanks for the review pinkbery.
To-asucags4ever. I would have to agree with you that Cagalli seems too young to be a secretary to the president, and that is something that would never happen in real life. What man do you mean? Knight or the president. If you are talking about the president don't even think about who he is, because he is not going to be mentioned again. But if you mean Knight he owns the bakery, and I never gave any indication that he wanted Cagalli. Or maybe you were talking about who was on the phone with Knight. Which is another matter altogether, but I will tell you one thing, that the person on the other end of the phone conversation is male.
Wow eight reviews I'm happy!
I would like to point out that it seems quite a few of you guys jumped to the conclusion that the girl mentioned in the phone conversation was about Cagalli. I would just like to know where that came from. I gave no clear point who the girl was, that they were talking about. But maybe that is why you jumped to that conclusion. And I know this is mean, but I'm not going to tell you who it was they were talking about; sorry.
A small guide to my writing style
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
/ Flashback/
/ Dream /
Something one of the characters is reading, or writing.
Scene Change
Save Me
Chapter Three
The Tape
Cagalli drove back to Athrun's place and found Elek, Athrun, and Athrun's friends playing baseball in the grass by Athrun's house. Cagalli walked over and watched Nicol lightly throw a plastic ball towards Elek. Elek swung the plastic bat, he was holding, and the baseball went flying far in center field. Elek then began to run around the bases. He passed first base, then second, and then third. Elek then turned around and headed towards Athrun's house.
"Elek where are you going" Athrun asked?
"Home" Elek replied as he started to run faster.
"Why" Athrun asked as he ran after Elek.
"Because you said after I run around the bases I run home, then we score a point" Elek replied.
"No, not my house, home base, the base where you hit the ball with the bat" Athrun explained.
Elek then stopped running "Oh," he replied, "I don't think I want to play baseball anymore."
Athrun heard soft chuckling in the distance. He looked up to see Cagalli laughing. "You try explaining a complicated game like baseball to a little kid" Athrun told Cagalli.
That just made Cagalli laugh more. She then walked over to Elek, "Say thank you to Athrun and his friends for playing with you" she told the little boy.
Elek nodded and walked over to the group of players.
"Thank Mr. Nicol" Elek said to Nicol.
"It was no problem, it was fun" Nicol replied.
"Thank you Mr. Yzak" Elek said to Yzak.
"Whatever" Yzak replied.
"Thank you Mr. Dearka" Elek said to Dearka
"Hey, no problem kid" Dearka replied.
"Thank you Mr. Asuka" Elek said to Shinn.
"It was no trouble" Shinn replied.
"Thank you Mr. Athrun" Elek said to Athrun.
"Just Athrun will be fine, you don't need to add the Mr." Athrun told Elek. "And I'm sorry I didn't explain the game well enough."
Elek nodded then he began walking inside with Cagalli.
"Hey Elek why do you call Shinn, Mr. Asuka?" Cagalli asked.
"Because that is his name" Elek replied.
"So Asuka is his last name?" Cagalli asked.
"I guess" Elek replied.
"Did he tell you to call him that?" Cagalli asked.
"No, I just do" Elek replied.
After a short dinner Athrun's friends left. Cagalli found out that Athrun's friends weren't bad and that they were pretty nice. Cagalli then sent Elek to bed, then she sat down with the papers and began to fill them out.
"These questions are so stupid" Cagalli screamed for the sixth time.
"What questions" Athrun asked from his chair in the corner of the room.
Cagalli was briefly taken back; she had forgotten that Athrun was even in the room.
"Just these dumb ones" Cagalli snorted.
She heard Athrun get up from his chair, but she paid no attention to it.
"A job application" Athrun questioned. "I thought you worked as a secretary?"
"Long story" Cagalli replied.
"Care to tell me about it" Athrun said.
"Yes I do care" Cagalli snapped. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap. It is just I'm so frustrated. With everything going on, first I learn about Elek, then Kira dies leaving me to take care of Elek, and then I lose my job."
"Relax everything will be okay, everything happens for a reason" Athrun soothed.
"Yeah you are probably right, I just need to calm down" Cagalli replied.
"There is no need getting upset over things that are beyond your control. It is best to just calm down and try your best at things you have control over" Athrun soothed.
"You know you are right Athrun" Cagalli replied, "Thanks."
"I'm going to go to bed, goodnight Cagalli" Athrun told Cagalli.
"Yeah goodnight" Cagalli replied.
Cagalli heard Athrun walked away, and out of room. She then went back to working on the application.
Cagalli looked at the bakery, and took a deep breath then she proceeded forward. She walked up to the glass door and opened it. She then walked inside. And soft smack was heard when Cagalli opened the door. Cagalli looked behind the door to see that she had knocked over a ten year old boy. The ten year old boy had spiky white hair, and he had freighting green eyes.
"I'm sorry" Cagalli apologized as she held her hand out toward the boy.
"Watch where you are going" the boy snapped as he slapped away Cagalli's hand. "Dumb blonde" the boy snapped as he got up.
"Hey, why you little brat" Cagalli yelled back.
"Don't call me little you half brained peon" the boy yelled.
"Why you" Cagalli fumed.
"Is that the best you menial brain could come up with" the boy smirked as he crossed his arms.
"I'm not low social status" Cagalli growled.
"Could of fooled me with those rags you call clothes" the boy said as he nodded his head to make a point.
Cagalli was about to pound this kid into next Thursday if it weren't for another voice interrupting them.
"Clem stop harassing this girl" Knight told the boy.
"Hey she started it, because she wasn't watching where she was going" Clem replied.
"I said I was sorry" Cagalli snapped.
"A monotone response showing no real sign of regret" Clem replied.
"I don't need to stand here and be insulted" Cagalli grumbled.
"You just figured that out now, and I thought it would have taken you about a few minutes longer" Clem sneered.
"Why you" Cagalli screamed.
"Please that's it, what grade are you in third" Clem chuckled.
"No, then I would be in the same class as you" Cagalli snapped.
"I would already have graduated from collage if I didn't at least have to take a full year of high school" Clem snapped.
"Sure, sure think what you want shorty" Cagalli replied.
"Okay break it up you two" Knight told both Cagalli, and Clem.
"Here you go, I filled it out just like you wanted" Cagalli said as she handed Knight the papers.
"What do you think Clem should I hire her" Knight asked as he looked over the papers.
'What he is going to let that brat decide' Cagalli panicked.
"You are going to let the kid decide" Cagalli blurted out.
"Well he does do the financial stuff for me" Knight replied.
"No," Clem curtly replied."She is not friendly enough."
"Yeah, that coming from Mr. Rude" Cagalli snapped.
"See, she can't say anything nicely" Clem replied.
"Neither can you" Knight laughed.
"But I don't work with anybody that I need to be friendly with" Clem informed.
'This kid is going to ruin all my hard work and my only chance' Cagalli panicked.
"Clem I would have to disagree with you, I think Cagalli would make a great employee" Knight stated.
"Whatever" Clem replied as he walked towards the back of the bakery. "He won't like this" Clem whispered to Knight as he walked by him.
"Cagalli you are hired" Knight told her.
"That's it you are not even going to look at the papers" Cagalli said shocked.
"There is no need to" Knight replied.
'I spent an hour working on those papers, and now he tells me that there is no need for them' Cagalli groaned.
A soft bell rang and the glass door opened.
"Right on time" Knight said as he saw who had walked in. "You can show our new employee around."
Cagalli turned around and saw a person she didn't expect to see.
"Miriallia" Cagalli shouted.
"Cagalli" Miriallia screamed, "I haven't seen you since Kira's funeral, how have you been."
A soft scoff was heard in the background. "Hey Clem" Miriallia greeted.
"Wretch" Clem coldly replied.
"Why does he call you that" Cagalli whispered.
"Because she is an irritating annoyance" Clem responded. "And it is not right to talk about someone behind their back, dumb blonde."
"I guess Clem already gave you a nickname" Miriallia giggled.
"Wretch" Clem whispered in annoyance.
"Clem I have to talk to you" Knight told him, then they both walked into the back of the bakery.
"Good, that brat could use a stern talking" Cagalli announced.
"I don't think that is what is happening" Miriallia told her friend.
"Why is that brat here anyway" Cagalli said in annoyance.
"Clem, he is a close friend of Knight's" Miriallia explained. "Clem and his guardian are Knight's two best customers."
"I pity his guardian, Clem is so rude" Cagalli exclaimed.
"Clem is at least opening up, in one way" Miriallia replied.
"What" Cagalli asked?
"He used to keep to himself, and not say a word" Miriallia explained. "Then he got the guardian he has now, and then he started to open up."
"That guardian must have a lot of patience" Cagalli stated.
"I don't know I never met any of Clem's guardians" Miriallia replied.
"This is going to be annoying" Cagalli announced.
"Working here is not bad, and Clem only comes about once a week" Miriallia replied.
"Halleluiah! That's good news" Cagalli shouted.
Miriallia just laughed and showed her friend around the bakery.
After Cagalli got show around the bakery, Knight told her that her first shift was tomorrow morning.
Cagalli nodded, then left the bakery, and headed back to Athrun's place.
Cagalli sat on a long wooden deck. The moon shined brightly, illuminating the grass below her. She sat looking up at the starry sky. She heard the door opened, and footsteps behind her.
"Hey Athrun" Cagalli greeted.
"How did it go?" Athrun asked.
"I got the job" Cagalli replied.
"Good for you" Athrun replied.
"I want to thank you Athrun. I mean your advice really helped" Cagalli said.
"Your welcome" Athrun replied.
"No, I mean really if you hadn't said those things I probably would have thrown those papers away" Cagalli replied. Cagalli slowly got up, but she slipped on the deck. Athrun grabbed Cagalli's hand as she was falling off the side of the deck. But Athrun also lost his footing and they both fell of into a bush. Cagalli landed so she was on top of Athrun.
"Sorry" Cagalli quickly apologized as she got off of Athrun. Even though it was a dark night Cagalli's blush could be clearly seen on her cheeks.
"It is no problem" Athrun replied as he also got out of the bush, his cheeks equally red.
"I better get to bed, goodnight Athrun" Cagalli said as she rushed back into the house.
Cagalli got up early, she quickly got ready for the day, then she left Athrun's house. It took roughly thirty minutes to get from Athrun's house to the bakery. She parked her car in the bakery's parking lot in the back, then she went inside. Yesterday Miriallia showed Cagalli where to get her uniform so Cagalli had no trouble finding it. She said hello to Knight then went to the front. Cagalli expected no one to be there, so she was surprised to see Clem sitting at one of the tables. He hand a few novels sitting on the table he was sitting at, and he was writing in a notebook. No one was around so Cagalli walked over to him. Cagalli noticed that Clem's writing was in very small, very neat cursive.
"Hey shorty, what are you doing?" Cagalli asked.
"I writing down all the flaws in these mystery novels" Clem replied without turning to look at Cagalli.
"Why" Cagalli asked?
"So I can send this in to the writer, so that their books will be better" Clem explained.
"Why" Cagalli asked?
"Because they are way too easy to solve, you can tell who did it right from the point where you meet the suspects" Clem explained.
"But that makes it so the reader will know who did it" Cagalli replied.
"Yes, but the difficulty makes the book boring. I don't understand how he can read these" Clem explained.
Cagalli looked at the books sitting on the table, "Hey those are some of my twin brother's favorites" Cagalli shouted.
"Your brother has an awful taste in literature" Clem replied.
"Don't you dare insult my brother" Cagalli yelled, she grabbed Clem by the collar of his shirt.
"Your brother died" Clem stated.
"Yes" Cagalli replied.
"I wasn't asking a question" Clem told her as he wiggled out of Cagalli's grasp. "You see when people's emotions flare up, it is normally due to the mention of a dead loved one" Clem explained.
"Who was the he you mentioned" Cagalli asked, as she took a seat next to Clem.
"My guardian" Clem replied, then he went back to looking at his notebook.
"What is your guardian's name" Cagalli asked.
"Why do you care, Miss Nosey" Clem snapped.
'So Clem went back to his normal rude self' Cagalli thought.
"Hey Clem" Cagalli asked?
"What?" Clem replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"I was wondering, how fast does it take for a fire to grow really big?" Cagalli asked.
"It depends on where the fire is and how big of fire you are talking about" Clem replied.
"In an office and the fire covered about six floors, each floor about 1000 square feet" Cagalli replied.
"It would take a decent amount of time" Clem replied.
"How fast would it take for someone to notice the fire?" Cagalli asked.
"It shouldn't take long for someone to notice, or smell the smoke" Clem replied.
"In a fire like that would it be normal that only one person would die?" Cagalli questioned.
"No, first of all a fire like that is unnatural unless it was started by someone in the building, and then only one person dying is very strange" Clem replied.
"So a fire like that you think it was started by someone?" Cagalli asked.
"Logically yes it makes the most since as to why the fire grew huge before anyone reported it, and to why only one person died" Clem explained. "And logically the person who started the fire was the one who died." "If you are talking about the fire at the Tech Corp building a little over two weeks ago. I heard the fire started in the head of the department's office."
"It was, I didn't know that" Cagalli replied.
"And the secretary was given the day off that day and told not to show up" Clem told Cagalli. "If you are curious just check the security tapes."
"What do you mean?" Cagalli questioned.
"That office has to have a security camera recording all the time. Each moment is recorded on a tape and put on file. Just go and ask to look at the tape that recorded that day. But only certain people can look at the tapes" Clem explained.
"Would a sister of the person who died work?" Cagalli asked.
"Depends" Clem replied, "You could get the police to look at it if you could give them a good reason. But I say you are wasting your time going to the police. Because they will require proof and all you have is a theory."
"So what do you think I should do?" Cagalli asked.
"Well, if you know the guard who is working, and you are a family member of the person who died they might let you, if they have nothing to hide" Clem replied.
Cagalli thought about the advice Clem had given her. "Thanks Clem" she told him as she got up.
"Whatever" Clem replied as he went back to writing in his notebook.
'I'm going to look into that tape theory after my shift' Cagalli decided.
"Tell me what you find" Clem replied.
Cagalli then realized that she had said her thoughts out loud.
"Hey Clem" Cagalli asked?
"What now" Clem snapped.
"When did you get the guardian you have now" Cagalli asked.
"Almost two weeks ago, why" Clem asked?
"Just wondering" Cagalli replied.
"Miss Nosey" Clem snorted.
After Cagalli's shift ended she headed strait to the Tech Corp's building. Once she arrived she went right to the security office.
"Hey Gus" Cagalli greeted the security guard.
"Cagalli, haven't seen you since the fire" Gus replied.
"I know, I didn't really want to come here" Cagalli replied.
"So is there a reason to your visit?" Gus asked.
"Yeah, I was wondering if I could look at the security tape from that day?" Cagalli asked.
"Normally no one expect authorized personal is allowed to view those tapes. But I can make an exception for you, seeing as Kira was your brother" Gus replied as he got up and walked toward another room.
"Thanks Gus" Cagalli replied as she followed him. Cagalli followed Gus into a room full of tapes.
"One of these is the tape you are looking for" Gus said as he pointed to a stack of video tapes.
"Thanks" Cagalli said as she looked at the labels on the tapes. "Here we go" Cagalli said as she grabbed one of the tapes. She then put the tape into a VCR sitting nearby. The screen flashed and began to show the video tape.
Kira was sitting at his desk looking over some papers.
Cagalli watched for a few minutes and she was about to fast forward, when she heard Kira speak.
"What do you want, I busy right now" Kira snapped at whoever entered his office.
All of a sudden the video feed went dead, but Cagalli could still hear the sound.
"I don't feel like talking right now" Kira said.
Then a gunshot rang through the speakers.
'A gunshot, so was the fire a cover up? I know Kira keeps a handgun in his desk. But who pulled the trigger on a gun, Kira or the person who had come in?' Cagalli wondered.
Cagalli thanked Gus then she left the room and head outside. She started walking to her car. But Cagalli stopped when she saw a person sitting in a bench across the street. Cagalli blinked, and the person was gone.
'Was that Clem?' Cagalli wondered, 'My mind must be playing tricks on me.' Cagalli got into her car a drove off.
Author Note Time!
I hoped you readers enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading.
And just in case anyone was wondering Clem's IQ is around 200. Yep he is a genius.
See ya, next time!