Author's Note:
I've uploaded another chapter YAY ME! It really is quite a feat as I am very busy at the moment. I managed to find time though, to write bits and pieces of the chapter and voila! I apologise that it's not the usual length but I had to stop before I advanced the plot too quickly. The only thing left to say is ENJOY!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything that anyone recognises from Gundam Seed. Or anywhere else for that matter.
"Far in the light I can see it, in every scene on the night, a tiny feather of love. I've got to go; destiny never finds a way from me my love."
"Kira, Kira where are you!" Athrun called from beneath the tree. The brown haired boy abruptly stopped singing and turned himself 180 so that his head stuck out at the bottom of the branches.
"Athrun," Kira called back "I'm here in the tree."
The young blunette turned at the gate and jogged back, relieved that Kira appeared unhurt and was not crying. "What are you doing in the tree?" the young Zala asked curiously.
Kira grinned cheekily "Come up and you'll find out." With that he turned himself back around.
Shrugging at his friend's odd mood, Athrun quickly scaled the tree and sat himself on Kira's branch. The brunette had his eyes closed and was humming a soft tune under his breath. Athrun couldn't help but think that his friend looked like an angel as the light seeped through the leaves and illuminated his slightly tanned skin.
"Athrun you're staring at me," Kira's voice interrupted Athrun's musings and he looked away to hide his growing blush.
"Wasn't," he said stubbornly
"Was," Kira replied but gave up the argument in favour of humming again.
"What are you singing?"Athrun asked curiously, over his brief bout of embarrassment
Now it was Kira's turn to blush and he stopped mumbling a quiet "sorry"
"No don't stop, it was pretty." Athrun urged "will you sing me something?"
"Okay, but promise you won't laugh" Kira said, looking his friend in the eyes. Athrun crossed his heart sombrely; never would he laugh at Kira, that would hurt him and he'd made a promise.
Kira leaned against the trunk of the tree again and started so softly that Athrun had to strain to hear him.
You and I, can share the silence
Finding comfort together the way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other the way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together the way old friends do
You and I, can share the silence
Finding comfort together the way old friends do
And after fights and words of violence
We make up with each other the way old friends do
Times of joy and times of sorrow
We will always see it through
I don't care what comes tomorrow
We can face it together the way old friends do
We can face it together the way old friends do
Kira finished the song with tears streaming down his face and he gave his long-time friend a sad smile for what would probably be the last time. Athrun gathered the petit boy into his arms and stroked the baby soft hair as Kira finally let go completely.
"Please don't go Athrun," the eleven year old cried "I don't want to be alone."
Athrun lifted the smaller boy's chin and also gave him a sad smile "You won't be alone, you'll have Torii." He said pointing to the robotic bird that was currently nesting in Kira's hair.
"Athrun, we need to go." Patrick called waving his son over.
"Okay," Athrun called back before turning back to the sobbing boy in front of him. "Please don't cry Kira, I want to see your smile one last time before I go."
Kira laughed a bit and wiped his eyes "you won't forget me?" he asked unsurely
Athrun placed a kiss to his fiancé's forehead "never, after all you are going to be my oyomesan."
"Athrun!" Patrick called again.
"Coming!" Athrun yelled back. He gathered his nerve and leaned down to place a soft but chaste kiss on the shocked brunette's lips.
"Bye Kira," he whispered "thank you for singing for me."
Placing one more kiss on Kira's lips, Athrun stepped away and ran towards the waiting shuttle. He paused and waved, wanting to commit the memory of his fiancé into his mind. Kira waved back and watched as the shuttle launched and catapulted Athrun into space, never to return again.
"Captain, how'zit going?" Dearka called as the three remaining members of the Le Cruset team entered the observation room. Athrun sat at the window with his head between his knees, curled into the smallest ball possible. At the sound of their voices, he turned his head away from them.
"Come on Zala, you cannot let this get to you," Dearka urged as he floated towards the still boy, "you don't even know the context that your Kira wrote that song. You have to go and talk to him."
Athrun finally turned towards them and they flinched at his haggard expression. "I can't," he said hoarsely "I've hurt him too much; he won't want to see me."
Nicol also floated over, placing a hand on his captain's shoulder "That's not true and you know it," he said gently "From what you've told us about your Kira, he's not that type of person. He'll need to see you; to know that you don't hate him."
Athrun turned away "I'm not going to hurt him with my presence. I know you all heard his song just now and I know that my dad gave you his other song's translation. I've hurt him deeply, betrayed his trust; he'll never forgive me."
Yzak, who had been silent up until that moment, strode up to the blunette and hauled him up by his shirt. "Listen closely Zala," he hissed angrily "You know what I think your problem is? You don't want to be with your Kira anymore. You've seen the baggage he's coming with and now you want out."
Athrun pushed the blonde away angrily "How dare you," he whispered furiously "how dare you insinuate that Yzak. I don't want 'out' as you so aptly put it."
Yzak smirked, crossing his arms "Oh I think you do, you just don't want to admit it; to us and to yourself."
The blunette whirled around from staring out of the window and slammed the shorter teen into the wall. "Shut up Yzak, you have no idea what we've been through!"
He dropped the stunned teen and began to pace agitatedly "I made a promise to him," he shouted as he continued to pace "I promised that no one from Blue Cosmos would ever hurt him again; that he would never be beat up for being a coordinator" The blinding anger drained away leaving Athrun feeling more tired than he had ever been. He resumed his starting position. "I've failed his so badly guys, I promised Kira I'd keep him safe and now he's hurt worse than he's ever been hurt before"
Yzak picked himself up and strode towards the guilt-ridden boy. He slammed his hand against the wall beside the blunette's face causing Athrun to look up in surprise.
"Pathetic," the blonde snapped "you're feeling too guilty about a promise made who knows when to go and see the person you love." The youngest Joule straightened and headed towards the door.
"See you around Zala; hope you get your head out of your ass soon." He called as he left.
The remaining two pilots, sensing that Athrun needed to be alone, also bade farewell before leaving the confused boy to his thoughts.
Kira sat in a mountain of pillows, transcribing his song from Torii's recording when the door to the infirmary opened and an unknown boy strode in. The brunette shrank back into the pillows; this was the first time he had seen anyone other than his Uncle Patrick and his doctors and he was unsure as to how the rest of the ship would react to his presence. Would they hurt him like on the Archangel or would this be his chance to finally be accepted?
The agitated blonde walked past his bed, obviously looking for a doctor, and Kira was able to relax slightly as he was unnoticed. He went back to transcribing and became so engrossed in his work that he did not notice the young pilot returning.
Yzak took his time examining the skittish young pilot, mentally noting his various quirks. His heart twinged when he remembered a time long past; a time of light before the darkness invaded his life.
"Is Athrun ever going to come see me?" a soft, almost melodic voice broke into Yzak's thoughts. He found himself under the intense scrutiny of pained violet eyes.
"I beg your pardon?" Yzak said clearly, not sure if he had been asked what he thought he had been asked.
"Athrun Zala," Kira repeated still scrutinising the boy beside him, not sure what had prompted him to make conversation with the stranger "Is he ever going to come and see me?"
Yzak didn't reply, not sure how to tell the delicate looking boy in front of him that Zala was feeling too guilty to come and see his hurt fiancé. His silence was enough for Kira though, who turned back to transcribing his song.
"I don't blame him you know," Kira continued as Yzak just stood staring at him "for hating me I mean. Eventually, everyone hates me; even my parents." Kira's working arm paused before continuing marking the page with his heart's song "Why would anyone not hate me. I'm an ugly, disgusting whore who only knows how to please others. Also I've been shooting at him, Athrun. He has every right to hate me."
"That cannot be true," Yzak blurted out. The brunette lifted startled, teary eyes up to him.
"It's what everyone tells me so it has to be true." Kira responded softly, lowering his eyes to his hands once again.
Yzak pulled the chair beside the bed out and sat down. 'Why am I doing this?' he argued with himself 'I don't even know him!'
'But his situation is exactly like Carmen's' his inner voice argued back 'and you cannot allow anyone to go through what she went through. Especially alone'
His inner dialogue ended when Kira shifted uncomfortably, holding his left arm close.
"Are you still in pain?" the blonde asked quickly, moving towards the tray on the bedside table.
"No, no I'm okay. It's not as bad as anything I've ever had." Kira hurriedly assured him "The doctors say that it's a side effect from my body healing so quickly."
Yzak looked at him sceptically but stopped reaching for the painkillers. He sat in a contemplative silence, trying to think of the best way to approach Kira about the abuse inflicted upon him before deciding to deal with it directly.
"Do you realise that what was done to you is not right?" he asked cautiously
Kira turned his eyes away from the icy blue ones boring into his own.
"You didn't deserve any of this Kira," Yzak continued gently.
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE!" the soft spoken boy burst out "I'M DISGUSTING! WHY ELSE WOULD EVERYONE RA..." Kira broke off, horrified at what he had been about to say, He jerkily gathered his things and carefully put them on the table before burying himself under the covers. Yzak sighed, knowing he would get nothing more out of Kira, and stood.
At the door, the platinum blonde paused and looked back at the motionless boy, "I'm here to listen if you need to talk," he called back softly. The brunette's heart-broken cries followed him down the hall.
"Dad, can I talk to you?" Athrun asked as he tentatively poked his head around his father's cabin door.
Patrick lowered the papers he had been reviewing and turned to face his son, "Come in Athrun, I came to help you after all."
The teen slowly closed the door behind his before perching himself on the bed. Patrick waited patiently as Athrun gathered his thought, knowing that he had to speak first.
The blunette sighed; knowing the best way to get to the bottom of his troubles would be through bluntness. "Does Kira hate me?"
Patrick stared at his son in confusion "Why would he? Should he have a reason to?"
Athrun flopped back onto the bed "I broke my promise to him Dad. I couldn't protect him."
Patrick shook his head ruefully, remembering Athrun's pre-school promise "Son, I doubt Kira remembers your promise; I'm surprised you even remember." Seeing the glare Athrun directed at him, Patrick got up and placed his arm around the broadening shoulders.
"Athrun," the father began "don't torment yourself over a promise made a long time ago. This is a matter you had no control over and it is in no way your fault that Kira got hurt."
"But..." Athrun began
"No 'buts'," Patrick rebuked sternly. "It is not your fault and Kira most certainly does not blame you. Have you gone to visit with him yet?"
The blunette shook his head "I don't want to pain him with my presence."
Patrick sighed and gathered Athrun into his arms, placing him on his lap as he did ten years ago.
"There's still much you need to learn son," the elder Zala said softly as he slowly rocked his son "Today, I will impart to you one of the most important lessons one can learn about marriage and one's partner. Listen carefully."
Athrun raised his eyes to lock with those of his father's.
"No matter what wrong you have committed, no matter what promise has been broken; a good husband is always at his loved one's side to offer them that unconditional love they need. Kira needs your help, now more than ever. What you need to do is support and love him, remind him that he is not alone during this difficult time. All the rest of the problems will sort themselves out;" he tapped the tip of Athrun's nose "You'll see."
Athrun contemplated his father's words, and unwittingly those spoken to him by Yzak earlier that day, before realising how selfish he had been acting. Giving his father a hug, the now energised teen slid from the strong presence before walking to the door.
"Thanks dad, I needed to hear that," he called out before heading towards the room of his most important person in the universe.
'Ah young love' Patrick thought as he chuckled softly before returning to his papers.
After Yzak left, Kira cried fitfully as unwanted memories from his time on the Archangel resurfaced before he fell into a restless sleep.
Kira sat silently in the backseat of the car as his foster parents fought from the front seats. Ever since his parents had been killed in an accident a few months after Athrun had left him, his life had taken a turn for the worst. Jamal and Kate Iriamoto did not seem to take particular interest in his well being, preferring to fight each other instead. Their disinterest hurt, after growing up in a very loving family, but he knew that he was one of the luckier orphans; some often did not even end up getting adopted.
"I've had enough of your nonsense," Kate's scream cut through Kira's musings. The hot headed red opened the door of the now stationary car and slammed it shut. "You'll be hearing from my lawyer."
"But what about the kid?" the irate man called jerking a thumb towards Kira in the back.
"Do what you want with him. I'm through with you and everything that has to do with you. Goodbye and good riddens." The red-head flicked her hair over her shoulder and walked away, nose up in the air.
There was silence for approximately two minutes before Jamal rounded on the scared pre-teen.
"This is your entire fault, freak!" he yelled as he back-handed the small brunette. "Do you see what you've just cost me?"
Kira's violet eyes filled with tears as he raised a trembling hand to his burning cheek.
The car started moving again, driving towards the shadier parts of town "You heard Kate," the crazy man called back "You're mine now and I'll make sure you learn your place coordinator. Not like that bitch."
Kira whimpered quietly, things would not turn out well for him.
"Don't worry," Jamal cooed as his hands tightened on the steering wheel "we're going to have lots of fun together."
Sitting up with a soft cry, Kira looked around in confusion; his mind still trapped within his nightmare. Spotting a figure hunched over his bed, he scrambled back trying to put as much distance between him and his 'attacker'.
The dim lights brightened and Kira stopped his frantic movements as he recognised the shock of blue hair that graced his friend's head.
Strong arms wrapped around him, offering the comfort he desperately craved. Kira clung onto the strength that was his fiancé as he wept. No words were spoken; no words were needed as the two lovers rediscovered what they had thought long lost.
When Kira calmed, he lifted his head from the strong chest he had buried it into, in order to ensure that Athrun was really there; that he was not imagining things again. Athrun smiled at him sadly, wiping the tears away from his love's face.
"Forgive me," he whispered "I've been a fool. I left you when you needed me most."
Kira smiled before reburying his head into Athrun's warmth. "You're here now," he replied just as softly, "that's all that matters."
That's another chapter done! I never thought I would ever get it done but I managed. Please let me know what you think, whether the plot flows correctly or if I'm jumping arond too much. As the author, there is only so many times one can read one's working without it appearing to be without error. Thanks to all those people who have reviewed so far; I'm glad you like the story so far.
Notes: Songs sung: Tsubasa by FictionJunction KAORI, The Way Old Friends do by ABBA.
P.S. The playlist for this story is up and running so go check it out on youtube under the lupinblanche channel.
Until Next Time
