Author's Note: Hahaha! Reposted again! Nothing much changed here either. Just patching things up for someone who just completely saved my ass from being humiliated with my mistakes. =)

Please bear with me. I know the story is a little slow, and the plot is a little unclear. Basically this story is about how these sixteen year olds who have been so used to life fighting a war will live their lives normally. This will revolve around their first year after the war. The plot will clear itself up eventually when they reach Earth. I know it sucks a bit but please, please R and R!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed. =)

June 23 A. W. 3:02 am

Cagalli Yula Attha gritted her teeth in annoyance as she floated down the anti-gravity hallway of the Kusanagi. She had just gotten off the transport pod from the Archangel, since the infirmary in the Kusanagi was allotted for treating most of the wounded Coordinators. Except for Athrun, Dearka and Yzac, who were asked to report to the Archangel for treatment, everyone who could not be accommodated in their ship was brought to them.

The moment she had stepped into the bridge, the face of the most withered-looking man she had ever seen popped into view on the monitor. The man had introduced himself as Burin Dellit, a messenger the Earth Alliance had asked to deliver the message to the remaining ships deployed in space of the plan of their return. The Earth Alliance was welcoming back its heroes, or so he says, and so the ships were granted passage to the only country in Asia that wasn't at all directly destroyed in the war.

"I congratulate you for your great success, Princess Cagalli. You have done your father proud," Dellit said in a voice that was anything but happy.

Cagalli had snapped at him then. "What do you mean success? This was a war, old man. No one was victorious. Countless lives have been lost because you old guys wouldn't listen. And the last time I checked, you guys were barreling us down with cannons because we had a different cause."

The man merely brushed the comment away, a little embarrassed. "Well, yes, but that was an incident which arose from a purely different circumstance." And with this, he told them that the Earth Alliance Base in Hokkaido, Japan has volunteered to grant their three ships passage and was glad to accommodate the survivors, be they Coordinator or Natural. Since Japan was probably the only country that had not suffered too great casualties from the aftershock of the destruction of Ptolemaeus EA base on the moon, whose debris have caused quite a ruckus to majority of the parts of North and South America, Cagalli found it sensible enough that they settle there for the time being.

That was another thing she had to fret for. Particles from the moon are hovering about the earth's atmosphere... She wondered what the long term effect of it to Earth would be...

But Cagalli still wasn't done yet. She had slammed her fist on the control panel and made her voice as hateful as possible.

(A/N: The next is the exact words my advisor said,

though made to suit Cagalli in her dialogue.)

"This 'Earth-Alliance-welcomes-back-its-heroes' thing, it's not working for me. Many of the Clyne Faction's members were ZAFT deserters, Coordinators therefore. Many more came from Orb, my home, which you have just gotten through demolishing. And basically, the people on the Archangel deserted the Earth Alliance. At best, the only thing they could get is a discharge. At worse, they would court-martial everyone they could get their hands on. Lastly, it was the Clyne Faction that stopped the Nuke-en-masse assault on the PLANTs. The Earth Alliance certainly wouldn't want to see them again in any capacity other than in chains. And now you're telling me you're welcoming us back? "

The old man had fidgeted more. "Princess Cagalli, please understand that this is a different matter, now that everyone's head is clear of misguided intentions and – ahem! – forgive me for saying, idiotic decisions, I assume everything will go well. As for the arguments you have raised to me about the Factions that participated in the ordeal, I do not see any reason why the Earth Alliance would court-martial the people on the Archangel, not after that we have achieved our goal, which is peace. Had it not been for them, and of course the Clyne Faction that stopped the nukes from hitting PLANT, I believe that the Bloody Valentine Incident would have repeated itself and the war would not have ended like this at all. How could the EA think of anything else of you than honor you for stopping them from creating what would have been the biggest mistake humanity could have ever created?"

That was when Cagalli started to think. She tried to assess everything that happened. Come to think of it, this war got out of hand because of stupid, greedy leaders of groups that wished nothing more than to blow each other up. She thought of La Cruse, who thought he was better than everyone else, and so he crazily wanted everyone dead. He was definitely a catalyst on why everything got waaaaay out of hand.

Then of course, there was Azrael, who was too insecure of his existence that he wanted to obliterate ALL of the Coordinators to kingdom come. If it weren't for his twisted belief that the war would end if the Coordinators were wiped out clean off this universe, many lives would have been spared.

Like Mwu's.

Let's not forget, Athrun's father, Patrick Zala. Basically the Coordinator counterpart of that loon, Azrael. Cagalli personally hated him. She had tried to think of ways how such a vile creature could actually be related to Athrun at all. He had been the one who thought about that brilliant idea to take out the big guns – the GENESIS – and blow up the entire world so they would emerge victorious, whether or not his son died in the process. He was just a hateful man.

Yes, she knew that there was nothing more to worry about, now that the weeds were finally taken out by the roots. She knew that perhaps, had sane men been the leaders put to decide on the ZAFT and the EA sides, none of these would have happened.

Thoughts of the destruction of Orb flashed through her mind as she continued aimlessly drifting down to the infirmary to lend whatever help she could give, when she saw Athrun standing at the end of the hall, staring at something on the ceiling, oblivious of his surroundings. She had left him in her quarters, telling him that he should stay and catch a few winks. She knew he was tired.

So seeing him there in the hall, alone, made her wonder what he was doing there at three in the morning.

She saw him suddenly become aware someone was approaching – his reflexes were really sharp – his face stiffened as if ready to pounce, but when he recognized it was just Cagalli, he smiled, waved and met her halfway.

Athrun spread his arms wide as if to envelop her into his arms, but Cagalli had something else in mind. Ducking his hug, she grabbed him by the wrist and twisted his arm painfully from behind. "What are you doing here out of bed?" she demanded playfully.

Athrun pretended to be scared. "I-I'm sorry ma'am. I'm sorry for having disobeyed your orders that I should get some rest." Then, impressing on her how really strong he was, he grabbed her from her shoulder with his free arm and threw her over his head with one pull. The lack of gravity caused Cagalli to float up towards the ceiling with a strangled gasp, but Athrun pulled her by the arm and instantly wrapped her in a warm embrace. "But you see, I missed you too much so I had to go look for you," he continued in a whisper, nuzzling his face into her neck.

Cagalli tried to struggle free, but when she saw he wasn't planning on letting her go, she returned the embrace. "I have good news."

"What?" He asked, his face still buried in her neck.

"Japan Earth Alliance Extension granted us passage for everyone. Be it Natural or Coordinator."

"So what?" He muffled again, not moving an inch, his warm breath still against her neck.

Cagalli socked him in the ribs. He grunted but did not move. "What do you mean 'so what?' Athrun, this means we have a place to stay until we know where to put everyone else. Until I haven't organized the reconstruction of Orb, and possibly Heliopolis, everyone in these three ships is homeless. Someone offered us a temporary home. You should be glad. After all, you're the one who insisted to stay with me on Earth instead of returning to PLANT."

The Justice pilot laughed silently.

Cagalli punched him in the ribs again. "Why are you laughing?"

At this, he pushed her at arms length, scanned her auburn eyes with his blue black ones and smiled his reserved smile. "Because to me, it doesn't matter. I don't care even if I have to float in space forever and ever, so long as you're there beside me."

Cagalli felt herself blushing. She knew how Athrun loved sweet words, always making sure he made her feel warm and cozy inside, yet Cagalli felt anything but. Normally, she knew girls would kill for a guy like Athrun Zala.

Who wouldn't? He's handsome, caring, sweet, witty. I could go on and on, she thought to herself as she examined his face intently. While other girls would think of her as lucky, she would always find it hard to react every time he did the perfect-guy thing. She would either be too embarrassed to return the act, like for example, a hug, and so she pretended like she didn't want it, whereas she knew in her heart of hearts she would give anything to stay in his embrace forever.

That was her biggest problem. She didn't know how to reciprocate.

Athrun gave her a little shake, realizing she had fallen into a silence he didn't know the cause of. "Hey, are you okay? I was only kidding around, Cagalli. I think it's great that we get to stay in Japan. I haven't been there myself. The EA extension is in Hokkaido, right? I read in a book somewhere that it's pretty lovely there. And cold."

Cagalli shook herself out of her thoughts and nodded at the practicality of what he just said. "This is the first time in my life I get to enjoy Earth. It's a beautiful planet. I'm glad that everything is over."

Athrun ginned his boyish grin. "Actually, I'm glad that things are just beginning." He was being romantic again, Cagalli knew as she caught herself looking away uncomfortably. She really was not used to this.

As if he read her thoughts, Athrun let go of her shoulders and awkwardly stuffed them in his pant pocket. "Cagalli? Don't you like it when I talk that way?"

"What? Talk how?" She asked, startled at his question. She unconsciously bit her thumb between her teeth nervously, trying to hide that feeling of a deer caught the in headlights of a car.

"Like how I talk to you. I don't know. Or when I hug you, or... " his voice trailed off, as if he didn't know what else to say. "I'll stop if you feel uncomfortable..."

"No!" Cagalli shouted. The moment the syllable escaped her mouth did she start to feel like a complete moron. Great. Now he must think I'm too eager for affection. She tried to compose herself. Clearing her throat, she started over. "I'm sorry, Athrun. To tell you honestly, I... uhm... how do I say this without looking like a slut? I appreciate the affection you give me. But sometimes... uhm... I get a little uhm, what's the word? Oh, yeah! Overwhelmed because I'm not really used to it. So I end up pretending like I'm not affected, but I am, and you might think I'm not interested but... well... you know..." She scratched her hear ruefully. "Does that make any sense?"

Athrun stared at her for a few moments without saying anything that it frightened Cagalli that she might have offended his pride. After all, he knew how these things work; he had been engaged before. She, on the other had, had no memory whatsoever of what constituted of a potential love life. A couple more seconds, Athrun nodded. "I understand, then. I guess I didn't really even think of how you must feel." He turned around and Cagalli thought that he was going to float away down the hall away from her. She felt her possible chances at love get flushed down the toilet because she, Cagalli Yula Attha, was being a stick in the mud.

She made a mental note to kick herself later seventy seven times, and was even planning on how to do it when Athrun whirled around, a solemn look on his face. But she knew he was trying to hold back a smile. She was startled when Athrun extended his hand to her and said, "Then I won't overwhelm my princess Cagalli. I'll take it really slow." Then he winked. Winked! Athrun Zala winked! "So that you'll catch up really quick."

Cagalli stared from him to his hand and smiled. She took his hand and laughed softly. "You're funny."

"Am I?"

Cagalli nodded as they continued down the hall, hand in hand. "But I want you to know that I'm really grateful."

"For what?"

"That it is really just beginning." She gripped his arm firmly, pulled him down and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "And I get to enjoy the beginning with you."

Athrun seemed to glow at the sweet gesture she initiated. A little surprised and a bit pleased. He smiled a small smile then. "Where are you off to?"

"The infirmary. We're running short on the manpower here. Some men were dispatched earlier to help with the repairs in the brig. So I decided to leave the bridge to Kisaka for now. After all, we don't need that much people in the bridge. It's smooth sailing from here onwards."

They reached the infirmary after a while. The room was fairly large, but awfully crowded. The casualties weren't really that bad, but there were numerous people to be treated. Majority of them were Coordinators, but there were some Naturals here and there. Cagalli felt her eyes widen at the sight of the person she saw running around from one patient to another. She knew she had seen him before. Athrun confirmed his identity.

"Yzac?" The Justice pilot gasped in disbelief as they entered the room, the automatic sliding doors closing behind them.

Yzac Jule raised his eyes to the couple and immediately lowered them. Cagalli saw him hide behind his back a first aid kit and a roll of bandages. "Athrun. I didn't know you were here."

Athrun was still stunned. "You, too. I didn't know you had stayed. How are you?"

Yzac seemed a little surprised by the diplomatic question. "Me? I'm all right. Wasn't hurt badly, so I'm helping out."

Cagalli looked around from patient to patient and laughed.

This made Yzac uncomfortable. He tried to hide behind his white-blue hair. "What?"

Cagalli tried to make him relax. "I was headed here to help out." She grinned at him. "But it seems like you've already done the job for me. Thank you."

At this, the Coordinator's face reddened. "I didn't do nothing."

"Really? It looked like something to me."

Athrun looked down at her. "Your work here is done, Cagalli. Where shall we go next?"

At that, she heard a loud rumbling, gurgling sound. Yzac's face turned to an unearthly shade of red.

Cagalli smiled. So did Athrun.

"Let's go to the cafeteria and grab a bite."

She knew that this was not the beginning of a good relationship with this ZAFT soldier. But at least it was a beginning. That was what's important. They will be staying on Earth after all, in the same country, in the same island as they were. They had to make it work somehow, though she still didn't understand why he had stayed here to help out instead of just returning back to his home.

But right now, as she looked at Athrun and this Yzac person, she once again questioned what the heck they had been fighting for. The Coordinators, the Naturals, what made them different? They all bleed alike. They get hungry. They laugh and they feel sorrow.

Suddenly, she remembered all the people who had to offer their lives to achieve this peace.

Did it really have to take that much people to prove that Naturals and Coordinators all are alike, because we cry when we feel grief, which is exactly what we feel now?

 -==-  -==-  -==- 

June 24 A. W. 6:00 am

Kira watched from his bed as Cagalli scratched her blond head of hair as she looked out the window of the Archangel infirmary. She had been awfully uneasy since she came in to visit him. They were already soaring over the Southern Part of the Land of the Rising Sun. Miriallia, who had visited him just last night to bring him his supper had told him of the great news that they were welcome to stay in Hokkaido for the time being until necessary plans were brought out. Sai, who had taken charge of the bridge while Captain Ramius was presently unable to hold her position, had announced that the ETA was approximately two hours. Cagalli had entered the room about half an hour ago, but until now, she never said anything to him.

So Kira decided to break the silence. "Cagalli?"

With this, she jumped, startled at his sudden sound, but she still didn't say anything. She continued on staring out into the window.

"Cagalli? What time did you board the Archangel? I heard from Lacus yesterday night before she went back to the Eternal that you were in the Kusanagi. How come you're here? And where is Athrun?"

The young princess of Orb took a while before answering, but when she did, it caught Kira off-guard. "Kira. I had always wanted to ask you, but it didn't seem the right time then, with the war and the fighting and all that. But now... I've been thinking. We have our whole lives ahead of us now. Sometimes I even ask myself if this is really happening, and the reality is just so hard to get used to." She turned to face him, but once again fell silent.

Kira cleared his throat. "You're gonna ask something?"

Cagalli nodded. "Kira, you really are my brother, aren't you?"

Kira felt his heart stop beating for a split second. The reality of what La Cruse had said then suddenly came back to haunt him. Of what he was. What he is. It felt weird, having the time to actually contemplate on it. He found the sudden abundance of time quite nerve-wracking. Now that he didn't even need to fight in a mobile suit just to stay alive, what was he to do now? How do you normally spend your life in a world that was already at peace? But right now, as he stared at Cagalli, he somehow felt at ease. This spunky girl right in front of him was the living proof that he is more than just a lab specimen. This girl right in front of him was in fact a part of him. And that was the reality he couldn't help but smile at. He nodded at her. "Yes, Cagalli. I am your brother."

Cagalli tilted her head to the side. "If so, who's older? You or me?"

Kira blinked. He had never really considered this question before though. "I don't know. Aren't we supposed to be twins?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Whatever. " She turned to the window again. Then she answered the question he asked earlier. "I used a transport pod before we entered the Earth's atmosphere last night. Athrun stayed behind the Kusanagi to help in the bridge. I wanted to land on Earth with you. You're my only family now, Kira. You and me. We're a family."

It had never occurred to Kira that it mattered to him that he had someone he knew was a part of him. But now that Cagalli mentioned it, it did feel good to know that you had someone.

She went on talking. It seems like she had gotten over her silent bout after finally getting the question about their relationship out of the way. "Are you scared?"

"Of what?"

"Starting life."

"I suppose I'm a little nervous. I've gotten so used to waking up in a battle ship. I keep on asking myself what it would be like. How about you?"

"I'm a little excited. And yeah, nervous. We get to start our lives with a different routine. Say, maybe we could go out for some ice cream. I heard that it's almost summer in Hokkaido."

The very simplistic way she had invited him to go out for ice cream made him aware of the drastic change they really are about to undergo. They will be able to take hot baths instead of cold showers. No more dry jerky for lunch. They may be able to cook their own food. It was remarkable, the comfort this fact brought him. They will actually live in the security that no bombs would be falling on their heads anytime to catch them unaware.

Kira smiled. "Ice cream would be nice."

And maybe a walk on the beach. After looking for an apartment.

Lacus' cheery face forced itself into his mind's eye. Yes, there will be more time for Lacus. More time for the usual things young people do, like go out and enjoy their youth.

The automatic sliding door buzzed open and admitted at very flustered Miriallia and a very happy looking Kazui. This was the first time he had seen Kazui in a while. Miriallia had said he had been working in the engine room with the others. Not that he knew anything to contribute the mechanics. They really didn't need the extra pairs of hand on the bridge so others were assigned to the other sectors of the Archangel.

At the sight of the two, Cagalli turned from the window and came closer to the bed. "Hello there."

"Hi, Cagalli. How are you doing, Kira?" Kazui greeted. He was very perky. Kira could remember he a nervous wreck every time they entered a battle. The change was astonishing. Gone were the days when he would almost pee in his pants when they detect enemy ships coming closer.

"Hello, Kazui. I'm feeling better. Hello, Milly." Kira shifted in his bed and smiled. "How is Sai? I haven't seen him yet."

Miriallia laughed. "Sai has never left the bridge once after the explosion of the Genesis. We had to bring his food there or else we were afraid he wouldn't make it back to earth alive. He said he was enjoying his last moments in the Archangel, since we won't be using it anytime in the near future."

Cagalli frowned. "Sai is alone on the bridge?"

With this, Miriallia blushed. "Uhm, Dearka volunteered to take my place in the bridge. Just for a little while, he said, so that I could visit you."

"Captain Murrue didn't say anything about ZAFT substitutes," Cagalli teased.

Miriallia laughed shyly.

Kazui pretended to make nothing of it, when in fact he was making a lot out of it. "That Dearka sure is really nice. At first I thought he was a bad guy. Rude and all. He sure is extra nice to Milly."

Miriallia's blush deepened. "Stop it, Kazui," she said silently, but still a small smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah, well, it's true. Damn. How come you guys get to return home with boyfriends and girlfriends while I'm still single."

It was then Cagalli's turn to blush.

Kira was slightly amused. "And who are we referring to, actually?"

"You and Lacus Clyne. Cagalli and Athrun Zala. Milly and - "

This time, Miriallia was not pleased. "I said stop it, Kazui!" With a smack on the over-perky boy, she flashed an apologetic smile at Kira and stormed out of the room, the door closing automatically after her.

The three were dumbfounded for a while, then Kazui started hitting his head with his balled up fist. "That was stupid of me. I shouldn't have teased her that way. I'll go apologize. See you later guys." And with this, Kazui hurried away, disappearing out of the door where Miriallia left.

Cagalli was every bit as sad. "Oh, right. Her boyfriend, Tolle died in the war." Her hand flew to her neck. "Oh, no... It was Athrun who... "

Kira tried to brush away the negative feelings that were trying to overcome him at the memory of his friend, Tolle's death. Athrun had killed Tolle in return for him killing Nicol. It was a viscous cycle, war. Again, Kira felt grateful it was over.

Cagalli bit her lip nervously. "Kira? Do you think I should apologize to her?"

"Why? You didn't kill Tolle."

"I know, but..."

Kira shook his head. Feeling slightly responsible for Miriallia's grief – he was the one who had started the cycle after all – he tried to explain. "Listen to me, Cagalli. These wounds in our hearts left by the pain of war, they will leave scars. No matter how hard we try to forget, they will always be there to haunt us. But it is up to us if we try to point fingers on who is at fault or not. Because in this game of war, we are all at fault and we are partly to blame, because we tried to play it. Milly will grieve, but she will learn from it. She's up to a good start by having forgiven. So don't try to point her finger on anyone by trying to apologize to her on something none of us could have helped. It was a battle we all had to fight. Okay?"

Cagalli looked over at him in disbelief.

Kira stared back at her questioningly. "What?"

She smiled. "For a moment there, you actually sounded older than me."

Kira smiled smugly. "Perhaps I am."

Cagalli didn't like that. "There is no way you're older than me."

 -==-  -==-  -==- 

Well thanks for the reviews again, guys. Whew! Really screwed up big time, but I think that pretty much covers it. Now for the fun part! The next chapter, they finally reach Earth!!!! Yay!!!!

Oh, and about Kazui, I know he ditched the crew but since I need more character interactions, he just had to be there. AND I DON'T CARE IF ANYONE OF YOU THINKS HE SHOULDN"T BE THERE!!! =) He wasn't very useful in the series, so I might as well use him now. =) wehehehehehe!