Author's Note: Finally the new chapter of Mou Ichido is done, and we're a quarter of the way through the story! It has been a struggle; what with writer's block haing been my closest friend for months and life being very good friends with writer's block. I was estatic to see that the story has reached 50 reviews! Celebration time. I will be posting the side story I had promised as soon as I'm done and it has been BETAed. Which brings me to the next bit of exciting news. Mou Ichido has a BETA! Thanks to nequam-tenshi who volunteered to BETA for me and speedily returned the chapter for your enjoyment.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, even if I didn't answer you all individually. *sheepish grin* I kinda lost track on which ones I'd replied to again. But I really appreciate all of them, even if they just say "great story, update soon" or something similar. It keeps me motivated to keep writing.

Now, enough rambling; on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I'm working building one of my own but at the current moment I do not own a Gundam or Gundam SEED. Or the Evanescence song Field of Innocence, which I've finally used in its entirety.

Warnings: Kira's flashback is a bit more mature than what I've written so far...I think. If you're a bit sensitive to that, please don't hesitate to skip the italic bits.

BETAed by nequam-tenshi


Kira stayed in his room for three days after the incident with Le Cruset, contemplating whether to confide in Athrun or not. The blunette allowed the smaller boy his space knowing that Kira would come to him when he was ready.

A few hours before they were due to arrive on the PLANTS found Kira reluctantly leaving the sanctity of his room for his first physical therapy session. Both Patrick and Athrun were present and the elder Zala gave him an encouraging smile.

"Alright Kira," the doctor started as he retrieved a manila folder from the desk, "A quick check up and then we'll go through some simple exercises okay?"

Athrun stepped forward and helped his petit fianceé onto the bed. Kira shivered but otherwise didn't reject the touch. The blunette smiles, taking as a sign that Kira was beginning to trust them a little.

The check up proceeded quickly with the doctor checking on the healing muscle and tissue.

"Well that's it for the check up," Doctor Lebellio said as he removed his gloves and made a few notes on the page in front of him. "There appears to be nothing wrong unless you've noticed something Mr. Yamato?"

The brunette fiddled with the edge of the blanket he was sitting on. "Well, I've been having these tremors that start affecting my hands and proceed to a full body shiver sort of thing. They've been getting stronger but they don't come very often, anymore."

The doctor nodded with a small frown before noting it in Kira's file, "It sounds as if there has been some nerve damage and I would rather you see a specialist first rather than I try and give prescribe something to you." He gave a card to Patrick "This is the best neurologist on PLANTS. I suggest making an appointment with her soon. It might be nothing but then again it might be something."

He then gave them a grin. "Up you go Mr Yamato. We'll see how well you can walk and move on from there."


Dearka and Nicol looked up from their discussion as the automatic doors opened and admitted a pensive Yzak. The two continued staring at the blonde as he took a seat in front of the fireplace.

"Yzak," Nicol ventured cautiously "Are you okay?"

The platinum blonde made no move to indicate that he'd heard the green haired boy. He merely continued staring into the flames warming the room.

Dearka leaned over and snapped his fingers in front of the unfocused blue eyes of his friend, hoping that would garner him a reaction. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one he'd been hoping for.

"Oww, oww uncle, uncle." Dearka whimpered as Yzak crushed his fingers.

"Don't ever do that again," Yzak growled as he released the bruised appendages.

"Sure, okay," the dark skinned boy agreed. "We just wanted to know what's up."

Yzak turned to face them, "We'll be reaching the PLANTS in eight hours," he said tonelessly.

His companions immediately became animated, "Really, you're not kidding us Yzak, we're so close to home?" Dearka exclaimed.

Yzak gave him a look.

"Man I cannot believe we're going to be home after such a long time." Nicol interrupted before a fight broke out, "I can finally practice on a decent piano."

"Maybe there will be a wedding during our time off," Dearka joked before making kissy faces.

Nicol laughed lightly while Yzak gave his friend a disdainful look. They all turned when the doors opened, expecting their commander.

"Tough session?" Nicol asked as Athrun finished inching his way into the room and laid the sleeping Kira on the sofa before dropping a pair of crutches next to Dearka's head.

"Yeah," the blunette sighed before taking the other side of Kira. "The doc's decided he need to use crutches to strengthen his muscles again. And he has to see a neurologist when we get back as there seems to be some nerve damage."

CRASH!

The three members of the Le Crusade team jumped at the sound. Yzak stalked out the door, pieces of ceramic crunching under his feet.

Dearka stood, "Crap, I'll go see what's wrong."

The stunned two nodded and the blond hurried after his livid friend.

Yzak wasn't sure why he was getting worked up about someone he barely knew but he needed to get away from the others as fast as possible before he did or said something he would regret.

"Yzak! Hey Yzak wait!" he heard Dearka call from behind but still he didn't slow his frantic pace. He had to get away.

Dearka panted as he watched the ill-tempered pilot round he corner and disappear from sight. 'What's up with him?' he puzzled as he began running after his friend once more.


Athrun smiled as Kira let out a small sigh and burrowed deeper into his covers. Normally, the blunette would have left his friend to sleep peacefully but after the draining physio session his dad had asked him to wait until Kira woke; just to ensure that he wouldn't be in pain after the long session. In conjunction, something deep within him had been urging him to stay.

Athrun had agreed. After many years he would finally be able to watch Kira sleep which, he had to admit, was more entertaining than anything he could do instead. Kira had never been able to sleep in the same position twice. It had puzzled and amused Athrun that his fianceé never ever repeated the same sleeping position, not that Kira moved much to begin with.

After settling himself in the visitor's chair, Athrun relaxed as the presence of the one he loved dearly soothed him into a restful sleep.


Kira whimpered as his foster father dragged him further and further into the dingy bar. The grip the man had on his arm was painful and sure to bruise the next day.

Finally, they stopped in front of a badly painted door, the faded name plate indicating that it was the manager's office. A swift rap on the door brought forth the ugliest, meanest looking man the young coordinator had ever seen.

"Brought another one for you Kay; a coordinator whom Kate adopted a few years back." Jamal slurred pushing Kira in front of him.

The man, Kay, ran his watery eyes over the brunette's shivering form. Rough hands grabbed Kira's face, turning it side to side.

"This one's extremely pretty Jamal. He'll bring in a lot of money. But first, I need to test him out before you get the cash."

Jamal pushed Kira into the dingy office once more before closing the door behind him. Kay circled the frightened preteen, feeling his arousal growing as the teary violet eyes followed his every move.

"Strip him." Came the short order as the brothel boss sat himself on his office chair.

Kira scrambled away as Jamal approached him, a predatory gleam in his eyes. He knew nothing good was going to happen to him if Jamal managed to strip him of his clothes. His foster father, however, was faster and managed to catch Kira by his hair, causing the brunette to cry out in pain. A sharp slap later and Kira was holding his stinging cheek, standing in front of Jamal.

"Strip coordinator or worse things than a slap will befall you." The man growled angrily.

Kay leaned forward, exhaling the smoke from his cigar "Now, now Jamal, he's feisty; I like that in toys. Then again, we are wasting time, bring him to me."

Before he knew it, Kira was seated in the greasy man's lap, frozen as rough hands wandered over his body. "You've been a naughty boy coordinator and now you have to be punished. But before we begin what's your name pretty doll?" Kay whispered into the frightened boy's ear as his hands roamed lower down the boy's body.

Kira remained silent, hoping Kay would take his reluctance to speak as an indication of his fear. The hands stopped and roughly pinched his nipples through his t-shirt causing Kira to cry out once more.

"ANSWER ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU!" Kay roared as he continued manhandling Kira.

The brunette sobbed, lowering his head. "Kira Yamato." he whispered.

Kay leaned back again, patting Kira on the head like a pet. "Good, now that wasn't so hard was it. We're going to have lots of fun Kira, just you wait and see. Now no more resistance and no one gets hurt okay baby doll," the man crooned before turning to Kira's foster father "Strip him Jamal and we'll see how well this one responds."

Later that night, Kira lay on his stained bed sobbing and trying to keep as still as possible so as to not aggravate his wounds. He couldn't recall much from after Jamal stripped him but the pain he felt was evidence enough to the torture the two men had put him through. The worst part though was the way Kay had pet his head after emptying himself and told him that he'd definitely become popular with the customers. Kira knew then that his fate had been sealed and there was nothing he could do about it.

Turning his head from the damp pillow case, the teen spotted his guitar resting next to his study desk which held a picture of his and the Zala family at an amusement park. He and Athrun were in the middle, grinning widely as the blunette gave him a sideways hug. Seeing the happy picture, and Torii, who had landed next to the framed memory, caused an intense sadness to well up within Kira. He turned away from the reminder of his once happy childhood to look at the barely visible moon, his tears glistening in the meagre light as his words were carried up to the heavens.

I still remember the world from the eyes of a child

Slowly those feelings were clouded by what I know now

Where has my heart gone?

An uneven trade for the real world

Oh I, I want to go back to

Believing in everything and knowing nothing at all

I still remember the sun always warm on my back

Somehow it seems colder now

Where has my heart gone?

Trapped in the eyes of a stranger

Oh I, I want to go back to believing in everything

Where has my heart gone?

An uneven trade for the real world

Oh I, I want to go back to

Believing in everything

Oh where, where has my heart gone?

Trapped in the eyes of a stranger

Oh I, I want to go back to believing in everything

I still remember...

Violet eyes closed as his body finally drained of energy. As he settled in for a night of nightmares, Kira breathed out the name of the one who would have saved him.

"Athrun,"

...he would never forget the one whom he had loved.


A rustling of the sheet woke Athrun from his slumber. The blue-haired teen stretched lightly before glancing over at his petite friend, thinking Kira was in pain. The sweat matting the brown hair down and the look of panic on the youthful face made Athrun forgo keeping his distance in favour of pulling the brunette from his nightmare.

"Kira," he called out softly, gathering the shivering body into his arms, "Kira, wake up; it's only a dream."

Kira stiffened at the contact and cried out in fright.

"Shh," Athrun soothed. "It's alright. It's only me, Athrun."

"Athrun."

The blunette smiled, "Yes, I'm right here, come on koishii, open your eyes for me."

Kira struggled a bit more before shooting upright with a gasp, violet eyes wide with fright. Athrun restored the lost contact, his heart breaking when Kira whimpered as he felt arms tightening around him.

The Aegis pilot remained silent as he waited for Kira's shivers to subside, whispering words of comfort to the frightened boy.

Once Kira calmed down enough to realise he wasn't in any more danger, he broke down into heart retching sobs.

"Athrun," he sobbed over and over while the teen held him tightly.

"I'm here Kira, I'm here" Athrun reassured, hating the way that Kira was being torn up "I'll never leave you again."

"Athrun, he...he..." Kira continued to sob as the memory replayed over.

"Talk to me Kiki, let me help you," Athrun urged softly, still rocking the distraught boy.

One look into the familiar emerald green eyes, filled with sadness for him and his suffering, were all Kira needed to finally make up his mind. He buried his head in the crook of his protector's neck and talked.


Yzak curled deeper into his covers when he heard Dearka knock on their closed door. He knew it wasn't fair on him since they did share the room but the platinum blond needed some time to himself. He couldn't understand why Athrun's Kira was affecting him so much. Indeed the younger boy was bringing back memories that he would rather forget but he usually had a better control over his emotions than his current state.

Sighing and turning away from the wall, ice blue eyes found the calendar that hung above his teammate's bed. They would be on Decembrius for the anniversary. Maybe it was time he made another visit.


"Now that the final mobile suit has been captured, our team will be based on Decembrius as a protection team. This allows for you to have time off while staying on call at all times. I must congratulate you on your outstanding efforts; you truly have been the best that the ZAFT academy had to offer. If there are no questions, then you are dismissed." Le Crusade debriefed his team the next morning. Once again, the blonde was without the mask, making him less intimidating and more animated.

Athrun raised his hand, "Sir, what will be done against Kira? He did kill two coordinators on Heliopolois and resisted relinquishing the Strike." Truth be told, Athrun though his fiancé had suffered enough but he knew the rules and didn't want any surprises while Kira was still recovering. He had carefully snuck away this morning after leaving a note and hoped that the brunette would still be asleep when he got back.

Rau ran his hand through his hair, "I doubt any charges will be brought up against him as he was from a neutral country and has obviously been forced into battle. The board might decide to file a case against the Earth Alliances for the crimes against him or at least inform ORB and have them take the necessary action. For now, I think just relax and help him heal. The Chairman will keep you informed. Anything else?"

Dearka raised his hand "When do we arrive?"

"In two hours Dearka," Nicol sighed, this question having already being raised.

"Okay," the dark skinned boy said with a smile "When do we have Kira's welcome party?"


Athrun gingerly opened the door to see Kira still fast asleep. He gave a soft smile before he remembered their late night conversation. The details of what Kira had gone through had horrified him and his heart had gone out more to the sobbing boy. He had been glad that Kira trusted him enough to divulge a piece of his past, however small it might have been. The blunette knew that he would have to be Kira's pillar of strength in order to support him as he recovered. He just hoped that the younger boy wouldn't have to suffer like he had ever again.

"Kira," Athrun called out softly as he snapped out of his thoughts, "Wake up my sleeping beauty; we've almost arrived at the PLANTS."

"Okay, I'm up," the brunette yawned before freezing in horror. Athrun noticed the change immediately.

"What's up koishii?" he asked, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

"You don't hate me now do you?" Kira whispered , playing with the fraying edges of the blanket. He didn't think he would be able to take it if Athrun hated him, especially after he now knew what had happened to him.

Athrun gathered the anxious boy into his arms, conveying everything he felt into the contact "Never, Kira. I could never hate you. Thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me."

Kira released the tension in his body and inhaled the fresh scent of his fiancé. "Thank you for not hating me Athrun. How far are we from the PLANTS?"

Athrun gently stroked Kira's soft locks, "About an hour and a half. I'll leave you get ready and we'll go see Dad before we disembark okay?"

Kira nodded before detangling himself from the comforting embrace. "I better get ready then. You can go and pack your things, I'll be fine."

Athrun hesitated.

"Go Athrun," Kira said with a smile, "I'll be okay."

Seeing the warm glow return to Kira's eyes was all the reassurance Athrun needed. Kira would be fine.


After a final gathering of belongings and a good, if brief, visit for Athrun and Kira, the Le Cruset team and the extra Versailius passengers were prepared to disembark.

"So Athrun, Kira, we'll be seeing you soon." Dearka said as the ship was finally docked and the ramp was brought in.

"Two weeks," Athrun confirmed as he adjusted the straps of his and Kira's bags. Patrick gave his son a confused look and Athrun mouthed that he would explain later.

The doors opened and they departed, Kira and Patrick bringing up the rear. Goodbyes were said and Kira managed to bring himself to shake Le Cruset's hand in farewell, making the two Zalas smile at the small progress. Soon, the small party were secured in a car and were cruising out of the station.

As Kira took in the familiar yet unfamiliar sites, tears silently poured down his face. Patrick gave the teen a sideways hug while Athrun took his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Welcome back Kira," the elder Zala said softly "Welcome back."


AN: And that's the chapter. Keep your eyes peeled for the side story; it won't be added as a chapter to this story:) Thanks again to nequam-tenshi for BETAing.

Until next time.