Chapter 7: Inevitable

Little Falcon: sorry for being late yet again. I hope you'll forgive me. Here's an update as a peace offering. Read and review please…

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

They're damn good! His mobile suit took another strong hit, making his cockpit shake violently. His best friend was in the same situation as he in now.

"Your skills are great. You guys are just shaken up because the level of your opponents are probably the same or greater than yours," her head feels like it was split open after it bumped onto something hard during the collision but she tried not to look in pain. Her onyx eyes watched the monitor closely while she felt his viridian eyes on her.

"Templars are humans born with the abilities of a coordinator. But unlike you guys, we, Templars were born without a single strand in our gene touched. You can say that we are the natural coordinators. Born almost perfect…"

"Almost… you mean," Athrun's eyes focused on their opponent's mobile suits. In his peripheral vision, he swore he saw her smirk confidently.

Opening the line of communication with Kira, the lady Templar began to bark orders at them, which they blindly followed. All her commands were complicated but it suited their level. It was as if she memorized their moves and skills with just being a spectator in this battle alone.

As their final opponent exploded in mid-air, the two Gundam suits reflected the glint of the fire on their metal body.

"Templars… are at this level eh," Kira was panting heavily as they landed on the ground.

"But for you to be able to point out their weakness just like that… you're at a different level…" the tired smile on Athrun's lips disappeared as he saw his companion as leaning on his shoulder, unresponsive. "Yvaine…" he gently touched her face only to feel something warm and thick trickling from her head. His blood stained hand stared mockingly back at him as he gazed at it. Somehow this scene happened before.

"Yvaine…" a voice called her from her dreams and back to reality. Her eyes stirred open. Viridian green. That was the first color she saw. Then she realized that they were his eyes. Something warm and soft touched her cheek tenderly. "How are you feeling?" he asked with a low tone.

Even with her pain, she can't help but smile reassuringly as she heard the worry in his voice. "I see we're still alive," she sat back with his help.

"They'd be dead if not for you," the pink haired coordinator appeared in the doorway with a change of bandage in her hands. Her lover was at her side with a relieved smile on his face.

"They wouldn't be in that situation if not for me," she bowed her head in disgrace as she gripped her blanket. The three coordinators in the room could only let her outburst be heard. "You have my thanks for coming to my rescue last night but with what you did… it caused the worst case scenario for your world…"

"… they can say they're only here to come get me. When they do, you'll end up being the first one to draw blood. War is inevitable," she spat as she shook her head helplessly. "I'm so sorry…"

"I think that even if we didn't do anything. They'll still find a way to start the war," Lacus sat on the foot of her bed and held her hands. Athrun and Kira nodded their head in agreement.

"We never intended for your planet to be involved with our war," she bit her lower lip in anger until it bled. Then her vision grew pitch black again.

Athrun automatically caught the lady Templar as she fell unconscious yet again. Quietly, he laid her back in bed and pulled a blanket over her. The three coordinators left her room without a sound.

The next time she woke up, she was already feeling better. One of the perks of being a Templar. Naturally, everyone in the house was fast asleep. The sound of the ocean waves called to her again.

The ocean during night time looks so different from what it looks like under the sunlight. Moonlight sparkled on the black waters like diamonds. The water's glassy surface became a blurry reflection of the star-filled darkness.

Persistent waves tickled her toes as she sat by the shore while her mind wandered off. There's a traitor within us… but who? Hugging her knees, she tried to think of every one of her companions. The sound of the waves was drowned by the chaos in her head. Her long black hair flowed like a veil on her back as she leaned her head on her knees. How can I possibly suspect anyone?! Then a flash of viridian flash through her memory, Yvaine unconsciously bit her lip gently. The addicting warmth of those lips seemed to have been carved immediately into her subconscious.

"It's good to see you're already up," that deep, rich voice pulled her out of her reverie. Sitting quietly beside her, his viridian eyes stared at the dark ocean. For a while there was a comfortable silent. Each of them just basking in each other's presence.

"A…about what happened…" the lady Templar stuttered embarrassingly as her face grew hot and turned red.

"Are you sorry?" Athrun immediately cut her statement as he gazed into her dark orbs.

"W…what?"

"Do you regret… us kissing?" he wasn't sure why he was even asking these questions. At that time, he definitely liked what he felt. It didn't feel like he was betraying Cagalli's memory… it felt the opposite. Right now, he didn't want to lose that feeling again.

She was blushing like hell that much she knew. Being under his gaze, feels like being lost in somewhere safe and comfortable. "No…but…" Even before she can finish what she's about to say. His lips drowned her words on the spot.

Instinctively, Yvaine closed her eyes and let her other senses feel him. As his hands traveled to her nape to tilt her head, she opened her mouth to let him explore it thoroughly. Her hands slowly lifted from her side to caress his muscled arm gently.

What is this… this feels… strangely familiar…

Maybe that's the reason why she didn't protest when Athrun pushed her softly to the sand and deepened their intimacy.

Little Falcon: read and review please