In the future chapter 7

Sigh.. finally updated again in the most fastest way that I can think. Hehe. I purposely abandoned my other responsibilities for the day for this one. Yes, to all those who reviewed, thanks. And to the people who pitied aril, well she is one sad girl.. I also pity her too.. But we can't change the fact that she has to be sober in this story. I did say I would finally disclose Aril's secret/identity before.. so let's hope, I do well in this one.. Okay that's enough blabbering for me.

Aril looked at Kira frantically. He had caught her again in an awkward/threatening situation. "Aril…" Kira whispered as he also readied himself from what will happen. Aril slowly placed down the sharp letter opener to her side and gave out a huge sigh. Kira approached her and took the sharp object away from her gently placing his hand over her blond hair. "Good girl." He said and looked at Athrun, who was still in the state of shock.

"Um.. Athrun…" Kira looked at his bewildered blue-haired best friend. "Huh?" Athrun looked back. Aril was still bowing her head and refused to look at him while her fist was in a tight ball. "Here… I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to." Athrun raised the guitar case and handed it over to Aril. Aril quickly grabbed it and gave it a fierce hug and looked sharply at Athrun. "Please don't ever do that again." She slowly mumbled. "Aril, I think you also owe Athrun an apology." Kira said softly. He was now an expert in handling children or younger people since he spent most of his years in the orphanage with Lacus.

"I… I'm sorry okay!" Aril shouted and gave out a huge blush. "Good. I suggest you rest now and try to stop thinking of stabbing anyone." Kira smiled at her. She fumbled back on the bed and quickly hid herself under the sheets.

"That was… I don't know… Why did she act like that? I wasn't doing anything bad.." Athrun sighed as soon as he and Kira left Cagalli's room. The girls haven't come back yet and they would likely keep to themselves what had happened between Aril and Athrun. "I feel that something weird is also going on around here Athrun.. But you see, I also can't help to not think that Aril is someone who would do something unpleasant or that she is crazy." Kira looked at his blue-haired friend. "What? I wasn't saying anything!" Athrun stammered. "But you were thinking it. It's written all over your face." Kira chuckled. Indeed Kira had a way of reading other people's minds and it seems that he has mastered his already. "I also know what you think in that nasty head of yours when you look at my sister." He continued and Athrun's face flushed. "Now kira.. it's not that I think about her in the most sexiest way I could think… it's aw crap!" Athrun blushed again furiously. Kira began to chuckle hard. They again completely forgot about Aril by now and was off to another topic: What goes inside that nasty head of Athrun Zala.

"Now, now Zala.. you're not shy about it aren't you? We all know for a fact that you and Cagalli did some intimate sessions together." Kira looked at him, suppressing his desire to laugh out loud. "How could you say that so casually? Aren't you her overprotective brother?" Athrun asked and if Kira were to describe what he looked like now, he would say he looked like a fresh ripe tomato ready for picking. "Well.. I'm overprotective. But if you are the one she is getting laid to, why not? You're my best friend after all.. And we did have an agreement on what not to do and to do to her." Kira shrugged. Athrun just looked at his brown-haired best friend, flushed. He has really changed. He's now open and direct. He smiled.

Aril lay down on the bed thinking. Cagalli and the others haven't come back yet and she cursed herself for acting so violent before. But she couldn't help it, taking her guitar case like that meant that something or a part of her was being taken away. She looked again at the small guitar case, it had scratches all over but it was still strong. If she were to shout things around here and there, she would only have thought about shouting at Athrun. However, KIra was always there overhearing things which always made her calm down and be tame. She cursed again. Why would Athrun still be here after all that he has done to Cagalli anyway? She bit her lip fiercely as she remembered her mother again.

Suddenly, a loud thud came from outside Cagalli's window. Aril jolted from the bed and quickly examined the outside. She looked at the dark and saw two figures moving around and waving at her. She looked at the two figures in shock and quickly darted out the room.

It was hard evading all the bodyguards that surround the mansion, but she had luck doing so nonetheless. She quickly approached the two figures and her face hardened. "So.. have you finally found what we've been looking for?" The man asked. "No.. I just got in the mansion.. I haven't made a tour yet, perhaps tomorrow if you don't mind." She snorted back. She disliked these two people in front of her but she had no choice, she wouldn't be here in the first place if it hadn't been for them. "Well.. be quick about it." The man said. "Why can't you just get to work tonight?" The other said. "I can't? Can't you see? I had a hard time enough evading the guards just to get to you two and you expect me to look for it tonight?" She answered back as she gritted her teeth.

This however didn't go unnoticed by the other man. "Are you trying to actually fight back?" The man snorted. Aril didn't answer but smirked anyway. The man got pissed and banged Aril in a nearby tree. She moaned by the pain but she wasn't going to let them think she gets hurt by this easily. "Look you dumb girl, we had enough trouble helping you just so you can get close to the princess like you asked. And the only thing we want in return is for you to get what we wanted understood?" The man snarled at her while the other stood there watching. Aril gritted her teeth. She want out right now from these two, she initially thought of using them anyway, instead the tables were turned when the other man spoke.

"Of course, If you don't want to do it anymore, you can back out. However, what would the princess think if she actually knew that you were part of the faked accident during the festival?" The man snickered. This made Aril's eyes widen. She didn't want that to happen, not in her lifetime. She only wished that she could get close to the princess and her lot (gang) that she actually gave in when these men offered it to her but with a price. "Okay. Just get what you want then you would leave me alone right?" Aril held on to the man's wrist whose hand was still holding on to her shirt. "Just that and you would go away." She looked back at the man with expressionless eyes. Her eyes talked of murder. She gripped the man's wrist tightly and the man made a small yelp of pain. They released her and took off.

Aril quickly landed on the grass when her legs failed her. She couldn't stop shaking. She just didn't understand why she could glare like that that talked of death and how she could manage to grip like she was some kind of superhuman. But in any case, what feared her most was getting her secret disclosed to the group and to the princess.

"Aril?" Lacus asked as she scanned the room only to find Aril gone. The sheets on her bed were tossed aside on the ground. "What's the matter Lacus?" Miriallia asked as she was shortly followed by Cagalli. "Aril.. she doesn't seem to be in here." Lacus looked at the two. "What? But we left her here.. And where the hell is athrun?" Cagalli yelled. "He was supposed to be here with Aril!" She continued and darted out of the room. "Come to think of it, we never did see Kira on the way to his room." Miriallia looked at Lacus who nodded and then followed Cagalli.

As Cagalli ran through the hallway, she didn't notice someone else as she turned to the corner. She bumped into someone sending her and that person to the red carpeted floor. "Ack!" She yelled as her butt came to feel the ground. "Eep!" The other yelled as a loud thump was heard. "what in the.. Kira!" Cagalli looked at her twin brother, who was now lying down at the floor with a hurt look in his face the same as hers. "You know Cagalli, you shouldn't be running around like that." Kira stood up and offered his hand to his blond haired sister so she can stand up. "It was not my fault. Where were you?" Cagalli snarled. " We've been looking for you." Lacus looked at Kira with a smile on her face. "Oh.. that.." Before Kira could finished, Athrun showed himself and came out from behind Kira. "We were just talking. Why?" Athrun looked at the group then to Cagalli, who seemed to have looked away as soon as their eyes met.

"Aril is nowhere to be found in my room." Cagalli snorted. "And you! You were supposed to look after her!" She continued as she pointed a finger at the blue-haired, emerald eyes (and extremely gorgeous) coordinator. "Wha.. But I did.. and she…" Athrun looked dumbfounded. Kira placed a hand over his shoulder, telling him that he shouldn't tell them about the 'incident' awhile ago. "Alright.. I'm sorry.. I left. But I left her she was all fine and dandy.." Athrun shrugged and looked at Cagalli's amber orbs again. Cagalli quickly restrained herself just so she wouldn't blush.

She still loved him and it's what's making her crazy. And how she would love to brush her hand in his beautiful, yet seemingly weird blue locks again. And then there was this urge to look again at his beautiful emerald orbs as well as smelling his intoxicating scent that made her seem not to let go of him forever.

"I think we should search for her then." Miriallia cut off the silence that surrounded the group. It was as if someone or everyone was waiting for a rather loud burp or (yech) fart that will break the silence into laughter. "I'll go and fetch Dearka.. and.. hopefully, yzak then." She waved off. Does this mean this is a separate search? And not individually as it may seem. Athrun thought. He looked at Cagalli again who doesn't seem to waste any energy into looking at him anymore. He frowned then looked at Kira who was smiling and signaling something to him. He can't make it out as he gave Kira a 'what?' look. Kira sighed and then spoke.

"Me and Lacus will go on our own search then.. See ya." Kira waved goodbye and then grabbed Lacus by the hand. Athrun stammered and watched the two as they sped off. Kira looked back at him and had that 'talk-to-her-but-don't-hurt-her-again-or-i-swear-I'll-blast-you-to-kingdom-come' look on his face as he and Lacus disappeared. Cagalli tried to mutter her brother's name but to no avail. She frowned and then tried to walk off but Athrun stopped her.

"wait… Aren't you going to search for Aril as well?" Athrun asked. "I am.. what the heck do you think I'm going to do?" Cagalli looked back at him, her hands on her waist and tapping her feet out of irritation. "Well.. we could do that together." Athrun mumbled but it was loud enough for Cagalli to hear. A 'what!' look was plastered all over Cagalli's face and then she finally spoke. "No thanks, as you can see, I can handle things pretty well on my own. I don't need anyone's PROTECTION." She readied herself to turn her back on him. Athrun scowled at what Cagalli had said. Especially when she emphasized the word 'PROTECTION' meaning it was something meant to stab him in the gut and fall flat on his face, dead for good. Putting on his stubborn attitude, he placed himself near Cagalli and looked at her steadily. "well, like it or not, I won't leave you alone as you go on and look for Aril." He said resisting his urge to grin at her. "FINE!" He heard Cagalli say and stormed off. Athrun sighed, 'she never changed' he thought. 'And that's what I really love about her.' He continued as he followed the blond-haired princess.

"Aril! Aril where are you!" Voices of the lot were heard all over the outside of the mansion. It was clear that Aril is still around, since there were guards at the gates and they were strict at who comes in and out of the mansion. "Aril!" Athrun yelled. He recalled the incident awhile ago and shrugged it off to concentrate looking for her. To him, Aril was not just any suspicious character and.. oh dang hell I say it, a crazy one, but also someone who is so unpredictable and well, confusing. So it all adds up, she was a psychotic mysterious woman! Athrun slapped his forehead at that thought. He wasn't exactly the type of person who judges other people easily, but what the heck, he can't help it.

"Guys! I found her! Dearka's voice bellowed around the huge garden. Everyone quickly ran to dearka's direction and found a soiled Aril on the ground sleeping. Lacus examined her thoroughly, and let out a sigh of relief. "She's fine, she just fell asleep." Yzak, to everyone's surprise, volunteered to carry Aril on his back. He snarled when he noticed everyone was staring at him dumbfounded and shocked. "She seems to be crying." Lacus approached Kira. "She had dry soiled tears at the sides of her eyes and cheeks." She continued and held on to Kira's hand. Kira looked at Aril and then to Athrun and Cagalli. He didn't know what to think anymore, everything around has been strange.

"Mo-mother?" Aril opened the door of their apartment. It was dark inside, and she can't help but feel in her senses that something is wrong. "Mother?" She asked again and still, there was no answer. She gulped and then stood in front of her mother's room. "Mom.. I'm home.. are you sleeping?" She asked and hoped that she really did. But why is she feeling so nervous? Was it because it was so unlike her mother to not greet her when she comes home? She always greets her and stares at her eyes for a few moments and says that her eyes are beautiful and that she was her little angel. She gulped again and feared for the worst. She opened her mother's bedroom door and shock tingled all over her body.

"MOTHER!" She yelled. Her mother was lying down on the bed, looking peacefully asleep but she really wasn't. On the ground was a bottle of anti-depressant pills and all of its contents gone. "Mother! Mother!" Aril yelled again and shook her mother. She was not breathing; she had overdosed herself to death. "IIEE!" Aril screamed as she made her way to the phone, hands shaking as she dialed it. "U..uncle.. Mo..mother… she's…" Aril voice croaked.

"MOM!" Aril yelled and stood up. It was already morning as the sun blinded her from the open windows. How long has she been asleep? She thought. "It was that dream again." Aril sobbed and hugged herself. She suddenly heard laughter from downstairs. Thinking it was the lot, she decided to stand up and get dressed. It was 10:30 am. She did stay up so much. Her head ached because of the dream and she had a bruise on her back because… Right, now she remembered, last night she saw those two men again. They wanted her to get something and they threatened her. She shivered and then went inside the bathroom. She opened the door and saw Cagalli literally puking on the toilet bowl. "Cagalli-san." Aril wiped her tears.

"A..Aril.." Cagalli stood up, took a towel and wiped the sides of her mouth. "are you okay?" Aril asked. "Yes, I'm fine. Hehe." Cagalli stifled a laugh and then continued. "It's not really a good idea to drink soda for breakfast.. It makes everything erupt inside here." Cagalli tapped her stomach gently. Aril looked at it, it was a bit bulky considering Cagalli's features. She is indeed pregnant just like what she overheard at the ship on their way home. She really did a good job hiding it to everyone by adding a few minor adjustments at her clothes perhaps with the help of Miriallia and Lacus obviously. However, Aril could not help but think that her thin appearance helped with her stomach not being showy. She frowned at the last statement. 'She's not being healthy. If she keeps this up, it's not good for her and the baby.' She thought.

"hey Aril, were you crying?" Cagalli asked and approached the 16 year old girl. "Uh.. no.." Aril shrugged. "You are.. don't lie to me. What happened to you anyway? Last night and all…" Cagalli tied her hair in a bun. Aril looked at her trying to hold back again her tears. "I just dreamt about my mother that's all." Aril continued and gave out a huge sigh. Cagalli's features softened, and then she took Aril's hand. "hey you know what, no need to be sad anymore, we are your friends now.. if you want, we are your family now." She smiled and led her out of the room. Aril cupped her faced and sobbed. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, a family, My family. She thought.

A! I want Cagalli and Athrun to be my family too! (Pushes Aril) hehehe. Anyway, hope you love this chapter. And Aril gets pitied more day by day. She should just kill herself to save her of her misery. Just when Cagalli calls Aril her family, she's up to no good! Of course, it's not her fault but still! Hehehehe. Poor Aril and so does Athrun. Getting ignored and stuff by the one person he loves and then bickered by his so called 'psychopathic mysterious daughter' sigh, when will it all end?

See you guys in the next chapter. Thanks for the reviews! Yay! I love reviews, it's what keeps me going and going and going!