I'm sorry it took so long, but here is the next capter.

Chapter 9

Athrun was on his way onboard the Vesalius, he had a sad look on his face it was are few days since Lacus supposed funeral, but something was strange about it he had heard that Siegel Clyne hadn't shown up at the funeral and Athrun had see him just yesterday, he seem more happy than a man who just supposed to have lost his daughter should be.

Athrun was getting more and more convinced that the pink hair girl was still alive somewhere out there, but where could she be, and if Mr Clyne knew, why did he kept quiet about it, what the heck was going on.

"Hey Athrun, how are you?" Athrun turned and saw Nicol coming to him.

"I'm fine Nicol" he said as the two flew down the hall on the Vesalius.

"I'm sorry about Lacus" Nicol said next to him, Athrun looked over at his friend, then nodded slowly.

"I never been down on the earth before" Nicol said thing to get Athrun to lighten up.

Athrun smiled a little "yeah well is my first time too."

Kira and Mu was still in the mess hall eating and talking, Kira couldn't help but wonder where the commander was doing with the all the food he was eating, "Sir haven't you had enough to eat?" Kira asked as Mu began eating a kebab.

"Well we are soldiers and soldiers should eat when they get the chance, hmm this taste great with yogurt sauce" Mu said as he eat his kebab.

Kira blink as he saw the face of the Desert Tiger saying the same thing, Kira could help but smile as he thought about Cagalli and the Tiger fighting over the sauce, actually that had been really funny.

Mu looked over at the kid as he was still stopping his face with all the food that got to close to him, "what so funny? Do tell" Mu said, Kira looked back at him, he was about to tell him what he was thinking about, when to hold place shocked, and the sound of a giant explosion could be heard. "Damn it, I was not done eating!?" Mu yelled as he jump to his feet, Kira just rolled his eyes at the blond man, "hey kid I saw that, is three days in the brick for insulting a higher rang!" Mu told him, Kira just rolled his eyes again as they both left the room in a hurry.

On Andrew Waltfelds ship the Lesseps, Andy was busy getting ready to fight the Archangel again, but now after he found out that miss Lacus was on board he had changed his plans, he zipped up his piloting suit, as Aisha walked over to him also in her suit, "are you sure we are ready for this?" Andy smiled at her as he looked her up and down in the body tight suit.

"It's not like we can asked them to come back later, but all of us who support Mr Clyne is ready and DaCosta know what to do" he said as he took another look at her in the suit, "you look really good in that suit, it shows you body really well" he said as she looked at him, "hentai" she whisper to him as she walked of.

Andy followed her, they got to the hanger where a silver hair boy ran over to them, "MR Waltfeld why the heck are we stationed on the top of the Lesseps deck, I have something I need to pay back!" Yzak yelled angry at the man.

Andy looked at the boy he may be Ezalia Joules son but there where no special trement on this ship or from him. Andy know that it was Kira and the Strike that had give the boy that scar on his face "is all of the Le Creuset team like this, yelling at there commander?"

Yzak didn't answer he just continued looking at the man, "we fought the Legged ship many more times then you people" Andy rolled his eyes, "and how did it go did you get the ship?" Andy asked not really hiding that he was mocking the boy.

Yzak squeezed his hands together in anger as he looked at the man.

The other boy came over to them he put a hand on Yzak's shoulder "Yzak let's go" they turned and walk of.

"Don't worry we will get the Strike this time" Yzak smiled as he heard that. He knew Dearka was right this time he would get the Strike for sure.

Kira was in the pilots locker room on the Archangel and had his helm in his hand, Mu was also there talking in to the speakers, "Yeah you got it, Launcher on the first Skygrasper and Sword on the second!" he yelled in to the speaker, someone at the other end asked something, "because the kid want's the Aile, and is faster for me to just switch aircraft!" He turned away from the speaker and looked at Kira, "It's really just up to the two of us, those gorillas can't do much against Zaft" Mu said looking down at the floor, but he did see Kira give a small nod, "yeah I know."

"Kira whatever the Tiger guy has planed, you look out for yourself ok!" Mu said as he walked to the door.

The door opened and, Haro jumped in the the room, with Lacus following it "KIRA! KIRA!" Haro yelled, Mu smiled and left the room.

Both Lacus and Kira looked at each other not knowing what to say finally "be careful" Lacus said in a low voice, so Kira almost didn't hear her, he steep closer to her and took her hand and gave it a gentle squeezed, Lacus look up at him.

After just a second she pulled him in to a hug, she needed him close right now to make sure he was there, she did not want to lose him. She felt Kire hugging her back and she felt his hand ran through her hair, "please be careful I don't want to lose you now" she whisper in to his ear.

Kira nodded, "I will be right back" he whispered back as he continued rubbing her hair, the two of them stood there till they heard Miriallia's voice "Ensign Yamato and Commander La Flaga, Please go to your machines."

Kira moved away he was still holding her, he looked in to her eyes, "I have to go" he said Lacus nodded she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I will be here waiting." Kira smiled at her then left the room and ran for the hanger.

Kira jumped in to the Strikes, "Ok kid are you ready?" Murdoch asked

"Yes, Kira Yamato Strike going out!" Kira yelled as the gundam left the Archangel. As he got outside he was attacked by a helicopter, he got the shield up then he shoot it down with the machine guns in the Strikes head, he got the MS down on the ground and where he saw a BuCUE coming at him with full speed. Strike jumped back and shoot of the rifle at the BuCUE, that jumped to the side.

Kira felt an angry look ran over his face as he looked at the BuCUE, two more joined the first and the three dog like MS rolled around him, Kira looked confused it was like they where waiting for something, suddenly one of them stopped and attacked him from behind with it's beam sabers out.

Kira turned around fast and slammed his shield in to the MS, as it fell to the ground he was about to shoot it but the two other's was coming at him, he jumped out of the way as the BuCUEs landed where he had just been, he shoot of his beam rifle, and hit one of them and it blew up.

The Strike got back down on the ground, Kira saw the two BuCUEs running at him they shoot of there missiles at him, the Strike jumped to the side and he used the rifle to shoot another BuCUE, the last one stopped and just stood watching him, as Kira looked at the MS he had it like it was a big dog or wolf that was looking for a weeknees.

The pilot looked at the Strike he had expected that the three of them could take it down, "I will get you" he whisper as he got ready to attack.

After a half minute where the two mobile suit had just stood looking at each other, the BuCUE ran over at him, Kira dropped the rifle and pulled out his beam saber he ducked under the BuCUE as the MS was over him he slammed the saber up in to it, where he cut the MS in half, he jumped out of the way as it blow up.

As he got his MS back down on the ground he picked up his beam rifle then he took a deep breath, and ran of to look for other enemies, it didn't take him long to find some.

Mu La Flaga was right now having the time of his life, he was flying around all over the place destroying all the ZuOOTs he laid his eyes on. They did not have a chance against him, some of them was trying to shoot him down but the Skygrasper was to fast for them, and having the Launcher Strike on the plane was just heaven, "I don't get why the kid don't use this thing more often" he whispered to himself as he shoot of the giant beam cannon at the Lesseps, destroying more of the ships weapons.

Suddenly something shoot after him it was first now that he saw the Duel and Buster on the ships deck, "you two again" he said and shoot back after them, Buster jumped to the side and the shoot missed.

The Archangel was in trouble another Zaft ship was attacking them from behind and the ship was stuck on something outside, "get us lose" Natarle yelled, at Arnold.

"I'm trying" the blue hair man answered back.

"THIS IS IRRITATING LIKE HELL!!" Yzak yelled as he shoot after some of the enemies, Dearka didn't answer he was still looking after the fighter plane, he could see it was fighting near the Legged ship suddenly "THERE HE IS!" sounded Yzak voice as the Duel jump of the Lesseps.

Dearka blinked as he looked down at his friend who was trying to get his MS to walk on the sand, he did not get fare before he tripped, he heard Yzak course loudly, he tried hard not to laugh as the Duel tripped again.

"Ok Aisha are you ready?" Andy asked the women.

Aisha nodded, "yes I'm ready, I just hope that the boy understood what you meant..." she said as the two of them got in to the LaGOWE, "Yeah me to" Andy said. Soon after they where of, and out looking for the Strike.

It did not take long for them to find the kid he was in the center of the battle, fighting all those BuCUEs that got to close to him.

Cagalli was mad like hell those damn BuCUEs why the heck was they so hard to take down, she shoot of her bazooka at the one behind them, she hit it but it was not really damaged, the BuCUE gave a jump and tripped the car over.

Cagalli slowly lifted her head as the BuCUE ran of not really checking if they where alive or dead.

Kisaka come over to her "are you ok Cagalli?" he asked.

As the girl jump to her feet. "Yes I'm fine" she said and looked around as she saw the Archangel.

It was obvious to all there that the white ship was in trouble. "Danm it the Archangel!" she yelled and ran of.

"CAGALLI!" she heard Kisaka yell after her.

The blond girl got in to the ship and ran to the other Skygrasper that was there, luckly she had tried the simulator on this thing, "hey!" yelled the chief engineer and ran to her.

"What do you think you are doing?" he yelled as she jump in to the plane.

"I'm taking this thing out!" she yelled and began to start it up.

"NO way!" he yelled, but it was to late as the girl was already warming up the engine, and he was forced to open the hanger door and let her out, the Skygrasper left the Archangel and join the fight.

Kira just destroy the last BuCUE that was in site, he looked around for something else as the crontrole began bibbing, he got out of the way as a orange MS jump out of no where at him. "There you are boy" sound the voice of Andrew Waltfeld over the radio. "Are you ready for our play?"

Kira blinked as the man asked him that, he didn't know what to say, as he looked at the new four legged MS,

"well yes I hope" he finally said softly.

"Good lets go!" the tiger yelled as the LaGOWE jump forward. Kira jump back and shoot of his beam rifle after the MS, it moved to the side and shoot back with the cannons on is back.

Kira used the shield to defend himself from the shoots, he jump back and again shoot of his beam rifle, but the MS got over the shoot and ran at him, Kira got the shield back up but he was still knocked over. Kira gave a scream as the Strike landed on it's back, he opened his eyes and saw the orange thing coming at him.

He let go of the rifle and hurried pulled out a beam saber, he thrust the saber out, he hit the MS on it's left side then he gave it a kick away from him.

As Andy landed, he looked at the Strike, that kid was good in that machine, "Wow I can see why you like that kid so much Andy, he is good." Aisha said to her lover.

Andy smiled to himself "yeah I know, he was much better when we where serious" he said.

"Well we better let him win the next time" he said, as they ran forward with there beam sabers out.

The two MS was about to meet in mid-air when suddenly five missiles came out of no where, Strike got knocked over on it's back but other wise it was not hurt, but the LaGOWE was not so lucky it had taken the most of the missiles hit and many parts of the machine had blown out, "Aisha are you ok?" Andy asked week as pain ran all over his body, he got no answer.

"Aisha!" still no answer.

He tried to move foreward to see her but he was stook in his seat, as he looked up he saw the back of the Duel standing infront of him, "I hope you will be ok kid" he whisper as pictures of Aisha and Kira's faces ran through his mind after that he passed out.

Kira was really confused as he looked at the Duel, he knew that this was not part of the play as Mr Waltfeld had said, he took another look at the LaGOWE, as he heard a voice over the radio "I will get you this time Strike! this time I will destroy you!" the voice said. Kira looked down at the energy, he was almost out of power, then he looked back at the Duel it was up to is knees in sand, it had a beam saber in the right hand and it was obvious that who ever piloting the gundam was ready to fight and kill. Kira slowly bite his lower lips and a little blood ran from his lips as he looked at the machine.

Suddenly the Duel jumped out of the sand and slashed it saber forward after the Strike, Kira easily got out of the way, he ran forward and was about to hit the Duel with his own saber when the last of the power left the Strike, "ARR damn it" he whisper as his MS turned gray he hurried, jumped back and nearly avoided the Duels saber. "HA you are finished today!" the voice said.

Yzak shoot of the rail gun on the right shoulder trying to hit the Strike but it jump out of the way, "he can't keep this up" Yzak whispered happy to himself, he was about to move forward when his MS again tripped in the sand.

Kira looked at the Duel as it fell, he took the time to drop the Strike pack, he kept the shield and pulled out one armor schneider.

The Duel got back up it was still up to it's knees in sand and it still had a beam saber in is right hand, Yzak charged or at least tried to, but it was really hard to move in the sand and he almost tripped again in his attempt to get to the Strike.

Kira ran forward and slammed his shield in to the Duel, knocked it over on it's back, it sat back up and shoot of the railgun trying to hit the Strike, Kira moved to the side he shoot of the machine guns in the head and hit the Duel, that was again trying to get up.

As Yzak got up he put away the saber and pulled out his beam rifle, he shoot both the rifle and rail gun after the Strike, Kira used the shield for the first two shoots then he took of running, as the Duel continued opening fire at him, Kira ran around trying to avoid the shoots. "You can't avoid me forever!" Yzak yelled over the radio.

Kira coursed to himself, he knew that whoever was in the Duel was right, then he saw it the seed, he ran behind a sand bank, trying to hide from the enemy MS, after a little time trying to keep away from the Duel he saw a Skygrasper flying around destroying the Lesseps weapons with the Sword Strike pack, "hey Mu is it you that's using the sword?" he asked.

Cagalli blinked as she heard Kira's voice, "No is me Cagalli" she said and was almost shoot down but luckily avoided it.

"Hmm do you think you can drop the pack directly over me?" Kira asked. Cagalli was confused why did he need that but if he asked she thought that she better do it "Ok I will try" she said and flew away from the battle.

It did not take long for the blond to see the Strike it was obviously that Kira was hiding from something, she got over him "Ok Kira, here!" she called as she drop the pack. Strike jumped up and the melee weapons was put on the gundam, Kira landed and activeted the Phase Shift Armor.

Kira ran over the sand it did not take him long to see the Duel, he jumped forward and attacked with the sword. Yzak blinked as the Strike came out of nowhere and attacked him, he was choked to see that it again was heavy armed, he shoot of the beam rifle but the Strike jumped over the shoots and trusted the sword after him, Yzak moved to the side to avoided the sword, but he couldn't move well in the sand so the right arm of the Duel was cut of.

Kira was about to attack again, when he heard another voice, "leave him alone" it said, Kira jumped away as the Buster attack him, Kira looked at the two MS as he hold the sword in front of him, still ready to fight.

"Come Yzak let's go, we already got the retreat signal and there is no way we can beat him with our suits half covered in sand" Dearka said as he moved over to the Duel, "DAMN IT!" Yzak yelled as the two of them turned around and left the area.

Kira really want to follow them, but there was other things to do, he turned the Strike and ran for the LaGOWE.

As he got to it, he saw a red hair man and a few others trying to open the cockpit, "Mr Waltfeld, Is he ok?" Kira asked, DaCosta looked up at the Strike, "I don't know yet, but I really hope so" DaCosta said, trying not to cry but deep inside he really want to. Two of his best friends may just be dead, killed by a soldier on there own side.

When he saw what the guy in the Duel did. He had immediately given the order to retreat there was only a few else on the Lesseps that had seen what had happened.

"Get back to the Archangel" DaCosta said to the boy. Kira didn't say anything he felt tears running down his face, he claw back in to the MS and slowly walked back to the Archangel, as he got his MS inside the ship he got out of the machine.

Tears was still running, he felt two arms around him, hugging, he opened his eyes and saw something pink. It took him a second to find out who it was, "Lacus" he whispered as he moved his arms around her.

Lacus slowly ran her hands up and down Kiras back as the boy cried, "It will be ok, everything will be ok" she whisper in to his ear, she heard him said her name again, "I...I...did not want it to end like this" he said and pressed his face in to her hair it was so soft, she nodded "I know Kira, I know" she said as she continued rubbing his back.

Murrue was sitting quietly in her seat on the bridge, she didn't understand why the ship didn't have more damage than it had, a more confusing thing was that suddenly the Lesseps had shoot the thing that the Archangel was stucked on why the heck will they do that, she didn't get it at all. "I need coffee" she said and left the bridge.

To be continued.