A/N: Well, I guess you are all not very interested in wat d author says (gathering from the last chapter) so let's go then…

Chapter 9: Eternal Promise

Kira looked first at the hankerchief, his eyes slowly travelling up.

Lacus was standing beside him, her face wearing a concerned expression.

She helped Kira to stand up as she shielded him with her umbrella.

"Kira, what happened? Why are you standing in the rain? Its dangerous, you could be struck be lightning," Lacus reminded Kira as Kira wiped his tears.

"All the better, then I would not have to feel the pain of Cagalli leaving me." Kira replied sorrowfully, as he returned Lacus her handkerchief.

"Its not the end of the world, Kira. Cheer up, things could get better," Lacus smiled warmly at Kira.

"Better? With Cagalli gone? You don't understand. You have never liked someone before. You have never experienced the feeling of your loved one loving someone else!" Kira retorted, looking angrily at Lacus.

"I…" Lacus looked stunned.

Kira did not wait for her to complete as he ran off, sweeping the tears off his cheeks.

"… have liked you before," Lacus muttered softly, watching Kira's diminishing shadow.

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Miriallia sat on the bench in the park silently. She could not believe that the model father in her eyes had actually been the cause of not anyone, but Dearka's father's physical disability.

The sight of Tad's gruesomely disfigured arm reappeared in her mind as guilt penetrated through her heart like a cold spear.

"Milly!" Miriallia looked up as she saw Dearka standing there.

Miriallia dropped her head in guilt. She did not know how to face Dearka.

"Its not your fault Milly," Dearka repeated, sitting himself beside Miriallia.

"You…you really don't mind?" Miriallia asked, turning to face Dearka.

"No. It was an accident. No one was to blame. So don't take it too hard ok? Your father really didn't know," Dearka smiled reassuringly as he wiped off her tears.

"Thank you, Dearka. I…I really didn't know how you will react. I thought you might leave me…" Miriallia uttered.

"Milly, I will never leave you no matter what happens," Dearka assured Miriallia, cupping her hands in his.

Looking at Dearka, Miriallia felt slightly better. She knew that she had chosen the right partner. She returned his smile, as she placed her head lightly on Dearka's shoulder.

The events that night had tired her, as Miriallia closed her eyes gently, enjoying the comfort Dearka's shoulder provided her, slowly falling into a deep trance.

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It was the last lesson of the day. Athrun Zala, however did not feel entirely happy. This was the last time he would get to see Cagalli during music class.

It had been the only thing to look forward to especially on a boring day like Friday for Athrun especially with History, Literature, Maths and Philosophy lessons squeezed into Friday's timetable.

Walking to the music room, he recalled that day's events. He still could not believe that Cagalli loved him. This made him smile slightly but no sooner, a worry arose.

Cagalli said she would tell Kira somehow. Had she done so? However, he did not have to wait long for the answer as he saw Cagalli walking in the opposite direction and rushed forward to meet up with her.

"Hi Athrun," Cagalli greeted enthusiastically. However, she let out a sigh the next moment.

"Its our last music class together today," she remarked disappointedly.

"Yeah," Athrun agreed, "I think I'll miss the touch of your fingers."

"Me too," Cagalli replied, "Remember our first lesson together? Where you taught me how to play the different chords?"

"Yeah, and the bashing Kira gave me after the lesson," Athrun nodded, rubbing his nose, as he remembered the incident.

"Kira…" Cagalli frowned at the mention of his name. She knew that she had broken Kira's heart that night, but she also knew that it would be better to end it early than late.

"Kira…so er…" Athrun paused, contemplating on whether he should ask the question.

"Yeah, I've told him," Cagalli said reading his mind, "But I think I've hurt him a lot."

"He'll understand," Athrun answered, "After all, you can't force love."

"Indeed!" the music teacher shouted, making everyone jump suddenly, "That's indeed the piece we will be playing today! You Can't Force Love!"

Cagalli looked at Athrun as they both broke out in laughter. Amidst their laughing, Cagalli gradually felt better as she knew that she had made the right choice.

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Dearka looked fixedly at Miriallia as she ate her noodles. The way she sucked in the noodles was so cute and funny that it caused Dearka to smile slightly.

However, in his heart, there was a huge boulder. Should he tell Miriallia? What if she gets angry?

At that the upward crescent on his mouth turned around, his eyebrows meeting in the center as he recalled that afternoon.

"Hello," Dearka picked up the receiver.

"Hi Dearka, its mum," Dearka's mother greeted.

"Oh hi Mum!" Dearka felt slightly surprised. Her mother rarely called him.

"I was thinking…I wanted to ask you…" Dearka's mother stuttered as if she was contemplating on whether to continue.

"What do you want to say Mum?"

"I wanted to ask you… Are you still going out with the Mariah girl?"

"Its Miriallia, Mum! And yes, is there any problem?"

"How can you still go out with her after learning what she did?" his Mum asked, flaring up at once.

"What did she do? She didn't do anything! It wasn't her fault!" Dearka retorted angrily, knowing full well what her mother meant.

"I don't care! Her family was the one who caused your father to be in this plight!"

"How many times must I tell you? Its not her fault! And I don't care too even if you object. I love her!"

"Love? You are too young to be talking about love! Anyway, I FORBID you to be with her, do you understand?" Dearka's mother shouted through the phone.

"I love her! Do YOU understand? She's the one I want to be with and I'm going to prove to you that she's not what you think she's like!" Dearka yelled back angrily as he slammed the phone down.

"Dearka! Dearka!" Miriallia shouted, waving her hand in front of Dearka, waking him up from his trance.

"What's going on?" she questioned, "You've been looking out of sorts tonight."

"Its just…" Dearka considered for a moment. After all, they did promise not to hide anything from each other.

"Please don't get angry when you hear this," Dearka pleaded before continuing, "My mother forbids us to be together."

"What? But…but why?" Miriallia thought for a moment before she came to realization.

"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise, I won't leave you, that's my eternal promise to you, at most we'll elope," Dearka answered, reading the look on Miriallia's face.

"Elope? Does it have to be that serious?" Miriallia blurted out, shocked.

"Why? Don't you love me?" Dearka questioned.

"I love you Dearka but…" Miriallia frowned as she considered such a possibility.

"Don't worry, I am only saying that we'll do that at worst." Dearka assured Miriallia, understanding her worries.

Miriallia sat thinking, why did things have to be so complex?

"Miriallia," Dearka looked warmly at her, "You are a nice girl, and I'm convinced she'll like you. Maybe, I can also ask my Dad to persuade her? That should work…"

"I hope so," Miriallia sighed.

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Kira sat in his driver's seat, his teeth chattering at what he saw.

Cagalli and Athrun gave each other a hug before waving goodbye at each other.

"Athrun…" Kira clenched his fists as he uttered his rival's name.

The hate was overwhelming as he could feel the blood pulsating in his brain. He hated Athrun so much. He was the one who stole Cagalli from him.

"Cagalli…" Kira started, his eyes following Athrun as he crossed the carpark to go back to his dormitory, "She's mine. You…you won't be able to steal her from me!"

At that, Kira cried out in rage as he stepped on the accelerator, making his car hurtle forward.

In his mind, there was only one word…hate.

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A/N: Argh! Well…well we shall see what happens next... Chow!