Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Fllay's Decision
By Kuwabara99
Chapter 10: The Journey
C.E. 71. September 27
At that very moment, the first Bloody Valentine War was over. The 2nd Battle of Jachin Due resulted in the destuction of half the Earth Alliance Fleet, the Lunar Base, and the nuclear stockpile, while Zaft had lost Boaz and Jachin Due along with the superweapon Genesis.
Thanks to the Three Ships Alliance, the radical leaders of Zaft, Blue Cosmos, and mad commander Rau le Crueset were stopped from destroying the Earth and the Plants. On this day however, there was very little rejoicing on both sides. Recovery was what this day was about as both military sides were rescuing lost soldiers and repairing all the damage that was caused.
Meanwhile, both the Justice and Freedom had returned to the Archangel. Everyone waited for them to finish docking procedures before entering the bay. Down came Athrun from the Justice, greeted by his friends Yzak and Dearka along with some cheers from the crew.
Then Kira came down the zipcord, with Fllay held by one arm as he descended to the floor. Huge roars of cheering echoed the room as the crew of the Archangel surrounded them. They both took off their helments and were in awe of the attention they were getting.
Athrun looked over at them and smiled, finally understanding why Kira was so adamant at protecting his friends. Having friends to protect can make you do amazing things. Back on Orb, he learned to do that when having to save Kira from the druggie trio. Athrun began to wonder who this red-haired girl was, she had exited the cockpit with him and he seemed rather close to her. Athrun took this chance to find out as he walked up to them.
Kira noticed his friend coming over and met him halfway, shaking his hand and smiling. "We did it Athrun, the war is over," he said. Athrun smiled back and said, "Indeed it is. It looks like a lot of change is going to come from now on. Tell me though, who is this girl that you carried down from the Freedom?"
Kira realized what he was asking and chuckled. "I'm sorry Athrun, I forgot to mention with all this attention we've been getting. This is Fllay Allster- the girl whose voice you heard a few months ago back at Mendel. As far back as Heliopolis, we've known each other through many instances, so this story will take quite a while to tell. First off, while learning at Heliopolis technical school, I've always had a crush on Fllay and was always looking at her during classes," he said.
On hearing that, Fllay's face went a bright red- she had never known that he had paid that much attention toward her while they were living there. She thought back to those times and remembered that he was always quiet and smiled whenever she looked his way.
Kira then spoke up again, "After that, when the colony was attacked by Zaft, I was able to retrieve the broken lifeboat with Orb citizens and Fllay inside and she surprised me with a big hug in midair. At that point I thought my luck had changed. Protecting her and my friends were my top priortiy while on the Archangel."
"Then something happened on the way to Earth. The Earth Forces sent their advance fleet to escort us to the 8th Fleet group, but Zaft sent their forces to intercept them before we could meet up. Fllay's father was in the flagship of the group and she asked me to protect him, but once I got out there I had no way of getting to the ship because you had decided to fight me. The GINNS were able to weaken the ship while the Vesalius finished it off," Kira said in a sad tone.
Athrun remembered back to that fight and looked down. "I had no idea you were fighting that hard back then for someone...I was so preoccupied with how the Archangel used Lacus, that I didn't see your reasoning for staying with your friends. I am truly sorry for those events Kira," he said.
Kira nodded and said, "It's all right Athrun. The result of these events really brought me a backlash from Fllay here, but it started a chain reaction for me to protect this ship even more fiercely and I became determined to protect everyone at least until the time we got to the fleet. Once we arrived there I was set on leaving the Archangel with the Orb civilians, but I found out my friends were staying because Fllay wanted to join the Earth Alliance. At the last minute, I decided I wouldn't abandon Fllay and the others to future attacks by Zaft, so I stayed."
Kira then said, "When I went to the changing room near the dock, I saw Fllay in the room, and she hugged me for staying. At that time, I noticed that she planned on taking the Strike out cause I wasn't around and I decided that I would fly it for the both of us. She gave me my first kiss that moment and I felt like I could do anything. That is, until Yzak here took out that Orb shuttle, which knocked me off course and made us end up in Africa."
Yzak looked down at hearing this but listened on as Kira spoke more, "I was so distraught from losing those Orb citizens that I broke down in my room. Fllay came to me and did all she could to calm me down. It was then that she and I shared our first night together. It was an important moment for me because the Desert Tiger sent his forces to attack that very morning and I went out there more determined than ever to protect the Archangel. If not for Fllay, I probably would have failed in this act." Fllay smiled despite her blushing from recalling his words of that night. Everyone else was in shock, mostly Athrun from hearing of this.
"After getting past Morassim in the Indian ocean we made it to Orb, and once there I was so engrossed with working on the Natural OS for the Astray units that I forgot that I had Fllay as well. She urged me to see my parents, which were actually my aunt and uncle. However, I didn't care to because I believed that they made me a Coordinator for reasons I couldn't understand. Fllay thought I didn't want to see them because I pitied her for not having a family to see, which led to me making the worst mistake of my life. I told her that our relationship was a mistake. She cried against my chest and left the room. I felt so guilty at that moment," Kira said. Fllay came over and rubbed his back to comfort him.
"Thanks Fllay," Kira smiled at her before continuing, "Once we left Orb the fighting with the Crueset team intensified and near the Marshall Islands I destroyed the Blitz, which was trying to protect Athrun. Before my last sortie on the Archangel, Fllay wished to speak to me- I told her to wait till later. I had no idea that later would be months away. Our next meeting, the fighting was the toughest of all. Athrun was fighting me tooth and nail until my friend Tolle tried to help in a skygrasper. Athrun tossed his shield at the plane, destroying it and putting me in a fit of rage. We tore at each other until he blew up the Strike with the Aegis self-destruct. I was found injured badly and taken to the Plants by Reverand Malchio. Thats when Lacus gave me the Freedom to return to Earth," Kira said.
Fllay responded to him with, "Alright Kira, I'll take the story from here." Kira nodded and let her continue. "I was so shocked when I found out Kira was missing or even dead and then things got worse onboard. I almost killed Dearka because of my loss and once we got to Alaska I was to be transferred away with Natarle and Mu. Before that, however I was kidnapped by Rau le Crueset and things got very hectic for me while I was in captivity. I even had a chance to shoot Rau at one point, but he told me that the Zaft officers would kill me if I did so and told me that I was on borrowed time because he got me out of Alaska before the Cyclops System went off."
Fllay sighed at this point and continued. "He made me watched the Battle of Panama, which was a horrible experience. So much loss of life and I could do nothing but watch. After a while, the Battle of Orb occured and around that point I was taken to space by him. He planned to attack the Eternal near Mendel and send me back to the Earth Alliance under Azrael's command. Thats when I heard Kira's voice again and rejoiced to know he was alive- I had hoped to see him again, but didn't expect it to happen this way. In the end, things worked out for the both of us, so I'm very glad to be safe back here with him..." she said as she put an arm around his waist.
Kira blushed at this and said, "Well then...thats how it all happened everyone. Anyway, I have something for you to give to Lacus." He pulled out a silver ring on a necklace he had around his neck and put it in Athrun's hand. "It came in handy for the last battle. Please thank her for me if you will, and tell her I'm sorry I couldn't do this in person. I'm rather tired from all this." he said.
Athrun smiled and said, "All right Kira, I shall take this back to her for you. I plan to return to Zaft anyway. Tell Cagalli I'm sorry since I must atone for my father in some way. Take good care of Fllay and your friends here Kira. I wish you the best of luck until we meet again. Where are you guys heading now?"
Murrue spoke up at this, "We are heading to Ame-no-Mihashira to pick up the Orb refugees and then return to Orb for a rebuild. Maybe you could visit sometime before a peace treaty is made?" Athrun nodded in affirmation and said, "Sounds like a plan. Take care everyone." He waved to them as Yzak, Dearka, Shiho, and himself headed off.
As Kira waved goodbye, he yawned a bit and said, "Request permission for some rest captain?" Murrue nodded his assent and replied, "Of course Kira, you deserve it. Take as much rest as you need until I call for you." Kira smiled as he headed for his room with Fllay in tow.
Once they entered the room, the both of them looked at the main bed of the room for what seemed the longest time until Fllay spoke up, "This is where it began...the point of no return." Kira plopped himself down on the bed and sighed in content as he replied, "Now we return to this point with a new purpose Fllay. Now that the war is over, theres so much to do."
Fllay giggled as she got out of her officer uniform down to her underwear as she said, "You're right Kira, Orb needs to be rebuilt with our help." Kira went bright red and replied, "What are you doing...Fllay?" She smiled at him and said, "Getting ready for bed silly. You should too, we've been awake for so long." Kira nodded and got out of his clothes as well. The both of them got into bed and lay there for a while. "Kira, why did you return that ring? It seemed like a good luck charm from Lacus," Fllay said.
Kira replied, "I had to return it because I didn't need it anymore. You are my good luck charm now Fllay, and I didn't want any friction between us as we have just gotten back together. I really don't want to lose you again Fllay, you're my whole world now..."
Fllay blushed at this and gave him as deep a kiss as she could. "Oh Kira...you're my whole world as well. I promise to do everything right in front of everyone this time. This will become a whole new journey for the both of us," she said. Kira smirked and said, "I believe that too, this is only the start for us." The both of them lay there in each other's arms and slept the best sleep they had ever had.
That was quite the chapter. Retelling their journey wasn't very easy, but I knew most of it by heart. Like I mentioned, this is only the beginning for our couple. Theres much to do before the Destiny time frame, and many changes will happen. Athrun staying in Zaft and Lacus joining the council early will be some of those changes. Look forward to the next chapter as the Archangel gets to Ame-no Mihashira to pick up Orb refugees. Read and Review Please.