Chapter 10: Shattered Images

Shin stood still frozen in time as he watched Cagalli open the door.

"Can I help you?", she said.

Shin was trying to regain his composure appearing not to look guilty of performing a lewd lascivious act.

"I saw that you were upset so I came to see if you were alright."

"I'm fine ", she said with such a stern fervor in her voice and an absent look on her face

"Thanks for asking"

"Look …ah ..I know that we` haven't had the greatest relationship and we haven't exactly been the best of friends.. well..um …if their's anything that you want to talk about, anything at all, I have a good ear…?" said shin smiling, looking a bit apprehensive, wondering if she would slug him at any moment.

"Ear for what?"

"For listening of course", said shin stuttering as he spoke those words

"Look I don't need your sentiments, I just need you to go away. I'm not trying to be mean or even rude, or anything it's just that I'm tired"

"Alright get some rest please don't let ME stand in your way!"

And then she slammed the door. On her side of the door she slid down against it, and then crawled into the bed aching from the sharp pain that sometimes dwelled inside her head. On the other side of the door stood a still stunned Shin trying to push out of his mind all that he had seen and heard, but it just wasn't working. So, he decided that he needed to take in a breath of fresh air and clear his head. After walking thoughtlessly down the long hallway he found himself standing on the balcony, and as he glared over to his immediate left he saw lacus standing there lost in thought,

"Shin" she said "you have such a sad look on your face what's wrong?"

"Hum ..uh …nothing, well do you ever think you know someone, and just when think you have them figured out they turn out to be someone else?."

"I wish I could say that I haven't , but just when I've thought that I've seen it all, some things still never cease to amaze me" Shin starred at her blindly and then looked outward over the balcony into the wide open space above the rose garden. He thought about telling lacus what he'd seen, but what if the pills were just pills such as medicine and just looked like the ones that Ray used to take. Then what if he was wrong and she was an imposter. He became frightened at the thought and began to quiver. He had to return to the plants, but if he left and his suspicions materialized, everyone could be in danger. His mind became wrapped in worry as he became overwhelmed with anxiety. The thoughts in his head had begun to spin out of control when he turned toward her and yelled, "Lacus~!"

"Yes?" she said. Then at that very moment he heard someone call his name "SHIN!" He turned around and there stood Athrun.

"Yes, Commander!" I.. mean Athrun" shin replied embarrassed.

"Old habits die hard I guess", said Athrun

Lacus couldn't help but chuckle. Shin looked over at lacus thinking about pulling her aside to inform her of what he had witnessed, but he didn't want to say anything in front of Athrun. He'll never forget how Athrun nearly fought him over Cagalli above the Minerva, and he didn't want to go down that path again especially since he'd just regained his trust. Athrun was no longer his enemy and even more so he wanted Cagalli to be his friend. He felt as if he had so much to atone for~ Once again he was lost in thought when he heard Athrun yell,

"Shin!"

"Yes Athrun ", said shin, once again startled wondering what it could be about.

"May I talk to you for a minute" said a very bewildered Athrun

Lacus looked over at them both and then said" I think I'll go grab a bite to eat from the kitchen." It was her way of politely excusing herself. That tactic was one of her specialties.

"I was wondering how your conversation went with Cagalli?" Shin turned red wondering if perhaps she'd said something to Athrun.

"You mean she didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what? I went to knock on her door and she didn't answer. I became a little worried and thought I should probably come find you first before I panic. I'm sure the last thing she needs is everyone hovering around her.."

"umm she was fine when I left, more energetic than ever…..She…uh .. Mentioned that she was going to get some sleep"

"I see~ then It's a good thing that I talked to you, the last thing I would want is to wake her from sleeping, she's been through a lot lately and really needs the rest. The injuries that she endured usually take months for a natural to recuperate from, but I'm surprised that it's taking her no time to heal, even with the transfusion."

Shin just stood their listening to Athrun taking it all in~ He could see the look of worry upon his face, but could also sense his concern, surly he ought to know her best~ thought shin. After all, if that wasn't Cagalli in that room Athrun would definitely know right? At least that's what he wanted to believe, and that's what he kept telling himself. Shin began to sweat.. as his mind wandered yet again! Tuning out the very voice speaking next to him

"Shin did you hear me?"

"huh oh yea…"

"I said would you like to stay here this evening? It's getting late and you have a long flight ahead of you tomorrow" Shin didn't know what to say. On one hand he didn't want to intrude on their privacy, but on the other hand this could be his only chance of finding out the truth. He just had to know! Shin let out a big sigh

"I'm sorry Athrun, I'm going to have to take you up on your offer. "replied shin. Athrun was taken aback by his comment, could shin actually be developing a sense of humor "that would be great thanks a lot for taking me in. I'd rather be surrounded by friends then a bunch of people I barley know. Thanks Athrun it means a lot to me"

Athrun couldn't help but let out a rare smile before replying "well I think I'm going to go sit in the garden for a while, flowers give me a sense of peace, and the stars a feeling of belonging if you know what I mean"

"No problem I think I'm still going to hang out here a while.." , said shin. At least that's what he wanted to do, but in the back of his mind he knew that Cagalli had to come out of that room sooner or later and he was going to be right there waiting when she did. He owed Athrun his life and He was determined to return the favor.

A short time later, while Kira was walking through the kitchen. He noticed lacus slicing an apple when all of a sudden the knife slipped from her fingers and cut her hand. Kira ran the short distance to her aid as she let out a small shout of pain. He grabbed her hand and rushed her over to the sink,

"Be careful lacus, unlike Cagalli we aren't the same blood type, so if something were to ever happen to you I'd never be able to forgive myself for not being able to save you. After Cagalli was shot my feelings for you were…."

"its ok kira" said lacus as she turned her head to look into his eyes "I'm not going anywhere" Just as she said that kira grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him, holding onto her as if she were a golden treasure made only for him.

"Let's go lacus" said kira as he took her hand and began leading her upstairs. Lacus thought that this was odd she was so use to following kira and now he was leading her

Not long after Kira took her through the many twist and turns of the hallway. Lacus soon found herself in a room she'd never been in before. It had a glass ceiling, plants filled throughout, and a balcony that overlooked the vast blue ocean. In the middle was a circular shaped bed that illuminated beneath the moonlight. Shortly after kira closed the door behind them, Lacus felt uplifted as she soon felt a soothing sudden gentle breeze flow beneath her dress. Before walking towards the wind she removed the hair clip that she always wore longing to feel her hair follow along as she answered its call. She stood at the edge of the balcony reveling in the cool warm night air tilting her head upward at the moonlight. Her hair wisped away gracefully, exposing the nape of her neck. She began to feel a warmth on her ear. As the sensation traveled down her neck she felt this sudden urge to turn around and respond, but suddenly realized her hands were wrapped and trapped in someone else's . It wasn't long before she soon found herself unable to move and weak in the knees, seconds later she felt the strap of her sun dress slide off her shoulder only to be caught at her waist revealing her strapless bikini top. She instantly felt as if she were about to suffocate and let out a sudden gasp of air as tender lips trailed against her shoulder, and traveled down the middle of her back, so abrasively, but yet affectionately.

"Kira" she uttered with intense passion and ecstasy …

Kira didn't say a word as he stood behind her with his hands in front of her but clasped within hers at her side. Lacus was panting wondering what to do with this feeling..

"ummmmmmm " said kira as he let out a gentle breath of air "strawberries …..your hair smells like strawberries and you taste like sunshine lighting up my eternal soul, through all the sadness that I've endured, I've never felt more happiness than I do with you right now, this is my confession to you" Lacus's knees began to buckle as if her strength had been taken from her, before she fell to the balcony floor Kira lifted her up to carry her in his arms, and as he did her sun dress slid completely off exposing her bikini bottom.

"lacus!" he yelped "don't you think your taking this a bit far!"

"Whatever do you mean Kira?" said lacus calmly with a puzzled look on her face. She watched as kira appeared speechless. When she looked down she realized that he was staring at her pink bikini bottoms, however it wasn't the color that was bothering him, it was the pattern of pink Haros. Lacus didn't feel the need, but thought perhaps she should explain her choice of wardrobe as pleasantly as always. She simply said,

"Ohhh, I had planned on taking my dear pink to the beach today with cagalli, and I wore these just in case he got lost people would know who he belonged to" , said lacus with an innocent look on her face. The expression on Kira's face was one of utter disappointment," I know, but…" He begin to mumble to himself, "just when I felt like we were the only two people in the world having a perfectly romantic evening together I had to see those,…"

Lacus couldn't help but smile, but inside she was crying, the atmosphere in the house didn't feel right she felt as if a part of her were stolen. Kira looked deeply into her eyes as he carried her off to bed. Only once they reached their destination he gently laid her down, and lyed down next to her, spooning her, and holding her as he drifted off to sleep. Only lacus laid there motionlessly gazing up at the stars through the glass ceiling and quietly whispered, "someday….." .

A short time later in another part of the mansion shin watched as Cagalli left the haven of her room. No sooner had she turned the corner he slipped inside, not knowing how much time he had left, he quickly and briskly rummaged through her top drawer until he found the pills. He took two and now he had to sneak out as quietly and swiftly as he entered! Just as he was about to leave he heard footsteps, not wanting to take a chance of running into Cagalli again, he leapt off her personal room balcony, as soon as he landed he heard someone say,

"So are you going somewhere? Just what do you think you were doing?"

Shin looked behind him it was Athrun. Kicking himself for being an idiot he had forgotten that Athrun often took walks in the evening. It was his favorite pastime for clearing his head. What do I do now? I just can't loose his trust when I worked so hard to earn it! At least that's what shin wanted to believe….

On the third floor of the mansion was Lord Izumi's room. Inside of it was an adjacent office that was known to only a privledge few. No one had gone near his room in over five years, but tonight that was about to change. As the door eased opened someone decided to enter this peaceful, forgotten place. Once inside, she doubled than tripled knocked on the walls until she managed to open a hidden door, sound was the key to getting inside of this room. Afterwards, she sat down at the computer desk and then broke in half the charm that hung around her neck. She inserted it into the computer and downloaded the information she came for, then without hesitation she uploaded a virus to erase the hard drive. Once this was done, she was about to leave until she heard someone turn the knob on the room door.

Meanwhile on that not too distant island off the coast of Orb the girl who slept for far too long Finally opened her eyes. As she held onto her side from the pain, tears streamed down her face as she faintly said "It's time"….