A/N: Ohisashiburi!

I wanted to post this as soon as I can, so I'm sorry if there are many mistaks here.

And thanks for being patient and still following this story, and for your reviews!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I dont own Gundam SEED/Destiny

Athrun looked at the forest in front of him, with the park as a border.

The first time she met Cagalli, she had come from the woods, looking at the children playing in the park with longing look. She longed to be with other people. She didn't want to be alone.

And that day after he told her his family secret, Cagalli went home entering the forest from this park.

He hoped that her house was easy to find. He really needed answers.

And with that thought, he entered the forest.

Kira had told him that he had given Cagalli the blue dragon pendant, to help Cagalli control her power. And Mwu told him how he noticed that Cagalli always broke wooden door with her power, because her power was controlling woods, like the Guardian of the East.

"But how could she be a Guardian like us?" Athrun had asked. "If she is, then she has to be related to you," Athrun said to Kira.

"She is related to me," Kira answered him. "She is a Hibiki."

"But her last name is Gladys," Athrun argued. Cagalli wouldn't hide it from him, would she?

"Her mother's name is Talia Gladys. I don't know why she used that name," Mwu said, and Athrun's head turned toward him. "But her father, he was a Hibiki. Gilbert Hibiki, Ullen's brother. And Cagalli is Kira's cousin."

"Isn't he the one who was called as a witch?"

"Actually, Witch is the term people used to threaten their children so they wouldn't go to the woods. The Guardians had informed this town that there was a dangerous one in the woods, and we told them to avoid it. They passed this to their children using the term they would understand. Thus, the witch from the woods exists."

"Does Cagalli know?" Athrun asked again.

"I don't think so. She was confused when I gave her the blued Dragon pendant. She doesn't know anything about her power, her big family, and her past."

And after that, Athrun ran from the meeting room, straight to the park. And here he was, wandering in the woods in search of Cagalli's house.

Cagalli always blamed herself for being a witch just like what people had accused her. She didn't know anything about her power, and that made her accept the name they gave her. She blamed herself for hurting Meer, while it was the way her body—as a Guardian—protected herself from being harmed, even emotionally. But because people called her the daughter of a witch, she believed it was her fault.

Athrun needed to tell her that she was not all those insensitive people told her. She was much more than that.

As he walked deeper, Athrun saw a big house protected by the trees. He was sure that was the house he had been searching. No one lived in this forest for people had been warned not to enter the woods.

And when he walked closer, he could feel something passed him. Athrun turned and reached out his hand. He could feel something, energy on his arm.

This house was protected, Athrun concluded. If he was just a normal human without any powers like a Guardian, he wouldn't be able to see pass this barrier, and he couldn't find the house.

"Only one?"

Athrun turned his head as he heard the words spoken. And he saw a blond haired man stood before him with no expression.

"Who are you?" Athrun asked; his body half-crouching. If he was the one who occupied this house, he must have had some kind of power. And he didn't look friendly.

"I thought they would come here, all of the Guardians," he cocked his head to the left. "Instead, you're the only one here. Easy to get rid," he continued to mumble to himself. "Where is the rest?"

So he knew about us? Athrun thought. "I came here by myself," Athrun answered, not lowering her defense. "I want to talk to Cagalli."

"Oh." The blonde man looked surprised a bit, "I thought you came here to fight my Master. What do you have to do with Miss Cagalli?"

"That's my business," Athrun answered. He didn't remember that he had to find out who was the one behind this mass poisoning. But he would get to it later. He had to see Cagalli first. "Where is she?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he lifted his right hand. Athrun could see something forming there, it looked like a liquid. As he realized it was aimed to him, Athrun jumped, avoiding it. The liquid hit the tree near him, and burned its trunk.

Poison liquid.

"I didn't come here to fight. I only ask for Cagalli," Athrun said. But the man acted like he didn't hear him and continued to aim his poisoned liquid to him. Once, Athrun used his fire to fight it; his fire burned the poison before it could reach him. The blonde man looked surprised, though he didn't really express it.

"Where is Cagalli?" Athrun asked again, as he readied himself to use his fire if that man intended to fight him again.

"Athrun?"

Both men turned their heads, and they saw Cagalli walked toward them, followed by a red haired girl.

"Cagalli…," Athrun called and walked toward her, but the blonde man blocked his way and was ready to attack again. Athrun didn't have other choice but to fight, and he threw his fire as he heard Cagalli screamed. Their elements collided, and Athrun could see the third element joining them. They turned their heads again, and Athrun knew that red head had helped him. The girls walked to them; Cagalli ran to him, and the red head approached the blond man.

"Athrun!" Cagalli slammed her body against his. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?" Cagalli asked as she patted his body, looking for any injury he might had.

"I'm okay," Athrun said as he pushed aside her hands and hugged her. "And I missed you…"

Cagalli was startled; she had never been this close to anyone beside her family. But she welcomed it. She did miss Athrun. And she was glad that he didn't dump her like she had thought before.

"You still want to see me…," Cagalli whispered unconsciously.

"What do you mean? Of course I want to see you. I'm sorry I didn't call you. My parents had locked me up in my house. It wasn't my idea, believe me," Athrun said convincing her. He remembered Kira said that Cagalli had been really upset with him missing.

"Why did you interfere?" the blonde scolded Meyrin.

"He is an important person for Cagalli, Rey," Meyrin answered. "If you kill him Cagalli will be very upset to you. She had suffered enough by being isolated in this o called home. Let her have her happiness this time."

"But he is a Guardian. He is Master's enemy."

"Master himself wouldn't kill him if he has such a great influence for Cagalli's life. He wouldn't upset his only daughter, believe me." Meyrin turned her head, and her face softened as she saw Cagalli on that man's embrace. Cagalli had told her a lot about Athrun. She knew how important he was for her.

"I thought you had finally realized that I'm not good for you…"

"Don't say such thing ever again, Cagalli," he reprimanded. "There is no way you are no good for anyone. In fact…"

"What's going on in here?"

All the four of them turned their heads, and they saw Gilbert standing there. His face showed some recognition as he saw Athrun, or his red pendant with a shape of dragon hanging on his neck.

"Only one?" he said, repeating Rey's words. "I thought you all would be coming here. All the Guardians. But you are alone, Red Bird…"

"For the hundredth time, I came here to see Cagalli," Athrun said, annoyed. How many people would ask that to him, again? "It's something personal."

"You never told me you had a unique friend, Cagalli," Gilbert turned his head to his daughter. "A Guardian to be exact."

"I'm not supposed to tell anyone," Cagalli ducked her head. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's all right," Gilbert said in his calm tone, as always. He was looking at the two of them, still touching each other. Cagalli's hand was one Athrun's back, and his was on Cagalli's waist.

"Now that I met you," Athrun said to Gilbert, "And that I already see Cagalli here, I want to talk about something more… impersonal…"

"Of course you would. I've been waiting for that, actually," Gilbert smiled to the young Guardian.

"How could you smile like that while half of the people in this city are dying?" Athrun asked, disgusted. He couldn't believe this man was Cagalli's father.

"What happened?" Cagalli asked, alarmed. "Why are they dying?"

"Almost all of the students in our school being admitted to hospital, all of them have same symptoms. The timing was too perfect, we—The Guardians—don't believe that it was just a mass poisoning. Someone is behind this," Athrun explained to Cagalli. "And I assumed that someone is your father." Athrun was sure of it. Only the murderer would smile while there was someone dying, the one he intended to kill.

A gust of wind could be heard in the silence. No one talk as Cagalli took it all. And then she looked at her father in flabbergasted.

"Is Lacus…?" Cagalli whispered to Athrun, not able to finish what she wanted to ask.

"She is in the hospital as well. Almost all of the students, except those who are the family of the Guardians."

She looked back to Gilbert. "How could you…? My friends…" Cagalli started to sob.

"I only make them pay for what they've done to you, My Dear." Athrun gritted his teeth as the term of endearment Gilbert used. Gilbert didn't hear it, of he pretended not to. "They made you suffer. I won't tolerate that. Those who made my dear child sad must be punished."

"She doesn't need it! She's not a cold hearted like you!" Athrun shouted while he pulled the sobbing Cagalli closer to him.

"If I'm a cold hearted man I wouldn't care at all for my daughter. I do this because I care! She is the only one I care for in this world, after what you all have done to me! You Guardians, dumped me just like that! After all I did as a Guardian, fighting alongside you all, you just disowned me!" Gilbert shouted, his calm demeanor gone.

"We wouldn't if you didn't give your soul to the evil."

Cagalli lifted her head and Athrun wiped her tears. They both turned and saw what Gilbert had wanted to see. All the members of the Guardians were there, the elders and the youngsters.

"So, you've finally come," Gilbert smirked as he saw them all gathering in his territory. Off course they would all be here. "Come here, my kids. They are here, finally," he said, and suddenly his other apprentices came. Luna and Shinn were there, standing behind him, alongside with Rey. Meyrin didn't join them; instead she was looking at Cagalli, worried.

"My dear brother," Gilbert said, looking at Ullen. "It's been a long time, no? And look, you have a child who takes over your place, my place. And do you intend to continue our fight eighteen years ago?"

Kira ignored the gasp came from Cagalli. He knew she was surprised to find out his father was her father's brother. "We don't want to fight. We only want to ask you if you are the one who made all the high school students suffering right now," Kira said, steeping to the front with his father, who was looking at Gilbert in disgust. "And if you are, we would want you to put an end to their misery."

"Why should I? They are suffering because of what they did. They hurt my child."

"If you don't know, you are the one who hurt her. Don't you know people are afraid of you? And that's why they are afraid of Cagalli too, because of your power. And that made them avoiding her, that made her alone and lonely. All because of you!" Kira shouted.

"Shut your mouth!" Gilbert threw a small ball of dark pneuma to the Guardians from his hand. They could avoid it, but it left a huge hole in the ground. They were looking at it, surprised. Just a little ball of pneuma could make a hole like this. They didn't know how much Gilbert's power had improved since eighteen years ago.

"You're frightening her!" Athrun shouted to Gilbert. He was still holding a trembling Cagalli, looking at her father in fear.

"My dear," Gilbert said slowly, his expression softened. He stepped forward to his girl, but Cagalli cowered closer into Athrun's embrace.

"No… Safe them all, father… They are my friends… You can't hurt them," Cagalli whispered, begging her father to cure all her friends and to stop attacking those people, the Guardians.

"If you really love your daughter, why don't you fulfill her wish? She wants her friends to be safe and all right. She doesn't wish for any revenge, no matter what they had done to her," Athrun added, hoping Gilbert would do what Cagalli wanted.

"And having them hurt her again? All I want is for my daughter to have a happy life, friends and the one who love her like I love my late wife," Gilbert said like he was challenging Athrun. "And I don't like it one bit if they caused her any discomfort. They are lucky I didn't just kill them right away."

"I'll make sure she is safe from people who intend to hurt her. I'll never let anyone hurt her," Athrun vowed to answer Gilbert's question.

"Will you? Why should I believe you?"

"Because I want all the things you said about her. I want her safe, I want her to have a happy life and friends," Athrun said, hesitating for a while before he said, "And I love her."

Almost all the people there gasped at Athrun's confession. Cagalli was the loudest. Could he really love her? It had only been a few weeks.

"Are you sure?" Gilbert asked after he thought what Athrun said for a while, hesitating also.

"She is a Guardian, what she was born to be. Your change didn't affect her that much and she still have the blood of a Guardian. And she is a dragon, who often paired with Red Bird. I just know it that she is the one for me, the Dragon and The Red Bird, the emperor and the empress. I know you know and understand about it…"

Silence filed the forest. Cagalli could only stare at Athrun's face, trying to find a sign whether he was lying or not. But his face was serious, no sign of him lying. But, Cagalli thought, he might say it all only to safe his people. That was what he was for, what a Guardian for, to protect the community. And if it succeeded, he wouldn't need her again.

But didn't he say that he missed her earlier?

"Please, father…" Cagalli pleaded again. "Don't make them suffer any longer…" She would help him do his task. Because deep down, she knew she would do anything for him, she cared for him. Cagalli wasn't sure if she loved him, but she was willing to discover her feelings, if Athrun would let her.

"You promise you'll keep her safe?" Gilbert asked Athrun again.

"I promise," Athrun said. His voice sound sincere, like he really meant it. Cagalli hoped he really did.

Her father looked at her, silently asking her what she wanted. Cagalli only nodded, her father would understand that she wanted what Athrun wanted.

"All right then. I'll safe them," Gilbert said, back to his calm character. "But I'll know if any of you do something to my daughter again, and you know I can do worse than this," he threatened.

"We only want peace," Kira said.

"You all go back to the house," Gilbert said to his entire apprentice. In a blink of an eye, they disappeared.

"And if you don't mind, I want to take Cagalli to our house," Kira added.

"And why would I allow that?" Gilbert raised his eyebrow.

"She is a guardian. She would be seventeen soon. In that age, she should know how to control her power and use it for good. We intend to teach her what we know. She had suffered enough because of her power. Don't let her suffer more for not able to control it and hurting people."

Gilbert scoffed. "Now you wanted to take my daughter away from me?"

"Of course not. We just don't want her to be like you," Ullen sneered to his brother.

"Of course. I don't want that either," Gilbert said. He knew Cagalli was too pure to give her soul to the evil like he did. His love for his daughter was untainted. He only wanted the best for Cagalli. But he still didn't like those Guardians who had kicked him out of the community.

And now, that Cagalli befriended with them, it was difficult to take his revenge on them, because that would make Cagalli upset.

Gilbert decided that he would think of it again later. What important now was his daughter. His gaze fell on Athrun, and he threatened him, "One mistake and I'll make you beg for death. And don't forget your so important community." Then he turned to the Guardians, "I'll let you go for now. But don't expect me to be this nice again. Your kids will be all right by tomorrow morning."

And last, he looked at his beloved daughter, with softer expression. "If you wish, my dear, you can go with them. I know you are bored in this house with the same people entertaining you. Why don't you… spend some quality time with your… family…?" Gilbert said, looking at his brother and nephew he had never met before, who known as the Guardian of the East.

"And your boyfriend?" he added, smirking as he looked at Athrun again.

Cagalli looked at Athrun, asking if it was all right for her to go with them, ignoring his father's term to call Athrun. He nodded, looking at Kira. They would explain it all to Cagalli, who seemed to still be in the dark. Actually, Athrun didn't know much, and he still had lots in his mind. Kira nodded back to Athrun.

The Guardians, already having what they need for coming here—Gilbert promise to cure the community—started to depart, to go back to Hibiki's place, to discuss what they had to do after this.

And Cagalli walked over to her father and gave him a hug. She was still grateful that her father would listen. She was also thanking him for letting her knowing her friend more, and maybe her past, too. She knew that her father's love for her was absolute. No matter what he had done, it was all for her, because he cared for her. Cagalli only wished that he had better way to do it, without hurting people. But she believed him; he wouldn't do anything like this again. Now she felt responsible for making the community sick. She would have to talk about it to Athrun, and apologized to the Guardians for causing this mess.

Cagalli walked back to Athrun, who had joined Kira. Kira was smiling at her, totally different compared to the first time she met her. He knew that she was her cousin, which was why he had been so different toward her.

And when she looked back, her father had already gone.

Was that okay?

Tell me what you think!