Alex rode into the morning with his captive. Misaki. She had woken up an hour ago. Her expression full of fear and confusion. "What's going on? Where are you taking me?" she demanded. Alex answered her with silence, but the girl persisted with her inquiry. She soon began squirming, causing a difficult ride. He reluctantly chopped the back of her neck. Knocking her out.

His pursuer wouldn't let up either. He noticed a little while ago he was being chased. He couldn't tell who the hooded person was. He tried to ditch the pursuer, but to no avail. He tried throwing daggers at the pursuer. The pursuer maneuvered their horse to dodge each attack. Alex gave that tactic up. He needed to focus on reaching the base. The pursuer would be taken care of then.

Almost there, he thought.

He steered the black horse west. His pursuer taking the same route. The chase continued for another half hour. Passing through valleys, forrest. To his delight, Alex could see the ZAFT base up ahead. He whipped the reins and the horse took full speed.

He was just feet away from the base. He viewed its many tents and huts. Soldiers were walking about carrying weapons; primarily guns. He could see two people standing at the gate of the base. Yzak and Dearka. Two long time companions of his.

"He made it!" Dearka said with a huge grin.

"Hmph," was all that escaped Yzak.

Alex stopped the horse in front of the two. "Mission complete."

"Hurry and bring her to the commander," Yzak exclaimed.

"He's here?" Alex said.

"Yes!" Yzak snarled.

"Right," Alex nodded. "I have a pursuer. Unidentified." With that Alex rode off into base.

"A pursuer?" Dearka said. Soon after the pursuer came into sight. "There he is."

The hooded pursuer was about to make their way to the base only to be stopped. Yzak had thrown a couple of knives into the horses legs. The horse fell along with it's rider. Yzak and Dearka made their way to the intruder. Yzak grabbed the pursuer by the neck; lifting the person in the process.

"Who the hell are you?" Yzak demanded. The reply was a small cough. "Won't speak up huh?" He pulled off the sheet. "A girl?"

"You!" Dearka said pointing to the pursuer.

"You!" she choked.

Yzak put Cagalli in a head lock. He held a knife to her throat. "You know this girl?" Yzak asked.

Dearka nodded, "I met her when I went to meet Athrun."

"She knows Zala?"

Dearka nodded, "Yeah. His 'companion' I guess."

Yzak laughed. "So Athrun managed to really trick them. I need to give him more credit."

Athrun? Cagalli thought. Are they talking about Alex?

"So what should we do to her?" Yzak said bringing the knife closer to her throat.

"Put her in a cell. I don't think Athrun would like it if we hurt her."

"Who cares what Zala likes."

"Yzak just do it. She's from Orb. We don't want them finding out we killed one of their soldiers."

"How would they know," he responded with a smirk. Dearka let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll put her in a damn cell."

"Commander?" Athrun said as he entered a large hut. He held Misaki's unconcious body. "I retrieved the target."

"Athrun," the masked man made his way over to his subordinate. "Glad to see you're safe. And her as well."

"Yeah she's fine. I had to knock her out though. She was struggling."

"I see," Rau said taking her from Athrun's hands. He walked over to a mat and gently placed her on it.

Athrun eyed him. "You look worried," Rau said.

"Ah, sorry," Athrun responded, his gaze averted to the ground.

Rau shook his head, "No need to be," he said. "You were traveling with her for a while now. I'm sure you must care for her safety. I assure you she will be safe."

Athrun watched Misaki's sleeping form. "What do you want with her? She's just a child."

"Yes, but a very special child. She'll be helping us and if not...we'll negotiate with her." Rau looked at the girl and then back to Athrun, "You're dismissed now."

Athrun exited the hut, running into Dearka in the process. "I was looking for you," Dearka said. "So what did the commander say?"

"Nothing much on why they want her. He did say 'She'll be helping us and if not we'll negotiate with her.' Do you know anything?"

Dearka shook his head, "All I know is that soon we'll bring her to PLANT. Nothing else." He paused before speaking again. "That blonde girl I saw you with in that town..."

"What about her?" Athrun said vehemently.

"She was your pursuer." Athrun's eyes widened. "She's in the cells."

Kira walked around the farm for the millionth time. His frustration was growing. His anxiety was growing. He woke up to three of his comrades missing. One being his twin sister. And when he checked the barn one of their horses was missing as well.

Cagalli had left behind all of her supply including her weapon. Misaki's kitten, Destiny, was also left behind. Misaki was never without her small companion, who was now in Miriallia's care. No trace of Alex was left. It made Kira suspicious. In fact he was fixed on the idea of Alex kidnapping the two girls.

He punch the side of the barn with brute force. Leaving a hole in the red painted wood. He had to think of a plan. They've searched for hours. No sign of them. Tears threatened his eyes. He couldn't cry. He had to be strong for Cagalli.

He went back to their camp area where Sai and Miriallia were as well. They hadn't any luck on their hunt. Kira let out a sigh. He took a seat on a large rock behind him.

"What are we going to do," Sai asked.

"You two are going to head back to Orb," Kira responded.

"What?" Miriallia and Sai said.

"Miriallia call one of your doves and deliver the message. Once you get there let the commanders know the mission failed. You two can ride back on Freedom."

"What about you?" Miriallia asked.

"Leave a dove for me. That way I can communicate with you. I'll be searching for Alex. If I find him I'm sure I'll find my sister and Misaki."

"You think he took them?" Sai asked.

"Yes! All his belongings are gone...Look just get ready to set out. Where ever they are they couldn't have gone too far."

"Cagalli?" Athrun had said, stepping closer to the rusty bars. He peered through them. The blonde girl sat on the ground. Her wrist and ankles bound together by shackles. "Cagalli?" he repeated, taking hold of the bars.

She looked up at him. Her eyes screaming at him. Looking at him in a way he never wished. with hatred. The fury emitted from her eyes caused him to step back.

"What do you want, Alex," she barked. "Or should I say Athrun Zala."

The way she said his name caused his spine to shiver. "I wanted to talk to you," he said.

"About what?" she spat. "About how you tricked us. Tricked me!"

He paused, "I...I never meant to hurt you. I didn't think I would become close to any of you." He paused again, "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry!" she yelled. "Sorry doesn't fix any of this!"

"I know," he interrupted.

"Where is Misa?" she demanded.

"She's in good care. She's safe."

"She better be. If not I will kill you all," she hissed.

"She'll be fine, Cagalli."

"How can I trust what you say. All you ever fed me was lies."

"My name and background were lies. Yes they were lies, but when we would talk at night...that was real. How I felt was real. Not everything was lies."

Cagalli was silent. "Kissing you...How I feel about you isn't a lie," Athrun said.

"Spare me," she spat. "I don't want to here anymore. I don't want you tricking me any further."

"I'm not tricking you," Athrun pleaded.

"Right because I can trust you!"

Athrun stepped away from the bars. "I have to go," he whispered.

he didn't want to go. He wanted to talk to her more, but what would he say? Leaving the cells he accidently bumped into a female.

"Sorry miss...Lacus?" His eyes widened. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. Dearka said you'd be at the cells. Visiting a young women you became acquainted with."

"Uh..Y-yes," he responded.

"Athrun, I can tell something is bothering you. You can talk to me."

He thought for a moment. This young woman was to be his fiance. He should be able to talk to her, but about this? He let out a sigh. "I hope you won't be upset with me," he said.

"Miss Cagalli?" Cagalli heard an unfamiliar voice call her.

She looked up to notice a female with long pink hair. The female wore a long lacey blue dress. She found the young woman very pretty.

"Who are you?" Cagalli asked.

"My name is Lacus Clyne," she said. "I'm Athrun's fiance."

Sorry if it's too short. Still hope all enjoyed. Thanks goes out to reviewers. Til next time...XOXO