Finding Destiny
Chapter 9
(Athrun's POV)
"I saw her," I replied trying to figure out what he wanted. "Why?"
"Nothing probably. I'm just checking the facts. The fireman didn't know your wife, and the guard from the clinic is no longer here to answer questions."
Staring intensely at me, I too looked at him. But I couldn't miss his worried look.
"Are you sure it was her?" he asked finally.
Narrowing my eyes slightly, I responded, "Of course. She might have been burned, but there was a piece of hair that wasn't burned." I was at the point that I didn't even want to speak about the accident. Yet, here I was, forcing myself to recollect details of the bombing. "She must have covered her head with her arms. It is a natural instinct to protect yourself, detective."
Taking a deep breath, I continued. "Understand this. The piece that wasn't burned looked exactly like Cagalli's hair color. And from looking around, not many people have her shade of bright blonde." Swallowing the coffee down, I tried to keep my voice steady. "In addition, she also had her rings in her hand. Along with the jacket I gave her from her birthday recently. Along with her wallet in the pocket of the jacket. I'm sorry detective, but there is no mistake that the body didn't belong to my wife."
"Are you sure they were her rings?" Snyder asked cautiously.
Looking out the window, I remembered the day when we went to the jewelry store, looking for the right rings for Cagalli. For some odd reason, she wanted a ring that looked somewhat unusual. A ring that many other women didn't own. In the end we had chosen the gold intertwine bands with diamonds. In the middle of the jewelry store, she had jumped into my arms excitedly, surprising and embarrassing the both of us.
"They were her rings," I finally answered without emotion. "No mistaken about it. Our initials were engraved inside the rings."
"Did she know anyone at the clinic?" Snyder asked.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Well I would have guessed maybe she would have gone to visit someone at the clinic with Mrs. Yamato. As you do know, the records were burned in the fire. And at this point, Mrs. Yamato has refused to telling us why both she and your wife were at the clinic to begin with."
"I know detective. However, as you know, Mrs. Yamato is a good friend of ours. So I do hope you are not suspecting her for the bombing." I replied dangerously.
Quickly writing something in his notepad, Snyder nodded his head. "I'm sorry if I upset you Mr. Zala. However, you can never take any clue or led to lightly. People can will always be deceiving. And they might look innocent but when in reality they want to hurt you. "
Narrowing my eyes slightly, I said low and precariously, "Why all the questions? Backtracking over the same material means you guys don't think you got everything straight to start with."
Without looking up from his pad, he said, "Just making sure of the facts Mr. Zala." Looking up at me quickly he smiled smugly. "You seemed well aware of things. Is it from the war Mr. Zala?"
Recognizing the lie and the change of subject, I kept silent.
Finally Snyder added, "Half of the station's staff is down with the flu. All of them being Naturals. Many of us are not Coordinators, so we do pick up these diseases. However, the other half of the staff that are still healthy are trying to get your wife's body released for cremation as fast as they can. Problem is, the dental record the dentist sent over didn't match and he swears he didn't make a mistake. We've a nurse from the clinic that everyone reported seeing on the day of the bombing. But the problem is we can't find her."
Feeling the hair behind my neck stand, I asked in a shaky voice, "What are you trying to tell me?"
Looking up at me worriedly, I saw no games behind his eyes. "We've sent for the nurse's dental records. It will take twenty-four hours to overnight them. She just moved here recently and hadn't use a local dentist. She was the same height as your wife, almost the same build. Her friends said her hair color changed about every week but it was a bright blond when she went to work on the day of the bombing." Lowering his voice slightly he added, "The same blond color as your wife's."
Trying to take in the new information, I stared in disbelief.
"You think the body in the morgue might be the nurse?" I asked slowly.
Shaking his head slightly he responded, "I don't want to get you upset or anything. But it is something we have to check on."
"It's impossible!" I shouted. Getting up quickly, I was about to leave when the Snyder grabbed hold of my arm.
Looking dangerously back at the detective, I ripped my arm out his grip. Clenching my fists slightly, I said, "If the body at the morgue belongs to the nurse…."
"Then it is your wife who is missing," Snyder finished.
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( Estelle's POV)
Feeling my eyes become large in surprised, I sunk into my seat.
Mom wasn't dead. Instead she was missing.
Nothing was making sense now. Where was Mom then?
Feeling a hand touch me lightly, I looked up to see Tarak stare at my worriedly.
Shaking my head silently, I quickly got up from the table and ran outside. Not bothering to look back at my Dad two tables down.
Hitting the cool air, I leaned against the brick wall.
Replaying everything that was said between the detective and my Dad, I shook my head violently. They had to be wrong. Mom isn't missing.
Hearing the door open, I stared to my left to see Tarak walk out.
"Don't say anything," I whispered quietly.
Feeling him watch me intensely, I turned away.
"Estelle," he started but stopped when I quickly turned to him.
Narrowing my eyes dangerous I repeated, "Don't say anything."
Shaking his head, he walked closer to me. "Don't do this to yourself."
Stepping back, I felt new tears forming.
Noticing sympathy within his eyes, he reached out with his hand. "There's hope," he mumbled quietly.
Feeling my eyes widen I quietly asked, "What did you just say?"
Smiling sadly he repeated, "There's still hope."
"Hope! Tarak how on earth can there still be hope?" I shouted.
"The hope that your mother may not be dead," he responded gravely.
Feeling the air leave my body, I took in what he just said.
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Understand this Estelle. If the body that was burned belonged to the nurse then your mother would be the one missing. In other words, there is a slight chance your mother might still be alive."
"And I agree with you," a voice responded from behind. Turning around, I saw a man with straight, silver, shoulder length hair standing there. "I'm guessing your Zala's kid." He added while lifting his eyebrow at us.
"You're Yzak Joule. Are you not?" Tarak asked strongly.
Moving his eyes from me to Tarak he nodded. Moving in front of me, I watched Tarak extend his hand out. "It's a pleasure to finally met you Mr. Joule."
Taking his hand, the man known as Yzak responded, "You must be Yamato's boy."
Nodding his head at Yzak's comment, I waited. Once they were done I asked, "Who are you?"
"You can say I went a long way with your father. As far as the war," Yzak replied. Turning his head, he took notice of my father talking to the detective.
"So do you think Cagalli Zala is still alive?" Tarak asked.
Turning to face both Tarak and myself, he frowned slightly. "You two overheard them, right?"
Nodding both our heads, he then said, "Mind telling me what information you two gathered?"
"Why?" I asked suddenly. "We don't know you."
"However, he is someone we can trust," Tarak said. Turning to face me, he placed his hands on my shoulders. "Look Estelle, right now, we can use as much help as we can."
"But Tarak," I started but was silences immediately when he looked at me.
"We can trust him. I always heard my father and your father talk about a Yzak Joule. Believe it or not, your father was Yzak's ally. They were in the same unit during the war in ZAFT." Straitening himself out, Tarak turned to face Yzak. "And if I'm not mistaken, you too are in the PLANT's council."
"You are correct."
"Then I'll tell you everything we know so far," Tarak answered.
About five minutes later, we told Yzak what we had just overheard.
"How old are you both of you?" Yzak asked astonished.
"We're 10 of age. Estelle is almost 11," Tarak responded.
"I see. You both seem much older for your age."
"Look, if we are going to help each other out then don't criticize us for our age!" I shouted.
Looking somewhat amused, Yzak turned around and started to walk away.
Looking at Tarak in surprised, I quickly shouted, "Where are you going?"
Stopping, he turned his head slightly and answered, "To find the truth."
"What about us?" I asked.
Continuing to walk forward, he didn't bother to stop, "I work solo."
Becoming irritated with this man, I quickly ran towards him. Stopping in front of him. I blocked his path.
Raising his eyebrow, he said, "Yes?"
"Where do you think you're going?" I asked dangerously.
Smirking slightly, he answered my question with a question. "Where do you think I'm going?"
Narrowing my eyes I asked, "What do you mean?"
"Understand this. I didn't come to Orb to play tea parties with little kids. I'm here to find who bombed the clinic and bring justice."
"And I too want to bring justice and punish the person who killed my mother!" I shouted.
"Then why don't you?" Yzak asked quietly.
Stepping away from him, I looked at him confused.
"Look, you aren't going to find your mother's murderer by standing around here.
"I know that," I replied slowly.
"Then what are you going to do?" Yzak asked seriously.
Looking down at the ground I responded, "I don't know."
Feeling a hand lightly touch my shoulder, I looked up. Watching Yzak bend slightly, he quietly and slowly whispered into my ear, "Then maybe you should find out."
Raising my eyes directly to his, he smiled slightly.
"You never know what you are capable of doing until you try. Trust me, I learned it the hard way." He whispered quietly. Straitening himself out, he moved around me and continued to walk.
Turning to watch him go, I felt a new kind of courage grow within me.
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Next day
(Cagalli's POV)
Walking into the shelter every morning became a regular routine. The homeless quickly adapted to my presence. And I finally became one of them.
Walking through the door, I looked around. Finding both the Mary's, I walked over.
"Hello Ash, I was wondering what happened to you last night," Low Mary said once I was in hearing range.
"Sorry, I went to the park and ended up sleeping against a tree bark," I replied smiling.
"Well child, go get your food. Jeegi is already in line waiting," High Mary said forcefully. Nodding my head, I walk toward the food line. Seeing Jeegi, I walked up next to him, while cutting others from behind.
"Hey," I said once I was by his side.
Turning to his side he smiled. "Hey, took you long enough."
"Sorry," I responded lively.
"Move it!" a voice mumbled loudly. Watching a tall figure push two young children out of the way I frowned.
"Paul Miller, I presume," I said quietly.
"To think today is one of his nicer days," Jeegi replied jokingly.
"Yeah," I whispered out quietly.
Choosing between toast or cereal, I kept a constant look out for Paul Miller. Studying him carefully, I looked for any signs of a lunatic or a murderer.
I've seen a murderer, right before the clinic exploded. Remembering the cold silver eyes, I shivered slightly. I could never forget those eyes. Never.
I know what a murder is and Paul Miller didn't look like one.
The line continued to move forward.
"You do realize it's impolite to stare, don't you Ash?" Jeegi whispered quietly into my ear.
Jumping slightly in surprised, I turned to face him. "I can't seem to help it. There is something about that man that intrigues me."
Looking at me oddly, he responded, "His old enough to be your grandfather. How can he possibly intrigue you?"
Slapping him gently on the arm, I turned to face Miller once more. "He doesn't intrigue me like that." Stopping for a second, I added, "His been through a lot in his past life. It's like you can sense it."
"Many of us have been through a lot Ash. I mean, we don't become homeless because we want to," Jeegi replied sadly.
Turning to him slowly, I nodded my head in agreement. "You're right."
Continuing along in the line, I turned to face Miller once again. Only this time, he didn't have his hat on. His hair was graying, but still thick.
Despite his size, he didn't seemed that frightening to me. Unlike what the Mary's or Jeegi said, he seemed lonely.
Walking away from the food line, with my tray, I started to follow Jeegi then stopped. Turning to face Miller alone at a table, I felt sympathy for him.
"Jeegi," I said quietly.
Without turning his head he asked, "Yes?"
"I'm going to sit with him," I responded stopping.
Sensing a man walk behind me, I took no notice. However, when he shoved his lower part of the body into me, I quickly jumped up. But before I had the chance to look behind me, he was gone. Frowning slightly, I realized it wasn't safe for a woman to be alone.
"Ash?" Jeegi said.
Looking back at him, he looked at me worriedly.
"Who are you going to sit with?" he asked.
"Paul Miller," I responded.
Looking at me surprised, he turned to see where Paul Miller was sitting. Turning his face back he smiled somewhat. "You are a strange person."
"You aren't the first person to tell me that," I responded, whole heartily. Thinking back, I pictured Athrun.
"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked seriously.
Shaking my head I said, "It would be best if I go alone. But thank you."
"Be careful Ash," Jeegi whispered as I turned around and headed toward Miller's table.
Looking around, I noticed most of the tables full of people. The only seats left were near the gang of boys and a few vacant spots near the head table where the preacher and his small assemble usually sat. The back table where Miller sat was the only other spot to sit at.
Squaring my shoulders straight, I marched over to where m
Miller sat.
"Mind if I sit here?" I asked as I place my tray on the table.
Not bothering to answer me, he continued to eat.
Smiling to myself I said, "I didn't think you would."
While eating, I made small talk with this quiet man. Finally, ten minutes later he opened his mouth. "You are a bother. Go away."
Anger grew within me. "Well you are a bother too, so don't think you can blame it all on me." Waiting for him to respond, I realize he wasn't. "Look I can't go away. There is no place for me. I'm afraid of those dreadful boys and it isn't safe for me to sit at any table with these strange men." I bit my tong back at the lie. There were always the Mary's and Jeegi but he didn't need to know that.
Miller glanced up at me quickly and said slowly, "You should be afraid of me, if you had any sense."
Laughing out loud I smiled. "Trust me. I'm am afraid of you. But those boys over there scare me more then that. I'm living in a state of half of death, so it's nothing new to me at this point of my life."
Miller stared carefully at me.
I smiled at him. "Maybe you should fear me."
"Move closer to the preacher," Miller mumbled quietly. "No one can hurt you there."
Thinking quickly, I came up with something.
"The preacher gives me the willies. I can almost see them jumping off him and landing on me every time he gets within 10 feet of me. Holy willies are the worst kind, nothing kills them."
Tilting my head to the side, I slightly glared at Miller. "If I get them holy willies, I'm coming back to give them to you."
And for a split second, I could have sworn he had smiled.
Taking a bite of his orange he soon after responded, "All right, you can sit here but be quiet. I don't like to talk to folks and you are down right chatty."
"I can do that. I will sit right here, quiet as a mouse." My voice still sounded somewhat scratchy but I was getting used to it. "You won't even know I'm around. I'll just eat and be on my way and you'll…."
"Shut up," Miller mumbled loudly.
Looking at him in surprised, I didn't get angry. Usually I become upset if someone told me to just shut up.
"Ash," I said confidently. "Shut up Ash. You might as well know my name if you're going to talk to me, Mr. Miller."
"I'm not going to talk to you," he responded harshly.
Getting somewhat down, I thought about something positive. It might not be my day but it was better then yesterday or the day before that.
"Oh, all right," I grumbled quietly. "You don't need to talk to me, but thanks for letting me eat by you."
"You're welcome," he responded quietly.
Looking up at him, I didn't suspect him to say anything back.
In the back round, I noticed the preacher talking. Taking little notice, I quickly finished my breakfast.
No one seemed to be enjoying the meal. The only thing they seemed to be doing was surviving. Just survive.
Suddenly, I became sad. I missed being home. I missed Athrun and Estelle. My brother and Lacus. All my friends. Heck, I ever missed the cat.
I missed the little things. Like a warm shower, the feel of clean clothes, the taste of real food.
Somehow, I wished I knew a way to reach Athrun without anyone knowing. He would have thought of a way to protect me.
Suddenly, Miller stood up and picked his tray up to leave.
"Goodbye," I said softly, as I stared at him. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Miller."
"All right," he mumbled quietly.
As I watched him go, he didn't stop to say hello or goodbye to anyone. I wondered if he had a friend in the world. What kind of life must he have lived to be so alone.
As Miller walked out of the door, I watched a shorter man with a blue baseball hat walk in.
I felt the air rush out of my body as I watched the stranger remove the hat with his oily dirty fingers.
He couldn't be the same guy who bombed the clinic. Yet the sound of my pounding heart didn't convince me. He had the same blue hat, the same body built, identical way of moving. He was the same man from the clinic.
I stared, trying to see his eyes.
A hundred of men in Orb could own a blue hat. Along with dirty fingers. But not many have cold calculating silver eyes.
Thinking back to the clinic, I tried to remember what the man had been wearing. Work clothes. Plain, ordinary work clothes.
Just like the man who came in was wearing.
The need to run, pounded inside me, but I froze. Why get all worked up for something that might be a coincidence.
I watched as he sat down, with a tray of food.
Quickly, I got up and walked towards the trash can.
But I couldn't leave without seeing his eyes. I had to know if they were silver.
I heard the preacher start his lecture. But I ignore him and everyone else. I had to find out.
I slowly moved forward, toward the man, as he listen to the preacher. People walked back and fourth which gave me a cover. All I need was one glance.
If he wasn't the bomber, then I could relax.
However, if he was, I was ready to run with all my might.
But the man kept his face down as he ate.
He couldn't be the bomber, I reasoned quietly. What moron would stay in town if he had bombed a local clinic and killed one guard. He wouldn't be walking the streets of Orb only blocks from where he hurt and murderer innocent people.
One look was all I need.
Moving closer, I heard the preacher become louder.
I had to know. At this point, nothing seemed to matter.
The closer I got, the more anxious I became.
I was about to scream "look up" and have any color of eyes other than silver look at me.
Then I felt someone grab my arm. In surprised, I looked up to see the preacher staring into the crowd.
"Bless you sister!" he shouted. "Bless you for recognizing you are a lost soul in need of saving"
Panicking slightly, I tried to free my arm as I notice the stranger with the blue hat looked up.
Our eyes met. Just as the same day of the bombing. Cold, angry silver eyes stared back at me.
I quickly jerked my arm away as I took noticed a question register in the stranger's eyes.
Running as fast as I could, I heard the preacher shout out, "Don't be afraid to leave the life of sin! You'll find your home in eternal peace if you stay here with us!"
I quickly ran for the door.
"ASH!" I heard a voice yell out.
Turning my head around quickly, I saw Jeegi standing up quickly.
However, I soon tipped over a person's foot from behind. Falling flat on my back, I turned to my side to see the stranger walking towards me.
Feeling my heart pound strongly, I quickly crawled back up and speeded quickly out the door.
Remember his eyes, I knew he had the look of someone trying to place my face. And if he were to remember, he would have to finish the job he started.
Checking back one more time, I noticed the preacher had grabbed hold of the stranger's shoulder as he shouted more. But the man with the blue cap looked straight towards the exit I was standing at.
Darting outside, I quickly hurried down the stairs, almost colliding with Miller at the bottom.
He growled at me slightly, as he tried to straighten himself. A hint of worry wrinkled his face. "What's the matter pest?"
After seeing the bomber, Miller didn't seemed to frighten me any longer. Grabbing hold of his shoulder I quickly pulled him closer to whispered loudly into his ear, "You have to help me!"
To my shock, he didn't argue.
"There's a man with a blue cap following me. Stop him long enough for me to hide somewhere." As a afterthought, I quickly added, "Please."
Nodding his head once, he quickly pushed me to the side and pointed down the street.
"Thank you!" I shouted as I started to run away.
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Author's Note:
Well another chapter done and ready. Plus it was 12 pages. Longer then expected. As you can tell, both Estelle and Tarak had met Yzak as that choice had won by popular vote. Don't worry this was just a introduction to each other. Probably in the next chapter will they both join together.
Poor Athrun, finding out his wife might not be dead after all. L I feel bad but don't worry, they will be reunited once again. Or at least eventually. J
Okay nothing really new to say other then I might have the next chapter up in two weeks. If you have any questions please ask or e-mail me at
. From here on out, it might start getting confusing so asks any questions cause I wouldn't mind answering.New characters are being introduced and there will be a couple more. I might start using character from Seed Destiny. Good or Bad idea?
I also want to say thank you to:
Angel of DreamsFukariStory Weaver1AnimeSiren
cassidy
transmobilesuit
Doctor KibaM.S Arashi SumeragiMirror
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ightyearsawayxokiraluver69yvonne
Inulover4evaAlienPeanutXAnimeSirenHikari Schutz
Thank you for reviewing I appreciate it!
And please do continue to review and every else as well. Tell me what you think. Ideas are welcome as well as opinions.
Till next time
xoxo