Chapter 11

Kira was smiling, feeling joyful that he was finally returning home and was in the company of his friends and family. "Something's wrong," Mr Waltfeld said seriously looking around. They had been swimming through the city for five minutes now and there wasn't a sign of anybody else which was extremely unusual.

Hearing the seriousness of Mr Waltfeld's voice, the smile on Kira's face was wiped clear, "Whats wrong?" "It shouldn't be this quiet or deserted," Nicole explained looking around him attentively. "Oh," came Kira's soft replied and he too felt very tense and looked behind him out of instinct.

"Don't worry Kira, I'm sure its nothing," Via reassured. She didn't have enough emotion left to be worried. She was still too happy with being reunited with her son.

"Hey whats that?" Sai asked. "Whats, what?" Dearka questioned. "Listen," Sai replied. All did as he said and a very distant whistle could be heard. "I wonder what it is? Tolle said. "Whats that" Nicole cried pointing high in the distance.

Seen by the group was a large column of light moving upwards until it burst high above them in a shower of colour. "Lets find out!" Dearka said enthusiastically already swimming in the direction the sound. "Looks like we don't have a choice," Mr Waltfeld sighed and all went to follow Dearka.

---

"Oh shit," Athrun swore as the water had risen to his ankles. "Don't just stand there, help me!" Murrue cried out, trying to duck tape the leaks in the walls. Athrun waded his way over in the cold rising water and grabbed another tape.

Athrun and Murrue flopped down in there chairs. "So what now?" Athrun asked. Sighing Murrue just looked around the mini sub and knew they were in trouble.

The floor was filled ankle high with freezing cold water. Duck tape was stuck all over the walls to cover the leaks which didn't work properly, but at least it slowed the water down. Murrue knew this would limit their time until water filled the mini sub. Red lights flashed alerting the crew of how badly damaged the mini sub was making the room look like a scene out of an action movie.

"At least we scared the Merpeople away" Murrue said, "it was very clever of you to think of using a flare to scare them away." Athrun just smiled awkwardly. He had actually done it on accident. He had fell on the dashboard from the mini sub rocking and fell against that button.

"So what now?," Athrun asked, flopping down into the chair next to Murrue and kicking his feet up onto the dashboard, resting his hands behind his head. "We could contact the others" Athrun suggested. Murrue looked out the window. "No" she stated firmly. "Huh. Why not" Athrun asked, confused. "Well look at this place. Although this is an amazing discovery I think it is something we should keep to ourselves." Athrun silently agreed. This was Kira's home and if he was to tell his father it would be ripped to pieces and all that lived in it would have no home.

"Well. First of all I think we should go into the water and look at whats stopping the sub from moving" Murrue said after a long period of silence…. "WHAT! Are you nuts! There might still be Merpeople out there!" Athrun cried out staring at Murrue with shocked eyes. "What other choice do we have…"

---

"Wow!" Dearka said in awe, his eyes widened with amazement. "I don't think we should go any closer," Nicole mumbled, from where he was cowering at the back of the group. "Don't be a scaredy krill, Nicole," Dearka teased swimming forward.

"Is it meant to looks like that?" Tolle questioned, seeing all the dents and scratches that were in the metal. "I don't think so," Kira said slowly. The group watched as Kira moved forward. "Kira, I don't think you should go that close," Via said reaching out to hold her son back. He just continued swimming forward, his mothers hand just lightly brushing his arm which came to rest limply at her side.

Kira approached the mini sub with a blank expression as not believing it was really there.

"It has to be a dream," Kira thought to himself. He had finally escaped it or so he thought. Now it had come back to haunt him.

Suddenly the back of the mini sub began to lower. All froze in shock, unsure what was about to happen. Out of the back of the mini sub two figures in black came out.

Sai's eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of his head. What was coming out of the mini sub was horrifying and what made it worse was they were looking straight at the group.

They had two legs instead of a tail yet the end of there feet were fins. Their eyes were large and shone eerily. They didn't even look like eyes. Two large metal things were set upon the creatures backs. Like the eyes, they didn't look normal. Pipes twisted and turning grew out of the large things set upon their backs. Where your mouth would normally be a dome of transparent, shining material was covering that area connected to even more pipes.

But Kira saw past the suits. He knew who these people were as soon as he saw the familiar navy blue hair fanning out from the smaller figure's head and the well developed female figure with brown hair.

"Athrun, Murrue" Kira said in a unsure voice, "what are you doing here?" "Looking for you," Athrun replied after a moments silent when his brain was registering that Kira was right there in front of him. "Oh."

Athrun and Murrue just looked at each other. "Err. What do we do now" Athrun asked. Murrue just gave him a confused look because she didn't know what to do either.

"Kira," Athrun said drawing in a deep breath his grip tightening on the shining metal object he had been keeping safe in his pocket until now.

"Athrun," Kira replied in a quiet tone. ("Oh you guys" Cagalli calls out, pulling them into a big hug and all is forgiven. Sigh. It just isn't that easy…)

"So what do you plan to do," Ulen growled, swimming up beside Kira, because he was sick of watching from the side lines and doing nothing. "Yeah," Dearka said swimming up on Kira's other side and the rest of the group joined him.

Athrun and Murrue cowered back a bit realizing that they were out numbered. "Come back. You belong with us," Athrun said bravely, moving forward and straightening up into a more confident stance.

"No Athrun. That's where you are wrong. This is where I belong," Kira replied in a sure voice. "But Kira," Athrun pleaded in a weak voice. "Athrun" Kira said in a gentle voice. "You were and well, still are a really great friend all in all. But this is where I belong. Here in my world, not yours." Turning his head Athrun looked at Murrue and recalled what she had said. Maybe this is where Kira belonged. No. He belonged with them. Athrun shook his head clearing it of all those points which were opposing what he wanted to believe.

"how does this sound. I'll come and visit you every year on this day. Does that sound good," Kira offered. Athrun turned his head back to look at his friend. "Really?" "Of course. You can just come and visit me at the waters edge." "It's a good idea" Murrue wheedled. "You promise." "Of course."

"Well, now that we have that sorted out I think we need to move onto the more pressing matters" Murrue said , feeling a bit guilty for breaking up the moment but what she had to say was important.

"What may they be" Mr Waltfeld asked. Murrue stared at him for a moment before replying. "As you are aware, Mr Zala has organized a search for Kira" she said gesturing in Kira's direction. "And they are searching nearby this area and what if they are to stumble upon this place. Everybody's expression hardened. She did have a point. And to back that, many human subs had been spotted nearby. The most recent one was seen by some students on a field trip to the drop off.

"We could send them in the wrong direction," Athrun suggested. "That's a good idea. It might actually work," Murrue replied slowly as she was thinking it over. "That sounds great. Just one last thing before I leave" Athrun said.

He swam forward until he was directly in front of Kira. "Turn around" Athrun smiled. Doing as he was told Kira turned around and felt a familiar item being hung around his neck. "the cleaners found this in the pool filter. They thought you might want it back." "Thank Athrun" Kira said with a weak smile, turning to face Athrun. "Till we meet again." Athrun and Kira shared a brief hug before Athrun swam back into the mini sub where Murrue was waiting for him.

While they were talking she had found the chain and untied it. Since Shinn wasn't the smartest cookie in the cookie jar, he hadn't tied the knot properly, so it was easy to untie.

Glimpsing out the window one last time Athrun saw his friend joyfully conversing with his mates and family looking the happiest he had ever seen him. Feeling something warm on his shoulder Athrun turned to see Murrue was resting one of her hands on his shoulder. "You did the right thing" She said with a small smile. "Sigh. Doing the right way is always harder than the wrong way" Athrun said in a gloomy voice pressing his hand against the window seeing himself moving further and further away from his friend until he was no more than a pinprick in the far distance.

---

The most recent one was seen by some students on a field trip to the drop off. sound familiar… CoughNEMOCough.

Sorry for the slow update. Schools on again meaning I'm busy with homework and assignment. I found this a hard chapter to write. Sadly this fic is almost over. Though I'll probably do a sequel. Thanks for the review on the last chapter. I really appreciate it. Please review. It means I'm more motivated to do it and faster it'll be done.