Disconnected

Michael 'Rau' Creuset Reiz

Reb: Fanfiction is being dumb right now and hasn't been sending me updates or reviews. However, I did read all the reviews manually on the site. Sorry I didn't take time to reply. Anyway, I'm glad you all like Susume. If you really think she's meant for Yzak, you should check out The World I Thought I Knew where Yzak and Susume are the main characters. -smile-


"Have you ever been so nervous you got sick?"

"Once."

"What did you do about it?"

"I listened to sad music about getting dumped for two days."

"What?" Kira looked over at Susume who was tying her shoes.

"I had just been dumped and I had to go on stage. It made me nervous so I listened to sad music."

"Like what?"

"Backstreet Boys, mostly. Really good band, actually." Susume looked ahead at the wall with a thoughtful look on. "But why are you so nervous?"

"Have you ever done anything like this before?" Kira crossed his arms.

"Uh.. No?"

"Exactly. Lacus is about to have the biggest concert of her career and with the stunt that Athrun pulled last time.. Is he here yet?" Kira asked.

"Calm down, Fido. I'll go find him." Susume smiled and walked out of Kira's room... right into Yzak Joule.

"Oh. Yzak, it's you." She rubbed her head.

"Susume." Yzak greeted. "Um...Did you need something?" he asked.

Susume had said 'I'll be in touch' but she'd basically come to live at the Clyne mansion for three days. Today was day two. In that time, she had more accidental run ins with Yzak than a fish had with water.

"Kira wanted to know if Athrun was here yet." Susume shrugged. "But if you were looking for me, you'll just have to accompany me to find out."

"I wasn't looking for..!"

"Sure, sure. Now let's go." Susume laughed lightly with a bright smile and took Yzak's hand to lead him down the hallway.

– – –

Susume walked around the building corner. She'd sent Yzak to check with the butlers to see if they'd let Athrun Zala into the house. However, it seemed unnecessary since she just found him.

"Athrun Zala." Susume called. Athrun jumped. He'd been tinkering with something. A green bird flew down from Kira's open bedroom window and landed on Athrun's shoulder.

"Yes?" Athrun asked, turning around with an 'I'm not doing anything suspicious' smile.

"What are you doing?" Susume asked. Behind Athrun's back was a camera. It had a ultra high, custom made zoom and lighting features. It seemed like a stealth camera. Was he going to stalk someone with that thing or try to shoot someone?

"I was... making sure my camera worked. Kira told you what was happening at the concert, right?" Athrun asked.

"Of course." Susume replied in a voice that clearly said she was offended he could think otherwise.

"I'm going to film it." Athrun smiled proudly.

"Does your wife know this?" Susume asked, walking around toward the camera.

"Not really. Then again, surprises were always my specialty." Athrun grinned.

"Hand over the camera, lover boy. Kira's looking for you." Susume held out her hand.

It took some fighting, but Susume finally got the camera away from Athrun and convinced him that Kira's confidence was much more important than some silly old camera. When Susume looked at the camera, she smirked. It was her lucky day.

'Sorry, Athrun. I don't think you're gonna get this camera back.' she thought evily.

– – –

Lacus opened her bedroom door only to be caught by a piece of paper floating to the ground. She looked at it in confusion before picking it up.

'Ah! A poem!' she smiled.

'All out of letters

All out of time

Not out of love

But all out of rhyme.

I'm giving you support.

You better not suck.

I've prepared a surprise.

Good luck.

r'

She was both flattered and confused. What sort of surprise could it be talking about? Oh! Now was the perfect time to put the letters together!

"Lacus, it's time to go. Are you ready?" Kira called. He was stepping out of his room with Athrun.

"Oh. I-I'm ready!" She quickly put the letter on her desk and frowned. It would have to wait till after the concert, she supposed.

– – –

"She'll think you're acting weird if you keep pacing like that, Kira." Athrun advised.

"Kira's acting weird?" Lacus's normal happy voice asked as the pink haired princess walked into the backstage area.

"I'm just nervous." Kira smiled. It showed he was nervous too.

"I always knew you weren't cut out for show business." a snide voice replied.

All heads turned to greet Rau Le Creuset. He had his traditional black sunglasses on and his smirk. He was wearing a jacket with some faux, or what they hoped was faux, fur on it's collar.

"Mr. Creuset?" Lacus asked.

"Shani called me. He said he'd told you everything.. Yet you still call me that. I'm starting to wonder just what he told you." Rau lightly pulled off his glasses and turned his blue eyes up to look directly into theirs.

"Hey, you're...!" Athrun began.

"You can call me Michael Reiz." Rau nodded toward Lacus, who was shocked.

"Mr... Michael?" she asked tentatively. She couldn't believe it.

"Yes. The man responsible for trying to break up this happy couple, not only once, but several times." Shani stepped into view a good 10 feet from Rau.

Kira glared at Rau. He'd always known he disliked Rau but now he knew this. Michael. Lacus's old producer. The very same man who had tried to convince Lacus that Kira was bad for her career and that Kira would not like to have to move around constantly to be with her. The same man who sent his adoptive son to get close to Lacus and tear them apart. The man who had done everything in his conniving little mind to ruin their relationship... and yet... They were still together.

Kira opened his mouth to tell Rau to get out, but someone else spoke first.

"Mr. Creuset.. Or Mr. Reiz, whichever you are... I need you to answer only one question." Lacus was looking at the floor, her concert dress ruffling around the collar. "Why do you dislike Kira so much?"

Rau scoffed lightly and smiled before dropping it for a serious look.

"Miss Clyne, as your producer, I had been leading your career for years. When you told me about Mr. Yamato I was almost glad for you. But you kept mentioning that you wanted to bring him on our team and you even wanted him to have a say in what you did with your career. He was threatening the position I had built up." Rau replied like it was obvious.

"But he was like a cockroach." Rau continued. "He came back to you and eventually, you fired me. You believed his stories over mine and I lost out on my job. Do you know how frustrating it is to go from the producer of Lacus Clyne to sitting on the benches of society?"

"So you took it out on Kira?" Lacus asked angrily.

"I suppose I did blame him... just a little bit." Rau smirked.

"Get out." Everyone was surprised to hear the hateful words coming from Lacus. "I don't ever want to see your face, or hear your voice, or even think of you, ever again. You are banned from being backstage at anything I may perform. I will get a restraining order if I must."

"It seems little Lacus has grown up, finally." Rau laughed.

"I'll say it once more. You are not welcome here." Lacus glared at the man, tears in her eyes.

Kira wrapped his arms around her. He tilted his head slightly and motioned to Rau with his eyes. Four security guards came out and forced Rau from the concert grounds. All the way, he was declaring that Kira would be the end of Lacus Clyne.

Shani looked sadly from where his 'father' was to where the couple was standing, Lacus crying slightly.

"I'm sorry for the disturbance just before the concert." He bowed to the whole group before he turned to leave.

"Wait! Shani!" Kira's voice stopped him. "At least stay for the concert."

Shani was shocked, to say the least. Kira just smiled at him in a comforting manner. He was willingly giving permission to Shani. To the man who tried to end his relationship. No. That was Rau. Shani smiled and nodded.

"Okay."

– – –

"You gonna be okay, now?" Kira asked. Mwu stood behind him.

"Yea. I'll be fine. It all just caught me off guard. He was always such a nice producer." Lacus nodded, frowning.

"Hey now!" Mwu cut in. "No frowning. Your fans will see it and then what will you do? Come on. Big smiles." Mwu smiled brightly and then hugged her.

"Good luck." he nodded.

"Yea, good luck." Kira smiled encouragingly. For some reason, when Kira said those words Lacus was reminded of the poem.

But Kira had not prepared a surprise for the concert as far as she could tell. Shani had gotten Rau to come and confess everything. That was a big surprise. Was the romantic poet actually Shani?

Lacus put a smile on her face before she hugged Kira and then walked to her starting position for the concert.


Reb: This story is coming to a close soon. I can see it lasting only one more chapter.. or maybe two if it's lucky and I get some wonderful inspiration to make it longer.

Anyway, next chapter: It's time for the big concert and Lacus's secret admirer isn't quite done with his love notes. And.. what's Susume doing up in the lights?