Finding Destiny
Last Chapter:
(Cagalli's POV)
"Don't you remember me child, it's Romeo," the stranger replied.
"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. But it's a pleasure to meet you Romeo. The name is Ash Yula," I said quietly, smiling t the man.
"Ash Yula," he mumbled quietly. "I must have been mistaken, the girl whom I talk to before was called different. She seemed so lost yet so determine to gain revenge over the death of a love one."
"I see, revenge and hatred are two powerful things that can force people to make foolish choices," I said slowly frowning.
"If you pardon me Ash but I think I'll put on my nightcap and rest my eyes for a tad while," Romeo said quietly, using the paper as a pillow.
Getting up, I started to walk but not before I heard him snore quietly. Turning around, I smiled sadly, "Sleep well, Romeo."
……………………..
"I'm in trouble and I don't know how to get out of it," I said sorrowfully, not bothering to face him.
"I figured that when I first meet you," Jeegi said sadly. "I'm guessing that your real name wouldn't be Ash Yula, now would it?"
"No," I mumbled quietly. "Yet, I couldn't possibly use my real name."
Feeling a hand touch my shoulder, I turned to face Jeegi. "How about you finally tell me the full truth and then I can truly help you."
Feeling Jeegi stare at me momentary, he asked seriously, "Tell me Ash, who are you? Really."
"Really," I whispered quietly, as I stared at the ground. "I suppose I had many names at a certain point. But you may know me as one person. You may know me as Cagalli Zala."
"Someone is after my life. The bombing of the clinic was meant to get rid of me, I suppose," I said slowly, "However, as you can see the bomber seemed to miss his target. And I cannot come forth and announce that I am still a live, because of that fact that I will be putting my family and friends in danger."
"I'm going to help you. If it means eliminating whatever the cause of you not being able to reunite with the family, then so be it," Jeegi replied sincerely.
Standing up, I quickly threw myself at him and gave him a tight hug. Whispering into his ear I said, "For a kid your age you are quite mature. Yet somehow, I am glad that I met you. I'm truly am grateful."
……………………………….......................
(Estelle's POV)
"Well if you talk like that, then maybe it is true," Yzak said as he started to walk away. "Then again, if you truly do love you mother, then wouldn't you expect to give some sort of effort of finding her and bring her home safe and sound?"
Thinking about what Yzak said, I smiled sadly. "Where should I start looking?"
"Well, the perfect place to start, in my opinion, would be the last place everyone saw your mother," Yzak said.
"The clinic?" I asked surprised.
"Why not? There has to be something that might point in the direction you mother went," he replied.
……………………………….....................................
(Cagalli's POV)
"What exactly can I do?" I asked angrily.
"That bag next to you. I noticed that you belong to some form of gym, right?" Jeegi asked quietly.
"Yes, that is correct," I said, the added curiously, "Why?"
"I got a idea but you are going to have to trust me," he said.
"I don't think I got much choice," I said sarcastically, as we made our way out of the cemetery.
………………………………......................
(Estelle's POV)
"Is that you child?"
Turning to my side, I noticed a familiar person. "Romeo!"
"Romeo? Do you know him Estelle?" Miriallia asked surprised, as she stared at Romeo.
"Just moments ago, you were taller and older and now you grown shorter and younger. You are a complicated child," Romeo said as he continued to move.
Yzak walked up to Romeo and asked slowly, "What is the name of the other girl who resembles Estelle? The person who you say is a splitting image of Estelle, only older and taller."
"I think she went by the name," pausing for a second, Romeo thought about it. "She went by Ash. Yes that was it, Ash Yula."
"Ash Yula," Yzak replied quietly. Turning to face the burnt down clinic he kept to his thoughts.
"The stranger who Romeo saw earlier today who is known as Ash Yula might be the one who we know as Cagalli Yula Attha."
Chapter 13
(Estelle's POV)
"Mom," I whispered out quietly, taking in what Yzak stated slowly.
"That cannot be possible," Miriallia replied slowly, as she too took in what Yzak had said. "Why on earth would Cagalli be walking in broad daylight where anyone could see her when she is considered to be missing?"
"Estelle, do you have a picture of your mother on you?" Yzak asked me.
Nodding my head, I quickly dug into my pocket, to receive the picture I had of my mom and myself. Handing it to Yzak, I watched closely as he showed the picture to Romeo.
"Is this the woman you saw today?" Yzak asked quietly. Looking at the picture, Romeo frowned slightly.
"She look almost identical to this one. However, at the same time there are many differences," Romeo replied.
"I think we just hit a dead end again," Dearka replied seriously.
"When you say that they look different, do you mean that the lady in the picture looks more," Yzak started but stopped when Romeo finished his sentence.
"She looks like she belongs to a high wealthy family while the mistress I saw today looks like she lived on the streets all her life," he replied sorrowfully.
"It couldn't possibly be mom," I replied angrily as I felt the hope of finding my mom slip through my fingers once again.
Feeling someone wrap their arms around me, I heard Miriallia whispered quietly, "We will find her."
"Yet these two women look similar as to how?" Yzak asked.
"Yzak," Dearka said dangerously.
Looking at the picture, Romeo studied it carefully then answered, "Their eyes."
"What about their eyes?" Yzak asked.
"They both look like they are determine women," Romeo replied, staring at the picture again. "They both seemed to me personally strong women who will speak their minds to anyone who dares challenges them."
"Now what?" I asked. "Do we try to find this woman who resembles my mother?"
"It can be impossible to find someone that easily in a city of this size," Yzak replied carefully as he studied Romeo.
"So what do go from here then?" Dearka asked.
"There is not much we can do," Yzak replied sadly. "For all we know, this lady probably doesn't even exist."
"Ah but she does exits," Romeo replied.
"How do we know that you are telling us the truth?" Yzak replied.
"Cause Romeo doesn't lie," a voice answered. Turning around, I took notice of a young boy a bit older then me standing before us. "Are these people giving you trouble?"
"No, no, no," Romeo replied quickly, waving his hands in the air. "On the contrary Jeegi. I was just talking to a friend of mine."
Looking at the kid, I quickly took notice of some familiar characteristics. Yet I couldn't put my finger on who the stranger looked like. When I felt his eyes stare at me, I quickly turned away and faced Romeo.
Ignoring the kid name Jeegi, Yzak continued to talk to Romeo. "When was the last time you saw this woman named Ash Yula."
"What about Ash?" Jeegi interrupted quickly.
Turning to face him, I asked, "Do you know her?"
"What is to you?" he asked back seriously.
Studying him for another split second, I turned by back towards him and mumbled out quietly, "You wouldn't understand."
"Estelle," Miriallia replied out quietly.
"Estelle?" Jeegi asked surprised. "As in Estelle Zala?"
Without turning, I responded, "Yes, as in Estelle Zala. You know the daughter of running elector, Athrun Zala and the missing ex-representative Cagalli Zala."
"I see," he replied quietly. "I'm sorry to hear about your mother's disappearance."
Turning around angrily, I replied harshly, "Don't you dear say you are sorry! You have no idea what it feels to lose your mother to find out that she isn't dead but missing!"
Staring at me sadly, he shook his head slowly and replied, "You should consider yourself lucky. All my life I have grown up on these streets as a orphan. Never knowing who my real mother or father were."
Watching him silently, I kept quiet. However, before I had a chance to respond, Dearka said, "It must have been hard on you to grow up like that then."
Smiling sadly, Jeegi shook his head and added, "I got used to the idea that my parents just didn't want me. As I grew up on the streets, I just gotten so used to the idea of living independently that it doesn't even bother me any longer."
"I never knew that people such a young age live on the streets," Miriallia replied sadly.
"There is many different kinds of people that live off these streets that you wouldn't even realize," Romeo replied sorrowfully. "Many secrets are kept from the public eye. No one understands the truth of reality cause they dare not confront it."
"All we can do is help one another," Jeegi added quietly. "Just like I helped Ash when she came into the picture recently."
"Recently?" Yzak said quickly. "Do you mean you meet this Ash Yula character recently on the streets?"
Jeegi slowly turned to face Yzak and paused before speaking. "Ash Yula is a good friend of mine. I have just recently met her. That is true."
"Could she possible be Cagalli?" Miriallia asked quietly.
"I have no idea," Dearka replied quietly. "As of right now, this puzzle seems to be getting bigger by the moment."
……………………………….........................................................
(Cagalli's POV)
Stopping in front of the door of Orb's downtown gym, I paused to think about my options. People still walked passed me, in and out the door. Taking a deep breath I quickly walked through the door and blended myself with other members of the gym. Hurriedly I walked downstairs to the lobby.
Pulling out my membership card, I held it out as I was about to swipe it through. However, a man pushed me through before I had a chance to swipe the card.
Keeping my head down, I quickly walked toward the gym's locker room. Walking into a changing stall, I changed into my bathing suit and grabbed hold of one of the gym's towels.
A shower was in the call for, yet a relaxing dip into the pool sounded better at the moment.
It felt like centuries, as I slowly floated in the pool alone. All water-classes had seemed to be over for the day. As I drifted slowly in the pool, I felt the chlorine slightly sting unhealed cuts.
Getting out, I swiftly wrapped a towel around my small figure. "Girl, you got to start eating more. Add some meat to these bones," I mumbled quietly, as I had noticed earlier that my bathing suit was a tad bit bigger then the last time I had worn it.
As I made my way into the locker room once more, I took notice that the only other person was the cleaning lady, who was picking up dirty old towels from the floor that the gym members couldn't bother to put in the bin.
She couldn't possibly be much older then me. However, she did seemed to be 50 pounds heavier than myself.
Taking a quick glance at my legs, she cried out, "What happened to you? You're black and bluer than I ever got when my first husband beat on me regularly."
Looking down at my legs, I frowned slightly. It had been more then a week and many of my cuts and bruises haven't healed completely.
"I fell," I replied quietly. "I took a big tumble down the stairs at home. I always tell my daughter to put her roller blades away. Yet she refuses and look at where it gets me," I added, trying to sound more realistic by the moment.
Looking at me worriedly, she asked, "Are you sure you are alright? They got a first aid kit at the desk." Frowning at my legs once more she added, "I can go and get it if you wish."
Shaking my head, I smiled gratefully. "No thank you. All I can do it wait for the bruises to heal properly."
"You must be a natural if they are taking this long to heal," she said as the continued to look at me.
"It doesn't bother me much," I replied truthfully. "I am used to heal slower then people who are coordinators. It doesn't make me any different from them."
"I agree," she replied smiling. Turning around, she continued to clean up the locker room. "If you change your mind about the first-aid kit, tell me."
Watching her for a second, I smiled and responded, "Thank you."
Walking towards my bag, I picked it up and walked toward the showers. By the time I had the hot water running, I heard the door open and close. It was then when I knew I was completely alone.
I used half of what used to be a bar of soap to wash my body and hair. Without any conditioner, my hair seemed to be beyond all help.
Picking on the scissors that I had taken from the library, I examined them carefully. They might have been used for cutting paper but as of now, they will do.
Cutting chunks of hair that had been destroyed of burned from the bombing, I watched as they fell down to the floor. When most of my length was gone, I quickly put the scissors down and picked up the hair dye. Remembering when Jeegi handed it toward me, I remembered being surprised.
…………………………Flashback……………………………..
Watching Jeegi coming out of the drugstore, I was surprised he had bought something that looked big.
"This would be for you," he said as he handed me the bag.
"What is it?" I asked while looking into the bag. "Hair dye?"
"You need to stay hidden," Jeegi said, looking into the bag as well. "As of right now, you hair kind of stands out. In order to hide in the shadows, you got to dye it darker. It's the only way."
"I see," I replied. Looking at the color I shouted, "Jet black! Don't you think that's way too dark."
"The darker the better," he replied smiling jokingly. "Remember, you going to have to trust me on this."
"Fine," I replied. "What's next?"
………………………………..........Flashback Ends…………………………..
"Could have chosen a lighter brown next time," I mumbled as I quickly read the directions on the box.
………………………………...........................................................................
(Athrun's POV)
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
Hitting the alarm clock not so gently, I growled. "I heard you the first time."
Getting up slowly, I walked toward the window and opened the curtain. Yet the moment the sunlight hit, I regretted the choice. Squinting slightly, my eyes quickly adjusted to the change of light.
Turning around, I headed downstairs to the kitchen. Passing the answering machine, I took noticed of the blinking light. Remembering all the messages from yesterday, from the office and from people wondering what exactly was happening.
Turning on the small portable television that was located in the kitchen, I took noticed of the live news.
"A small group of people are now entering the cathedral in downtown Orb for the memorial service for Sue Cromwell, the young lady that lost her life during last week clinic bombing," a local reporter said, as the camera zoomed on the cathedral.
"As many of you know, Sue Cromwell was at first identify as the body of the now missing, Cagalli Zala. Athrun Zala, who had assumed the body to be his wife's has yet to give a statement on the mix up of bodies. At the same time, the Princess of Orb is now missing and was last seen at the clinic before the explosion."
A picture of Cagalli and Sue Cromwell appeared before the newscaster.
"Sue Cromwell's family were devastated when they first heard about her death. Yet at the same time, one particular family member stated that they are glad to finally know her whereabouts for this past week, they were worried for her safety."
Zooming on Cagalli's picture, the woman continued to speak, "As for the whereabouts of Mrs. Cagalli Zala, nothing has been given. Many assume that maybe the princess set up the bombing herself so she can disappear while others think she might be held hostage."
Bring up the newscaster once more, said sorrowfully, "In my sincerest opinion however, I do wish for the safety of the Princess and for her return. I give my sincerest apologizes for her love ones. This is Terry Canon signing off."
Turning the television off, I walked toward the refrigerator.
I started to realized something as I grabbed for the carton of milk and placed it on the table.
The very fact that had given me and everyone else hope had been a hard blow for the Cromwell's. Walking to the cabinet, I grabbed a bowl and a spoon.
Sue Cromwell had a family who cared for her and worry for her. Just like Cagalli had her family and friends. Walking to a different cabinet I grabbed the cereal box and sat down at the table.
The hope that they had to find Sue and know that she was safe was taken away from them when it was shown the body presumed to be Cagalli's was their Sue. Eating the cereal slowly, I frowned.
Now we have gained the hope for Cagalli well being while Sue Cromwell's family lost it, now knowing that she had died.
Holding the spoon tightly, I felt myself become angry. Why must things like this happen? Why must people disturb the peace that we fought so hard for? It doesn't seem to be fair.
Finishing my cereal, I quickly put the dish and spoon into the dishwasher. Putting the milk and box of cereal away I started to walk out of the kitchen when I noticed a small note on the counter.
Picking it up, it read:
Hey Dad,
Gone out for a short time to clear my mind. Be back soon!
Love,
Estelle
P.S. - Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Just make sure you get some rest!
Crushing the note, I felt worried for Estelle. I couldn't possibly imagine what she thought about the situation. How could anyone her age understand what was going on without being emotional?
"I'll find you Cagalli, I swear, if not for me then for Estelle," I whispered out quietly.
……………………………….....................................................................
(Estelle's POV)
"Look, I don't even know you people," Jeegi replied as he stared at me, "However, I have heard about Cagalli Zala's disappearance, and I am truly sorry."
"Can you introduce us to this Ash Yula?" Yzak asked. Turning to face Yzak he shook his head. "Why not?"
"I have to ask Ash. She somewhat of a shy person," Jeegi replied.
"A shy person?" Miriallia said surprised. "That doesn't sound like Cagalli."
"As of right now, my mom missing cause she was either decided to run off or was kidnapped and held hostage doesn't sound like her either," I replied seriously.
Everyone kept quiet for a second. Then Jeegi said quietly, "Then maybe it is time for you and everyone to not give up hope but to believe that your mother is fine and she is trying everything to come back to the people who she loves."
Looking up at him surprised, I felt deep down that what he said was true. Everyone as well stared at Jeegi. Looking at us back, Jeegi smiled warmly.
Looking at us one final time he waved and said, "Got to go. Nice meeting you folks." And with that, he started to run away.
Watching him go, I felt like I had to follow him. Like he knew something that he wasn't telling us. But was held back, when Miriallia held onto my shoulder. Turning to face her, she bend down and said quietly, "I think we should listen to him and do what he said. Believe that your mother will come back. After all, she is a strong person and she never gave up before. So why would she start now?"
Frowning, I turned around but saw that the kid had disappeared.
"Mom, where are you?" I whispered out quietly.
………………………………........................................................................
(Cagalli's POV)
Walking up to the mirror, I looked at myself for a split second. Smiling for a second, I felt my hopes and spirits lift. Checking myself in the mirror, I approved of the new outfit, Jeegi had seemed to get a hold of. A pair of black sweats and a white sweat shirt that said "Believe in Destiny".
I have survived this long. There is nothing stopping me to survive now. Taking the towel off my head, I watched as my hair fell just above my shoulders. The dark color contracted my light color skin.
Taking a brush, I gently brushed it.
For a moment, I wasn't sure who was looking back at me.
Then I realized something.
The person looking back was no longer Cagalli Yula Attha who had a safe loving home and family.
As of right now, I'm Ash Yula. A person who is trying to live and survive in the streets of Orb. Trying to stay alive and keep the ones she love safe.
The beginning of Jeegi's plan has begun. Placing the bag under a bench, I quickly left the locker room and out the building. I had to meet Jeegi. And if I had to return, I'll just say I forgot my bag.
Chances were, no one would ask. However, if they did, I had proof.
………………………………...............................................................................
(Kira's POV)
Looking out the window, I watched as Orb's council members individually walked out the building. One by one.
"How was the meeting?" Lacus asked as she came into the small office room.
"Good, I suppose," I replied quietly.
"I suppose you read about the Cromwell's memorial service in the paper and about the article they had on Cagalli?" she asked carefully.
"Yes, I did," I replied as I continued to watch them go. "They too read it and became worried. They believe that what ever is happening, it will destroy Orb's reputation."
"Is that all they are worried about?" Lacus asked surprised. "What about the safety of Cagalli? Isn't that important as well?"
"Of course the safety of my sister is important," I replied sadly. "However, Orb cannot fall or be humiliated. It will show that the country is weak."
"Kira," Lacus whispered softly.
"I don't exactly know what's going on," I said as I turned to face her, "However, someone bombed that clinic for a purpose. If it was to rid of Cagalli or not, they did accomplish another goal. And that is to upset the council members and the citizens of Orb."
"Now what?" Lacus asked curiously.
"Finding who bombed the clinic that day and why?" I replied seriously. "It is then when we will find out the truth."
Turning to the window once more, I whispered out quietly, "The truth of the whole crazy situation."
"The situation that your sister seemed to get right in the middle of," Lacus added.
"She is strong and I know she will come back," I replied sadly. "Knowing her, she is probably fighting against the same person who is causing so much havoc."
"Yet she will win Kira," Lacus replied strongly. "She will win to the bitter end."
Smiling, I answered, "That sounds like my sister."
……………………………….................................................................................
Author's Note:
Finally a new chapter up and ready! Sorry for the delay I have exams and school related things after vacation. Sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to get the next one up as soon as possible.
And thank you for those who reviewed the last chapter! I appreciate it and please keep reviewing!