Chapter Eleven: Cruel

Snow now covered the ground completely, Cagalli sat silently in her room avoiding all contact with anyone. It had already been nine days since the announcement of Athrun's new rise to power and the betrothal between him and Cagalli. Since then she hadn't left her room nor had she spoken to a single soul. Lacus would bring her food everyday and knock three times at her door before leaving it on a table outside for her to get. But every night when she went to go get the empty plate it would still be wrapped and untouched.

As Cagalli sat silently gazing out her window she watched as Kira went towards the black BMW waiting for him outside like everyday to take him to work, a man dressed in black with a black umbrella escorted him to the car making sure the light wouldn't hit his fragile skin, as usual Kira would look back towards Cagalli's window as give her a small wave, he did that every single day since she'd locked herself inside her room. Not once did she ever respond back.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Lacus's three slow knocks could her heard upon the blondes door, as normal she would ignore the knocks. But today of all days Lacus instead of just walking away and leaving the blonde to sit in silence spoke through the door. Neither her nor Kira ever tried to unlock the blondes door, just leaving her in her own privacy.

"Cagalli…" called Lacus in a sorrowful voice making Cagalli's heart wrench. As the blonde looked back towards the door she couldn't help but feel bad for not opening up to Lacus but her pride was to large. It would take something large to make the blonde girl regret completely that they had kept that secret of her being promised off.

"Please Cagalli just listen to me, you don't need to reply or even talk to me. I just wish that you would listen to me…" she spoke with a broken voice. "This is already the ninth day. Kira and I are worried, though we know that you'll eat when you wish to but…Cagalli, Athrun's the most worried. He may seem cold, detached, and egotistic at times. He does feel emotions Cagalli. He hasn't eaten since you locked yourself away." sighed the pinkette as she leaned her head against the door.

'What…' thought Cagalli as she snapped her head towards the door peeling her eyes away from the outside world once again towards the door.

"Cagalli, though you may not believe it I know what your feeling. Like you I was once promised off to Athrun when I was still human before my father- well. Anyways Cagalli I know how it feels to be betrayed by those you love, but Kira…you have to understand…he was never really supposed to know you Cagalli. You were only ever to be sister by name and nothing more. When your mother found out she was with child Kira was forced out of living with your parents he was only ever to see you on occasions. Though seems old fashioned they do the same now, they split sibling up before the older or younger can become attached to one another. As you've seen first hand both younger and older feel pain when the other is forced away. So Cagalli I know, I know it's hard…but after your parents passed and Uzumi called him to protect you from those who could harm you he thought of you nothing more then a small human. But you've grown on him Cagalli. You are…after all his precious little sister who he loves more then life itself. I just wish you knew how hard he's tried to protect you from this citatory from happening…"

Then that was it. There was no more from her, she left leaving the food outside Cagalli's door. Cagalli gazed once again outside before getting up from her chair and walked over towards her bed and reached under the mattress and pulled out a single journal that lay hidden from the world. As she opened to a dog eared page she began to read.

January 20th, 29th year.

Father hath been gone for more then a fortnight. Though it not be much of a loss, ever since mothers death. Twas a winter of much discontent. The maids have been stealing once again from mothers room I've now locked it up in fear on them stealing more, though father does not care. Often I've wondered hath he ever loved that dear beautiful woman. I doubt much if he hath ever did.

Once more thy have found oneself engaged yet to another woman, though this one is different from the rest, born with pink hair and a voice cast down by the angels her name is Lacus. Though I ought to be discouraged to not find ones own true love, though she is a very kind woman and very beautiful. Tis to say I do not love her, I have only seen her has a sibling and nothing more. She is a figure that is meant to be seen but not touched by these hands. As thy immortals life has progressed I've come to realize the harshness life throws. No longer doth I desire a woman's presence as I once used to for fear of their death coming too soon by thy's hands.

How many hath I killed? Wonders only known by the divine above, tastes of them all hath changed through the years…first twas the old then the new…but nothing is more satisfying then the virgin maidens that roam the day and keep away once night invades the sky's…Lacus I fear for her when we are alone. Not once hath I touched her, but I fear… Kira still human as he is has been a guard on thy's behalf once the light comes back to this world…oh how I wish this eternal suffering would end.

Though I am unable to take ones own life…be I hath tried…though failed. Only have I gone without another's life essence for five days. How weak hath I become in this form, disgusting….

Instantly Cagalli closed the book shut and then reopened it to re-read the last few lines.

"Five days?" she questioned as she looked down the elegant script. "Wait…I don't remember him eating the day before…maybe once, but…WHAT A FOOL!" yelled Cagalli, scared at what would happen to Athrun if he died and to her knowing he was doing it because of her stubbornness. She couldn't even imagine what the vampire court would do.

Cagalli slow raised herself from her bed but not before hiding the book away once again, as she walked towards her window she noticed Lacus walking outside towards the garage as he pink head disappeared in threw the door Cagalli was left wondering where the king would be hiding away. As she slowly opened the door from her room she gazed out into the hall wondering where she would begin to search. Slowly she left the safety of her room while closing the door behind her and head down the hall towards the grand stair case that would take her upstairs to where she believed Athrun would be. Her hand glided up the polished banister as she went, the house looked more and more inviting as the days went on. Lacus had taken a depressing manor and made it a home. How she managed with two gloomy vampires and a dysfunctional teen she would never know.

Slowly now she reached the third floor and began to walk towards Athrun's room noticing now the lights had all been turned off. As she came to a halt in front of his door she noticed the room was empty, not a single soul looked to have been in there for days. As she entered with caution she glanced around the grand master bedroom of the home with aw. New pieces of furnature had been added when old had been thrown out or put to auction after Athrun had stated he wished for nothing around him that reminded of him of the past. Though he still continued to keep portraits of the kings of the past while continuing as well to keep the arrangement of small note books in a neat pile upon his desk. As she began to turn around and leave the room there he was standing in the doorway. Clutching to the frame, his body was shaking his eyes no longer showed any reflection, they were that of a beast. Twice he blinked to her as if trying to figure out a puzzle, his face twitched.

He lunged.

She froze, unable to move or scream.

He landed on her instantly, she figured her life would end that exact moment as her back hit the floor her head following close behind but only to be cushioned by a very cold hand. As she slowly opened her eyes to look upwards there she saw Athrun, his eyes refusing to open. His breathing stop. Stopping as to not take in her scent, eyes closed shut as to not see her scared face. Though he was made into such a creature he still held a little bit of human within. Just a little. As she looked down to his shaken body sprawled out onto the floor and as well onto her she couldn't help but pity such a person.

"The greatest harm can result from the best intentions." she spoke as she tried to get free of his grasp. It wasn't until then that his body stopped shaking and his grip tightened on her hair where his hand was resting and with a slight push and pull he forced the now very frightened girl to look into his eyes. His blood thirsty, and angry eyes.

"Do not try to even pity me human! Remember not! I am thee vampire king, though you be my fiancé, that can change within a matter of thy minute!" he snapped as he shoved the girl away and stood to his full height, almost ahead taller then herself. As he looked down on the ground to the girl he watched as she moved slowly away in fear of him. "It is better to be hated for who you are, then for someone you are not." spoke Athrun as he gazed down to her. "Just because you hold up within that room of yours and hear about thy's troubles from Lacus doth not mean you can pity such a creature as I! Remember your place human, your in my world now. Only hath I not been drinking blood was not under ones free will but that damned to hell brother of yours! Told I that I know not your suffering till I hath experienced it. All I hath experienced was a selfish stuck up bratty princess whom didn't get thy own way for once in their live! You know not of suffering till you've lived a few hundred years!" he yelled to her as she flinched away from him in petrified fear, scared that she would be his victim all over again. But this time there would be no Kira or Lacus to come to her rescue.

"There's the door. I'm sure you know how to use it. It's a really simple process. You put one foot in front of the other, turn the knob, and keep going." he stated rather rudely as he pointed towards the ajar door. Instantly she was to her feet and running as fast as she could away from him

He listened silently to her running footsteps as she hit the stair case and then to the banging and thumping as she ran all down the steps, expecting her to stop at her floor he listened more while realizing she was continuing to run as fast as she could, he then heard the main door open. Slowly he walked over towards his window and gazed out with a cold glare as he watched her run away towards where Lacus was now pulling into the driveway. The pinkette stopped the car suddenly and got out quickly as the blonde ran towards her and ran into her arms, shaking and obviously crying. It was then he saw Lacus gaze upwards to his window, not with hate, or anger. But with remorse and sadness.

Soon enough he turned away from the window and collapsed onto the ground, his blood thirst was getting the better of him and he knew it. He knew he had to send her away, though it may have been harsh and he could have done a better job he needed for her to temporarily disappear before his instincts took over and devour her all. He lay there for a few moments slowly counting the time pass by, never had he remembered time to move slowly but instead to move fast. But now he lay there weak and helpless, he felt more human then he had in a hundred years of being a vampire. Foot steps came closer and closer towards his doorway but too weak was he to lift is head and look up to see who it was. It wasn't until the rich iron and sweet sugar filled his nostrils. His eyes snapped open once again to gaze to the red liquid before him that filled a giant vase. His hands clasped around it and he held it high, his lips softly touching the edge. Within seconds it was empty and he stood only momentarily satisfied.

"Where did that come from, it wasn't even close to being human!" spat Athrun as he held his hand over his mouth in fear of gagging the substance back up.

"It's cows blood, its full of the basic substances you need. Far healthier then human blood nowadays." stated Rusty as he leaned against Athrun's bed post and watched the vampire slowly regain composer.

"Cows blood? Since when did you turn vegetarian?" questioned Athrun as he wiped the blood from his face.

"Since it's easier to get and better for our bodies. Haven't you noticed? Humans take no care in their bodys anymore. Do they not know who else suffers besides themselves?!" ragged Rusty as he looked towards both Lacus and Cagalli outside. "So, majesty what happened now?" he mused as he looked to the man opposite him.

"Nothing."

"Didn't sound like nothing to me." he smiled. "I witnessed it all Athrun, you do know the more you push her away the least likely she is to lay for you."

"Does not matter."

"Ah so I see- wait what? Athrun! She needs to bear your children in order to stay within the clan!" stated Rusty as he looked over to Athrun with shock.

"Tis no life for her, I'd rather see her basking in the suns rays, enjoying human life. Not one in darkness. She is the princess of Orb, the country rules by the sun god. While we in Zaft are ruled by the God of darkness. We can never be, can you not see?" stated Athrun as he staggered around the room before falling on the bed in weakness.

"Though that maybe Athrun…the gods are no longer in affect in this day and age. The ones alive now know not of the Gods of the past, and what they could do. Now people don't want you to drink blood. They want you to drink Nescafe, preferable decaf." mused Rusty as he walked over towards Athrun before pulling out a flask and handing it to him.

"What's this?" questioned the blunette as he look at the dull metal container before pulling off the lid and instantly drinking it all up.

"Remember Athrun, You have to have a darkness...for the dawn to come. Just because darkness and light are said to not be, does not mean they do not follow one another around. There is love between the two. Do you not remember the old take? Of the Goddess of the moon, and the prince of the sun God?" questioned Rusty as Athrun flung the flask away, its contents gone and not a drop spilt. The man now sat up straight, still weak but not dying.

"Forgive me friend, but that tale if I do recall is a tragedy?"

"Ah, be that it so, but that doesn't mean it was meant to be."

"Explain…" demanded Athrun, wishing to know more as he sat upon his bed in a manor of a true king demanding that of his jester.

"In a time long long ago, young lady Yin lived with her father, the heavenly father himself. She had a peaceful life along side the Gods of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. It wasn't until one day Yin had accidentally broken the sacred jar of wisdom. The Heavenly father was furious to his daughters carelessness for such travesty, so he banished her down to Earth to repent for his sin. The only way for her to return was to contribute valuable services to those who dwelled upon earth.

When Yin arrived to earth she was to be reborn as a human, but to her misfortune she was to hold all the memories of her old life, as the years passed she grew into the woman she once was when she lived within the gates of heaven. Soon enough the word of her beauty passed around towns and villages. It was then that Earths prince Yang heard of this woman's beauty and went in a search for the woman. Yang soon found her and slowly the two fell in love, Yin and Yang became inseparable. When the heavenly father had found out about his daughters love with the human prince he became angry, so it was then that he sent out ten suns to reap his rage to his daughter. But not only did it effect her and her love but it also affected the people of earth.

It was then that Yang's father commanded Yang to slay nine of the ten suns in order to preserve the natural balance of his kingdom. Yang did as his father bided and left Yin, but in promise to return to earth to be with her once more. Yang was given one of two pills in which would grant him the ability to withstand the suns heat, and another to withstand the cold when coming back down. Soon as Yang had swallowed the sun pill and kissed his love goodbye he left to battle the nine suns of God. Many days had passed and soon enough only one sun was left. But unbeknown to Yang he had left the other pill on earth inside a box under his pillow. Yang was then trapped in the Suns kingdom.

Yin filled with grief of her loves predicament found the second pill and swallowed it so she could as well go to the sun to be reunited with her love once again. But fate stepped once more in their way, once Yin had taken the pill she found herself not going to the sun kingdom but to the moon kingdom in it's stead. Being a goddess Yin forced the moon to go to where the sun was, but Yang's father threatened to kill Yang if she moved the moon, saying it would destroy the world. Filled with grief for putting the earth in such a state in the first place she returned the moon to its place and there she lived watching the sun from afar.

While Yin and Yang lived in despair, one God looked on in remorse for the two. The heavenly mother herself gave one thing and one thing only to her daughter. The tree of immortality, though Yin was a Goddess, Yang was not. As the days went by her continued to age. It was then that the tree bloomed and flourished golden apples. Though only told to pluck one, Yin had taken them all wishing Yang to have them all to save him and bring him immortal life such as hers.

It was then that when the fruit was plucked did the tree die of living alone without Yang Yin forced the moon to encircle the earth, thus bringing the sun and moon together once a year to meet. On that moment Yin only had one apple left and when offered yang refused, believing Yin to be selfish for not sharing the apples with the people and only giving one to him. Yin being devastated with Yang's choice threw the apple down to earth where it was shared among the people riding them of short lives, and bringing about immortality and killing.

Pleased with her daughters choice the heavenly father granted his daughters wish, to bring immortality to Yang. While Yin demanded for her father to reunite them upon earth he refused. Believing that she and he would do much better as rulers of the moon and sun. She being the barer of darkness when her the giver of life. It was then that the two were separated forever. While seeing the two's sadness the heavenly mother granted for the two to meet, but only twice a year.

Though that seemed enough for Yin, just to see Yang once or twice was enough joy for her. But for Yang he was saddened to know he would live forever without those he held dear and only see his love once in a while to live alone was not his wish. So Yang committed suicide, ending his forever going life. When the year had ended and Yin was to see her beloved she was tormented to find that he was dead in the exact spot where they had parted.

Now when ever the sun and moon are to cross it is only for a few seconds so the Goddess to pray for her beloved, every now and then when the sun is at its highest the moon is watching, awaiting the day she would be reunited with her one and only."

"You said it wasn't a tragedy." stated Athrun with a glare as he looked to Rusty who sat in a chair a little ways from him.

"Did I? well Athrun, it wasn't meant to be. You just like the Goddess believe you know what's best for Cagalli so you push her away, she like the prince doesn't wish to be left alone even in the light of the world. She such as him wishes to be with those she love and care for."

"HA! Love? There is no reason for her to love nor care for me. I see her in no manor nor should she see me in such." mused Athrun as he looked towards the now nearing sunset.

"Though you believe that, doesn't mean she does. Didn't she come up here knowing you were thirsty and unhealthy? Knowing full well you may or may not attack her for her blood? If that's not caring for someone I know not of what is Athrun, and didn't you stop eating because she had? Though you knew she would continue when she left the time was right? You on the other hand could have killed yourself if you had gone another day without blood. Now tell me you do not care. And you mustn't use Kira nor Lacus as an excuse, since when had you ever listened to either before?" asked Rusty as he stood up and brushed off his pants before wishing Athrun adieu.

"I wonder if she still resides all alone up there in her lonely kingdom on the moon, I suppose we vampires get our nature from her. After all it was our kind to eat the cursed apple after all, was it not Goddess?" spoke Athrun as he watched the moon come into view, giving the snow an enchanting glow.

"I HATE HIM!"

Rusty's head snapped around as he passed by the kitchen, he looked backwards to see what could have yelled such things. He caught a flash of blonde against the white outside. He slowly turned around and made his way towards the patio where he found Cagalli outside alone looking out at the forest and watching deer dig through the snow to fund the green grass below. He leaned against the door in amusement as he watched her yell profanities to no one in particular then going back to watch the group of deer.

With the smile remaining on his face he slowly started to walk outside to join her.

"Anything I can help you with?" mused Rusty as he stood only a few feet behind the blonde. Cagalli looked back towards him, her eyes wide. Obviously not hearing him walk up from behind. Obviously he had startled her.

"No. You're a man, and a vampire. I hate both your kind right now." she stated rather rudely as she turned her back to him and went back to watching the deer.

Rusty took a few steps back from her and gave a cheeky smile. "Fair enough. Since my presence is obviously causing you pain, I'll take my manhood inside where its warm, where you can join me if you can overlook my obvious birth defect and my unwanted one too." he stated simply as he gave her a bow before heading inside while Cagalli sent him an evil glare. It was just like a man to make light of such a situation when she felt so hurt and alone. That's why she hated their kind at the moment and how she dreaded knowing she was stuck with them till the end of her days.

Cagalli found herself walking into the ballroom soon after Rusty without even noticing. She soon stopped in the middle of the room while watching him slowly move towards the two French doors before closing them. He then slowly moved towards the floor to ceiling length windows and pulled open the soft velveteen curtains that kept the room in darkness, when doing so he looked back towards her before looking back outside.

"You know Cagalli, he doesn't hate you. I can guarantee that." he said with a low whisper that she just caught, catching her interest in why he was speaking so softly. She moved closer. "He's just afraid you know."

"Afraid?! You're obviously mad if you think I'll believe The Athrun Zala is afraid of a little blonde human girl such as myself." she laughed as she looked amusingly towards Rusty who gave a small smile.

"No you're right, but I never said he was afraid of you now did I? no, he isn't afraid of anyone my dear. Well…not anyone alive anyways."

"Then what's he afraid of?" she questioned as she looked to Rusty with wonder.

"Isn't it obvious?" he questioned as he looked down at her with all seriousness.

"…" she remained silent as she looked confused up towards him.

"Love, that man is scared of love my dear."

"How can anyone be afraid of love?" questioned Cagalli as she couldn't even understand of one of the most primitive emotions known to man was one that Athrun feared.

"How can they not?" His face was completely angst. "When you love someone... truly love them, friend or lover, you lay your heart open to them. You give them a part of yourself that you give to no one else, and you let them inside a part of you that only they can hurt. And when they do strike, it's crippling. It leaves you naked and exposed, wondering what you did to make them want to hurt you when all you did was love them." he stated as he looked to the blonde more intensely now. "Cagalli, though you're still very young I know for a fact that you've felt that pain before. Just last week was it not? By your own flesh and blood. Now tell me why would he not fear love my dear? Countless times he's been hurt by it, in the most unbelievable ways possible." Rusty left her quiet as he walked away leaving her alone with her thoughts.

"Remember Cagalli, though he is a vampire and a tad cold hearted. He is after all, flesh and bones much as you and even those deer's outside are." he stated before leaving her completely alone.

"But why don't I believe you?" she questioned to no one in particular as she looked outside not hearing the person that slowly walked up behind her.

"Because people are ever willing to believe the negative over the positive. It's easier for you to think me corrupt and evil that it is for you to see me for what I really am. No one wants to believe that some people are willing to help others out of the goodness of their hearts because they can't stand to see someone suffer. So few people are altruistic that they can't understand or conceive that anyone else in the world could ever put someone else's good above their own." spoke Athrun as he appeared next to the blonde, dried blood on his chin. His lips red and his eyes Hungary.

"Athrun!" she exclaimed as she looked to him startled.

"Remember Cagalli, you are not the only one who was pushed into this." he said on a whisper before walking towards the French doors.

"W-Where are you going?!" she asked as she followed him for a few seconds before stopping.

"To feed." he said rather simply as he opened the doors.

"To feed…" she repeated, her voice hollow as she watched him walk out them.

"We must survive, all of us. Blood for me. A cooked bird for you. What is the difference?" questioned Athrun before closing the doors and fading into the night.

As Cagalli watched Athrun stride away into the night she still could never imagine him being anyone else then who she knew him for, a corrupt, evil, vampire who knew nothing of human emotions. No matter what pretty little speech he had just played upon her she knew his true nature. Or so she thought. All she knew was that she would never let him touch her and she knew he would keep his distance. Sure she was scared of the future, but she was more scared of the present knowing at any moment he could snap. Ending her life forever. She feared death far more then the consequences of the future they both chose.

"Cagalli?" called Lacus as she knocked upon the blondes door after hearing certain screams leave her room. "Are you alright-"

"WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?" screamed Cagalli as she tore her room apart, from closet to her drawers and then to flipping her mattress off her bed.

"Cagalli?" questioned Lacus as she watched the blonde half frightened.

"Lacus…" called the blonde as she collapsed to the floor in defeat and exhaustion.

"Cagalli!" spoke Lacus as she quickly went to the blondes side and held the poor girl.

"Lacus…where is it?"

"Where's what?" asked Lacus as she looked to the blonde.

"I can't find them anywhere…"

"Cagalli?"

"I looked all over…but I just can't find him…is he gone?"

"Who…"

"Lacus…I can't feel him anymore…"

"Cagalli who can't you feel?"

"He's gone isn't he?"

"Ca-"

"Why can't I feel him anymore?!" cried Cagalli as she clung to Lacus and began to cry hard into the older girls skirt.

"Shh….it'll be okay…everything is going to be okay." whispered Lacus as she played with the blondes hair.

"Lacus….." cried Cagalli even harder.

"I know, I know…everything will be okay." spoke Lacus as she glanced over to a horrified Kira as he entered the room wondering what happened. While Athrun stood off in the shadows, lurking just behind Kira. Unseen by the two females.

"Thank you Kira." smiled Lacus as she brushed Cagalli's fringe out of her face and watched the girl sleeping soundly in her now fixed room.

"What happened? Last night she seemed fine after she left her room and finally ate." he asked as he moved the last chair back to its right spot.

"I don't know. She was screaming about not finding something. Then said she couldn't feel someone anymore."

"Couldn't feel someone anymore?" he asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.

"I don't understand either." she spoke with a saddened voice.

"Would it have anything to do with the engagement?" asked Kira as he glanced over to Athrun who sat on the couch, head turned to the left watching the outside world. The sunlight illuminating his face.

"No, well…that's not all of it."

"Did she have anyone close to her." stated Athrun rather then a question.

"Us." stated Kira instantly as he looked to Athrun.

"Not Family, more on the lines of a good friend who recently passed away or someone who was really close to her that's gone?" asked Athrun as he still continued to look outside before glancing over towards Cagalli's desk where a few pictures were located.

"Mostly us, and her father." said Lacus as she tried to think. "You don't think her father? I mean…its been quite some time."

"No no, her freak out was more personal. Heart wrenching, to the point in which it was painful." spoke Athrun as he looked up to the ceiling.

"Tell me, how could you possible know what she could be feeling? As if you've ever felt such pain." said Kira with a hint of hate as he looked to Athrun. As he shot Athrun a glare the couch under his nails slowly began to tare but before any more damage was to be done he quickly stood up causing Kira to freeze. Unlike the calm and cool Athrun he looked pained and hurt by Kira's words. Even though Kira only say that emotion for a short time before Athrun's face returned to its normal smirk he walked out leaving Kira and Lacus alone with Cagalli.

"Kira." spoke Lacus with regret in her voice.

"….." he remained silent as he glanced down to the blonde. "Is she alright now? Even after for not eating all day?" he questioned as he looked to Lacus.

"Yes, she's fine. Even though she's still weak from not eating for a while, she's if fine for now." smiled Lacus she slowly stood up, brushing off her dress. "Come on, she needs rest for now." stated Lacus as she grabbed Kira's hand and led him out of her room.

The last light of the day shone on Cagalli threw her window pane as she lay in bed fast asleep, Athrun slowly walked into the blondes room caring a glass of water Lacus had demanded for him to bring the younger girl because she was busy and Kira was out. Athrun only stared at the water with envy, oh how he wished he was able to digest such things anymore and how he wished that he could tastes such things and crave others. But his fate was sealed, he knew he could never have anything other then what he needed. As he placed the glass of water on her night stand he watched as she turned over and over in her sleep, her face was pale and her heart was pounding fast. Though it had been some time since he was human he knew what she was hanging all to well. Athrun then placed his palm upon her forehead to feel her temperature, though she was warm she wasn't warm enough to have a fever. Though instead of moving his palm away it seemed to have calmed her down, the cold seemed to let her calm down just a bit.

"Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets." spoke Athrun as he removed his hand from her forehead before walking over to the couch where he placed himself.

"The day we lose our need for dreams is the day the human race forfeits its soul." stated Athrun as he glanced over to Cagalli before turning his head back to the fading sun. "I hope for you to never stop dreaming, though it may fill you with fear. A soul is much more useful." he spoke while still looking outside.

"You know Athrun, someday people will understand what a curse immortality is. Maybe in our life time, maybe not. But some day they will know the true curse of this immortal life. And it will end. Then our kind will have cessed to exist. To turn from reality into legend." spoke Rusty as he walked with Athrun down the lonely back roads. Looking for easy prey.

"Why keep saying someday? Why keep luring yourself with that brand of sweet poison?" questioned Athrun as he gazed around to the freshly beaten down snow. "If your strong you live if your weak you die, that's how the world works. Because of that our race will never die, and so because of that we shall never move ahead either. We will stay in the shadows forever, feasting on those who will."

"For someone who's been locked up for a few hundred years you have life pretty thought out, don't you?" smiled Rusty as he watched a cat scratch on a house door.

"It gives you a lot of time to think." smirked Athrun as he looked back to Rusty while watching snow gently start to fall. "How long do winters last here?" he questioned as he watched the snow.

"A long time, shorter now then before. Till about mid May. And soon the nights will be even longer for us."

"How cruel." whispered Athrun as the two continued to walk down the road in silence while Rusty pondered why Athrun believed the elongated nights to be cruel.

This chapter as you can see is much shorter then every other chapter. The reason being is because I'm actually moving to Vancouver to start going to school! (Ai) Yea its pretty exciting, who knows maybe some of you may see me one day walking down the streets and passing me by without notice. Sorry it took so long for me to update, work was really annoying and and I had sooo much shit to pack like omfg. Anyways! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I thought it was okay.

Still no one has figured out what 'sneaky' non sneaking thing in reality I've done. People who have a random brain like mine should understand what I've done. Tho one person was sooo close…

Anyways, have fun!

-Haley