It's been forever since my last update! Well, if any of you are still reading this, here's Chapter Fourteen.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed/Destiny.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN- Music to My Ears
The wind was still, anticipating the events that were sure to come. Perhaps foreshadowing difficult times, or something worse? A familiar pink-haired female with blue eyes stood at the shoreline of the beach. The air was still, but the tides continued to flow, and the oceans waves swept away more sand each time it came up.
The water was cool to the touch, but her feet had long ago become accustomed to the climate. She buried her feet into the sand, and lifted her light pink sundress up so it wouldn't absorb the seawater. In a moment the water was up to her knees, bubbling and cooling her pale limbs.
"In this quiet night… I'm waiting for you…" She murmured, and the distant shores echoed her voice. "Hello?" She yelled, Hello, Hello, Hello? It echoed loudly, and it brought her a sense of strange loneliness.
"Lacus." The female turned her head about, to see a brunette male with amethyst colored eyes.
"Oh, Kira." She said with relief, and put on her trademark smile. "Where are we?" She asked softly.
"I don't know. I tried to check our coordinates with the Freedom, and all communications are down right now. We have to wait until tomorrow, then I'll check the communication line again."
Lacus nodded, and looked out at the ocean again.
"It's going to rain." Kira came closer, pointing at the gray sky and the clouds overhead. "Come on, let's find shelter."
Lacus followed him down the beach, and they headed towards the shelter of the Freedom. The rain poured down freely, and Kira handed Lacus a bag of potato chips. "It's all I have."
The two shared the bag of chips under the sky, which seemed to be crying. Kira removed his jacket, and placed it over her shoulders.
Lacus found silent comfort in Kira's presence, and pressed her head against his shoulder. He slid his arm around her, and she found peace and sleep.
Lacus was awoken by the bright sunlight blinding her, and warming her body. She sat up, and saw Kira typing away inside of the Gundam. "Good news, the communications are online. A cargo ship is in the area, and they're coming to pick us up."
Kira was scanning the stations, and then there was a clear transmission, the news.
"The times are getting darker these days, and with a concert premier tonight Miss. Clyne will show us her patriotism! She supports us, and we welcome her back after her frightening kidnapping. After a recent interview printed in the newspaper early this morning, we're gladdened by our princess' return." The reported babbled on.
Kira pulled up a picture, and there were flashes of a familiar person, a Lacus look-alike. But it definitely could not be the real Lacus… this one was an imposter. For the real Lacus was here, stranded on an island with Kira, after being rescued the two had been shipwrecked here for a week.
"Kira…?" Lacus began, but his expression was the same, gentle yet determined. "This must be Durandal's doing." There was a brief blacking out of the screen, than fizzing in the broadcast. Then Kira shut it off and climbed out of the cockpit to sit next to Lacus.
"Where are we going to go…?" Lacus asked gently, but it was more rhetorical if anything.
"I have an idea."
---
"Come on everybody, for the soldiers!" A familiar pink-haired girl was dancing cheerily across the stage. Lacus Clyne's concert was being broadcasted on television. Cagalli frowned, her amber eyes narrowing as she inspected the screen carefully.
"Something's… different. Why is she so…?" Cagalli mumbled to herself, stabbing a bit of her cheese omelet and popping it into her mouth.
She chewed slowly, her eyes glued to the screen. There was a loud knock on the door, and Cagalli jumped, nearly pouring her coffee all over her pajamas.
Her pajamas consisted of a pair of plaid lounge pants, and a large white t-shirt, which belonged to Athrun, since she had not packed any pajamas.
"One minute!!" Cagalli set down the white plate belonging to the buffet table of the Twilight Waltz. The blonde sipped her coffee, and placed it on her nightstand, then went to answer the door.
She peeked through the eyehole and recognized Athrun, his blue hair and emerald eyes. Cagalli unbolted the door, than opened the door.
"Morning." He greeted with a warm smile.
"Morning." She saw he was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Look, Cagalli… I don't really know how I should put this…" He ran his fingers through his hair.
"Don't put it anyway." She frowned, "Just tell me the truth."
"Alright." He smiled, "I want to take you out shopping for new clothes."
"Clothes?" She found this hilarious.
"Clothes." Athrun confirmed. "So get dressed, and here, wear this." He shoved a pair of shades into her hand, than walked away.
Cagalli sighed, shutting the door, and going through her suitcase for something to wear. She found a dress suit, a pair of beige pants, a long-sleeved jacket to match and a white dress shirt. Cagalli dressed after a quick shower, and sported the sunglasses before leaving the room.
Perhaps Athrun thought it was comical? But he didn't, because he drove through the city stopping at every clothing store imaginable. Cagalli sat in the passenger's seat, the top was down, and the wind blew into her face, whipping about her hair.
They stopped at a fashion designer's boutique first, and as Cagalli went searched for pants a saleswoman interrupted her search. The woman talked to her, about her form, and how important dress was.
"Now if you would come this way…" The lady grabbed Cagalli's wrist with her perfectly manicured fingers, and dragged her towards the skirts and dresses.
When Cagalli shot Athrun a desperate look, he only smiled and chuckled to himself. The lady piled up with sundresses, fitted jeans, cute shirts, and a few mini-skirts. The woman then proceeded to make her try them on, than started on a search of jewelry and cosmetics.
Athrun sat outside the dressing room, reading a book, offering smiles. He let the saleslady shop for Cagalli, for it wasn't like Athrun could do any better in finding dressed for Cagalli. He just offered up the credit card when it came down to the end of the 'shopping spree' and with thanks he left the shop with Cagalli, and her new wardrobe.
"Let's go out to eat." Athrun proclaimed.
Cagalli rolled her eyes, "Thanks for taking me out shopping." She said sarcastically.
They came to a stop at an outdoor café, and Athrun started off by ordering them two cokes.
A few moments passed, then Athrun glanced over his menu, "What are you ordering?"
"A double cheeseburger. You?" She replied with a smile.
"The same." He said.
Later that night Cagalli sat in the hotel room alone, reading a letter that had been secretly mailed to her from Kisaka and Erica. It was affairs about the nation, and threats were coming from the Blue Cosmos. They also said not to worry, but how could she not when her nation was in jeopardy? And she was sitting here doing nothing… having a good time?
She took a deep breath, than there was a knock on the door. Cagalli stood, and instead of checking who it was she unlocked the door and opened it. She slowly looked up, meeting the eyes of an unfamiliar man.
"You…" She began, and then a gun was pressed to a forehead. "I found you. Princess Cagalli."