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Enjoy chapter 14!

"Why is this bag so heavy?" Lacus mumbled to herself as she walked into reception. Fearing for her shoulder she dropped the bag on the couch, straightening up she heard her shoulder crack.

"Now that doesn't sound good" she winced rubbing that spot. It had been a few weeks since the charity ball and it was back to business now that her cold had finally gone away. And the halt to Kira's sudden incessant round of texts asking if she was alright. Lacus giggled at the thought of the boy, it was very sweet of him to keep checking in with her and she had appreciated it. However…

A ping rang from her phone notifying her of a new email, with a groan the CEO of Terminal was dragged away from her thoughts. Eyeing the bag critically, Lacus dreaded the fact that she still had to carry it into her office. Picking it up the girl made another mental promise to work out her arm muscles more. Halfway on her trek the bag had won, dropping it to the floor the CEO dragged it to her office.

"Finally made it!" she blew out a tired breath unlocking the door to her office. She started with her normal routine of mentally going through the things she needed to accomplish today.

'Let's see, I have to review the report Aisha sent me, also the head from marketing sent me a book length email so I should read that soon—"

"Huh? What's this?" Lacus wondered aloud as she crossed the floor and picked up a paper that was lying face down on the ground. Picking it up curiously she scanned the document, her eyes grew as she read every word "Kira Yamato Recipient of the Award of Academic Excellence. Why is this in here? Or better yet how could this have gotten in my office?" she asked puzzled.

Three knocks sounded from the door, turning around the girl saw two people enter her office.

"Hey Lacus, what's up?" Auel asked walking into the office with Shinn and spied the girl crouched down on the ground.

Wordlessly Lacus stood up and handed the certificate up to Auel, who passed it on to Shinn paled when he saw it.

"Lacus, what's this doing here?" Shinn asked eyeing her, there was a weird look of confusion on his face.

"I don't know. I just came in and saw it on the floor" Lacus explained, a troubled feeling settled in her chest.

Shinn felt his stomach coil tightly, someone had been in Lacus' office and they didn't know. The person also had access to Kira's stuff or rather had been the one to steal Kira's stuff.

Snapping his head to his companion, the raven haired boy barked "Auel! That person could still be somewhere around here."

"Right" Auel nodded as he and Shinn barrelled out of the room.

"What? Where are you going?" Lacus called sprinting after them, her heels clicked furiously as she tried to keep up.

"We're going to look for the magenta haired girl. She planted this here. I'm sure of it!" Auel explained running passed the elevators and to the stairs "Shinn, take the West exit I got East."

Lacus stayed at the top of the stairs and watched the two men fly down, her eyes filled with concern and worry. Folding her hands together Lacus hoped that Auel and Shinn wouldn't get hurt. A serious look coloured her face as she turned and ran to her office, she needed to check if anything had been stolen.

Breezing into reception she passed Stellar, who noticed her friend in a great rush.

"Lacus, what happened? I just saw Shinn and Auel running."

A grim look settled upon the CEO's features "I'm not too sure Stellar, but I have a feeling this isn't good."

Walking out onto the street a smartly dressed woman exited from Terminal doors. Clutching her phone it was evident on her face that she was near boiling point with whomever she was duking it out with on the phone.

"I don't know if I can get access to that" Lunamaria exclaimed frustrated that her client wouldn't meet her half way. She resisted the strong urge she had to stamp her feet. "Try to understand what kind of operation this is" she tried to argue.

A voice right behind her made Luna freeze.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A trespasser I see."

Not bothering to check who it was Luna gritted her teeth and broke into a mad dash, shoving her phone into her pocket. She was on the school volleyball team! This sprint would be too easy!

Too bad Auel was on the track team in high school.

"Move it!" Luna shouted as she ran through the busy pedestrian street trying to lose the man "Out of my way!"

"You're not getting away!" Auel yelled picking up his pace.

Finally reaching her car, Luna threw herself in the driver's seat and jammed the key into the ignition. The car roared to life as she stepped on the accelerator.

"What!" Auel howled in surprise, doing his best to remember the licence plate.

Cagalli sighed as she pulled out her phone and waited for the crosswalk light to turn green. Hearing the signal beep she started to walk her eyes barely leaving her phone. Furrowing her eyebrows Cagalli reread the text she just received from Stellar.

Suddenly loud car horns honking and a few screams tore through the peaceful morning, looking up Cagalli froze as she saw a red car speeding its way towards her with no sign of it slowing down.

"Ah!" she cried closing her eyes, and felt impact of something. Feeling no pain she slowly opened her eyes.

"Are you crazy? Who crosses the street without checking if the coast is clear?" he yelled.

Cagalli looked to see that Athrun had pushed her out of the way. His eyes wild with bewilderment, his breathing was harsh and an aura of anger surrounded him. Cagalli just stared up dumbly at him.

"You could have almost been killed by that maniac!"

"I-I" Cagalli stuttered, still reeling from shock she tried to catch her bearings.

Athrun's features soften "I'm sorry" he blew out a breath and stood up offering his hand to Cagalli "are you okay?"

Taking his hand Cagalli hoisted herself up "Yeah" she nodded albeit shakily.

"Cagalli!"

Turning her head she saw Shinn and Auel racing to her.

"What's going on?" she asked as they reached her, both boys were huffing trying to swallow air they lost running.

"Are you alright?" Shinn asked coughing, his lungs burned and body was throbbing.

"Shinn who was that?" Cagalli asked placing a hand on his shoulder and shook him slightly.

"The suspect. She was in Lacus' office" Auel replied.

With her attention on the two men who arrived and these new revelations Cagalli forgot all about Athrun.

Slipping away silently Athrun frowned 'Well he's a stupid boyfriend' he thought eyeing the raven haired boy. Realizing where his train of thoughts were headed Athrun shook his head and cleared his mind from going into murky waters. 'Gain her trust' he remembered turning his back and walked away 'and watch as she and Terminal crumbles.'

That was his plan, but why did his heart feel so conflicted?

Sorry for being MIA for the past few weeks, I was snowed with work! Essays and readings keep piling up plus midterms and test oh my!

~Lacus Yamato