Title: Mobile Suit: Gundam SEED Sojourn (19/?)

Author: Paola

Disclaimer: Mobile Suit: Gundam SEED Sojourn is based on characters and situations that belong to Sotsu Agency, Bandai Studios, and TV Asashi (and other production affiliates that have the right of ownership). No money is being made, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Considerations: Similarities to other stories/events/passages are purely coincidental unless otherwise cited.

"Perception is merely reality filtered

through the prism of your soul."

- Christopher A. Ray

PHASE 19

Near Miss

The eight of them were on their way to class, talking and laughing about trivial things and generally being carefree as they walked the paved path to their building---of course, that was aside from Yzak who still looked pissed until now. Dearka had often wondered how long the pale-head could keep feeling annoyed at a certain matter or how long he could hold a grudge. For one so impatient, Yzak surely had a long forbearance for hating things that didn't suit his taste.

Being the tallest, he could almost see everyone's pre-occupation quite clearly. Lacus was alternately talking to Cagalli and Athrun, while Cagalli seemed to be dead set on ignoring the former Justice pilot---Dearka had yet to find out why. A little to his right was Yzak, grumbling incoherent curses whenever Cagalli deemed it worthwhile to tease him, and in front of him were Kira and Miriallia, talking, laughing, and joking around.

Dearka let his eyes wander over to Miriallia's face, and he allowed himself to listen to their lighthearted conversation. He sensed the ease with which Mirialla and Kira interacted---the ease born from years of friendship. For a long time he wondered how it would be to be that close to Miriallia, to laugh and talk with her like how Kira would, to be able to give a friendly touch, knowing it would not offend because it was normal for friends to do that…because it was okay for friends to do that.

For long-time friends.

She'd said they were friends, and he'd believed that, but there had always been a line that separated them. Lingering touches like comforting hugs and greeting kisses would never be a privilege for acquaintances made during the war…during his stay aboard the Archangel. He had been the prisoner back then, and she, his jailer. But that was over. That was the past. Now was different…because the only matter that was hindering him from forging something deeper with Miriallia was his uncertainty.

It was ironic: Dearka battling with uncertainty over some Natural whose boyfriend got killed by his former Commander, by the guy he followed during the war. He didn't know when confusing feelings for that certain brunette rose…maybe it was around the time she had saved him from the insane redhead who wanted to shoot him, or maybe it was when she had brought him his food tray when he was confined at the brig, or when she had said he was free and no longer the Archangel's prisoner, or, maybe still, when she had wished him luck before he went off to battle. Or, perhaps, it had come later than that. Perhaps it intensified when she'd once let him get comfortable in her presence that time she had injured her shin. He inwardly shrugged. Maybe. But he would never find out. The list just went on, and he didn't think he could draw a definite mark to point out exactly when his feelings started to change. Hadn't he once told himself that he'd pass the line of friendship no matter what? But what if he passed that line only to find himself just on another level of friendship? Surely he still had to be beyond Kira---even Argyle---for her to realize that he was good enough to intrude upon her innermost thoughts and feelings.

Dearka almost choked at his own realization, locking his jaw at the annoyance tugging at him from the inside. He was…

What? Jealous? Of her close friends? Not bloody likely!

o-o

The thrum of escalating excitement as the dismissal bell rang its final note permeated the air. Kira allowed a tiny smile to light the corners of his mouth as he thought of soccer practice. The last time he'd felt the crazy rush of adrenaline pump in his blood was the landing on Earth after the ceasefire. The times before that… Kira shook his head, deciding wisely that it wasn't the time for bleak thoughts.

Kira pulled his sports bag from the floor, straightening the strap before shouldering it. He brushed the errant bangs from his eyes as they fell with his motion. They'd grown a little longer than how he'd ever let it grow before, and since they had been scraggly from the beginning, his already messy hair was made all the more unkempt. He badly needed a haircut, especially since it was just natural for every strand to grow and not just those of his bangs, but he either always forgot or, when he did remember, it was always on times when he had to do something or was already busily submerged into a task or whatnot.

"Yo, Yamato!"

He looked up at the sound of his name, idly scratching a gentle itch at his nape. "What?"

"Don't forget to double-check the program we've finished, later. I'll take care of the paperwork since that's gotta be less trouble," he half-smirked, half-grinned at the brunette.

Kira chuckled at his current partner for their latest project. "Who says? I deliberately misspelled a lot of things, jumbled the order of some paragraphs, and messed up the entire flow of the report."

Kira's partner snorted. "Like you could do that. I'd pummel you good just for trying." He clapped Kira on the back. "Anyway, having two classes with you is too much. I'm sick of your face, man!" He walked away and raised a hand in a gesture of goodbye. "I hope I don't see you around until I have to!"

The Ultimate Coordinator shook his head, grinning as he did so. "Goodbye to you, too. And don't let the door hit you where the dog shoulda bit you!" His grin turned into a laugh when his friend was about to give him the finger, only to be intercepted by the warning look of the professor who was just about to leave the room.

When his friend was out of sight, Kira shook his head again. Really, was it healthy for him to have another friend whose behavior disturbingly resembled Dearka's? In retrospect, his parting words reflected not his usual self but that of Dearka's as well.

He raised his hand in goodbye when another classmate of his called out. Checking if he left anything, he took another classmate's exit as his cue.

"Kira!" another voice called as soon as he was fully outside of the room.

Kira immediately halted in his tracks upon recognizing the voice, and an unconscious smile tugged on his lips. "Hey, Lacus," he greeted back, waiting for the pink-head to reach him.

"Are you off to practice?"

They took to the direction Lacus was generally headed, and Kira nodded. "How 'bout you? Drama club meeting?"

"Yes. We're constructing a script and trying to get a feel for the right characters. I think it's going to be amazing!"

Kira smiled at the excited songstress beside him. "I bet you'd choose to act instead of directing."

"Of course! It will be more fun that way, won't it?" Lacus shifted her file case to her left hand.

Kira looked thoughtful for a split second. "I suppose."

Lacus just shook her head with an almost cryptic smile on her lips. "You were just never the actor, were you, Kira?"

For some reason, Kira found that funny, and he laughed even when he acknowledged that Lacus probably didn't mean that to be humorous. There was just something in the way that she said it that struck him as amusing.

Lacus cast a confused glance at him. "Kira?"

"Sorry about that," he replied, trying to smother his laughter. "Somehow, that made me sound like I've just gotten caught with my hand in the proverbial cookie jar."

"Um…"

"Never you mind, Lacus. It's silly." Kira waved a hand as if to physically dismiss the topic. "Anyway, I'll walk you to the auditorium."

"Why, thank you, Kira!"

Kira smiled back when Lacus grinned at him. "Anytime. So, will you be going home late?"

"I guess so. I may just take the bus. You don't have to wait for me, Kira."

Kira shook his head to stave off her concern. "Athrun and I will be staying for a long while for practice. The three of us can go home together."

"I'm glad. It's always nicer to not have to walk home alone, isn't it?"

Both teenagers ambled in companionable silence, Lacus humming a soft tune while Kira was content just listening to her and paying mild attention to his surroundings. Students littered the grounds, as was the usual during a particular time in the afternoon where most students had their dismissals. A few new friends and a number of acquaintances greeted them as they passed by.

Kira and Lacus stopped in front of an impressive edifice, all steel and glass that glittered under the afternoon sun. "Here we are. It's quite beautiful, isn't it?" Lacus turned her head to regard Kira.

The Ultimate Coordinator nodded. He'd only gone to the auditorium once, during the welcoming program for the new school year. He'd always thought it was a magnificent infrastructure, almost an art amongst the nondescript buildings surrounding it. "Yeah." He tucked his hands inside his pockets. "I guess I'll see you later then."

"All right. See you, Kira!" Lacus waved goodbye and stepped inside the auditorium not a moment later.

o-o

"Really, Kisaka," Cagalli started, sounding exasperated. "I told you never to pick me from school. It's bad enough that you've got a government plate, but you just had to bring another bodyguard! Really, it's inviting questions I don't wanna answer!" She stubbornly shifted her gaze out the window, her irate glare directed at the passing scenery instead of at her guardian.

Kisaka trained his eyes on the back of Cagalli's head, vaguely registering the apology of the chauffeur when he had to abruptly swerve to avoid hitting another vehicle that had just careened out of the curb. "I guess I should apologize then, shouldn't I?" he vouchsafed a reply.

Cagalli made a face and glared harder at her reflection before cocking her head towards Kisaka to give him a sardonic nod. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." Kisaka shook his head before turning sober. "Cagalli, do you really think no one has suspected that you'd been directly involved in the war? There isn't a soul who doesn't recognize your name, and, I'll admit, I'm glad that nobody has harassed you yet about it."

The blonde snorted then gave a resigned sigh. "You talk like you're expecting it."

Kisaka shrugged. "It can't be helped."

"I know."

They were silent for a moment. Cagalli resumed her survey of the passing scenery, absently frowning at a couple that was being quite open with their affections. Surely that should be prohibited!

"We've been discussing," Kisaka began anew, unwittingly drawing Cagalli away from her scandalized thoughts, "even though we've started pushing for the memorial, some nations would rather have the peace talks first, and when everyone else has reached a consensus, we can't do anything else but see to it that we push for whatever decision that would come up. There's a big chance that the peace talks would be heralded first, and when that happens, the memorial will be backed into a later date."

Cagalli was silent for a moment, mulling over Kisaka's words and what they implied. "I…I've thought of that."

Kisaka appeared surprised at his charge's confession, and he didn't comment on how the blonde pointedly ignored his reaction. At least she wasn't throwing a fit about his nonplus. "I see," he finally conceded.

"I've been thinking," Cagalli said, waving a distracted hand as though to collect her thoughts. "The memorial doesn't have to be a formal event. It doesn't even have to be heavily covered. It can be a simple gathering to honor our dead. If the peace talks push through earlier than the date we've assigned for the memorial, maybe we can multi-task."

Kisaka cocked his head to the side, considering what his charge said. "What, exactly, do you mean?"

"The Orb Government doesn't have to be officially involved in it."

"Are you saying we take it out of the agenda?"

Cagalli propped her elbow by the window, toying with a few strands of her hair. "Sort of. I mean, you guys with uniforms don't necessarily have to see to it that the memorial is taken care of. It's still early, and the semester's schedule isn't so tight, so maybe…I can head it."

"'Head it'?"

Cagalli gave a resolute nod. "Yeah. I'll ask the guys to help. I can ask Lacus to contact Reverend Malchio to head the ceremony. As I've said, it doesn't have to be a formal event. I doubt there'd be too much trouble."

"You attract trouble, Cagalli," Kisaka stated matter-of-factly, garnering a glare from the blonde beside him.

"Let's be positive here, shall we?" She rolled her eyes. "Let's take this as practice. I'm sure we can do it. How hard can it get?"

Kisaka stared for a long time at his charge before he finally nodded. In spite of his earlier comment, he trusted Cagalli's capabilities. She'd been successful in leading them in the final stage of war, and he didn't doubt that the blonde spitfire could accomplish whatever it was that she set her mind on. Yes, she'd faltered and failed now and then, but she'd always stood up and pursued her goals with the determination of a woman possessed.

Kisaka turned his head to look outside the window after having witnessed Cagalli smile proudly at her idea. He'd once been a believer of things being accomplished faster using conventional means, but since his time with the Athha heiress, he'd learned to have faith in the unorthodox ways of Cagalli. She'd run away to prove a point, commandeered a Skygrasper to protect the Archangel, piloted a Mobile Suit to stand up for her beliefs…everything a princess wouldn't normally do, she did, and, more often than not, her ways yielded positive results. Compared to seeing the war through, preparing a simple public memorial would seem like a piece of cake. Cagalli could do it; he knew she could.

Besides, there are her friends to keep her from getting into too much trouble. Kisaka inwardly smiled.

o-o

Yzak waited with a patience he wasn't known for. He didn't fancy calling his mother using a public phone, but it was the best he could do since he had enough restraint as to refrain from making long-distance calls from the Athha mansion. He'd already depended enough on Cagalli, and he didn't think making her pay for his long-distance personal calls decent. He might not care about others, but he had his pride.

Four rings had passed, and still no one from the other end was picking up. He wasn't exactly in a hurry since there was no one waiting for him to finish his call, but he never did like waiting. If it weren't his mother whom he was calling, he wouldn't even bother after the sixth ring.

For some reason, he felt obligated to call his mother and tell her what had been going on in his life. And now that he thought about it, a lot had indeed happened to him since the war ended. He made new acquaintances who proudly called themselves his friends despite his not-so-subtle disagreement. He enrolled at a normal University. He associated with Naturals daily. And he'd only socked one guy since the beginning of classes, which was, in itself, a miracle since he was almost always surrounded by people he'd have willingly slugged had they been in a military setting. Truly, he'd be making any mother proud with his accomplishments.

Yzak almost gagged at the thought.

"Good afternoon. Jule Residence," the other end finally picked up. "May I know who's on the line?"

"It's Yzak," the fair-head replied easily, recognizing the butler's voice. "Is mother available to speak with?"

"Ah, young Master, please hold the line for a short while."

Again, Yzak was made to wait. He'd called the phone in the study of their house up at PLANT, and he was wrong to expect his mother to answer it, even if she was almost always holed up in the study. For some reason he couldn't fathom, Ezalia Jule never answered the phone at home. He'd once talked to her about it, but she'd only dismissed his question with a dainty wave of her hand, and being the obedient and respectful son he was to his mother, he had dropped the topic.

"Yzak," Ezalia's unmistakable timbre cut through his thoughts. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, mother. And you?"

"You should know better than to ask me that, Yzak. House arrest is not something I'm fond of."

Yzak rolled his eyes, having the guts to do so at his mother only when Ezalia couldn't see him. Of course, trust Ezalia Jule to sound sarcastic and reproving at the same time. "I see you're fine then."

Ezalia let out a delicate peel of laughter at that. "I suppose you called for a reason?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

"Is wanting to know how my dearest mother is faring not reason enough?"

"Out with it, Yzak."

Yzak chuckled. "Entertaining as always, mother," he replied, amused and just a tad bit sarcastic. "How are you holding up?" his tone softened.

"You make it sound as though I have some sort of illness," Ezalia voiced out with a biting lilt. Then she sighed. "I've been under house arrest for a month now, but other than that glaring fact, I'm well."

Yzak paused, wondering if he should tell her what he was planning. Knowing his mother, she would most probably disagree with him, telling him that he shouldn't question her decisions, and sometimes, Yzak found her all-knowing attitude a little---just a little---frustrating.

He almost laughed at the irony when it hit him. Hadn't Dearka told him once how all-knowing he acted most of the time?

"Mother, I'm planning on going back to the PLANTs," he finally said, but what he heard from his mother next wasn't quite what he expected.

Ezalia laughed. "Then what, Yzak?" The young Jule could almost see his mother shaking her head as she paused. "It's too chaotic here. There isn't anything you can do, and despite how much I miss you, I'd rather you stay out of this."

That gave Yzak something to think about. His mother wasn't always vocal of her affections, and when she did assert her goodwill, he knew she was being too serious in her concerns for his well-fare.

"Let's not complicate things further by your going up here. I still have no idea what the stand is for the militia, and it would be best if you stay put until things settle down here." Another stillness from his mother. Then, "You know I'm only concerned about you."

Yzak clenched his jaw then relaxed when Ezalia's motherly tone washed over him. "All right. I'll stay." He'd be damned if anyone knew how easy his mother could sway him over.

"By the way, Yzak, I don't suppose you're seeing anyone over there?"

Yzak actually snorted at his mother. "So now you approve of Naturals?"

"I haven't decided on that yet, but I'm sure there are decent Coordinators where you are currently studying."

"And how do you know I'm attending school? This is the first time I've talked to you since you exiled me here."

"Is there any other logical alternative?"

"Sharp as ever, I see."

"Of course, Yzak. I lost part of my freedom, not my mind. So tell me, has anyone caught your fancy?"

Yzak scoffed, not necessarily only at his mother, but also at his inability to shift the topic away from the older Jule's current interest. "I don't know what you're talking about, mother."

o-o

Miriallia exited the University gates with her messenger bag slung across her shoulders and her camera in her hands with the strap around her neck. She was planning to capture a few shots as she made her way home. A little smile touched the corners of her mouth. She had yet to complete her portfolio, but she was proud of the shots she had gotten so far. It hadn't been a mistake when she decided to take up candid photography for her extra-curricular.

Before she could take another step forward, she heard her name being called over the growing crowd of students. Moving aside so as not to block the way, she surveyed the mass, trying to pinpoint who had called her. As she brought her gaze to the right, she caught sight of Dearka, half waving at her and half exchanging a few words with another student she supposed to be a classmate in one of his classes. She waited until he had said his goodbyes before waving at him when he spotted her.

"Still going somewhere?" Dearka asked, glancing at her camera as they resumed walking away from the University.

"Just home. Why?"

Dearka shrugged then inclined his head towards her lens. "Just thought you'd still be visiting some places for your portfolio."

Miriallia shook her head. "Ah, this? No. I just thought there might be something worth capturing on the way home."

"Mm…how about me? I'm worth a thousand pictures!"

Miriallia stuck out her tongue at the blonde. "For the last time, Dearka: no, I'm not taking a picture of you!"

Dearka feigned being offended. "Ouch, Miriallia, that'll leave a scar."

The brunette rolled her eyes. "How can it be called a candid shot when you know I'm taking the picture? Answer me that, wise guy!"

Observing at the former CIC head, Dearka angled his head, almost looking as though Miriallia just asked the obvious. "I can pretend you're not taking my picture. C'mon, Miriallia, I'm the only one you haven't blinded with the flash of that thing! Do you know that a guy can die of picture-taking deprivation?"

Off to their left, right across the street, a mother and child walked out of a trinket store, both wearing identical hats and coats. Just as the mother waved a hand to flag a cab, Miriallia raised her lens, capturing the moment with a soft click of a button. When she lowered her hands, a small appreciative smile on her lips, she turned to Dearka, vaguely registering his slight frown. "If that were true, Dearka, half the male population would have dropped dead already." She grinned at him when he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm right here and you take the picture of that woman and her kid. Really." He shook his head, quite clearly expressing his disbelief.

The brunette giggled. "What's the big deal, Dearka? It's just a snap."

"Exactly! It's just a snap and yet you deny me one. Tell me, did I steal some candy from you that I can't seem to remember happening?" He threw his hands up in an exaggerated gesture of exasperation.

Miriallia smiled warmly at the two kids who had halted to stare at her blonde companion, and then she promptly wrapped a hand around Dearka's wrist and pulled him away. "Oh, stop fussing, Elsman!" She was a little surprised when he instantly followed her order. She shook her head. "So you were just bored, weren't you? All that drama just to entertain you?" Dearka favored her a shameless, boyish grin, and she could swear she heard the sharp intake of breath of the girl they had just passed by.

"Of course."

"You're hopeless, Dearka." Miriallia allowed a small smile to be comfortable on her lips.

When they passed the park, both were a tad surprised to find it relatively empty. Usually, the park would be filled with children accompanied by their families or nannies at this time in the afternoon. It was a clear day, and Miriallia had been hoping to capture a few moments of juvenile gaiety. She'd taken photos of nature, work, her friends, architecture, and a few others as well; pictures of carefree children were the only things she hadn't included in her bourgeoning portfolio yet.

"Guess they ran away when they heard you making all that noise," Miriallia quipped, surveying the surroundings. She swept her lens over the near-empty place and clicked fast enough to capture the tumble of dry leaves being swirled by the passing breeze around a swing set.

Dearka laughed. "Maybe." He stretched a little before turning towards the brunette. He slowly jerked his head towards the direction they were previously heading towards. "C'mon. I'll take you home."

"Are you sure you're not gonna be dragging me to a candy store to buy another lolly?" She looked at Dearka knowingly.

Dearka looked thoughtful for a split second. "Didn't think of that. But now that you brought it up…" he smirked at her.

Miriallia stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh no, you don't!" She pulled her hand away just in time before he could snatch it and drag her towards anywhere.

Dearka narrowed his eyes at her quick reflex, then made another attempt to snatch her free hand, succeeding this time because she hadn't expected him to go for it again. He pulled her along despite her protests, though he knew she wasn't exactly being defiant as she was laughing as well. "I decided to be nice and pay you back. I'll buy you a sucker."

Miriallia instantly stopped pulling against him. "If you'd put it that way earlier, I'd have been the one dragging you!"

"And that wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"

"If this is what constitutes a surprise for you, I wouldn't be shocked if you gave me a bag of chips for Christmas."

"I'm offended you think I'm cheap," he deadpanned. "Besides, what happened to 'it's the thought that counts'?"

"Got lost in translation."

When they reached the intersection, they stopped at the light even though the junction was virtually empty. There were a few random people meandering about the sidewalk as a few cars blew over the smooth asphalt, but the street wasn't as busy as it usually was on a weekday afternoon.

"Say, Miriallia, knock, knock."

Miriallia looked at him to see if he were serious and found that he really intended to go through with his joke. She humored him, "Who's there?"

"Dismay."

"'Dismay' who?"

The beginnings of a grin tugged at the corners of Dearka's mouth. "Dismay not be a funny joke…"

Miriallia just had to laugh at that. She didn't think Dearka was the type to like knock-knock jokes, but he seemed to have a pretty good stack up his sleeve.

She turned to look at her companion and saw him laughing as well. Her laughter turned into a fond smile as she witnessed how carefree Dearka looked---laughing with the abandon of a child, a contrast to the lifelessness of the near-empty street. He stood there, tall and dark, and Miriallia tightened her grip on her camera before bringing it up to eye-level. With a slight flick of her wrist to focus on the image before her, she pressed the button, the soft click dimmed by the passing of a zooming SUV. She held her camera aside, and the next thing she saw was a thin line across Dearka's cheek, steadily glowing scarlet as the vestiges of a bullet's impact's dull thud against a tree made it to her ears.

-To Be Continued…

A/N:

Oh my gawd! I finally updated! Thanks for being patient, guys! And thanks to those who read and reviewed the debut chapter of Play of the Fates!