a/n: Hello, everybody! Thank you very much for waiting! I hope you still here to read!

Thanks for all of your reviews and thanks to those who alerted and faved the story since the last time I updated! I love you all, guys! It's been really long ago… I'm sorry!

It's just… too many things happened. As an excuse I can say that I was in a car crash (incident)! I'm fine now! :D But it took some time to get back for writing! =) So, please, forgive me!

Now, to the chapter! Please, read and don't forget to review! )) Whatever you've got on your mind, it will be gladly accepted and appreciated! Thank you!

Warning: some not really good thoughts, and not beta-read! I'm sorry! :bows: All the mistakes are mine, please, bare with me! I wanted to post it faster! As soon as the chapter will be edited I'll repost it! Thank you!

I do not own Gundam Seed\Destiny! I have no intention! =)

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Lucky star.

Chapter 17. Justice.

It was shamefully awful to stand beside her grave. She was too young to die, to die so shamelessly stupid and meaningless. He didn't ask himself if death had a meaning. Never. But death never felt content and right anyway. Especially, if someone precious was lost forever. Human nature is strange; it's unexplainable and unbearable at the same time. But it couldn't be changed since the very first day of human's existence.

Athrun tried his best to look strong enough and not too broken for his friends' sake. He never liked being in crowded places, even it was the funeral of 'his' Meer. And he didn't like to show his real feelings to anyone, because his private suffering was meant only for him, or, maybe, some close people, who wouldn't laugh or use it against him. Perhaps, it was his pride or dignity. But, probably, it was his fear to admit how tender and soft his heart was.

Yzak was holding his ankle from behind, so nobody would see. His gaze was focused on the coffin and it seemed he was afraid to change his position. The guy was affected by Meer's death as well, and his memories suddenly started to chase him. Meer died without any secrets, accidently, but it reminded him so much… Was it a sign?

Kira was standing next to Athrun emotionlessly; his violet eyes were unreadable as if he hid everything that was going on inside his heart and mind. He was not angry at Athrun at all. And actually he wasn't that angry from the start. It was just his pride that was hurt. But Meer's death was too terrible and he had to stay by his friend's side.

Luna was clinking onto Shinn's hand and wiped little tears with a white handkerchief. Shinn felt really uncomfortable. It's not like he was friendly to Meer (the only person he acted friendly with was Stellar!), but he was not cold to her either.

Aisha did her best to calm crying Mrs. Campbell down. It was a great tragedy to the family and to the mother. The most frightening thing to parents is to see their children's death.

Cagalli felt the urge to burst into tears as well, looking at the scene. She didn't want to lose anyone anymore. She didn't want to lose everything she'd finally found to hold on to, to care of, to love.

Her new acquaintance was still standing next to her, watching the ceremony intently. But his eyes suddenly focused on the 'trinity' with a blue-haired guy in the middle. There was something familiar there.

"Hm…aren't you going to say good bye to her?" Cagalli asked out of blue, when she turned her head back at him. He didn't answer. "I think she'd be grateful, though I can't tell for sure."

"You were her friend?" the purple-haired guy questioned unexpectedly.

"Actually, not." Cagalli uttered confused and averted her sad eyes. "We were studying at GU and she was a good friend of…" she paused. What could she say? Athrun. She didn't know if they were together or everything between them was just an accident. She sighed heavily. "My brother's best friend."

"Your brother?" he raised a fine purple brow.

"Yes, there," Cagalli pointed at Kira's back, who was holding Athrun's shoulder by now.

As if he could hear her words, Kira turned his head and looked back to find his sister standing next to the unknown person. At first he didn't pay much attention to him, but as soon as his memory revived from the oblivion, his eyes widened. An odd wave of heat went through his whole body. It didn't take too long to recognize that person. He gripped Athrun's shoulder tightly, biting his lower lip fiercely.

"Damn it!" Yuuna hissed in panic. He could swear he knew this guy and he could swear it was dangerous. Those three backs he saw in his nightmares.

Athrun looked at Kira worryingly with his cloudy emerald orbs. His friend acted strangely and it didn't give him any support. The grip on his shoulder tightened more and he felt the annoying pain. He followed Kira's gaze and realized immediately the reason of this behavior. That guy…

"Kira…" he whispered, narrowing his eyes.

"What is it?" Yzak mattered, noticing Athrun's motion. "Shit!"

Somebody from the first row of guests heard it and hissed at him, saying something about rude youth nowadays.

Kira let go of Athrun's hand and moved firmly towards the other guy. His eyes filled with frightening fire. All the feelings that boiled inside of him these two years finally found the way to go out. The agreement was ruined, since the day this guy returned back to Ancient Moon, it was a chance to get the revenge. Kira couldn't miss this opportunity, especially when his feelings were making him crazy after all that had happened during last months.

Yuuna saw the face of his enemy and the only thing he could think of was escape. But how? He gazed around and met Cagalli's confused face. His sister!

He grabbed her hand and ran to the car. It looked as if he was taking her somewhere.

"Oi! What are you doing?" Cagalli shouted silently, trying to get herself free, though it was useless.

"Let's go!" He pushed her on the front seat, closing the door.

"What! Open it! Right now!" she cried and hit the glass window with her small fists. "Are you crazy?! The funeral! Let me go, NOW!!!"

Her attempts were fertile, because of sound proofing glass. And she felt absolutely helpless, when the guy sat himself next to her and drove rapidly.

"DaCosta!" Athrun yelled, making everyone look at him, while Kira ran to his car panicking. What the hell was going on? Did that bastard steal his sister? Like Fllay! He won't let it happen!

Athrun followed Kira not turning his head and ignoring the disapproving voices. Yzak bowed lightly for both of his friends and excused himself saying that the case was very important. The main ceremony was finished anyway.

"Athrun?" Aisha uttered to the retreating back of her nephew. Strong hand of physical culture teacher and her future husband fell on her shoulder.

"Leave them, Aisha," Andrew Wartfeld said seriously. "He's not under your guard anymore and they're not stupid." The blue-haired woman just nodded, sighing.

--

DaCosta knew his work well. It's not like he was very experienced at catching runaways, but he was Athrun's bodyguard and he was usually observing his boss's life from afar, so he was prepared to anything that might happen.

After half an hour of useless chase, Yuuna understood that he lost. He had no way to escape from three cars. Not to mention that the drivers were actually much more experienced and talented than him.

He panicked and felt as if he was a trapped wild animal. The lonely place he stopped his car in reminded him of the place where Fllay died. He never felt guilty for killing her, he never called it a murder. In his point of view she died because of her own stubbornness and stupidity, because she turned him down. But he always knew that those guys thought differently. It was his heaven luck that helped him to trick them. But at the moment his luck left him, probably.

DaCosta came closer to the car and holding a gun in his hands ordered him to come out. Yuuna sighed, but he was still hoping to convince them to let him go. Yes, he did return to the city, but he had no other chance since his father demanded him to come back. He was not a little boy, but he was not stupid to go against his father's will. He intended to inherit all the money his father owned. So, he gave it a try. After all, Yuuna, himself, didn't want to meet them again. The past is past, no need to remember.

--

Cagalli widened her eyes, looking at the pink-haired man with a gun, who said Yuuna to let her go. She was kidnapped, or so they thought, but it was too much, indeed. They all had to call the police and maybe…

"What the hell is going on?!" Cagalli yelled, when she was finally set free. She blinked twice, watching as her brother approached Yuuna with an unreadable mask on his face. He didn't even ask her if she was fine.

"Are you ok, miss?" DaCosta questioned worryingly. He stretched his left hand to her, while still pointing the gun at the purple-haired weirdo.

"Ah?" she didn't know what to say, it seemed nobody noticed her anymore.

"You'd better leave this place quickly," the man continued politely. "I'll bring her home, Master." He added with a smile, as if it was the best time to smile.

"Wait a minute! Who the hell are you?" Cagalli backed away from him, but abruptly stopped at her tracks, because Yuuna was right behind her. She was caught between them as a little rabbit. She had just realized how dangerous the situation was. When she was in the car, she tried to hit her kidnapper, but it was fertile, because he was stronger and much taller. And he was driving so fast, that it was frightening to distract him. So she fastened her seatbelt and closed her eyes. But now…

"I'm Martin DaCosta, miss Cagalli!" the pink-headed guy bowed with a grin. "You don't have to worry, I'm Mister Zala's bodyguard. I'll take care of you."

'Huh? He's what? A bodyguard for Athrun?' she shook her blonde locks, trying to absorb the information. It was possible, but she still couldn't humble with the thought of Athrun being a wealthy man, almost a celebrity.

"Cagalli, please, believe us, you should go home with Martin," Athrun said suddenly, coming closer to her and taking her arm into his own. It was so fast, that she didn't have any time to react. She gazed at him with her honey-brown eyes and felt the tears streaming down her face. Her body finally answered to the shock. She didn't really think she was in great danger though, but it was not the best thing to experience either.

"Who is he? Why did he take me with him?" she sobbed, looking straight into his eyes. "What are you all doing here? Kira! What are you hiding?" she began to cry helplessly, letting herself to bury her face into Athrun's chest.

Athrun sighed, embracing the trembling body. She was fine, if she was still able to cry. He never expected something like that to happen, but from the other side it helped him a lot. Ironically, he had to thank Yuuna for this stupid action, probably. During these thirty minutes or so Athrun was able to revive and to understand what he needed to do and what he really wanted. Meer's death made him so weak and careless and he gave up his will, but he had to go on, had to defend his beloved people and live on, as his Meer wished.

Kira was listening to his sister's voice silently, while intently looking at Yuuna. What was he going to do? Indeed he wanted to destroy this man, but he suddenly lost his confidence feeling every Cagalli's tear as if it was his own.

He wanted to avenge Fllay, but would it help if he had killed the bastard? If he had killed him before, then he would be just the same. The murderer.

Lacus's face instantly appeared in his mind. What would she say if she finds out the truth? The goddess, the most tender and beautiful creature in this world, what would she do knowing that he deceived her?

Lacus would be sad, she would want to cry over Fllay's terrible death, but she would never want to kill someone. She was idealistic, just like… just like him.

Kira narrowed his eyes, remembering everything that happened. He was really angry, just a moment ago he was ready to destroy this mixture of flesh and blood called human, but… His sister was crying and he didn't wish for her tears anymore. He couldn't turn back time, he couldn't save Fllay, and he was not going to be selfish pretending that he still could do something about it.

"Cagalli, let's go home," Athrun said softly into her ear, trying to sooth her with his voice.

"But…" she gazed up, tickling his chin with her golden locks. "I don't understand…"

"He killed Fllay." Yzak declared coldly, approaching the purple-haired guy.

"What?!" Cagalli whispered widening her orbs.

"Yzak…" Athrun hissed, glaring at his friend.

"I said the truth. There's no need to hide it from her!" Yzak snapped accusingly.

"Oh, stop it, It was not me! It was all her brother's fault! That's why you're so worked up about it!!!" Yuuna screamed hysterically.

"Kira?" Cagalli's mind refused to accept what she was told. She shook her head. "It can't be! He could never do it!" She turned around and saw Kira's stiffened back. He was staring at his accuser calmly.

"Yzak's right, Yuuna Roma Seiran, if I'm correct, was the one who shot Fllay Allster." Athrun said emotionlessly, sending shivers down Cagalli's spine. She didn't know what to believe anymore.

If Fllay's death was not an accident and she was killed, then why did everybody think she fell off the cliff? And if Kira and his friends knew the truth, then… they were involved. And what does it mean?

"The only guilt we share with him is burning her body to ashes and making an accident of it." The blue-haired man continued adamantly. "But I'm guilty for thinking it was the only way to save Kira from being accused. I had to be stronger and let the police decide."

"What the hell?!" Yzak screamed. "You did the only right thing! I do not regret. Almost." He rubbed his forehead nervously. "The situation was difficult and I'm not sure that they would believe Kira…"

"Whatever…" Athrun cut him off rudely. "Now it's all in the past. But we made a deal, didn't we?"

Yuuna nodded, though he was not confident about his actions.

"It doesn't matter." Kira uttered unexpectedly. Everyone looked at him. Even Cagalli raised her brow, though she was in pure shock from what she had heard. It was inhumanly cruel to burn someone's body, to hide a murder, to pretend that nothing happened, to lie to everybody and to live with this stone upon your soul.

"Kira?" Athrun slowly exhaled, still holding Cagalli in his arms.

"It doesn't matter. Even if I kill him It won't help Fllay." He turned around and looked at Athrun with a smile. "All I can do is to ask for her forgiveness, and remember her, right?" his violet eyes glittered in the sun and filled with crystal tears.

Cagalli's mouth opened slightly as she saw the sadness and suffering written on his face. But she suddenly felt the warmth his smile was eradiating. She was still unaware of the truth, but her brother would never take someone's life away, she was absolutely sure.

"Great…" Yzak hissed, while clenching his fists. "Then what? Should we let him go? That's just plain stupid!"

"I don't know, he can't bring Fllay back to life, that's all I care about," Kira shrugged calmly. He sighed and nodding to himself went to the car.

"Wha…" the silver-haired man tried to protest, but he was cut off by Athrun again.

"As for me, I prefer you dead," he said coldly, and Cagalli winced in his arms, while her eyes were locked with Yuuna's. "But it will be wrong If I'm the one to judge. So, let the side watcher decide."

Everyone looked at him except for Kira, who had just reached his car.

"What do you mean?" Yuuna gulped nervously. He was in a bad position against those three.

"DaCosta, you have a strong sense of Justice, so please, make a verdict." The wind blew through Athrun's midnight-blue silky hair. He was so dangerous and so handsome at the same time that Cagalli found herself a little bit lost in her feelings. Wasn't it ridiculous to ask someone to decide for them? Wasn't it wrong? Was he trying to stay "clean"? But from the expression plastered on his face, she knew that it was the only right way out of this terrible story.

"Yes, master!" Martin bowed confidently and came closer to Yuuna. They were standing right in front of each other. "You may go, bring Miss Cagalli to the safer place."

"Ah, thank you," Athrun took Cagalli's hand and forced her to go with him, leaving the purple-haired man one on one with the bodyguard. In fact, the blonde didn't resist, she was just like a jelly, her legs refused to walk, and that's why Athrun had to hold her by the waist.

He placed her on the front seat, not turning back and drove away rapidly. Kira followed him slowly.

Yzak was the last one to leave, he was worried. He was frustrated. These past two years, were they going to end like this? What would DaCosta do? And Fllay, there was still no revenge! Her death seemed even more terrible at the moment. They'll have to live with this secret, never telling anyone, never experiencing the freedom of being innocent.

"Master Yzak, there's no reason for regretting, don't hesitate." Martin winked, grinning childishly. He was incredible being so light-headed in such a situation.

"I do not!" the latter snapped and approached his car.

--

Ten minutes later…

Yuuna was biting his lips fiercely, he had no chance to escape and he was afraid of the man with the gun. Indeed.

"What are you going to do?" he asked finally, as he breathed out.

"No worries, I won't kill you," DaCosta's smile disappeared. "I'm not a murderer. But I know how to make you suffer forever, so you would never forget."

"I will tell the police the truth!" Yuuna cried, shivering visibly.

"It won't help, you won't be able anymore." He lowed the gun and shot right next to his right leg.

To be continued…

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a\n: Thanks for reading! You know, I love reviews, so, please, review! :D

I hope it was ok! :D And no worries, he won't kill Yuuna. It's up to you to choose the punishment. I don't want to make it clear since I don't want Cagalli to know. -)

Only two chapters left, maximum! I hope I'll be able to complete the story this year! =)

Thank you!