A/N: Before you start reading the fic, I'd just like to express how ecstatic I am that my fic just reached 500 reviews. I really didn't expect that one coming. :P But now that it did, I'm still unable to believe it. Well, anyway, for those people who made this possible, I'll forever be grateful to you!
And yes, sorry for the late update. Aside from doing a summer job, I had to go to the US embassy for an interview. So yeah. It's been a busy week. :D
nareiya : I finally get to put up your request! :P
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny
Chapter 25: Sweeter than Chocolate
-o0o-
An impetuous sigh, that was almost a growl, could be heard.
It was a few minutes before noon and there Kira was, getting really impatient. He was driving to a place that he didn't even know where for almost two hours now. They sometimes got lost stopped to ask people walking around. He couldn't even believe that he woke up early for this. Well, eight o clock wasn't really that early for a normal person, but for Kira, it was, especially if he didn't even have any work.
"I'm not sure that this is a good idea!" Kira shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he continued driving. "I really think this isn't. Maybe I'll take back my decision about going here… Okay I've changed my mind! Let's turn back now!"
"Whatever Kira!" Cagalli, who was sitting behind Kira, shook her head. "You can't take your decision back anymore! We're almost there!"
"Oh come on Kira!" Lacus, who was in the passenger seat, touched his shoulder to make him calm down. "You're being impatient again! And I'm sure that it'll be fun going there!"
"But where the hell is that ZAFT freak's house anyway? We've been driving around this area for a few minutes now!" Kira scowled in frustration that they were wasting precious and non-renewable fuel, but still that Zala's house was still nowhere in sight. Yes, they were going to Mister Number One's house. Cagalli was invited by Leonore to celebrate the New Year at their house and she also asked Cagalli to bring her brother and girlfriend along.
At first Kira didn't want to accept the invitation because he already planned a little celebration for the three of them, since Lacus' parents were out of the country. But when Lacus heard that they get to see Athrun's house and Miriallia and the gang were also invited, she got so excited that Kira couldn't say no to her when she made her cute pouty face.
"Relax Kira." Cagalli shushed him. "We're almost there." And soon enough, they reached a big gate.
"It seems like their village is very exclusive." Kira commented when he saw the gate. It looked so secured like it was a gate of a palace.
"It's not a village, Kira." Cagalli giggled as she rolled down her window.
"Good morning! Welcome to the Zala manor. May I know your name and purpose of visit?" Klaus' voice could be heard over the intercom.
"Good morning Klaus. It's me Cagalli! We were invited by Aunt Leonore to join their New Year's celebration." Cagalli answered him. Even though Leonore repeatedly requested her to stop calling her 'Madam' and start calling her 'Mom', she found it too embarrassing and decided to call her Aunt instead, which Leonore found better instead of Cagalli calling her 'Madam'.
"Oh Miss Cagalli." Klaus shyly chuckled when he recognized the voice. "Come inside, Madam is so excited to see you." With that, the gates of Athrun's manor opened.
"Wow." Kira whistled in amazement when he saw how extravagant and how wide the grounds were. He only saw their garden but he was already in awe, and Kira wasn't easily impressed. "So this isn't a village?"
"Nope." Cagalli shook her head.
"Then this must be..." Kira couldn't even continue what he was saying because he was too baffled to.
"...Athrun's mansion?" Lacus continued for him, also surprised herself. These were the kinds of houses that super elite people live in. "This is Athrun's mansion?"
"Yeah." Cagalli nodded her head yes.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Kira could only yell at the realization that this large area of land belongs to that Mister Number One. "You have got to be kidding me? Everything that my eyes can see belongs to him? Are you telling me that the ZAFT freak is freaking rich?"
"Well you know, if I was only kidding you, then we would be turning back now while I'm laughing my heart out because you fell for my joke." Cagalli wasn't even surprised that his brother would react that way. She felt that the first time she visited here as well, the only difference was Leonore greeted them as soon as they got down Athrun's car that she had to contain her astonishment.
Lacus also couldn't help but let out a 'wow' the moment that she saw how well-maintained their garden was. With all the roses, her favorite flower, and the other flowers that were blooming so beautifully. There were also statues and fountains that were made of marble. There was also a hedge that was like a maze, and those were sometimes only seen in palaces. "What a nice garden they have here!"
Before Kira could even give another remark about how big Athrun's manor was, they were already in the driveway and a bulk of people was waiting outside to greet them.
When the three of them got out of the car, it wasn't just Leonore, Patrick and Klaus that was there to greet them, but also their other maids and butlers as well.
"Good morning Miss Cagalli, Miss Lacus and Sir Kira!" They greeted in unison that made Kira stagger to Athrun's parents. Like the look in Cagalli's face when she first saw his mansion, Kira gaped at t he house in amazement. He swore he felt his jaw drop. If Athrun were to see him right now, he would be laughing at him because he looked so stupefied. But how wouldn't he be? When he saw the mansion, it was even bigger than the mall.
"Cagalli! At last you're here!" There Leonore was, being so zealous about the fact that Cagalli had arrived. She rushed to the blonde and gave her a hug. "It's really nice to see you!" She let go of the hug and realized how big Cagalli's stomach was. "My! Time sure is fast! Pretty soon your baby boy will be born!"
"Hello Aunt Leonore. It's nice seeing you too." She gave her a smile and also greeted Patrick and Klaus who was standing behind Leonore. "Hello Uncle Patrick, hello Klaus."
"Hello there kiddo." Patrick gave her a pat on the head like she was his little daughter. "Long time no see Cagalli."
"Hello Miss Cagalli." Klaus gave her a gracious bow and proceeded to get her stuff. "I'll help you with these Miss Cagalli." He also went to Kira and Lacus and got their bags. "Hello Sir Kira and Miss Lacus, let me help you with your things as well."
Cagalli then introduced Kira and Lacus, before she forgot. "This is my brother Kira Yamato and his girlfriend Lacus Clyne." She turned to the two of them that were shyly standing behind her.
"Pleased to meet you Mister and Miss Zala." Lacus greeted them with the grace and poise similar to princesses, while extending her hand out to the two of them. "I'm Lacus Clyne." And at that moment, Cagalli swore that Lacus really looked like an aristocrat.
But Leonore ignored the gesture and also enclosed her into a hug. "Hello my dear! My, you're also so pretty like Cagalli over here! Don't call us Mister and Miss! It makes us so comfortable." Leonore giggled.
"No need for formalities." Patrick nodded his head as he agreed with Leonore. "You can call us Uncle and Aunt."
"Uhm…" Kira tried to butt in. "Hello, I'm Kira." Cagalli almost laughed when she saw how nervous Kira was.
"Hi there Kira!" Patrick greeted.
"Hello Kira, we're Athrun's parents." She greeted him. Leonore got intrigued and went to Kira to examine him, which made Kira more anxious. "You look like Cagall's boy version, only with brown hair."
"Shall we all go inside?" Patrick offered them. "Lunch is almost ready."
With a nod, the three guests followed suit.
-o0o-
A chandelier made out of gold and embedded with diamonds.
Walls that have with gold linings.
Paintings by renowned artist that are deemed precious historical artifacts, those that look like they came from an auction.
Displays that have some valuable gem or gold in it and cost a fortune if anyone were to break them.
Curtains and carpets made out of the finest fabric.
Porcelain plates and silver utensils, heavy when you lift them.
Maids and butlers greeting you in every corner you turn.
A swimming pool, a basketball court and a golf course.
Three words: what the hell.
Just what the hell was this mansion? Some kind of castle from a well-known kingdom?
"Will Athrun be here soon?" He heard Lacus talk.
"Athrun's going to be here soon enough." Leonore's voice cut Kira's train of thoughts. "He just had to do something in the office."
Cagalli nodded. If he didn't go to the office today, then he should have been with her, Kira and Lacus when they went there.
"My son's really working hard for the company's sake." Patrick said as he put food on his mouth. "Maybe I made a bad decision of retiring so early? What do you think?" He turned to Leonore for an answer.
Kira didn't respond to that and kept eating instead. He tried his best not to comment on the fact that his parents were giving him so many compliments. "Working hard my ass! He doesn't look like a workaholic to me. He looks like someone who likes to keep it easy." Kira thought to himself all the whilst trying so hard to keep it all to himself. It was a good thing that the food that they served kept his mouth chewing and shut. It was all thanks to the Haianese Chicken.
"Of course not dear!" Leonore assured him then thought about it. "Well, maybe a bit. Our little boy has become such a busy man now. We can't even spend much time with him." Leonore sighed when she thought of her son working almost every day.
"But you can't deny that the performance of the company got extremely better when he replaced me." Patrick remembered the time that he felt so proud of his son when ZAFT Fragrances became the number one, from being the number four in the industry. "And our rank never went down ever since."
Kira almost rolled his eyes when they were talking about Mister Number One and his great skills, but he refrained himself from doing so because he was facing his parents. So Athrun's really good at what he does? He improved the performance of the company? Seriously? Kira was unable to believe that the arrogant freakazoid really had something to be egotistical about.
"Athrun really has a lot on his hands, being the president of the company." Cagalli added, much to Kira's further surprise.
"Wow." Lacus also said. "Athrun really must be skilled to be the president of a company at a very young age."
"Of course he is." Patrick beamed proudly when the pink-haired lady was complimenting his son.
Kira was almost forgetting that he had other companions in the table because of how delicious the chicken was. But the 'p' word made him stop in his tracks and ponder for a moment. He took his glass of water to drink as he took in everything he had heard.
The president?
Did Cagalli really just say that?
Athrun Zala, Mister Number One/ZAFT freakazoid/the arrogant bastard, is the president of ZAFT Fragrances?
No freaking way…
No wonder he easily rejected the proposal that he made and no one even attempt to make a say against it, because he had so much control of the company.
He almost choked on his glass of water when he heard that.
No wait, he really choked.
"Kira, are you okay?" Cagalli noticed the uncomfortable expression in his brother's face. It looked like he was having a hard time breathing, with him patting his chest and all. Then after that, he started to cough really hard.
"What happened to him?" Leonore panicked when he saw Cagalli's brother coughing like someone was strangling him.
"Kira! Kira!" Lacus, who was right beside him, patted him gently on the back. "Are you alright?"
Kira was still coughing and in a loss of words but gave her girlfriend a 'thumbs up' to tell her that he was fine. "I'm sorry about that." He gave a shy chuckle after apologizing to the three other people that were worried about him.
"Here." Lacus handed him, her glass of water, seeing that his was empty already.
"Thanks Lacus." He smiled and got the glass from her.
As they continued eating, Kira couldn't help but say to himself that Athrun's parents were really kind. Even though they just met him and Lacus, they were treating them like they were part of the family already. He couldn't believe that a superbly rich woman would pour tea for him and that a superbly rich man would
Kira found new things about Mister Number One but refrained from acting stunned, even though he was. The ZAFT freakazoid that he always knew seemed to be so different from Patrick and Leonore's eyes, also in Cagalli's as well. The perverted, arrogant and easygoing guy that doesn't seem to take things seriously was actually a really caring, a gentleman and very hardworking.
Cagalli also told them that Athrun would spend countless nights staying up late to finish work. There would also be times that he would ask his friend to take her home because he had to stay in his office to work.
Kira knew that behind his cool façade, there was this different side to him, but he refused to recognize it. At first, he thought that there was no way that Athrun could be that kind of guy, caring and diligent. Because, who wouldn't, if Athrun had gave him a bad impression during the first time they met? And he also seemed like a person who got everything the first time he would try so he never had to exert any effort in anything he does. Kira remembered the tennis match that they had, if Kira wasn't that skilled then Athrun could have possibly beaten him, considering the drastic improvement that took place during the match.
But during the time that Cagalli almost had her miscarriage, he saw that other side of Athrun that his parents see in him. The side that was so caring and concerned about Cagalli's wellbeing that he even was unable to believe it at first. But the affectionate look in his eyes at that moment made him think otherwise. A type of person that tries his hardest to make sure that his sister wouldn't get hurt again.
And other than that, he never failed to make sure that Cagalli wouldn't go home by train, like he promised. He was always there to fetch her or his friend if ever he had something to do. Cagalli also told him that during her stay at his condo, he always ensured that Cagalli always had what she needed, even if it means that he would get soaked in the rain.
-o0o-
"Hello Uncle! Hello Auntie!" Dearka greeted Athrun's parents as he saw them. "It's been a while since I visited!"
"Hello there Dearka!" He gave an acknowledging nod to the blonde that just arrived.
"Dearka! Long time no see!" Leonore gave him a light hug. "So where is the lucky girl?"
"Here she is, meet my girlfriend Miriallia Haw." He stood aside for Leonore to see his current girlfriend, another pretty girl with auburn hair. When Athrun told her that Dearka got himself a new girlfriend, Leonore got excited and immediately asked Dearka to come over for New Year's celebration with her girlfriend.
"Hello dear!" Leonore, being a person that loves to hug people, gave Miriallia a hug, which surprised her. "How are you?"
"Me?" She pointed to herself while feeling stupid that she did. "I'm fine." Miriallia tried to refrain herself from stuttering. She always felt so nervous when she was meeting people like them, the rich kind. "It's nice to finally meet you Mister and Misis Zala!" But it turns out that she had no reason to feel that way. Cagalli was right, Athrun's parents were extremely kind and welcoming.
"Auntie, Miriallia's also Cagalli's best friend." Dearka added, much to the added delight of Leonore.
"Really? That's nice! What a small world we live in!"
"Excuse me," Shiho cut in. "I'm also Cagalli's best friend!" She hated the feeling that she was being ignored.
Dearka wanted to laugh at Shiho's sudden outburst. She really hates being ignored. "This is Shiho, Cagalli's other best friend." He decided to introduce her as well, although he initially thought that Yzak would.
Unlike Miriallia, who was very timid in front of Patrick and Leonore Zala, Shiho didn't even have any hint of intimidation. "Hello Mister and Misis Zala! I'm Shiho Hahnenfuss, it's very nice to meet you!" And of course, Leonore also gave her a hug.
"What an impatient woman." Yzak butted in. "You couldn't wait for Dearka to introduce you to uncle and auntie." He walked past her and greeted the two of them as well. "Long time no see Uncle and Auntie."
"You know, every time you open your mouth, I dislike you even more." Shiho snapped at him again.
"The feeling is mutual." Yzak grunted.
"Can't you think of a more creative comeback?" Shiho raised her eyebrow at the guy she calls Lady Gaga.
Patrick, sensing the tension between the two of them, decided to go in between them. "Let's go inside! Cagalli and the others are inside already." He suggested.
Leonore agreed, Shiho and Yzak looked like they were going to have a catfight soon enough if no one stopped them. "I'm sure they're all waiting for you!"
It was a good thing that Shiho and Yzak complied and went in, they just walked so far from each other and when they glared at each other, Patrick and Leonore swore that they saw electricity in between the two of them.
"My. Why are the two of them fighting with each other?" Leonore asked Dearka and Miriallia when they entered the mansion. She made sure that Patrick was walking far ahead with Yzak and Shiho.
"Well…" Dearka scratched his head as he thought of how he should answer that. "Because they had an argument over something. And they've been like that ever since." It was about Yzak's hair, but Dearka decided to omit that part because Leonore and Patrick might laugh at it as well, which will cause Yzak to be more infuriated.
"I hope they make up soon enough." Leonore pouted. "And be the cute little couple that they are!"
Say what?
Yzak and Shiho make a cute couple?
Miriallia laughed when she heard that, but she contained her laughter to herself. Dearka, on the other hand, laughed as hard as he could, which made the Patrick, Shiho and Yzak turn back to look at him.
"Why?" Leonore didn't understand why the two of them were snickering. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I'm really sorry." Miriallia covered her mouth, but was still laughing. "I just can't stop laughing."
"Auntie." Dearka managed to say in between his laughter. "The two of them… They're not a couple. They're not even close to that."
"Really?" Leonore was shocked that the two of them weren't a couple. "But they look like they are."
"But they might be." Dearka said again. "Soon enough."
"I agree with him." Miriallia told her.
-o0o-
When Athrun entered the family room, he realized that he was the only person missing. There were his parents talking to the guests, Leonore, who was talking with Cagalli, Miriallia, Lacus and Shiho. There was his dad, Yzak, Dearka and Kira, having another conversation. And frankly when he entered, no one noticed him. They must have been really immersed in their own discussions.
When he was standing by the door and no one was stopping to greet him, he decided to talk so he could get their attention. "Hey everyone, I'm so sorry I'm late."
"Oh there's my man!" Dearka stood up and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "When you said that you were going to be late, I didn't know that it would be this late." He chuckled. "I thought you weren't going to show up anymore."
"Wow Zala." Yzak walked up to him and said. "You're back so early." And it was obviously a sarcastic remark.
"Son! Welcome home!" Patrick Zala greeted him.
"Athrun honey!" Leonore, without any further ado, gave him a tight hug, like he was her little boy that got lost at the mall. "What took you so long? You said that you would be here after lunch!" Now she was like a mom scolding her little boy. "Do you know what time is it? It's after dinner time?"
"Sorry mother." He apologized. "I had to finish work."
"So have you eaten dinner already?"
"Not yet."
"You haven't?" Leonore frowned. "Why haven't you eaten yet?"
Athrun got embarrassed that his mother was actually scolding him with something as trivial as that, and it was in front of his friends and Cagalli. He knew it wasn't serious, but still, his mom was still treating him like a grade school boy.
It was a really embarrassing situation; he even saw Sore Loser Number Three was actually snickering. He tried to hide it from the others but Athrun, with his sharp eyes, saw him. Oh how that pissed him off. It was like Mister Number Three was stepping on his pride.
"Little Athy-poo is being scolded by mommy because he went home late." Dearka commented, which sent Athrun's pride crushed like never before.
"Poor Athrun." Shiho added.
"You should eat dinner, then." Cagalli suggested, which sent his mood flying from being so embarrassed to being so pleased. "The food that Aunt Leonore cooked was so delicious."
"Okay…" Athrun nodded, ignoring the rest of the people inside the room. "Do you want to accompany me?"
"Sure!" Cagalli stood up from her place in the comfortable couch and went to Athrun. "And we baked a cake! You're very lucky that we still left one slice for you, even though I wanted to eat it very badly…" Her voice trailed off when she remembered how hard it was to abstain from eating the delicious cake.
"Then let's eat it together." Athrun put his arms around Cagalli's shoulders, like what he did during their trip to the mall. Cagalli also got a hold of him somehow by grasping his waist by the cloth and exited the family room together, which caused a lot of jaws of the people inside the room to drop.
"What the hell just happened?" Kira was snickering a while ago because Mister Number One was getting scolded, but now that his mouth was wide open when he just saw how they acted towards each other.
"Did you just see…" Miriallia was so surprised to even continue her sentence.
"…how the two of them ignored us." So Shiho decided to continue the sentence for her, since she knew it was what Miriallia was meaning to say anyway.
"Apparently we all saw that." Yzak rolled his eyes at what Shiho said, but Shiho was still in a surprise to even retort angrily at him.
"Well, isn't that great?" Patrick clapped his hands in delight.
Leonore turned back to him and smiled. "Of course it is. Athrun and Cagalli are acting so much sweeter since we last saw them. I wonder what happened to them."
"Well that might be because Cagalli spent a few weeks in Athrun's house." Lacus told the group.
"Or maybe the time that he got sick and she was taking really good care of him?" Miriallia added.
"Or maybe the time that they got separated from each other that they missed each other terribly?" Shiho suggested as well.
Leonore giggled when she heard this. "I'm so happy! At last their feelings for each other are blossoming!"
"I want to see them acting so lovey dovey. Let's follow them! What do you all say?" Dearka enthusiastically told them. But then they weren't convinced, so he reasoned out to them. "Don't you want to see the two lovebirds in action?"
"I do! I do!" Shiho jumped excitedly. "Let's follow them!"
"Are you sure that's okay?" Lacus reminded them. "What if they don't want to be observed?"
"Well of course they won't know that we're sort of stalking them." Miriallia convinced her. "So I'm sure it's alright."
"If you say so. Let's go and follow them." Lacus became thrilled that they would be investigating Cagalli's love life.
"Well, I kind of want to see them as well. So I'm coming along." Yzak muttered shyly.
"Well what is everyone waiting for?" Patrick clapped his hands. "Then let's follow them! But we should be hidden so that they won't act awkward towards each other!"
"Kira, aren't you coming along with us?" Leonore was supposed to turn off the lights but then she saw Kira, still sitting on one of the couches.
"Well, maybe not…" Kira got one of the magazines on the rack and pretended to read it. "I think I'll stay here."
"Kira…" Miriallia called out to him. "Stop being bitter about Athrun and Cagalli being so lovey dovey with each other."
"Wha-" Kira stuttered when he heard that. "What are you talking about? I'm not bitter!"
"Oh come on." Dearka rolled his eyes. "The bitter expression is written all over your face!"
"It's not!" Kira tried to deny it. But even though he already accepted the fact of the possibly that Cagalli must have fallen for Athrun, he still couldn't bear to see them acting all lovey dovey, like he and Lacus usually does.
"Come on Kira." Lacus went to him and reached out for his head. "I'm sure it'll be fun."
But Kira still didn't take her hand, he was being too stubborn.
"Please?" When he looked at Lacus again, he saw those angelic eyes of hers that he always found captivating. Those eyes that he loved staring at. That look wherein no matter what she requested him, he couldn't say no.
But this was about that Mister Number One! Anything but that!
"Please?" Lacus pleaded him again.
"Alright." Kira took her hand and they walked to the others.
-o0o-
"Why were you late anyway?" Cagalli asked she and Athrun were in the dining table.
"Well, it was because I had so much work to finish." Athrun said as he chewed his food. "But really I would have gone earlier if I could, the work that needed to be accomplished piled on my desk like crazy."
"That's okay." Cagalli shook her head. "At least you came."
"So what have you been doing the whole day?" Athrun couldn't help but be curious. They certainly couldn't be sitting in the family room the whole day.
"Well, aside from talking with each other, we also went around the house to explore." Cagalli told him. "We were all worried that we would break something you know."
Athrun laughed when he heard that, every guest that went to his house felt that way. "What else did you do?"
"We played cards! It was fun, although I kept on losing." She pouted when she remembered how she always managed to be the loser of every single game.
"You played poker?" Athrun asked her. He knew that she wasn't that good in playing poker because she didn't know how to keep her game face on.
She nodded, which made him chuckle for a bit.
"What else did you do?"
"Hmm… The boys played a little bit of basketball a while and we were baking pastries in the kitchen awhile ago. And oh…" Cagalli's voice trailed off.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry if I messed up your kitchen. I accidentally spilled flour all over the place and now your kitchen looks like it was showered with powder." She sighed.
That's okay. I'm sure mother is fine with it." Athrun assured her. "Anyway, speaking of baking, where's the cake that you baked?"
"Wow, your last sentence rhymed." Cagalli couldn't help but point it out. "You may not like it."
"What do you mean I won't like it?" Athrun raised his eyebrow. "Of course I will. You baked it right? So I know I'll like it." Then he spoke again. "No scratch that, I'll love it."
"You're being biased!" Cagalli stuck her tongue out. "I was the one that least contributed to the baking you know."
"I'm not." He gave her a knowing smile. "You're like that secret ingredient that makes the food taste a lot greater!"
Seconds later, he was shocked that something was making him unable to breath. He realized that it was Cagalli's fingers, pinching his nose.
"You flatterer." She said as she continued to pinch his nose harder every second.
"Cagalli! Ouch! Ouch! Don't pinch my nose Cagalli!" Athrun tried to make her stop but the more that he pleaded the more she pinched it.
"You know Athrun, your voice is so funny." She laughed at him, never letting go of the hold that she had on his nose. "It's like your voice is similar to a rat's squeak." It was true, Athrun's pitch got higher.
"So where's the cake that you baked?" When Cagalli let go of his nose, he first took a few intakes of breath before speaking again.
"It rhymes again!" Cagalli pointed out. "Your sentence, I mean."
"Don't change the topic Double P." Athrun stuck out his tongue. "Come on, give me the cake. I want to taste it."
"You won't like it!" Cagalli insisted.
"Yes I will."
"No you won't!"
"And why not?" Athrun raised his eyebrow at her.
"Because it's a chocolate cake!" Cagalli's spat out. "You don't like chocolates, so I know you won't eat it."
"Oh…" At first Athrun remained quiet at this. It was chocolate, his least favorite food.
"I'm sorry!" Cagalli bowed her head. "I know you don't like chocolate! And we were supposed to make another cake, but yeah I spilled all the flour so there wasn't enough flour to make another one."
"That's okay." Athrun smiled at her. "I don't care if it's a chocolate cake. Let me taste it."
"But didn't you say you hated chocolate?"
"But didn't you hear me when I said that I wanted to taste it?"
"Fine then." She handed him the plate that they covered a while ago. It was really a chocolate cake, everything about it spelled chocolate.
Oh how he hated chocolate.
He remembered the first time that he ate chocolate when he was a kid. His parents finally gave him a bar of chocolate. He was so excited that he ate the bar within a matter of minutes. Because he ate the whole bar, he felt so energetic and started to run around their garden like crazy. Then before he knew it, he fell asleep.
The horror was when he woke up. He was actually having a fine dream of swimming in a pool of chocolate but he woke up to the pain that he felt in his stomach. It looked like he had some 'business' [1] with his toilet. And it pissed him off that for that whole day, he kept coming back to the toilet to do some 'business'.
Not only that, he also had a sore throat when he woke up, not to mention that his tooth was aching.
He swore to himself after that dreadful day, never to eat chocolate.
Call it a conditioned taste aversion [2]. He would never eat chocolate until the day he dies because of that traumatic experience.
When Athrun just kept looking at it, which meant that he didn't want to eat it, Cagalli decided that she would eat it herself. She didn't want the delicious chocolate cake to go to waste.
"Fine. You don't have to force yourself. I'll eat it." She felt disappointed that Athrun didn't eat the chocolate cake, but she expected that.
He couldn't even say anything when Cagalli got the plate from him. He felt bad that even though he said that he would taste it, he still didn't. And Cagalli went through all the effort of baking it. So, in silence, he watched Cagalli take a bite from the cake that they left him.
Cagalli was almost finished eating the cake when suddenly some fireworks exploded, causing her to stagger for a moment. Athrun almost laughed when he saw the cute shocked expression on her face. But then he also saw that she smudged her right cheek with the chocolate icing because of that. The fork might have brushed her cheek.
Just looking at the light blotch of chocolate on her cheek made him feel tempted to do something dirty.
"That shocked me." Cagalli placed her hands on her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "It's not even ten o clock yet."
When Cagalli wasn't responding, she turned to Athrun, who was actually looking at her intently.
"What are you looking at?" Cagalli asked him while giving him a peculiar stare. "Is there something wrong with my face?"
Athrun got hold of her left cheek and gently titled her face so that it would directly face his. "It's nothing."
"What?" Cagalli didn't even have any idea on what was going on. She was too stuttered to even say anything else other than 'what'.
"Don't move." It was more of a command, but it was in a gentler tone.
Cagalli was too much stunned by Athrun's actions to even move, so he need not tell her that. It was like that moment when Athrun was sick, when he was staring at her with that intensity. She felt her heart having faster beats than usual. And her face, of course was also beet red.
She felt her face getting nearer to his. She tried to protest but then she heard Athrun hush her, she gave in, and let all blood rise to her face. She closed her eyes and decided to let Athrun do what he wanted.
Even if she had the gut feeling that he would kiss her.
When Athrun's lips finally landed on her face, it wasn't on her lips, like what she had expected.
But on her cheek.
And it just wasn't a normal smack on the cheek, but Cagalli was sure that she felt something warm.
Holy toast! Athrun was French kissing her cheek!
Then when he finally drew his face away from hers, she saw a smear of chocolate in his lips.
"Athrun?" She felt her cheeks burning, really burning.
He just smirked at her and licked his lips. The chocolate smudge on his lips was now gone.
"I guess chocolate is not that bad after all." He gave her a wink which sent her cheeks even redder than before.
"You… you… you… you…" She wasn't even able to continue what she was about to say.
"Too speechless?" He teased her all the more.
But when he heard some rumbling sound on the door, he realized that they weren't the only people in the dining area.
"Hey, whoever you people are." He started to say. "I know you're listening."
"Bastard!" Kira then emerged from his hiding place to pounce on him. "What the hell did you do to my sister?"
"Oh if it isn't Sore Loser Number Three?" Athrun gave him a smug smile. "Didn't you see it for yourself? Or do I have to do it again?"
"Why you little-" And it took all the people behind him to prevent him from throwing himself at Athrun.
-o0o-
"Hey Athrun!" Dearka called out to him. They were currently in the Zala Garden lighting up fireworks. "Join us here!"
"No it's okay. You all have fun." He decided to be anti-social and sit on one of the benches. He was feeling quite sleepy now.
"It's your loss son!" Patrick was having fun lighting up the fireworks. "You're missing a lot."
"Athrun." Cagalli sat beside him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah I am." He said as he massaged his temple. And he felt that Kira was giving him a death glare when Cagalli sat next to him, but he ignored it. "I think I'm just a bit tired."
"Then you should sleep now." Cagalli suggested.
"Nope. I think I'll stay here." Athrun rested on Cagalli's shoulder.
She blushed at Athrun's actions and felt Kira's gaze boring onto them. "Look at Kira." Cagalli pointed. "He sure looks angry."
"He's just jealous." He chuckled.
After that a few moments of silence engulfed the two of them, they were watching the others play with the fireworks.
"Look!" Cagalli was in awe of the fireworks that sparkled in the sky. "It's so beautiful."
Then when Athrun wasn't responding, Cagalli realized that Athrun was snoring lightly.
"Is my Athrun dear asleep?" Leonore went over to the two of them. "He's really so cute!" His sleeping face always reminded her of him when he was a baby.
"He must be really tired." Lacus also went over to have a look at him.
"Athrun looks kind of cute when he's sleeping." Shiho commented.
"Oh I know!" Leonore jumped excitedly. "I'll show you Athrun's baby pictures!"
"Hey. I heard that." They heard Athrun whisper, and the tone of his whisper was actually threatening, the type of voice that a murderer would tell his victim.
"I was just kidding Athrun honey." Leonore laughed nervously as she walked away.
"I want to see Athrun's baby pictures!" Miriallia squealed.
"Don't you dare." Athrun's voice came out frightening again, and the others decided that it would be best to return in enjoying the fireworks. The tone of his voice made them shiver in fear, even Kira and Patrick as well.
"Why don't you want them to see it? Those photos are pretty cute." Cagalli tried to persuade him. But no way in the hell would he allow any other person to see those girly photos of him.
But instead of answering her question, all she got as a response was a muffled: "Happy New Year Cagalli." It wasn't even twelve yet.
Cagalli smiled when Athrun finally got to sleep amidst the noise of the fireworks. He needed that. After all, he was stressing himself a whole lot.
"Happy New Year Athrun."
-o0o-
End of chapter 25! So this is basically just a light and fluffy chapter! What did you think? Your feedback is very much appreciated.
Additional Notes:
[1] By 'business' I think you guys think you know what I mean. :P
[2] For those who don't know what conditioned taste aversion is, it's a psychological term in which a person avoids a certain food because an illness occurs after they ate it, even though the food you ate doesn't have any connection with the illness.