Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed.

A/N: So little people reviewed the previous chapter. I'm starting to doubt myself or it was probably exams at this time of the year… Anyway, enjoy this chapter.

GoddessIrui: Sorry for no Kira in the previous chapter! But I ensure you that there would be a lot of scenes with Kira in it in the following chapters (maybe just a little of his scenes in this chapter). Anyway, thanks for the review and enjoy this chapter!

Anon: Yeah, I know. That was because the previous chapter was all focused on the diary. You'll see the importance of it in the next chapter but for now, enjoy this chapter!

Vanguarde: Thanks for the review! I hope all doubts were cleared. Enjoy this chapter!

1000 Sparkings: Don't worry; I planned all my chapters beforehand so I'll manage to squeeze everything in these three chapters. Enjoy this chapter!


Chapter 28: Before Flight

Cagalli looked worried. She had been frowning when she got home ever since hours ago when Kira came back home listless and non-responsive. Even at dinner, his expression was a blank and whatever attempts the yellow-haired girl had tried to strike a conversation, they just failed miserably.

Knock knock

"It's Cagalli." The voice informed from outside the room.

"Just come in." Kira's listless voice told her and the yellow-haired girl entered with a worried look. When she saw that the brown-haired boy was lying on the bed on his stomach, reading a book peacefully. Cagalli didn't know whether she should be relieved or worried.

"What's up, Cagalli?" Kira answered. Cagalli snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Kira, realizing that she must be staring into space all those time while looking at Kira.

"Where did you go when school ended?" Cagalli asked curiously.

"I went to the park and took a very long walk." Kira answered monotonously.

"I…well…can I talk to you for a bit?" The yellow-haired girl stammered.

"Sure but about what?" Kira looked at her confusingly.

"You haven't been yourself since you came back, Kira." Cagalli sat down on the chair next to his bed. "I'm worried for you."

A moment of silence past by. Kira looked from his book, not saying anything yet. Cagalli waited patiently, sure that she'll hear what she wanted.

"Fllay said she don't like me anymore." Kira stated simply.

"Why did she…?" Cagalli started but stopped midway. Although the sentence was incomplete, Kira knew what she wanted to say. Kira flipped himself up, staring at the ceiling blankly. "Maybe that's why she wanted to go London…to avoid me. Maybe she really hates me." Kira gave off a small giggle which Cagalli sensed its melancholy.

"But…but I thought she likes you." Cagalli's voice softened into an audible whisper. "That was why she didn't want to tell you that she was going away to London."

"Nah." Kira said simply and continued, "I asked her today if she likes me. She said no, so I couldn't bring myself to tell her how I feel. After all, I was the one who made her miserable in the first place. Maybe this is my retribution."

The long moment of silence was hard to bear. Cagalli twiddled with her fingers, glancing at Kira's faraway look on the ceiling. Why the sudden change in Fllay? Why did she reject Kira? Questions streamed into her mind and she realized that all of this didn't make sense. She knew Fllay still liked the brown-haired boy no matter how she never talks about it, but what Kira said earlier…doesn't fit the puzzle.

Suddenly, Kira felt a hand on his head and he looked up immediately. "Cagalli…" He managed to say as his head was being patted. However, the yellow-haired girl didn't say anything except smile at him. He couldn't bear it any longer and within seconds, he found his hands wiping away the tears that wetted his face without permission.

He sat up on his bed and hugged his sister quickly, more tears streaming down from his eyes. "There, there." Cagalli comforted him, patting his head continuously.

Almost ten minutes had past until Kira's outburst ceased. Unhooking his arms around the yellow-haired girl, he took a tissue from the side and wiped his tear-stained face. Looking up at Cagalli, the brown-haired boy managed a small smile.

"Thank you, Cagalli." Kira said sincerely.

"It was nothing." Cagalli waved a hand. "Besides, you are my younger brother."

"Cagalli, you're starting it again." Kira's eyebrow twitched animatedly.

"Just kidding." She laughed and then with a more solemn face, she asked, "So, Kira, are you going to send Fllay off tomorrow?"

Short silence ensued. Kira's eyes became dull all of the sudden. "Maybe not. I don't want to be awkward around Fllay." He looked out of the window next to his bed. "Besides, I'm not sure if I want to see her just yet."

"I get your point." Cagalli started to go for the door. "Have an early night."

"But Cagalli, tomorrow is Saturday."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and sis," Kira said with flushed cheeks.

"Yes?" Cagalli asked, surprised at the sudden addressing. "You seldom call me that."

"Well, I did now." Kira retorted playfully. Then, his face shone with sincerity and a soft smile lit on his face, "I just want to say thanks. And sorry for staining your shirt." He pointed at the wet smudges on Cagalli's shirt.

"What can I say?" Cagalli smiled after noticing the wet spots. "It was worth it."

"Thanks." Kira smiled gratefully.

"Sure." Cagalli turned to the door but paused at that stance. Slowly, she twisted her head in Kira's direction and gave a sly smile, "Besides, you're going to pay me 15 dollars for this shirt anyway."

"What the…!" Kira widened his eyes. "CAGALLI!" Kira started to throw a pillow towards the door and at the yellow-haired girl but luckily for her, the door closed just in time…and without her even needing to be hasty. Such luck.

Kira felt sorry for ever throwing the pillow, meaning he would have to retrieve it. It was a difficult task, especially for someone who happens to be lazy at the moment. Deciding to ignore the poor unwanted pillow, the brown-haired boy felt back onto his bed, resting his bed on the other spare pillow while bringing forth in comforter.

Seriously, this is more than retribution.

And Kira clutched his chest tightly.

Outside the room, Cagalli looked forlorn as she rested her body on the wall beside the door of Kira's room.

Perhaps it wouldn't matter much even if I told him about the diary.

And she headed for her room, feeling somewhat sorry for her brown-haired brother.

Next morning…

"Shinn, I'm sorry you had to come along with me." Stellar said in an apologetic tone as the two walked to the escalator leading to the terminal of the airport.

"It's alright." The pale-faced boy replied, placing a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "Besides, I kind of like Fllay too, so it would be as if saying farewell to a friend."

"You have such a sweet mouth." Stellar rested her head lightly on the boy's shoulder adjacent to her and closed her eyes with a small smile. "If only Kira had one too." Then her blissful expression was replaced by a slight frown.

"Still worrying over Fllay?" Shinn asked, turning his head to face her.

"Of course!" Stellar answered loudly with an element of surprise, her eyes widening only slightly as she turned to faced Shinn. "She is my best friend! Of…of course I'm worried for her." She turned back to the front with a softer expression. "I just don't want to see Fllay so sad."

"Don't worry, Stellar." Shinn comforted her and the yellow-haired girl abruptly turned to look at him again. "I'm sure they'll settle this somehow."

"I hope they will." Stellar said in a defeated tone.

"Stellar, Shinn, over here!" A rather high-pitched voice called out to them, undoubtedly, they belonged to Meyrin. They turned to the source of the voice and found a small group gathering around the familiar red-haired girl, who was smiling brightly at the many concerns and advices being showered onto her. Even though being quite a fair distance away from the small crowd, Stellar could hear things such as 'Wear more clothes when you reach there. I heard that London is cold' and 'Don't be so obsessed in studying until you forget to eat'.

"Hello, Stellar, Shinn." Fllay politely made their presence known the usual group of people – Cagalli and company. Her considerate gesture was returned with a hug from Stellar and a small formal bow from Shinn.

"When is your flight, Fllay?" Athrun asked, eyeing the clock at the nearest pillar interestedly.

"It'll be around 7.30." The red-haired girl announced after checking her ticket again. "I still have one and a half hours with you guys."

"That's great." Luna said cheerfully. "We still have time. Let's go eat. It'll be my treat tonight. What do you say?"

"OF COURSE!" The group chorused cheerfully and they began discussing the place they'll be dining in while walking through the line of food shops. Finally, they decided to dine at a sushi place so they entered without any hesitation. Besides, Luna was treating them so they all let loose.

"You're sharing the cost with me, Meyrin." Luna finally informed when they sat down at their places.

"WHAT?! WHY?!" Meyrin almost screamed out.

"Because you're my sister." Luna stated matter-of-factly.

"But you were the one suggesting the treat." Meyrin retorted determinedly. She was not going to give up the money she had intended on a shopping spree.

Luna laughed offhandedly. "I forgot that I'm almost reaching my credit card's limit."

"So you shouldn't have told us you'll be treating us." Fllay said in a disapproving tone.

"I forgot." Luna emphasized. "Besides, Meyrin is my sister. Her money means our parents' money, which make it my money as well."

"WHAT KIND OF COMMON SENSE IS THAT?!" The pink-haired girl shouted, her pupils' in her angry narrowed eyes disappeared animatedly just like angry Mirumo (A/N: From the anime Mirumo de Pon).

"I'll excuse myself for a while." Athrun informed his friends who noticed except Meyrin and Luna who were still engrossed in their reasoning. The remaining sensible people who knew that he was excusing himself for a bit expected an explanation of where he was going no matter how small it was for example, the washroom. However, their faces were of confused expressions when the blue-haired boy left without explaining himself further. Realizing that it wasn't very important indeed, they ignored the small detail.

After a long while, Cagalli looked around from her seat, searching for Athrun. He sure has gone for quite a while.

When Athrun returned, he found Meryin sulking and Luna of a victorious and cheerful expression. Clearly, Luna had won the match of "Using Meyrin's Credit Card To Foot The Bill" and Meyrin had lost. Soon, their orders of sushi set meal came in and they group started to eat to their hearts' content.

"My shopping spree." Meyrin mourned at the death of her shopping hopes and began to eat her meal with tears animatedly sliding down her cheeks.

"Oh, by the way, Athrun." Cagalli turned her head to look at the blue-haired boy sitting next to her.

"Yes?" He looked at her, expecting her question to come next.

"Where did you go just now?" Cagalli shot him a questioning look. "You took quite a while."

However, his answer was simply the blue-haired boy placing a finger on his lips and a mysterious smile.

Is it any wonder that Cagalli blinked several times before raising an eyebrow?


A/N: Aren't you all curious what Athrun has done? Well, stay tune to the next chapter: Time Limit. And it would be one long chapter.

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