Disclaimer : GS/GSD is not mine

Ch. 10 : The Sudden Visit

"What do you think you are doing in a place like this? It's already dark, this is no place for women. Even though you are a skillful combatant, you should know better, Stellar!" Shinn shouted at her, as Stellar let go of her embrace.

Stellar could feel the anger from the man in front of him. Shinn couldn't imagine what would happen if he was a bit late, his childhood friend might already be gone. Instead of being scared, Stellar understood that Shinn was just worried about her, so she tried to lessen his anger by apologizing for being so reckless. Listening to her apology, his anger subsided and he immediately observed their surroundings, making sure they were safe and then he reached for the rope that was hidden in the blonde man's robe. He started tying the rope to bind the blonde's man body.

"Shinn, maybe I should check on Cagalli first." She walked to Cagalli's side and checked her pulse. Thankfully, she just fainted.

"Done, I should bring them to the Peelers, bit I want to interrogate them first. I already made the other two unconscious before coming here. I will check on them. You stay here." He walked past the two women and not long after that, he was nowhere near in vicinity. Just three minutes passed, he already came back. Shinn's face looked upset, he said he lost the two and asked Stellar on Cagalli's condition.

"She is fine, I guess she was just a bit shocked, but we have to make sure." Stellar was a bit worried about her friend that was still lying unconscious. Shinn suggested to bring her to Stellar's house, but she immediately refused.

"Why?" Shinn asked her, being puzzled at her immediate rejection.

"Err, because, err, It is hard for Stellar to explain everything to everyone. Stellar prefers to wait for Cagalli to wake up here. Shinn could go with the attacker first."

"No, I'm not leaving you two. Then, let's bring her to the mansion." Shinn again suggested. He got a feeling on why Stellar was being defensive about this, it might be related to Cagalli's real identity. Stellar was a bit confused when he told her about the mansion. So, he told her about her job and where she lived. Stellar was surprised at the news, but she composed herself quickly. Stellar draped Cagalli's hand on her shoulder, while Shinn carried the blonde man's body on his shoulder.

As they walked, Stellar asked about Shinn's doing in these past years. Shinn and Stellar were childhood friends, they used to play around together a lot. Shinn was entering an academy for royal knights, and after that they didn't meet so often, but they still saw each other then and there, Shinn also successfully taught Stellar some of his skill. When Shinn graduated from the academy, he was picked as the Crown Prince aide because of his great skill. Not long after that, Stellar went for her long trip.

"It has been a long time, Shinn." Stellar started.

"Hmm, yeah it has. Do you plan on roaming around the island again?" A bit curious and hopeful at the same time, he really wished Stellar would stay longer than the last time.

"No, not for now, I really want to go to the South, but for now, Stellar didn't think it's a great idea."

"Just stay, it will be safer for you." He felt relieved at her answer.

"Thank you for always worrying Shinn, you are always so sweet." She smiled at him. At that remark Shinn was blushing so hard. It was no secret that he has a crush with the blonde girl. Murrue and Mwu knew this and they kept on teasing him, but he just ignored it. He actually missed her a lot, but his busy work helped him to cope. Well, at least, now Stellar will be back for a while, he thought.

His mind wandered back to when he heard the two attackers converse before he struck them.

"The princess' has dyed her hair black, of course we couldn't find her."

Actually, he didn't believe what just happened, A group of men, attacking Cagalli and Stellar? They must be eyeing Cagalli as one of them said about the black hair one, he called her the princess. 'Is she what he think he is?'

"Stellar?!" She shouted, but she was alone in her room.

She woke up in her private chamber in the mansion. She looked out of her window, the sun was already high, it must be already noon. She touched her crook slightly, she felt a bit hurt, she remembered what happened. All of them. From her visit to Murrue's house to the sudden attack. She was confused as to why she can get back to her chamber safely.

Then, reality hit her hard. She remembered what Stellar had said to her before the attack. About her kingdom and about her father. Her father. Her father was dead months ago and she didn't know this whole time. She didn't know what to feel, it feels like she wanted to cry but she just can't. Maybe deep down, she still can't believe it. Maybe she had to go home first and then saw it with her own eyes, then maybe after that she could feel that her father was really gone.

Suddenly she remembered the time when his father nagged her about getting married, she remembered his stern face that maybe some people thought he was a scary person, but he was not. She knew exactly how warmhearted her father was and she knew her father loved her so much despite everything he had done to her. Truth be told, there was no day she spent in the west where she didn't miss her father.

On one of her childhood days, she remembered that her father told her not to play too far, but she didn't listen and she almost drowned in a pond. If not for someone who had helped her, she may be already dead. Her father was so angry that day and he fired some of her personal maids, he said they were incapable of taking care of her. She never saw him so angry before, she felt so guilty, too guilty to her maids so she got sick and went unconscious for a few days. She thought her father was still angry at her, but it was the opposite, he stayed beside her, nursing her all night. Her mother said she was fine, but her father didn't listen and kept treating her until she felt better, he said it was his fault to be so hard on her. Her father might think she didn't know what he did or said, but her mother told her everything. After that she understood that her father's love was unique and she promised to obey all of her father's orders, even though it was ridiculous.

It was not until that day, when he announced that he wanted her to marry that Seiran, she just couldn't take it. All of her life, she always tried to obey her father even though it was a struggle, for 25 years of her life, she never went out of the eastern border, because she knew how much he loved her. She didn't have to understand what his father asked her, she just had to believe in him. However, that one, she just couldn't take it. She really hated Yuuna Roma Seiran with passion. She just couldn't accept it, she can't imagine her life being trapped to be the moron's wife forever. No, she just can't. So she took the hard way, leaving her country, her beloved father and brother, her best friend, everything. She never never imagined something like this could happen in a range of months. She left and then boom, it's like all of her life in the west was all just a dream and now she had to wake up.

She closed her eyes and felt her tears finally got out from her eyes, this is too much for her. She never imagined that she won't see her father anymore. Now, she won't. She leaned down, so her face was hidden by her knees, she sobbed hard, murmuring sorry to her unseen dead father. She said she was sorry for everything, she said she loved him, she said sorry again and again and again and then she said she loved him again. Crying her heart out all of her sadness, but no one was there with her. Suddenly she missed Kira so bad. She wanted to see him, but she didn't even know where he was. If she could turn back time, if she didn't run away. Would it be any better? Would her father be still alive?

She didn't realize someone just entered her room, she was too drawn on her sadness, on her own thoughts and wasn't really aware of her surroundings. Seeing Cagalli sobbing on her bed, Athrun, who had just entered the room, immediately held her close and tight. His embrace triggered her and in a second she burst out in tears, she was crying on his shoulder, she knew it was Athrun, but she didn't care, she needed it for now.

"Not father. Please. Tell me this is just a lie." She muttered quietly to herself, but Athrun still can hear it. Athrun caressed the back of her hair softly, he didn't say anything, he just sat there, holding her so she could let it out.

Yesterday, he was so worried when Shinn came and brought her unconscious. It felt like his heart was ripped out from its place. Never in his life, he felt that worried about someone. After Shinn told him that Cagalli was being attacked, he immediately called for the palace doctor to check on her. Athrun couldn't calm down until the doctor said she was fine. After he ensured that she was in a fine state, he asked Shinn to follow him to his work room. He couldn't fathom his anger toward him.

"I told you to follow her and you lost her!" He shouted at him.

"I'm sorry, I was a bit distracted. I met a friend." He admitted his fault, he was already on his way to follow Cagalli, but someone greeted him and they talked for a while.

"She's almost gone!" Athrun just couldn't imagine how devastated he was if something happened to her."

I'm really sorry, I really don't- Okay, I'm sorry, but there is something really important to tell you!" Shinn felt guilty, he knew what Cagalli meant for his superior, he almost lost her, but he can't stay quiet, because he already made a guess on Cagalli real identity.

"Just make sure there is no escape for the attacker, I will interrogate him by myself and what do you want to tell me?" Athrun looked at Shinn sternly.

"I understand, he was already in the basement jail." Looking at his superior calming down, he decided to spill the beans.

"She might be the princess. The missing eastern princess."

"I'm sorry master, we've failed, Rey was captured." Auel said, his face was full of bruises. It was clear that he was beaten.

"But we have found the princess! She dyed her hair black! That is why it was so hard to find her!" Sting added.

"Someone helped her, someone was protecting her!" Auel told him again, he wanted to make sure that his defeat won't become an embarrassment for him.

Listening to his servient, Raww just swam on his own mind, he thought it would be easy, but he was wrong. Cagalli was protected by someone powerful or maybe skillful. Then he had to change his plans.

Athrun stayed at the mansion everyday since Cagalli's breakdown. He wanted to comfort her, in any way he could. He refused to see any guests that his mother arranged for him to come. He remembered his meeting with Alethea Mordaunt months ago. It was his mother doing.

"Miss Mordaunt." He called the elegant girl who sat on the couch.

The girl was in her mid twenties, with her greyish orbs look at him sharply. Athrun observed the girl, trying to remember when was the last time they met. The girl was wearing a beautiful blue dress that accentuated her status as a royal. Her long wavy dark violet hair reached her back made her beauty shine. Alethea Mordaunt, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Mordaunt.

"Please call me Alethea, your grace."

"Miss Alethea, I guess my mother sent you here."

"You're right. You mother sent me here."

"Miss Mordaunt, I-" He wanted to explain that there was no need for her to meet him again, because he already had someone in mind to have a marriage with. However before he could talk, Alethea interrupted him.

"I don't want to pretend that I like this arrangement, Your Grace. Actually, you are not my type at all." She said with a small smile as she sipped her tea.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm really sorry, your grace, but I hope we will not continue this any further. I know you have someone you like here. Even your mother knows it too."

"What?"

"Your mother told me about your girl, she lives here, right? She asked me if I would consider marrying you, because she didn't want you to play around." Again, after she told him that, she sipped her tea. She was so relaxed, no hint of jealousy written on her face or even her voice.

"What? So mother is pushing this because of her?"

"That is yes, from what I learned."

"Well, thank you for the information then, I can't be more grateful."

"Okay then, I'll take my leave and your grace, please tell your mother, I already did my duty to visit you." She gave him a small smile and then she left immediately.

After that Athrun refused to see any other woman who came to visit him. He sent the unwilling Shinn to give his mother a message about his refusal on marriage or any blind dates arrangement.

"It is so.." Kira said as their carriage passed through the western gate. He never went out the Eastern border, so it was fascinating for him to see the sights of the west, the south was different from the east, but the west is like a whole different world.

"So?" Halsten asked him curious of what Kira had to say.

"Different, the west is."

"Yeah, you could say that. West is really different from us, but don't be fooled, they have so many problems that are unseen from our naked eyes." The silver haired king looked at the view with a solemn look on his face.

"Right."

"Kira, about my request-" Halsten hesitated a bit, but he knew that he was asking for something so important.

"No need to worry, I will accept it anyway. You're a great and reliable king, after all."

"Thank you."

Kira just nodded. Actually it's still vague for him whether it was a good decision or not to grant Halsten's request, but for now, he felt a bit at ease, since one of the problems already solved.

"We're here." Halsten informed him.

"Cagalli is in the western palace? I don't understand." Kira was curious, Halsten didn't want to tell him where his sister was, he just said that he wanted to surprise him.

"You will. Trust me."

They came inside as maids and knights were already waiting for them. They bowed down as Halsten and Kira walked in front of them.

"King Halsten! Never thought you would come here by yourself, is this visit so important?"

"You know Patrick, I always love to visit my friends, it gives me some kind of bonding."

"Well, I'm not complaining." They laughed together. Kira was amazed at Halsten's social skill. He was young but it seems like the western king already favored him.

"Ah, I bring something you will love."

One of the southern knights came forward and gave out something to Halsten. He opened the leather wrap and revealed a quill made of very beautiful feathers. Halsten knew that Patrick Zala is quite a quill collector.

"This? Don't tell me."

"Yes, it's from the Wayalenns fur. I thought you might like it."

"This is rare! How can you?"

"You know I always have my way."

"Is this for me?" The western king asked.

"Sure, I won't bring it here just to show it to you right?" Halsten answered him with a smirk.

"Hahahaha, you always sound so sarcastic. Thank you. Then, what can I help you with?"

"Always right to the point, aren't you?"

"Of course. Let's get you sit first, come in."

Patrick and Halsten had a good relationship, not that close but enough to feel pleasant in each other's presents. Already sitting on the meeting room, Halsten and Kira took a seat on the chairs in front of them.

"So, shall we start the talk?" Patrick started as he also sat down at his seat.

"Patrick, I guess you are already aware of what happened in the east." The air was changing rapidly as Halsten mentioned the east. Patrick Zala was a bit tense now. Their friendly exchanges seemed to be gone by now.

"I have, of course." His happy face was clearly disturbed at Halsten words. It shows that he didn't expect this.

"This is Kira Yamato Athha, the crown prince of the eastern kingdom." Halsten added.

"The prince? Oh, this is the first time we meet, isn't it? I'm informed that you went missing, or am I wrong?" There was a confused tone on his voice. He realized that this must be not only a friendly visit. Halsten needed something, that is why he brought a gift. So, he continued his question. "What do you want, Halsten? You know I don't want to be involved in this kind of conflict. Let alone an internal conflict of a country."

"I know very well about you Patrick, I won't propose something like that. It's just, I guess your son holds someone precious to Kira and we just want her back."

Thank you for the reviews, it really encourages me a lot. Love you guys, I'm really really really sorry for the late update.