Kagaribi's Nook:

You guys really think that? Well, my heartfelt gratitude to you. And I thought people wouldn't be reading something like this because there's too much of the omnicient narrative..you know, the type wherein you delve into the thoughts of the characters all the time and some people might find it too long and boring...but surprisingly, some people did read this.

QUESTION: Is Cagalli a natural? I was thinking that she was a coordinator because I saw her go into SEED mode in the last episode, unless my eyes are deceiving me 00. Can somebody clear this up? So, does that mean that there are different types of coordinators too? Like, ones with even more superior genes than what they already call superior? I'm basing this on the fact that some can go into SEED mode and others don't (or maybe we just don't see them do it), plus Kira being what they call the "ultimate coordinator" (ta-dah!) . In the course of the whole series, we only see Kira, Athrun, Lacus, and Cagalli go into SEED mode..I might be wrong.

Anyway, enough about this musings...for now.

P.S: Nope, handsome puppy. It would not affect the plot much if Cagalli is a coordinator or not. But, if I'm wrong, I have to correct details then.

Disclaimer: All Gundam SEED characters and their elements belong to their respective owners and I'm just writing this fic out of sudden impulse...my hand just keeps telling me to write, write, write.

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Gundam SEED: Afterwards

Chapter 3

Issues and Subjects of Concern

-----

Cagalli embraced her bare shoulders, shivering. Her teeth chattered. The air conditioning was definitely intolerable. Half an hour more and Cagalli predicted that she would frost up. She was really not used to the cold. She had lived in places with temperate climate, after all. Cagalli wished that she had worn something that could have provided her warmth, a long-sleeved shirt perhaps, just like most of the people there.

This nagging cold temperature constantly occupied Cagalli's mind throughout the Peace Convention and some other things as well.

The negotiations and proposals were heard and dealt with in the most favorable manner, usually. It could have been smooth sailing if not for the black-haired, obviously, natural, who was, yet obviously again, opposed to the very idea of "pacifism".

And Cagalli was wrong to think that after cooling off some steam earlier, she would not be bothered by such a maverick person. You better control your suicidal fantasies. What's a guy like him doing here? I should have gotten my cloak from that bodyguard but he went outside now...

Speaking of her bodyguards, the memory of her bodyguards following her around and hearing her talks with Athrun....it embarrassed Cagalli a lot. She saw them putting on the least signs of a smile, even though they were trying to seem as emotionless as possible.

Cagalli shivered even more.

"Hang in there, Cagalli," she whispered to herself, as if the words would warm her up.

Cagalli was taken by surprise as someone lightly draped his coat over her shoulders. She jerked her head and saw Athrun's face.

"Thank you," mouthed Cagalli , drawing the coat more tightly around her. And as if there was some magic at work, Cagalli felt warmth pouring into her. Was it because of Athrun's coat or Athrun himself? Either way, she was gratified a lot.

The Peace Convention had gone on long enough already that it was about time that the attention of many wavered. Chairman Dullindal of ZAFT knew that. But he would not let this chance pass just yet. He had to make his plans known.

Within the chatter of people, a strong and definite voice spoke out loud. "Before we conclude this conference, I would like to lay down my final proposal."

During that moment, Chairman Dullindal had the undivided consideration of every person present inside the room. He continued on. "I have long realized that this chapter will never last forever. A sequel to war is not impossible. Who knows when war might break out again? No one knows. There will be a day when we are all sitting here like this at one long table, sharing our ideas and thoughts like comrades. There will be another day when we erect barbed fences and spit venomous words at each other, exchanging life for another life. The peaceful blue sky might change into a dreary gray that may never return to its former color. I will tell you all my ultimate remedy to our difficulty."

Chairman Dullindal paused. Not a person stirred. They were waiting for his next lines. Even the black-haired radical was hushed. Was it out of respect or lack of anything to say?

"What is this ultimate remedy? This universal panacea that will end our problems? I am proposing two things. One, that we coordinators dispose of the technology that gave rise to our kind. I myself am a coordinator. Therefore and naturally, I should not oppose the technology that made us. But, this has only given way to the emulative feelings of man and the envy of most. Two, that all weapons - mobile suits, mobile armors, GUNDAMS, all mechas - should be eradicated and not a trace left. I know that these machineries were made for insurance. But as long as we have them, there will always be animosity. Keeping them would be a poor excuse for mankind that he does not feel safe without them."

"I am saying all this will be for our greater good. If we must revamp this world, it must be a world wherein we offer ourselves with spontaneity. It is my acceptance of truth that most of you agree with my points. This issues are not only our concern but everyone else's as well. Let everyone know it, so that they make take part in reconstructing."

Gilbert Dullindal's speech was met with fervent applause. Cagalli turned to look at Athrun, sharing a smile with him. Somehow, Cagalli's cold condition did not matter to her anymore. She felt Gilbert Dullindal's words feeding her strength and hope. The luminous flame in people's hearts would be kindled.

-----

Sitting for almost five hours straight made Cagalli's back and bottom very sore. She could have emerged in a grouchy mood from the conference hall if not for the inspiring speech the chairman of the ZAFT council made.

Cagalli had planned to rebuke her bodyguards for insubordination. Yet after hearing Gilbert Dullindal, she felt her tolerance level replenished. Then again, seeing Athrun reminded her of those plans. She would do it, she promised herself. Just not now. Maybe if it would happen again.

"The coordinators are in good hands," Cagalli was telling Athrun as they were positioned away from the double doors. The delegates were slowly filing out, making idle talk with each other.

Athrun also felt very much the same. "There has always been a person like Gilbert Dullindal hiding all along. He should have come out earlier than now. He could have stopped the war sooner."

"With his guidance, do you think we can straighten out this warped world?"

Athrun was about to open his mouth to answer when a loud voice shouted out his name.

"Hey, Athrun!"

Athrun and Cagalli stared at the argent-haired man coming towards them.

"You've been doing this since morning, Yzak," remarked Athrun, shaking his head.

"You...t-think...s-so?" Yzak said, at the same time catching his breath.

Cagalli gazed at this person, puzzled. She could not put where she had seen him before.

Athrun noticed the nonplussed look on Cagalli's face and introduced the argent-haired man to her. "Cagalli, this is Yzak Jule. Both of us were in Klueze's squadron."

"Nice to meet you, Yzak." Cagalli was still ransacking her brain, trying hard to piece any bit of recognition, anything.

"So, you're with her," Yzak observed, smirking. Then, he brought his face close to Cagalli's, saying in a low voice, "You made quite a scene there, Miss Prime Minister."

Cagalli flushed a healthy red, not knowing how to counter something like that.

Now, Yzak turned to Athrun. "Didn't know you had a taste for the feisty type," he whispered into his ear teasingly.

Athrun's face suffused with a glow of crimson.

Yzak enjoyed watching the two people disconcerted. From the time that he saw the two of them together, he perceived that Athrun knew the Prime Minister of Orb more than just her name, that there was something going on between them. The only other lady that Athrun associated himself with was Lacus Clyne, and he only spent time with her because of their late fathers' matrimonial arrangements. That lady and Athrun's own mother. Otherwise, Athrun never had any involvement with women entirely.

It was about time that he cut short his fun, but not without one last payback for Athrun's earlier joke. Yzak was feeling quite naughty right then.

"Well I've got to split," he said. Yzak stood beside Athrun, whispering again, this time with a hint of seductiveness and purposely letting Cagalli hear, "But, don't forget. You're still mine."

That did it.

Cagalli snapped her eyes on Yzak, looking gravely at him. Then, she trained her eyes on Athrun, regarding him in a curious manner, as if she was doubting something.

"Yzak!" cried out Athrun. "That's not funny!"

Yzak burst into a fit of laughter. "Sorry, Athrun. I couldn't help it!"

For one whole minute, the three of them stood there. Yzak, laughing maniacally. Athrun, with a helpless expression on his face. Cagalli, thinking whether Yzak was really kidding or not.

After a while, Yzak wiped off the tears with the back of his hand and became serious at last. "Now, I really do have to go."

The argent-haired ZAFT council member caught sight of Cagalli's upset reaction. "It's not true, what I said," he told Cagalli gently.

Cagalli blushed. "I know that!" she responded rather strongly, turning her head away.

Yzak grinned. "You two make a cute couple," he commented. Oh well, two paybacks wouldn't hurt.

Athrun cheeks reddened and Cagalli even more. Yzak was satisfied with the results and so, left the two to themselves.

When Yzak was already a few feet away from them, he spun around and yelled over the heads of many, "Say hi to the pilot of Strike for me!"

That was the only time that Cagalli understood who Yzak was.

-----

Athrun wondered if Cagalli's bodyguards had a very high remuneration. They were always faithfully trailing behind wherever she went. They even disobeyed her orders not to follow her around. That was when the two of them went out of the conference hall in the middle of the convention. In the end, Athrun concluded that Kisaka was the one who commissioned them and not Cagalli.

Their procession of guide, leader, and bodyguards were some distance away from the entrance hall now. Cagalli had been drowning in her thoughts up until then that Athrun chose to keep quiet and lead the way out for the Orb party.

"Ne, Athrun," Cagalli suddenly said, coming to a stop.

"What?" Athrun found a grim-looking Cagalli with set flame-colored pools in her eyes facing him.

"....never mind," Cagalli mumbled and her feet began to move again. The silent procession restarted then stopped yet another time as Cagalli paused once more.

"What's wrong Cagalli? Is there anything bothering you?" Athrun looked closely at Cagalli's face. She appeared to want to ask him something but could not work up the nerve to do it. Athrun had a vague idea what this was all about.

Athrun heaved a deep sigh. Here goes...

"Cagalli," he began leniently and Cagalli quietly listened to him. "Yzak used to be a hotheaded person. He was quick to anger, quick to provoke. He even bore a seething grudge on Kira a year ago. But now, he's made quite a transition. Do you know? He's one of those who are actively participating in mending the torn seam between naturals and coordinators, just like us. And taking on this job, this responsibility, he's learned to stretch his patience and temper. I kind of feel glad myself that he's starting to kid around with people, not for mockery but for fun. There, have I erased your doubts?"

Cagalli's head hung limply as she wrung her hands to and fro. "I'm sorry, Athrun. I just couldn't get it off my mind. It's just that I was thinking that you two might be....lovers...." Cagalli garbled the last word, feeling odd as it rolled off her tongue. Now that she said it out loud, it seemed ridiculous that she was actually thinking about something like that.

Cagalli took a glimpse of Athrun, refined as always. He could have doubled over and guffawed. Instead, he was having a quiet laugh to himself. That only made Cagalli all the more ashamed.

When Athrun was done, or so Cagalli guessed. He closed the distance between them, catching Cagalli's flame orbs with his own jade ones. At that moment, Cagalli's heart pounded so hard that she was lost in her overwhelming sensations. And all Athrun did was to ruffle her aureate hair affectionately. "In my eyes, you never fail to be an interesting person," he said.

That was all he said and did. Nothing else. It was the closest thing to a compliment.

With a glance to the side, Athrun secretly pointed out to Cagalli the parade of buff men waiting behind them and Cagalli understood. As Athrun said to himself before, sentimentalities would have to wait after and additionally, not while others were around.

The two went on walking side by side.

"It was silly of me, wasn't it?" Cagalli asked lightheartedly.

"Why do you think so?"

"Because, I kept the thought lingering in my head, even though I shouldn't be. But then again, these things, these relationships...they weren't impossible. I was even asking myself who was...straight and who was not."

"If Yzak hears you, his pride would be hurt."

Cagalli pouted. "Well, he was the one who started the gears running in this head of mine. What about you? A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Zala."

Athrun put on a strange smile. "I'm used to it."

Cagalli's eyes went as wide as saucers. "And what does that mean?" she demanded to know, but not in an overly bossy manner.

"We're here."

The topic took a sudden end as they reached the lobby. Athrun suddenly realized that he would not see Cagalli again for what might be a long time. He savored the short moment that he spent with the princess of Orb. Meanwhile, Cagalli had almost forgotten that the whole time, she had Athrun's coat covering her bare shoulders. She had only now remembered about it.

"Athrun."

Athrun brought himself out of his abstracted state and paid heed to the figure in front of him. "What is it?"

"Um, thank you for your coat." With both hands, Cagalli lifted off Athrun's black coat and handed it back carefully.

Athrun quietly accepted the coat, wearing it.

So, is this goodbye? Athrun was thinking.

Should I tell him that we're still going to see each other? Cagalli was thinking.

The spacious hall resounded with the movements of people crossing, coming, going, and impatiently waiting; announcements from the loudspeaker filling the air; the steady humming of people making pleasant verbal exchanges....

All the other sounds were there. But in Athrun and Cagalli's world, it was in mute mode - an exemplar of a black and white film with no auditory provision.

Time was frozen. The two stood apart from each other, waiting for some signal, some sign, some hint.

"Are you planning to return to earth now?"

"We'll still see each other."

Athrun and Cagalli said simultaneously.

"Huh?"

They also both chorused.

"Uh, you first," Cagalli verbally nudged Athrun.

"Are you planning to return to earth now?" Athrun repeated his question, testing his words.

"Actually, no. I'll be staying here for a week or so."

Athrun felt very much relieved, but he tried not to show it.

"Why?"

"I can accommodate you in my house," suggested Athrun.

"Would that be alright with you?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Cagalli saw her bodyguards and was reminded of something else. She turned to Athrun, smiling sheepishly.

"Um, what about them?" Cagalli asked, referring to her ten bodyguards.

And Athrun began to ponder. "Uh, yes. About them..."

to be continued...