Chapter 4


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Cagalli didn't know how long she stayed that way. Curled up and, as usual, crying her heart out.

What made her shift from her position was the sound of one of her windows creaking. She choked back a sob. Someone was in her room. She was sure of it.

She stiffened when she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders and whispered, "Cagalli."

She turned to the direction of the voice. That voice. She'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Athrun? Is that you?" She sat up and reached out to touch the face of the man that had been haunting her dreams.

Only the light from the moon illuminated her room, but she could see that it was really him.

"Cagalli..." he suddenly hugged her. "I-I'm sorry..."

Had this been a scene from a movie, the lead actress would immediately just cry and announce that all is forgiven. But this was no movie and Cagalli Yula Athha was no actress. And because Cagalli was Cagalli...

Slap!

"Why didn't you listen to me! Why did you leave me?"

Athrun looked stunned for a minute and then broke into a sad smile. "I'm sorry, Cagalli. But you have to understand, I had no other choice."

"Why wouldn't you have any other choice?" she asked angrily. "You threw the Fatum-00 at me and let it drag me back!"

She then leaned on his chest and cried.

"Please, don't cry anymore, Cagalli. I came back to tell you that," he explained gently. "You have to understand that just because I'm gone now doesn't mean that your life has to end."

Cagalli cried harder in his chest. "Don't leave me again..."

"You have so many things ahead of you. Don't throw your life away just because of me. It pains me to see you like this," Athrun told her gently.

"How can you ask me that? I can't do it without you! I can't live without you! Why didn't you just take me with you? We could've died together! Why did you leave me? Wasn't I reason enough for you to choose to live?"

"There was no other choice. I...it was the only thing I could think of." He shook his head. "I promised you that I'll protect you. And that was what I did. Cagalli, please, listen to me carefully."

He cupped Cagalli's chin and forced her to look at him in the eye. "Promise me you'll continue living. Promise me that you're going to live your life to the fullest. Please. It pains me to see you like this."

She looked away tearfully. "I-I don't know..."

"Please, Cagalli. We fought for peace, fight for it also. A lot of people are counting on you. I believe you can do it, I'll always be with you and I'll always protect you." With that he took out something from his pocket.

Cagalli gasped when she saw what it was. It was the necklace she gave to him. But the stone looked smaller and jagged than before. "T-this is..."

"I'm sorry, I chucked it in two," he apologized. "This will protect you..."

He put it on her and hugged her tightly, voice breaking. "I-I love you, Cagalli. I'm sorry for leaving you alone... I'm sorry..."

"I love you, too, Athrun."

They kissed for what seemed to be the last time. Athrun gently pulled away to look at her amber eyes.

"Please don't make me regret my decision. Please."

"I-I'll try to - to move on... I'll accept the position that my father left behind and I'll t-try to continue our fight for peace."

He seemed satisfied with her answer and they held each other for what seemed like an eternity. An eternity that in reality, would only last for a few hours.

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Cagalli woke up to find herself alone in her bed. Where's Athrun? she thought frantically.

She looked around and when she saw no one, she felt tears in her eyes. She quickly brushed them away. I promised him I won't cry anymore...Even if it was a dream...

She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red like always, but they also looked alive, unlike the past few days. She bit her lip uncertainly, wondering if she made the right decision. Her gaze fell on the roseate stone that was resting innocently on her neck.

She held it up tearfully. A dream, huh? I won't disappoint you, Athrun. I'll show you what I can do. And when we see each other again...

She hurriedly took a shower and got dressed. It was going to be a long day. She went directly to her office, not even bothering to have breakfast first.

She picked up the phone and took a deep breath. "Hello? Kisaka? It's Cagalli. I've made up my mind."

She was sure she was making the right decision.

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"I'm going to take the position of chief representative."

He heard it clearly from his position behind a bookshelf. He could hear the firmness and determination in her voice, and it made him smile.

That's it, Cagalli. Forget about Athrun. He's already dead.

He looked at Cagalli one last time, memorizing every thing about her, taking in her blonde hair and golden eyes. He wiped the tears in his eyes and proceeded to make his escape.

After a few minutes he found himself back at the beach were he saw Cagalli with Miriallia the other day. He sat on the sand and basked in the early morning sun. Technically it was his third time in Earth and in Orb. He didn't have the time to enjoy the scenery then because of…a few things.

He didn't know why this particular beach was deserted, but it suited him just fine. After this week's rendezvous, he doubted whether he could go visit Earth again. Or Cagalli. After this, he won't be allowed to come near the princess within a 10 kilometer radius.

"I'm such an idiot," he murmured to himself, thinking of his decision. I thought it wasn't going to be this hard. Will I be able to see her again?

His thoughts were once again interrupted by someone calling his cell phone. He sighed when he read who the caller was.

"Hello?" he said unenthusiastically. Yzak was worse than Dearka.

"When are you coming back, you dolt!" Yzak thundered without preambles. "I'm getting tired of covering up for your stupid ass up here!"

"Sorry," he apologized sincerely. "I'm taking the next shuttle available. Don't worry."

"Good. The Council has been bugging me about you. They were afraid you've run off somewhere."

He sighed noisily into the receiver. "Both you and I know that's very unlikely. What with their spies watching over me."

He could almost see Yzak smirking. "You noticed?"

"Who wouldn't?"

"Well, you know some of the reps aren't very keen on the idea of letting you go alone. You know too much. If I were you, I'd have stayed inside the Justice and let myself get blown to unrecognizable bits and pieces. It's better than what you're going through right now."

He laughed amusedly at Yzak. "And since when did you sound so sympathetic?"

"Since I've been responsible for your stupid ass," Yzak snarled. "And since I'm your superior, I'll make your life even more of a living hell, Alex."

He flinched when he heard the last word. "You know I hate being called Alex."

"Whatever. Get your freakin' ass here as soon as possible, Zala!"

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