Also rewritten.
Chapter 2
The Letter From Ago
Kira heard a creak through his door in the unusually darkened morning as he saw a figure staring at him. Lifting his covers off him, he sat up in bed, stretched, and yawned. Taking a look at the clock, he turned toward the figure.
"It's nine in the morning. What are you doing up?" he said rubbing his eyes. "I'd expect you to sleep in."
The red-headed girl he had only met a few hours ago stared at him timidly like she was trying to hide behind the door. "Umm...m-my father's here to pick me up. I just thought you should know so you wouldn't worry..." she said shyly as she began to close the door. Kira, noticing what she had just said, stood up and put on his shoes.
"Hold on, I'll walk you down," he grumbled grabbing a sweater from his drawers.
"No, it's alright, thanks for the clothes, though. I'll be sure to return them to you," she tilted her head a bit down when she felt herself being pulled up again.
"That isn't necessary, come on, I insist that I walk you down," he smiled.
The walk to the elevator and out the door was a silent one as Kira seemed to have his hand on her shoulder the whole time even when he walked her towards her car, I mean limo, as Fllay entered she gave one last nod at him and disappeared behind the black-tinted windows. Kira waved silently as he noticed it was still heavily raining and the streets seemed to start to flood. He sighed. He was supposed to see Athrun and Cagalli today. He walked back up the stairs to hear the ringing of his phone. Without thinking, he picked up the phone with a rude tone.
"What?"
"Sorry to wake you up at this hour, Kira," the polite voice of Athrun said. A sudden surge through Kira brought him to the brink of yelling as he bursted into Athrun's ear.
"ATHRUN, YOU-"
"Sorry, sorry. Just don't yell at me. Besides, it was Cagalli's idea that you don't know. She was afraid that you'd act like this, Kira, which you are, I remind you," Athrun said wisely as he glimpsed at the clock.
"Still, you could've at least told me something! Not just keep it a secret from me for weeks!" Kira yelled.
"Kira, calm down, you're going to wake up Cagalli," Athrun sighed.
"Oh, sorry," Kira pouted. "So, what brings you to my telephone?"
"I believe Lacus told you about our dinner tonight."
"Yes, I was still in a state of shock when she told me, but yes, I'm coming to the dinner if this rain goes away anyway," Kira said peering through his window.
"Well, if it doesn't, we've decided to meet at your apartment if you don't mind. It was Cagalli's idea. Maybe we can straighten out the confusion properly with you this time. Again, sorry for the trouble."
"Don't worry about it. I think I can handle it now. I guess seeing you take my sister away isn't exactly easy for me," Kira said with a sigh as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Ha. You'll have to get used to it, she'll be gone for another two weeks after the wedding."
Kira glared. "Don't you do anything to my sister, you twit," he snapped.
"A little overprotective, aren't we?" Athrun chuckled earnestly when he felt Cagalli's figure fuss next to him. He placed a finger over her mouth to silence her before she could ask and just mouthed 'Kira' to her. She nodded and turned back over to her side.
"Yeah, yeah, but if you break her heart, I'll break your neck. So don't even think about having an affair."
"The sight of you pounding that jerk, Ken, in high school, is pretty much playing over and over in my mind. I get the picture, Kira, I don't think I'll plan on having an affair any time soon," he joked. Kira smirked.
"Oh? Maybe I should make a new picture for you, with you in it, and with me kicking your - hold on, I got someone else on the line," Kira said as he pressed a button on his phone. "Hello, Kira speaking."
"Ah, you must be Kira Yamato, that new writer the whole Clyne building is fussing about!" a cheery female voice said.
"What of it?" Kira said rudely.
"Well, how about you buy a set of new pens? Or some new paper for your future books? We're selling at a discount for only - "
"Not interested. Don't call again, thank you," Kira said hanging up before the lady could say anything else as he continued his conversation to Athrun.
"That was quick."
"With telemarketers, everything's quick. Ever since I released my information to Lacus, the buzz of my new book has been flying everywhere. Annoying bugs won't go away," he grumbled.
"Alright, I guess I'll leave you to your sleep...or what's left of it. See ya tomorrow!" Athrun said cheerfully as all he heard was a grunt from Kira's other line. He laughed as he hung up the phone. "Kira has a lot of growing to do still..."
"He won't grow anymore until he marries Lacus..." Cagalli said angrily as she was supposedly asleep on her side. Athrun cocked his head to her direction.
"You're awake?" Athrun blinked.
"Kira won't grow up until he gets someone to love and that'll be Lacus! Before our wedding, I wanna see them holding hands with an engagement ring on their fingers!" Cagalli snapped. Athrun, a little confused at her sudden ambition, lied back down and cuddled her in his arms.
"Mmm...you want too much," he yawned as his breath tickled her ear.
"No, Kira wants too little! Geez, if he doesn't get a girlfriend sooner or later, I'll have it arranged myself!"
"Oh? But what if he chooses someone other than Lacus?" Athrun said leaning over to flatten his cheek against hers.
"Then I'll kick his ass! I don't wanna see him break Lacus' heart!" she said with a fire in her eyes.
"Oh, Cagalli..." he sighed rocking her side to side.
----
ALLSTER LIMO
"But dad! I don't wanna go have to see him again!" Fllay whined as she stared angrily out at the pouring rain.
"I've already arranged who you'll be married with. It's been like this for three generations!" George Allster snapped as his rude daughter kicked and screamed like a five-year old.
"Some stupid tradition you got. Why can't I choose who I wanna be with? You and mom did that!"
"That's only for the men-side of the family! For the women, it's always been arranged!" he yelled. The driver in the front stared into his mirror to stare at the two yelling at each other. He sighed. Always so loud...
"Talk about sexist! I WANT MY OWN LIFE! I didn't even go to any of the schools I wanted to go to. You and mom picked everything! Or at least you did! No wonder the new stepmom walked out on you. I should probably just run away, too! Just like she did! At least she's happy!" she said unconsciously as she stared angrily at her raging father.
"DO NOT TALK THAT WAY WITH ME, YOUNG LADY!" he bellowed throughout the car as the driver rolled the windows up to muffle the sound. "You will marry this boy whether you like it or not! YOU WILL BE THE FUTURE MRS. ARGYLE! SO LIVE WITH IT!"
"Go to hell!" she said mentally as she huffed looking out the window. "Some life..." she muttered.
----
ARGYLE HOME
"Achoo!" a pale-skinned blonde boy, wearing orange-shaded sunglasses, drinking his coffee sneezed out of the blue. He grabbed a tissue and wiped his nose. "Achoo!" he sneezed again as his mother kindly passed him another.
"Sai, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. It must be the rain," he said politely as he continued to sip his coffee once again. "Mother, am I really going to see that Fllay again?"
"Yes, Mr. Allster has arranged everything. Besides, you do make quite the couple. I mean, she is beautiful, maybe a bit temperamental, but I'm sure you can handle her, right?"
"Well - "
"Of course he can!" his father said barging into the room walking proudly with a grey business suit on and brown briefcase in hand as he kissed his wife on the cheek and giving his son a wave. "Any girl's worth a shot, especially if it's the daughter of the great George Allster!" he winked happily.
"Honey, aren't you being a bit overconfident?"
"Of course not, whatever the girl throws at him, I'm sure Sai can throw right back!"
"Right...right," Sai sighed as he stared at the newspaper to his left. "I still need to find a house," he said thinking aloud noticing he was still living with his parents.
"Oh, don't worry about that either, son, Mr. Allster has prepared everything. And I mean everything! You have a home right next to theirs! Everything's ready once you two marry! It's going to be a wonderful wedding!" his father said joyfully as he lifted the flap on his wrist and stared at his watch. His eyes widened excitedly. "Must be on my way, the laboratory won't work itself you know! See you all tonight! Oh, and Sai, Mr. Allster will be coming to pick you up at lunch!"
"Bye, dad!" Sai called as he slipped the newspaper to the side. The cover story was yet again about the new discoveries of Allster Sciences. But he noticed a small tab on the bottom... "New book release from Clyne Publishing dated for new year! An all-new author also said to have close relations to the successful woman, Lacus Clyne. Kira Yamato...continued on A7."
Sai blinked at the name. Kira Yamato...weren't they friends in high school? Becoming very interested in the subject, he opened the newspaper and found the familiar faces of Kira and Lacus.
----
Noticing the rain beginning to ease up, Kira picked up his umbrella and his raincoat as he headed outside to meet Lacus who sat in her long bright pink limo awaiting his arrival. His footsteps clapping against the wet concrete, he hurried along to her limo down the block and entered as the driver took his umbrella and tried to shake off the droplets before re-entering the car. Kira gave a smile to Lacus as she scooted over to the other side of her white-leather seat.
"To the Allster Labs, please," Lacus' chirpy voice said as the driver nodded. Kira, a little confused by their destination, ruffled his hair a bit.
"Allster labs?" he questioned. Lacus turned to him with a bright smile.
"My father is having another deal with Mr. Allster hoping to reconcile their little past quarrels and partner the two companies. It would profit greatly for both of the companies if they were to affiliate," she said as she grabbed a towel from under her seat handing it to Kira. "It's really coming down, isn't?" she sighed staring as the rain began its speedy pace again and the squeaking of the window wipers became louder.
"You haven't changed the wipers yet?" Kira said as the annoying sounds came to irritate him greatly as he scratched his head. Lacus' face cringed.
"Sorry, the car's due for a checkup for next week. So the noise and the rain should hopefully be gone by then. How's the title coming up for the story?"
"Not so good...I guess it's my turn to have a bit of Writer's Block," Kira sighed heavily as he rubbed his slightly.
"Don't rush. You still have a couple of weeks," Lacus laughed.
"I know, I know, but I'd rather get it done now...then..."
"Ma'am, we're here," the driver's voice said.
"Oh, please park over in the front. Kira, you wouldn't mind being my escort, would you?" she said as the flashing press pressed themselves against the tinted windows wanting to shoot the first question or just a simple picture. Kira hesitated at first but nodded. Lacus took one last look at Kira before her driver opened the door. "You sure you want to? You can just wait if you want." Kira shook his head.
"Don't worry about me. The one I'm worried about is you. How can you handle this every single day?"
Lacus' face went pink as she heard his words. "I-I'm used to it. Ready?"
"Yup," Kira said taking deep breaths as the door opened and the crying out voices of the press rang through his ears.
----
"It's nice to see you again, George," Siegel's voice said proudly as he shook hands with his old rival in high school and college.
"Same here," George grunted as Fllay stood behind him in a pink and white dress.
"Do I really have to wear this stupid, frilly dress, Dad?!" Fllay's said childishly. Siegel chuckled.
"I see your daughter hasn't changed one bit," he smiled.
"Oh? Where's yours? I'd like to see how she turned out," George challenged. Siegel raised an eyebrow but as he heard the slow screeching of a car pulling in, he looked down below.
"She'll be coming in a minute once she handles the press relations," he said.
"She handles that all on her own?" George said eying his own daughter carefully.
"Yes, she has become quite content with it now. She doesn't even need me to lead her out of a big mess," he chuckled. "She's grown a lot after I gave her the publishing company."
"I guess so, but let's see how she does when we have that press conference."
"That won't be for a couple of hours, George," Siegel said crossing his arms.
"So what? It'll help the girls catch up, they haven't seen each other since elementary. And if what you're saying is true, maybe Fllay can learn some manners from that daughter of yours."
"I'm sure she will."
"Announcing the arrival of Lacus Clyne and her escort, Kira Yamato," the doors slowly creaked open as the people inside turned heads. But Fllay did not turn her head to see Lacus, her ears had reacted to the name of the mysterious man that had saved her that day.
"KIRA!" her voice rang as she ran to hug the man she had met that rainy day.
The whole room came to a sound-still as everyone tried to soak in what exactly was happening.
George eyed Siegel carefully. But Siegel still seemed shocked himself.
What was the daughter who was to be married to Sai Argyle doing, hugging an author of an upcoming book?
"Siegel, you better have a good explanation," George growled.
"Maybe you should be saying that to your daughter," Siegel said with a little fright in his voice.
If this deal didn't go down easily, there may never be peace between the Allster and Clyne families and that could result in chaos.
----
The blush on Kira's face slowly darkened even redder as he felt Fllay wrap her arms around him. He didn't know how much more of this he could take without fainting. Wait a minute, why the hell was he blushing anyway?! He had only known for one night! What the hell was wrong with him?
"Uhh...hi?" Kira said in a squeaky voice.
"Kira?" Lacus blinked. Kira, almost robotically, slowly turned his head to face her and shrugged.
"I sort of saved her last night," he laughed.
"Sort of?" Lacus stared as Fllay finally let go of him after a period of time had passed.
"I'm so glad you're here! I want you to meet my father," she said pulling him along the crowd to come face to face with George Allster. "Daddy, this is the person who saved me last night. Kira Yamato!" she said clasping her hands together. Kira bowed slightly.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Allster. I didn't r-really save her. She just looked like she needed help, that's all," Kira said giving a polite smile as he bent back up.
"You're the boy with that new book coming out, I presume?" George said as he circled him making Kira as stiff as a tree with dew drops dripping down its pine. Kira nodded immediately, but his nerves decided not to calm.
"Hmm...you don't have any other interest in my daughter, do you?" he said as he closed in on Kira's ear and pulled back. Kira shook his head.
"No, sir," he gulped.
George stopped in front of him again and smiled. Placing his hand out to him, he grinned, "Good, because she's engaged. Nice to meet you, Kira," he said plainly. Kira froze a bit. ENGAGED?!
The shock on his face could be seen from a thousand miles away as Siegel broke out laughing. But George did not at all seem amused. In fact, he didn't even understand the look on Kira's face. Siegel continued to laugh until tears came out of his eyes.
"No interest, huh?" Siegel joked as he wiped his tears away with a wide grin spreading across his face.
"No, sir," Kira said as he felt the heat rushing to his face. He tried to control himself as he repeated over and over, calm down, calm down, she's engaged. But still, the thought of her being engaged...
"I was forced to be engaged. My father's idiotic idea of a family tradition supposedly," Fllay said sarcastically as she plopped onto one of the couches.
"Ain't she a bitch?" a mutter, yet a familiar mutter, was heard among the crowd as Kira turned around to see who it was. He gaped. It was Cagalli!
"W-What are you-"
Others turned heads to see what Kira was so surprised about and just took a stare and turned away as Kira continued to gape.
"I am part of the Clyne Company afterall, Kira. Why wouldn't I attend?" Cagalli said as she walked toward him with a glass of water in hand. Kira stared at her, she had gained a bit of weight again. Cagalli blinked. "What is it, Kira?"
"N-Nothing, it's just...you've gained a bit of weight, haven't you? I guess this pregnancy thing was serious," he said aloud unknowingly. Cagalli's face went cherry red as she caught stares from co-workers, Lacus, Fllay, Siegel, and others.
"My, my, why didn't you tell us?" a voice said in the crowd.
"Yes, before the wedding? I never expected that from you, Cagalli!" another voice rang out. Cagalli had grown a burning rage inside of her as she glared at Kira furiously.
"YOU IDIOT!! Did you have to say that out loud?! What kind of brother are you?!" she yelled almost crushing her plastic cup. A calming hand came over her shoulder as all the fury Cagalli had been building just seemed to whisk away. She turned around. "Athrun..."
"Calm down, he didn't mean to. Everyone would've found out anyway," he smiled as he turned to Kira. "Didn't expect to see you here, Kira."
"Ah, me neither. I was just with Lacus to go for our book meeting, but this meeting got in the middle...so I became her escort."
"Interesting..." he smiled as he handed him a cup of water. "Thirsty?"
"Thanks," he said taking a big gulp and finished the whole cup.
"You look like you haven't been drinking water for a week. Not to mention, the water that's been pouring down for the past three days!" Cagalli said with her hands on her hips.
"I don't know. I just felt like I had lost all my water back there," Kira said unusually. Athrun and Cagalli blinked at him. What did he say? Kira, noticing the look on their faces, just waved his hands as he threw the cup into the trash. "Nevermind."
"Oh, by the way, what was that all about with Mr. Allster's daughter? You do know that she's engaged to Sai Argyle, right? That new lawyer? He's already won three cases and he's supposed to be the assistant," Athrun said being well-informed. Kira laughed nervously.
"It's nothing like that, Athrun. I just helped her get out of a bad situation. This is just her way of thanking me, I guess. It's not like we'll end up having an affair or anything."
"Let's hope not. It'd be bad for the companies and for your book, Kira," Lacus said coming into the conversation handing them all cups of water. "Let's have a toast. To the unification of Allster and Clyne Enterprises, to Cagalli and Athrun, to their child, and to Kira's book!" she said waving her cup in the water. But before the toast, Kira stopped them.
"What about you, Lacus? I didn't hear anything that was for you," he said a bit confused.
"Yeah! How come, Lacus?!" Cagalli said with a mischievous look in her eyes. Lacus turned away knowing what she was thinking.
"I'm happy the way I am! Don't worry about it!" she said. Kira shook his head.
"I'll make one for you, then," he cleared his throat and raised his cup into the air. "To hope that Lacus will finally tell us all the TRUTH one day!" he joked. But the other two nodded in approval and they toasted chugging down the water. Lacus nudged Kira slightly.
"Hey! I do tell you the truth!"
"I know, I just couldn't think of anything," he laughed.
"Oh, Lacus hasn't been telling us the whole truth, have you, Lacus?" Cagalli sneered.
"What are you talking about? Of course I have!" Lacus said feeling her ears turn red.
"You've been hiding something!! And I think I know what it is!" Cagalli said nearing closer to the pink-haired nervous wreck.
"C-Cagalli...d-don't you even..."
"YOU LOVE-"
A hand came over her mouth as Athrun pulled her away from Kira and Lacus. "Excuse us for a moment," he said with a nervous smile as he dragged her as far as he could.
"What was that all about?" Kira blinked. Lacus blushed.
"N-Nothing. I can help you with that title. This case of writer's block seems bad, Kira," she smiled as they walked over to the food table to get some snacks.
"Alright, but I'll tell you this much, I've come up with nothing."
"Then my help should at least jog your brain," she said.
As Kira and Lacus continued to talk about the progress of the book, prying eyes watched them, or at least, Kira. Fllay glared at the two as she saw them laughing.
"Hmph, I can beat that," she said getting up and unbuttoning her first three buttons and walking over to them.
---
"Athrun, what are you - "
"You have to let Kira find out for himself! Telling him for Lacus won't do anything!" Athrun snapped as Cagalli continued to stare at him like a whining child.
"But still! They're both idiots! Why won't they just confess and get on with it! My little brother -"
"Little? Isn't he your - "
"NO! One second, does not make someone your older brother! Besides, I have the brains!"
"...or at least the brawn..." Athrun coughed.
"What did you say?!"
"N-Nothing," he laughed.
Cagalli crossed her arms angrily as she stared toward Kira and Lacus. "My little brother's been alone too long. He needs a little love in his life." She turned to Athrun with determined eyes. "I want my brother to be happy and not live his life alone in his stupid apartment. I want little nieces and nephews, too! I just want..." she stared down at her feet, "...I want to see my brother really happy. Like really really happy. Like that day when he got that secret admirer note in high school. It was so cute, he seemed happier than ever. It's still a wonder on how he didn't know it was Lacus."
"Ha, Kira has been the clueless one for awhile," Athrun chuckled as he saw the two smiling at each other.
"Yeah, but it was written in PINK! Who else does he know writes in pink AND has pink hair? Geez, the obvious slaps him right in the face but all he does, is just let it go. I don't know how many chances he's been given to be with Lacus," Cagalli huffed. But when the figure of Fllay came closer toward Lacus and Kira-Cagalli noticed-she steamed. "What the hell does that bitch thinks she's doing?!" she barged her way through the crowds nearing her way to them. "KIRA!"
"Cagalli, wait!" Athrun called after her.
----
"Hello, Kira," Fllay said sweetly as she swung around him.
"Hello, Fllay," he smiled. Lacus, clueless at Fllay's actions, just acted casual as she continued to talk about the book.
"Your book has a lot of things that you used about your imagination and past experiences, maybe you could use a small quote or something like that. Then the reserves could just shorten it for you," Lacus said as she took a small bite of a mini-donut.
"Yes, that's true," Kira said thoughtfully as he began to rethink all the things that he had written.
"Oh, Kira, can't we talk about something else? Maybe something a little more interesting?" Fllay said in a baby tone.
"Not now, Fllay, this is important," he grumbled.
"Maybe she's right, Kira, we can always talk about this over the phone if you'd like. I've been pressuring you too much, I'm sorry," Lacus sighed.
A little surprised by her remark, he didn't notice that she had always been reminding him. But he never took it like she was pressuring him. Lacus had a thing for reminding him all the time and it helped him, well, keep on track. In fact, he didn't think of it as a nuisance at all. But seeing the look on Lacus' face, maybe it was time to take a short break. He nodded and turned to Fllay. "What did you want to talk about?" Fllay's face lightened up as she pulled Kira away from Lacus and to the back of the room.
"LACUS!" Cagalli called. Hearing the tone of Cagalli's voice, Lacus immediately swerved her head only to find herself being glared at.
"Y-Yes?" she said nervously.
"Why did you let Kira go like that?!" she barked.
"W-What? It seemed like they wanted to talk, so..."
"So WHAT?! You just let him go like that?! What kind of girlfriend are you?!"
Lacus whinced at the word. "When did we start going out?" Cagalli glared at her and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"STOP BEING SO...SO...so..." she cursed herself. "...urgg...JUST STOP BEING SO...THING!"
Athrun sighed as he turned to Lacus. "I'm sorry, she's a little uptight today."
"UPTIGHT?!" she swerved around to him. "She was given another chance and -"
"I didn't take it, I know, I'm sorry, Cagalli," Lacus said clearing some hair from her face. Cagalli and Athrun turned to her. The look on her face, so sincere...and yet...so sad at the same time.
"Lacus..." Cagalli said barely above a whisper.
"I've been given so many chances to tell him and yet for the longest I've known him, I still can't spit it out. I always play the moment over and over in my mind and yet I can't say it to him in real time. I don't know what's wrong with me. Maybe I'm just scared of the truth," she said with a fake laugh.
"That's not - "
"Would the daughters of the chairmen please come to the podium? The conference has begun," a woman's voice said as Fllay turned around after giving a 'sweet' look at Kira and re-buttoned her shirt. Lacus gave a nod to Athrun and Cagalli as they both headed for the podium.
Athrun sighed heavily.
"Both going for the same guy..." Cagali started.
"Both with different reasons..." Athrun continued.
"Both with the same instinct," they finished together.
"A war for Kira's heart...this isn't going to be easy for Lacus," Athrun said sighing again as he ruffled his hands through his midnight blue hair.
"I won't let Lacus lose. She deserves to be with him. She's tried so hard for the past few years and it's obvious that Kira also cares about her!"
"Yes, but what if that care is like a brotherly love? Or something else? What if it's something that Kira just can't create into a lover's love? What if he decides wrongly and chooses...beauty over..." Athrun paused. Cagalli stared at him.
"Athrun?"
"...one who has everything," he finished staring digilantly at Lacus who was smiling happily at the crowd.
----
"That was weird," Kira said lying back onto his bed. "Suddenly Fllay wants my number and my address...hunh," he said as he stared at the folded piece of paper in his hand as he grabbed out his address book and wrote down her phone and address. "No email, though," he muttered.
His phone rang almost immediately after he finished writing down Fllay's address and Lacus' chirpy voice came into his ears.
"Kira, I just called to remind you of the dinner tonight. Meet at Athrun's at seven, remember?"
"Yes, yes, I remember this time," he smiled. "I'm glad your father was able to close the deal. Now, no more stealing and everything," his voice had a slight amusement as he thought of all the news reports digging up on the Clyne and Allster families going at it year after year.
"Yes, I'm a bit relieved, too," she smiled hearing the slight joy in his voice. It somehow made her heart skip a beat. Hearing Kira's voice...it made her want to...
"Lacus, are you still there? Lacus?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, she shook her head. What was she thinking?! She's still on the phone! "Oh, sorry!! I must've blanked out."
"That's not like you. Are you sure you're not sick? Did something happen to you today? Maybe it's the rain. Oh, wait, it stopped, uhh...I mean," Kira stared at his reflection in the mirror. His face was going red. W-Wha? Was he blushing? Wait, he was talking to Lacus! One of his best friends! Why was he blushing?! "What's wrong with me lately?!" he cursed mentally.
"Kira...ummm...I was wondering..."
"Y-Yeah?" he said feeling unusually nervous.
"Would you like me to set a meeting for you and Fllay? You seem to get along well and I thought you might want to see her again," Lacus said painfully. Why had she asked that?!
Kira blinked. "Why would you offer that?"
"Oh? Was it wrong of me? I'm sorry. I must sound stupid. I-I guess I'll just see you tonight then."
"No, it wasn't stupid."
"Huh?"
"It was ... nice. Thanks, Lacus," he said smiling. Lacus' face went red...REALLY RED. She could barely move. The sincerity in his voice made her feel so lightheaded, but relaxed. She sighed out loud. Kira blinked again, he had been doing that a lot lately. "Lacus?" Unsure of how her face could get any redder, she covered her mouth in surprise.
"N-Nothing, see you tonight!" she said in a hurry as she hung up. Kira stared at the phone for a few moments.
"Could it be...?" he blinked for a moment as he opened his drawer and pulled out a small pink envelope with another pink letter. He had received it from someone on Valentine's Day in high school but he never found out who it was. He still didn't get why he had kept it for so long. It just seemed...special. All he knew was that the person seemed to like pink very much. He read the letter again, it always seemed to make him smile.
Dear Kira,
I probably should've put my name. But I just thought you should know..umm...I like...I mean...I love you.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer
Yes, it was a simple and short letter, but Cagalli would not stop teasing him about it. She'd chase him around all day poking fun at him as she'd read the letter over and over. But when she forcefully showed it to Athrun, it embarrassed Kira to the bone as Athrun broke out laughing. He was rolling around in the grass trying to hold his stomach. So unlike his usual behavior. But when he showed Lacus...
"I'm sure you'll find out soon. All secrets are meant to be spoken at some time," was all she said. Kira dropped the letter onto his desk.
He had never thought of it before...but...could Lacus...love him?
But most of all, did he love her?
----
In a casual blue sweater and brown pants, Kira stepped out into the pouring rain and his black umbrella opened, the rain going tap tap tap against the thin white cover. His feet clacking against the small water puddles, he turned a corner and headed for the next block. He passed rushing men and women, their heels clacking against the concrete and children playing in the puddles with mothers scolding them. Kira had trouble keeping a straight face as he watched a man standing gloomily at a stoplight, drenching wet, covered in mud. He didn't look at all in a good mood. "Must be the rain..." Kira mumbled jokingly as he finally came to his destination. Knocking on the first floor door, the loud landowner came to face him. She stared at him, displeased with his appearance. She merely grunted and allowed him inside as he ran up the stairs, the floorboards creaking under his weight.
He knocked on another room door, Room 1829. Kira laughed as the door swung open and he was welcomed with yet another hug. Cagalli giggled madly as she rustled with his hair and pulled him inside, unusually, Athrun was the one in the apron this time. Kira shook his umbrella as he took off his shoes and placed the umbrella in the tall brown holder. Athrun gave him a simple wave as he shakily picked up a tray of cookies.
"Athrun? Cooking? That's something new," he joked as Athrun passed him a glare. Cagalli patted Athrun's shoulder.
"He's enjoying it. The whole morning he was in the kitchen experimenting with every ingredient in the fridge. He even used the three day old salmon. He made a pretty good pie with it..." she smiled widely and Athrun seemed to ignore the fact that she was even talking. He was concentrating so hard on the food, it was like it was a do-or-die situation for him.
"Salmon in pie?!" Kira plopped on the high chair as he watched Athrun pace around the kitchen, placing things in ovens, checking the stove, opening the fridge constantly, and him taking quick glances at Cagalli as she continued to talk to her brother.
"You know you could help," he finally spoke. Cagalli stuck his tongue out at him and placed her hands on her hips.
"Now, now, Athrun. You're the one who said a pregnant lady shouldn't be doing the cooking! It's your fault that you're even in this predicament if I remind you!!" she teased as Athrun nearly blew his temper.
"How was I supposed to know that you were just going to abuse my offer?" he snapped harshly. Cagalli raised an eyebrow.
"Are you really trying to snap at me?" she laughed as she walked closer toward him.
"Is that bad?" he tilted his head back as Cagalli raised hers to reach his ear.
"Fine, go ahead and be mad..." she whispered something quietly into his ear and his face went red.
"You wouldn't!"
"I would!" she blew raspberry again and Athrun regretfully returned to his cooking.
"She never stops," he shook his head as he wiped the sweat off his face. The doorbell rang again.
"Cagalli!!" Athrun called out to her as she plopped back off the couch and rushed for the door. Lacus, in a dark brown rain coat holding a pink gift bag, smiled at her friend as they hugged. Kira chuckled as Lacus nearly tripped over the first simple step.
"Hello, Kira," Lacus nodded to him as she turned to Athrun, a surprised look came onto her face. "A-Athrun."
"I know, I'm in an apron. Go ahead. Tease me," he grumbled as she leaned onto the refrigerator completely exhausted.
"I was about to say, what smells so good, but if you insist..."
"Oh, no! I just thought...ah, nevermind! Thanks for coming!" he finally broke a smile as he gave her a hug and she turned around to hand her gift bag to Cagalli.
"Got something you, Athrun, and the little guy, how does that sound?" Lacus shrugged. Cagalli grinned widely as she nearly stuffed her whole head into the bag and grabbed anything she could get.
"Awww...you got Athrun some cute boxers!!" she giggled madly. Athrun snapped a fierce stare at Lacus.
"Boxers again?!" he whined.
"You told me that it seemed that the ones I got you before were too loose, so I decided to get you a smaller size," she said as she took them from Cagalli. "They're even you're favorite colors!" she threw them over to him and Kira broke out laughing as he stared at the look on Athrun's face. He knew exactly what Cagalli would say next.
"He hasn't been eating lately! I don't get why!" she walked over to him and punched him in the stomach. He gagged. "SEE?! He isn't the macho guy I knew a long time ago!!" she exclaimed and both Kira and Lacus laughed out madly. Athrun got redder by the minute as the ringer of the timer all made silence.
"Food's ready!!"
----
Sai sat by the Allster balcony, bored again, all Fllay did while he was around was talk on the phone. Pushing up his glasses, he didn't even seem to mind that rain was damping his clothes. In fact, he seemed to be so lost in thought. So...Kira Yamato was a writer now, eh?
"So that's what happened to the little scientist..."
"SAIII!! Maria wants to know what your blood type is!" Fllay called out to him childishly as Sai turned around with a heavy sigh.
"I forget!" he lied. She made a face at him.
"What an idiot! Sorry, Maria," she glared angrily at him and turned away.
Sai turned away from the spoiled red head, he hated the hourly visits he was demanded to stay at. His parents would no way let him skip any chance to get closer to the Allster's. His mind trailed back to Kira as he remembered the most distinct happening in his mind.
"And the nominees for winter ball dance queen are...Lacus Clyne!!" the PA system rang throughout the school as everyone clapped for the Lacus. Lacus nodded graciously at everyone as the names continued to be said. "Patty Heren...Kimberly Sweet...and last but not least, Kari Shibunji!" Everyone heard the announcer clear her throat as she paused another second.
"Isn't Lacus one of your friends?" Sai whispered to Kira as he tapped his pen on his wooden desk. Kira was staring anxiously at the PA box almost ignored Sai's comment. Kira nodded quickly.
"What are you so nervous for?" Sai raised an eyebrow.
"I want the announcements to be over..." Kira turned quickly to Sai. "I need to go to the bathroom!!" Sai broke out laughing as the whole class shushed him and the kings were announced. Kira gritted his teeth. Any longer and he was sure to pee in his pants!
"And the nominees for king are...Athrun Zala..." a ring of girl screams were heard all-around and all the boys either grumbled or covered their ears. Athrun had been elected winter ball king three years running. He wasn't exactly proud of it, he didn't like so much attention. In fact, he was sick of it. He nearly threw his crown at Kira for making a joke about his winning streak. "...Nicol Amalfi..." also not a surprise... "Dearka Elsman.." no biggie... "and last...Kira Yamato!" Immediately, a swarm of girls surrounded him and he nearly fell out of his chair. All the boys began laughing and blowing whistles at him. Sai pushed up his glasses as he turned back to the bored watching the teacher rush over to the swarm of girls and clearing a path for Kira to breath.
"Mr. Yamato, are you alright?!" the teacher asked worriedly as Kira got up, but his face cringed.
"I'm fine, but can I please go to the bathroom?!" he said jumping up like a little boy. She nodded and he rushed out the door with all the girls going, "awwwwww.." Everyone else continued to laugh at Kira's reactions as Sai checked his chair if he had 'leaked'. But of course, he didn't. Sai grinned widely.
Hearing the ring of the seven o'clock, Sai turned around and re-entered Fllay's room. She stood up and tied her hair up in a normal ponytail. As he passed the reflection of her mirror, Fllay's eyes widened and she rushed over to him grabbing his arm. Sai gaped downward at her, confused.
"What is it?" he blinked. Fllay dragged him to the edge of her room and she pulled out a newspaper clipping from her drawer.
"Did you got to the school with this boy?" she asked childishly as she held up a picture of Kira. Sai's eyes widened as he grabbed the paper from her.
"You know Kira?!"
"Yeh, he saved me!!" she smiled happily. Sai blinked and handed her back the paper.
"So now he's a hero?" he sighed and turned to Fllay. "I'll tell you all about him after dinner."
-----
Laughing around the glass table, Kira, Lacus, Cagalli, and Athrun all sat on three separate couches reminiscing on the high school and elementary days. Lacus sat on the very middle leather chair, Kira sat on his own couch to her right with his legs spread out on it, lying down while Athrun and Cagalli leaned on each other also with their legs stretched out. Lacus fell back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling.
"Can you believe how old we are now?" Lacus stared back at her three friends, taking a longer stare at Kira and returning her gaze to Cagalli and Athrun who simply smiled at her.
"Awww, come on now, Lacus, we're not that old," Cagalli smiled with a small laugh as Athrun brought her closer to his chest.
"And I'm sure you'll get married soon," Athrun winked. Lacus blushed and turned away.
"What makes you say that?" Kira stared toward them and then to Lacus. "You have a boyfriend, Lacus?"
"Ha! A boyfriend! You must be kidding me!!" Lacus laughed with a sigh.
"Then what are ..." Kira returned to glance at Cagalli and Athrun who waved his gaze off and went back to the subject of Lacus.
"Now, now, Lacus, I told you to go bar hopping with me...you never know what guys you could find there..." Cagalli shrugged. Lacus waved her off.
"I told you, I'd rather be single than regret being with someone I barely know!!"
"Yeh, but you're supposed to let the relationship grow over time!! Like me and Athrun for instance!" Cagalli laughed as she leaned off Athrun and he nodded along with Cagalli. Lacus shook her head in defeat and Kira decided to step into the conversation.
"But you two were like love at first sight," Kira pointed out. "If I remember right, mom told me that the instant you guys saw each other when you were babies, I remind you, you guys played each other a lot and you ignored me, Cagalli!"
"Is it my fault that Athrun was a bit more fun than you? Huh, KIRA?!! You were always the cautious one, just like Lacus! When she came into seventh grade, you two were inseperable!!" Cagalli stated triumphantly.
"Cagalli! That was uncalled for!!" Lacus glared.
"Uncalled for? What? Embarrassed?" Cagalli laughed.
"Of course not!!" Lacus blushed perfusely as Kira gave her quick glances, turning away every time they would catch each other's eyes.
"Awww...you're blushing!!" Cagalli clapped out of pure joy as Athrun stifled his laughter.
"Kira is too!!" Athrun pointed at and Kira glared at him, gripping his fists.
"Athrun, don't tease them!" Cagalli hit him playfully as Athrun shrugged.
"I forgot! They're only friends!"
"Thank you!" Lacus exhaled as she turned swiftly to Kira. "Friends, right?" Kira nodded as the reminder of the letter came back to him. His response came out slow.
"Yeah...just..." he stopped as he took a glance at his sister. "...friends."
----
Little Pieces
Excerpt
Friends are people we rely on
Friends are friends
I have many
I had many in the past
I have many in the present
I hope to have more in the future
I also have a best friend...
Her name?
Well, her hair is pink.
And her name is Lacus.
Author's Note :: Teehee. Hope all of you liked this chapter, a bit more fluff this time. There will be more returning characters, don't you worry.
Hope everyone liked the rewrite of Chapter 2!!
