rewritten.

Chapter 4

Food Fight!

Pale faces...

Small Glances...

Eyes week and feeble...

Alone and crying...

Pillows soaking...

Wishing it was just a dream...

The truth is found...

And nothing seems to go right...

As every page...

With anything meaningful...

Goes blank...

----

Lacus closed the portfolio of her newest employer. She sighed as she cleared her hair back and looked up to face the girl in front of her and smiled. "You have a very unique taste in writing."

"Thank you, Ms. Clyne," the girl said titling her head downward. But the worry of not being accepted troubled her even more.

"Now, now, don't worry. I wouldn't let you publish with anyone else but Clyne Publishing. One moment, please," she said as she turned to her desk phone. She pressed the red button once again and grinned.

"Yes, Ms. Clyne?" her secretary's voice rang proudly.

"Please prepare an appointment for Ms. Ann here. We have ourselves a new writer," she smiled.

"Right away."

Turning back to Ann, she motioned her out the door as she continued to nod happily at her.

"1, 2, 3," Lacus counted and an excited scream rang through the building. Sighing as she sat back down with her hands folded under chin. But soon, she sulked with her arms on her desk as she lay down with her face facing the hard desk. The small darkness shadowing her view of anything except the mahogany color of her desk and the small light creeping from the free spaces between her arms. The voice of Kira saying that he kissed Fllay was echoing in her head. Cursing as she turned her head slightly without saying anything else, a tear escaped her eye. She shook her head vigorously as small sparkles of water drifted around her.

What mattered to her was that Kira was happy and that's all she needed to be happy...right?

But the thoughts of that recent vacation also came back to haunt her. Opening her drawer and taking out a packet of pictures, she slowly looked through them until she came across one that Kira and Fllay had taken personally. With Fllay on his shoulders, both smiling brightly and the sun shining down on them, she turned the picture down as she switched to the next one.

More tears began to flow...

The picture...well...

...another kiss to destroy her bliss...

----

ALLSTER SCIENCES

"Move over! I can't hear!!" Cagalli demanded angrily as she shoved a co-worker over pressing her ear harder to the wall.

"Cagalli, we really shouldn't be doing this," a worried voice of her fellow office mate said. Passing a simple glare, it instantly shut her friend up.

"It's about my brother's book. This is crucial!!" she snapped.

"What are you two doing here?" the executive vice president's voice rang out as he glared downward at the slowly sinking Cagalli. Her friend sighed.

"I told you we would get caught."

"You were eavesdropping and you didn't tell me?!" he chuckled as he bent down next to her. The office mate gaped at the two.

"W-what the??"

"Are you gonna join us or not? The meeting's started!" Cagalli said. Her office mate sighed heavily as she bent down to do her own bit of eavesdropping.

----

Kira sat at the end of a long desk as the serious faces of both Siegel Clyne and George Allster stared at him darkly with Lacus by Kira's side. Lacus pushed her hair back behind her shoulders as George began to speak.

"I'm sorry for taking you out here, Kira, but the bug that had breached your files a couple of weeks ago has still been a top priority on our computers. But we have a couple of...friends...that may be able to trace it better than we can," George began with his hands folded under his chin as he leaned forward staring intently at the nervous author.

"But in order for us to trace it, we need your permission. The friends we speak of are currently in America which is a couple thousand miles away from here," Siegel smiled. Kira stared blankly at the two of them. All this for one bug? What could one bug do? He took a glance at Lacus and shrugged. She sighed.

"It would help to know whether it's a rival company or not. Just to be safe," she whispered. Kira nodded and turned back to the two chairmen.

"Alright, you have my permission," he said plainly.

"Actually, Kira, we don't just need your permission. We need you and Lacus to come with us," Siegel added. Kira shifted a little in his seat. He had never been to America before and by the look on Lacus' face, it seemed that she had been there at least once.

"Uh...well..." he stuttered.

"Why don't you talk over about that with Lacus? The flight isn't in a month anyway," Siegel laughed.

"Yeah, those guys are so busy they couldn't even spare time with us!" George exclaimed with his hands in the air as he fell back in his chair just to be relaxed for that moment.

"Are we excused, father?" Lacus said getting up from her chair and brushing off her suit once again. Siegel nodded happily as she turned around and headed for the door. Kira got up as well and turned toward the door when George's angry voice made him freeze.

"Oy, you, boy," he said in a suddenly angry voice. Kira turned slightly back.

"Y-Yes?"

"You were with my daughter this weekend, weren't you?" he growled. Kira regretfully nodded. With that, George snapped and ran forward to grab him by the collar. "STAY AWAY FROM HER! YOU HERE ME?!" Lacus gasped as she ran forward.

"Mr. Allster, stop it! You're hurting him!" she said as she tried to pry his grip.

"Get away, girl!" he growled pushing her back as he turned a ferocious look at Kira. "Touch my daughter again and I'll make sure your life's a living hell. She is going to marry Sai Argyle and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"She's made her choice! Leave her alone already!" a sudden outburst from Kira came. Lacus was on her knees when she heard those words, the shock of them coming over her. But the shock became more than that as Kira continued. "You're forcing her into something she doesn't want! Stop it already! She has a life of her own!"

George pulled harder on his collar. "What did you say?!"

"GEORGE!" Siegel said barging in putting a calming hand on his hand that gripped Kira's collar. "Leave the boy alone."

"You expect me to - "

"He speaks the truth. You have been controlling that daughter of yours for much too long. Let them be. Cancel the engagement if you must. Fllay has made her choice as Kira says," he said in a serious tone as the creak of Lacus leaving made him look up. Trying to control more of his mixed emotions he felt George's grip slide from Kira's collar.

"Fine. The engagement is off..." George muttered as he walked away solemnly.

Kira stared at where George stood as the door slammed closed behind him and Siegel just gave Kira an intense and quiet stare.

"Don't break her heart," Siegel said with a solid grip on his shoulder and turned around to follow George. All of them forgetting Lacus had even been there, Kira swerved around.

But she was gone.

----

"What's up with the yelling?" Cagalli said as she crouched down now by herself until the door silently opened next to her and out came Lacus standing completely still with a saddened look on her face. Cagalli blinked at her. "Lacus?" Noticing her friend staring at her, Lacus immediately put up a smile although it did to no avail. "What were Kira and Fllay's dad yelling about in there?" A sharp pain ran through Lacus.

"Kira ... and ... Fllay..." turning to Cagalli, an unusual smile spread across her lips. "...has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" she said quietly as she turned away from Cagalli and down the hall. Deciding not to force the matter, the door opened again and a seeking anger ran through her.

"KIRA YAMATO!"

"Wha-?"

Knocking him out cold on the floor, Cagalli ran off huffing.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot!" she said over and over as she turned a corner.

----

"You kissed him?! You've got to be kidding me!!" a high-pitched voice rang through the phone.

"Of course I did! And not just once!" Fllay's giggling voice said as she lied on her chest with her feet hanging in the air. "He's so cute, not to mention."

"Oh? But what about Sai? He was kinda cute," her friend's voice responded.

"Please. I don't go for guys in glasses. He did have money, but he wasn't exactly...well, my type."

"How many times have I heard that?" she laughed.

"Should I care? It wasn't that hard to sway his feelings though. It was beyond easy," Fllay bragged. "His friend's a sissy. She wouldn't get a guy of her choice even if you threw him at her."

"Isn't that a bit harsh, Fllay? And how can you be so sure? You've only kissed twice!"

"Fine, I'll make a bet with you."

"Fine."

"By the end of this week, I'll wake up in his bedroom. If I win, you ... hmmm ... have to let me sleep with your boyfriend. If I lose, then I'll break up with Kira. Happy?"

"No way in hell am I letting you sleep with my boyfriend!"

"Too bad. Deal's a deal. Goodbye!" Fllay sang happily.

"FLLAY!"

----

Typing rapidly on his computer over and over, he smiled triumphantly in his chair.

"Finally, a title!" Kira exclaimed. He had decided to name it 'Little Pieces' with a bit of help from Lacus and some inspiration from the Haros. He chuckled to himself as he reminisced over the days in high school once again.

"Hey!! Athrun, get back here!!" Cagalli said as she jumped into the ocean water and tackled him. Athrun, almost drowning, pushed her off immediately and gasped for air. Breathing hard, he turned to her.

"Cagalli, you almost killed me!" he yelled.

"Maybe it'd be better if you were dead," she sighed. "Then I wouldn't have to keep worrying about you," she said unconsciously.

"Could you say that again?" Athrun smirked. Cagalli froze, stumbling back onto the beach with Athrun following her slowly, she barely tried to get out simple words.

"Did I say that? I didn't mean it. Ya know, I was just kidding around. Why would I worry about you?" she said laughing nervously walking in her toes in the deep sand as Athrun continued to follow her as she walked backwards.

Lacus and Kira watched happily as Lacus continued to giggle. "I think you'd better give up, Cagalli!" she yelled in a high-pitched voice almost as if she was singing on a high note. Giving Lacus a quick stare, she turned back to Athrun who was barely an inch away from her face.

"Eee..." Cagalli squeaked as her face continued to darken both red and under Athrun's hovering shadow. Staring at his face, she gulped. "S-stop staring at me like that!!"

"Say it," he said plainly.

"Say what?"

"You like me."

"Of course I do, we're friends!"

"No, not that like, the other like," he said as his breath tickled her cheeks.

"You must be crazy!" she said as she tried to push him away but he kept his stand. "Zala, I do not like you that way!"

"Are you sure?" he said grinning widely.

"Of course!!" she said turning away as she ducked and turned but Athrun pulled her by the arm and brought her back around to face him.

"Say it already!"


"NO!"

"Cagalli..." he said in a laughing tone as he managed to pull her close enough to kiss her. He made his voice a low whisper. "I love you."

Lacus broke out laughing. Taking a slight glance at Lacus, Cagalli dared not to look at him.

"I...uh..."

Kira laughed at the memory. Cagalli was so shy to Athrun the next day. They barely talked but Athrun just kept grinning at her. It was an unusual week until Cagalli finally confessed. Kira laughed harder when he remembered how it had happened. He didn't mean to walk in on the moment but he couldn't help but listen.

"U-Umm...Athrun?" Cagalli said nervously as her face was a bright red when Athrun turned around to look at her. Sighing he turned around.

"Yeah?" he said plainly walking over. They were in the corner of the park behind the tree when Kira was studying in a tree nearby. Putting his things away silently, he watched with a smile spread across his face.

"A-About l-l-last week..." her eyes searching downward as Athrun stared at her. He sighed again and brought her to face him. She stared struggling to keep a straight face. With a quick motion, he brought their lips together and once he pulled away, the words instantly came out of Cagalli's mouth. "I love you, too."

A sudden surge of pain ran through Kira as he remembered those words. Gripping the clothes over his chest, he clenched his fists as the pain slowly went away.

"What the hell is wrong with me?!" he said as he rushed for a glass of water when the doorbell rang.

----

Athrun tapped his watch repeatedly as he rustled his blue hair. "I know it was delayed, but this is ridiculous," he said as he looked up at the times. Apparently, the flight from San Francisco had been delayed due to foggy weather and too much wind turbulence.

"Oy, Athrun!" an joyful voice rang out as Athrun turned around with a bright smile on his face.

"Dearka!!" he exclaimed running toward them and giving him a high five as four other people behind him greeted with a wave. "How was the flight?" he said brightly.

"Boring as usual. One of the flight attendants were cute though," he sneered.

"He even asked for her phone number!" Kuzzey sputtered.

"Yeah, and he got hit in the head good for it, too!" Miriallia sighed.

"You got that right," Nicol said with a disappointed look.

"What? I can't help it alright!" Dearka said defensively.

"Why so quiet, Yzak?" Athrun blinked. Yzak turned to him but looked away.

"He's still mad over the 'seperation' thing," Nicol whispered as he walked up towards Athrun. "How's Cagalli and everyone else?"

"They're alright, you could say. The party's been canceled unfortunately. Cagalli wants to be able to eat and drink whatever she wants at a party. You guys don't mind staying a couple..errr..months, do you? It's fine if you can't," Athrun said scratching his head.

"If you can get me an excuse from work at Clyne Publishing, then yeah, I wouldn't mind," Kuzzey smiled.

"I haven't found a good job yet, so I have nothing to worry about. I just need a place to stay," Miriallia smiled.

"And you three?" Athrun said turning to Nicol, Yzak, and Dearka.

"Don't care as long as I can go clubbing," Dearka said as he walked ahead of Athrun. Athrun sighed at his behavior.

"He's not going to change, is he?"

"What did you expect?" Yzak muttered angrily crossing his arms.

----

Lacus stood at Kira's doorway with a smile as she held Haro in her palms and a box under her shoulder.

"Hi, Lacus," he said plainly as he moved out of the way to allow her inside.

"Oh, no. I just came here to drop off something," she said kindly letting Haro hop around as she took the package from under her arm and handed it to him.

"But...uh...why don't I treat you to dinner?" he said out of the blue.

"No, it's alright. I'm sure you have an appointment with Ms. Fllay tonight. I'll be on my way," she said but a sudden pull of her hand stopped her.

"I need help on deciding on this America thing," he sputtered. Lacus sighed as she turned around.

"Where shall we go?"

----

Staring at his laptop, Sai scratched his head as he read the case offers he had been given in the past few weeks. He liked being on the defendant's side but the cases these days just seem to get stupider.

"Sai, sweetie," his mother's voice called as she creaked open his door.

"Yeah, mom?" he said not turning around to face her.

"You have a call from Mr. Allster," she said handing him the phone. Turning around in his chair, he grabbed it.

"Thanks," he said as he turned around to face his computer as he lazily tapped the down button. "Good evening, Mr. Allster."

"Good evening, Sai. Working as usual?"

"Yes, looking for some high pay," Sai yawned.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find some soon. Anyway, it's about the engagement."

"I know already."

"You do?"

"I'm not getting married to her. She loves someone else," he said plainly as he saw something interesting. This is nice...

"Err...I'm glad you understand. Well, good night."

"Night," he said as he read off the case. "Wait a sec..." his eyes widened. "He's ALIVE?!"

----

Sitting in his car at McDonalds, Kira slowly tapped the steering wheel when his food had finally been handed to him. He took the bag and checked over all the food and placing it on his lap since Lacus had already been holding the drinks.

"Thanks, Kira," she smiled as she sipped her chocolate-vanilla swirl milkshake.

"Your part of the bargain. Is America nice?"

"Well...it's not like I've been there. But Father says I'll love it. It's a bit...expensive but it's a nice place to say," she said.

"Really?" Kira said as he eventually turned into his parking spot.

"That was fast."

"It's not that far," Kira said stepping out of the car as he opened Lacus' door as she carefully stepped out with the drinks in hand.

"Oh, Kira, I'll just take my food and go. You probably need some time to think alone," she said aiming for Kira's bag of food when he pulled it away from her.

"Why do you keep wanting to get away? Do I smell or something?" he blinked. Lacus shook her head.

"It's not that. It's just - "

"Just what? You're always welcome at my place and I still have to open that package. Come on already!" he said as he motioned her up the stairs to his place.

"Ah, uh, well, alright," she said as she quickened her pace to match his.

Kira placed the food on his glass table, not caring for the grease as he plopped on his couch and got back up to grab his Big Mac.

"Come on, Lacus! Eat!" he said with a stuffed mouth.

"Kira..." she sighed as she grabbed a napkin and wiped the side of his mouth covered in ketchup.

Gulping down his first bite, he grabbed his coke and sipped speedily. "Thanks," he said after wiping his mouth with the side of his shirt.

"Why are you eating so fast?" she blinked as he hurdled to finish his burger.

"We need to talk about a lot of things and you seem to be in a hurry so I'm hurrying up for you. Is that bad?" he said rushing with his burger. Lacus stared at him blankly.

"I'm in no rush," she said taking a chicken nugget in her mouth.

"Then why do you always wanna stay away? You didn't exactly answer my question, now did you?" he said slowing down as he took even chews from his burger.

"I just didn't want to interrupt anything if Fllay was to come here tonight. I'm sure she does give you a few surprise visits," she said dipping her nugget into the sweet and sour sauce and taking a nibble.

"Lacus, it's fast food! We're not in a restaurant," he smiled. "Why are you always like that? No one's around but you and me," he said forcefully stuffing it into her mouth. Puffing her mouth to fit the food, she struggled to gulp it down as she grabbed Kira's coke and sucked on the straw. Taking a napkin and wiping her mouth, she gave a fast glare at Kira.

"What was that for?!"

"I've never heard you yell at me before. Finally, a bit of anger, Lacus and I thought you were all nice."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," he grinned.

"Kira Yamato, speak!"

"Oh? Speak this!" he said opening his coke and pouring it all over her.

"H-HEY!" she stared at him with black-brown mixture dripping in her pink hair. Dropping his burger in the box, he broke out laughing.

"Now I know what you look like with brown streaks."

"That's not funny," she said with crossed arms.

"Yes, it is," he said as he took his burger but as he took a bite, something cold...too cold, ran down his back. He dropped his burger again. "It's cold! It's cold! It's cold!!"

Lacus giggled uncontrollably as Kira ran around the room trying to get the milkshake off his back.

"THAT WAS COLD!" he said as he had no choice but to sit back down.

"Which cold are we talking about here? The mean cold or the freezing cold?" she said laughing. Glaring downward at the grinning Lacus, he stared at her sweet and sour sauce and grinned. Slowly playing his fingers, he pushed her back against the couch, swiftly grabbed the sauce and threw it at her face.

"KIRA!!" she screamed.

"Lacus 1, Kira 2," he said sticking his tongue out.

Wiping the sauce off her face she grabbed another packet and threw it right in his shirt again.

"Oh, it's on!" he said digging the McDonalds bag and grabbing the packets of ketchup and other sauce as Lacus did the same.

For a straight thirty minutes they were flinging ketchup and sweet and sour sauce at each other messing Kira's walls and carpets. But neither of them cared, they were having too much fun!

"Oh, no, I'm out of ammo!" Lacus said searching the bags and anything, but nothing was left. She stared horrified at Kira. He had a whole arsenal in his pockets. "N-Now Kira..."

Grinning madly, he opened four packets with his teeth and walked toward her. "Get ready, Lacus..."

"K-Kira...come on now..."

"THIS IS FOR THE MILKSHAKE!!" he said diving on her and a red ooze squirted through the air as they both landed on the floor as Lacus and Kira rolled around hoping the other would be piled with ketchup. In the end, Lacus was on top of Kira. Both were covered in brown and red sauce, except the milkshake from before seeped through Kira's shirt and the coke had made Lacus' hair completely sticky. Both of them laughing madly, Lacus leaned onto Kira's chest.

"I haven't that much fun since high school!" she said giggling staring to the side forgetting what position they were in.

"Yeah...wooo..." he said easing his laughs.

"Kira?" Lacus said turning back to look at him as they both lay on the floor.

"Yeah?" he said looking up at her.

"Err...could you let go of me?" she said as she looked toward his arms around her waist.

"Ah! S-Sorry!" he said pulling his arms back to his side as he sat up and Lacus crawled a little further away from him. Untying her hair, Lacus felt her hair strands as they flowed downward.

"How am I supposed to go home?" she sighed.

"Well, you could stay the night," Kira blinked.

"H-Here?" Lacus said wide-eyed.

"If that's alright with you. I could put your clothes in the wash and let you wear some of mine just for the night and then go home with yours tomorrow morning."

"It's fine I guess," she said staring up at the clock.

"Lacus, can I ask you something else?" Kira said lying back down onto his slimy carpet.

"How am I supposed to clean this place up?" he said as he turned his head toward her.

Giggling at his remark, she turned toward him. "I could help."

"That'd be great," he said softly as they locked eyes. The heat began to rush up Lacus' face as she noticed how close they were. The truth was she had never in her life kissed a guy before, unless you meant acting kisses. But real kisses, she was inexperienced. Blinking rapidly, she nearly turned away when Kira swiftly gave her a kiss on the cheek and sat up. "This'll be a lot of work..." he said staring around.

But Lacus failed to notice as she laid there paralyzed. The soft warmth of Kira's lips played on her cheek as she touched the spot with her fingers.

----

Little Pieces

Excerpt

In the days of tranquility

We were friends

In the days of high school

We were the best of friends

In the days of today

We are still those best friends

But now

I still wonder

Who gave me the letter?

Who was it that loved me enough?

I love you, truly.

But I only love you...

Because...

We've been through so much...

You were always there...

You made me smile...

You made me laugh

You helped me...

You helped me...

Get through...

What we call...

Life.

----

Author's Note: Just a bit of fluff. Hope it was good for everyone. Please review!!