Author's Note: I labeled the last chapter wrong. sorry sorry. hope yallz enjoyin the story so far..teehehehe.

Chapter 7

The Reason for her Pain

Crashing plates were everywhere as 4-year old Fllay Allster rampaged in her home kitchen with the maids trying to catch her. She screamed and yelled, whipping her red hair around until she was stopped by her father.

"Fllay Allster, go to your room now!" he snapped.

"Why should I?! No one will bring me food!"

"Eat the food we give you!"

"I WANT COOKIES! NOT BROCCOLI! These maids can't cook! GET NEW ONES!" she ordered stomping her feet and kicking one of the maids down.

George twirled in his desk seat. What had happened to his daughter? She was so kind before she turned four-years old. If he remembered, she had been very sweet. What ... went wrong?

"Fllay? Oh, Fllay?" George's voice sang as he poked his head into his daughter's room. She sat there playing tea party with her little stuffed animals.

"Would you like some tea, Mr. Bear?" she said in a high sweet voice. "Oh! Hi, Dadddy! You wanna play, too!! Come get mommy, too!" she spoke kindly. George smiled at his daughter. So cute and petite. He hoped she would never change.

"How about we go to the park, Fllay?"

"WEEE!! Let's invite – "

"George, hurry, there's something wrong outside!" his wife said rushing into the room as she grabbed him by the arm. George's eyes widened as they both rushed out. Fllay sat there, confused as she grabbed her bear and dragged it along the long hallways.

Folding his hands together, he closed his eyes. Was that the day it all changed? Was it because of that certain incident? He tried to remember. He wanted to rebuild his daughter's future. She was capable of more than this. Much more.

"What? Out of my house NOW!" George roared as men with guns ran inside. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Where's the money?! WHERE IS IT?!" the man roared with a silver grey mask.

"What money? There's none here! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" George demanded.

"Yes, there is! Now where is it?" the man said cocking a gun to his forehead.

"I do not know what you're talking about," George said, feeling the sweat on his face beginning to dampen.

Fllay sat behind the kitchen door as she stared through a hole in the wall. She wondered what was wrong. Why were they yelling so loud?

"Tell me now!" the man demanded, whipping his should-length blonde hair back.

"GET OUT!"

Police outside soon began to gather, one of the maids had called.

The man's feelings were not visible behind his mask as he neared George closer. "Fine, but this is not over," turning to George's wife, he cocked his gun again. "But I'll leave a simple warning." The gun fired, the man disappeared, and a loud thud on the floor was heard. George stood horrified. His wife, bleeding to the head, dead. He broke out in a yell as he fell to his knees. Turning her over, feeling her pulse, he frantically stared downward at his wife. Police rushed in as they searched the house. Staring at his wife, her eyes closed, her pulse gone, he yelled.

Fllay sat there, eyes widened in shock as she clutched her teddy bear. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" a high shrill scream filled the kitchen. Tears coming out wildly as she banged the walls and kicked everything over. "NO! NO! NO! NO!" she yelled. Holding her head in agony, she wailed. "MOMMY! MOMMY!" Throwing her teddy bear to the side, she rammed herself into the refrigerator and continued. "COME BACK! COME BACK! COME BA-ACK!!" she cracked as she fell to her knees, her small hands covering her face as maids surrounded her.

"Oh, Ms. Fllay," one said, Fllay turned out with furious eyes.

"GO AWAY! You didn't stop that man! WHY DIDN'T YOU?! MOMMY'S GONE!!" she screamed slapping one in the face as she ran off leaving her teddy bear behind.

A tear slipped from George's eye. That marked the beginning where those furious eyes never left Fllay. They stayed with her, witnessing her mother's death, it had scarred her for life. He slammed his fist on his desk. He had never found out who killed his wife. He had never.

"Mr. Allster..." a sinister voice said through the door. George's eyes widened as he stared up to see who it was. His breathing became wild.

"Y-Y-You!" he said standing from his desk fumbling with his papers as he reached for the desk phone.

"They're all dead, George. They're all dead..." he cackled.

"STOP THIS NOW! What is your name?!"

"Fine, since you're going to die anyway..." Flicking his hair back and readying his gun, he smirked. "Rau Le Creuset."

Running from behind his desk he ran forward to clobber him, but the ring of a gun shot was fired as he fell back onto the floor. Shot three more times, he was gone.

----

Lacus stared at Kira worriedly. What...what was he in pain about? Taking her left hand and cupping his cheek, he brought her inside his room and locked the door behind him. Lacus took a seat on the small couch and Kira sat beside her and stared at her intently. The gaze made Lacus feel uncomfortable as Kira began to speak.

"Lacus, you trust me right?" Kira asked as he felt the silver ring seeming to become heavy as he slouched over. Lacus stared blankly at him.

"Of course, Kira. Why question the fact?"

"Because..." Kira turned his head to face her. "I ... have to question the fact."

"But why? We've been friends our whole lives. You know better than that," she laughed.

"No, Lacus. I don't know any better. I should've known better. We were more than friends. We were best friends...but it doesn't stop there, does it?" he spoke...the words raspy and hoarse.

"Huh? Kira? What are you trying to say?"

"Lacus, I have to give back your ring," his fists tightened, his eyes struggled to stay open as he pulled the ring over his head and handed it to her. Lacus stared at it and smiled at Kira. She reached her palms over it and closed his palm.

"Give it to Fllay. I'm sure she'll love it," she said quietly as she got up from her seat and passed him. Kira stared at the ring. No...it couldn't stay like this.

"Lacus, wait, please..."

Lacus brought another smile as she fought away her tears to face. "I'm not going anywhere." Kira brightened a bit as he motioned her to sit down again and gazed at her. She cocked her head slightly to the side.

"Have you ever...have you ever thought of..."

"Hmm?"

"Have you ever thought of us being more than just best friends?" Kira questioned. Lacus thinned her lips to a line. The question that had been haunting her the day Kira met Fllay.

"Of course not," she lied.

"Is that so?" he turned away from her. Closing his eyes, he made a decision and returned to her saddened eyes. The eyes he had never been able to read before, but now, they were as clear as ever. Closing in on the space between them, Lacus barely able to move, he kissed her.

Lacus waited at her locker leaning backward on it when a boy from her biology class approached her. He was handsome, had blonde hair and red eyes and gave a cheesy smile.

"Hello, Marcus," she smiled sweetly.

"What is someone like you waiting out here all alone?" he said leaning on the side of her while Lacus faced forward.

"I'm waiting for Kira," she stood straight and turned to him. "We're walking home together."

"But aren't your houses in two different directions?"

"We're doing homework at my house," she stated as she searched around for Kira.

"Why don't you do homework with me... and then maybe ... "he neared her ear when a loud shriek from Lacus was heard.

"Kira!!" Kira waved as he neared Lacus and Marcus.

"Hey, Marcus," Kira smiled.

"Hi," Macus said plainly, he then gave another cocky smile to Lacus. "So...consider my offer."

"Alright," she waved him off and turned back to Kira.

"What was that all about?" Kira asked as they began walking down the hall side by side.

"He just wanted to know if he could walk me home someday," Lacus sighed.

"Did you say yes?"

"I might think about it...but I'd rather not."

"Eh?"

"Who's gonna walk you home that day if I walk with him?" she laughed.

"True. Besides, I wouldn't want you walking home with someone you barely know."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, you barely know the guy and how can you trust him? What if he decides to do something ... well, bad?"

"Bad? Kira, you worry too much!" she pranced a bit as she turned on Haro and it began bouncing around her and Kira in a circle.

"How is that worrying too much? I just don't trust him okay!"

"Uh-huh...come on. You're my friend, Kira, not my boyfriend!"

"Ah, right...just...don't go with him, okay? Just in case, I don't want anything happening to you," he said. "If I lost you...then...who'd I turn if I needed help?"

"Kira!!" she smiled at him. So sweet... "I promise you I won't go anywhere, and if I do, tell Tori to peck me one-hundred times!!"

"Oh?" Kira laughed as he chased after her. "Get back here!!" he cried out as their race began to Lacus' home.

Kira pulled away slowly as Lacus re-opened her eyes. They both gazed at each other...a gaze that didn't fade away. They continued to stare at each other.

"K-Kira..." she sighed softly, nearly a moan. Kira got up as he struggled to look at her, that kiss...it was...different.

"Y-You'd better go. I'm sorry," he hurried over to his door when Lacus got up to stop him as she grabbed him by both arms. Looking back and forth between his eyes, she returned the kiss he had given her. Kira stood there, the feeling...the feeling so different from Fllay's. His eyes closed, his mind confused as the warmth of Lacus' lips warmed his heart. Just having her there, it felt more right than anything in the world. But then Fllay came back to mind, he couldn't love Lacus, he loved Fllay. He and Lacus were just friends afterall. But friends don't kiss each other...so that meant...well, he knew that Lacus loved him, but he wasn't exactly sure if he loved Lacus. His head spun as it felt like both Lacus and him had stayed like that for eternity. Unconsciously, he wrapped his arms around Lacus' waist and brought her closer to him as he willingly returned the kiss. It was a feeling of absolute bliss. He knew the fact that he should not have done what he did next, but his lips trailed to her neck and he began to make small little nibbles. Lacus' eyes were closed as she pressed her cheek against his running her hands through his hair. She didn't want him to stop, but she knew she had to...but...with Kira's arms around her, the worry went away. She bit her lip as Kira sucked on one spot and she prayed to God he wouldn't leave a mark as his lips joined hers once more.

----

Dearka stared out the window as it continued to rain. The sky was a gloomy grey with the tapping raindrops against his window. He pouted. So bored...

"Dearka?" Nicol's voice said as Dearka turned to face him.

"What is it?"

"Why don't you go visit those friends of Kira? Athrun called and said we're all having dinner together."

"Tell them yourself," he said grumpily.

"Come on, you look bored out of your mind, so get up and go!" Nicol sighed.

"Fine," Dearka grunted as he got up and trudged out the door slouching. Then the whip of a voice he never wanted to hear again in his life snapped at him.

"Dearka, stand straight! Makes you look like an ape!" Yzak said coming into the room.

"Psh, you're not my mother," Dearka grumbled as he exited the room slamming the door behind him. Nicol scratched his head as he fell back onto the couch to stare up at the ceiling.

"Yzak, aren't you over the separation? Dearka is, why can't you move on?"

"Just not used to being alone all the time...I'm over it trust me. I don't give a damn of what happens to that stupid idiot," Yzak growled flicking his hair back and slamming himself down on a chair.

"No need to be grumpy, just asking," Nicol turned on his side and stared at his fingers. How he missed playing the piano...

----

Dearka entered the hotel room of Kuzzey and Miriallia, and found only Tolle and Miriallia. He glared at the two as they talked excitedly. "Oy, oy, if you want dinner, stop talking."

"Eh? Why so grumpy, Dearka?" Miriallia giggled.

"I'm always grumpy when it rains," Dearka glared as he took a stare at Tolle and turned his attention back to Miriallia. "So if you guys want to have dinner, just go to our room and knock. Athrun and Cagalli are treating us."

"Got it, got it!" Tolle laughed.

"And could you keep it down? I'm trying to take a nap!" Dearka snapped.

"Geez, so grumpy, ne, Tolle?" Miriallia giggled. Rolling his eyes at the two lovebirds, Dearka trudged out of the room and back into his.

"Geez...Kuzzey better get a new room," he muttered angrily with his hands in his pockets.

----

Cagalli sat on her bed looking through her high school year books and giggled at her prom picture. "I can't believe my mom made me wear that..." she whispered.

"But you did look good in it," Athrun laughed along with her as he handed her a glass of water. Cagalli turned toward him.

"True, but still..."

"Can't believe it...only a month left till..."

"Yeah, we'll be parents."

"Yeah. 'We' sounds nice, doesn't?"

"We'll also be getting married a week after..."

"Then on our honeymoon..."

"And then we'll be back..."

"To take care of our child," Cagalli smiled happily leaning on Athrun's shoulder.

"And to be able to have bit," Athrun coughed, "fun again."

"Fun?" Cagalli raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well, it has been awhile since I've seen you in," he coughed again, "You know what I mean."

"You sick-minded fool!" she glared.

"Aww...you miss it too," he teased.

"Hmph...yeah right."

"Oh, do I need to restart your memory again?" Athrun laughed as he kissed her cheek. Cagalli blushed.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" she yelled. Athrun smirked as he fell back against the couch happily.

"Oh, nothing," he chuckled.

"Fool," she swerved her head as she turned back to her yearbook. "Yeah...a month before I can wear my normal clothes again..."

----

Lacus fell back against her room door as she locked it. She fell to the floor, her arms and legs spread out. She spaced out as she stared up at the ceiling. The feelings in her heart at the moment, she felt...like she hadn't felt in a long time.

Pulling away from him, Lacus turned her head to the side as the wetness of Kira's lips still played on her lips and neck. Not able to look him in the eye, she spoke to the side and stared at the carpet.

"I should go now," she cleared her throat as she speed-walked out of the room. Hearing the click of the door, Kira turned to it.

"I ... kissed ... Lacus..." Kira groaned as he fell onto the floor.

Lacus touched her lips and then her neck. Her eyes widened as she ran to the bathroom and stared at her neck in the mirror. She covered her mouth in surprise falling back against the cold-tiled wall. "I knew I let it go too far...now I have to wear something to cover it in this hot weather..." Kira had a left a hickey, Lacus' first. She prayed it would go away before the end of the trip. Fllay would get suspicious if she knew. "Kira...why did you ... kiss me?"

----

"Why did I kiss her?" he questioned aloud to himself. Turning on his side as he stared at the silver ring in his hand. Lacus' face returned to him. Clutching it, he turned to face at the ceiling. "Why does it torment me so much...? Lacus...do I love you?" Closing his eyes, he envisioned anything that could hopefully answer his question. "No...can we be in love?" he said to the open air.

"No, we can't...because you're with Fllay..." she mumbled as the hot water ran down her skin, soaking her hair in sweet-smelling shampoo of fresh roses. She sighed in content. "Maybe it's just lust...you just miss being with her..."

"I do miss being with Fllay...but...being with you..." Kira opened his eyes as he pulled out his wallet again and took out another picture. His sixteenth birthday...

"Being with you makes me happy...it does...but why did you have to kiss me?" Lacus continued to mumble. "What we just did..."

"...has to be forgotten," Kira got up as he threw his wallet onto the bedside table nearly knocking down the lampshade. He stared at the time and took a glance at the phone.

"I have to stop loving him...I have to..." tears ran down her cheeks as it mixed with the shower water. No one would be able to tell what was tears or what was water. It was the same either way...except the tears were filled with feelings.

Taking off his light-feathered jacket, he sniffed it slightly and the warmth returned to him. "Lacus' scent..."

"I can't get his scent off me!!" she cried out as she tried to scrub herself off. Trying to clean the hickey as much as possible, she rinsed herself off welcoming the water onto her. She had been there for at least ten minutes.

"Stop-thinking-about-her-you-mindless-idiot!!" he knocked himself in the head repeatedly throwing his jacket to the side. "You're with Fllay now!!" he cried out to himself.

"How could I forget...Fllay's still in his heart," she grinned madly. "Right...we still can't be together. I just have to forget. I have to forget..."

"...or else we'll never move on..."

"...even though..."

Kira blankly stared out his window with his hands in his pockets. He sighed heavily. "...even though I might be in love with her."

Author's Note : Shorter than my past chapters sorry. I'm having a small case of writer's block. Lol. But it usually last for a day and then my imagination comes back. Eto...teeeheeeeeee.