Thanks for the reviews! I'll be going on vacation to Florida next week, (RED SOX SPRING TRAINING, BABY!), so if I don't post Chapter 6 before then, I'm sorry.

Chapter Five: Mission Accepted

Dear Kira Yamato,

Please meet me at the coffee shop in Portsmouth this afternoon at 3:30. There is something I would like to discuss with you.

Love,

Flay Allster

"Weren't we just talking about that slut?" I ask, snatching the slip of pink paper away from him.

"Yeah. Do you think I should go?" Kira asks. Sometimes his naivete is cute, but in this case, I can't believe it.

"Of course not!" I yell, "what do you think she wants to 'discuss' with you?" I ask, air quoting the word she used in her note. He thinks for a moment, then his eyes widen.

"Ohhh! You don't think she wants to–"

"What else could she possibly want? To be friends?" I scoff.

"Well, she might be a really nice person and all those things could be lies . . ." he mutters.

"Sure, the rumors aren't true. And my hair is orange!" I say, irritated. I know what that bitch wants with him: she wants a cheap fuck and to take his virginity in one fell swoop.

"C'mon, we won't know unless we go, please?" he begs.

"'We' as in you and me? You're offering for me to come?" I ask.

"If you're so suspicious, then sure, why not? Will you?" I give him a "no duh, moron," stare and slam my locker closed, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

"Is there practice today?" he asks.

"No, we have double practice tomorrow because of yesterday's cancellation," I reply, kicking the doors of the school open and taking the front steps two at a time.

"I'm already tired," he sighs, throwing his backpack in the second seat of his car.

I take off my blazer, (ick), and roll up the sleeves of my white button down. Man, I hate these uniforms. But I can't help but think that Kira looks awfully cute in it, his shirt tucked in and the top buttons undone, revealing his slim neck.

"Hey, that mark is gone. That means I have to give you another . . ." I say mischievously.

"You wish! Just drive!" he says, blushing.

"You're letting me again? I'm honored," I say sarcastically. He folds his arms and turns on the radio, adjusting the station until he finds a song he likes.

"So what are you going to say to Flay?" I ask after driving in silence for a while. We're about half way to Portsmouth, so I assume he's starting to worry, or maybe it's just me.

"What do you mean? She invited me, she can talk," he says, sounding stubborn like me.

"That's what I wanna hear. Now don't let her do anything to you," I say with a warning glance.

"I thought you were coming!" he exclaims.

"I am, just not to talk to her. I don't want to," I cringe at the thought of speaking to that stupid magenta-haired bitch.

He nods and gives a heavy sigh, slumping down in the leather seat, obviously wondering why he's even doing this. I'm wondering the same thing. What does he expect her to say to him besides "I wanna have sex with you, you hot little virgin boy,"? I roll my eyes at his insistence to try and see the best in everyone. It's a good quality of his that I definitely don't have.

I drop him off in front of Café Brioche and glance around suspiciously, looking for Flay. His eyes are quivering nervously when they meet mine, "are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" I ask, concerned.

"I want you to, but I know I should go alone," he calls, shaking his head.

"I'll be back here in fifteen minutes, okay! Be careful!" I yell.

"I will! No need to worry about me!" he shouts with a reassuring smile.

How am I supposed to not worry? This girl has the worst rep of anyone in the whole school, and she left a note to meet with my boyfriend. I pull into a parking spot and fill up the meter with coins; I'm assuming that after he's done at the café, he wants to walk around the city for a while. I wander aimlessly past the restaurants and shops, peering in the windows with fake interest at the objects for sale.

I'm outside the jewelry shop on the strip of stores diagonal from the corner the café is on when something catches my eye. Sitting on a bed of blue silk is a black leather choker with a heart made of red jade dangling from it by a small silver ring. Kira has this weird thing for chokers and buckles, and he's constantly looking for new additions to his collection of them. I have to buy it.

I throw the door open, the bell above it ringing loudly and I run over to the counter, glaring at the shopkeeper.

"I have to have that choker in the window," I snap, giving the woman a threatening look.

"O-okay, young man," she stutters, frightened. I watch as she goes over and takes the piece of jewelry from it's stand, carefully carrying it over to the counter.

"T-that'll be 44.99, please," she says, pulling a gift box off the shelf behind her.

I hand her a fifty from my wallet and she stares at it for a moment, like she's never seen someone use such a large bill so casually before. She wraps the choker in tissue paper and ties the box closed with purple ribbon, then hands me my 5.01.

"Thank you," I say, taking the box and holding it carefully as if being too rough with it will make it shatter.

Smiling, I kick the door of the shop open and look at my watch: it's quarter of four, time to go get Kira. I hold the box under my arm, cracking my knuckles as I cross the street and scowl in the front window of the café. If she so much as tried to hold his hand, she's in for some pain. Anything more, and I can't guarantee the safety of her life.

I enter the quiet coffee shop, my eyes darting to each of the tables before they settle on one in the back corner, where Kira and Flay sit, talking.

"Kira, we have to go," I snap, slamming my hand down on the table. Flay looks up at me, her grey eyes flashing menacingly as they narrow.

"Oh, Athrun Zala, star of the baseball team, huh? I hear that you and Kira are awfully close, am I right?" she hisses.

"You could say that," I reply, swiping Kira's hand away from her as she tires to grasp it. "Mine," I mouth to her, pulling Kira to his feet.

"Uh, it was nice talking to you Flay. I'll have to get back to you about that question, okay?" he says.

"That's fine, but if you agree, come alone next time,"she glares poisonously in my direction before leaving the café in a huff.

"What did she ask you?" I demand, turning him to look at me.

"She wants to go out with me tomorrow, that's all," he replies, avoiding my gaze.

"That's all! You know what that leads to with girls like her, Kira! I don't trust her at all!" I yell as we go out into the warmth of the afternoon.

"But, she seemed so nice . . ."

"Yeah, that's exactly what she wants you to think! You're a kind person, Kira, and she's just going to use that against you," I say, mollifying my anger.

"I'm gonna go, just to prove you wrong, Athrun!" he retorts.

"Fine, get raped, why should I care! I'm only in love with you, you idiot!" I shout.

"I won't! Because she's not like that!"

"Did you see the dirty looks she was giving me? She's obviously up to no good!"

"Y'know what? You can walk home, 'cause I'm not driving you back!"

"I will!"

With that, the two of us storm off in opposite directions, my eyes blurred with bitter tears. Why did she have to come along and fuck everything up? My life was going great until that whore decided she liked Kira! I whip out my cell phone, barely able to see the numbers as I dial Lacus' cell.

"Hello?" she says.

"Will you come pick me up in Portsmouth? It's a long story, I'll explain later," I ask, wiping my eyes.

"Sure, Athrun, I'll be there as fast as I can!" she cries.

"Thanks, Lacus," I say, then hang up and shove the phone back into my pants pocket.

When Lacus pulls up to the curb in her sky blue Jaguar, I tiredly get into the passenger side and try to keep my expression neutral. And I do, until she asks why I'm not getting a ride from Kira.

"We got in a fight, Lacus! He's going on a date with that skank Flay tomorrow night!" I shout, pulling at my hair as the tears return to my eyes.

"You're worried about him having sex with her right?" I nod in response.

"Then why don't we just follow them? Dress in camo and black, then tail 'em wherever they go," she suggests with a wink. At that moment, my pink-haired cousin is the most brilliant person in the world.

"Kira can't be going on a date with Flay! He's your boyfriend!" Yzak yells, flailing his arms around angrily.

"It was never official, though. We just said we loved each other," I sigh.

Yzak, Dearka,. Nicol, Lacus and I have cut school today so we can plan for tonight. I'm relieved that I don't have to go to class because I was so depressed last night that I couldn't do my homework.

"So are you going to come with us or what?" Lacus asks impatiently.

"Are you kidding me! Of course! Secret missions are awesome!" Dearka replies.

"If you plan on keeping them a secret, you're gonna have to quiet down for longer than fifteen minutes," Nicol says. Dearka grumbles, but doesn't object to this statement.

The five of us are sitting on the patio behind Lacus' house, waiting for the maids to bring us a snack. I'm lying there on the flagstone, staring up at the blindingly bright sky while Nicol kneels nearby, petting Lacus' dog, and Yzak and Dearka sit by the pool.

"So, what's our plan, Athrun?" Yzak asks, looking over at me.

"Nani? Why am I in charge?" I ask, sitting up and rubbing my eyes, trying to make the sunspots go away.

"It's your boyfriend she seduced," Dearka answers.

"Dearka!" Lacus and Nicol snap.

"No, it's alright, that's basically what happened. I don't know why I let him go alone like that! Now he's gonna get hurt and it's all my fault!" I clench my fists and squeeze my eyes shut, my head bowed.

"Hey, it's not your fault. Don't be so hard on yourself," Nicol says quietly.

"Yeah, man, if he's really in love with you, then he won't let her do anything," Dearka says in agreement.

"But he thinks she's innocent. He doesn't suspect an thing," I say.

"Athrun, nothing's gonna happen to him 'cause we'll be watching them," Yzak points out.

"Plus, I'm sure Kira would be able to kick her slutty little ass pretty well if she does anything he doesn't like," Lacus says.

I'm starting to get used to Lacus' change in speech, but that comment surprised me a little.

"So it's settled. You'll help me?" I ask, looking at each of them.

"Mission accepted," Dearka says with a smirk and a mock salute.

The other three do the same and I decide to play along, "meet me at my house at exactly nineteen hundred hours. Be equipped appropriately, I say, getting to my feet.

"Yes sir, Commander Zala!" they all exclaim.

At six thirty that night, the door bell starts ringing repeatedly just as I'm getting dressed for my mission. I run down the staircase in only my camo pants to answer it before the ringing makes my head explode.

"What?" I yell, flinging the heavy door open.

Lacus is standing there on the front step wearing a black strapless dress that has laces up the front and poofs out at the waist into layers of sheer fabric and silk.

"A dress, Lacus?" I ask.

"It's bad enough that I'm starting to talk like a boy. I'm not about to dress like one, too," she answers, stepping into the marble-floored entryway.

"I like your boots. Hot Topic, I'm guessing?" I comment, referring to her black corset boots.

"They're especially for the occasion," she says. Wow, my formerly preppy cousin went into Hot Topic, what is the world coming to!

"You can watch TV or something while I finish getting dressed," I say, gesturing towards the sitting room.

"Alright. Yzak and the others should be here any minute. I called them and they said they were coming by early as well," she says, making herself comfortable on the couch.

"Okay, I'll be right down!" I call, running up the stairs.

This must be a bigger deal than I thought if Lacus is willing to shop at Hot Topic for it and Dearka agreed to coming early. I fasten my studded belt and pull my shirt over my head, making sure the suede laces on the short sleeves and on the sides are tied. Even though they're not the best for running in, I put on my black Vans and grab my leather jacket before going back downstairs.

Nicol, Yzak, Dearka and Lacus loiter at the foot of the stairs, apparently waiting for me. They're all dressed similarly, Nicol in a black trench coat and jeans to match, Yzak wearing a blue camo T-shirt over a long-sleeved black shirt, and Dearka in a black V-neck tank with baggy pants.

"Yzak, what did you do to your hair?" I ask, eying the small braids in his silver locks.

"I did 'em. You like?" Dearka asks, resting his arm on a very pissed Yzak's shoulder.

"Yeah, they make you look so cute, Yzak," I say, pinching his cheek like he's a little girl.

"Shut up! I hate them!" he yanks the elastics out and shoots them across the room, shoving Dearka away from him.

"Ahem, we're going to be late," Lacus says, tapping her foot impatiently.

"How do you know that? Kira never said the time of the date, did he?" Nicol asks me.

"No, but I called over there and Cagalli told me," I reply.

"WHAT! You called her? And she told you!" Dearka says, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yeah, she said she was getting over me and totally hated Flay, so she gave me the info. Seven thirty tonight," I say.

"Is he picking her up?" Yzak asks.

"I would think. If so, he'd have to be leaving soon 'cause she lives over in Seabrook," I sit down on the marble stairs, my chin in my hands.

"No wonder she's so messed up. Probably lives next to the power plant," Dearka snickers.

"So that's why she's so mutated! Too much exposure to radiation!" Yzak declares.

"C'mon then! If we miss him leaving, then we'll be stuck driving around the whole city!" Lacus yells, jingling the keys to her Lexus in my face.

I lock the front door behind me and we race each other down the driveway to Lacus' car while she stumbles along behind us, muttering about her four-inch heels. I skid to a halt and grab the handle to the passenger side door.

"Ha! Beat you!" I yell.

"Move it, Zala, it's mine!" Yzak yells, jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow.

"If you idiots don't quit it you're all riding in the trunk!" Lacus snaps, unlocking the doors with the remote.

Quite scared, Yzak backs away and lets me have the front seat, then starts fighting with Dearka over the middle seat in the back.

"How do you put up with them, Athrun?" Lacus sighs as she pulls out of the driveway.

"You get used to it, don't worry," I say, looking through her CD cases.

"I see you bought your own copy of Hot Fuss after you broke mine, huh?" I ask, wagging the light blue case at her.

"I'm sorry about that. Now's not the time to be fighting, though. We need to be worrying about Kira," she says.

I nod, gazing out at the dusky sky still streaked with hints of the sunset that barely peek over the tops of the pine trees. Kira . . . What does he see in her? Why is he doing this besides to prove me wrong? That can't be the only reason. He's not like that. There must be something more that he sees as a benefit from this date.

My gift for him is still lying on the floor of my room, where I left it when I got home last night. If he wants to be her boyfriend, what am I supposed to do with it? Keep it for myself? I have to think positively. He's not gonna be her boyfriend, 'cause he's in love with me. At least, that's what he said. How am I supposed to know that he's absolutely sure about his feelings? Dammit. Damn that bitch Flay to hell.

By the time we're parked in the parking garage downtown, I'm fuming for many reasons. Not only does Kira look delicious tonight, but he's dressed all yummy for her. He never looks this good when we go anywhere: olive green cargo pants with iron cross patches on the pockets and a tank top over a T-shirt with black and green striped arm warmers. And, of course, his favorite black velvet choker is around his neck. I stomp up the sidewalk until Lacus tells me to stop walking so loudly, then I calm down and slink along in the semi-darkness, acting all shadowy.

"Where do you think he's taking her for dinner?" Nicol whispers to no one in particular.

"Maybe Sakura. He likes Japanese food," I respond.

"Yeah, but what does she like?" Yzak asks.

"What do you mean? Hookers can't eat that much, or else they'll become fat chicks and they won't have anymore work," Dearka says.

I kick him in the shin as I walk past him, peering around the corner before going around it. Kira and Flay are at the other end of the sidewalk, heading down the hill towards . . .

"Holy! They're going to 43° North!" Yzak hisses, his eyes widening as the couple enters the restaurant.

It's a really expensive, high-end place, so that's why we're all in shock. My heart sinks when I realize I was never nice enough to take Kira there. We always used to make fun of the snobs who sat in there and ate their scrawny pieces of fillet mignons that cost 20 with caviar on the side. But now, as the five of us slouch across the street to the State Street Saloon, I kinda regret never treating him to something like he's doing for Flay. That undeserving little skank. She's gonna milk him for all he's worth, his cash, his kindness, and his virginity, then leave him.

We get a table by the window so we can watch for when they leave, sitting in awkward silence until the waitress comes with our menus. When she asks what we want for drinks, I take a fifty out of my pocket and tell her I'll give it to her if she'll bring me a martini. Lacus tells me not to drink since I'm underage, but I need something to help me get my mind off of Kira.

The waitress, to my surprise, accepts the cash and returns in a few minutes with everyone else's sodas along with my drink. Bwahahahaha. I down it in a few gulps, then order another along with my dinner.

"Athrun, you're gonna get smashed so fast if you chug those like that," Yzak says.

"Ya wanna bet on how many he can drink before he throws up?" Dearka asks, leaning back in his chair.

"I think probably . . . Five," Lacus says, putting a ten dollar bill down on the table.

"Five? I'm goin' with seven!" Yzak yells, slapping a five onto Lacus' ten.

"Oh? Well I bet on three!" Dearka says, placing another five on the pile.

"Five dollars on four," Nicol says quietly.

"What! Nicol! You too?" I groan.

It really doesn't matter to me who wins or loses, I just wanna get the two of them out of my head, stop worrying about it. But five drinks later when I start to feel queasy and run into the bathroom, I'm still thinking about him.

When I shuffle back out to the table with the horrible taste of vomit still in my mouth, Lacus and Yzak are arguing about who won. I got sick after six if you weren't counting, so it's between the two of them.

"Why don't you each just take 12.50 and shut up?" Dearka snaps.

I mutter a "thank you" to Dearka as he hands them their money and I take a sip of ice water, trying to get that taste out of my mouth.

"You have any mints, Lacus?" I mutter, pushing my uneaten food aside so I can rest my head on the table.

"Yeah, here," she hands me a tin of Altoids and I shove a handful in my mouth, then give them back.

I take deep breaths, trying to settle my stomach while the others discuss things besides Kira, such as the Red Sox's winning streak.

"We're gonna kick some sorry Yankee ass later this month," Yzak says.

"Hn," I grunt in agreement.

"Glad to hear you're feeling better," Dearka says sarcastically.

"Feh, shut up," I groan, sitting up straight and staring out the window.

At that same moment, the door to 43° North opens and Flay walks out, followed by my beloved Kira. I watch her blood red lips move as she says something and he looks at the ground, blushing. I wonder what they talked about while they were eating? Not that they have any mutual interests. Flay doesn't seem like the type of girl who follows sports, and Kira, I know for a fact, doesn't like the things she does. "Hey, Kira, you ever been in a porno? I have," "t-that's wonderful, Flay . . .(sweat drop)." That's probably what she would say.

"C'mon, they're leaving!" I shout, dragging Lacus to her feet.

"But I have to pay!" she retorts.

"You stay here with Nicol and Yzak, Dearka and I will follow them, okay? We'll call you and give you the location!" I say from the doorway, my eyes darting back and forth from Lacus to Kira and Flay.

"Alright! Just don't get caught!" Nicol replies.

"We won't!" Dearka calls before the three of us take off in the direction the couple went in.

"Where do you think they're going?" Yzak asks.

I skid to a halt and duck into an alley, pulling Dearka and Yzak with me when Flay looks over her shoulder, glaring at the spot where I was just standing.

"Fuck, that was close," I whisper, peeking around the wall cautiously, my breathing quick.

"Gave me a heart attack, that damn girl," Dearka mutters, folding his arms and leaning against the brick.

"It's almost like she doesn't want anyone to see where they're going," Yzak comments.

"You don't think she's bringing him somewhere risky, do you?" I ask worriedly.

"Don't sound so scared. Wherever they're going, we're going too," Dearka grabs my wrist and yanks me back out into the open, whipping his head around in attempt to find them again. Thanks to his perfect vision, Yzak points them out among the crowds in the dim light, heading towards Prescott Park.

"Bit romantic, huh?" he asks as we push people aside, but remaining unseen.

I shoot him a venomous glare and slink into the park, avoiding the pools of light cast by the lampposts as I proceed along the brick path. I see the two of them, Kira and Flay, sitting on the stone wall separating the park from the rocks that lead down to the ocean. I sit down in the grass behind a lilac bush and Dearka and Yzak silently join me, watching with uneven breaths as I dial Lacus on my cell phone.

"Athrun, where are you?" she whispers.

"Prescott Park, just be careful when you come in so they won't turn around and see you," I reply nervously.

"Got it, be there soon," she says.

I take a deep breath, calming my racing heart, and peek through the branches to watch them. If there weren't so many people nearby, I'd be able to hear their conversation. Flay moves closer to Kira rubbing against his arm, her lips close to his ear. Lacus and I are the only ones that know his ears are his weakness, so he must be freaking out right now. I don't know why I never used that to my advantage before. How stupid am I?

Suddenly Lacus and Nicol are beside me, their eyes averted to the scene displayed through our screen of lavender petals. From my view, I can see the moon being covered by dark clouds, a flash of lightning on the horizon signaling another storm. Wonderful, this makes my already terrible night complete, I say to myself with a bitter smile as the raindrops begin to fall.

I watch Kira get to his feet and take Flay by the hand, trying to pull her from the stone wall, but she doesn't move. She wraps her arms around his neck and draws him close to her, their lips locked. My eyes widen when he places his hands on her waist, obviously accepting the embrace. My stomach churns again, feeling like I just downed ten martinis in a row, as she presses her body against his, her oversized breasts touching him.

I feel nauseous, seriously, "my gods, please . . ." I groan, clamping my hand over my mouth.

Lacus looks at me with helpless eyes that ask me what she could possibly do without getting caught. The other three can't tear their eyes away from what is unfolding before us, shock displayed on their faces. Dearka opens and closes his mouth, but he can't find anything to say. One of his comments probably would've been sort of comforting but seeing as how he can't speak, it makes me feel even worse.

I bite down hard on my bottom lip to stop myself from screaming his name as I collapse onto my back, staring up at the churning clouds. Why is he doing this if he knows how much I adore him?

From a parting in the leaves I can see a figure run towards them, then Kira pulls away and Flay turns to the other person. Her grey eyes flash dangerously in the illuminance of a lightning bolt as she approaches the figure, her fists clenched at her sides. I can't make out their voices over the crashing thunder, but it's obvious that they're yelling at each other. Kira backs away, but this other person steps towards him, and, to my horror, Kira is knocked to the ground by a punch to the face.

"I'm gonna kill that fucking bastard," I hiss, standing up on my weak legs.

"Athrun, you can't go! Do you want to be found out!" Yzak asks, dragging me back to my knees.

"What do you think is more important to me? His well-being or mine?" I snap.

A shriek of pain sends a cold bolt of fear through my body and with the next lightning flash, the white light hits metal, dripping with a liquid substance. Blood. Kira's blood. My breathing is harsh as I get to my feet, scowling with pure hatred at the two figures who watch as Kira writhes on the ground.

"Kira!" I scream, running across the wet grass to stand beside the guy the knife in his hand.

"You bastard! How could you do this!" I kick him in the ribs, sending him flying ten feet before he lands in the mud.

"Do you have a death wish, kid?" he asks, standing up slowly.

"Same to you! What do you think you're doing, picking on someone so much smaller than you! And you! You fucking whore!" I shout, whirling around to glare at Flay.

She takes a step back, but I snatch her slim wrist and twist it mercilessly, then throw her to the ground. I'm suddenly kicked in the middle of my back, making it so I'm unable to breathe for a few moments. Gasping for air, I force myself to get up, trembling violently. My eyes fall on Kira, who's still lying in the mud, whimpering in pain as he tries to move his leg.

"Kira . . ." I whisper.

"So, this your little boyfriend?" the guy asks mockingly.

"None of your business, asshole!" I snap, wincing as a sharp pain pierces my lungs. It's hard to breathe even now.

"Oh, so he is, huh? Little virgin boy, I can tell," he says with a wicked smirk, "I could change that whenever I want. You're in no state to fight me."

"Keep your filthy paws off of him. He's mine," I say. If I had the strength, I swear I'd strangle this guy, 'cause he deserves it.

"Fuck," I mutter, the pain growing worse with each breath. I fall to my knees, my hands over my ribs as I struggle to make it stop.

"Hey retard!" a voice yells.

Dearka and Yzak come running over to me, looking from Kira, to me, then at Flay and the guy.

"So, you think you can pick on our friends like that, huh?" Yzak asks, cracking his knuckles.

"Yeah, I do, 'cause they're weak," the guy replies smugly.

"Shut up!" Dearka yells, punching him in the stomach.

"Now," Yzak says, drawing something out of his pocket and holding it up to the guy's neck, "you'll apologize for what you did, right?"

"Yes! Yes! Just don't kill me! You two are from the–"

"Ah ah ah, that's not supposed to be mentioned anymore," Dearka says.

There's a click and Flay's eyes widen when she sees what Yzak holds, the lightning making it clear to me as well: a shot gun.

"Say it," Yzak whispers, pushing the weapon closer to the man's neck.

"I'm sorry, okay? Happy?"

"Very." Dearka lets go of the collar of the man's shirt and lets him fall to the ground, Yzak slipping the gun back into his pocket.

"You alright, Athrun?" Dearka calls, looking over his shoulder at me. Nodding, I crawl across the wet ground to kneel next to Kira.

"Athrun . . . I should've listened to you," he whispers as I take his cold hand in mine.

"Shh, don't worry about it," I say gently as he rests his head in my lap.

"Lacus and Nicol went to go get the car," Yzak says quietly.

"Yeah, we'll go see if she's here yet." The two of them run to the entrance of the park, vanishing into the darkness.

"My leg . . . It hurts," I look down to see a deep gash above his right knee, the crimson blood that pours from the wound staining his pants and the ground.

"My gods . . .We have to bandage that now," I say. I stand up and offer him my hand, and he takes it, pulling himself up and leaning his full weight on me. I wrap my arms around him, holding him close, resting my chin on top of his head.

"Kira . . . I love you," I whisper as the others come running towards us.

"I love you too, Athrun! I'm so sorry for what I did!" he cries.

"It's okay, Kira. Don't cry, I'm here," I whisper, stroking his head as I try to calm him.

"Oh my God! That wound is horrible!" Lacus yelps.

"Should we bring him to the hospital?" Nicol asks.

"Do you think it's that serious?" I have a personal hatred for hospitals, but if it's for Kira, then I'll go.

"I'm not sure. It might get infected if we don't wash it, though," Nicol replies.

"Let's just go then!" Yzak yells. I nod, then softly ask Kira if he wants me to carry him.

"Yes! It hurts!" he wails.

"Shh, shh, it's gonna be fine, I promise," I set him onto the ground, then carefully lift him up, wary of his right leg.

"The hospital's not far, it shouldn't take too long to get there!" Lacus calls as she runs to the car.

"Don't you have a first aid kit lying around?" Dearka ask, rummaging through the glove compartment.

"Got it!" Nicol yells, bringing it to my side as I gently lay him down in the back seat.

I take out the roll of bandage and a bottle of antiseptic, flinching as he yelps when I apply the disinfectant to the wound. Then I wrap the bandage around his leg the best I can and rest it across my lap, telling Lacus we're ready to go to the hospital. Before we leave, she demands Yzak and Dearka are separated, so Yzak is in the third seat by himself while Nicol is in the front and Dearka squishes in next to me.

"Sorry the mission failed, Commander," Dearka says with a soft laugh.

"It's alright," I say, half to him and half to Kira, who starts whimpering again.

"What's wrong?" I ask, staring into his tear-filled eyes.

"It's just . . . I feel so bad about not listening to you and getting myself hurt like this! What are we gonna about the game tomorrow!" he cries.

"Kira, none of this is your fault. Don't blame yourself. We'll make it to the game, alright?" I whisper, brushing his wet hair away from his face.

"Promise?" he asks, wiping his eyes.

"Of course, promise," I say. I lean forward and pull him towards me, kissing him gently.

The fact that he responds more to my kiss than Flay's comforts me a little as he wraps his arms tightly around my neck. Dearka taps me on the shoulder and tells me not to be so horny, and that we're almost to the hospital. Of course, he gets a good punch to the face for his rude comment. Kira smiles weakly at me, his eyes still glistening with tears in the dimness, but they tell me that he really is sorry, and that he loves me.

"You two can't play in the game tomorrow because why!" Mr. La Flaga exclaims.

"Uh, hello !" Kira says, waving one of his crutches at the coach. (1)

"What's your excuse, Zala? And how'd you end up on crutches anyway?" he asks.

"Long story. And I don't have an excuse, I'll play," I sigh.

"I'll let you two off from your next class if you tell me," Mr. La Flaga says.

"Are you sure you're allowed to bribe students, coach? Isn't that blackmail?" Kira asks.

"Totally different thing, Kira-chan, just tell him so we don't have to take the English test!" I whisper.

He sighs heavily, sitting down in one of the comfy chairs in the teacher's lounge and proceeds in explaining last night's incident to Mr. La Flaga. When we got to the hospital, we had to wait for an hour before a doctor could see us, and by that time, Kira had lost so much blood that they had to keep him over night and put him on an IV. See, there's a major vein in the thigh, and that's exactly what got stabbed. Luckily, we have the same blood type, so they stuck a needle in my arm and then gave it to him.

Basically, I got no sleep last night because I sat by his hospital bed until Lacus dragged me out and drove me home. It killed me, knowing that he was all alone in that horrible place, so I tossed and turned and growled for three hours before I had to "wake up" for school. And over breakfast, I had to tell my parents where I was until three AM. That was a wonderful conversation: my dad found out about Kira and me, and he exploded. He went into a whole rant about how love is supposed to be between a man and a woman, all that homophobic parent shit. But my mom, being awesomely cool, interrupted and got me out of any trouble.

"So, you're back together again, huh?" Mr. La Flaga asks me. I look over at Kira, who nods in response and I do the same.

"That's cute. Just remember to use lube so you don't hurt him, Zala," Mr. La Flaga laughs, ruffling my hair.

"Wha-what? No! We haven't, we're not, I mean, we are, but–" I sputter, my face burning. Mr. La Flaga just laughs some more as he leaves the room; probably off to tell Murrue that the stars of his baseball team are getting it on. Not that we have . . . Yet.

TBC . . .

(1) - Crutches are a bitch, trust me (dislocated my kneecap).

A/N: I will explain about the guy who attacked Kira in the next chapter!