The PathsWhich We Chose


Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the plot, thank you.


Author's Note: So...this is also one of the stories I posted on genesis forum. This one may not be as good as the others but I hope you will enjoy it somehow...

A lot of AU, especially the last part. A lot of OOCness, too, so don't flame me.

This story is written for the Asucaga fans because there has been a little protest that I have been torturing Athrun too much lately. I am not an expert in fluff, soit might be a little weird, so...

Anyway. On with the first part!


The Princess and The Knight

"May I remind you again that you are a girl?"

The answer he got was her expressive, very un-lady like snort. She threw the things in her hand over the wall then prepared to climb over.

A deep sigh from him. Then, reaching out, he pulled her back down to the ground again.

A small yelp of surprise from her. Then, she turned to glare furiously at him.

He smiled wryly down at her. "You are wearing a dress," he pointed out.

She gave him a look that clearly said, "So what?"

He shrugged then turned to the wall. He looked at it, seeming to consider something, and jumped.

He sat easily on the top and was now looking down at her. Her arms crossing over her chest, she looked even angrier than before.

"And how does that have anything to do with me wearing a dress?" she asked, glaring at him.

Shrugging, he held out his hand to her. "I will pull you up. That should help, shouldn't it?"

She looked at his hand, and up at his face, then shook her head. "Just because I'm a princess by name and act it," she said quietly and pulled her skirt up (here he quickly looked away) just above her knees and tied it into a loose knot at one side, "doesn't mean that I am really one and always in need of help from someone else."

She jumped. And just as easily and gracefully as he had done, she was now on the top of the wall sitting right next to him.

He looked at her with wide eyes.

She smirked. "…Even though he might be a prince."

He looked at her a while longer, then a smile came to his face. He shook his head. "You're quite impossible sometimes. But that's one of the things I love most about you." He jumped and landed lightly on the ground.

She thanked the darkness that helped hide away her blush. Mumbling something not too intelligible, she prepared to jump down as well.

She didn't expect, of course, that when she jumped he would be there to catch her.

Surprised and confused, she looked up to find warm eyes gazing down at her with gentle amusement.

"I know you don't need help and you can manage things well on your own," taking advantage of her surprise, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to a bench conveniently located nearby. "But sometimes… Just sometimes, I hope that you will accept help, too."

Sitting on the bench, she blinked when he turned and walked away from her. But soon enough he came back, with something – or two something – in his hand as well.

"May I?" he asked, kneeling down before her. Her eyes widened in recognition at the something he brought back. They were the slippers she had thrown over the wall earlier.

"Athrun, don't--- I can---"

"May I, Cagalli?"

She blushed, and this time she was sure that even darkness couldn't hide it from him. Her head moved slightly in a small timid nod.

He smiled at her briefly that sweet gentle smile that only he could do it. Then, he picked up the one white slipper from the ground and gently slipped it back on her foot. His hands moved with extraordinary dexterity as he wound the small ribbons into that same intricate pattern which took three maids and thirty minutes of trying to successfully put these stupid slippers on for her (why did Mana insisted she wore this dress and these stupid slippers she would never understand). She stared at him in awe when he tied the ribbons together in a perfect bow behind her ankle. He did the same for the other one, though with less time but with the same perfection that if the shoemaker was able to see, he would have cried with joy.

"How did you…" she started, but her voice trailed off as she stared almost disbelievingly at the slippers on her feet.

He laughed. "Back then in PLANT, when Lacus had to go around and perform, she sometimes had to dress quite…elaborately. There were a couple of times or so that I and her assistants were having hard time figuring out how to even put it on her feet."

She frowned and, before she could really think of her words, they were already voiced aloud, "What were you doing there in the first place that got you involved at all anyway?"

His head tilted slightly to one side, he looked innocently back at her. "I sometimes went to see her before the concert started to give her flowers, since I could not stay and watch every time." A small smile came to his lips, his eyes twinkling brightly. "Why?"

"Nothing," she mumbled and turned away from his gaze, blushing.

"Nothing?" he asked, amusement clear in his soft voice.

"Nothing!" she said loudly and got up abruptly. She started walking away, mumbling something and blushing even harder than before. Geez… what was there to blush for anyway? This was nothing. Just nothing at all.

"Cagalli!"

"Huh---umphhh!"

Rocks and pebbles rolled and slid down the steep slope. She had forgotten all about it that this particular part of the area had uneven ground and many slopes.

Close to her, holding her in his arms, was Athrun. He was breathing hard and his heart was beating fast against her cheek. Cagalli, unknowingly, was clutching at his shirt tightly, holding onto him. The already loose knot of her skirt loosened completely and it fell back to its original state, long and almost brushing at the ground.

There was brief silence, then a sigh from Athrun. "Cagalli…"

"I know. I forgot. I didn't look. My fault. Sorry. Happy?" she pulled away form him and was about to start walking again when he caught her wrist.

"No," he said, green eyes looking at her seriously. "No, I'm not happy. If you think I was going to scold you, Cagalli, you are wrong."

"I am?" she asked, giving him a pointed look. "Then what was it that you were going to say?"

"I was going to say…" he took hold of her hand and came to stand next to her. "…that earlier when you said that you were only a princess by name and so you merely acted your part. That you were not a true princess, so you didn't need help from anyone, not even a prince."

She looked away. "So what? It's true. I am not a true princess and…" a gentle finger silenced her and she looked questioningly at him.

"You are a true princess, Cagalli. To me you are." He then chuckled softly. "Good thing that you don't need a prince, because I know I'm not one and I know I can never be one. I will never be a prince but... I think I can try to be a knight." He brought her hand to his lips, brushing a feather soft kiss against her fingers. "I swore it once before, I swear it now again that I will protect you, Cagalli Yula Athha. Even if I have to lose everything, even if it means my own life, I will protect you."


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