Chapter 20 A Hole In The Heart
A/N I really hope you like this chapter, but mind you, if you think that the story's ending, it isn't. Don't forget, Patrick Zala and Maiya managed to escape death. In addition, there's still Cagalli and Ryoko. So, enjoy!
"It sure is good to be back here," said Miriallia, looking around at their opulent bungalow. "Although, it's got a coating of dust all around." she added, sliding her index finger over the table, to find a thick layer of dust on her fingertip.
"Looks like we've got work to do," said Dearka lazily, making a face that said "Don't get me involved in this."
"Umm guys, can I stay with you?" interupted Ryoko, putting on a puppy-dog face.
"What for?" asked Athrun spinning around at the black-headed girl's sudden remark and raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Well, my parents disowned me when they found out that I had had gone along with you guys. So I was hoping some kind souls like you would take me in." replied Ryoko so softly it was almost like a whisper.
"Come on, she did help us a bit at the Archangel," said Kira knowingly, walking over to Ryoko and standing serenely by her side.
Athrun was staring at Ryoko intently, hoping to find a hint of guilt or pretence. Sadly enough, he found nothing about her that was out of the blue or anything that smelt fishy.
"Alright, but I'll be keeping a watchful eye on you. I don't know why my instincts tell me not to take you seriously, though your excuse about being disowned, makes perfect sense." said Athrun eyeing Ryoko slyly, his tone a little fierce with a slight hiss.
"If you ask me, I'd throw her out straight away, but sadly I'm not the head over here. Zala is, so if he says yes, then so be it. But her explanation was extremely mushy." growled Yzak aggressively, shooting Ryoko a menacing glare.
Ryoko just smiled sweetly at everyone before dusting a dining chair and making herself comfortable on it.
"Ok, let's get this place cleaned up. The captain and Murrue are coming over for dinner. So we've got a whole day to get this placed hyped up." said Miriallia, dumping all their luggage in a corner and proceeding to the kitchen to get some pails, detergent and some sponges.
For once, Lacus didn't feel the urge to help at all. She felt drained of all her energy, even her reserves seemed to have been burned off. Why was Kira acting this way? He hadn't even approached her for anything or even spoken to her since he left for battle.
Instead, he seemed to be spending time with Ryoko most of the time. He couldn't be falling for her could he? Kira was acting so strangely, it puzzled Lacus for the first time.
Kira was like the air around her, without him she seemed to be suffocating.
"Lacus, are you ok? Why are you on the verge of tears? Did something happen to you? Are you hurt?" asked Kyo, concerned for her pink-headed friend, who quickly snapped out of her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, am I on the verge of tears? Sorry, I was just thinking about my father." replied Lacus, forcing a smile at the attractive redheaded girl.
"Oh, I'm sorry. But cheer up, won't you? Everything is falling back into place." Kyo said, looking at all Dearka, Athrun and most of all, Yzak.
"Yes, I'm aware. You're really lucky Kyo, you know that, don't you?" said Lacus, gently smiling at the aqua blue eyed girl, who just stared back, puzzled.
Lacus chuckled, "I mean you've got Athrun for a brother, us friends, and of course Yzak, whom I can tell loves you very much. I'm sure you know Yzak, he's not really the type who will actually fall in love with a girl. What's more, he's good to have a around, he can scare off almost anyone just by staring at them." she said laughing slightly.
"Yeah, can tell. Truthfully, I had a crush on him when I first set my eyes on him on the first day of school. Yes, he did seem rather aggressive and sarcastic, but there was a softer side of him I guess." explained Kyo, blushing a deep red.
Lacus wasn't the only one who seemed downhearted. A certain blonde headed girl with honey-brown eyes stood alone in the balcony of the kitchen, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Hey Cagalli, what're you doing? Go on and help, why don't you? Or do you need your baby boy Athrun to come and get you?" asked Dearka, laughing merrily.
Cagalli jerked her head around to face him, her nostrils flaring, the obvious tears leaking out from her eyes.
"Wow! I really didn't mean it, it was meant to be a joke! Wow, major emergency!" exclaimed Dearka, grabbing a wet cloth and darting out of the kitchen to find Athrun.
The tanned blonde boy was crystal clear that something was clearly very wrong with the Orb princess. He was quite sure that she would have given him an earful if she took his words seriously, but certainly not burst into tears.
"Hey Athrun! You really need to go and speak to Cagalli, she's crying in the kitchen balcony! All I said was for her to come and help, but it was supposed to have been a joke!" said Dearka frantically, waving his hands up and down.
Athrun knew Dearka's character well, and he knew that the blonde boy had regular catfights with his girlfriend, but not once had she cried. It just couldn't be Dearka's words, something was bothering her.
Athrun walked briskly into the kitchen, and sure enough, Cagalli was there, standing all by herself.
Athrun approached her slowly, in case she just jumped out at him without warning.
By instinct he wrapped his arms around her, and propped her chin up with his hand. True enough, her tiger-like eyes, which were usually ablaze with confidence and determination were now blurred by pearly tears.
"What's wrong? Spit it out, come on." urged Athrun, leaning forward and kissing her lovingly on the forehead.
Lacus and Kyo entered the kitchen, "Oh sorry, I hope we're not interrupting you two." said Lacus, turning and intending to walk away.
"Wait, I want the both of you to stay here. It's important you hear this, then you can tell the others later." said Cagalli tearfully, as more tears poured down her cheeks.
"Cagalli what's wrong? You're not usually like this," said Kyo soothingly, walking up to her brother and his blonde girlfriend.
"When the nurse got back the results of the blood test, she said that since the baby was a mixed blood. There would be complications and death threats. There would be a 25 death rate for the baby and a 15 death rate for me." wailed Cagalli breaking into a fit of tears.
As though Cagalli's legs had lost their strength, she sank downwards, forcing Athrun to catch hold of her. Lacus's hands flew to her mouth at the shocking news Cagalli had just delivered to the threesome.
Kyo looked on the verge of tears, as she watched her brother and blonde friend kiss and cuddle in an attempt to soothe Cagalli's pain and anguish.
For the rest of the day, Athrun and Cagalli retreated to the privacy of their room while the others cleaned about the house.
"Ok, everything done? Furniture dusted? Walls cleaned and scrubbed, everything prim and proper and in order?" asked Miriallia, who was over paranoid about the cleanliness of the bungalow.
"Yes honey, everything's done." teased Dearka, snaking his arm around her waist.
"Don't call me that," snapped Miriallia hotly.
"They're here!" called Lacus from the living room. "Please make yourself at home."
"Wow, some kind of house you people've got." commented Wattfeld looking at the hand-frescoed walls and the staircase, which was made of colossal mahogany.
"Thank you," replied Athrun coming down the staircase, Cagalli following along behind.
Somehow, her face was no longer tear stained and she looked as though nothing had happened.
"Ah Cagalli, how are you?" asked Murrue smiling at the blonde girl who smiled back.
"I'm fine," replied Cagalli sweetly, gesturing to the others not to tell or even give a hint about the news of the baby.
"If you dribk white milk, you'll get a white baby. Drink chocolate milk and you'll get a chocolate baby." said Wattfeld grinning widely.
"What kind of conclusion is that?" asked Murrue, turning to look at Wattfeld who shrugged.
"That's what my mother tells my sister who's also expecting," said Wattfeld laughing loudly.
"Well it's utter rubbish," snapped Murrue, putting an arm around Cagalli.
The evening carried on with a lavishing dinner, followed by some drinks.
"Not too much beer Dearka, I'm sure you remember what happened last time." hissed Miriallia, dismissing the thought of Dearka throwing up again.
"Don't worry, I can't afford to get drunk again." said Dearka, smiling cheekily, for he had something up his sleeves.
The tanned blonde boy felt that his platinum blonde friend, really needed to work on his relationship with his girlfriend. However, he needed soemone to help him.
"Hey Mr. Wattfeld, don't you think Yzak isn't getting close enough to Kyo?" asked Dearka knowingly.
"I think so too, why? You got a plan to pull them together?" Wattfeld whispered back.
"Yep, get both of them drunk and throw them into bed together, let them get intimate." said Dearka, bursting into a fit of giggles.
"Perfect, I'll help if you like." answered Wattfeld cheekily.
It was an extra bonus for the cheeky pair when they discovered that Kyo knew how to drink. Now all they had to do, was wait for Yzak and Kyo to get dizzy.
After about 45 minutes, both Kyo and Yzak seemed rather tipsy, and Dearka decided the time was ripe.
"I'll get Yzak up to bed, he looks awful." saoid Dearka all of a sudden, getting out of his chair and dragging Yzak out of his own.
"I'll get Kyo," said Murrue getting up.
Wattfeld was about to protest when Dearka gestured to him to shut up. He'd just have to take Yzak to Kyo's room once Murrue had settled Kyo there.
Murrue helped Kyo to her bedroom and made her lie down. Murrue went back downstairs after, and failed to see Dearka hiding with a drunken Yzak behind a corner.
Dearka dragged Yzak into Kyo's bedroom and dumped him on top of Kyo, who seemed to be oblivious to what was happening around her.
Within moments, Yzak was snuffling around Kyo, letting his hands run all over her. Dearka nearly got freaked out by his friend's actions.
Goodness, he never acted this way. Well, Yzak was drunk, you couldn't blame him. All he probably saw was this hot chick lying right under him.
Dearka slowly shut the door, and punched his hand into the air satisfied with himself, laughing softly to himself.
A/N This chapter's longer than the others, hope you enjoyed it! And remember to review! I really need advice! So, what will Yzak and Kyo's reaction be when they awaken? And will Lacus ever find out about Ryoko and Kira?