Author's Note:

Ahem -clearing throat and bowing to readers-

This is my second story since I decided to try another writing style for a change. The story's atmosphere is much more different than the other one, and of course Asucaga pairing (among others that I still haven't decided yet) let me know what you think!

Story Note:

The story is not relevent to GS nor GSD. It's a story on its own.

The story starts when Uzumi Nalah Attha passed away, leaving the country with a missing leader. In Orb's tradition, no female has ever taken control of political power, and it was only natural for the deceased Lord's daughter to marry someone for succession.

Orb's every political movements were closely watched by EAF and ZAFT (consider Orb joining EAF or ZAFT would be disastrous for the other party), and the whole world was debating about Orb's future political standing, depending on who the princess was to marry.

Also, Cagalli who grew up under her father's protection has never been exposed to the media (coughpretend plscough) and therefore her physical appearance has been kept secret to the world's population, to the exception of few people living close to her.

Carrying her father's ideal (Orb's neutrality) strongly in mind, Cagalli Yula Attha will have to find a plan in order to prevent her country to get involved with the war between EAF and ZAFT.

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Chapter 1

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In the absence of sunlight, dark clouds reigned over the blue clear sky. It was still early afternoon but was already hardly differentiable from night time.

The wind that at first, was blowing gently and made the park's tree dance, was now stronger and fiercer as if torturing them and trying to break them apart.

Far away in the clouds, lightnings could be seen and with no sound, they lightened up the darkness here and there like little sparks of hope.

At the extreme side of the park, was the Attha mansion, rigidly standing like a giant made out of stone, as if symbolizing the strong will of the previous rulers it took under its protection.

From one of the few rooms that were lighten, was a lonely girl sitting by the window, busy observing the obscure scenery that was taking place on the opposite side of the glass.

"Not my day…" grinned the blond girl with amber eyes that were darkened by many troubled sleep. Slowly leaning her head onto the glass, she sighed. She really wanted to go out for a walk.

To think of it, it hasn't been her day for a while. Since her father's death, and since Orb lost their leader, she has been constantly living under political feud. Single men of all ages presented themselves at the mansion every day hoping to win her favor, but she immediately turned them down without even meeting one. "These stupid idiots" she thought.

Talking about idiot, the worse of them all was of no doubt Yuna Roman Seiran. Son of her father's friend, Unato Ema Seiran, he told the press that no better candidate than himself could match the princess' magnificent beauty.

Yah right, he has never seen her. She sighed again.

-Tap Tap -

The sound of the starting rain hitting the window woke her from her thoughts. "Nice, that's even better now" she sarcastically commented as she observed the water drawing patterns on the glass with emptied eyes. Somehow, she felt as if those raindrops were representing the tears she couldn't shed anymore. She was so tired.

Suddenly, a knock could be heard from the other side of the wooden door.

"Ojou-sama? It's me Mana, I'm here to prepare you for the ceremony" the maid voiced.

Right, the ceremony. She completely forgot about it. Today was the day the princess of Orb was to unveil herself to the whole world. Since her father passed away, exactly 2 weeks ago, every political figures have pressured her to walk out of the shadow to reveal her identity. With the help of Unato Ema Seiran, she finally decided to hold a ceremony. "You can't run away from it forever. Don't worry, I'm here to help you" he told her.

And she trusted him.

"Those bastard polititians…" cursed the princess as Mana entered the room.

"Oh! Ojou-sama! How sad will Lord Uzumi be if he heard that!" commented the woman as she deposed 5 sumptuous gowns onto Cagalli's bed.

Just by hearing the sound of these dresses' fabric, Cagalli could already imagine the upcoming pain she'll have to endure when she'll wear one. Despite her social status, she has never been a model to follow for a girl. She's stubborn and tomboyish like no other and obviously dresses have never been her cup of tea.

"I'll wear this one" the princess pointed at the bunch of gowns on the bed, not even looking at them.

"No no no, Ojou-sama." Replied Mana who knew the princess better than anyone. "You think I'll fall for that huh? Princess, unless you point one with extreme precision, I will have to make you try them all"

Turning to Mana to protest, Cagalli surprisingly noticed how rough time has been on this little woman in these past 2 weeks. New traits of age could be seen among others, no doubt due to all the worries that occupied her heart.

It seems that her father's death has impacted everyone.

"Fine…" Cagalli finally took a glance at the dresses… Among the red, black, blue and pink gowns laid a 5th one that caught her eyes especially. It was of a pastel green color and made of a very light fabric. The dress was very simple compared to the others yet it was the most meaningful one to her… it was the last dress her father gifted her before he suddenly passed away.

Slowly lifting it with both of her hands, Cagalli whispered slowly with eyes full of pain "I'll wear this one Mana…"

"Good! I'm sure it'll suit you perfectly! Let me help you to put it on, and then! The hair and make up!" exclaimed the maid with a faint smile. Deep in her, she knew the princess' heart was being torn apart by all these unfortunate events, and it saddened her a lot to see her little Cagalli like that.

As Mana was styling the blond girl's hair, she commented to the princess on how courageous and beautiful she was, but Cagalli lost in her thoughts, didn't seem to hear her.

The princess knew very well that soon after tonight's ceremony, she'll be forced to be engaged to someone she doesn't even know nor have feelings for. These bastards will pressure her.

She knows it.

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It was raining hard for a summer night. The road was extremely slippery and dark.

The pouring rain that was blinding the car lights of the blue haired driver, was definitely not making his life any easier.

Despite being a coordinator, Athrun still knew he could loose control of his car at any moment. Manipulation of genes sure could make them better and smarter, but it still was nothing compared to mother nature's caprices.

Athrun Zala just moved to Orb 3 days ago, and was now going home after his first day of work. Data mining and information gathering they call it. Anyways. He really didn't want to think further about it, he was way too tired.

Athrun's job ended 2 hours ago. Caught into traffic, he couldn't help but to wait for an hour until he successfully switched to a road that he thought could take him home faster.

Sure, it was a deserted one to take, but it was the longest one too.

This explains why he's still rolling in this atrocious weather at a time like this, when everyone was comfortably resting at home.

Home sweet home, a warm and peaceful place.

Damn it.

His apartment was far from being a comfy place yet. Athrun still haven't finished unpacking his boxes and the thought of doing it after such a hectic day really irritated him.

Damn Orb's unpredictable weather. If it wasn't this storm, he would have made it home long time ago.

Eyes still fixed on the road, he distinguished in the darkness, not far away, a moving shape, descending rapidly the hill from his right.

"What is it? Don't tell me there's someone out there in this weather?" he curiously asked himself as he slowed down the car in the traffic less road.

Rolling closer to the form he saw, he discerned a girl wearing only a light dress, totally soaked from head to toe, running painfully toward his ride.

A normal person would be puzzled for a while before reacting. However, Athrun didn't think twice before running out of his car, in the storm, to assist the girl who obviously needed his help.

"Are you ok?" he asked the unfortunate teenager, who fell as soon as he reached his arms for her.

The sound of the pouring rain was masking his voice, and getting no answer from the girl, he asked again, louder this time. "Are you ok miss?"

With a fatigued smile, the girl finally nodded as she slowly lifted her head to view her savior's face. "Thank…God" she whispered before fainting in his arms, giving in from fatigue.

"Miss.. Miss!" he started to panic. Without receiving any answer, he decided to save themselves from the storm, and carried the girl back to his car, in a hurry.

After laying her comfortably on the back passenger seat, he rushed for his, cursing at the same time his luck that obviously deserted him for the whole day.

Moving backwards his wet blue hair as he closed his car door, he glanced at the girl that mysteriously appeared to him in such a stormy night.

The dim light of the car revealed a pale and fragile teenager. Her wet blond fringes, stuck on her face made her look extremely vulnerable. Observing the thin and soaked dress that covered her delicate skin, Athrun couldn't help but to blush.

"Damn it, what are you looking at!" he scolded himself with a little slap as he reached for his working suit and covered her body.

Removing few bangs of blond hair from her face, he noticed that she was injured on the neck. Wondering what type of trouble she got in, he returned to his driving position and held his head with both hands.

"What a day…" he sighed.

He was so tired…

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"Where am I?" mumbled the girl, waking up from her deep sleep.

As she tried to move, every part of her body ached as if she was getting dismembered.

Slowly opening her eyes and with a blur vision, she distinguished a person's form sitting by her side, observing her.

Suddenly agitated, she tried to sit up but her current condition didn't allow her to make any abrupt movements. In great pain the girl, with her few resting energy, tried to defend herself, until a soothing hand reached her shoulder and calmed her down.

"Don't worry, everything's fine" reassured a serene voice.

With her vision slowly cleared, she saw a blue haired boy with crystal emerald eyes sitting by her side. Traces of fatigue could be clearly seen from his look.

"You're safe here, don't worry." He comforted. "How are you feeling?"

"… I'm… ok…" the girl whispered back hesitantly. "Who are you?"

"My name is Athrun Zala" A smile appeared on his face. "And you?"

The girl suddenly felt her cheeks burn at the sight of this warm and peaceful smile. The boy's sincere eyes strangely made her feel at ease, and with a soft voice she replied back to him slowly.

"Cagalli… Just call me Cagalli."

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So what you think! OOC? Reviews pls! >.