Ok, my second fanfic. This is primarily an AC story even though I will try to do a little KL and perhaps DM also. My first fanfic was also AC, but they are my favourite couple and SEED is one of the best anime I've watched so I'm writing about them again. This time I thought I would write a longer fic, if anybody likes it that is.

English is not my native language so there might be some mistakes here and there. If anyone would take the trouble of pointing them out I'd only be grateful, just tell me what is incorrect.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED

Choosing a Path

The Purple Obstacle from Hell

Cagalli woke up in her own bedroom at first she almost didn't recognize it. It felt as it had been ages since the last time she had woken up in this room. It was also a room in a house that brought back all memories of her father that she been forced to keep back because of the war. Oddly enough some part of her almost missed them, the battles. During those she had been to busy to think about her father, to busy to think about what would happen to Orb and to busy to think about how she now would be the one who had to lead Orb out of the worst crises in the country's history. Now tears came and she couldn't stop them, she pulled the cover over her head and curled up to a little ball hoping that no one would hear.

In another part of the house Athrun was getting dressed, "Shit!" he had a headache and he wasn't exactly up for socializing with everybody.

To help people settle in and manage to find their own place Cagalli had let him, Lacus and Deakka to stay at her house. Since it was a large building it was more than enough to house them all. Kira also had decided to stay even though he could have stayed at his parents'. But there were obviously some unresolved issues between him and them and Kira didn't want to deal with it yet. That was one reason, another surely was that Lacus also was staying here Kira seemed to be around her all the time.

Athrun wanted to see Cagalli, frankly he was a bit worried about how she was coping. He smiled to himself when he pictured her in his mind, she had a short temper, she yelled a lot and she was a bit spoiled but she also was one of the most caring people he had ever met. How many times had not her smile saved him? When he seemed to worry the most she would suddenly appear and know exactly what to say. Not to mention she was cute.

It was funny, he had always been very awkward with girls before, well actually he did not have very much experience but she was different from any other girl he had met. Perhaps it was the extreme situation they were in where he felt that he had nothing to lose. He had wanted to kiss her because it might have been the only chance he would get. God knows it would have been the last time if she hadn't ignored his orders at that time and followed him, she was right you know, it is a greater fight to live on and deal with your problems. Instead of being blown up, he had thrown himself into her Strike Rouge and they had somehow managed to escape unharmed.

He was in love, he knew that, for the first time. He just had to say it to her somehow. He knew that she was going through a lot, he himself had not exactly recovered from the mixed feelings about his father. He had loved him. That was what made it so hard to see him act like that, his own father wanting to kill all naturals. Athrun shook his head, more depressing thoughts.

"Heh, Father would definitely not have approved of Cagalli." Not that he would care, he was tired to just follow authorities, this was something he just wasn't going to let go.
Anyway, he was pretty sure Cagalli had some feelings for him, so he was going to confess. They could support each other through this.

"What am I doing?" Cagalli thought to herself. "I have to pull myself together. I'm the representative of Orb, people count on me."
She slowly got up from the bed, took a shower and dressed. Before she was heading out she looked at herself in the mirror and slapped herself lightly on the cheeks and straightened her back. Ok, she was ready to go.

When she came out in the hallway she saw a familiar face, "Athrun! What are you doing here? Isn't your room at the other side of the house?"

Athrun smiled at the sight of her, "I just wanted to see you, nothin' wrong with that." He looked a bit nervous.

"Should I tell her now?" he thought "What the heck, I can't just let this drag on for ever"

"No, there's nothing wrong with that" she said and smiled.

"Well, actually there's something I've been wanting to tell you, something important." Now he was blushing slightly though Cagalli didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, but can't it wait till after breakfast? I'm really starving you know" she asked.

"Uh, oh ok, I can wait."

Damn! He missed a perfect opportunity: here he was alone with Cagalli. But what could he answer to that? After breakfast he would definitely tell her. Definitely!

"Did he look a little strange?" Cagalli thought, "I wonder what was so important? Ah well, if it really is important I'll know sooner or later…" She stole a look from him and suddenly remembered the kiss they had shared. She blushed and looked at another direction as they walked towards the dining room. Now that she thought about it, were did they really stand, should she really be this close to him? Sure they had kissed, but for obvious reasons there had not been any time to develop things after that. More importantly what did she really feel about him? They were walking so close to each other that she could feel the warmth from his body, and it made her feel all fuzzy, was this love?

When they had almost reached the dining room the looked at each other Athrun shot of a calm but warm smile which she answered with a more careful shy one.

"Oh man, am I glad I can hide my feelings, that must have come off way cooler than I really feel, he, he, sometimes I even surprise myself" Athrun thought.

"Oh, what have we here? You two lovebirds!"

"Deakka!" Athrun said in a disapproving tone as they had walked in. The others where all ready seated.

"What are you talking about?" Cagalli spat out "We just happened to meet on the way here, that's all. There's really no need to jump into conclusions just because of that!"

"When you're getting all upset like that it makes me believe it even more" Deakka laughed.

"It really isn't just because of that, I observed you on Archangel you know."

"Kira, you!"

"Cagalli, take it easy. You're falling into their trap" Athrun tried to calmed her. He actually didn't mind their assumption, even if it was a little premature. Though he was a little annoyed by the provocation, but here again was an excellent opportunity to show off his superior emotion-hiding skills. "Ahh, I'm too good for my own good"

"Cagalli-san, I would like to thank you for the generosity of letting me stay here, I'm sorry to bother you like this" Lacus cut in.

This startled Cagalli and made her forget the previous argument.

"Uh, ah, mm of course Lacus, it's really nothing. Of course you can stay here actually I think it will be fun"

Cagalli was still a bit nervous around Lacus because she seemed to be so perfect. Unlike Cagalli she was always composed and she was so beautiful and so ladylike. Cagalli didn't feel she was remotely like Lacus in any of those areas plus she was a little bit jealous even if she knew she didn't have to be: Lacus seemed very interested in Kira. But it still was a fact that Athrun and Lacus had been engaged. "But wait what am I thinking? It's not like Athrun and I are going out or anything."

"Uhum, Cagalli-sama you have a visitor, a certain Yu…" here the butler was interrupted by tall man with purple hair and a ridiculous outfit.

"Ahhh, Cagalli-chan, let me offer my condolences. I'm so sorry for you, Uzumi-Sama's passing is a great tragedy for the whole country but of course you are the one most affected. Not only have you lost your father but you also have to bear the heavy burden of leading the country instead of your dear father. But you don't have to worry, I will be by your side." He said and suddenly hugged Cagalli before anyone had the time to react.

"Excuse me, who the hell are you!" Cagalli screamed as she pushed him away.

"Ts, ts, ts, is this any way to treat your fiancée?"

"What!" everybody screamed out loud.

"What is this Cagalli, haven't you told your friends that you have a fiancée? Frankly I'm a little disappointed, but no need to worry, I will take the opportunity to introduce myself: I'm Yuna Roma Saylan, Cagalli and I have been engaged since we were children." Yuna said with a little smirk on his lips.

The whole room was in a state of chock, Cagalli had a fiancée. And what's more he seemed to be a complete ass.