Disclaimer: I absolutely own my plot and my original characters (if there are any). Other than those I own nothing.

Arietta

Seventh Piece…

Forgive…

AU ALERT!

OOCness ALERT!

Forgive? Why would I ever want your forgiveness? I didn't do anything wrong. Not at all.

From the ground, after I had been tackled down by that sorry excuse of a Coordinator, Athrun Zala, I watched passively at the pair across from us while he stared, obviously wanting to go to them but not daring to.

The reason? It's because of this "Kira", who had just come out of nowhere when I was just done with my mission.

Not sure how I did it but I actually made it through this emotional, oh-so-touching scene without as much as feeling the least nausea. Maybe I should stop watching those soaps Luna and Meyrin loved so much…

Holding the limp body close to him, he didn't seem to mind (that is, if he noticed at all) the fact that, doing exactly what he was doing, he's soiling the pristine white of his uniform so much that in a couple of seconds nothing in the entire universe could have turn it back to its original state, color, again.

Really, I felt sorry for the washing machine.

Bending down, he pressed his lips to her forehead in a soft kiss.

"I kept my promise before," he whispered gently. "It's time that you keep yours."

And here I thought that he was going to confess his undying love to her.

I was prepared and so I didn't wince, like Athrun (and this was a member of FAITH? The Chairman was too kind), when those eyes of hard amethyst lifted cold gaze upon us.

"I hope you're satisfied," he said, deliberate and clear. Was that for me or for the pathetic heap next to me, or both of us, I didn't know. Hell, I didn't care.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, while cradling the still body in his arms with such care as if it was some valuable piece of art (which it was, obviously, not so) that needed to be handled with utmost, painstaking caution and touch of an expert.

And despite everything, I couldn't help but looked, for the last time, at what was once the person I hated most.

Head resting in the crook of his neck, both her eyes close in peace, and a faint smile on her lips, she looked as though she was merely sleeping.

But she would never wake up again.

Her eyes would remain close and nobody would ever see the light of life there again.

And the smile… There's nothing to smile at anymore.

"It's all right…"

Of course, it's all right. What I did… it's nothing but the right thing to do. I knew it. Everybody knew it. With her around, there would never be true peace. She's a part of those LOGOs, wasn't she? She let that Djibril into ORB and lied to everyone. She protected him, so she's wrong. It's her fault. Because of people like her, father and mother, Mayu, and Stellar died. She killed them. Athha…they were just murderers.

"I forgive you."

Who was she kidding? Forgave me? Me? It's her that should beg for my forgiveness. Not the other way round.

"Cagalli…" whispered Athrun. I didn't have to turn and look to know that he was crying. God, had the guy no sense? What a wimp…

The guy, Kira, looked at Athrun for a while, for the last time, before he turned those indifferent eyes on me.

"She forgave you," he said, with the same deliberate clearness as before. Teh, as if I cared.

I don't need forgiveness from anyone! I wanted to yell at him. Especially her!

Looking at me for a moment longer, he turned around and, just before he walked away, said, "For her sake, I forgive you. Both of you."

"Kira!" Athrun yelled, trying to stand up, but fell, quite pathetically, down on his knees. He cried so shamelessly. He cried as though he was a girl who had just lost her dog or something. "Cagalli… Kira… It's my fault… I'm sorry… I… I…"

The fog was falling. It must be. Otherwise, why couldn't I see that Kira walking away with Athha in his arms? There's no other explanation. It must be the fog…

"It's all right, Shinn."

We should get back to the Minerva soon before the rain's getting worse. I hated getting wet.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

Of course, it's the rain! It couldn't be anything else that kept falling down my face. Just the stupid rain…

"Forgive me."

Nothing more.

"I forgive you…"

(deep breath) I did it. Two chapters in one day. God, I did it!

(cry) Sorry, I killed Cagalli (did I?) in this piece. It's just the rumor of phase 40 in Destiny that got to me. Shinn pawning Cagalli. Damn, I hate the brat! (sigh) Cagalli's been suffering things she never deserved since the new series started. So, just to get it out of my system (again), I wrote this out. At least, it's Kira and not Athrun who took her to… somewhere.

Anyway.

To ninofchaos - …okay.