Whopee! Another chappie up! Okay first things first :
1. Italics would be once again either thoughts of a person or the somebody reliving the past.
2. A sincere thanks to everybody who had reviewed (HUGE toothy grin.) I love you guys.
Nevermore-Amaya : It's Colonel, I made a mistake in the second chapter, for that I apologize. Thanks for your reviews, they are incredibly ego boosting.(wink)
Climax : Cagalli won't be dead, well that might change depending on what I intend to do with thsi ficcie, but for now, she's safe.(Smile) About the sakura tree, well I can't really explain much but do read " Returning Home" , another Athrun X Kira ficcie. It would explain more about the sakura tree.
xxlilvietgurlxx : Cagalli wasn't in two places at once, the clone had taken her place after she broke into the cottage. She had kidnapped Cagalli under Colonel Laws orders and had taken her place in case Athrun came back, it was to prevent Athrun from realising what was happening.
Spyrit Phoenyx : Cagalli's 's choice of security would be explained in this chappie, hope you like it.( Smile) Had been planning to reveal the truth when Athrun and Cagalli had a chance to see ecah other again.
Well...that's about what I had to say about explaining some blur spots in the fics. ( smile ) Hey, I might not be able to post that frequently in the future but I will keep my fingers crossed, I won't let you guys down don't worry. ( HUGE wink ). Oh well...let's proceed to the story shall we? I present to you...
The Lover After Him
by : frost2light
Colonel Laws
I watched in amusement, not to mention pride as Cagalli's clone- clone number five- fainted theatrically into Athrun's unsuspecting arms. It was a gamble when I had sent the clone there that very night and it had paid off when Athrun walked through that door. Athrun Zala was after all not a man who shirks his responsibilities and by the looks of it, he plans to stand by Cagalli through and through. As the thought materialised in my head, a smirk crept onto my face. Indeed, I knew what Athrun was thinking, him coming back was mainly in order to allow him to be able to dig further about the incident, about the woman that the real Cagalli had mentioned. However, things would not be so easy with the clone in place. She would try her best and do what her teacher, me, had taught her to do so perfectly, which was to misdirect. Thinking about Cagalli's clone brought back fond memories of the past or more accurately put, two years before, that I did not plan to erase. It was a month after the day Colonel Anders had been ensnared in my trap.
"Sir, the cloning is a success."
" How many this time?" I asked the young scientist standing in front of me.
" Five. Everything of them are similar to the Representative herself."
" Good. Excellent. Report this to the other committee members too." I ended the conversation and sat back into my chair with a satisfied smile.
The cloning process was a system recently developed from the information that was attained from certain renegade Naturals who had been in charge of that respective field before the war had come to be. Money had played a huge factor in this agreement and though it was a high price to pay, it was definitely worth it. The plan that I had been formulating was beginning to take root after so long and with Colonel Anders with me, the success rate would be close to a hundred percent.
I flipped through the data that was in front of me, depicting the experiments and results in neat black printed words and I allowed myself a little smile. None of the council members were even aware of what I was planning to do, only that pesky Roy Kilburn. But, Roy would no longer be in my way as I had a little surprise in turn for him. He had been recently put in charge to supervise the weaponry department and it was so easy to plant things that would make him look so guilty in front of any jury. Things that would hint at betrayal or even maybe illegal weapon trade. It would be so much fun to wipe that irritating know it all look from Roy Kilburn's face. The other committee members were merely pawns in this huge game of chess, people whom I had the power to make or destroy with the incriminating evidence I had of them that depicted certain things or events that they would not wish to make public.
For instance, who would have thought the admirable, married, Lisa Kurt has a toy boy that keeps her entertained every time she has a holiday anywhere, or the stern looking law abiding Yumiko Tara was entangled with gambling debts so deep, she would have sell her soul to the devil to pay just the interest rates or the oh so straight laced Halu Fu is actually a closet gay who has been frolicking with Lisa Kurt's husband? Nobody. But in reality, these three important figures were indeed doing what I had just described. Oh the web of deceit and lies those people entangle themselves in and I could not help the snide smile from appearing on my face.
I focused once again onto the data in front of me to check for any margin of error and was struck by how ironic the whole situation was. The experiments that were done to produce the Representative's clones were in actual fact in order to protect her. The Representative's job's description which ranges from making political speeches, to visiting war torn countries in order to give encouragement or comfort or just to merely make a presence in some boring party that alliances organized is rather dangerous. Who knows what was to happen in the future? An assassination? A kidnapping event? The clones were there to take her place if the conditions were too dangerous for the real Representative to make an appearance especially when her presence there is needed. That is their purpose. However, now in this case, the experiment was about to be used against Cagalli, the clones would play an important role in helping me get to the top and the process has barely begun.
The cloning process has produced fruitful results but more work was to done before everything could be
In place especially the training of the five clones. Their personalities, the way they walk, talk or act was of the utmost importance. Replacing the genuine Cagalli with a fake is a tedious process and high risked project, if failed could bring down everything that I had worked so hard for. However, if it did work, I would be able to realise my dream, the dream that I had been harbouring since young, the dream to able to rule. Power was everything and I hope to have attained that before I died. They had chosen me as the perfect candidate for overseeing this project, partly because of the perfect loyal follower that I had portrayed since the beginning of time and the fact that I was a sucker for details. I am a perfectionist, everything must be polished and right and this project had to have a leader who had qualities like mine. If I had believed in fate and destiny, it could be said that I was destined and fated to be in charge of this plan, and that Cagalli was doomed since the start of it.
I yawned and pushed the chair that I was sitting away from the flickering screens and looked at the digital clock that was directly above me. It was twenty five past two and exactly thirty seconds in the morning, the clock boasted of absolute accuracy and had all the different time zones that I could change at will. It was the perfect symbol of me, precise and versatile. One cannot expect less of what Lord Uzumi Nara Athha to have given his follower as a gift. I smiled and got up from the chair. It was time to go to sleep.
Kira
I got as comfortable as one could get in a jeep that was hurtling down rocky uneven roads through a picturesque landscape that screamed countryside which was still shrouded in darkness. I had no idea what time it was as I was not wearing a watch nor had the jeep had any time indicator that I could utilize. I sneaked a look at Roy's profile but I could barely make out any expression except the brows that were knitted into a frown.
" What are you looking at kid?"
I paused, unsure of what to say before blurting, " How did you know I was looking?"
" Past history. Training, jail, you know."
" Do you have a plan to where we are going?" I changed the subject, though I could not see his features, his voice when he had answered was bitter and angry, we were travelling at quite a fast pace and I did not want to die just yet.
" Yes."
I was surprised. " Where?"
" A safe house."
" A safe house? What do you mean?"
" I bought it years ago and buried it under tonnes and tonnes of paperwork as a backup plan in case something happened, that I would have a place to go to."
" You foresaw your capture?"
" It was imminent, I was a someone they had to get rid of, but since they could not kill me, though it was not through lack of effort." Roy paused, caught in past memories before continuing, "So the next best thing was to discredit me. I was in charge of the armoury back then, someone who sat on the committee, a person who had power and people who listened. I found out about their plans purely by accident and I thought I could just pretend but somehow they knew and they came down strongly. It was either obey or regret for the rest of my life."
Silence filled the tense atmosphere. Both of us knew quite well what Roy had chosen. I cleared my throat and asked the question that both of us knew that I was bound to ask after what he had just told me.
" Do you regret it then?"
Roy stayed silent while I looked out of the window. Just as I thought that he was not about to answer he did.
" I wished that I could say no, that I do not regret my decision, but, both of us would know it would not be the truth. I loved the life I had back then, power, money, fame, I had a life any man would have sacrificed anything to get. Many a time back in Hoxworth, I wondered what would It have been if I just obeyed what they had asked me to do. Toed the line, turn a blind eye, and not question their authority. I would have saved my ass, I would still be a powerful, influential man who was free instead of the fugitive that I am now ….." He broke off.
" But?" I prompted, knowing that there was more.
" But? But I could not do it. " I could see the corners of his lips quirk up into a smirk. " I was very tempted to, what they had offered was very tempting, very irresistible but I could not. Cliché as it sounded, I truly was a loyal follower of Lord Uzumi. I was very hurt when he had left me out and went on his own way to the next world, I would have gladly followed in his footsteps if he had just asked. I had berated myself long and hard , thought and analysed what I had done to deserve this but I could not come up with anything. Zilch." Roy's hands tighten on the steering wheel as he stared straight ahead, his gaze hardening.
" And?"
" It was about then did I find out about Colonel Anders and Colonel Law's little liaison that I realised why I was there. I finally had a purpose once more, I may sound like a fanatic to you, but Lord Uzumi was and still is the person I had admired and wished that I could be. I am what I am today because of him and I knew that his daughter was his legacy, the key for a better future and I was not about to let those two colonels ruin it."
My fists were clenched by my sides as I heard what Roy had to say while my eyes were trained straight ahead on the road. I did not know how to react, conflicting emotions went on a rampage within me. I wanted to curse myself for being selfish, for being so jealous over what Cagalli had chosen for her future happiness while the other part of me argued that everything was fair game in love.
How could you be so stupid?
How does falling in love be quoted as being stupid?
You gave up so much for love.
I don't understand.
Stop being so naïve. It was love for Athrun that you let the issue of your innocence drop. It was your love for your twin that you are out now trying to figure out what is going on.
You are wrong. I want vengeance for my lost past.
Stop lying to yourself. You and I know what the truth is.
" Kid, stop thinking so much. You will drive yourself crazy." Roy;s voice broke through that self inflicted torture and interrupted my train of thoughts. I looked at him in surprise waiting for him to elaborate while the surroundings slipped by us in a never ending shade of black.
Roy sighed before he cleared his throat, as if embarrassed or unsure of what to say and started, " Kira, you and I both know we both love Cagalli, love is a funny thing. We tell ourselves not to fall in love and we take so many precautions to strengthen that act because we know that we would get burnt, that it would leave us scarred. But no matter what our brains say our hearts do not listen. In reality, nothing can be defined as logic, how would know what is true? People are the ones who set the norm, kid. Nobody blames you for loving Athrun, nobody can foresee the future. Love is something that should have been beautiful and pure, but it is also something that cannot guarantee happiness. Ask yourself kid, would you have changed the past if you were able to? Would you go back in time to prevent what had happened from happening?" Roy smiled. " I know your answer is a no, you won't change a single thing, you would not have given up anything."
" How do you know?" I asked in a choked voice, my hands that were hidden from view trembling with the suppressed emotion that was bottled inside.
" How do I know?" Roy chuckled, amused that I had asked that simple a question. " You are an easy read kid. You rather sacrifice yourself, let others hurt you, step on you, order you around, carry and suffer for their sins just so that they would be safe and sound, happy and contented."
" You are wrong." I whispered.
" How wrong can I be when the evidence is right in front of you? Love makes people do all sorts of crazy things, you were willing to suffer in jail in silence for three years just so that Athrun and Cagalli could go on with their lives, happily married. You were willing to let go just so that your twin sister could get what she wanted even if she was the one who framed you."
" Don't you ever say that about Cagalli," I whispered but my threat was weak and both he and I knew it.
Roy chuckled again without saying anything and I knew that I had just proved his theory correct.
" What is your point?" I asked through gritted teeth, wishing that the conversation had not taken the path that is heading to now.
" My point is, don't berate and waste your energy thinking about stuff that is not high on our priority list, saving your sister and preventing what could be a catastrophe is. Putting men like Anders and Laws in charge might mean another war, they are power hungry people Kira, and they will not stop at just one measely small country. I may sound like a demanding old man, a person who has a generation gap with you kids, maybe I don't understand how you feel as I have never been through things like this, but you know that I'm right, that emotions are no longer at the top of our list. I've given you time to mourn, that first year in jail? That was your wallow in self pity and lick your wounds time, but now, now is the time to seal them up in a box and dumped far into the recesses of your brain. So please, think about what the hell we should do instead of mourning over things that cannot be changed. Do not for once think that I would coddle you or whisper sweet consolations into your ears. It is a hard world and a changing one, pause for a moment to dally and everything will drown you. This an advice from somebody who is more experienced in this kind of matters."
I said nothing, and Roy's voice softened, " Kid, I know I sound harsh and it's not far for you but just bear with it a little longer, you are not alone in this."
Still I said nothing as I watched the view go by while the sun rose lazily into the sky setting everything alight with it's colours, Roy's words echoing in my mind and I knew that he was right. Now is not the time and place for weaknesses like this. I remembered the sakura tree and the wish that I had made, it would come true I know, but there would be a price to pay. The price? Total dedication to the cause. I smiled. I could do that.
" Thank you." I said, low under my breath but I knew Roy had heard as he smiled in response. Words need not to be spoken out loud, I had conveyed my message loud and clear.
" Prepare yourself, we will be at the house soon."
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Athrun
I woke up with a pounding headache by the ringing mobile phone and the smell of eggs and bacon. I flipped to my side and looked at the digital clock on the bedside table.
Eight twenty five.
I groaned and wondered who was calling at such an ungodly hour while a tiny part was curious as to what Cagalli was doing up so early in the morning, I pondered briefly about the options that I had and I groaned once more. I hated mornings with a vengeance and tried to snuggle back down into the soft bed. Unfortunately the ringing of the telephone seemed not to cease. Frustrated I turned back towards the bedside table and answered the phone.
" Hello?" I rasped, my throat parched and dry while my mouth tasted foul and bitter from all the drinking that I forced down myself yesterday.
" Athrun?" A familiar voice came onto the phone, a voice that I had been dreaming of for so long.
" Kira?" I whispered, shell shocked.
" It's been awhile hasn't it Athrun?" Kira's voice was wistful, soft, gentle and the memories that I had shared with him came pouring back.
You and I guarding each other's back in battle, willing to sacrifice our lives just to see the other safe.
The sakura tree where both of us had bid goodbye.
Me finding you alive and well after the battle at Jachin Due.
You laughing with Torii perched on your shoulder.
You leaving and blending into the darkness in jail.
The memories replayed itself with amazing clarity and before I could stop myself, I had blurted out what was foremost on my mind." Kira, where are you?"
The question brought both of us back into reality with a jolt with me regretting the question with every passing minute but what had been said could not be taken back and the only thing that I could do was to kick myself repeatedly for not thinking before I spoke.
" I can't tell you, is this a secure line?" Kira's voice was no longer gentle, no longer wistful. Instead it was short, staccato and businesslike and I felt a sudden overwhelming urge to howl like a wounded animal and plead Kira to revert back to his gentle self but I did not. I did the same to him.
" Yes. Where are you?" Both of us pretending to be perfect soldiers, humans with no emotions, conducting this conversation as if we did not know each other.
" Do not ask me things that you know I can't tell. If you don't want lies, don't ask things that would prompt them." The harsh voice came back, and I cringed inwardly. Outwardly, I rose to the challenge.
" Why are you calling then? Aren't you afraid that I would trace this call? How are you so sure that I'm not doing just that?"
" Because I trust you." Kira's voice was almost inaudible but I heard what he said clearly and I could feel the sadness and regret churn inside me, the guilt and the pain of the past three years threatening to overcome me.
" I'm so sorry." I whispered back, my voice raw and painful. I hoped he understood, I did not ask for forgiveness but for his understanding. The persona of the perfect soldier crumbling so easily when facing each other.
" Forget about that, we have all the time in the world to settle those unsettled issues but for now, that is not our priority. There's more pressing matters at hand."
" What do you mean?"
" I'm only going to state this once. Listen carefully, write it down if you need to but destroy it later."
I looked around frantically for a piece of paper and a pen before grunting as a confirmation that I was ready and Kira rattled off a name and a date with me scribbling furiously on the paper.
" Got it?" He asked.
" Yes."
" Make it alone and on time. We'll be waiting."
" Kira, I'm sorry." I had to say it again before he hung up, wanting to hear him say something, willing him to not hang up so fast.
An eternity of silence enveloped the both of us and my right hand which was holding onto the mobile was gripping it tight till I could see my knuckles turn white with the strain as I was afraid that he had hung up but before I could speak he spoke.
" I understand." His voice soft and gentle, filled with understanding and love but not without a hint of bitterness in it. Two words, simple and short but it erased the guilt and pain that I felt, you were the one who understood me the best after all.
" Thank you." I love you. Forgive me. Come back. Stay. I longed to say but he had hung up and I was left feeling empty and lonely again. I closed the mobile and leaned back unto the bed rest, recalling what Kira had said just now and looking at the messy handwriting in front of me. He had given me an address and a time, I looked at the clock once more.
Eight thirty five.
Another five more hours to go till the appointed time, I had to get ready and prepared but a sudden knock on my bedroom door brought me back to where I was and I froze. My brows creased as I frowned, I had chosen to stay and find out everything that I could from Cagalli and I had forgotten all about her. The tell tale kitchen noises had ceased and I wondered for a moment whether had she heard the conversation between Kira and I.
" Athrun?" Another knock on the door and Cagalli's voice called my name from outside bringing with her the aroma of newly brewed coffee and breakfast that assaulted my senses. My stomach growled, indicating that I was hungry, famished really. I had not eaten since lunch yesterday as I had stormed out of the house yesterday in a rush before I could sit down for dinner. Cagalli had opted for the traditional way of somebody trying to apologize to another by pampering him or her with breakfast in bed. I was sorely tempted to turn her away, not out of spite, just that I had an important meeting to make. With Kira. And there was something else, a niggling feeling that something was wrong.
" Athrun? Are you awake?"
I gave a resigned sigh. Better now than never. I ignored the warning bells that chimed lout and clear when I called out, " Yes I'm awake, come on in."
The door creaked open slowly and a tray carrying the things that I had known would be on it appeared. Followed by a pair of hands that connected with the feminine shoulders and finally a familiar head which I hoped I could reveal what was going on in it.
" Breakfast in bed?" I asked.
" Hope you like it." Her response was sweet, docile. It didn't seem like her, yet it was her. There was something off, something pretentious about her whole behaviour. I looked at her puzzled, confused and she noticed.
" Is something wrong, Athrun?"
" Nothing. I'm sorry about yesterday." I looked at her, trying to smother the suspicion that I felt inside, How much had she heard? Had she been outside when I was speaking to Kira?
" Don't worry about it. Now eat." She smiled, an angelic smile filled with sunshine and sweetness and I relented.
" Thank you."
I picked up the knife and fork that she had included in the breakfast tray and proceeded to eat what she had prepared. She stayed by my side, looking on as I fed myself bacon and eggs, I felt uneasy under her scrutiny, the feeling of oddness coming back stronger than ever and before I could open my mouth to ask her was anything wrong I felt myself feeling extremely drowsy and woozy. I blinked furiously to try to keep myself awake but everything seemed to swim and wobble. I turned my head with effort to face Cagalli.
" What…ha..ve..you…done..?" I clutched my head, and felt myself slithering down unto the soft bed.
" Go to sleep Athrun Zala. Go to sleep." The voice was cold and it no longer sounded like Cagalli yet it was still her, I could tell.
" Cag..gali…? No…Who…are …you?" I tried to force out the words but it came out slurred.
She smiled, " That's for me to know and for you to find out. Good night Athrun." She taunted and I fell into a deep dark nothingness.
Kira….
Cagalli's clone looked down impassively and picked up the fallen piece of paper before reading it.
Two o' clock. Devil's Incarnate.
She smiled. It was time for the plan to move into phase two. But first she had to get rid of unnecessary baggage. The real Cagalli's twin.
Colonel Laws
The mobile phone that was sitting squarely on the right to me rang, it's shrill tone echoing in the room that I called my quarters. I frowned. The echoes annoyed me, and I looked disappointedly at the plush carpeting and the padded walls around me.
It should not have echoes. Why?
" Yes?" I barked down unto the line, wasting no time for formalities or being polite. People who had this number were generally people who had to report in to me, people who I did not need to waste time or breath on as it was my private line, a secure line where I could conduct particular activities on. I had my own men in security and it was them who checks this line regularly for any planted mechanisms which would somehow disrupt my business. They had been on my payroll for a few years now and their fees are exorbitant but it was money that had to be spent.
" Sir." I perked up immediately when I recognised the voice on the other side.
" Yes?"
" It is a success. Where do you want me to place him?"
" How long will he be out?"
" For about five hours. The sleeping agent I used is quite strong, even for advanced Coordinators like him."
" Good. Pack him up and send him to me. You know the place. Will he be missed?"
" Yes. Kira Yamato called just five minutes before. He arranged for Athrun and him to meet."
" Where and when?"
" Devil's Incarnate at two."
I checked the time and smiled. Another five more hours to go and that was ample time. "Go in Athrun's place. Do what you have to do to bring both Kira Yamato and Roy Kilburn down. Got it?"
" Yes sir." Her voice was cool and dispassionate and the whole conversation had gone down as simple as a business transaction. I leaned back into my chair, I now had an appointment to keep with Athrun Zala, the man who could help or break me. I wondered what would he do when Cagalli was threatened, would he do the same to her as he had done to Kira Yamato? He is a selfish person and a coward, but cowards have hidden strengths and it would be entertaining and amusing to see what this particular coward could do.
I pressed the button that would link me to my secretary outside and waited for a few seconds before she picked up, " Amy, what do I have for this afternoon?"
Amy Roslinda, the perfect secretary with her immaculate taste in clothes and perfect figure answered promptly, " A meeting with General Halu Fu at one thirty and Lady Kurt at three."
" Cancel them and reschedule it for tomorrow."
" What should I tell them as an excuse, sir?"
" No need, just reschedule, they would not ask much."
" Yes sir, anything else, sir?
" Yes, I would be out this afternoon if anybody calls, redirect them to my mobile but only if it is extremely important or pressing matters, do you understand?"
" Yes sir."
I replaced the receiver and pushed my chair back before standing up, stretching as much as I could to get the kinks out of my body. I was getting old and I hated that fact, it made me weak somehow, thinking about the disadvantage I had compared to other younger people. I comforted myself with the fact that I was smarter than other average people which included the young and was temporarily placated. I unhooked the jacket that was hung nearby to the door and went out of the room, I nodded a greeting to Amy who was typing elegantly on the computer and I wondered what it was like to have her as my mistress. I have a wife, and I loved her, well as much as a man loved something who could cook, clean and wash. She was once a beauty but once again age had taken it's toll and I was still a virile man, Amy would be a trophy, a prize that I would award myself for the recent results. It did not occur to me that maybe Amy would resist, that she had somebody else in mind. What I wanted, I would get, if it doesn't go well, I would destroy it so that no one else could get what I could not. That was what I had learnt so long ago, poverty had that effect on a person. A poor person who had tasted money will never go back to where they had been once, it was a rule. Who would want to go back to the life that was shared with rats? Eating worms and rubbish, fighting with everyone and anybody who got in our way. That was the way of life that I had grown up with, and I did not plan to go back there. I walked with my head held high out the front door of the Orb administration building, it had been not long ago when dignity had once not existed in my dictionary, I had killed before I was twelve and grovelled in other people's shadow just to save my life. Yes dignity had not existed then but now, now was a different case and I plan to keep it that way.
A beggar kid, dirty rat. Keep away from my shoes.
What rubbish. Look at him. Dirty and smelly, never play with him.
My mommy said that you were dangerous, she told me not to talk to you
He stole my wallet, he was the only one there. Catch him. Beat him up! Teach him a lesson that he would never forget.
That particular memory stuck to me like glue and that man had indeed taught me a very valuable lesson that fateful night. I had learnt it and kept it close to my heart, I would never be the one who would get beaten again, money was the key. With money came power, with power came respect and respect is an addictive thing. I vowed then at age eleven that nothing would get in my way to the top. The people who had taunted me got what they deserved in the later years, they received what they had given me. Names were ruined, business went bankrupt, I had an amazing memory and that memory had served me well. The man that had taught me that valuable lesson that night held a special place in my heart, I had given him the special treatment and I was there to witness it. His screams and cries of pain and mercy were merely music to my ears, the metallic stench of his blood had filled the air as mine had filled that night, his body was so mutilated the police had named him John Doe, his teeth and any thing that could be used to identify him striped away. His burnt body was found early one morning by an unfortunate jogger and I had watched the news with delight, I had repaid him with a lesson that he would never forget. Dying had a way of creating that effect, dying meant that you only remembered the last few moments of your life and I knew that he remembered what happened that night with amazing clarity.
I sympathised with Athrun as he would be put through such treatment if he did not comply to my wishes, but I am a just man, I would give him a choice. A choice to follow or to suffer the consequences, it was not a bad chance. He would benefit from it, Athrun's talent should not be just the Representative's aid, he should be somebody like me. A person who has power and money, influence and respect. If everything goes down well, I might just make him my successor. If everything goes well.
Kira
Roy Kilburn's so called safe house is not a house. It is a mansion. It is large enough for a few football fields to be in it and I was surprised how he could have buried the ownership without anybody asking questions.
" You must be wondering how I have this."
I nodded in confirmation, no longer willing to waste time to beat around the bush. Roy had an uncanny ability to read my thoughts anyways.
" Old money. My grandfather was rich, my father even richer and I inherited everything." He waved his hands expansively around the whole building, "This was what I invested the money in."
" But, how? Don't you have any living relatives?"
" No. I'm the only one left of the Kilburn family. I'm actually surprised that you haven't heard of us. We were quite famous during olden days, especially before I was sent to prison. To whatever that had happened after….well, let's just say that money does a lot of things to people."
I looked at him puzzled, but was unwilling to inquire further. He was a man of many secrets and there were some things that were better off unasked. Let sleeping dogs lie they say and I was contented to do just that.
" So the phone call went down all right?"
" Yes, but aren't you afraid that the call would be traced? And how did you know that I knew what Athrun's phone number was?"
" Don't worry about the call, even if the traced it, they won't find it. I scrambled the signal so it's all right. The fact that you have loved Athrun so much, I wouldn't be surprised if you could rattle off facts that none of us knew much less his mobile phone number." Roy smiled at me and I gave a wry grin back.
" Where is this Devil's Incarnate?"
" It's not far from here, it's a pub and I happen to know the owner. He owes me a favour from long ago. He will let me use the rooms there for privacy, and he is a very discreet person. I trust him."
" Okay."
Roy turned away and walked up the winding staircase towards the second floor, he had mentioned that he was about to take a bath and have some rest before the big meeting and suggested that I do the same. I followed him up, admiring the infrastructure that was his safe house before he pointed me to a door second on my left and motioned that I use it. I opened the door and was greeted with plush floor carpeting, a four poster bed with exquisite furniture dotting the room here and there. Everything in this bedroom screamed of taste and money.
I walked in a daze towards the welcoming four poster bed, fur covered the whole surface of it and I could not resist the urge to run my fingers through the soft down. I looked around me, absorbing every detail and had a feeling that I had died and gone to heaven. It was such a sharp contrast from Hoxworth and being in this house, I was able to do the unbelievable. I was able to forget, to not remember the past three years, as funny as it sound, this house made me safe, it comforted me in ways nobody else could.
Maybe except Athrun. Wouldn't he be thrilled to be here?
I undressed as quickly as I could but not before I checked the wardrobes in the room. It spanned from the one wall to another and was filled with all kinds of styles, there were everything from a simple white cotton shirt to an elaborately made high collar black T, I imagined what it was to wear it and I touched the fabric, instantly falling in love with it. It was silky smooth and it was body hugging, I could not help but blush at the thought of Athrun's reaction when he sees me in this ensemble.
What are you doing? Athrun's married.
Shut up.
Remember what Roy said, focus!
I know, please just a little imagination.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
I looked longingly at the black shirt and decided there and then I would wear it. I smiled happily and went about to do the stuff that I was supposed to do.
Athrun
I heard water dripping and rats scrambling about and I groggily wondered where I was. I tried to remember something about what had happened but nothing seemed to come back. I struggled to open my eyes but when I did it after some effort, I could see nothing except pitch black darkness. I moved my hand but found to my horror that I could not, clanking sounds that sounded so alike metal against stone could be heard. I tried moving my legs but gained the same result. I gave up after a few minutes in exhaustion as my body was still reacting to whatever that I had been given. But I had come to a conclusion that I was chained to a wall, spread-eagled and above ground. I strained my ears to listen to the sounds that were around me and I could hear distant footsteps.
" Help!" I shouted, trying my best to struggle enough to make the chains clank against each other. I intended to make a ruckus to attract attention. I was so caught up in my bid to escape that I did not notice the figure that was not far away till it spoke.
" Don't bother."
I stopped short at the voice, I could not believe my ears. " Cagalli?"
" Yes."
" How? Why? I thought…" I spluttered.
" She did this to you too, huh?"
" Who?"
" Somebody who looks incredibly like me."
" What do you mean? Weren't you back in the cottage with me?" I was taken aback by Cagalli's tone, it sounded dead and lifeless. It had not sounded like the Cagalli that I know.
" No. I was kidnapped and placed here before you came."
" Who did that?"
" The same lady who did this to you. I think it is my clone."
" Your clone? I don't understand."
Cagalli gave a bitter laugh before saying, " Remember our last conversation together Athrun? I told you that a woman had attacked me instead of Kira? Well I think, no I'm sure that that woman is involved in this whole scam somehow. She is the one who had brought me here."
" How can you prove that? I knew that I should have gone ahead with the surveillance cameras." I cursed under my breath.
" Athrun, you still don't get it do you? Why I didn't want security cameras?"
" Cagalli…"
" I'll tell you why. I didn't want to let others to see what a dismal marriage that I had, I did not want to have my miserable life recorded on tape, I did not want to be able to view the things that I had been through. I, no we lived an empty life, didn't you notice that Athrun? We were merely shells of ourselves, we were not even there. The house had been supposed to be filled with laughter, with joy. Instead it had been filled with tragedy, with hatred, with pain, I knew I had chose this road, but…Athrun it hurts so much. I tried so hard, I really did, I tried to change, I tried to do everything and would continue to do so if only you would stay by my side, but, I realised that no matter what I did, the place in your heart is never going to be occupied by me, it will always be Kira you would be thinking of. I wasn't even the lover after him, I am nothing."
I did not say anything, what could I say? Apologize? Explain? What do you do in situations like this? Especially in situations like this. I had chosen this path out of selfishness, purely for my own purpose, so what can I say? Nothing could remedy this situation, but I was somewhat saved by the opening of the door, but my saviour turned to be my worst nightmare.
" Hello Athrun, welcome back."
" Colonel Laws, you bastard!"
