I do not own Gundam Seed.

Yeah! I live! I'm real sorry about this huge delay but this is the last chappie of this fanfiction...I sincerely hope that you would love it. ( smiles ). Okay a few things before I let you guys go..

1. Words in Italics are for things that had happened in the past, or the thoughts of that certain somenone.

2. A huge thanks to :

Spyrit Phoenyx : Man..you really gave me a fright.I thought you did not like my ficcie anymore...certainly hope you like the ending. Nevermore-Amaya : It's my last chappie of this ficcie..no doubt about it.Thanks a lot for your support. ( Grin )
Kodoku Wolf : Hope you enjoy this last installment and the ending. ( smile )thanks for the review.

3. The title of this story do not belong to me, it belongs to an incredibly lovely song by urm..I can't really remember the name but do please NOT sue me.I'm as poor as a chruch mouse.

3. I'm currently about to work on a story with Dearkka and Yzak as the mains but it would take some time to form as at the moment I'm buried head deep in work. ugghhh..

4. Those who are interested in more Athrun and Kira pairings by me do take a look at "Returning Home."

and that's about what I had to say...welll on with the story! May I present to you...

Everything I do, I do for you

Athrun Zala

I floated in zero gravity, direction merely supported by the bar that was placed alongside the side of the ship that I was currently in. I nodded in response almost mechanically to the greetings that I received from the crew members of that ship Tatiana on my way towards my office that also served as my quarters. The sliding door opened almost immediately after I confirmed both my password and fingerprint access and I floated in. My quarters were equipped with the technology that provided artificial gravity and I was able to sink my feet onto the plush carpet that covered the floor. I walked towards my worktable, commanded my computer absentmindedly for it to activate, and slipped into the chair that was in front it. I swivelled around to stare out the window into nothingness and allowed my mind to run away with the thoughts that had not ceased since this morning. I was in a weird reflective mood, something that I was not since the past two years. If I were true to myself, I would admit freely that I had shut my emotions and locked it away into the deep dark recesses of my being for further safekeeping, collecting dust, but I was never once true to myself anyway and so I had put on a brave front and pretended nothing was wrong. The ever cool and collected Athrun Zala. A certain memory passed though my mind and my lips curled up sardonically at my past self.

" Athrun, you have to eat something. You haven't eaten anything for days!" Lacus Clyne's musical voice floated into my ears as I lay immovable on the bed that had once been Kira's.

" Go away." I whispered, my voice hoarse, both from the lack of food and water and the amount of crying that I had been doing for the past few days as another wave of heart wrenching pain swept through me.

" He wouldn't want to see you like this." Lacus continued, unwilling to give up until she reached her goal. I frowned at her insistence and likened her to an annoying buzzing fly that tempted me very much to slap away, but dismissed the notion as that would require me to get away from the place that I felt nearest to Kira. I responded by burying myself deeper into the bedcovers and drew in a deep breath, trying hard to catch Kira's scent and was rewarded by that familiar natural tinge that surrounded him.

" Stop acting as if you're the only one who is hurt! He wouldn't want you to feel this way, that is why…"

"Shut up!" I shouted, my eyes wild, my facial expression ferocious. I did not want to hear the words that she was about to say, that I knew she would say. I stared hard into her grey eyes but in the end, it was I who looked away.

" What I say is true and you know it! You can continue being this way, living with only his memory or…"

" Shut up!" I shouted again, getting more and more flustered by the minute.

" Face up to the facts Athrun Zala, you can do what you want and suffer here all alone or you could do what you were supposed to do in the first place. It's your choice. The resources are there for you to use and no one is about to say anything to stop you. It is you who is stopping yourself now, I know what you are thinking, that he betrayed you by leaving but you are wrong. Find out the truth, trust your instincts." With that she walked out the door, leaving me alone in a room that held only painful memories.

My computer chirped, signalling that I had a message and I glanced irritated at the screen. It had been two years since the shooting and one year and a half since I had made up my mind to do what Lacus knew I would do in the end. Cagalli had expressed her gratitude at the change of attitude and heart when I had turned up at the Orb administration building that one fine day and volunteered my services to get back into the administrative side of things. She is the daughter that the Lion of Orb would be proud to have. She had risen towards the challenge of replacing and rebuilding what had seemed irreparable to the council, changed the existing members without much fuss, ignoring the rumours that flew about viciously and full heartedly threatened to dismiss anyone who spoke anything about that fateful day. General Laws was given a hero's burial, saying something about him saving the day and sacrificing himself in exchange, it was distasteful but it had to be done. The politicians were appeased and they generated very little fuss. The old members of the council were relieved to have escape with little harm especially Anders. It had been a smart move and Cagalli had Roy Kilburn to thank. He was charming, ruthless and dangerous, but nobody could fault the way he did things.

" Sir, the Representative's on line three. Should I connect?"

" Yes. Thank you."

The screen flickered as the man's face disappeared and was replaced by the serious one of Cagalli's. She had indeed grown from the experience, her face wore the weariness of someone who had seen and known too much, but her resilience and maturity had indeed never ceased to amaze me. Her impulsive streak and wild nature had toned down considerably, only showing itself in the impatient way she held herself when incompetent people came her way.

" Yes, Cagalli. What can I do for you?" I had called her Representative once and she had glared at me so viciously that I dared not venture down that path again.

" Any luck?"

" No." My face registered no emotion but Cagalli knew me too well to be lied to.

" You have searched that faction?"

" Yes, but nothing registered."

" Kuso!" She cursed out loud. It had been too long and the search was proving fruitless.

" What do you think?"

" He's not there."

" He can't have moved so far away and on such a short notice too."

" I don't think he is working alone."

" I understand what you mean, there seems to be somebody on the inside passing him information, he can't be doing this alone, any idea who is behind this?"

" I have a theory but I do not want to point any fingers without further confirmation."

" All right. Do what you have to do." Cagalli smiled once before signing off and I stood up and headed to the room at the end of the corridor.

Roy Kilburn

I raised the glass in a mock toast to the computer screen which showed a partially hidden boy and he smiled. " Congratulations in avoiding contact. But when do you plan to stop?"

" It's not up to me, you know that." The boy in the shadows replied, his voice wistful.

"I know, but you are driving everybody here crazy and they would notice that I'm the one who has been helping you escape detection all this while, Athrun is not that stupid."

" I understand, but it really is not the time. If he does not realise it on his own where I'm heading, then it was not meant to be, that he does not understand me as well as I hoped him to."

" You are one of the craziest person I ever knew."

" I know."

" Fine, I'll help you just these few more times, and please do yourself a favour and stop acting so mysterious, it really is not you."

The partially hidden boy chuckled and emerged from the shadows, smiled at me and disconnected the call.

" Kira…" A strangled whispered reached my ears and I swirled around in shock and surprise.

" You!" I said surprise mingling with shock before I forced myself to calm down. I shrugged inwardly and knew that the cat was out of the bag.

" How could you!"

" I think you should calm down before I start explaining myself, Athrun."

" How do you think I should calm down! That the person I had been searching for one and a half years have been in contact with you and you have not said a single word! How do you expect me to calm down!

" What do you want me to say?"

" You better start from the beginning Roy, and please do yourself a favour and leave nothing out." Athrun's green eyes glinted dangerously and yet I felt no fear, he would do me no harm and I felt the thrill of the challenge. I would enjoy this greatly.

" Well do take a seat, it would be a long story indeed."

" He's gone!" I heard somebody shout, the voice sounded incredibly familiar and I hobbled as fast as I could towards the source, ignoring the pain that reminded me of the injury at the hands of the evil clone.

" Sir! Please you have to calm down!" The motherly figure who was the head nurse on this level tried to hold on to a near hysterical Athrun Zala.

" What's going on?" I opened my mouth to ask.

" Kira's gone! He's gone!"

" What do you mean?" My eyes narrowing at the nurse and I could see her shudder.

" Kira Yamato was found missing by this gentleman about half an hour ago and we have been searching the grounds since."

" He couldn't have gone far, he couldn't have even moved!" Athrun's voice was disbelieving, frantic.

" He's right, Kira was wounded seriously, he is a Coordinator but not even Coordinators could have that much of a healing ability."

" That is where you are wrong." The head nurse said, shaking her head while her voice registered amazement and disbelief at the fact that she herself had witnessed the past few weeks. " His wounds had healed fast and just yesterday, scar tissue had formed and the internal injuries that he had sustained during that shootout was gone. It was as if his cells had regenerated themselves in a short period to make up for the damage that had been caused."

" I don't understand, if that is what you mean, why is that he was still unconscious all this while? He should have been up and about if his injuries were healed and why did the hospital keep him in the intensive care unit? And how pray could you please tell me that he managed to get past two guards that had been put for his safety and escaped through their vigilance without being detected?"

" Mr Zala, I cannot explain how he had healed that fast nor the way he escaped detection but I can say that the hospital was curious and had kept him in the intensive care unit this long to observe his condition. Maybe he stayed unconscious all this time as a response to his body trying to regenerate itself to conserve energy and to apply it to that sense. We have no known medical records of him and seeing what he just did, do you know what this could mean to science? The people that could have been healed if we just know what made Mr Yamoto ticked? How his genetics worked? We needed to know!"

" How could you! You kept him like a lab rabbit for further observation!" Athrun Zala was close to violence and the nurse knew it as she backed away with fear written all over her face. I did not pity her nor sympathize with her as she too had made me angry. It was unethical for them to have done what they had just did no matter how advantageous it is to mankind. I smirked at the head nurse and watched in amusement as she scurried away like a dog with it's tail between it's legs.

" Don't just stand there, help me find him! We have to get rid of the medical records too." Athrun Zala snapped at me as I raised my eyebrows.

" Excuse me but I'm not in the condition to be running around just yet if you haven't noticed." I said, wanting to see the man that both Kira and Cagalli had loved being riled up. I knew that was quite irresponsible of me and I was indeed worried about Kira but I had to judge for myself why this man, who I had to admit looked incredibly good and fit, was the cause of so much pain and loss for the two people that I had admired and liked.

" Look, Roy, please, you have no idea what people would do to Kira if they find out that he is the Ultimate Coordinator, he's not safe here, don't waste the time that we can use to find him. Please. You don't want to see him turn into a lab rat for the good of mankind right?" I grimaced at Athrun's last words but it certainly was effective, the image of Kira being hooked up to machines surrounded by smirking, evil - looking scientists which prodded and probed at him, was something I would not like to see come true.

" Fine, I'll help. What do you want me to do? I can't go far, so maybe you should be the one doing the ground search while I get the records."

Athrun looked at me, nodded before turning away and rushing down to join the search for his lover while I watched his receding back, contemplating my moves. I hobbled down the corridor and not for the first time wished that I had Kira's healing abilities.

" Roy.." A whisper called out my name and I paused in my steps, my eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

" Roy.." The voice whispered again and I recognized it the second time around.

" Kira?" I hobbled towards the source and was not surprised to see the boy that everybody was searching for. " What the hell are you thinking!" I whispered furiously back.

" Shh… Let's go to a better place, you able to walk with that leg?" He asked, his eyes filled with concern, and I grunted back as a response.

" Don't worry about me, you have a lot of explaining to do."

Both of us wound through the corridors, hid behind doors not unlike those starring in spy movies, just to avoid being caught by the people who were looking high and low for Kira.

" How far is it now? Where are we going by the way?" I could not help but ask, we had been walking for quite some time and though I knew that Kira was afraid of being caught, I could not afford to move much longer.

" Here." He gestured to a door and both of us went in. The room was dark and I had to spend some time getting used to it. I narrowed my eyes, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me as I could discern a human figure in front of us and before I could warn Kira, the shape spoke.

" Hello, Roy Kilbrun. I've heard quite a lot about you." The figure spoke, her voice lilting and pleasant to the ear.

" Lacus Clyne?" I said, unable to keep the shock and surprise at her presence. " What? Kira what is going on?"

" Do not worry Mr Kilburn, there is no danger here. Please, take a seat, my apologies for making you walk so long and far just to make it here. I'll explain everything later and it would be could tiring for you to stand while I speak." Lacus said while she gestured to a chair directly in front of her that had been prepared in advance and I slipped into it gratefully.

" Thank you. Now what is it that you were about to tell me?"

" Firstly I would like to convey my sincerest gratitude for protecting my friends especially Kira Yamato…" At this, I opened my mouth wanting to protest but she held up a slim hand to stop me. " Do not blame yourself about what had happened as it was really unexpected, there are times when a person is able to do so much and what you did was all that you could do and for this I thank you." She paused, waiting for anything that I might say but when I did not she smiled and continued, " I know what you are thinking, why am I here? And what has this to do with Kira, am I right?"

" Yes, and I would like some explanations as there are people who are quite worried about the well being of Kira's." I directed a pointed look at Kira who was standing hidden partially in the shadows behind Lacus and whom had the decency to blush.

" I presume that you are talking about Athrun Zala?"

" Yes, you do know about their relationship right?"

" Yes."

" Then why is it that you want to cause all this trouble? Does Cagalli know about this?"

" Trouble? Well, if you do put it that way, I'm causing trouble." She said thoughtfully, her head cocked slightly to one side, pink – chan hopping silently on her left, yet as she did all those movements, her eyes never left mine.

" Please, Miss Clyne, I'm sure you are not here to waste anybody's time, I still have a job to do, and that is as a favour for Athrun Zala."

" Kira's medical records? Do not worry about that, I have it covered. No one shall know his secret nor would anyone be able to misuse it and that you have my assurances."

" You seem to be able read my mind, know my thoughts. An ability of yours?" I hated to admit that I was uncomfortable but with Lacus's unwavering gaze I felt myself getting more and more nervous as the time passed by.

" No, but I do have the ability to understand people better than others. But, I shall not waste more time talking about unnecessary stuff and the main purpose I'm here is to take Kira away. The reason why you are here sitting in front of us is on his request to inform you beforehand though regretfully through this sneaky way."

" What do you mean that you are taking him away? He can't just check himself out. He's not even fully healed!"

" I understand your concern and we appreciate it but I do know you do comprehend the reason why we can't stay."

" Kira, say something! Is this what you really want?" I turned my attention towards the silent boy to demand some answers.

" Yes." He said quietly."

" But why? Why are you running away? Don't you want to be here with Athrun? Don't you want to settle everything? You are just using this as an excuse to go!" Kira looked away and I continued to glare at him, I could not believe this kid was going to run away again after what he had been through. I thought I knew him, but it turned out that I did not.

" I'm sorry." He whispered, his voice ragged as if he was crying but I could not see.

" Why you telling me this? Shouldn't you explain what you are doing to Athrun instead? Are you going to go away forever? What the hell are you telling me for!" I was frustrated and it showed in both my facial expressions and my voice.

" I understand that you are upset but please do try to keep your voice down, we are not totally invulnerable here." Lacus said, her voice as still and calm as before, it irritated me for some reason that I could not understand and I focused my attention at her.

" Why are you helping him run away? Don't you understand that problems cannot be solved by turning tail and escaping!"

" What Kira decides is none of my business but he is my friend and a close one at that so it is not a surprise that I will respect his wishes. I may not agree with what he is about to do but I have done what I can to prevent this happening and since I could not stop it, I might as well supervise it."

I looked agape at the pink haired woman in front me and for the first time in years, I did not know what to say. A saying materialized unbidden in my head, as absurd as it seems, it was right in this situation, " If you can't stop them, join them."

" You are totally nuts do you know that? So why are you telling me? So I could play this sick game with you?" I snapped at Kira who cringed at my sarcasm, and it was no wonder who answered the question. I had a feeling that Kira had grown mute all of a sudden and was merely a shadow in the dark. I hated this Kira and wished fervently that Athrun Zala had never existed, I knew it was an absurd blame but because of that man, a boy who was a war hero became like a woman.

" You are to act as the bridge between the two of them. If they were to meet again, it will be fate, if not, then I shall not need to explain the consequences."

" What do you mean bridge? What do you mean I shall understand the consequences? Hello! If everything was up to fate, then everybody would be dead with hunger or some malady." I scoffed at what Lacus had said, it was pure stupidity.

" You shall just keep an eye on Athrun, that's all. Kira would be in contact with you constantly, his location, his well being, everything to keep you from worrying not to mention that you would be the one who would convey what Kira wants you to Athrun."

" You must be kidding me, do you know what that makes me? I'm not a messenger boy thank you very much."

" Roy, you want the real explanation? You may think that I'm running away, well maybe I'm but can you think of the consequences of what Cagalli would be facing? Athrun is her husband! I can't just barge in one day free from jail and have Athrun as my lover. Think about the scandal especially after this whole fiasco about General Laws. Do you know what this would do to her reputation? To Athrun's reputation? They have jobs to do, they are the leaders of Orb, and no matter how much I would like to follow my heart or instincts, there are strong reasons on why I have to go."

Silence filled the room as Kira ended his speech, I stared at him, understanding finally dawning upon me, I had merely focused on the tree instead of the forest and had nearly capsized what Cagalli had worked so hard to achieve these past few weeks. I smirked to myself and knew then I really did not understand Kira at all.

" I see, why didn't you tell me earlier instead of spinning that stupid story about fate and consequences?"

" That was not his fault, I needed to know what type of person you were." Lacus said and smiled again, and I could feel myself shudder. She had something of a she – wolf expression on her face and I was certainly glad that I was on her side. I did not want her as an enemy, she might look like a beautiful harmless woman, but that's when they are really dangerous. Looks are deceiving and anybody who perceived Lacus Clyne harmless would be caught in a trap and still would never know what hit them.

" I see, so what am I supposed to do?"

" Pass on information."

" That's all? Athrun is not a stupid man, he would cotton on that something is wrong somewhere and what if he persists in finding you? What do you intend to do then?"

" I will tell you when it is time to reveal where I'm, but I was hoping that he would be able to guess where I would be going even if you did not tell him."

" So you would be at this place and I'm needed to pass on false information about where you are to him, am I right?"

" Yes, that's basically what you have to do. I'm really sorry to have involved you in this, but I hope you understand why I'm doing this." Kira said, his voice soft, but at least now I was able to look at his features.

" Yes, and I can't say that I will not enjoy this game, now that I'm in it. I would like to see him squirm a bit." I said a little slyly, eliciting a glare from Kira, but he smiled at the end.

" Thank you. I hope that Cagalli and Athrun would be able to settle what they have not in the time that I'm gone." Kira's said, his voice sad and I felt my heart go out to him. He was forever sacrificing his own happiness for others and I wondered whether if it was worth it, but I was not about to say anything as Lacus had pointed out before, it was his decision and I was only able to help from the sidelines.

Athrun Zala

" That's it! You let him go on that reason?"

" Isn't it enough? You have had all this time but what have you done to improve the situation? You won't be able to find him if you insist on being this stupid!" Roy shouted at me and I could feel my vision going red with the anger that threatened to burst out.

" Stupid! What do you mean by that? I have been searching for him high and low and all this while you knew where he is and you refused to tell us while you passed on fake information about his whereabouts. Do you know how much time and money you have wasted on this futile search?"

" Futile! You are telling me it's futile! If you had used your brain earlier and done what you had to do, don't you think you'd be able to find him earlier? Hasn't anything I said gone into that stagnant brain of yours! Kira left because he knew he had to! You are married to Cagalli for goodness sake, she's this country's Representative, leader! How would the people react when they know about this whole scandal? There were parts that were omitted for the sake of you and her. And you are blaming all this on me? What have you done to improve the situation! You are still married to Cagalli for that matter. Do you intend to take Kira as your mistress and have your little getaways when you are not with Cagalli? Have you ever thought about what that would do to the both of them? God, you haven't changed a bit, you selfish son of a bitch."

I cursed and swirled around to punch the wall behind me. I felt my knuckles swell at the impact but welcomed the pain, I knew that what Roy said was true, and no matter how much my brain tried to think of excuses to combat what he had just said, I could not come up with any and the more I thought about it the more I hated myself.

You had done nothing all this while even though you thought that by deploying ships and troops in the name of searching for a war hero you were doing Kira a favour by finding him. You thought that he would be grateful once you found him and he would fall into your arms and the both of you would happily ever after. Roy is right, you are a selfish bastard.

Shut up!

It's time for you to face up the facts, maybe you don't really love KIra that much.

Shut up!

I punched the wall again and was rewarded with more pain and blood." Kuso! Kuso! Kuso!" Something hot and warm slipped down both my cheeks and I did not even bother to brush them away.

" It's not too late." Roy said gruffly before turning away and walking out the door leaving me alone with nothing but my personal demons.

Roy Kilburn

" The cat is out of the bag." I said first thing when Lacus appeared on my communication screen.

" I see."

It was exactly three hours after the confrontation with Athrun and I was tired, exhausted emotionally. I did not know what he would do after the whole fiasco but I hoped that it would put an end to everything, Cagalli no matter how strong she was was hurting terribly inside and it showed in the way she tried to bury herself this past year in her work. She seldom went home anymore and spent the nights holed up in her temporary quarters trying to forget the past. I did not want to see her suffer anymore and the only option left was to shove Athrun into action. If it had to hurt, it might as well be done earlier. I had not envisioned this scene but there were times where decisions, especially right decisions, were incredibly hard to make as there was no clear line of right and wrong to help a person. What was morally right in this case? By doing what I had this afternoon I was encouraging a man to file for divorce with his wife and by making that decision a year ago to keep Kira's location a secret I had been wasting precious time and resource in a venue that did not need any not to mention making Cagalli worry about her brother's whereabouts. I sighed and I did not bother to hide it from the woman that I was talking to, it was no point, she understood me too well.

" I see this event is troubling you much. Do not worry, everything would turn out just fine. There is just as much as we could do." She said, her voice betraying no emotion as she smiled that calm smile of hers while Pink – chan leaped and hopped by her side.

" Why is it that you are not worried about the consequences?" I asked her, my curiosity piqued.

" Is there anything worse that could happen to these three?" Lacus asked, her voice matter a fact.

" No. I guess not." I said as I thought back about the past, there really was not anything that could be worse than having a loved one face death. " What do we do about this? What would be our next step? Is there any need to continue?"

" No, now it's their time. We have done our share. Kira's location is safe?"

" Yes."

" Good. Well then, it was a pleasure doing business with you." Lacus said with a slight smile on her face before she signed off. I leaned back into the chair and surveyed the damage that Athrun had caused to my office – two deep dents in the wall which had blood stains peppering the sides of it. I sighed and shook my head, he had wonderful strength that boy, and I wondered how much it would cost me to repair and clean up the damage. But on second thought, maybe I should just send the bill to Athrun, after all he was the cause of it all. I smirked to myself and without giving the whole situation another thought settled into my daily job requirements.

Cagalli Yula Athha

I stared long and hard into the eyes of the man I once loved, still loved in fact and knew then that the time had come to let my dreams go.

" We need to talk." Four simple words but the power behind those words were not something to ignore.

" Shall we set a time and place to meet instead?"

" Yes."

" Your shuttle would be coming in a day's time, let's set the meeting the day after, is that appropriate?" I asked, not knowing where this superhuman strength or resolve was coming from that kept me from crying.

" I'm really sorry Cagalli." Athrun's voice softened perceptibly and I looked away, unable to look at him knowing that it would soon be the last.

" Our house, three o'clock."

" Okay. " And before Athrun could utter another word I had disconnected the call. I stared at the blank screen in front of me and felt my vision blur, work did indeed take one's mind off some things but it was just temporary. When the pain and thoughts snuck back upon you when you were unguarded and vulnerable, it would hurt so much more. There was nothing that could erase that pain of loss, the feeling of sadness when you were forced to watch your loved one walk away from you. There was a time when I thought I had been able to say I'll be able to cope, I knew that I could but that was beside the point. I wished that I did not need to cope, that I would have somebody to come home to, but now, there was nobody, nothing that was left here. I had friends, loyal supporters, my country but I was a selfish person and I had nobody who could be the one that stood beside me through thick and thin, that special someone whom I would love with all my heart. I thought I had it once but it was all a lie, during the time in prison when General Laws had captured both Athrun and I, I remembered vividly what I had said, it seemed so easy at that time, but that was after all what General Laws said it was, words, pure theoretical words, nothing more and nothing less. Words could not convey what it was to feel, words are never able to truly comfort a person. Words were just alphabets combined together to form things that meant nothing in real life, they did not help at all. But, no matter how I felt, it was undeniable that I loved Athrun, and love was after all doing whatever it was for the other to be happy, and I pray that I would have that kind of strength to do what I had to do. I blinked back the hot tears, it was time to be strong again, to be the one what one expected me to be and that was to be alone, but it was hard. It is hard to know that you are not needed in this world.

Athrun Zala

I watched Cagalli walk slowly towards me and I did not know what I was supposed to feel towards the woman who had loved me so unconditionally. There was nothing that could ease the pain for her that I know that I would cause, there was no balm for this type of emotional wound, not even time could fully heal it and I wondered why she came at all.

" Cagalli." I greeted her and as I looked at her, I was struck by how thin and frail she seemed since the first time I met her.

" Athrun." Her voice was soft and I caught a waver in it.

" Shall we go in?"

Cagalli looked at me and she shook her head, declining that suggestion and instead, she suggested that we were to take a walk and without much hesitation I agreed. I understood her reason behind the request and if I could do that to ease the pain a little, I would. Both of us walked side by side in silence through the scenic forest, the place that both of us had tried to live together, to build something that should have lasted but in reality we had tried to live out a lie. The lake was glittering and shimmering like jewels under the sun in the distance. The air was crisp and fresh and birds were still singing odd notes here and there just to let us know that we were not alone. We spent the next few minutes hiking up the trail where it would lead to the top of the cliff and both of us had not broken the silence yet. Soon, we were where we wanted to be and it was then did she face me.

" I know why you are here, so we might as well get on with it." She said and I flinched at her words, her forced pretence of strength.

" Cagalli, you.."

" Athrun, please don't make this harder for me, so please just say what you want to say and let me hurt in peace, please?" Her eyes were wet now and they begged for me to finish what I had started. I paused for a moment and finally did what I had been supposed to do all this time but could not. I walked towards her and pulled her into my arms, hugging her close, this one movement said everything and nothing. I watched her struggle with herself before melting into my embrace and weeping her heart out. My heart bled with hers, this was hard on me too.

" I still love you, no matter how hard I tell myself not to. I hated Kira, I envied him. I hated you, yet I loved you more still. But through it all, I hated myself the most for letting Kira go to jail, letting him suffer there, nothing I do in the future would ever give him back his past but…" She trailed off before she continuing, " But, I hope that you would understand why I did what I did. Love is a double – edged sword, it makes you do things that normal sane people would never do and I blame no one but myself for all the things that had happened in the past, no matter what you say, no matter what your decision is, I know that I will love you, always and forever. I doubt that I would ever be able to stop, I wish I could and I know it's time for me to let go, to get on with my life and you with yours. I wish Kira and you all the happiness in the world, it's hard to watch you go, but promise that you would remember me once in a while?"

" Cagalli…" I whispered as I stroke her hair, wanting nothing but to comfort her as I felt my eyes blur with tears too. " I promise and thank you."

Cagalli Yula Athha

" Cagalli…" Athrun whispered as he stroke my hair, "I promise. Thank you." I could feel my heart breaking into a million pieces as he said those two words. It was final. He was leaving. There was no more turning back at this cross roads.

Both of us stood there for a long time and when we stepped apart, I forced myself to give Athrun a weak smile to show that I was all right and as I stood in front of him, I drank in all that was there. His beautiful emerald eyes who would look at no one but Kira, his mouth who would kiss no one but Kira, his heart that would have no one but Kira, How I wished at that moment I could be Kira and the words that Athrun spoke to Kira were to be spoken to me and I felt my heart break into a trillion more pieces. I forced myself to burn his image into my heart and brain for remembrance before turning away to walk away, the sun shinning down upon the both of us when I wished that there were rain to mask the runaway tears.

" Cagalli.." He called as I strode away with my head held high but as tears continued streaming down my pale face, I wished fervently to be able to turn around, to run back into his arms and to have him hold me like he did just now, to know that those arms would protect me no matter what, when, where and place, to stop the time that flowed past so fast in order to maintain that one memory of his hug. I wanted to take forever to love him, to stay in that moment, to give him all the love that I had and never leave his side. However hard my heart yearned for those things, I held on and ignored him and walked on alone.

Everything I do, I do it for you. Good bye, Athrun.

Kira Yamato

" An explosion in space occurred just this morning and Athrun Zala, right hand man of Cagalli Yula Athha, Representative of Orb is suspected to be on that aircraft along with seven other men." A resounding crash echoed throughout the room as the bowl that I was carrying towards the kitchen dropped onto the tiled floor when I heard that particular news. I could not have cared less about the mess as I rushed towards the television to tune up the volume and watched in mute horror as the news replayed the footage of a spacecraft blowing up again and again. Soon, the images changed and the newscaster was back with that fake expression of sadness on his abnormally handsome face, his mouth moved to continue with the news but nothing he said registered in my brain and when the image of Cagalli came on, I was shocked to see her so broken. Her eyes were red and puffy and any doubts about Athrun's death flew out the window, there were ways to pretend but the Cagalli I knew were not one for pretence nor was she that good an actress. I fell back into the chair that I was currently sitting in and curled up into a ball instinctively. It was barely just three days ago that I had spoken to Roy Kilburn, that he told me that Athrun was safe and healthy, that he was still alive and well, how did it change so fast? I stared stupidly at the television screen that was on a commercial break and wondered how did things get so wrong, was there anything good that still happened in this world? Doubts about the choices that I had made ran amok in my head and I wondered whether it had been better to be by Athrun's side even if it meant always being in the shadows. I was so caught up with my thoughts that I did not even register the fact that somebody was standing on my doorstep and ringing the doorbell, I could not have cared less about who or what was there, all that I could think of was Athrun's face and the fact that I would never be able to see him again, that I did not even got the chance to say goodbye. I curled up tighter into a ball, squeezing my eyes tight, and ignored the increasing amounts of times the doorbell was rung and soon accompanied by the hard banging of someone who was impatient. I dragged myself out from the chair and stumbled across the room to open the door, close to punching the person who was intruding. However, before I could make the first move when the door was finally opened, the person who had been so desperate to come in enveloped me in a bear hug, and when I finally registered who it was I was not able to speak for a full five minutes.

" Cat got your tongue?" The voice that I had been thinking about night and day taunted me gently and hot tears spilled unbidden down my cheeks as I buried my head deep into the shoulders of the man that I love.

" Athrun." I whispered, not knowing what else to say, " How? Why?"

" Cagalli." One simple word that explained everything. I nodded mute, understanding what my twin sister had done for me and Athrun. She had issued a statement of Athrun's presence on the aircraft that exploded and announced him to be MIA – missing in action in order to let us finally be together, there was nothing I could say to thank her, nothing that I could do to repay her for that gesture, nothing at all. I smiled at Athrun, a smile that conveyed everything, and he grinned back.

" How did you know where to find me?" I said as we walked towards the trees hand in hand.

" Where there are sakura trees, there would be hope. Does that explain anything?"

I nodded, happy and glad that he did understand me well enough to be able to find me. I had bought a piece of property that overlooked a valley of sakura trees, it had been a wonder why there were so many trees in that certain place and the locals had told me a story about two lovers who had been separated by the war two decades ago. The one who was left behind had planted the trees in hope that one day her lover would come back to her, his favourite flower being a sakura. To them, they had met under a sakura blossom and had prospered since then, making the sakura flower an emblem of their love and dedication towards each other. For ten years, the loving wife dutifully planted sakura trees and lovingly tended to the growing trees, carrying water over hills from a well ten miles away just to keep the trees well watered and healthy. In the end, the war had ended, but there were no news about her husband, yet she never gave up hope and even on her dying day, she forced herself to walk ten miles to the well and back to water her beloved sakura trees. As she lay exhausted and spent under the trees, she noticed a man walking towards her, she struggled to sit up but was too weak to do so, the man approached her with tears in his eyes and both husband and wife were finally united under those sakura trees. However, that was not the end of the story, the locals who were passing by saw no one in that vicinity except the old woman who laid there alone and that no one could come close to help. All claimed that a soft breeze blew and a patter of soft sakura petals rained down on her, bathing her with soft pink colours as the old woman passed away with a smile on her face. It was known later that her husband had passed away too on the same day just five miles away, he was on his way home after so long away but throughout the years of neglect and war, his health had deteriorated and it was true sheer pure love that had allowed them to meet on that fateful day.

I had fallen in love with that story and had wondered whether it would be the same for Athrun and I. I had bought that piece of property that was on sale almost immediately one year ago and had been living there in my modest house since then.

" Yes, it explains a lot. " I said, smiling and as Athrun bent down, I closed my eyes and allowed him to softly claim my lips with his.

" Kira, I'm sorry, I…I…." Athrun tried when we came up for air, his eyes sincere and earnest, touching my tattoo that was exposed tenderly.

I smiled, shaking my head and whispered softly into his ears, " Shh…it's okay just as long as you love me, everything will be all right, I don't regret the decisions because I know it's all for you and it's worth it. Everything I do, I do it for you."

" Kira….thank you." Athrun said, touched, tears glimmering in his eyes. "I love you, our sweet lie. I love you."

At the same moment, a small breeze blew and a patter of pink sakura leaves showered the both of us, swirling and twirling with the wind, forming a strange dance that captured both our attention. I looked up into the sky and smiled, maybe it was my imagination but I could see the two lovers smiling down at us. I entwined my fingers with Athrun's and we kissed once more amidst the falling petals as two lovers who had reunited once more. There were many things, issues left unsolved, past hurts, old wounds, but that did not matter, all they were memories of the past, and what was most important was that Athrun and I were home. Together. Forever. Finally.