A/N: First of all: Thank you my purdy reviewers! Love you all! Yes, yes very much so. I'd also like to thank the people who give me the long reviews; they are very amusing and I love reading them! Keep it up! Oh! And spread the news about my story! I want to hit at least 75 before I go on vacation (the next chapter should bring in a lot). So yes, Now...

This will be the second to last update I do before my vacation. I know you may all hate me for it but I will update the minute I return home. As a bonus, I will type on my vacation so you all don't have to wait that long. Sounds good? Well, here's the next chappy. (Warning, some fluff in this one ((winks)))

Chapter 5
Illusions and Interruptions

Dearka grumbled as he knocked on the door and was greeted by the blonde princess. She was wearing grey sweats and her white tank top and Dearka eyed her.

"You even think it and I'll personally castrate you," said Cagalli, locking the door. Dearka's eyes went wide as he followed her to his car.

As they drove, Cagalli asked why he was so early. He explained that Athrun needed to see her right away and Cagalli felt her heart flutter. He wanted to see her. She then shook her head, thinking it must be important and not just the fact that he enjoyed her company.

"Wait!" shouted Cagalli, scaring Dearka. "I need to go to Kira's house! I can't walk into Zala's office wearing only his sweats and my top!"

Dearka chuckled, and Cagalli glared at him. "You're not the first to go gaga over Zala."

"I am not going gaga over anyone!" shouted Cagalli, slamming her fist into his shoulder. He winced. She was strong for a Natural.

"Fine. Tell me where his house is," said Dearka, pouting once again.

Cagalli gave him directions and they continued in silence. Dearka turned on the radio and one of the Lacus's songs came on. He began to hum to the tune and Cagalli thought back to her family, and when she truly found out about her identity. Her father had kept it secret, as did Kira's parents. She wondered what he had thought when he had seen the picture; what had gone through his mind.

They pulled into the driveway and Cagalli ran to the house, fishing out her key and opening the door. There, an unusual sight greeted her. Kira was on the phone, ranting, and Lacus was watching him calmly with a robe thrown over her nightgown.

Kira looked up when she opened the door and muttered, "Hey," then continued his rant. Cagalli moved closer and heard Athrun's smooth voice on the other end, explaining softly why Cagalli was at his home.

Cagalli snatched the phone away from him and screamed, "Why the hell do you want to talk to me, Zala!"

"A letter came in the mail today; they know I have you," replied Athrun quietly. Cagalli stiffened and said softly, "I'll change and be there as soon as possible." She then hung up the phone, with Kira sputtering beside her.

"I just got on the phone with him! He was talking to Yzak about some arrangements and I didn't even get to ask why you're staying at his place!"

"For protection," drawled Dearka, bored with the conversation. "Now, if you don't mind, Miss Yula–" he had promised Athrun he wouldn't call her 'Miss Attha' in front of Kira. "I have to go pick up Miriallia. I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, he saluted her and turned, closing the door behind him.

Cagalli rushed to her room, with Kira trailing her and demanding to know what was going on. Cagalli only smiled sweetly as she tossed some clothes onto the bed. She then turned to Kira, a look in her eyes telling him not to interfere and pushed him out of the room.

Cagalli changed quickly into a pair of black cargo pants and a loose fitting red shirt. She let her hair fall out of the short ponytail she had had it in and then began to pack her bag.

She was waiting in the living room with Kira when Dearka returned, Miriallia at his side. Dearka looked crestfallen and Miriallia looked pissed.

"I'll be back soon, Kira. I'll give you a call," said Cagalli, pecking him on the cheek before rushing out the door.

"But–" began Kira.

"Don't even try to understand, man. You'll just end up confusing yourself," replied Dearka, closing the door.

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Lunamaria looked up when Cagalli entered ahead of Dearka and was about to say hello when she pushed past her and opened Athrun's door. Luna, eyes wide, watched as Athrun stood and walked over to her, hand touching her shoulder.

"Don't let anyone in, Luna. I need to have a talk with her in private," said Athrun. Luna nodded, jealousy coursing through her veins, but did as he asked.

The buzzer beeped on the machine beside her desk and she rushed to go answer it.

"Yes, Mr. Zala?"

"Please send Dearka and Miriallia to Yzak's office, and tell them to wait for me there." The line went dead.

Luna sighed. She was a good secretary, but she wondered if Athrun was blind to her affections. She sat down heavily in her chair and continued writing, pointing Dearka and Miriallia, a short auburn haired girl, towards Yzak's office.

She would wait for him until she died.

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Cagalli looked up from the letter, eyes shocked.

"They want me dead?" she whispered. "Why?"

"Presumably, they wish to kill you here on the PLANT so that if there are any questions, the Earth Forces will automatically think that we killed you, sparking another war," explained Athrun, sitting on the desk. He was leaning back casually, he always felt like he could be himself when he was around her.

Tears filled her eyes as she crumpled the letter and threw it to the floor. Athrun, surprised by her emotions, walked over to her. His heart felt heavy, having to watch her cry as she thought about another war. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. Her eyes widened and the tears spilled out, staining his shirt. But Athrun didn't care. He held her tighter, whispering gently to her. Somehow, she felt that this had happened before, and even though she had only known him for a day, it seemed like she had known him for years. She closed her eyes and turned her face into his chest and sobbed.

"I'll protect you, Cagalli, don't worry. Nothing will happen to you while I'm here," he promised her. Her sobs slowly began to subside as the warmth and comfort of his body ceased them. She then looked up at him, her face red from crying, her eyes swollen. But those golden orbs where shining with thankfulness and Athrun smiled warmly at her, tracing her lips with his finger.

Cagalli swore she saw his head descend slowly, but she didn't care. She lifted her own lips to meet his. She could feel his hot breath on her face and, just as they were mere inches apart, there was a knock on the door.

Athrun's eyes flashed with irritation at the thought of being interrupted and pulled away. Cagalli let out a breath she had been holding and watched him walk to the door. He does enjoy my company, she thought, grinning. But her grin vanished as she saw the person on the other side of the door. Meer Campbell stood in the doorway, eyes screaming murder.

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HER man was holding her; he was actually holding her! The nerve, the mere thought, meant murder for someone, namely a young blonde. Meer's crystal blue gaze pierced through Cagalli as Athrun opened the door.

"Good morning, Athrun!" she said cheerfully. But her happiness vanished and was replaced with fear when she saw those emerald eyes change from butter soft, to stone cold.

So that Natural can melt his heart of ice, thought Meer, jealousy coursing through her veins. Why can't I?

"I trust you have been well?" she said.

"Meer, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Miss Yula and I still have much to discuss," said Athrun.

"What, are you two living together?" snapped Meer, furious. Her fury turned to all out rage as a blush appeared on Athrun's handsome face.

"Meer, just–" began Athrun. Meer cut him off.

"Leave you with your Natural girlfriend? Fine!" screamed Meer. "I did everything to have you Athrun, and you throw it all away. Why? Because some Natural bitch saves your hide? Are you blind?" Meer now had tears in her eyes. "I became Lacus's mirror reflection and you still don't love me! I thought that if I were someone you admired, cared for; you would soon fall in love with me. I am not, under any circumstances, changing my appearance to look like that damn ugly Natural!"

"Don't you dare speak to me like that!" roared Athrun, fury in his eyes, body looming over her. "Cagalli is not ugly, she is beautiful. Anyone would die to look like her. And don't you dare insult someone I care for! Who are you to say who I can and cannot love?"

Meer was stunned for two reasons. One: Athrun had raised his voice to her and two: he had said he cared for – no, he had used the word 'love' – a Natural. A Natural! What was going through his head?

Meer left the office in a flurry of pink and tears. Luna stood up when she stormed out; she had heard the whole thing and had pressed the stop button on the tape recorder. She wanted to call out to the pop-princess wannabee, but then she heard Cagalli say something to Athrun. The door was still open and she quietly walked over.

Athrun was breathing hard; he had never yelled before nor had he let his control slip. Cagalli was the cause of it all; everything he did or said went out the window when she was in the room.

"Do you mean it?" asked Cagalli softly, moving away from her spot she had been rooted to when Meer had walked in. She walked over to him and faced him, eyes searching his.

Athrun took a deep breath and thought about what he had said. Then it hit him like a bullet to the chest. He had admitted that he had feeling for Cagalli – a Natural – and to the one girl who would spread the news like wildfire. Damn.

"Do you?" demanded Cagalli. He looked away, eyes brimming. His career was officially over, but did he truly mean what he had said?

It's amazing, really. I didn't think I could ever have the emotional response that I have when I'm near him, thought Cagalli. It just seems too surreal. I come to the PLANTs to find something important and instead I find…something even more precious.

"Athrun?" she called, touching his face. He pulled away from her and walked over to the door.

"We need to go get Dearka and Miriallia. I'm sure they've killed each other by now," said Athrun abruptly. Cagalli started and followed after him.

"Hey! Why the hell won't you answer my question!"

Athrun whirled just as they exited the door. "Because I don't know if it's true or not, all right?"

Cagalli stopped, eyes wide, as she saw the pain in his eyes. He was a Coordinator, a natural enemy of her own kind. Though they weren't that different, she believed that his job would soon be over due to the fact that Meer would definitely spread the news. But why did it hurt her so deeply to hear of his uncertainty?

"Fine," she said. Luna was sitting at her desk, eyes wide as she watched the blonde girl march away, Athrun following after her.

"Cagalli…" he called.

"What!" she snapped, stopping.

"Yzak's office is this way," he said calmly, grabbing her elbow and steering her in another direction.

As they walked, Athrun holding her elbow in a vice like grip, they got many looks and two men whistled at her, causing Cagalli to wretch her elbow out of Athrun's grasp and pummel them. Athrun, laughing, told them they shouldn't mess with her.

"Damn! What's wrong with that girl! It's like she's never been looked at before," groaned one man, his hand over his eye.

"Dude, I think she's Zala's woman," replied the other, hand massaging his arms and legs.

"Zala has a woman? Now, wouldn't that be a laugh. I always thought he would end up being gay," said the other, laughing. He didn't see Cagalli behind him and before he could even shout out in pain or in horror, he had another black eye and a goose egg on the back of his head.

Oh yes, no one would notice that she is Natural, thought Athrun, grinning at his furious princess. But do I feel anything for her, or is it all an illusion?

To Be Continued...
Next Update:
09/08/05

A/N: I loved this chapter the most, especially when I was writing it. There near kiss was perfect, I must say, and I just had to interrupt it. They've only known each other for a day!

Well, since the update date is so long from now, I shall put in some dialogue of the next chapter, Pain, Longing and Redemtionfor you to ponder over:

"Again, I was threatened. Again, he took the precautions to 'protect me'. And now my brother thinks I'm living with a jerk and that we have some type of relationship."

"Good morning, Miss Attha. I trust you've been well?"

"You bastard! You cannot, and I repeat, cannot, do this to the princess of Orb!"

"Get. Away. From. Me."

"You are cold, you know that? Not once, when I look into your eyes, do I see a spark of warmth."

"I can't baby her forever. She's hurt, Dearka, a wound deeper than I thought could have existed. Right now, she needs love and care, gentle care. I'm surprised, really, that she has trusted me thus far."

"You weren' t that bad, besides ignoring me, slapping me and totally trashing my home when you were mad."

"Athrun would never hurt my sister, nor would he do anything to harm anyone. He may seem cold, but he isn't. Don't jump to conclusions when you don't have all the facts."

"Right now, I am thinking that our fair princess of Orb has gone and deflowered herself with the Chairman of the PLANTs!"

So...those are just some yummy little tidbits for you to ponder over. Can you guess who says what?

Anywho, the next update will be a long time from now, (because of my evil boss giving me more hours...stopping me from writing quicker) and just after that date I go on holidays, so hopefully the next chapter will be long enough for you all. Now, you know the drill. Review and ask any questions that may arise in your minds. Mwha. Adios!