Irresistible Enemy

Summary : Cagalli felt depressed when her fiancée died and her aim is to get the revenge on the man that killed her fiancée, Athrun Zala. But after she met him, will she be able to fulfill the revenge? AU and the setting around 18th century, not a modern life.

AN : The story based on novel I read, maybe some of you know this, the title is "King's Shadow" , and I changed some parts from original. And sorry for the characters OOCness since I cant help it.

Disclaimer : I don't own the story also the characters

To l x lmystikalxstarzl x l : Oh if you wonder why Athrun kiss her, well its not a random thing. Actually deep down at his heart he fells attracted to Cagalli, and he is kinda jealous to Afhmed becuse Cagalli always thinking of him, and also since he is so arrogant, he denies the feeling for now.

Special Thanx for Cagalli Yulla Athha for correcting the grammars, and than you for the entire reviewers for the last chapter, i really appreciate it.

Chapter 6

Slowly Cagalli returned to consciousness, she saw a figure bending beside her. She blinked her eyes a couple of times, then she realized the figure was Athrun.

"Thank God you're okay", he took the flask of water and put it to her lips, where his other hand supported her head, "Here, drink this". Cagalli sipped the water and she lied in his arms.

"Now lie down and try to sleep. Are you feeling cold? How is your shoulder? It was raining when I found this place."

Cagalli looked at the environment, she recognized that they were in some kind of barn. She also realized that she was wrapped by his cloak. It was dry.

"No – I – I'm felling dizzy, but warm. And my shoulder is okay, it's only a scratch."

"Then you must rest, tomorrow we will move again, my home is less than four miles from here."

"The soldier", she murmured, recalling the previous scene, "You – you helped at that time… thank you", and when she said that she saw him smile in the shadowy light. "Why don't you leave me here? I can do no harm now."

"You know where Kira is hiding right?. So you're still too dangerous for me. I can't let you go yet, but I will soon, I promise. Until then why we don't extend our truce?" His hand gently brushed her hair from her forehead, and then he touched the part of her shoulder where it got shot. She winced when he touched it, then he abruptly drew back. Cagalli closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

"Anything…only let me sleep, please."

Cagalli slept for a several hours, and she opened her eyes.

"How do you feel?" He bent over her, his eyes examined her face carefully. Before she could move, he laid his fingers on her wrist. She shivered beneath his touch. How she hated feeling so weak. It forced her to depend on his strength. She preferred him to be rude and arrogant, making it easy to continue to hate him.

"I – I can do it quiet well alone."

"No you can't. My poor, foolish Cagalli – so proud you are." Carefully he lifted her from the ground. Her cheek laid again his chest as he carried her out to the horse. Gently he put her on the horse. He was also on the same horse, his left hand wrapped around her body to stabilize her balance whereas his right hand held the rein. Cagalli felt as she was in a dream world, where nothing was real.

They were on the brow of the hill. Below then was a lavish mansion. Beautifully laid out gardens sloped down to a lake which sparkled in the early morning sunlight.

"Look Cagalli, my home," Athrun said quietly.

From his voice, she knew that he loved this place, and deep down in her heart she knew that she also loved this place.

They approached the house and got off from the horse. He whistled two times. Cagalli guessed it must be an arrange signal. Immediately the french windows opened and Dearka appeared, signaling. With Cagalli in his arms, Athrun strode across the open space and into the drawing room where his cousin stood.

"No question. She is sick and in need of attention," he said as Dearka looked at her questioningly. "Where is mother?"

"Here Athrun."

Cagalli's vision was so blurred by this time, she couldn't see her face clearly.

"What happen to the poor girl?"

"She has a fever."

"I will take care of her myself. We can't risk calling the doctor here. Dearka, go and find Connile. I need some of her clothes. Athrun, bring her upstairs. She will have a room near mine in the west wing."

Athrun brought her to the room and gently put her on the bed.

"Athrun!" A brown haired girl came through the doorway and flung herself into Athrun.

"I was so worried for you, it's been so long…… are you hurt?"

He smiled to her "Hurt? Well you can see that I'm perfectly okay."

"Don't joke Athrun, we know how bad Heliopolis is. That awful woman almost had you caught!" The girl was looking to the bed, her eyes was full of hatred. "Dearka said that you made her dress as boy and pretended to be the King. I hope you give her a hard time. Ow! You are hurting me!"

Athrun's hands were gripped her shoulders tightly, and his face was quite angry. Then abruptly he released her.

"Because of my actions, this awful woman, as you call her, almost got killed and now she is sick! You judge her too harshly Connile and too quickly. She had a good reason for her actions."

"For betraying you and almost getting you killed?" His mother said quietly. "What are her reasons for it?"

"I helped to kill her man from the previous war. Maybe it was even my sword that cut him down." Cagalli saw his expressionless face when he said that, and then her eyes went to where the young girl stood. 'So this was Connile.' Cagalli thought

"Many men died in battle. You can't blame yourself for it and she has no right blame it all on you," his mother replied to him.

"I'm too tired for arguing. Will you take care of her?"

"Of course."

"You can't." Connile protested. "She almost had them killed, and now why should we help her?"

"Because Athrun asked for it, and where is her friend?"

"She is in one of the guest rooms, Dearka seems to have personal charge of her."

Cagalli felt relieved when she heard the news, Milly was okay and safe.

"Connile can you bring clean towels and cold water, and also bring your night clothes."

"Thank you," Athrun said as Connile left the room.

"Does she have a name?"

"Cagalli." Athrun replied to his mother. "I need to speak to Kira and then get to sleep. Tell Deark to keep an alert and wake me up if anything happen."

"I will tell him, go to bed soon my son."

Cagalli watched as Athrun went outside the room, and she relaxed, allowing her eyes to close. She wanted to sleep and awaken without the dizziness in her head.

The next morning, she woke up. She opened her eyes, and a slight blush came to her cheeks when as she stared at the nightdress she wore and touched the delicate material. How different it was from her nightgowns at home, her father never let her wear beautiful things. He was a hard man without understanding women's needs.

Cagalli recalled the gentle side of Athrun, she closed her eyes and her mind was dwelling on those moments in the forest, she recalled how Athrun held her in his arms and shown her how good it felt to be a woman. She wanted to believe that Athrun was not guilty, but there is a voice that screamed in her head that told her that she couldn't believe and forgive him.

She liked Lenore Zala, Athrun's mother. She had a soft voice and friendly smile, she felt comfortable around her.

"You are looking much better this morning." Lenore came in, sat on the chair beside her bed and offered her breakfast.

"I am quite well now".

"Then you can get up if you wish, I will ask my daughter to find something for you to wear."

"You are so kind to me. And I think its only fair to tell you who am I." Cagalli spoke to her but Lenore held up her hand.

"Your name is Cagalli and you are the daughter of Uzumi Yula Athha, the man who hunted down and killed my husband. Athrun had told me all about you. Unlike you, my dear, I learned that it is better not to place our self with the revenge. I see no reason why we cannot be friends despite our differences."

Cagalli finished her tray, Milly came to her room to take it away.

"Could you tell my daughter that our guest needs something pretty to wear?" Lenore asked her and then turned back to Cagalli. "You must stay with us until you are really well."

Cagalli smiled slightly, yeah she must stay, Athrun wont let her go, she still dangerous to him.

"I am really well. Thank you so much for your offer. But I'm afraid if I stay here I will put you all in danger."

"As difficult it may be, if they found the house, but no trouble, we will think of some reason for you being here."

If – if the soldiers come, I might tell them that Kira is here, and it means trouble for you. You must tell Athrun to let me go before that happens. And I am his prisoner right now"

"No my dear, you are my guest," Lenore said to her. "This is my house and even Athrun will obey me. I told him I wouldn't let you be treated as prisoner. I will treat you not differently as my own family."

"I – I don't understand you," Cagalli said quietly. "Athrun told about your husband, you should hate me for what my father had done."

"Hate is a bad emotion. I understand the reason for your hatred toward Athrun, but I can't agree it. You are brave but foolish at the same time, revenge won't bring anything good, and you better forget about it before it's too late." Lenore replied to her as she stared at her. "When you are dressed you can ask Connile to show you the gardens. You can relax and clear your troubled mind there."

Lenore stood up from chair and went outside, Cagalli fell back onto the pillows, her mind wondering. So Connile was his sister not his girlfriend. Then she remembered the pendant that he wore around his neck. However there was still the possibility of a woman in his life, and why shouldn't there be? He was attractive and brave and also charming. Cagalli put her hands against her burning cheeks. She was mad to think about that, they were the gaps between them that could never be closed.

The door opened, Cagalli saw Milly and Connile, and they brought the dresses and shoes in their hands.

"Good morning, I am Athrun's sister, Connile." She dropped the clothes at the bed and smiled to her. She was small but she can see the similarity with her brother in the face.

"I am Cagalli, nice to meet you."

"Yes I know, Dearka told me about you."

"All?"

"I admit I didn't like you very much at first but Cagalli, I think I understand. I might do the same also if I were you."

"I – I, maybe I might betray him again."

"Because of what happened to your fiancée? You can't blame Athrun for that, my father also died at your father's hands, but what will be good if I blame him? It wont bring him back, will it?"

"I – I wish I could feel the same way as you, but I can't."

Connile stared at her for a moment then spoke again "You better choose the dress, mother is waiting for you in the garden."

Cagalli stood up, but dizziness wept her head, immediately Milly caught her and helped her to stand still. Connile helped her also.

"Are you okay? Sit down Cagalli until your dizziness passes. Did my words upset you? I'm sorry for that I didn't mean it, but Athrun is my brother and I love him. He is a wonderful man, he won't kill someone without mercy. You saw him as a killing machine but he isn't. If he was he wouldn't have helped you and he would have left you back there."

"I wish he did that," she said to her "I am so afraid that my presence here will bring you nothing but problems. I don't want that to happen. You both are very kind to me."

"Nonsense!" Connile interrupted and Cagalli saw her blush. "Now which dress do you choose, pink or green?"

Cagalli stared her reflection at the mirror, how different she was from before. Was the green silk dress she wore change her so much, she thought. Connile forced her to put her hair up with some pins.

With Connile's guide, Cagalli went to garden, as she saw two figures there. Lenore and Kira were there in the garden, talking to each other, then Cagalli approached them.

"Well look who's here." Kira said mockingly at her when she appeared in front of them. He took her hand and placed it to his lips in a gently gesture, "Your manners improved Cagalli. Dresses do make you the lady."

Cagalli embarrassed at his words, but she didn't deny it, she knew that she deserved it for her previous action.

"Well, Cagalli why don't you remain here for a while if you promise you wont act foolish again like last time. Right aunt Lenore?", Kira asked her.

"Sure, of course"

"Well", Kira smiled to Cagalli, "Do you agree?"

"You have my word," she replied to him, what choice did she have now.

"Good, now I suggest you ask Dearka, who is looking a few feet behind you, to show you around." Lenore said to her as she and Kira went inside. Now Dearka stood beside her.

"You – look different."

"It's only a dress, I guarantee you." Cagalli said. This was Athrun's cousin, she wondered if they had discussed her. "You don't need to stay with me, I had promised Kira and I won't break it."

"I believe you, but I want to stay if you don't mind. Are feeling okay now?"

"Yes I'm quite well, thank you for your concern. And also thank you for caring for Milly. You treated her well. I was afraid…"

"That I might seduce her?" Dearka mocked gently, and she flushed.

"I – I consider her not as my maid but by friend and sister so I'm was concerned about her."

"Don't worry. She is very kind and sweet, and I like her. I won't do anything bad to her."

They walked around the garden. Cagalli felt warm and peace here, but she didn't belong here in this family.

"You are very quite," Dearka asked her.

"I was thinking how lucky you are to live here and to have a wonderful aunt and cousin like Connile."

"Yeah they are so kind to me, when my age was 5, both my parents were dead. Aunty and uncle took care of me and they considered me as their own child. I was really grateful for what they had done to me. Milly told me that your mother is dead, I'm sorry. What was she like?"

"A very shy woman and frightened of my father." (AN: I am really sorry for changing Uzumi personality, i know he is kind, but for the story I need to make him harsh)

"And I think you are too." Dearka frowned to her "And this is not a good thing."

Cagalli was silent for a while, then she nodded her head.

"Yes, I think I am, he is a difficult man. Maybe if I was a boy he might love me."

"And Afhmed took the part of the son he never had?"

Cagalli looked at her and shook her head, "No, he was too soft and kind. They didn't get along with each other very well. Father liked him, but he saw him too soft. He preferred his brother Conrad. You saw him at the inn."

"Cagalli, many men died at the battle," he told her, "In war there is no time to ask whether he is soft or hard, good or bad."

"Are you trying to defend your cousin?"

"I didn't defend him, I want you to realize something. Milly told me all. Your father said to you that Athrun was a bloody man but that wasn't true. I know because I was there to."

Cagalli was silent. Her face was pale and her hands clenched nervously. Everything inside her cried out that she should believe him, but if she does, its means she must accept Afhmed death as a cruel fact of war and not blaming Athrun. She was so confused with such a mixed up felling inside her. She didn't know what she should do, believe him or not?

While her mind was wondering and thought about it, she saw a figure behind the tree. Cagalli stared to Athrun's angry feature.

"What the heck are you doing here?" he asked harshly.

"Kira made her a promise not to escape, and we have her words," Dearka said.

"I suggest you take Cagalli back to the house, I am not so ready to accept her word as you are." He glared at Cagalli, his eyes saw her with suspicion.

"Athrun, that's not fair!" Dearka protested, and looking at Cagalli dismayed figure.

"Take her back, or must I do it?"

"I can do it alone." Cagalli returned her word. She hurried back to the house, as she thought how deeply his cruel words had hurt her.

AN: Hope you enjoy this . And I am really sorry about Lacus bow to everyone. So when both Athrun and Cagalli discover their feeling? Stay tuned for next chapter Please R&R.