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" by Judith Polley, and I changed some parts from original. And sorry for the characters OOCness.

Disclaimer : I don't own the story and gundam seed.

DJ : Thanx for the comments and advices, Ill try my best to improve it .

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

Chapter 7

When Cagalli saw Athrun came to the house, she excused herself from Kira and started to head upstairs, but before she could do that, she was stopped by Connile.

"Cagalli, isn't it beautiful, look at my birthday present." She said to Cagalli with the happy face as she showed the pendant to her. Cagalli realized that pendant was the one that Athrun bought last time.

"Yes, it is pretty, but you didn't tell me today was your birthday."

"No, actually my birthday is tomorrow, I want a party but Athrun forbid it, he said it will be too dangerous."

"That ridiculous, the relaxation will be good for us," Kira replied Connile as he touched her pendant "Such a pretty pendant, Athrun has good eyes, tomorrow you should wear that with your prettiest gown. And Cagalli, of course you will join us also."

Athrun entered the house and as he came towards them Cagalli replied to Kira, "I'm sorry Kira but I must refuse, I'm afraid my presence will make the party bad."

"No, it won't." Kira frowned and turned his head to Athrun, "Athrun, Cagalli rejected my offer, maybe you can persuade her?"

"For the first time I must agree with her, it is better off if she doesn't come, and Kira please reconsider this idea."

"Athrun, you are so serious all the time, we need a relaxation. And after this I must go back to my country, I want to make happy memories with my friends when I have the chance. And we will have a warning if the soldiers come here. You can't say no for this, I want Connile to have a party and Cagalli joins us as well. It depends on you, how you will persuade her."

Cagalli didn't want to hear that conversation any longer, she ran upstairs and went to her room. After a couple of minutes, Athrun came to her room.

"Can I speak to you Cagalli."

"Go ahead"

"I came for Kira, he wants you to attend the party tomorrow night. And he won't accept any refusal."

"So, I can't refuse."

"Yeah, you cant. And how are you, are okay now?"

"Yes, I am fine, thank you for your concern. And may I ask you one question? I am no further a threat to you. Why wont you let me go?"

Athrun walked toward the window and sat at the edge of it, stared down to the ground, "Maybe I keep you here for purely selfish reasons."

Cagalli startled, she looked at him, confused, but she looked away quickly when Athrun eyes met her, "You don't have to fear, you will be free, but you must promise me, you won't harm my sister and mother.", he stopped and continued his talks "And why do you want to go as soon as possible?"

"I – I wanted to get away from you, I – I was afraid." Cagalli stammered.

"Afraid? Of me? Why? Because of my kiss?"

She flushed and wanted to turn away but Athrun gripped her wrist.

"One day you will learn to be honest with yourself. I hope it won't be too late for you to find the happiness. Now will you promise me not to involve them?"

"I promise, I won't say anything, I won't do something that will endanger your mother and Connile. And I haven't forgotten, I owe you my life. Please Athrun, could you release me, my wrist feels as if it about to break"

Athrun released her, he headed to the door and opened it, "If you betray me again, you will pay for it, I won't be nice next time." When he closed the door, Cagalli sat to her bed.

At night, she couldn't sleep, she felt bored and decided to take a walk.

She heard a voice so she headed there. Not far from the fireplace she saw Athrun there, touched one of the statue. When he rotated it, the secret door behind him was closed. Secret door, or a tunnel? Where did it lead? She wondered.

Without looking around Athrun went into one of the downstairs rooms. Cagalli crept back to the fireplace, with a trembling hand, she touched and rotated the statue. The hidden door opened in front of her. She glanced to the long tunnel and stepped inside. Should she walk inside? She hesitated for a moment but her curiosity got the better of her.

At the end of the tunnel she saw a door. She opened it, and looked at her surrounding. She saw a small altar, so this was a chapel. Then her eyes went to the window and a double door not far from the altar. Is this some kind of hiding place if the soldiers found them, she thought.

She went back, rotated the statue again to close the door. When she turned around, she saw Athrun looking to her.

"So, I can't trust you after all, what are you doing here?"

Cagalli startled, "I couldn't sleep and I…. saw you…."

"And you decided to explore by yourself? Why did you come back? Are you hoping that soldiers come here and set a trap for us again, and make your father proud of you?"

"No!" she against it, the idea horrified her.

"I am in no mood to be lied, are you going to chapel?"

"Yes"

Now she puzzled him, if she wanted, she could run away from here, but why didn't she do that?

"I promise you I won't do anything that will endanger them. Why do you find it so hard to believe my word?", her hands trembling "Excuse me but I want to go back to my room."

Athrun caught her wrist, his expression changed to concern, "Your face is pale, come to library, I have some wines that will make you warm from the coldness."

Without a single protest, Cagalli followed him. Athrun ordered her to sit as she saw an opened book at the table. She stared to him puzzlingly, as she saw a slight smile at his face.

"Are you surprised that I like to read? I prefer books than swords."

"I'm quite surprised for it, your attitude didn't show that you liked to read."

Athrun handed the glass to her, and he sat on the chair.

"How will you live at Plant, without money and position to cover you?"

"I'll do whatever is necessary to survive" he replied to her calmly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. Why the thought should disturb you? You will return to where you are belonged, under your father's protection or perhaps with the comfort of Commander Conrad. If that what you want, I wish you well."

Cagalli lowered her gaze, it wasn't what she wanted, but she couldn't say that.

"You may go wherever you want, I have no interest at that. I was thinking how your mother reaction with your absence?"

"My mother will understand my decision and someday I will return here."

"You plan to return here?"

"This place is my home, Cagalli, I cant bear to leave it forever," his voice so calm, Cagalli felt the sadness on it "I don't want to be parted from this house I was born here, from my mother and my sister, from – ", he broke off, frowning. From what? Cagalli wondered, or whom? But he didn't say it.

They remained in silence, she wondered what he was thinking now. She sipped the wine and felt the warm on her body. Sometimes she wondered herself why she refused to believe that he didn't kill Afmed. It was easier to accept the truth now, although part of her still fought against it. Good and evil, it was hard to distinguish between them sometimes.

"I will say nothing about the tunnel, I swear it." Cagalli broke the silence.

"Are you so afraid of me Cagalli?" Cagalli startled with the question. How he knew what she thought. She was afraid, but in different way. Athrun examined her face, "You face isn't so pale anymore. Good.", then he stood up "I think you better go to bed."

Athrun escorted her to her room. She went to her bed thinking of something.

The next day she remained at her room, she saw through a window. She saw Connile, Dearka, and Athrun. She drew back her gaze when Athrun caught her gaze and he stood there, a smile on his face when he talked with Connile and Dearka. Then Lenore joined them, he turned to her and kissed both her cheeks, and they moved away out of sight. So this is the way he was with his family, it was hard to go on fighting and hating him. He was doing what he felt right and he was prepared to give up his life if it's necessary. He was a human and man, not unfeeling coldhearted man that she had been led to believe. She knew now that her father had been lying to her, Afhmed's death was not entirely Athrun's fault, but somehow she wonder how to remove herself from the hatred that had planted inside her mind.

"May I come in Cagalli?". Connile stood at the door, she brought the gown in her hands.

"Yes, of course."

"I wanted to bring you this. And would you like my maid to do your hair tonight?"

"That's okay, Milly can do it for me. I am coming to your party because I have to, not because I want to, Connile. Please don't misunderstand me, it has nothing to do with you, or your mother…. It's….it's…."

"Athrun," Connile said to her, smiling, "I know."

"No!", Cagalli denied it as the color coming to her cheeks. "It's me, and the way I was raised. I don't belong in these clothes or in this house."

"Why? Because we are coordinators?"

"No, it's not like that. You could never know what it is like to live with a man like my father. The Bible is the only book that he reads. Sometimes I remembered, that my mother rarely laughed…It was sin too be happy. She loved to sing and dance, but it was forbidden by my father – ", she broke off, with a bitter laugh "In the middle of winter, my mother once ran away with me from my father, but he was able to bring us back. Then she caught a cold, he didn't allow the doctor to see her. He said that it was gods will that she was sick for her punishment because she ran away from him. I loved my mother so much, Connile, and somehow I imagined that I would grow up like her in that house. Afmed, he offered me an escape from this situation. He loved me and I was – fond of him. I was always faithful to him and, I would make him happy. "

"And when he was killed." Connile nodded understandingly, "No wonder you blamed Athrun so much, I will do that also if I was you. But Cagalli, why won't you stay with us? You have no reason to go back to your father."

"But I couldn't, he will never allow me."

"I am serious Cagalli, will you consider it?"

"Your brother is against this idea, and what about your mother? No it won't work."

"The only problem is your refusal to accept it. Forget about it for the moment, come one try this dress, I'm sure it will look nice on you."

Cagalli stood at the head of the stairs. She could hear the laughter from the drawing room, but her trembling legs refuse to go on.

" Cagalli will you go down?"

Athrun stood below, staring at her. He was so handsome in his outfit. He came to her.

"Connile is asking for you." He stood in front of her and offered his hand "You look very beautiful. I though that dress would be right for you"

She was wearing the dress that Connile brought to her, a green silk and lace. She was astonished that he chose the dress for her. Hesitantly she placed her hand in his. His touch so firm and gentle.

"Some old friends of the family have come." He whispered, and paused at before the door, "I told them that you are a friend of mine. You were hurt when you tried to help Kira and I brought you here to recover. I suggest you get along with my stories."

Cagalli nodded and they came inside. Athrun introduced her to the guests. Cagalli felt sad when they said that they lost someone also. One of the guests lost his son, and others lost their husband, or cousins. Dearka came to her and offer his company, he monopolized her almost all the time. She went to dinner in his arms, and sat beside her. Cagalli was nervous before, but Dearka and Lenore made her so comfortable, and she began to enjoy herself. Connile, Kira and Athrun joined her as she stood by the French windows, enjoying the cool night air.

"I am glad you able to join us Cagalli," Kira smiled to her.

"Thank you for your invitation, I enjoyed this."

"I am glad you can enjoy this," he smiled then turned his head to Connile, "This is my dance then Connile."

Athrun frowned as he watched her sister move away with Kira, and then Cagalli spoke to him, "If you stay here so long they will capture you, you better go as soon as possible."

"Have you lost your desire to see me in jail?" he asked in surprise.

"Maybe I was wrong, Afhmed death wasn't your fault." Confused, she turned away from him, and went to the garden. She heard the footsteps behind her, and she knew he was following her. She sat down beneath the roses where he was a foot away from her, where she could smell the aroma of the flowers everywhere. How beautiful it was here, how easy to forget.

"What do you think of my home?" he said with pride. He must be proud, how she envied him for their love and affection.

"It is very lovely."

"Then will you stay as Connile asked you?"

Cagalli stared to him, so Connile told her brother about it.

"I think it is impossible."

"Nonsense! If I asked you, would you consider it then? Didn't you say that you were afraid of your father?"

"So I gather, Connile told you about everything."

"Yes, she did. She is worried about you." Athrun sat beside her, "I can see that you and Connile are quite fond of each other. Will you stay or would you like to return to your Commander's arms?"

"I would like to stay here, but if my father discover my whereabouts, he will come after me, he is a hard man, and it will be hard for your mother and your sister."

Cagalli was silent for a while then continued, "I have given you my word, I will not endanger them. When I leave here I can make up some stories, and Milly will confirm my stories if I ask her."

"Damn! You are a stubborn woman!"

"Why should you care? You will be far away," she asked.

"And thinking of you every moment of the day. If possible I want to stay behind," he told her in a harsh tone. "I don't want to leave you, but Kira asked me, therefore I want to know that you are in good hands while I am away. It might be weeks, months I pray its not years, but if it is. I want to know where you are when I return."

"Don't talk like that," she protested, "There can never be anything between us. You will forget me the moment you leave here.

She tried to stand up, but he caught her by her shoulder, held her fast, facing him.

"Maybe I can try, but forgetting you will be impossible."

"Someone told me that coordinators not only pretty but also smart and – and they said that they can satisfy the men goodly."

He laughed softly at her statements, he bent to her and took her mouth. She didn't struggle, knowing in her heart that this was what she had wanted. His grip softened, he wrapped her body with his arms, pulling her hard against him, and she could feel that her heart was beating so fast. Then her hands went to his neck and his lips answered his, willingly, for the first time.

Afhmed had kissed her before, but never with such a passion. Her mind stumbled, she heard herself cry out, but whether in protest or passion, she didn't know. Athrun's arms tightened around her, soft and gentle touches came between his kisses on her mouth, her neck, and her shoulders and for a while she gave herself until Afhmed's face came to her mind, remembered his gentle face she was filled with dread and she began to struggle to free herself.

"Athrun, No! No," she struggled hard until he released her, his face blank with surprise. Dazed, confused, and most of all frightened by her own conflicting emotions, she acted without thinking. She lifted her hand and slapped him on the cheek.

Athrun swore in harsh tone and held her away from him. "Are you out of your mind?" he stared at her. Cagalli's legs grew weak at the fury in his eyes. "Or is it another act, Cagalli? Answer me, damn you!"

He shook her violently. "I – I hate you!" she spoke recklessly and without thinking, tears streaming down her face, she didn't want to say that, but her mind and her mouth acted differently. "Do you hear me? I hope they catch you and your beloved Kira."

She saw anger in Athrun's eyes. She released herself and fled towards the house.

AN: Hope you enjoy this . Somehow I have felling you will kill me cose I ruined the kiss . Well will Cagalli deny her felling or accept it? Stay tuned for next chapter Please R&R.