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 also the characters
Special thanx for asucaga4ever for correcting my grammars
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Chapter 9
Cagalli, Milly, and Connile were taken to Uzumi's house at Heliopolis. Her father often working from the early morning and there wasn't a time where Cagalli couldn't see him for days or sometimes weeks, when he led his men to fight. Cagalli sat alone in her room, even if this was her father's house she still felt like she was his prisoner. Cagalli felt desperate, she didn't know whether the man that she loved was alive or dead. She hoped that Athrun, and the others survived and would come to Connile.
On the fourth day they reached his place, Milly brought news that there will be a Doctor to aid Connile, and there will be soldiers who will guard the house. The total are three men, two on the ground floor and another one at the near entrance. Cagalli has no doubt that her father will send Connile to ORB when she was well enough to process the court. Before that would happen, she must think about her escape.
The following evening Cagalli met the Doctor in Connile's room. Connile was fast asleep at this time. "Dr. Amagi?" She asked.
"Yes."
"I am Cagalli Yula Athha. How is my friends condition today?"
"She is better, she should be able to get up in a day or two."
"Oh no! I mean are you sure? She was so ill on the journey here. Shouldn't she rest on the bed for a week or two?"
"Sir Uzumi wishes her to be ready to travel after she is okay. The shock of her mother's death will soon pass."
"It wont" Cagalli replied in low and angry voice,"Not for her or me, it's easy for you to say, but the fact is it's hard to do."
"I see, I didn't expect such a sentiment from Uzumi's daughter." he frowned, "And if I'm not wrong she is Athrun Zala's sister."
"You are well informed doctor."
"We can get news or gossips pretty well here."
"And you hate her?" she asked while pointing to Connile.
"I am a doctor not a soldier. My duty is to save people and she is my patient. When she is well she will be your father's responsibility. What will happen to her is not my concern anymore."
"And so, you want to abandon her so easily?"
"And how about you? Are you so innocent that you can judge me? The whole town knows how you tried to trap Athrun and his companions."
"Impossible" Cagalli face suddenly paled as she heard the news. For four days she can't go out and communicate with others except the people in her house, and Milly also refused the permission to leave the house. Did her father tell a lie? Because he didn't want his pride hurt, that his daughter had betrayed him? Cagalli felt awful and sick, wordlessly she turned away, biting her lips to keep back the tears.
"You can tell your father that she can travel in two days," he said, moving toward the door," Good day, Miss Cagalli."
Cagalli wanted to scream when he closed the door, anger and sadness was felt in her heart. When she was about to go outside the room, Connile woke up, "Cagalli - don't go."
"I heard you talking. You are so kind to help me, but I know it is hopeless." Connile gave her a faint smile. "You better not cross with your father again, when I was gone you still have to live with him."
"Don't worry about him. Did you hear the doctor? My father had told a lie to protect himself and his pride. Everyone will believe that I helped my father trap Athrun and others."
"But we know that isn't true."
"But Athrun doesn't," Cagalli said," He has never trusted me, and when he hears the gossip, he will hate and despise me."
"Athrun cares for you." Connile tried to sit up in the bed, puzzled. She didn't have a chance to ask Cagalli what had happened on the lodge before.
"No, you are wrong. I told him I loved him, but he didn't believe me. Why should he after the way I acted? I love him, but I don't have a way to prove it. I only can pray for his safety. As long as he is alive, what he thinks of me is not important."
"So you won't deny about your father's story? You can't do that Cagalli."
"Let's drop that topic, for now you must rest and I will find a way to get you out of here."
As Cagalli entered the sitting room, Uzumi halted her. "You are like your mother Cagalli, trying to betray me?" She turned to him and stared at him coldly. "Go down on your knees, and beg God's forgiveness."
She didn't move, but Uzumi grasped her by arm and forced her to floor. Cagalli still kept silent, shutting her mind against the pain from her body.
In the middle of the night she woke up. Someone had entered her room and lit the candles. As she sat up she recognized the figure that was standing beside the window.
"Well Cagalli, what have you done now?" Conrad's voice mocked her.
"What do you want?" She felt disgusted by him. She forgot that he was now residing here along with her father.
"Your father is a fool, I told him that the beating won't do any good."
"And why do you care what he does to me?"
"As usual you always see me as a heartless man." He walked toward her, and stood looking into her pale face. "I can help you, if you wish."
"And? I bet the price will be too high," Cagalli retorted as she felt sick by him.
"I shall ask more from you other than a marriage."
Cagalli stared at him at the cold way. Did he ask her to marry him?
"Why not Cagalli? Right now only I can protect you from your father. And you know that I have always wanted you..."
"I don't love you."
"You didn't love Afhmed also, but you were about to marry him." He caught her by the arms "Are you thinking about that coordinator? Then close your eyes and pretend it is him kissing you if it helps."
When he kissed her she didn't respond, and she was to weak and bruised to struggle, she endured his kiss in silent misery.
"You cold bitch!" He pushed her away from him, "Be damned then, I won't use my finger to help you."
"Go away! Go away and leave me in peace. Fine another woman that will reciprocate your kiss and accept your love, for I never will."
Dr. Amagi came again two days later and Cagalli asked him to follow her to the sitting room.
"How is Connile this morning?"
"I will inform Sir Uzumi that she is fit to travel."
"From prison to another?"
His eyes narrowed sharply as he wondered what did she mean.
"What do you want from me, Miss Cagalli?"
"Time, I need that. Three or four days at least, and longer if possible."
"And is I can't? Sir Uzumi is not a fool, and I am. What are your true intentions?"
"As you know, that the gossip only partly true. It was my first intention to trap Athrun and Kira. I could have succeeded, but Athrun cleverness prevents it. And how glad I am that I didn't succeed for I have realized my mistakes. That night when my father attacked the house, I tried to warn them, but it was too late."
Then did you gain their trust?"
"Athrun does not trust easily. I was with him before the troopers attacked the house. If I had planned it with my father, would I have left the house with Athrun whose capture is as important as Kira's?"
"Why do you tell me this? It means nothing to me."
"If you are loyal to my father you will tell this conversation to him. But if you aren't, I hope you can help me and Connile and to give me the time that I need."
"How will you do that with the guards at your house."
"I will think of something, but can you tell my father that she isn't ready to travel?"
The man didn't answer. He turned his way to the door, he stopped and said "I can give you five days, but no more than that. I will give the some medicine that will induce the temperature. And the rest is up to you."
"Thank you so much. I shall never forget your kindness, I have nothing to give you except my thanks. My father has taken everything of value from me - wait!" Cagalli drew the pendant from her, she had worn it since that day. "This was given by a wonderful woman. Take it please – It's the only thing I possess."
Dr. Amagi took it from her and examined the picture inside it. He glanced to Cagalli with no longer suspicions.
"This pendant tells everything. I believe what you had told me, and I will help you all I can. Take this back, I can see this one is so valuable for you."
"You will help me?"
"If I can, I can't call you tomorrow it will raise the suspicion. Maybe we can't prevent Miss Connile being sent to ORB, but if God help us, we can rescue her on the way to ORB."
"Thank you so much doctor, you are really kind."
They shook hands, and a few minutes later Cagalli saw him speaking with her father and Conrad. A few minutes later Conrad called for their horses and they rode off.
Cagalli felt relieved with this. She didn't think about the punishment she would get if her father knew it. She was still sore from the beating, her shoulders were covered in bruises. For the first time, she had prayed regularly, not for her but for the people she loved, Connile, Milly, Dearka, Kira and most of all her prayers for Athrun. Would she meet him again? She felt terrible about the gossips, this time Athrun would despise her. It is possible that he would believe that she was the one who was responsible for the death of his mother and the destruction of his home.
The Doctor didn't come again on the second day as she expected. The medicines he gave her were soon half gone, she was worried about that. Cagalli still couldn't go outside so Milly went out to hear the gossips and some news. Cagalli went to Connile's room.
Connile sat up, the medicine had made her face red from a slight fever.
"Your father came to see me this morning, he said that even I still have a fever, he will take me to ORB this Saturday."
"Saturday oh no! With doctor help I was hoping for more time."
"I'm scared Cagalli. Will I see Athrun and Dearka again?"
"Yes you will. It's impossible for me to take you out from the house, but Dr. Amagi has some friends who will help you and make sure you won't reach ORB court. And you can reunite again with you brother and cousin"
"I wish you come with me Cagalli."
"I want to, but it is impossible."
Milly came to the room, "Cagalli, they have been seen -"
"Kira, the King."
"Yeah?"
"He was seen this morning traveling to the south."
"Was anyone with him?" Connile asked.
"Two men."
"Thank God." She turned to Cagalli "Athrun and Dearka."
"Sir Uzumi has hundred's of men riding after them, but he won't catch him."
"I wish for that also," Cagalli replied to her, as she felt a bit happy that Athrun was still alive. If they reached the coast safely and find a ship, they could be at sea before the troopers found them.
"Is there any other news or gossip?"
"No, but I did see Dr. Amagi, he said that the matter you discussed with him has been taken care of."
Cagalli wanted to speak but she broke off when someone came to the room and it was her father.
"I see you have heard the news about your love, but I have made sure that you can't leave the house." Uzumi spoke.
"You will never catch my brother." Connile said irately
"I raised the reward for it, now everyone will tempted by it."
"How proud and sure you are father," Cagalli stared him coldly ,"But don't forget there are some people who cannot be bought by money, and some people who are loyal or even love them, which one don't you have."
"You are in no position to say that. Do you want to go to prison also? Even I ruled this country, but the law is the law, and I had shielded you that time and this is what I get?"
The door slammed shut behind him, Cagalli stood still and clenched her fist tightly.
"Don't argue with him Cagalli or he will beat you again." Milly pleaded.
"He - he beat you Cagalli?" Connile asked with horror in her eyes.
"Yes"
"But why, he is your own father and you are his daughter why did he do that?"
"He believes that it will clean my soul."
"By beating you? My father has never done that, he didn't even beat Athrun or Dearka. Cagalli, I wish Athrun is here he would know what to do."
"Don't worry I will help you, don't be afraid." Cagalli assured her.
"And after that? I am afraid for you."
"It doesn't matter for me."
Cagalli returned to her room and took a rest before dinner. The guard on the ground floor did not invade her privacy, knowing there was no other way out of the house, and she took the advantage of her father's absence to go down to the library at the late night. When she reached there she was surprised that the windows were opened. Maybe her father forgot to close it, she thought.
A figure stood behind her, she turned away. It was to dark to see his face but there was a sufficient light for her to see a sword. She almost screamed, but the cloth was tied across her mouth and her arms were held behind her.
"I warned you that if you ever betrayed me again I would come back and teach you a lesson." Athrun said in a low voice and dangerous tone.
Cagalli was relieved that it was Athrun and Dearka who had broken into the house. Athrun's eyes made her afraid, she shook her head and tried to say the she was innocent, but he remained unmoved.
"No, Cagalli, I will not fall from your tricks again," he said coldly. He turned to his cousin, " Well?"
"There are two guards below, but other than that it's okay. Her room must be upstairs," Dearka said looking at her with the cold and unfriendly way also. Cagalli heart sank, they believed her for the worst. Had they went back to their home and found Lenore's grave?
"Take her upstairs then, and if she is troublesome, knock her out."
Cagalli offered no resistance, scared not by Athrun's threats, but she was afraid that the guards would see them. When they reached her room and when there was enough light, Cagalli was shocked, there was some blood at Athrun's jacket. He collapsed on the bed with a groan of pain.
"Find something to stop my bleeding."
Dearka opened the drawer and found a sheet, he tore it. Unfastening the cloth around her mouth, Cagalli knelt and reached Athrun's jacket, but he pushed her away.
"Don't touch me."
"Let me help you."
"Like you helped my mother?" His face filled with anger as he lifted the sword against her chest. "She helped you when you were hurt and she even liked you and considered you as family, but what did she get? A bullet?"
"I had no part in it Athrun. You must believe me, Conrad killed her, I saw it happen."
"I told you I will kill you if you betrayed me again."
"Then kill me. If it is so easy to you to thrust the sword to my heart and lung, then why do you hesitate?" Cagalli near with tears, but she managed to hold it, "I will give my own life to save her, and that is the truth."
Without a word he fell back onto the pillow and lay still. Dearka glared at her, "Bind his wound and if you try to scream I will save his trouble of killing you."
Cagalli took care of his wound, "Help me to gather up everything that is bloodstained. Milly will have to burn it before it's seen."
"Milly? Where is she?" Dearka asked, and she noticed a sudden change in his tone. Cagalli forgot that they have some feelings toward each other.
"In bed. My father will be away for a day, and Conrad also at this moment, so you don't need to draw your sword, I won't give you any danger."
"Athrun thinks otherwise, and I inclined to agree with him. He came here to kill you at least that's what he told me."
Putting his sword on the table, Dearka caught her wrist, "How did my aunty die? She went to warn you when Athrun said that you had left the lodge."
"Did he say why?"
"No - but I guessed you had a quarrel, he doesn't want to talk about it."
"I won't also, it was a private things. I did leave the lodge, but I got lost and saw a man dying while trying to warn us, so I tried to go to the house and warn all of you, but by the time I reached it, I couldn't find anybody. Then Lady Lenore came to me, but when she tried to escape Conrad shot her in the back."
"He did that?"
"Yes. And Connile is a prisoner here, she will be taken to ORB court the day after tomorrow,"
"Our friends tell us a different story."
"My father told a lie, he wants to protect himself and his pride." Cagalli said," ask Milly or your cousin, Connile, and look around you if you don't believe me. I have betrayed my father and I am also not different from your cousin, I am a prisoner also, I can't go outside this house."
Dearka released her, "Is Connile's room on this floor?"
"Yes, and why did you come here? Her escape has been arranged."
"So we were led to believe, Dr. Amagi arranged to have your father and the troopers decoyed away on Athrun's orders."
"And Kira?"
"He is safe, miles away. When we have Connile we will take a ship to Plant, that if Athrun can make it." he added with a worried frown.
Cagalli pulled up a chair beside the bed and sat down, she stared at Athrun. Without thinking she reached for Athrun's bangs and brushed it gently.
"Such a touching gesture, to convince me that you are innocent?" Dearka retorted.
"I hope you believe me."
"And my aunty died, Connile was taken as a prisoner, and Athrun half dead from the loss of blood. I trusted you when he didn't. It seems he is wiser than me."
"I told you the truth," she replied to him quietly.
"I can't believe you again." Dearka said, he tied her hands behind the chair and he carefully went outside the room.
Dearka returned with Connile, Connile began to protest when she saw Cagalli, but he waved her to silence and he went to Cagalli, he grasped her robe and pulled it down over her shoulders.
"My God! Your father did this?", he asked, and Cagalli nodded, he hurriedly rearranged her robe and freed her. "Forgive me, Cagalli, to have treated you so badly ... I am truly sorry, I am so ashamed."
"That is okay you have the right not to trust me." Cagalli smiled to Connile as she knew that she told everything to Dearka.
"How is my brother?" Connile asked.
"He is in bad condition, but I will try to call Dr. Amagi. For now you better go back to your room and take a rest, don't worry about your brother."
Connile agreed with this and she headed for her room.
Athrun appeared more restful but his color hasn't improved, he was still pale. By the time Milly bought Cagalli breakfast, she was fully dressed and had changed the bandage on Athrun's wound. She turned away from the sight of Milly in Dearka's arms, she smiled at that scene. How she wanted Athrun to hold her like that, but she could only dream.
She felt someone touch her shoulder and she found Dearka stare sympathetically at her.
"Cagalli, I feel about Milly as you feel about Athrun."
Cagalli eyes widened, "Then take her with you."
"She refuses to leave you, come with us Cagalli, please."
"I can't, I must remain behind."
The guards were about to sit for breakfast in the kitchen when a scream brought them upstairs. Milly met them at the half way up the stairs.
"Up there, hurry! She is dying."
The guards not sure what she meant for the Uzumi's daughter or the prisoner. They reached upstairs and saw one of the doors opened. When the came in, they were shocked by the sight of Connile unconscious, and Cagalli pressing a cloth that was covered by blood on Connile's chest.
"No! Don't touch her! She must not be moved. One of you get the doctor, she tried to kill herself with a knife."
When the doctor reached the room, he seemed a bit lost by the scene, but with a single glance from Cagalli he knew there is something wrong.
"You Milly bring the hot water and clean towel and take those guards with you." the doctor ordered her.
"I will remain here doctor." One of the guards insisted.
"I have no intention to treat this woman half naked under your sight. She is a valuable prisoner and you are delaying my treatment of her."
"The I will wait outside the door for your report."
"I don't care where you will wait as long as you get lost from my sight, trouble me again and I will report sir Uzumi."
The older guard had left the room. Then Dr Amagi looked at Cagalli with a smile.
"Thank you for coming doctor, and also for getting rid of that guard. I thought that man had discovered our trick." Cagalli spoke.
"How did you manage the blood?" He asked
"The blood came from Athrun, he is very weak doctor, he needs help to leave here."
Then they talked almost about the plan, how they can get them out from this house safely.
The soldier standing outside turned as the doctor and Cagalli came out of the bedroom. He stared at them then the doctor informed him," The wound is not serious, with some rest she will be able to travel when Uzumi wishes." Then they went to Cagalli's room.
"I think he is suspicious enough about us," he said closing the door of Cagalli's sitting room.
"I think so to," Cagalli nodded and went on, "Please see Athrun, his wounded very badly."
"How you must love him. Where is he?"
"In there," Cagalli pointed at the door to her bedroom.
When they entered the room, Dearka greeted them. Cagalli sat on the nearest chair, and the doctor treated Athrun as he talked the entire plan to Dearka.
Dearka then came beside Cagalli, "Are you crazy Cagalli? You will go to ORB court in her place, have you considered about that?"
"Yes, but there was no other way, Athrun needs helps and all of you must get away from here as soon as possible."
"Yes, but Athrun also needs you, I insist you to come with us."
"No,"
"Why? Because of what happened at the lodge?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Is it so terrible?"
"Please let's drop that, I don't want to talk about that. Athrun doesn't care about me, and I will never allow him to be burdened with me out of gratitude or pity."
"When I tell him all you have done for us..."
"He will feel obliged to me nothing more." Dearka choose not to argue with her, then he asked the doctor, "When will it be safe to move him?"
Dr. Amagi looked at him then asked Cagalli a question, "When will your father return?"
"Once he discovered that he has been following the wrong men he will return at once, maybe in the morning."
"Then I will make the arrangement tonight, I will leave the sleeping pill, give this to Athrun."
"Is it necessary?" Cagalli asked
"He must rest, but how will you get him out to the road through the garden?"
"I will carry him,' Dearka answered " Along with Connile's help."
"Milly and I will be there to, yes we can manage it." Cagalli added.
"Very well, at midnight then. Now all of you better take a rest for the long night."
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The small groan from the bed brought Cagalli's attention to Athrun, his eyes opened.
"You!" His voice was weak, he glared at her and he saw the two lovers on the couch, "What the...!"
"Don't talk, you need to rest." Cagalli whispered.
"Don't give orders Cagalli." He glared at her coldly, then Cagalli called Dearka.
"He must rest now, but he wont listen to me." she said to Dearka.
"But he will listen to me."
"Dearka, don't tell or discuss about me or anything that has happened in this house once you arrived.", she said to him. Dearka wanted to protest but he didn't argue with it.
Cagalli left them and she remained in her sitting room.
That evening Cagalli joined with others and Milly bought her supper tray, the she pocked her pocket, and brought a bread wrapped in a clean handkerchief and gave it to Dearka, "Here eat this you didn't eat all day, you need your supper, and there is extra milk on the tray and more broth for Athrun."
"You are a clever girl," Dearka chuckled reaching for the bread, "What about Connile?"
"I looked in her room and pretend that she was still sleeping, I told the guard not to disturb her anymore tonight." Milly answered him.
"Connile - what has happened to her?" Athrun spoke. He looked stronger after his sleep.
"Nothing, she is pretending to be sick to deceive the soldiers," Dearka answered him.
Athrun tried to get up, but Dearka forced him to lie down on the bed.
"You are not to trust her, do you hear me Dearka?"
"Dearka is big enough to make up his own mind." Cagalli ignored his glare and sat down on the bed holding the bowl of broth. "Please stay still and let me feed you, or you will not be strong enough to travel."
Athrun looked at Dearka who nodded to him.
"Tonight we will get away from here, without Dr Amagi's help we would have been discovered a long time ago and without Cagalli's help you would surely die. She was the one who brought the doctor to treat you."
"Let him eat," Cagalli interrupted Dearka, she didn't want Dearka to say anymore than that. Dearka shrugged his shoulders and allowed her to feed Athrun.
"Stay, I don't want you out of my sight," Athrun said as she rose to go. She sat down again. Moments later they saw Athrun's eyes close.
"I put the sleeping pill in his food, I am sorry, but I needed to do that, he is quiet stubborn and he needs to rest."
"And you wont give him the explanation?" Dearka frowned, "What are you afraid of, Cagalli?"
She stared at him, and tears came to her eyes. How painful it was when she loved someone, but he didn't love her back. She brushed her tears and managed to talk ,"We must be at the garden 20 minutes before midnight, and then we need to get rid of the guard from Connile's room. Until then we better take a rest."
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AN: Hope you enjoy this . I am pretty upset with the ending of destiny so decided to write this! Stay tuned for next chapter Please R&R.