Chapter 5
Kira drove down the now-deserted highway as he rushed towards his destination. Like the scenery outside his car window, his thoughts were blurry as he recalled bits and pieces of the letter's contents.
'-may have found your sister-'
'-sorry to inform you we're too late-'
'-presumed dead-'
Kira clenched his fists around the steering wheel, as he was now miles away from knowing the truth. The truth that he feared would make him crumble. All that filled his mind now was the newfound information of his sister. Cagalli. Kira smiled. It was a pretty name. A second later, his smile vanished. If this girl is his sister, he would be reuniting with his dead sister.
Kira sighed. He would also have to deal with Cagalli's fiancé and his questions about Kira. It stated clearly in the letter that this Yuuna guy-Cagalli's fiancé was very upset over her death, especially just hours after he got Cagalli's father's approval.
But the first thing he'd do when he got there was to find a payphone. In his haste leaving the house, he had forgotten to grab anything other than his wallet, and did not inform Lacus as well. Kira cringed. Lacus would be worried sick if he didn't call home. After all, it had been almost hours after he left. Damn this Yuuna guy for staying in another city.
With all these thoughts consuming Kira's mind, not once did he thought of his recent guest back home, whose name was also Cagalli.
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Athrun just gaped at her. Noticing his expression, Cagalli scowled. "You don't believe me," she accused.
"Well…um, its not that," stammered Athrun. "What then?" Asked Cagalli. "But, are you sure?" said Athrun thoughtfully.
Cagalli just lowered her head and stared at the ground. "I totally understand how he feels…having a sibling but not knowing where the other is, or how the other is doing right now," said Cagalli softly. Athrun said nothing as he waited for her to continue. "All I had were what my father told me, that my twin was somewhere out there, going about with his life just like I am. Now that I think about it, maybe he just made all of it up to shut me up," said Cagalli, her voice wavering as she talked about her father.
"Cagalli…its okay-
"NO its NOT okay!" screamed Cagalli hoarsely. "My father knew nothing of my twin, yet he made up lies to keep me happy! Why was I so selfish to keep pestering him with questions about my twin just because I wanted to know, when there weren't any answers my father could offer me!" cried Cagalli as she leaned against the porch.
Athrun felt torn, not knowing whether to comfort her fearing it would anger her further. Thus, he just placed his arms around Cagalli in a loose hug. As if by reflex, Cagalli turned and buried her face in Athrun's chest, crying. This was odd, as it was known that Cagalli never cried in front of others, nor accepted others' consolation.
In the past, whenever Cagalli dreamt of her twin and woke up crying, unable to remember anything more, she never ran to her father like other children would in search for comfort. Instead, all she would do is hug herself tighter among the covers and cried silently.
Cagalli did not know why she had opened up to Athrun. Maybe years of keeping all her feelings inside finally broke her down and he happened to be there? Cagalli shook her head mentally as she finally let someone in. Who knows? Said person might heal her emotional scars and make her become a new person.
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It wasn't till sunset did Kira reached the town Yuuna resides in. The town was called Hakuro, on the outside, it seems like any normal peaceful town by the countryside. Stopping at a petrol station, Kira rushed towards the payphones. He looked at his watch. It was well after midnight now but he hoped that Lacus would still be awake. A pained expression crossed his features, 'why wouldn't she, since she'd be worried sick,' thought Kira.
Kira only heard the dial tone once and then Lacus' frantic voice over the phone. "Kira! Where are you? Is everything okay? I tried to call your cell phone but you left here, is…the letter true?" though Lacus' sounded sad and worried, there was a tinge of anger in her voice. "I don't know yet Lacus. I just called to let you know I'm in a town called Hakuro and I'm fine. I'm sorry for worrying you," said Kira softly.
Lacus just replied, "its okay Kira. Just find out whether this girl is your sister," Hearing Lacus' encouragement, Kira's mood brightened a little. Whispering a soft "I love you" to Lacus, he hung up.
With that done, Kira resumed his journey in search of the one man that knew his sister's past.
-
"Athrun! Cagalli-san! Kira called and…oh! I'm sorry but I didn't mean to intrude," finished Lacus with a knowing smile.
Hearing her voice, Athrun and Cagalli scrambled to their feet. But since the porch was narrow, it only resulted in them banging into each other and Cagalli falling on top of Athrun. Cagalli blushed and tried to stand up but Athrun kept a hand around her waist and held her tight. "Let me go," demanded Cagalli. Athrun just grinned and tightened his hold. He then smiled gently saying, "no,"
A cough sounded behind them. They both turned to look up from where they were lying to find Lacus looking at them amusingly. Lacus just smiled and said, "Kira called. He's fine, but he's in a town called Hakuro this time," The two stood up carefully as Athrun carefully picked his words, "maybe this time, it isn't the one he's looking for too. Wouldn't Kira's hopes be dashed if he finds his lost sister dead?"
Lacus said nothing as Athrun continued, "we knew how hard he tried looking for his twin, but this one – just this one – lets hope it isn't her," Lacus' head snapped up as she caught Athrun's gaze. "No, you're wrong. I hope that this one is her, so that his search ends here and right now. I'd rather Kira to be devastated now, than to continue his false hope search for a person that might already be dead," saying that, Lacus ran back into the house and slammed the door shut. Bolting it too.
Athrun sighed and looked at Cagalli. Her expression was pained as she thought of Lacus' hurtful words. "I'm sorry, she's just frustrated that Kira still hangs on even after all these years, she didn't mean that she'd be happier with you being a corpse," smiled Athrun as he ruffled her hair. This time, there wasn't a reaction to his actions but to his words. "You-you believe me?" asked Cagalli.
Athrun nodded as he spoke aloud, "are you up for camping tonight, Cagalli?" Cagalli's eyes widened. "No way…she didn't right? Um, she must have unlocked it…" said Cagalli nervously. Running towards the front door, she tried to turn the doorknob. It didn't budge.
"For someone who wandered the streets for days, I'm surprised that you'd be afraid to camp out at night," teased Athrun. "Who says I'm afraid!" challenged Cagalli after she heard Athrun's remark. "Well, I don't know…some mountain bears might attack you," whistled Athrun. Fuming, Cagalli punched Athrun on the shoulder. "That's not funny. And there aren't any mountain bears here," insisted Cagalli.
Cagalli turned silent as she sat down on the porch once again. "I just don't want to be alone anymore," said Cagalli softly. Athrun sat down next to her as he put his arm around her. "You're not alone anymore, Cagalli…at least for now," he added the last part softly. Not paying any attention to it, Cagalli nodded and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
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