Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed.

Summary: Love is never easy. And war makes everything harder. But taking someone else's place makes it even more complicated. Part 4 of 5 drabble; dedicated to the women of GS/D, those we love and love to hate. References to GSD phase 50.

Lunamaria: Losing
Lunamaria does not know when it started.

She cannot remember when he began holding her protectively as he enveloped her in his warm embrace or when he began to gently tuck her hair behind her ear while he whispered endearments to her and her alone.

Nor does she understand why it started.

She cannot fathom why she would lean in to his touch, eager for more or why she would hold him close at night when his demons would make him cry out the names of the dead.

Her name.

Her heart sinks at the thought.

Lunamaria may have him during the day, his will to protect her ever-present. But at night, he is hers, her dead hands clawing through his thoughts and wrapping him away.

It makes Lunamaria think that sooner or later her grasp will reach him even when the sun continues to linger.

But what makes her think that it hasn't already happened?

Her eyes wander to him amidst all the fighting and chaos around them.

Her heart shrinks with worry as she observes his fight with Athrun-san. She is nagged by the feeling that there is something wrong with him.

Tears gather in her eyes, she does not want to lose him. She does not want him to be just another name in some memorial.

She rushes in, places herself between him and Athrun-san. Her voice pleads.

"Shinn! Please…stop this!"

Through the screen, she sees his empty eyes, full of anger and hatred; unfamiliar and very frightening.

Deep down inside, she realizes that it has already begun, that from her grave, she has reached for his heart.

And in the back of Lunamaria's mind, the image of a deathly pale face with blond hair emerges; she smiles at her with contempt.

As he turns his mobile suit against her, sword upraised for combat, her heart falters not with fear but with unimaginable pain.

Tears flow freely down her cheeks, knowing full well that she is slowly losing him.

She stands still as he nears her, not with fright but with sadness.

Was that it Shinn, did you also promised to protect her?

Lunamaria does not know when it started.

But she knows that it is about to end as quickly as it had just begun.

a/n: please review. Thank you for reading. Also for those who are waiting for my update on Adieu, do not worry! I am almost done with chapter.