A/N: I am so sorry it took this long . I had to balance my time studying for the periodical test and making my term paper. Gomen gomen. ;p. Anyways, here's the next chapter! I hope it was worth the wait. The Simplest Things next chapter will be coming in soon, if not today :) Read and Review please! Thanks!

Princess

Chapter 5

Athrun stared at the ceiling of his bedroom with his arms behind his head. So many things happened that day that he had some difficulty sorting everything out. Aside from the fact that he had this awful ache on his back (courtesy of Dearka), he received bad news from Kisaka just after he got home...If you could call it that.

"...Well sir... I'm here to ask permission for an early retirement for my niece, Kagari. You see, her grandmother on her father side—passed away this morning. She's very devastated. And now she has too many things to attend to at home. They need her to be there... 3 days from now..."

When he heard what Kisaka had said, he felt shocked and irritated. He had to agree of course. But from that time on, it bothered him to no end. He didn't even know why he was thinking of her early retirement. She was just a maid! He probably shouldn't even care!

Athrun's brows furrowed.

'This isn't exactly caring now, is it? It's just that maybe my mansion will be short of staff. So I'll be burdened of choosing a new personal maid.'

Actually... it's Saka's job…

'She's really leaving...'

………

I don't want her to leave…! Maybe... maybe I do care...

……………

"Arghhh!"

Sitting up suddenly, Athrun glared at himself in front of the mirror on the far corner...

I really... really hate her.

An idea suddenly struck his mind. He looked thoughtful for a moment, then he smiled.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Cagalli climbed up the steps to the 2nd floor silently. The master had called for her. It was already very late at night, and the mansion was dead silent aside from the sound she was making. If it's something useless, she was going on a fit. If there was something she really hated, it was getting disturbed from a very deep slumber.

Actually, they had been celebrating while the master was away. Kisaka had told her that she would be going home in three days if the master would allow it, which he probably would (and he did). The other maids were having a party of some sort, and Erika had arrived in her room drunk, but bringing with her a couple of bottles. Kisaka figured they were alcoholic drinks, but he was not able to do anything. Her head was still heavy for she only had an hour or so of sleep. Which was probably why she was irritated. Hopefully, Athrun wouldn't notice...

She was not feeling well though, maybe she should have told Kisaka that that was the first time she drank alcohol.

Stopping just before his door, she stared. The last time she entered the damn door, she was caught in a very compromising position. It was certainly very unsettling to think about it again, but she couldn't forget the way they—she acted that time. She started considering just going back to her room and ignore his call.

"If you're planning on standing out there all night, you should might as well enter my room."

She jumped.

'That is so easily said...' Cagalli frowned and started reaching for the doorknob, but hesitated. The alcohol was still making her dizzy. 'Ugh...I am so not in the mood to see him again.'

The door snapped open. Cagalli jumped again and backed away a few steps, shocked. Standing on the doorway was a ruffled looking Athrun. His hair was in a disarray, and his robe looked rumpled. He took one look at her and raised both of his hands.

"No tricks this time."

She looked unbelieving.

" I promise."

This seemed to satisfy her. Cagalli took a deep breath of relief and followed him into the room. The room inside was very cold, but her body seemed hot, giving her a very unusual and uncomfortable feeling. She pulled her robe closer to her body as Athrun climbed onto his bed and pulled the covers around him. He gestured towards the chair on the side of his bed.

"What is it you need anyway? Just tell me so I can get it over and done with,...Sir." She muttered bitterly, sitting down on the chair.

"What I need..." His gaze traveled down her body. "...is something I know you cannot give me right now."

A shiver ran up her spine.

"Y—you-!"

"Hey, I'm sorry...about what happened earlier. It might have ruined your dignity or something. And please, it's not like I'm going to ravish you tonight or anything. Like I said, no tricks." He was staring at her firm grip on the front of her robe.

"It's---It's just very...cold, ok? Stop thinking about ideas like that."

"Oh really? Do you want to get warm?" Athrun's gaze turned hot. He sat up and leaned against the back cushion of the bed.

"Oh—no thanks!" Cagalli laughed nervously. She felt very dizzy, as if the world was spinning. And she felt unusually warmer. "It's warm already."

"Seriously now. I was just kidding." Athrun sighed and looked out the window.

Cagalli looked incredulous. He was really acting weird today. And he caught her on a bad time too, she really did not feel well. She had to get out as soon as possible.

"Which one do you like better? Ice cream or candies?"

Staring dumbfounded at the man in front of her, Cagalli raised an eyebrow.

"Just answer it" He replied with a boyish grin.

"Both."

"You'll have diabetes in no time. Coffee or Tea?"

"Coffee. What is this all about anyway?"

"Caffeine is bad for your health. Hotdogs or Sausage?"

"Hotdogs. Sir, I need---"

"Yuck. Did you know what Hotdogs are made from pig's testicles?"

That was definitely the last straw. Cagalli hastily stood up and glared at him.

"If you called me here to insult my food preferences, then—" Nausea struck her. Cagalli clutched her head and staggered. She leaned on the wall and took deep intakes of breath. Hearing some ruffling behind her, she tried to turn around. But instead, she felt Athrun slip his arms around her waist, supporting her.

"What the hell happened to you?" his voice barked out.

Cagalli couldn't speak, she leaned on him and let him carry her to the bed. Athrun lay her gently down and felt her forehead. From the look on his face, she could tell that he finally realized what happened to her. He disappeared for a while, but when he returned, he started dabbing an icy cold towel on her face. This seemed to slightly ease the dizziness, but her head was still heavy.

"You're steaming hot, I think you're having a fever. Did you just drink alcohol?" He looked annoyed.

"Just...a little whisky, I guess...I'm so sorry, sir." She managed to get out.

Athrun ignored her and continued to dab the towel on her face.

"Uhm... I'll go back...I can take care of myself... and also, Erika or Kisaka can attend to me while I'm sick."

"You can barely walk." Athrun glanced on the wall clock. "You can sleep here for tonight, Kagari."

Cagalli's eyes snapped open, and she immediately sat up.

"That's too much, sir. It would be a bother for you really, and if Kisaka doesn't see me on my bed tomorrow morning, I'll be dead. And where will you be slee---"

Athrun pushed her back on the bed. His eyes were deep green, making Cagalli wonder if he was angry.

"It would be more bothersome for me if you would continue complaining. Just shut up and sleep." Athrun sat on the chair she was sitting on a while ago and sighed.

"Look, I'm not very good with sick people, but I know how to take care of them."

Cagalli looked away and closed her eyes. She didn't want to sleep in his room, but she desperately needed to calm and rest herself. A little sleep won't hurt. She would wake up when he slept and immediately leave the room. "Th—thank you..."

Athrun started to wake up when he was disturbed by certain sounds. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was that the window was open. And the rain pelting outside was starting to enter his room. He rubbed his eyes and walked unsteadily.

After closing the glass window, he could still hear the heavy drops of the rain on his window, but this time, he could hear the slight rumbling of the thunder. Walking cautiously beside the bed, he studied her face. She looked really calm and lovely when she was asleep. Her long eyelashes graced her cheeks as she breathed. Smiling, he felt Kagari's forehead, then he looked confused. That was odd. Her fever was gone. But getting better that fast?

Athrun leaned down to wake her up, but jumped slightly as thunder suddenly roared the skies.

He felt Kagari stir and saw that she turned to her side and curled. She was gripping the sheets and whimpering slightly. She was terrified, Athrun thought.

Thunder roared again.

This time, Kagari was shutting her eyes tight, and she was whimpering a little louder. It was as if she was having a nightmare. Athrun's chest tightened. Knowing that he might regret what he was about to do, Athrun sighed and climbed up slowly on the bed.

He slid his arm around her waist and tucked her head on his shoulder. Athrun started caressing her back and whispering in her ear, soothing her. He felt Kagari snuggle closer to him, and instantly felt the sensation her actions did to his body. Athrun ignored this and hugged her gently. This was definitely not the time for that. She was starting to relax now, and her breathing was normal again. The thunderstorm was gone.

Athrun slowly drew away from her, but felt her arms slide around him, pulling him closer to her. He felt surprised, but smiled. She looked really childish. He gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear and hugged her tenderly. She felt surprisingly comforting against him. Athrun closed his eyes slowly, sleep finally overcoming him.

She was sliding her hands down her chest; her mouth moving with his; and he groaned. Her hand was sliding dangerously lower, and he felt tension building up inside of him as he waited for her.

Then Athrun woke up.

He cursed. That was definitely a major piss-off. He tried to go back to sleep, and back to his wonderful dream, when he realized what it was that woke him up. His heart stopped.

His robe had opened up, probably from his sleep, and Kagari had her hands laid gently on his chest. One of her legs somehow got between his, and he could feel her hot breath on one of his most sensitive spots. His neck. His heart started beating fast, and his mind blanked. He had no idea what to do.

Athrun felt Kagari stir and stopped dead. She was about to wake up!

But instead of opening her eyes, she slid her hands around his chest, and nuzzled closer to him. Her hands felt really cold against his skin, and he was starting to succumb to temptation. He watched her slightly open mouth as she breathed slowly. They were red and full. Just one short smack, and I swear I'll leave her...

Leaning down ever so gently, he pressed his lips to hers as one of his hands rubbed the back of her neck. He suddenly felt hot. Warning signals were flaring. He started to draw away when he heard her moan. His eyes widened. She was kissing him back! Was she even aware of what she was doing?

Kagari had slipped one of her arms around his neck and was pulling him closer as she herself deepened the kiss. She was pressing her body closer to his as he felt himself go hard. And when he felt her trace his lip with her tongue and her other hand slip lower inside his robe, he lost all control. He opened his mouth and devoured her, their tongues playing in passionate lovemaking. His hand played with her breast through her robe while his other hand was sliding up her leg. She groaned and pressed her lower body to his, feeling his hardness. He was untying the knot of her robe when sanity came back to him.

' Wait a minute!' Athrun's eyes snapped open, and sure enough, Kagari's eyes were still closed. She was still asleep! Athrun immediately stopped and pulled away. He felt disgusted. He was taking advantage of her! She had become silent again. She had her arms around her pillow, as if nothing had happened. His guilt was killing him.

Athrun took both her hands in his, and kissed her knuckles.

"I am so sorry..."

With that, pulled the covers to her neck, kissed her forehead and left.

Cagalli opened her mouth and whispered:

Athrun...

End Chapter

A/N: yay:) finished! Read and Review please!

--MaI