Hey everybody thanks so so much for the support! I just wanted to say that I will not update until the new chapter gets at least three reviews, just to make sure people are reading my story - it's not TOO much to ask, right? Anyways, my thanks go to:

AnimeSisterz: Thanks so much for reviewing! It makes me feel really great and special .
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This chapter was actually originally divided into two, but when I realized how short they were I put them together to make it longer. I hope you enjoy it! Review please! .

Disclaimer: Though I wish I could (and I'm sure tons of other fangirls feel the same), I do not own Gundam Seed, save for my character Rin and her mobile suit the Destroyer. I tried, though...

CHAPTER FIVE – THE PILOT OF THE STRIKE

When Rin came to, she realized that she was lying in a bed in the outdoors. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes groggily. She tried to move her legs, but she couldn't. She soon realized that they were broken. That's when sharp spasms of pain burst from them, and she gave a small cry of pain.

"There's a problem!" exclaimed a robotic-sounding voice. A mechanical pink ball with strange earflaps leaped onto her bed.

"Mr. Pink! You don't want to wake her up!" a girl said softly but with a chastising tone as she scooped him up. She looked at Rin. "Oh, my, you're awake already!" She smiled kindly. She had a kind face with blue eyes and long pink hair. She wore a white and purple dress. "May I ask for your name?"

"Rin. Who are you?" Rin asked her. "And where am I?"

"My name is Lacus," she answered. "My father is the former chairman of the PLANTS. Perhaps you know who he is."

Of course she knew. So this was the daughter of Former Chairman Clyne. She sure was beautiful. And she seemed like a very gentle person. Rin had heard a lot about this girl. She was said to have an amazing voice as well. Rin also knew that she was engaged to Athrun Zala, which she realized was one of her teammates. She vaguely wondered where he was now.

Lacus continued, "And as for where you are, you're in the PLANTS, with me. You've certainly come a long way. Reverend Malkio (sp?) brought you and Kira here after that terrible fight. He found you both lying unconscious in his prayer garden."

Rin looked around. Sure enough, there was another bed not too far off, and a boy with brown hair lay sleeping in it. "But – who's Kira?"

Lacus smiled. "Don't you know? Kira is the pilot of the Strike. He's a Coordinator, just like you are."

Rin gasped at the word "Strike." The pilot of the Strike was here! And he had survived! She hadn't been able to kill him after all. She just got caught up in Athrun's last-ditch effort. Then she started shaking madly.

"What's wrong?" Lacus asked, concerned.

Rin gasped out the words: "The Strike – he killed – my brother!"

Lacus looked both surprised and sad. "Kira…killed your brother?" she said softly. "I'm sorry to hear that, Rin."

"That's all?" Rin cried. "He's a murderer! He killed my brother! He's on the other side! And yet you willingly give him shelter?"

Lacus looked indeed sad. "I am truly sorry," she said. "But Kira saved me when I was trapped in space. He took me on board the Archangel, and treated me very kindly. He even went against his ship's orders to return me to Athrun. It's my turn to help Kira now. And as for your brother… Kira spoke with me a lot while I was on their ship. He hates war, and he hates fighting. He doesn't try to kill people. He just wants to protect his friends, a noble cause."

"But that doesn't amount to the fact that he DID kill someone!" Rin yelled, tears stinging her eyes.

Lacus looked at the floor. "I know I probably can't say anything to change your opinion, Rin, but Kira truly is a good person, and I'm sure that he never meant for something like this to happen."

"Well, it did," Rin snapped. "He deserves to be dead for all he's done."

"I hope you truly didn't mean that," a man said, walking in. "I'm sure, in time, you'll see things more clearly. Lacus, your father would like to see you now."

"Yes, Reverend Malkio," Lacus answered. With a small smile in Rin's direction, she left with the reverend, leaving Rin to her tears and thoughts.

Time passed, and finally, Rin witnessed the day when Kira, the so-called Coordinator pilot of the Strike, awoke. Of course, her legs still being broken, she had to remain in her bed, but she saw what happened, though she didn't hear everything that was said. What she saw, however, was the pilot waking up, and suddenly sat up, shaking and crying, his fists clenched. Lacus moved over to him to comfort him. Rin glared in her direction even though she couldn't see her. Rin hated that Lacus was helping an enemy. And in her condition, there was nothing much she could do about it.

According to Reverend Malkio, it was going to take about five days for Rin's wounds to heal, which was terrific, considering the damage she received to her legs. But she was a Coordinator, after all, and therefore she healed much faster than regular humans. This feat of hers really got her thinking about the scar Yzak had on his face. Coordinators' wounds could be healed immensely quickly, and yet he still had the scar…Rin supposed it was there to serve as a reminder.

It was going to take longer than she'd hoped, but soon enough, she'd be able to walk again. She couldn't wait for that day, because then she'd be able to go and confront the pilot of the Strike. However, he ended up healing much faster than her, and two days after he awoke, he was walking again. Rin was filled with a burning envy, and this only made her want to heal even more.

Finally, on the fifth night, when everyone else was inside sleeping, Rin took her first steps. Actually, she wasn't supposed to try walking until the next morning, but she couldn't wait. This was the perfect opportunity for her to take action. The first steps were wobbly, and she nearly fell over, but her determination allowed her to keep going. Then she slipped her dagger out of her pocket, and holding it out in front of her, she began her slow but steady walk to the bed of the sleeping murderer.

It took a few minutes, even though he was so close, but Rin eventually reached Kira's bedside. Because it was so dark outside, she could barely make out his features, and his face was a mere shadow. She held the knife high over his heart, watching his chest rise and fall with even breathing. This was it. This was her chance. Judging from his abilities, Rin figured she'd only get one shot before he'd wake up. She'd have to do it quick, or her movements would alert him.

Rin raised her arm a tad higher to give her a bit more force. This is it, she thought with a bit of a gulp. This is my chance to avenge Nicol. Brother, this is for you. Her hand shook madly as she took in a deep breath to prepare herself. Deep breathing only made her hand shake even more. God damn it, she thought angrily at herself. Kira stirred slightly. She was giving herself away. She had to act now! Why am I hesitating now, of all times? This is my one chance – and I'm gonna take it!

Rin flung her arm downwards with a yell. But by the time she reached the part where his heart would be, the knife was no longer in her hands. Kira was awake, and he had somehow sat up and grabbed the knife from her hands as she was bringing it down. Now he was holding the knife at her. Again, since it was so dark, she couldn't see his face, but there was a faint glimmer in his eyes.

"I don't know what you have against me," he said, "but if you try to hurt me I'll have no choice but to retaliate." Something about his voice told Rin that he meant no harm. But that wasn't right. He was a bloody murderer.

Her legs trembled slightly, but she ignored them. "I'll tell you what I have against you," she said, her whole body now shaking with anger. "You –" her voice shook madly "– you killed my brother!" She tried to punch him, but he easily blocked her fist.

Kira's voice suddenly grew quiet, a tad more gentle. "Was he…the pilot of the Blitz?" he asked.

Rin gave a small gasp. So he somehow knew exactly what she was talking about. But she couldn't let him get to her. He was an enemy. "He was fifteen!" she raged at Kira, trying to throw more punches, but he blocked them all and then raised the knife. "He was gentle and kind and his passion was for piano!" Tears were coming down again. Ever since she'd heard of Nicol's death, Rin had suddenly become much more emotional. But that was part of any grieving process. "He just wanted to protect the people he cared about! And you – and you –!" She broke off, sobbing.

Tears seemed to be forming in Kira's eyes as she spoke. Rin stared at him, her vision blurring because of her own tears. "I'm sorry!" he said, and he had an almost pleading tone. "It was an accident! I never meant to hit his control booth!"

"And why should I believe that?" she yelled, now pulling a gun now from her belt and pointing it directly at his heart.

The next series of events happened so quickly after the other that it was almost as if they hadn't happened at all. Rin pressed down on the trigger as Kira threw the knife, knocking it out of her hands before a shot could come out, and her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to the ground, hitting her head hard. Her vision blurred completely, and a lot of things went blank. Except she still remembered what her mission was.

Rin should have known not to waste her strength like that. Her legs needed time. She wasn't supposed to walk on them as if nothing had happened, but she'd been so caught up in her revenge…and now all her weapons were out of reach. She had failed.

The boy got out of his bed, then bent down and picked her up. She gave a cry of protest, and tried to punch her way out of his arms, but he took every blow as if it didn't even hurt, and she gave up. He brought her back to her bed and gently lay her down on the mattress.

"What the hell was that for?" Rin demanded sharply, but in a much calmer voice that before. The tears had stopped coming, and the mattress felt soothing. Her head pounded, making it slightly hard for her to concentrate.

He said nothing as he left her bedside. But then again, she could have sworn she heard him say, "Sorry."