The room was abuzz with ZAFT officials hustling back and forth, bent on making as much noise as possible and making themselves look busy. Phones rang off the hook and the glass door hardly muffled the rabid press outside.
Amid all this, the blue-haired boy sat on the expensive leather couch, evidently ignoring the entire racket that his romantic pursuits had caused. He was dripping wet and his green eyes stared into space, hardly the ghost of the memory before this all happened.
'This must be a joke.' Whirled into his head. She was so sincere, so alive… she seemed so incapable of doing something so horrid, so deceitful. Someone about an hour ago had pressed a mug of scorching hot tea into his hands. Now, thinking about her, his hands shook uncontrollably and it spilled all over the boy, making his lap the only place where he was relatively warm.
He looked almost pitifully endearing, out of place in the hectic immaculate ZAFT office. His uniform was draped over him as a sad excuse for a blanket, and just seeing the sad, sodden, tea-less boy was enough to bring tears to one's eyes.
It seemed everyone already forgot about the boy, sitting and as a result, dampening the couch. The EA they could handle, battle plans they could handle. They could do treaties and paperwork, and even plan a mass production of mobile suits to their command. But could they solve the whimsical mistakes of adolescence? Especially one made by the chairman's son? No, they couldn't.
Everywhere he saw her. Someone had her blond hair, but it wasn't a vivacious, autumn blonde liked hers, like hers that glowed in the setting sun. Someone had amber eyes, but it didn't hold her spark of life, her laughter. It didn't have tears that spilt over in her compassion for others, or didn't flash with anger when she was angry. She was here, but she was gone.
"Mister Zala?" the boy slowly lifted his drooping head with great effort. "Mister Yamato and Miss Clyne are here to see you." His two best friends were safely escorted through the crowd and into the ZAFT office, slightly confused and hassled. Kira had his arm wrapped protectively around Lacus, shooting venomous glares at the flashing camera lights and the shouting reporters. But as soon as their eyes landed on their dear friend, in their expressions, Athrun saw the first glance of care and understanding that he had seen in the whirlwind hours.
He smiled weakly, "Hey guys."
1-Month Ago
"Meester Zalah, It was such a play-shure to meet you. Hopefully we will meet again soon." The foreign minister smiled toothily at Athrun. In return, Athrun smiled wanly at the man. "Thank you, I hope so too."
As the stout man left the ZAFT building, he could distinctively hear the minister accented speech, "What a play-sent boy! Noothing laike his fahther." He chuckled as he closed the glass door. "So I am reminded many times."
"Okay, okay calm down Afhmed." Cagalli Yula Attha massaged her temple and spoke into the receiver with as much composure she could manage. "It's not your fault. We'll just find someone else to do it. Okay?"
"But Cagalli, I promised I'd help! I'm just as total failure to you now!" The boy on the other end wailed. "L…look Afhmed. You can still do a lot to help me," Cagalli shuffled around the papers on her desk. ", You can be my communications person." There was silence, as if the boy was horrified to be downgraded to such a paltry station.
"Afhmed, I really got to go. I hope your leg feels better okay?" Cagalli slammed down the receiver and groaned. "Miss Cagalli?" Kisaka looked at the girl, concerned. "Afhmed can't do it, he broke his leg." The girl sat back in her high backed chair, gazing at the blue sky outside the window.
The small, rundown apartment was a perfect place for a hideout. No one would suspect that a small group of ORB government spies were here at the PLANTS. Cagalli felt a swell of pride as she gazed out the window. All her hard work these long months had paid off. She had a group of loyal government agents, she had the love of the citizens, and soon, she'd find the answers she had been seeking all along.
'Father, I will find out who did this to you!
Then, I'll make them pay…'
"You're father…." Kisaka started, then stopped when he saw the girl visibly stiffen. "You're father, the late Representative of ORB would not have wanted this. He would have gone the democratic way. He would not have resorted to this tactic, Miss Cagalli. You have to understand. As the Representative of ORB, you can't go gallivanting off in search of your own adventures and ambitions anymore. You have a country to take care of. A country to rule."
There was complete silence. Even the few ORB officers that had stayed here for lunch break gaped openmouthed at the two. Kisaka was a very brave man to mention Uzumi Nara Attha in from of Cagalli. Why, it's only been a few months since…
Cagalli stood up, her back to Kisaka. She strode over to the window and stuck her head out, closing her amber eyes so capable of expressing emotion. Kisaka stood firm, his eyes waiting for the Princess's next move. Kisaka could still remember his last conversation with Uzumi before….
"Kisaka?"
"Yes, Representative Uzumi?"
"Please understand. If anything should happen to me, Cagalli will rule in my stead. She is completely competent, but she will need council, whether her pride permits it or not."
"I understand."
"Cagalli is a wonderful girl. She has a heart of gold and a sharp mind, perfect for being my successor. But you know how Cagalli is. She's always dreaming her ambitious goals and prancing off to adventures of honor and action. Have faith in her ruling, Kisaka, but never forget to remind her of who she is…"
"My father…" Cagalli started, her eyes still closed, "My father didn't want a lot of things." She spun around and stared back at the man. "But he dealt with them in his own way. Now that he's gone, to continue his work, I will have to deal things my own way."
"Even if it means spying on the PLANT's and putting your own life, and ORB's neutrality at risk?" Kisaka challenged. More people were coming back now, and were surprised to see Kisaka and Cagalli. Usually the bodyguard and the princess got along very well. Cagalli shot back, "Some things need to be put at risk! We had evidence and sufficient proof of the Chairman's wrongdoings! How more safe do you want everything to be Kisaka?"
Silence reigned in the small room, and the officers waited for Kisaka's reply. To their relief, Kisaka nodded his head and said, "As you wish." The powerful man strode out of the room, and the office members let out a deep exhale. Cagalli stood in the middle of all this, shaking slightly. Usually she'd have just listened to Kisaka's council. But now things were different. She'd have to do things her way.
But she'd do things herself, and not endanger the lives of others.
Turning to the ORB officers and government agents, she hid the fear in her voice. "I will be taking Afhmed's place in this operation."
This led to a babble of protest and shock. "No princess! Let someone else do it. What if you get hurt?" Without knowing it, Cagalli felt touched that these people cared so much for her own safety. "Don't worry," she laughed lightly. "I'll be just fine."
'I'm not a little girl anymore father, I have to do things my own way…'
"HAROOOOOO -"
Athrun slammed the door closed in front of him in the nick of time. Why in the world had he made those stupid toys for her anyway? Cursing himself for making those pesky haros so durable, he rang the doorbell instead and waited for the pink princess to open the door.
"Athrun!" Lacus said smiling, finally opening the door. Dozens of multicoloured haros bobbed up and down behind her. "It's been a long time since you've visited!"
"I know." Athrun said after giving the girl a hug. "Work has been hell lately, but today was the last private meeting with the foreign delegations. They're nice people, but it's still a lot of work just trying to figure out what they said." Athrun chuckled as he followed Lacus into the bright airy room for tea. "The press conferences will be starting tomorrow."
"Aren't you pleased though?" Lacus said calmly as she poured Athrun a cup of warm citrus tea that instantly cleared his sinuses. They always acted up in the autumn weather. He always hated autumn. He only ever saw this season as a useless season between summer and winter.
"Why should I be pleased because of all this extra work?" Athrun said, hiding a grimace. This citrus tea sure was sour. "I mean your father. He's trusting you to take his position as head of the PLANTs when he retires." Lacus smiled at her friend over the dainty teacup.
Athrun tried to suppress a scoff. "It's about time I suppose. I mean, I am almost twenty. I can't be running paperboy for the PLANTs for the rest of my adult life." He took another sip, the tangy lemon soothing his annoyance at his father's reluctance to let his son help in political matters.
"But is it what you really want Athrun?" Lacus said gently, setting down her cup with a small clutter. "I mean, when I was the pop princess of the PLANTs, whether I knew it or not I made a great deal of influence to the PLANTs on whatever I said and whatever I did. I hated being watched like that, but because I grew up that way…" Lacus glanced at the bright blue sky. "You don't know how to live life any differently." She turned to Athrun, serious. "We're similar Athrun. The situations we are in and what we were born in are different then anyone else. The life we live is not the norm."
"I know what you mean." Athrun stared at the ripples gliding in his teacup. "But it's difficult when you don't know the difference of living your life and the obligations of your life." The friends were silent, both reminiscing on their own thoughts. Finally, Lacus smiled at him. "I'm sorry for troubling you with all this thought Athrun, especially after that difficult day with the delegations. And remember, just because I chose a life slightly further away from the spotlight doesn't mean it is meant for all of us."
"Right." Athrun said thickly, eyes never leaving his cup. "Right," he said this time with more conviction. "do you have the invitations for the wedding finished yet?" he said, trying to lead the conversation to more frivolous topics. Lacus immediately brightened, and rummaged in a bag nearby. "We really want your opinion on everything Athrun. You've been really busy for the past few days we didn't really get to hear your opinion."
"Right, right." Was that the only word he could say right now? 'Stop it Athrun, we've been through this before. You're over it. It's been a long time, and look how happy she is. You should be just as happy for her.' He scolded himself. After all, their engagement had been broken when they were 16.
"Here." She said breathlessly, sitting up and extracting an invite from the bag.
You're cordially invited toKira Yamato and Lacus Clyne's Wedding
On November the 28th
RSVP The Clyne estateAthrun bit back a laugh when he saw the invitation dotted with multicoloured haros. "I like it." He said, smiling at his friend. "I like it a lot." "Now don't be late Athrun Zala." Lacus mock reprimanded, wagging her finger as her other hand slid the invitation back into the bag. "You are after all, the best man. And you have to give me away."
Athrun laughed cheerfully. "I won't Lacus, do I seem like the person for spontaneous decisions? Much less something that will miss out my two best friend's wedding?"
Letting the metal door shut with a loud clang, Cagalli gave a little cough, letting her visible breaths swirl into the chilly air and disappear. She was glad to be out of the impromptu cramming meeting with the head of the operation. She needed to leave that place as soon as she could, to try to ease her conscience.
It was happening again. She defied her own promise to herself. When she became Representative of ORB, she had promised to set aside her childish ambitions and ideas for the sake of the country she loved. This was already the second time since her father's death. The first was this whole 'spy' operation. No one besides Kisaka knew the real motive of this mission.
And the second time was just now. Some might have though it was heroic to shoulder the main part, but really it was for her own selfish reasons. Cagalli loved the action, the adventure. Her desire was not to be stuck behind a desk, planning the system then sitting in the lap of luxury while her people were jumping in action. No, she wanted to be a jumper, yet her heritage restrained her to be a sitter. Now the office in the rundown apartment was in frenzy because the princess had followed her impulsions again.
Gazing at the early October sky, she blinked against the salty tears filling her eyes and tried to sooth the gut feeling of apprehension in the pit of her stomach.
"Don't worry Cagalli, this role will be a breeze." Sai Argyle said with a smile. He was one of the younger people in her team, but certainly one of the smarter ones.
"You'll pose as an ambassador for ORB. There is a press conference with all the ambassadors tomorrow. That was you could gather sufficient information and still be inconspicuous. But remember, don't do ANYTHING that'll draw attention to yourself or we might be found out." Sai repeated this like he was reading out loud from a textbook. "Here is your ID car- oops." The ID card had Afhmed's picture on in, with his alias 'Sam Smith'. "Don't worry," he said, chuckling slightly, "we'll fix that before tomorrow."
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow she'd no longer be Cagalli Yula Attha, Head Representative of ORB, and goddess of Victory. No, she'd be Kagari Yura, Ambassador of ORB.
"The guy that'll be speaking at the conference is Athrun Zala, the Chairman's son." Cagalli peered with slight interest at the photos. "This guy is practically the definition of repetition. Every morning at 7:30 he heads to the PLANTs head office, then at 3:00 he leaves, picks up a latte at the local café, then heads to the Clyne estate to visit his good friend and ex-fiancée Lacus Clyne."
"Lacus Clyne?" Cagalli mused. "The famous singer?" "Yeah, she left that spotlight, but maintains an important position in politics." Sai said, rummaging through a pile of photos "My ex-girlfriend used to be a big fan of hers."
"He leaves the mansion at 5:00," Sai continued after finding the right photo, "goes back to his apartment, eats dinner, watches TV, and goes to sleep. Pretty boring, but this is good for us. This way, if we needed extra information, we'd know exactly where he is."
Sai extracted a map from the bottom of the pile. He grinned at the princess over his orange tinted glasses, as if he was trying to lighten Cagalli's mood. "Oh, and here is a fun fact. See his apartment," he took a black felt and circled the building, "The office buildings," another circle, "The café and the Clyne residence." Two more circles. Sai held the photo to Cagalli and pointed at the locations.
"Athrun-san here always walks," Sai rotated his finger around the buildings, "left. Everyday is just a day of walking left for our dear Athrun."
Cagalli didn't really appreciate Sai poking fun at Athrun's daily habits. Sure this boy probably had to be a robot to be able to do the same things everyday without complaint, but maybe he liked walking left. Maybe he had a special reason for walking left.
She never really told anyone, but Cagalli somehow always felt an affinity with walking right. Her father had been the same way. On those rare days when it was just Uzumi and Cagalli, they'd go on long, purposeless, aimless walks on the beach or the heart of busy ORB, they'd walk wherever the right way brought them.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Cagalli?"
"Why do we always walk right?"
"Do you mind walking this way?"
"No daddy, I like walking this way."
"Why Cagalli?"
"I don't know, maybe because you like to?"
"Well, you know the reason why Daddy likes walking this way?"
"Why?"
"Because I met your Mom walking this way, and where she lived was on the right side of where I lived. When we were dating I'd always have to walk right to pick up your mom."
"So you're walking to mom?"
"I suppose so."
"Then I'll walk with you. I'd like to see Mom again very much."
Was she walking to her father? Cagalli pondered this as she set off to the right. She didn't know yet, but this reason would do for now. A blue felt beret on her head, and a warm gray coat protecting her from autumn chills, she felt quite cheerful.
'I'm coming dad…'
"I probably won't be able to visit you and Kira tomorrow." Athrun said as he and Lacus walked to the door of the mansion. "The press meeting, huh? Well, good luck with that Athrun!" Lacus said cheerfully as Athrun walked out the door. Athrun smiled and started his car, waving back to his friend.
Stopping at a red light, he looked out the window of his classy black car. As much as he hated autumn, he had to admit that the park looked beautiful at this time of year. The trees were resplendent in hues of orange, red and brown. The leaves were obviously dead, scientifically, but to an artist, they were oh so alive, drifting quietly to the ground. The usually immaculate cement paths were littered with the crackling leaves. Young Coordinators delighted in jumping up and down in the huge piles, gleeful over the fresh, crisp sound of the leaves.
Athrun suddenly found himself guiding his car to park into the park parking lot. 'I still haven't though of a wedding present for Kira and Lacus. Perhaps a walk would do me well.' Even though he had a good reason, he still stepped out of the car and onto the path a little hesitantly. Wishing he still had a cup of that warm citrus tea, he immediately turned left and walked down the leaf-carpeted path.
Cagalli's breath caught in her throat. Have you ever seen such a beautiful sight as the PLANTs in autumn? She suddenly because a hundred times happier, and decided to talk a nice walk down under the red leafy canopy. Cagalli, according to impulse, immediately turned right, the opposite direction of a certain chairman's son.
Maybe they didn't know that the beautiful path they were setting off on, walking in completely different directions, was in the shape of a circle?
Athrun was only vaguely aware that the path he was walking on was curving. He was too immersed in the colours of fall. After all, this would probably be the only time he'd come to the park in the next several months. But he stopped short when he heard the sound of falling water.
In front of him, about a few feet off the path, was a beautiful marble fountain. In the middle of the pool was a statuette of two dancing fairy girls. The stream of water emitting in the middle of the water rose into the air, slender and elegant. This was didn't look drab under autumn leaves like many fountains or statues did in autumn. This one looked very well cared for, for there was not a leaf in the water or of the girls.
He found himself marveling the fountain so intensely that he didn't realize that there was already a girl standing there, admiring it. She had beautiful – blond hair? No, it wasn't blond. That wasn't the right word. Blond was like summer, like light. This blond was like the rich gold of autumn, and complimented her amber eyes. She was standing only a few feet away from Athrun, apparently going the opposite direction he was.
Athrun cleared his throat, but the girl ignored him, or was simply off in her own little world. "Uh, miss?" He said politely, and smile of amusement flickered across his mouth. The girl turned to him dreamily, tearing her eyes off the fountain. But when her eyes registered the boy in front of her, her eyes widened with shock and she let out a tiny squeak of surprise.
The smile of amusement was no longer flickering; it was already rested on his mouth. "Admiring the fountain?" The girl didn't answer for a moment, apparently flabbergasted. Athrun's smile was already sliding off. Was this a crazed fangirl bent on tearing out his hair? Ready to turn around and sprint for his life, he was surprised with the girl's reaction.
The girl started to run towards him, and he immediately panicked. This girl was fast! He started to turn and run away when the odd girl ran right past him. Athrun stopped in mid step and scratched his head, confused. That didn't exactly seem like a crazed fan of his, but if she was running away from him, why didn't she turn around and run away?
Kaguya: First chapter finished! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and in the next ones you'll find out what is Cagalli's TRUE motive for the spy operation, and what the others believe. And what is the boring, repetitive Athrun Zala's past?
Preview:
Cagalli fidgeted in her chair again. How long was this press conference going to be?
Athrun's head shot up as the snap of plastic ran through the air. But what surprised him even more was that in the middle of the chair wreckage, was theodd girl.