Sorrysorrysorrysorry. For the late update! My parents took away my laptop and well.. naturally half the chappie was inside so i couldn't finish it. I swear that the later chappies will be better! Read and review, please! XD

Chapter 3- Shock

Karin picked up the box and turned the combination lock.

Y…U…L…A.

It opened in her lap ever so easily. She looked up at The Guy, who had made himself comfortable by sitting down on the sofa opposite her bed.

"Look inside!" He urged her, and went over to her bed, where she was sitting.

Karin peered into the box. It had many photos in it. Somehow, she didn't feel like looking at the photos at all. Did my parents knew that they were going to die? Is that why that made this for me?

"Any doubts, princess?" Karin's head jolted up.

"What did you call me?"

"Nothing," Karin rolled her eyes and took the photo right at the top. If they knew that they were going to die on that day, then why did they take Leon along with them? Did they want to kill him too? Or did they forget? But they didn't… mum gave me the password on that very day… Karin shook her head. How…?

"Uhm… how may I address you?"

The Guy smiled at her. "Just call me sir,"

Karin raised an eyebrow. "Sir. Right," She looked over at the photos. "So, Sir, did my parents know that they were going to die?"

Sir looked up at the ceiling. "No. Your father gave this to me months before he died. He was worried that if he died, and if you were passed to Lacus and Kira, you might not know your past well, for they might not tell you,"

Karin turned her attention to the photo in her hand. It was a picture of her fifth birthday. "But if dad gave you this… box months before he died, then why is there a picture of my fifth birthday here? Because you see, my 5th birthday happened two days before… before um they um passed on…"

Sir considered this for a moment. "Well. That's very smart. Your parents kept on giving me photos to add into the collection. This photo was given to me by your mother a day before they died,"

Karin wiped the tears from her eyes and grasped her pendant, the last present from her mother. She had hoped for a better answer, like the fact that they were actually alive and kicking… but if they were, why was she with Kira and Lacus? She would've been with her family if they did survive. But what she said was, "Uhm… right,"

For one whole hour they went through photos, until they came to one which really caught Karin's attention. It was a photo of her parents, with a baby her in her mother's arms. Both Athrun and Cagalli were wearing ORB uniforms, looking extremely solemn. On Athrun's chest was a tag that bore the words 'Chairman Zala'. While on Cagalli's chest was a tag with the words 'Head Representative Zala'.

"But… how?" Karin knew that her parents were important people in Orb, but she didn't know that they were that important. All she knew about them was that they lived in Orb, and worked for Orb since the end of the second war. And she thought that the positions they held there was maybe, Lieutenenant or even Major. But not Chairman and Head Representative. "How on earth can my parents be Chairman and Head Representative of Orb when I… when I am working for ZAFT? Surely Lacus and Kira would've objected to that!"

"I see Miss Clyne does keep a lot of secrets from you, right?"

Karin groaned. Of course. Duh, Lacus keeps a millions things from me. She rolled her eyes. "Duh,"

"Then it's time you learned the truth, Karin," He took out a photo from his jacket. "This is your parents after the war of Jacin Due, in C.E 71. They were 16 at that time. And well, at that time… your mother was in Orb, for her father, Ambassador Uzumi Nara Attha, was one of the representatives of Orb, therefore, she is, something like the Princess of Orb, like you,"

"What? I am the Princess or Orb?" Karin stood up, her eyes burning with a mixture of fear and anger. "Then why am I in ZAFT? I mean, isn't it stupid?"

"Karin! I haven't finished my sentence yet!" Sir searched his mind. "Your father, however, was the son of the former Chairman of ZAFT. He was the pilot of the Aegis and the Justice at that time. So that makes him the Prince of ZAFT, right?"

Karin huffed. "What a match… the prince and his princess!"

"I'm not done yet!" Karin kept quiet. "His father died in the first war, leaving a will stating that he left the position of Chairman to your father,"

"But dad turned it down, right?"

"Yes, for when he did find out, he had already agreed to be the Chairman of Orb. He left his position to his close friend, Yzak Joule,"

"So what does that make me?" Karin sat down once again. "Am I betraying my country or not?"

"I don't know. But your father's decision caused a huge stir in ZAFT, and that caused the bombing of the Orb head quarters, which caused your parent's death," Sir noticed Karin's pissed face. "And your brother's as well, sorry."

"So… let me repeat what you said. My mum is Head Representative Zala, Princess of Orb, daughter of the late Ambassador Attha. And my dad is Chairman Zala, former Prince of ZAFT, supposed to be Chairman of ZAFT, former pilot of Aegis and Justice. And my father's decision to be the Chairman of Orb and not that of ZAFT was the cause of their death," She held her head. "Oww… brain pain. That's a lot to accept and digest,"

"But that's the truth. I am just here to tell you all that Mr and Mrs Yamato did not,"

Karin looked up at him. "Who are you, really?"

Sir chuckled. "I am your father's good friend back when we were teenagers, in ZAFT,"

Karin rolled her eyes for the millionth time. "I meant your bloody NAME!"

"Hah. That's for-"

Karin held up a hand to stop him. "For you to know and for me to find out, yeah, right," She tossed a few photos of her family and her at the beach, zoo, park, etc, and came across one of the last.

It was a picture of her parents, in their early twenties, in a hospital. Cagalli had two babies in her arms, and Athrun was beaming, his hand around her.

But… the babies… one was a blonde, and obviously sleeping, for she had her eyes closed. That's me… Karin thought. And the other baby… it was wide awake, staring straight ahead, its green eyes wide with curiosity, it had midnight blue hair which barely covered its head. Who on PLANT is that? Karin looked at the picture closer, and tapped Sir's shoulder, who was looking at the other photos.

"Do you have any idea who this is?" She pointed at the baby with the midnight blue hair. Sir shook his head, and turned the photo around, they saw a note, written in Athrun's neat handwriting.

Karin,

I am sure that you have many questions about this photo, and rest assured your mother and I have the answers, but just in case we are not with you at the time you are reading this, well, just read on.

This picture was taken the day you were born. You see, Karrie, you have a twin brother, who was kidnapped from the hospital the following day. His name is Ren, but I doubt that the kidnappers call him that, let alone let him live. He might be dead, I don't know. Your mother and I tried to search for him a million times but we never got close to finding him.

We never told you as we are afraid you might not understand, being so young. Karin, you must promise your mother and I not to go out and look for Ren, even though there is a chance that he might be alive, for if he is dead there will be no point to it at all.

Please, promise us that.

Love,

Daddy

Karin shook her head. "A twin? Ren Zala? But… how could it be?"

Sir looked sternly at her. "Karin, you must never go out to search for him, like your father wrote, he might not even have his real name is he is alive. And besides, he is most likely to be on Earth, for that's where you were born," He looked at his watch. "I've got to be going,"

Karin stood up. "You haven't told me about my parents yet!"

"I already have,"

"That was a mere SCRATCH about my parents! You asshole! You think I can get this freaking answers from that…that Lacus and Kira? To hell with them! Why… Kira can't even bloody look at me without crying! He hates me for being the reflection of my mum… with my dad's eyes! But does he think I can change my bloody face?"

"KARIN! I'll tell you another time… okay? But right now, I have to go,"

Karin kept silent, and she didn't even bother to wipe the tears that were escaping from her eyes. She went to the door. "GO! Go then! Go to whoever…"

"I have a family, just like you. But… my family is alive…"

"Yah? Well… go and spend time with them! Goodbye!" She stood at the doorway, not wanting to slam the door in his face.

"Don't try to find your brother, okay?"

Karin's green eyes flashed angrily, and she pressed the button to shut the door. The door slid shut, leaving her alone. She sat on the sofa, looking through the photos again. She smiled at the pictures of when she was still an only child, when all the attention went to her and her only.

She had an idea and went over to her table and took out a pack of Blu-tack. She spent the whole night pasting up photos and more photos all over her room. When she was done, she collapsed on the bed, sighing and stared at her handiwork. Then, she fell asleep, with the light still on and with one hand on Cagalli's pendant… and a smile on her face.

Uhm... the chapter is a bit... flawed, don't you think? Oh well next chapter... chapter 4- Dinner with the Yamatos. I swear it won't take as long as this one did! R&R, people! Thanx!