Disclaimer: gundam seed and all its characters belong to a much higher authority. I am just one of the multitudes, using their ideas for my own entertainment.

Note: I'm BACK! 2-week hiatus. I think many apologies are due. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I shall not talk anymore and let you read in peace.

Angel of dreams: okay…this is not called updating soon. SORRY! And yesh…this is DM….

Rosegirl18: glad you think Alyssa is smart…although…I wouldn't say that…. as you'll see later. She just likes picking up random things I guess. Anyway…the update is here. hope you like it!

Asga: sigh…. I'm not really watching it. Watched till ep 20 and been getting spoilers from my fren ever since. Argh…wish I could watch it. And yesh…. the next chapter is finally up.

Darth riven: to tell the truth, I'm not too sure myself. It should be acupuncture though.

Fanny chan: I'm going to be ego soon…. so thanks so much for all your compliments. Cluedo is quite fun actually, you should try it one day.

SworDieXeQtion: sigh…if only you could do my homework for me. Haha…and take all the tests that I've been and will be sitting for. Oh well…dun worry…this will not happen again (2 week of not writing has made me feel very guilty) and it's great that you like Alyssa.

Ren: yesh…my e-mail is the everworldgal one add me. And hope you like this chapter…. cause it's finally here.

Chapter 12 – desperate measures

Kira was tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.

A day had passed and Lacus was still missing. Although Miriallia had been found and was now up and about, he felt it hard to be happy.

He sat up, lifting a corner of the curtain and looking out onto the beach. The waves gently lapped the shore as the moon poured down its silver light. Thoughts of the time he had spent with Lacus filled his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about her, and how useless he was to be unable to find her.

The day had been sent talking to Fllaga trying to find out something, anything. None of it made sense, nothing out of the ordinary had happened and there were just not enough clues. He didn't know what he was supposed to be doing. Klueze had turned up no results either and he was at a complete loss. Athrun and cagalli had told him to relax, that nothing would happen to lacus, but after what had become of Nicol and Miriallia, he wasn't so sure anymore.

He thought back to the day she disappeared, to the time he found her 'body'. Everything he could remember, everything he had seen or heard.

Nothing. Nothing. There couldn't be anything.

Kira got out of bed and made his way back to the lighthouse.

There couldn't be anything.

In the semi darkness he climbed those stairs to the top and combed the lighthouse from top to bottom and from bottom to top. Then he overturned every stone in the area searching for something, anything.

"Kira. You look terrible. What happened to you?" Athrun asked in concern.

Kira mumbled something.

"Kira. You can't go on like this. I know you're worried; we're all worried too. Please eat something and get some rest." Cagalli suggested.

There was no response from kira.

"Kira…" Sai started.

"Shut up. You have no idea what this feels like, so just shut up. I'm trying to think for heaven's sake." Kira shouted leaving the table and retreating into his room.

"He's not taking it well." Athrun said when the table had recovered from the initial shock.

"It's not easy on him." Alyssa explained. She should know having lost Nicol for a period of time.

"It's not easy on us either." Cagalli retorted.

"There's no use arguing. We should think of something that can help him." Miriallia said.

"It doesn't look he wants our help." Cagalli stated. She was annoyed that her brother had taken his frustration out on them.

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't. Any suggestions anyone?" Alyssa asked.

The table fell silent, each lost in thought.

Upstairs Kira sat on his bed deep in thought. The night's search had not been futile.

He had found something, although he wasn't sure if it would be of any help. It was the ring that Ramius had been wearing. What did that mean? She was dead already. What connection did it have?

Kira didn't know, he had a nagging feeling, but still didn't know what it meant.

He wished he hadn't blown up at the rest. They might be able to help, but he was sure they were angry with him.

Just then there was a knock on his door.

"Who is it?" kira asked.

"It's me Nicol."

"Come in."

"Thanks. Are you hungry? My sis made me bring up some food."

"I'm okay. Sorry about just now. I know I shouldn't have done that."

"It's alright. No one holds it against you. We know the stress you're under especially since you love Lacus so much."

"Still, that was no excuse."

"It's okay, what's that you're holding?" Nicol interrupted, taking the ring from kira.

"A ring. I found it at the lighthouse last night. It belongs to Ramius, but I don't see how it helps. It's just making me more confused and irritable."

"Hm…"

"Why?"

"Weren't Fllaga and Ramius a couple?"

"They were? I don't remember that."

"I think someone mentioned it before, but I'm not sure. Why don't we ask Fllaga? No harm right?"

They agreed and found Fllaga in the garden weeding the flowerbed.

After questioning him, they confirmed that Fllaga had indeed taken the ring, as he knew how much Ramius liked it. He had lost it a few days ago and was glad to have it back.

Kira gave a sigh of relief.

"It's over now."

"Indeed. And the prince will have his princess back. On the other hand, villains should not be allowed to live." Evil laughter followed, sending chills down Nicol and Kira's back.

"Shit." Kira cursed. He knew what would happen next. He couldn't let another die, it would break Lacus's heart, and yet what would happen if he tried to stop this murder. With Lacus still in the game master's hands, Kira couldn't make a move. Could he?

Suddenly Yzak rushed in and dragged the 2 of them to the living room. The rest of the group were already there and in Miriallia's hand were 2 envelopes.

"Alyssa has been taken." She announced solemnly.

Nicol gave a gasp, a worried look passing across his eyes.

She opened the first envelope and read from the piece of paper.

"The passage leads from the conservatory to the lounge. Another leads from the kitchen to the study, so tell me where do the stairs lead? Not up, but down. Down to where? That's for you to find out. Can you hear her screams? Can you hear her tears? Locked up in the dark, behind closed doors she is unable to speak. Who will be the one to give her a voice?"

"What on earth?" Yzak burst out. No one understood that.

"I don't understand." Nicol whispered.

"Miriallia read out the second one would you?" Kira asked.

"Rope. Spanner. Candlestick. Lead piping. Dagger. Where will she be found?"

"That doesn't make sense. What's that supposed to mean?" kira said to no one in particular.

He slumped down on a chair, thinking.

Just then a scream was heard from outside. The group rushed out the door and towards the gate.

Athrun quickly turned around blocking Cagalli's view. Dearka did the same to Miriallia and Sai to Fllay. Yzak covered Nicol's eyes. The sight that met them was the head of Fllaga still dripping with blood. It sat at the highest point of the gate, the eyes and mouth still open as if in a silent scream.

Kira looked on, fear stuck his heart.

The killing would go on no longer. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Note: how was it? Hope everyone liked it! And look out for a special I will be writing. It's a form of apology for taking so long to update. It should be up by tomorrow I hope. Got a public holiday to write. So many thanks and pls review. I think my writing may have deteriorated after 2 weeks of not writing. All comments are very welcome. Thanks!