Hello, Hello my dear readers. I once again, have to apologize 1000 times for not updating a day earlier like I said I would, but rather, almost a day later. The reason being that I am in the process of college applications, which are hell to deal with. So, unfortunately next week I probably will not be updating. I have a really old one shot sitting on my hard-drive from a few months back that I might throw up, just to fill the space, but no advancements will be made for, "Waiting On You". Once more, I'm terribly sorry about this, but I like to keep my chapters long, so pulling out the time to write next week looks pretty darn near impossible.
Kira leaned casually against the red brick side of a building, periodically glancing at his watch. Suddenly, her felt two hands cover his eyes…
"Guess who?"
"Christina? No wait…. Kathy. Definitely Ka-ow!" He yelped as Lacus pinched his arm.
"No teasing." Lacus pouted playfully. Kira grinned and rubbed his arm, then enveloped her in a hug.
"What's on the agenda for today?"
"Just a walk." Lacus replied, talking his hand and pulling him down the street.
"How's life treating you?" Kira asked in a relaxed tone of voice.
"Fine. The play's coming along really well."
"Mm, that's good. How's the cast?"
"Great. Really supportive and open. They'd be great at improve… well one of them worries me a bit but that's it." Lacus added after a pause
"Oh? Who would that be?"
Lacus looked at her hands with a slightly sad and sympathetic tone of voice. "Meer…"
"Meer? Wasn't she that girl that made herself look exactly like you? Your understudy?"
"Mmm… But lately she's just been a bit too… how should I put this? Obsessive? Well, you'll see what I mean." She sighed. Kira gave her a mild look of concern. "It's fine, Kira." Lacus insisted.
Pulling him over to an ice cream stand, she tried to shrug her worries out of her mind. Which wasn't too difficult, considering Kira was with her, and he always provided a healthy distraction from her hectic life.
"Lacus? What do you want?" Kira asked, pointing to the list of flavors.
"Hm? Oh, honestly Kira by now I'd think you'd know what I want!" Lacus teased.
"Well I thought you might want a change or something. They have new flavors… Banana Nut Crunch… Chocolate Toffee. Ha, Cagalli would love that."
"Cagalli? Really?"
"Yeah, she's a huge fan of chocolate and sweets." Kira laughed, "Once, she ate all of her Easter candy in a day. That includes the two pound solid chocolate bunny. Our mother was furious…"
Lacus joined him in laughing. "Sounds good to me. Maybe I will try Chocolate Toffee…"
"You sure? They have Chocolate Fondue Strawberry…" Kira pointed out, prodding at her weakness for strawberries.
"Really? I wouldn't mind trying something different after all…" She smiled happily.
Athrun strolled down the now familiar halls of the Drama wing, down to the auditorium. Despite how often he came here, he still had difficulty navigating his way backstage, which was more or less a complete maze for anyone wasn't doing tech for the show.
Opening the door into the stage, he was remotely puzzled to find absolutely no one. Looking around, it appeared that there was no one there at all. The lights weren't even on.
"Looking for something?" a familiar voice asked. Athrun spun around to find…
"Lacus?"
The young lady's face brightened up at the sound of Lacus' name, then shook her head, almost sadly. "Nope. Meer. I forgot something here… but there's no rehearsal today. An entire set of stage lights burned out, and they need to wait for the replacement bulbs to come. Are you looking for Miss Clyne?"
"Err, yeah sort of. More her boyfriend than her. But I mean, I figured I'd find them together." Athrun scratched his head then laughed a bit. "But I guess I'm definitely not going to find them here.
"Sorry I can't be of more help…" Meer sighed apologetically. "I'm not really much of a substitute am I?
Athrun raised an eyebrow. Substitute? What on earth did that-
"Say… I was wondering if you could do me a favor. A huge one. You don't 'have it, it's just that. Well I want to know more about Ms. Clyne. She's such a fantastic actress, and I just don't feel like a proper understudy." Meer looked down sadly. Athrun stared at her. As awkward as it might be… Well it couldn't hurt could it? He still had another half-hour for lunch.
"Sure." He shrugged. Meer perked up.
"You-You mean it! You'll really talk to me! And help me out!"
Athrun nodded again. "Absolutely. I don't have a lot of time, but I'll do what I can."
"Ooooo thank you so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate this!" She jabbered gleefully. "I'll treat you to lunch. Come on!"
Grabbing him by the arm, she dragged him out the building before he could respond. Something told him this was going to take longer than he'd thought…
Cagalli sighed, smoothening out her shirt. She leaned against the bar at the new restaurant she worked at, surveying the almost empty dining room. As much as she liked her new job, because it was closer and paid better, it just wasn't as fun sometimes. For starters, because the restaurant was more formal, there was a dress code. No casual wear on the job. White on top and black on the bottom: Or look at least semi-formal.
Then there was the fact that she couldn't lounge around and socialize with customers. She waited on their tables, advised them on what dishes were good, chatted lightly as her usual friendly self, but other than that didn't really converse with them.
"It's just not the same…" She sighed. In the back of her head, a quiet voice kept telling her that it was more than just the job. There was something different. Actually different. But what?
Ath…
Yeah yeah, "Ath" whatever. That day on the subway, all she had been able to catch was "Ath", before the sound of the train grew too loud and she was too far away to hear anything. She didn't even know if that was his name. He could have been yelling anything! In the middle of a crowded subway station too!
"What… an idiot…" she chuckled softly to herself.
"I really am an idiot, aren't I?" Athrun thought to himself, as he sat at his table with Meer. Though she really was a perfectly nice girl, agreeing to talk to her when he only had half an hour was absurd. Especially when he had no car, and would have to take the subway back to work. There was no way he'd make it on time.
Glancing nervously at his watch, he noted the time. 20 minutes had already passed, and Meer was still grilling him with questions about Lacus, showing no signs of stopping. She was even taking notes!
"And I just wanted some coffee…"He sighed, chin resting on his palm, which was propped up by his elbow. Instantly he thought of that blonde: He hadn't seen her since that day on the subway almost two weeks ago, and he'd been taking the subway every day. It was as if she'd disappeared. "Wonder if she heard my name…"
"Athrun? Are you all right? Is the food okay? Sorry it's not that great, but I wanted to go to a place close by, that had fast service. Guess it's not the best stuff…" She poked at her grilled cheese sandwich.
"It's fine…" he smiled sympathetically. "Look Meer. I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but I mean, I've got to get back to work. If you need details, just ask Lacus. She'd be glad to help."
Meer nodded. "Well, thank you for your help thus far. I'm a bit embarrassed to ask Ms. Clyne though, so I might ask you for more help. But I promise to ask at a better time!"
"That sounds fine." Athrun nodded, then stood up to go.
"Wait! So then when should we meet again?" Instantly, Meer's arm shot over, knocking over her glass of grape juice and spilling it onto Athrun's shirt.
"Wha-! Oh CRAP!" Athrun exclaimed, reflexively. Meer grabbed a napkin and began mopping up the mess, as Athrun dabbed at his shirt.
"This isn't going to come out…. I can't go back to work looking like this!" Athrun's mind raced in panic, as his eyebrows furrowed with worry.
Meanwhile, Meer was apologizing furiously. A waiter had rushed over to help clean. Athrun looked around quickly, checking if the situation was under control.
"Meer… I… I've got to go."
"No! I'm so sorry Athrun, I really am! I'll buy you a new shirt, I swear. Where did you get that?"
"Italy! You can't replace this!" Athrun cried out in frustration.
"I'm SO sorry, Athrun!" Meer apologized, looking inches from tears. "Is there anything I can do?"
"It's fine. Just… take care of this. I have to go to work." He sighed, grabbing his jacket and jetting out the door. Meer stood there for a moment, watching him run down the street. She sighed and frowned, looking at the mess left on the table.
"What have I done?..."
Kira helped Lacus into his car, then walked over to the driver's side and hopped in.
"Where to now?"
"Home." She sighed. "I'm tired… I think I'll take a nap or something."
"A nap? That's boring. Pick something we can do together first." Kira laughed. He barely ever got to spend time with her these days.
"Mmm… how about a movie?
"You want to rent a movie?"
"No… we could just rent one…"
"Hm. There's a possibility. Any other suggestions?"
"We could… um… just watch… some… old…movies…"
Kira could barely hear the last few words, as he glanced over and saw that she had already fallen asleep. "She works too hard… must be exhausted…."
Turning his attention back onto the road, he chuckled a bit.
"Or maybe I'm just a really boring date..."
Athrun frowned, staring at the stain on his shirt. He couldn't go back to work like this… his mind started turning, weighting the options. Technically he COULD just go back to work, but that would definitely be the last resort. He could just take off the shirt… ugh ever worse. If only he could find a change of clothes… buy a new shirt? No good: no money on him and where would he change?
Kira's! Of course!
Kira's apartment wasn't far form here, and he still had the key from when he was house-sitting. He could just run in there, grab a shirt to change into, then tell Kira about it. Perfect!
Running down the street, he didn't stop until he had reached Kira's apartment where he burst in, and headed straight for Kira's bedroom. Looking around he was a bit puzzled. There was more stuff in the living room than before…
Suddenly it hit him. Of course, Kira's sister had moved in. What if she came home now… Ah, what are the chances? Praying that Cagalli was at work or something too, Athrun walked over to the door, and closed it.
Cagalli walked up the stairs to her apartment, fully ready to unwind. Her boss had given her the rest of the day off, since business was slow and who was she to argue? Curiously she found that the door as unlocked…
"I guess I forgot to lock it or something?" she tilted her head to the side. Stepping into the apartment she took a quick survey of the place. Everything seemed to be in order…
"Kira?" She called out, shutting the door tightly. Frowning a bit, she tried to shrug away her paranoia, and dropped her bag onto the kitchen counter. Strolling over to the bathroom, she decided to take a quick shower before making some food and vegging out on the sofa. Taking one last glance around, she eyed the closed door directly opposite the bathroom, that lead into Kira's room, then shut the bathroom door tightly.
Athrun pulled a shirt out of Kira's closet, then looked up sharply. Odd… he could swear he had just heard a voice… He approached the door warily then carefully inched it open.
Nothing…
Eyebrows furrowed, he once more closed the door and began to change.
Cagalli stopped and turned sharply. She was about to start taking off her pants when she could SWEAR a door just closed. But from where?...
Wrapping a towel around her half-dressed self, she poked her head out the bathroom door.
"Hello?... Kira?" She called. She waited a moment, and when nothing happened, she closed the door warily again, then stood by it, hand on the doorknob, ready to act if she heard anything again.
Athrun froze. Okay that time for SURE he heard something. It sounded something like "Kira". Could it be that Kira was back?
Tiredly, he bolted to the door and swung it open widely, finding the bathroom door closed. But it looked like light was seeping through the crack at the bottom…
Carefully, he approached it and knocked on the door.
Cagalli froze. Someone was knocking on the bathroom door! But it HAD to be Kira. A burglar wouldn't knock, right?
"If he's playing some weird fifth grade games, I'm going to kill him…" She sighed. Frustrated with this endless game of hide and seek, she swung open the door and…
Screamed.
Really, really loudly.
Athrun could FEEL his eardrums burst. In all honesty he probably shouted out too, but his cry of surprise was drowned out my Cagalli's bellowing. Then there was the fact that Athrun was in so much shock that he didn't really move, but merely shut his eyes and cringed. She screamed again.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY APARTMENT?" Cagalli screamed. Athrun snapped out of his shock, opened an eye testily and suddenly realized who he was looking at. What was the waitress doing here!
"Wha… WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN KIRA'S APARTMENT!"
"I LIVE HERE YOU SICK STALKER!" Cagalli pointed accusingly.
"I'M NOT A STALKER! MY BEST FRIEND LIVES HERE!" Athrun yelled back.
"I'M NOT YOUR BEST FRIEND!"
"I KNOW YOU AREN'T!"
Cagalli almost fainted, before her temper took over. She KNEW it was weird how she's seen him at the subway! This creep was FOLLOWING her!
Reaching into the bathroom, she grabbed a bottle of lotion and…
THREW it at him! She literally THREW a bottle of LOTION at him! Was she insane!
"OW! Watch where you're chucking that!" Athrun cried, stumbling backwards and ducking for cover.
"Looks like my aim was dead-on to me!" Cagalli shot back, grabbing a hairbrush this time. Athrun backed away hastily hands raised in defense.
"Look… this is all a misunderstanding. I have the key! See!" He insisted, dangling the key to the apartment.
"What the-? That's SICK! Get out! And put on a SHIRT for god's sake!" Cagalli hollered, blushing a bit at her last sentence.
"Wha… You're not exactly fully dressed either!" Athrun protested, turning away to avoid embarrassing either of them any further, and hiding his red face.
"I'm wearing some clothes underneath!" Cagalli blushed ever harder and turned away for a moment. Athrun took this split second to dash into Kira's room and grab Kira's pale blue shirt, then hastily put it on while running out the door.
Cagalli, too stunned to react, simply threw the brush at the door as Athrun closed it, while leaving the apartment.
Athrun straightened out the cuff to Kira's shirt, pulling on sleeve to smooth out any wrinkles while running down the stairs… Why was that waitress in Kira's apartment! And why did she say she lived there? The only people that live there are Kira and his sister!
…
His sister…
Oh my God, his SISTER!
Athrun gripped the railing for balance.
Then this whole time. This whole time he'd been thinking about her, wondering what she was doing, who her BROTHER was, what her NAME was…
"She just moved here… from studying abroad. She goes to the local university… her brother is Kira…" Athrun breathed, panting hard, either from dodging bathroom supplies or running down stairs, or realizing the astonishing truth.
"And her name is...Cagalli."
Who as soon as Athrun had been forcibly kicked out from the premises, locked the door, double bolted it, then plopped down onto the couch. She closed her eyes and let her head roll back, as her brain began to process the events that has just happened.
What on earth was that guy doing here? What a stalker! And then he claims that his best friend lives here! When obviously the only people that live here are her and…
Kira.
Kira has a best friend…
A best friend named… something like…
Ath…
Cagalli's eyes shot open, then widened until she felt like they were going to burst. Her head turned slowly towards the securely locked door.
"On the subway… he said something like 'Ath'…. Kira's best friends' name is…
Athrun?..."
Oh, MAN did I have fun writing this. Sorry it took so long for them to figure it out. Some of the reviewers kept commenting on how they couldn't wait when Kira introduced them, and I could only chuckle, because for a LONG time now, this was how I planned for them to finallyget it.
Now, one of the reviewers did mention that Cagalli HAS in fact, introduced herself to Athrun. So why on earth did he not know/remember her name? Well think of it this way: Do you remember the name of your waiter when you last went to a restaurant?
Stating your name is so standard, that few people pay attention, and even fewer bother to really remember. Cagalli was just saying it as a courtesy sort of thing, and Athrun didn't really bother to pay much attention to it. If you still don't buy it, then my apologies. Just forget that she ever said it. Haha.
Thank you very much to my lovely reviewers of Chapter 4:
tototo, Unknown, Watermiral, Ra1n DaNc3r, IYGU, clumsykelli, MyouseiSeed, Freyris, Smoke-Angel, animemistress419, new moongirl, kura52, daisukechibi, koali alolao, XxbuffyxX, rain angst, Cherry360, cloudy mind, Belle, PaperFish, anon, Satu-chan, taijiya-sango88, thousandbirds, give me food, MissRule, KiraFreedom, ZGMF X-19A Infinite Justice, purple1, Torri-Chiobie, strawberriez, Living Arrow, Athrun-n-Cagalli, gseedlover, Asakura Miyu, stuntsheep, Cagalli Yula Athha Fangirl, FreedomElf, The Angels' Princess, Eternally Asuka, Michiyo Hikari, MXCrocks, asga, Maryam Khanoom, SeungLee
I really do value your input and love to hear what you guys have to say, and encourage everyone to drop a word. Also, thank you to my readers, just for keeping up with and supporting this story.
Once more, sorry about next week! I will however, definitely get Chapter 6 up, the week after that, hopefully a day early.