JC: I'd like to thank the following for reviewing my fic. You're all very wonderful. I'm more inspired than before. Thanks so much! Love ya all!

kagar zara, Eternally Asuka, jenniferseedlover, The Angel's Princess, ZGMF X-19A Infinite, Justice, Kristin, MXC - the show- rocks my socks, animeluver461, asga, koali alolao, anime-rocks05

Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Seed/Destiny.

Love Fulfilled

Phase 10: Tears

The moon in the sky, shinning so brightly, was illuminating its essence throughout the place. She sat by the window, admiring its beauty, as she hummed a song, a song her mother once sang to her when she was very young. The song entitled Precious Rose. Enjoyed and relaxed as she was, a disturbance came, an eerie feeling, which made her anxious. "Why does my heart feel so heavy all of a sudden?" she asked in her mind, while holding her chest, feeling her heart beat going faster every minute.

A creaking sound from the door was heard. As the door opened slowly, Athrun revealed his presence and stepped into the room. He looked a bit a pale, tired, and nervous. With his eyes locked onto hers, he approached her slowly. He took one deep breath before speaking, but his words came out in murmurs.

"Um... What did you say, Athrun?"

Athrun cleared his voice. He paused to think if he was going to do the right thing. He knew that the dreadful news will devastate the princess. He hesitated to tell her, but she had the right to know. "Cagalli... I hate... to say this..." He first spoke in a stuttering voice. "Cagalli, your brother is dead."

Not a word was spoken, as the room filled with silence. She stood there, looking at her bodyguard, with doubtful eyes. She didn't believe him. She let out a small giggle. "You must be joking, right? Kira's not dead. That's a bad joke, Athrun."

Athrun lowered his head as his bangs covered his eyes. He gritted his teeth and told her again, "Kira Yamato is dead. It's been confirmed by headquarters."

Cagalli shook her head. "No, you're lying! He can't be dead! This is some kind of big joke, right? There's no way Kira..." Tears streamed down on her smooth cheeks.

"HQ had already sent out search parties to find him, but he's nowhere in ORB. A witness came in a while ago, bringing with him a picture of Kira being shot by an unknown guy, probably an assassin. In the picture, it was clearly the representative, taking the shot and falling off the cliff," Athrun explained all the necessary details to her.

"But who killed him?!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. The photo didn't show the suspect much."

At that, Cagalli dropped to her knees and cried heartily. Athrun knelt down to her level and touched her shoulder, giving her his sincerest sympathy. Suddenly, Cagalli buried her face in his chest and kept on crying, letting her pain out. Athrun willingly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her even closer to keep her warm and to comfort her. "Cagalli... I'm still here with you..." he gently whispered into her ear.

HQ

Lying on her bed was the young Jean Zala, who was thinking about Kira after hearing the tragic news on television. She was worried about Cagalli, knowing how much Kira meant to her, being her brother and all. She could imagine the pain and suffering she was going through. She wanted to see her and to help her in any way. "I hope Nii-san is taking good care of her. Cagalli needs him more than ever now."

Barging into her room was Miriallia Hawe, shedding tears. She had also heard the news and she couldn't hold back the tears. She went to Jean and cried on her lap. She cried out Kira's name, while memories of him flashed through her mind. "I don't want to believe it. Kira... Kira... you can't be dead. You just can't!" she wailed, shaking her head rapidly.

Jean couldn't bear to see her comrade and friend like this. Leaning forward, she hugged Miriallia and whispered to her that everything was going to be fine. Even so, Miriallia cried so hard. Jean understood her feelings, for losing a friend means losing a part of your life. "Miriallia, don't worry... I'm still here for you."

Hangar

Kai was loafing around beside an Astray Mobile Suit. He had also heard the news, which made him worried about Cagalli. He knew that Cagalli's most important person was her brother. With his arms crossed and eyes fixed on the floor, he wondered who could have killed the representative. The death of Kira Yamato was all too sudden. Whoever killed him, Kai vowed to make him pay.

A voice called out to him all of a sudden, making him trip over some wires on the floor. As he rose up, he saw it was Jean. "Don't startle me like that!" he scolded with his fist clenched.

The red-head girl giggled. "I'm sorry about that." She then turned serious. "You heard the news, right? Representative Yamato is..."

"Dead," he continued. "I know. Princess Cagalli must be crying as we speak."

"Why don't you go and pay her a visit in her mansion and cheer her up? Your jokes can make anybody laugh, even her," Jean suggested.

He found it to be a great idea. "But now's not the right time to do that. We should leave her to think for a while," he said solemnly.

"I can see you really care for her," Jean responded with a rather depressed face, while looking at Kai.

Rey's room

In the dark corner of his room, Rey was seated on the floor, looking at his right hand where he held the gun. He shook at the thought of the time he killed his friend. He wanted to cry, when he remembered his face, his reaction as he found out about him. "I'm sorry Kira... I really am. I had no other choice."

Suddenly, the lights flashed opened, revealing the chairman standing at the doorway with a wide smirk plastered on his face. Apparently, he was pleased for what Rey did and even complimented him, which disgusted Rey. "Leave me alone, Gil! I don't want to see you!" Rey blurted out without a care.

Disrespectful that was, Gil didn't get angry. He just patted Rey on the shoulder. "You really did a good job."

"You say killing your own friend is a good job?! You're really insane!"

"But with the representative out of the way, Cagalli will be yours. No one is here to cancel or break you engagement with her."

"I'm very aware of that, but she clearly told me that she's doesn't love me. What's the point of marrying her if her heart will never be mine?!"

"At least, she'll be yours to keep."

"Damn you, Gil!" he yelled out before barging out the room, leaving a trail of his tears.

Gil leaned on the wall and laughed maniacally. "You're such a fool, Rey."

To be continued...

JC: This was a very sad chapter. Everyone was so depressed. Miriallia and Cagalli were crying, and the Zala siblings were there to comfort them. That was so sweet. The chairman is just plain evil. I just had to end it here. Don't you just love cliffhangers? I must save some for the next chapter. Please review and no flames. It was pretty sad, huh?