I originally planned to have the title be "A Runaway Royalty at Heliopolis Institute" but that would seem to give away the plot of the fic. What do you think? This fic is constantly being edited and every time some one checks this out, he will be surprised to see that the fic's arrangement has changed. That's because I have a problem not knowing where to break off a chapter. For instance, the first part of chapter 2 was originally part of chapter 1. Anyway, enough about that. Forgive me if the characters become a bit out-of-character.
A Runaway at Heliopolis Institute
Chapter 2: Their Plan
Four years back in a park in Heliopolis...
"Uh, no. It's broken," Kira quietly answered, absent-mindedly looking back down at the robotic bird.
"Hnn," was all the other boy said and bent over with his hands on his knees.
Kira did not mind his company. He let him watch Torii too. Trying not to be too obvious, Kira scrutinized the upturned face. There was a strange shimmer in the boy's brilliant emerald orbs. He seemed to find a dysfunctional robotic bird very interesting to watch.
"I can fix it."
"Huh?" Kira blinked his amethyst eyes.
The blue-haired boy smiled benignly. He fished out a small, slim case from the pocket of his pants, openly showing to Kira what was inside. "May I?"
Kira, clearly disoriented, was not able to register everything at once. What was this boy doing? He asked himself as he stared dumbly at the case. Seeing that it contained a row of tools, it dawned to him that this boy was going to fix Torii. "Uh, go ahead..." Kira mumbled.
"Oh, could you hold it down for me, please?" requested the boy, laying down his tool kit.
"Your micro unit's not broken, really. Its wings only need a bit of tweaking," he said while he worked on the bird with a skillful hand, Kira observing silently. The latter had no gripes about allowing this other kid to tamper with Torii, since he seemed to know what he was doing.
Kira did not speak. A gentle wind patted his and the boy's head. In the distance was the energetic and excited kerfuffle of children.
"There." Leaning back, the blue-haired boy finished his repairs at last. "Well, aren't you going to let it go free?"
"Oh!" Kira immediately removed his hands.
The robotic bird started hopping shiftily on its metallic talons, repeatedly, unfolding and folding its wings, like it was testing out its newly mended feather blades. A while more, Torii fully spread its metallic wings and took off from the ground just like a real bird. "Torii!" it chirped in its pre-recorded robotic voice. Two pairs of eyes followed the flight of the robotic bird soaring high in the air. After some time, it came to perch lightly on Kira's head. Kira turned to look at the boy opposite him.
"I'm Kira Yamato." he said with a smile. "Thank you for fixing Torii."
"Athrun Zala. You're welcome."
"Kira? You alright in there?"
Cagalli started, her body jerking suddenly. She exhaled deeply. Geez, he startled me, all the while I was staring so intently in the mirror. Of course, the short dramatic moment at which Kira's real identity was revealed did not last long.
"Y-yeah," Cagalli squeaked and seconds after, slapped her forehead. Idiot! Make your voice sound lower!
"Yeah! I'm fine! No need to worry!" said Cagalli in a lower pitch. Please don't notice anything strange in my behavior or my voice or my appearance! Oh please, oh please, oh please... She repeated over and over like a mantra in her head.
"Are you sure? Well, I'll leave you alone then."
"O-okay."
Cagalli heard the shuffle of slippers going away from the door. Gah. I don't think I can keep this up for long! And true to her thoughts, Cagalli's knees gave way in front of the sink. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, met with a droopy face. She, at that moment, more than ever wanted to pulverize Kira, if only he wasn't too far away. This was his plan, after all.
Kira...Yamato. The same name and if I remember correctly, just like the one I met in a park here four years ago. If he was that Kira, Athrun wondered if this Kira would still recall their encounter. Otherwise, the resemblance was uncanny. One thing was for sure, Athrun wasn't going to outright interrogate this Kira lest he make Athrun out to be some kind of loony bin. It would surely prevent the guy from associating himself with his person.
Somehow, Athrun felt that his new roommate was more than meets the eye. There was something off about him.
Too bad, Athrun was not to be left dwelling in peace any more than certain troublemakers would allow him. A bursting, loud racket had effervesced just beyond his dorm at that time.
"Athrun! Hey Athrun! Let us in, will ya?" the first was yelling.
"Tone done your voice! You'll get us in trouble with the floor leader," chided the second.
"Cheh. How stupid," muttered someone.
"What! Didn't you know Athrun's the fourth floor leader!"
And in the background, "Can anyone explain why I have to come along? I have more important things to attend to." a third spat scorchingly.
Athrun let out a sigh. He went to the door to receive his rumbustious visitors.
"Dearka, Nicol, and..." Athrun blinked at the third person, who was, shockingly, "...Yzak?"
"Don't believe him if he says he was brought here against his will," Dearka inserted before Yzak even had the chance to say a word.
Behind, Yzak could only cross his arms and scowl at Dearka's back. The latter either paid no heed or was very oblivious.
Athrun turned his eyes from Nicol's friendly face, to the grinning Dearka, to the contorted visage of Yzak. "Uh, so what brings you guys here?" This was not just a visit, Athrun sensed. Then, he noted the several plastic bags Dearka and even Yzak were carrying. "Are you throwing a party?"
"You got that right! We are throwing a welcoming party for our new classmate, namely, Kira Yamato, who happens to be your roommate!" announced Dearka jubilantly.
This was a surprise for Athrun. News spread so fast. "How did you know Kira was my roommate?" Athrun asked, an eyebrow quirked.
"This is me we're talking about - the Great Dearka Elthman! I know everything!" boasted the latino, head held high, chest puffed out.
"Of course," Athrun said sarcastically and at the same time, peals of laughter cascaded out of the indulgent Nicol, who managed to gasp in between, "Look, before I explain how we know, will you let us in first?"
"S-sure." He was at a loss now. Still, Athrun moved aside to give passage to them.
"I happened to pass by the supervisor's office and she seemed to have forgotten to give a certain new occupant his key card when he came by earlier. She was concerned that he wouldn't be able to get in without the key card. I told her I'd hand it over to him for her and she did give it to me. It turned out that certain new resident is Kira. When I read the floor and room number, I just realized he shared the same room as you. I just met Dearka and Yzak on the way. They--"
"--Dearka--" Yzak interjected.
"--Dearka wanted to tag along, with Yzak in tow. So there you have it," was Nicol's lengthy explanation.
"We were just restocking our food supply--"
"--which only lasted three days because you were such a glutton."
"Well, a growing boy has to have nourishment--"
"--junk food and soft drink is not nourishment, in case you didn't know."
"I knew that. I was just making light of things. No need to get all hot."
"This is pointless."
And with a snort and the indelible scowl on Yzak's face, the conversation was ended. Athrun was momentarily amused at this small exchange between Yzak and Dearka, not uncommon for two people who had been occupying the same room for at least four years. Dearka was laidback, with an almost off-kilter relaxed attitude. Yzak, on the other hand, was overly serious he killed sobriety itself. Oftentimes cranky and hostile, he was easily irked at the tiniest hint of Dearka's sunshiny impression. It was hard to imagine how two bipolar people manage harmonious co-existence, but it was a mystery they did. A bigger mystery was that the two did not in the slightest rub off on one another after so many years. Athrun knew that their parents were long-time friends so they knew each other even before enrolling in Heliopolis Institute.
Dearka, having only just eliciting the irascible Yzak, now made sport of Athrun's dorm. He surveyed the surroundings and let out a low whistle. "Just as expected, the model student's dorm is in shipshape condition, no speck of dirt. It feels like sacrilege to touch anything. Man, I'm feeling frisky right now."
A low growl. "Your presence is sacrilege itself."
"Huh? What'd you say, Yzak?"
Shuffling and shifting.
"Dearka, it's not polite to go through someone else's stuff without permission."
"But Athrun's alright with it! Aren't you, Athrun?"
Pause.
"See? Athrun's fine with it. Now, where are the cups and plates?"
Banging and clattering.
"You dufus! You're looking in the wrong place! They're in here!"
"Ah, thank you, Yzak-chan!"
"What did you call me!"
"Aahh! Yzak! That's dangerous!"
"Looks like you're getting in the party mood! And this is just beginning. Can't wait to see you drunk!"
"Waitaminute! You bought beer! But we're not allowed to drink! How were you even able to sneak that in? Yzak! Drop the knife!"
"Say, where's our VIP tonight? The man himself, Kira?"
"He's in the bathroom."
Cagalli involuntarily recoiled from the door. She had been listening in the whole time from the bathroom. If they hadn't noticed she was not around, she would have so much wanted to stay in there until they were gone. Unfortunately, there was no snaking out.
"Kira?" Footsteps came to a stop right outside.
"Just a secondt!" shouted Cagalli, hastily re-applying the effect of the pen-like tool. The transformation started from the scalp. Slowly, gradually, the golden hair was changing into chestnut brown. Her apricot eyes dimmed, a pool of muddled orange and bluish-purple danced in her irises. When the color reached the tips of her hair, the transformation was done. She was Kira again. But not quite.
Kira, I'm starting to hate this plan of ours. Cagalli thought as she unlocked the door.
Yes, it was his plan and she agreed to it. So now, it was their plan.
A few hours later, everyone who did not belong to that room were made to evacuate the place close to midnight. As it turned out, Dearka buying beer was just a bluff. Even so, a lot could still go on without the added effect of some alcohol. There was always something Dearka did that Yzak had to criticize and however harsh Yzak was, the words only bounced off Dearka. Cagalli found the Dearka and Yzak tandem quite entertaining.
She had to check herself constantly though, when she thought she was acting like her Cagalli self. Her Cagalli self was a tomboy and rough-mannered. Kira was polite. He was soft, compared to Cagalli. He was well-mannered. He was...everything Cagalli was not. And now here she was, feeling like a character in a role-playing game, or a movie or a stage play. She tried to be as manly as Kira got but sometimes she felt she was trying too hard. She had to be careful always. If she overdid the facade, people might suspect. Dearka, Yzak, and Nicol did not seem to. But Cagalli had a feeling Athrun did. He was perceptive, Cagalli could tell. When the two of them locked eyes earlier, those emerald orbs seemed to sift her mind and soul, as if they could read right through her.
Ooohh...Why did Kira's roommate have to be this guy?
"Sorry about those guys. You must have been overwhelmed by their behavior, Dearka particularly," said Athrun as he was setting the dorm to rights again -- putting away the cup, plates, and utensils that had been ransacked from the cabinet and drawers in the kitchen.
Cagalli was upacking her, or rather Kira's, belongings. "Nah. They're fun company. Now, I really do feel welcomed after that." Cagalli gazed quizzically at the black wall and found she did not know how to operate it. "How do you open these panels? I assume that's where the closet is."
The blue-haired coordinator came over to Cagalli's side. "Here."
Amazingly, the wall began to split open just like the time Athrun opened the shoe rack panel.
"Thanks." Is this why Kira wanted to enter this school? This place is so technologically advanced!
Athrun sighed. "That was tiring!"
"Huh?" Cagalli's expression went from amazed to quizzical again.
Athrun smiled, only a small one. "To be honest, I'm not really used to the company. We've been classmates for three and a half years and pretty much get along well. Dearka does occasionally drop in and I do hang out with Nicol. Yzak was a surprise tonight. I never thought he'd come with Dearka. I pretend not to notice it, but I seem to irritate Yzak a lot. It's different from the way he gets irritated with Dearka, that I can tell. It was a strange mix, the three of them."
Silence afterwards, followed by a quiet and pleasant laugh tumbling out. Athrun's laugh. He slapped a hand to his temple while shaking his head like he was regretful and not at the same time.
"What am I doing? I don't usually pour my thoughts aloud like this. I must have freaked you when I started spouting about nonsense."
Cagalli's turn to laugh. "The heck you did!"
Athrun looked nonplussed. "I did?"
Cagalli had finally finished hanging the last article of clothing - there were actually still a few more items stashed which belonged to her, Cagalli, and not Kira - and pushed the button to close the panel, but she kept on picking the wrong one. The other panels up and down were opening and closing consequently. It took her five tries until Athrun had laughed enough and came to her aid.
"Why the heck isn't there any label to identify which button activates which panel?" Cagalli asked petulantly, more to herself really. Athrun chuckled. She could not help feeling like a goose inspite Athrun's good-natured chuckle. She had to cover the flush that was creeping up her face.
"This one's really tricky. I have to admit that I myself did not get the hang of it the first few weeks I was staying here. But after four years, it's as simple as breathing. There, I've gone and freaked you out a second time."
"I was just joking."
"Excuse me?"
"It's not nonsense if it made sense to you and your listener..." she began, a bit uncertain of her words. Cagalli was looking away, yet she could feel that Athrun was patiently waiting for her to continue on. Geez. She was BAD at this comfort thing. But Kira was. She had already started and now she needed to give it an ending too. If I were Kira, I'd say...
"One can't...restrain himself too much...He can't...keep his door locked forever...He must learn...to let others in...I'm not trying to be presumptuous here. It seems to me that you've never done that, pouring out your thoughts. Sometimes, it's good to do so. If people don't want to listen, it's your own voice, your own thoughts, your own feelings. It may be hard to believe, but if you keep bringing out your voice, somebody in this world will be sure to listen, no matter what. Now, I'm talking nonsense myself."
Is this what you'd say Kira? Cagalli wondered.
Right then, Athrun looked thoughtful, as if he himself was about to say something serious.
"Deep words Kira. It's not nonsense if it made sense to you and your listener."
To that, the two found themselves breaking the somber air with a laugh at this little quotation.
"Now I understand it."
"Understand what? Turn off the lights?"
Athrun nodded. "It seems to me that they were drawn to you, Nicol and the others."
Cagalli did not quite get what Athrun was saying. Her hand was already touching the switch, ready to turn off the light. And as she did, Athrun said, "I've already said it before."
The room was engulfed in pitch-black.
"I really do think you are different, almost...as if..."
Almost as if...what...?
But Cagalli never actually heard the conclusion of that line.
Two weeks before, ORB...
"No father! Why tell me now! I refuse to accept!"
"No, you listen to my words and you will obey them!"
Walls had ears, that may be true. Most of the household staff were currently hovering outside their lord's study. Miss Cagalli had been called to her father's study. At first the voices were calm and composed, as if a normal conversation was going on. As time passed, the voices grew louder and more violent. One maid happened to pass by and soon the rest followed suit. Before they knew it, the heated and intense discussion going on had caught the attention of the whole Athha mansion. They could barely make out what the screaming and shouting, mostly on Cagalli's part, was about.
"What's going on here, Nel? What are you all doing here?"
The addressed broke her attention away from the heated argument in progress to the speaker. "Oh, Master Kira, sir. It's your sister and father." Her voice quivered as she said it.
Kira scrunched his forehead. "What happened?"
"We don't really understand the situation. But it sounds like a serious matter and Miss Cagalli is strongly opposed to it."
STOMP! BANG!
Emerging out of the room, was the young lady herself, who had stormed out before the servants had time to back away from the door. Cagalli's face was flushed, fists clenched tightly. Her countenance spoke so much of anger, passion, and frustration being repressed. She wanted to release it in any form, but all she could do was stand still in the corridor, amidst the circle of concerned household staff.
"Cagalli..." Kira called out softly.
Cagalli looked towards him. Her eyes were there but they did not seem to see Kira. Cagalli made her way to him, on feet that were so unsteady, one step at a time. Everyone appeared to be frozen in time, except for Cagalli, who was making her steps towards the one and only person she more than ever wanted to see that very moment. The distance between them seemed so long. She felt as if she would falter even before she could reach Kira. Just when she almost did, Kira crossed that distance and soon, his hands were on Cagalli's shoulders.
"Ca...galli?"
"...Kira."
She suddenly vented out all the pent-up emotions being held back. Tears gushed out.
------
to be continued
------
Gah. Drama. I think I suck at that (referring to the last part of this chapter). I know this chapter centered around the people from the previous chapter. But next chapter, the other GSEED and Destiny characters will be written in. Well, I am looking forward to feedback. Please tell me what you think of this. Thank you.