Chapter 2 Keep It Under Wraps
A/N Sorry that I haven't updated for a little more than week. Came down with a bad flu, had high fever and severe nausea. Couldn't even walk on the second day, haha! But I feel heaps better now, thank you. Anyway, here's the long awaited second chappie, enjoy!
There was a clamorous knock on Cagalli's room door, and as if by instinct, Cagalli pushed Athrun into her bathroom and closed the bathroom door shut. Taking one last glance around her room, to make sure there were no signs of Athrun around, the blonde girl cleared her throat and headed for the door.
As Cagalli had predicted, her trusty bodyguard, Kisaka, stood formally by the door, looking as firm as ever.
"Cagalli, your father wants a private meeting with you in his office without delay. Now without further ado, I suggest you make your way to his office as soon as possible." advocated Kisaka, before bowing to the Orb Princess and closing the door gently.
"THANK YOU!" yelled Cagalli behind the door, after realising she had forgotten to thank her bodyguard for delivering the message.
Sighing a sigh of relief, she slowly walked toward her bathroom door, her feet making no sound on the carpeted floor of her bedroom, like a rabbit's soft paws padding across the soft grass of a meadow.
Cagalli pushed open the toilet door, to find her teenage refugee sitting cross-legged on the bathroom floor, looking tranquil and conciliatory.
The Orb Princess had to hold back her giggles as she stared down at Athrun, who was staring wide-eyed and innocently up at her. He looked childish and yet babyishly handsome at the same time.
"Cut it out with the big eyes, Alex. You look somewhat like a cross between a baby and an offended puppy." stated Cagalli bluntly, taking Athrun by the arm and pulling him to his feet.
Athrun couldn't help but marvel at her strength for a girl, and what's more, a natural girl. However, the blue-haired co-ordinator guessed that although the girl was a princess, she was such a tomboy that she probably worked out four times a week.
"Oh yeah, and if you were looking at my bathroom shelf earlier, just to let you know, but I don't use all that prissy girly stuff. Moisturisers, skin toners, hair conditioners, face creams, clay masks and all that, yuck! Eeeeew!" said Cagalli disgustedly, walking out of the bathroom shaking in disgust.
Athrun could very well tell that she didn't use them or even lay a finger on them, as the products were still encased in their boxes or wrappers. Besides, her skin was a smooth a peach's, and her hair was as silky as silk itself.
Athrun snapped out of his thoughts, and smacked himself hard on the face, for thinking that way of her.
"Alex, you can come out of the bathroom! Just because I didn't tell you to, doesn't mean you have to remain in there! So even if I don't tell you to get out, and I was going to bathe, you wouldn't have enough brains to move out automatically!" barked the Orb Princess loudly.
"Yes ma'am!" replied Athrun, quickly exitting the bathroom and settling himself into a nearby chair.
"Don't call me ma'am, I've got a name, and it's Cagalli. I'm going for a little meeting with my father, please don't leave the territory of this room. I know there's nothing much to see in here, but if you want to live, I suggest you pay heed to my advice. Oh yes, don't make too much noise, or people walking past might hear you." said Cagalli knowingly, putting on her coat and leaving the room.
"Kisaka, let's go." said Cagalli, walking down the corridor with her bodyguard to her father's office.
"You took quite a while don't you think?" questioned Kisaka, looking down at the Orb Princess, and raising an eyebrow.
"Sorry, I had to clear my cupboard to find my coat," Cagalli made up, biting her lip and trying to keep her face straight.
Kisaka sighed before leading them on. Once they had arrived at the Lion of Orb's office entrance, Kisaka left Cagalli to go in, as he waited for her outside the office for her return.
"Cagalli, lost track of the time, did you?" asked Uzumi, as his daughter sat down in the chair opposite him.
"Sorry father, had to clear up my cupboard to find my coat." replied Cagalli bluntly, giving the same excuse she had given Kisaka.
"Cagalli, I am your father you need not dress so formally. You could come in your pyjamas, and it wouldn't matter to me." replied Uzumi wisely, sighing and leaning back in his office swivel chair.
"I'm ageing quickly Cagalli, it will only be a matter of time before you take my place as ruler of Orb." stated Uzumi knowingly, looking wisely at his daughter.
"Father don't say such things, please. You'll live to a ripe old age! Besides, I don't think I'm cut out to be a ruler, and I was... adopted by you anyway. So the throne should go to someone who is blood related to you." said Cagalli, staring down at her lap.
"Adopted or not, I still trust you more than I trust anyone else. This person could be blood related to me, but if I don't trust him, do you think I could leave the affairs and ideals of Orb with him? Besides, your brother Kira, will be with you to help you, Cagalli." said Uzumi knowingly, lifting Cagalli's chin with his hand.
"But I'm only 16, who would take orders from a 16 year old girl?" asked Cagalli bluntly.
"Cagalli, the country of Orb already respects and loves you as their Princess. I'm sure they will treat you with the same respect and love when you become their ruler." reassured Uzumi, smiling warmly down at his daughter.
"Did you ask me down here to tell me all this?" asked Cagalli softly, looking up at her father, who even when sitting, still towered over her.
"Yes, and I think I've said all that was on my mind. You may go," said Uzumi dismissing Cagalli to her room.
"Kisaka, you can go for breakfast if you like. I'm not hungry today," said Cagalli heading back to her room, and giving her bodyguard permission to go for breakfast.
However, the moment Cagalli reached the entrance of her room, she heard sounds of things dropping and things knocking against other things. A feeling of worry swept over Cagalli as her hand made a dive for the doorknob.
Sure enough a messy and shocking sight greeted her as her room door swung open. There in the room, was her brother, Kira Yamato, holding a penknife and wrestling on the floor with her blue-haired refugee.
"Stop! I, CAGALLI YULA ATHHA, PRINCESS OF ORB COMMAND YOU STOP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, AND EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!" bellowed Cagalli heatedly, though on the inside she was feeling a slight tinge of worry.
"Cagalli, I found this guy in your room! He's probably some kind of thief!" said Kira, pulling Athrun to his feet and holding the penknife at his throat.
"Kira release him! I SAID RELEASE HIM!" yelled Cagalli, glaring angrily at her younger twin brother, who hesitantly and grudgingly released Athrun.
Apparently during the little wrestling session, Kira had managed to cut Athrun on both arms, and had cut himself as well.
"Kira, Alex is no thief. I took him in yesterday evening. He's got nowhere else to go, and if you're thinking he's some kind of thief or killer, I'm still in one piece! Which means he's absolutely, practically, positively harmless!" exclaimed Cagalli jogging to Athrun's side and helping him up.
"You're telling me you took in a total stranger based on what he told you, just like that?" asked Kira, looking half shocked. Knowing his sister all too well, he knew his sister would never do something like that, or he thought she wouldn't.
"So what if I did? Anyway, just keep your mouth shut about Alex or I'll have your head rolling!" barked Cagalli reaching for a First Aid kit and tossing her brother some gauze swabs and a tube of anti-septic lotion.
"I'll do it myself, thanks." said Athrun, trying to pull away from the Orb Princess, but she seemed to have a firm grip on him, and refused to let go.
"No, you won't! I'll do it, it's half my fault you actually got into this mess," said Cagalli, dabbing the blue-haired young man's gash on his left arm.
Athrun knew better than to challenge the blodne girl, he had only stayed with her overnight, and already knew better than to go against her wishes.
A pile of books had fallen off the bookshelf, and apparently, one of Cagalli's night lamps had shattered.
"You've got a cut here," said Cagalli, inching a little closer to the side of Athrun's face to get a better look.
However, when he turned his head to face her, his lips brushed against hers by accident. Cagalli's eyes widened and she blushed, as she paused in her tracks, while Athrun just looked away, his face apparently, redder than hers.
Kira just sulked as he watched his sister and some unknown guy to him, behave in such an awkward way.
"Kira, you're going to have to help yourself, and you're also going to have to clear my room for me later since you started the fight." stated Cagalli, changing the subject, and her voice returning to normal, as she continued cleaning Athrun's wounds.
Kira just muttered to himself, jealous that his sister would rather help a total stranger than her own flesh and blood brother.
"Yes ma'am." hissed Kira, before getting up and leaving the room, slamming the door hard behind him.
A/N Ok, I know this chappie's a little short, but sorry, I feel kind of queasy again, and I don't think I can hold out much longer. Looks like I've still got the flu, but at least it wasn't as bad as before. Anyway, until next time, ja!