Chapter 7 Unexpected Visitors
A/N Here's another chappie, I'll be updating at least once or twice a week now, because I'm trying to finish the fanfic by the end of Decemeber. I'm migrating to New Zealand in January 2006, so I'll have to clear the house and pack stuff, and all. Anyway, here's another chapter for you to pamper your eyes and imaginations with, enjoy!
Cagalli had been so busy for the rest of the day, that by the time she had finished all her work, and attended all her appointments, it was close to midnight. The blonde Orb Princess, slumped down onto her bed, disappointed that she'd have to wait till the next day to visit her prince charming. It had only been close to a day, and how Cagalli missed that gentle and handsome face of his.
"Those emerald orbs, fair alabaster skin, his warm touch..." however, the blonde girl was busted out of her thoughts by a hard whack on the arm by her newly assigned bodyguard, Kyo Yamajika.
"I've been calling you for ages! Are you deaf or something? Go clean your ears! Or maybe you were dreaming of Mr. Alex Dino." hissed Kyo, shaking her head and pursing her lips at the Orb Princess, who just snorted and stood up to full height in front of her bed.
"So, what were you calling me for? You've got my attention now, so shoot, I'm all ears." retorted Cagalli, folding her arms and raising a questioning eyebrow at Kyo, who grunted and dumped the bag containing her belongings in a corner.
"I met Miriallia earlier, she asked me to ask you if you were free tomorrow. She said that if you were, maybe you'd like to go to the beach with her and Kira, and maybe bring Alex along as well. She also stated that she's actually free for the next two days as Lord Uzumi's going out for a business trip." advocated Kyo, finishing off what she had to say and folding her arms neatly across her chest.
Cagalli nearly choked over her own saliva, "She's going to the beach with Kira?" asked Cagalli, looking astounded at Kyo, who nodded in reply, before settling herself into a nearby plastic chair.
"Yeah, she said so herself. What's the big deal anyway? It's not the first time she's brought Kira along to the beach with her. She's done it loads of times! Apparently, she likes to play with him there, throwing stones at each other and bickering about political stuff." explained Kyo, looking at Cagalli's astounded face, and nearly wanting to laugh out loud.
"Are you sure they don't do anything else?" questioned Cagalli, inching her face closer to Kyo's and staring at her eye to eye.
"Look Cagalli, they're just friends, really. When they go to the beach, they bicker much more than they talk. Basically, they just go there to browbeat each other. Both trying to outdo each other in stuff like throwing rocks out into the sea, stuff like that." reassured Kyo, pouring herself a glass of water from a nearby water flask.
"It better be just that, can't imagine Miriallia dating my little bro, eew." shuddered Cagalli, scratching the back of her neck before proceeding to the bathroom to change out of her uniform.
"Cagalli, wait! Am I going to sleep on this mattress?" asked Kyo, pointing at the very same mattress that Athrun had slept on for the past several days, looking a little hesitant and unwilling.
"Yeah, but if you don't want to sleep on it because Alex slept on it, by all means take my bed. I'd be more than happy to sleep on that mattress, it's got Alex's scent on it." grinned Cagalli cheekily, before closing the bathroom door behind her.
"Eew. Do all girls act like that when they're crazy over a boy? This is just ridiculous." Kyo muttered under her breath before standing behind the cupboard and changing into more informal clothes, like a shirt and a pair of shorts.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNGG!" Cagalli's alarm clock went off, it's shrill cry bouncing off the four walls of the room and echoing throughout the room. The shrieking device was soon whisked off it's owner's bedside table and thrown directly at the concrete wall ahead of it.
"Get up already! It's 8.45 a.m! In addition, if you've forgotten you're supposed to be going to the beach with Mirre and Kira!" said Kyo, shaking Cagalli roughly in attempt to awaken the blonde princess from her slumber. However, no matter how hard the redheaded girl tried to arouse the Orb Princess, she remained stubbornly asleep. Until finally, the female bodyguard thought of a statement, that very well might send the blonde girl tumbling out of bed and ready to greet a new day.
Fodling her arms, Kyo sat down on the edge of Cagalli's bed and sighed loudly. "Oh, it's just so tragic. A very charming prince is waiting for his one true love to greet him and take him to the beach, but his princess would rather sleep on like a pig. It's just so heart-rending."
Within moments of finishing her sentence, Cagalli sat bolt upright looking wide awake and raring to start her day. "Ok, what time is it? Wait for me, I'll go freshen up! Oh yes, if Miriallia's pops by, tell her to make herself comfortable! Oh yes, do me a favour and go and fetch Alex! He should be awake by now, he usually wakes up automatically by himself at around seven-plus, eight!"
The blodne princess grabbed a tight-fitting, sports sleeveless shirt, and a pair of black sports shorts, before darting into the bathroom and shutting the door, or more like slamming it.
"Oh well, that did it. See I'm so smart," Kyo silently praised herself, before she heard a loud knock on the door and went to answer it. Sure enough, Miriallia peered in, Kira following along behind her. The duo popped into in Orb Princess's room and heard Kyo's explanation before settling themselves down.
"Oh, before I forget! Cagalli asked me to fetch her darling prince charming and boyfriend for her!" exclaiemd Kyo, darting off Cagalli's bed and out the bedroom door, swerving tightly round the corner before knocking loudly on the first door she came to.
The gentle and serene face of the blue-haired co-ordinator greeted Kyo, as she stood by the doorway. "Cagalli would like you to come over to her bedroom now, if possible. We're all going to the beach, Miriallia, Kira, Cagalli, you and I."
"Roger that. I'll be there once I find something better to wear," replied Athrun, grinning cheerily before closing the door gently.
Kyo returned to Cagalli's bedroom to find the blonde princess already out of the bathroom, and brushing her thick blonde hair. The sun's rays set a radiant glow to Cagalli's cheeks, and the pinkish colour in them was just a bonus.
"Where's Alex?" asked Cagalli, sounding rather concerned, although her gaze remained glued to her dresser-top mirror, as she brushed her hair and straightened out her sleevless shirt.
"Don't worry, he'll be here sooner or later. He said he just needed to find something better to wear. I did tell him we'd be going to the beach, so he's not going to turn up in a tuxedo or in a formal shirt and jeans." advocated Kyo, she herself, wearing something like Cagalli, only she was wearing a cap-sleeved shirt.
A loud knock erupted from the door, before Athrun poked his head in and smiled politely.
"There you are! We've been waiting." said Cagalli, jogging up to him and hugging the blue-haired young man tight, before giving him a passionate kiss on the lips.
Kira could only silently pretend to wretch, as he watched his elder sister smooch her boyfriend, whom he thought, wasn't much of a big deal.
"Now that we're all here, can we all get going? I want to do some tanning, and I've brought along some buns for breakfast." said Miriallia chirpily, holding up a picnic basket for the others to see.
"Ok, let's go! Adios!" exclaimed Kira, getting up and heading off and out of the bedroom doorway.
The sun was fully up in the innocent blue sky, casting a shimmering sheen on the crystal clear blue waters of the beach, it's waves rolling up on the beach, and flowing back out again.
The beach was somehow, unusually clean and the sand felt warm under Athrun's feet, as he walked up to a shady spot under a coconut tree, hand in hand with Cagalli. Miriallia spread out a large beach mat, and began laying out all the things.
Kira pulled off his shirt before running into a wave and diving in head first, he emerged seconds later shaking his hair dry and taking in a large breath of air. "Hey! It's hot out there, but the water's cool enough to prevent you from getting a sunburn!"
"Do you want to swim? I'll swim if you do," said Miriallia, turning to Kyo, who was sitting beside her on the beach mate and gazing out into the horizon.
"Tsk, you're in more danger in the water with Kira, than you are with a shark. That guy will wrestle with you underwater!" exclaimed Kyo, shaking her head. "But then again, the cool water looks so tempting." Kyo added, looking at Miriallia before both girls pulled off their tops and ran toward the sea in their bikini tops.
"Hey, why don't you two lovebirds give all the kissing a break and come join us!" shouted Kira from the water, looking at Cagalli and Athrun who were cuddled in each other's arms, and sitting on the beach mat.
Athrun turned to Cagalli, looking naughtily and impishly at Cagalli, before pulling off his shirt, taking Cagalli bridal-style in his arms and running down into the water, before throwing the blonde girl in before him.
However, that was a mighty BIG mistake. Cagalli broke the water's surface spluttering and coughing, before throwing her arms around Athrun's neck, and giving him a nice whack on the head.
"I... can't swim... you IDIOT!" yelled Cagalli, her hands still wrapped tightly around her blue-haired boyfriend's neck, as she spluttered and coughed a little more.
"Sorry, I didn't know," retorted Athrun, rubbing the back of his head with his hand, and wincing slightly at the pain.
"Cagalli, why don't you get off Alex's back. Your feet can touch the sandy bottom, see, we're all standing. Besides, if you do get swept out further by a wave, we'll all come to your rescue." reassured Miriallia knowingly, smiling toothily at the blonde girl, who hesitantly and reluctantly lowered herself into the cool water, though still clinging on tightly to Athrun's arm.
"Gosh, this feels so good. It's been a long time since I've hit the beach waves." muttered Kyo, floating in the water on her back, and enjoying the feeling of the cool water evaporating off the surface of her face.
"Hey, there're little fish swimming around us! And goodness, they're so colourful, and they're beautiful!" exclaimed Miriallia, putting her head under water to look at the tiny fishes swimming around their legs.
"Can we get out of the water? I don't like it, and the waves make me feel as though I'm being pulled further out bit by bit." said Cagalli, shuddering slightly, and clinging tighter onto Athrun's arm, as he hugged her close to reassure her.
"Yeah, the waves are getting a little rougher, and I don't feel too safe either. I've heard of sharks being washed in by waves." stated Miriallia, already starting to head back to shore with Kyo.
"Sharks? EEEEEEEK!" screamed Cagalli, when Kira suddenly popped up from under the water in front of her, with something that looked like a dead coral. The brunette young man snickered loudly before diving back under the water's surface and swimming swiftly back to shore.
Due to her phobia of water, Cagalli managed to persuade her prince charming to piggy-back her back to shore. The blonde girl clung tightly to Athrun's neck, as he waded back to the beach, where the trio of their friends awaited.
The two girls seemed to have busied themselves by building little sand castles and digging through the white, moist sand.
"Ugh, there's something in here, it's hard. Feels like it's made of wood," remarked Miriallia, digging deeper into the pit she had made in the sand, and with Kyo's help, pulling up a sandy object shaped somewhat like an arrowhead.
Using nimble fingers, Miriallia dusted the sand off the object to get a better look at it. It wasn't long before the auburn-haired girl realised that it was a boomerang.
Athrun and Cagalli had just arrived back at shore, and certainly, by the expression on the Orb Princess's face, anyone could've told that she was just glad to feel the sand beneath her feet once more.
"Hey sis!" yelled Kira, taking the boomerang from Miriallia and throwing it expertly in Cagalli's direction. The blonde girl dodged the boomerang by ducking down low, however, to both Kira and the others' surprise, the boomerang didn't return.
"That's weird, maybe it got stuck in a coconut tree or something." said Cagalli, turning around and scanning the vicinity of the beach behind her.
"It can't be, we would've heard the boomerang hit the tree if it did get stuck." said Athrun, looking around the sandy territory and looking up ahead at the grassy terrain behind the seaside, for any sign of the wooden object.
Not long after, the bunch gasped slightly when they saw one of the Orb management officials coming toward them with three people behind him. One, a young woman with long flowing pink hair, and behind her were two young men, one with platinum blonde hair and another with tanned skin, and wavy blonde hair.
Athrun's eyes widened in horror. His father did say THREE months, but it was barely even two weeks, and there wad Lacus Clyne, Yzak Jule and Dearka Elthman, walking up the ebach toward them.
"Mr. Dino, we've got visitors for you. A handmaiden saw you heading down to the seaside earlier, so I brought these visitors here to see you." said the Orb official, before bowing respectfully and taking his leave.
Miriallia, Kyo, Kira and Cagalli seemed equally stoned as Athrun, watching the three visitors before them. Without warning, the pink-haired girl sprung forward and threw her arms around Athrun's neck, not minding the fact that he was indeed, wet.
"Excuse me, who are you?" asked Cagalli defensively, clearly not liking the sight of an intruder hugging her boyfriend.
"Pardon us, this is Miss Lacus Clyne, Mr. Athrun Zala's fiancee. I'm Dearka Elthman, and this is my partner, Yzak Jule. We're just guarding Miss Clyne." explained the intruder with wavy blonde hair, and copper-tone skin.
"What in the world are you talking about and, who the hell is Mr. Athrun Zala?" asked Cagalli heatedly, glaring ferociously at the three intruders.
Athrun was looking panicky at Dearka, Yzak and Lacus. Shit, his plan, he'd be exposed to Cagalli and the rest if any one of his friends were to blab it all out. Then again, Yak and Dearka weren't here to finish the job, were they? If they were, Athrun had certainly not been expecting it.
"Well, it's time we enlighten you, Cagalli Yula Athha, Princess of Orb." hissed Yzak stepping forward, and standing face to face with Athrun. "You're not doing a very good job, are you, Zala? I don't understand why your father put you up to the job, you don't look fit enough accomplish it."
"Shut up, you asshole! Just carry on with what you want to say, and stop beating round the bush. Besides, you don't look that herculean yourself." barked Kyo, stepping front of Cagalli, and looking ready to fight the platinum blonde one on one.
"You..." spat Yzak, however, he found himself being held back by Dearka.
"Right, like Yzak was saying, it's time you know this guy's true identity." said Dearka walking round Athrun, who still had Lacus standing beside him, holding on to his forearm.
Kira couldn't help but stare at the pretty and sweet looking girl, who claimed her identity to be by the name of, Lacus Clyne. She had fair skin, and intoxicating blue eyes, and she looked ever so virginal and innocent.
"This guy, whatever name he has given you to be his, is all a sham. He is Athrun Zala, son of the Chairman of PLANTs. He was actually sent here on a mission, involving having to assassinate someone. Although I can see that instead of trying to complete his task of assassinating the target, he seems to have fallen in love with her instead." said Dearka, his gaze shifting swiftly to Cagalli, who stepped back slightly, feeling Kira inch closer to her.
"Yes my dear, Princess. He's here to kill you," hissed Yzak, raising a gun at Cagalli, and loading it, before resting his index finger on the trigger.
"Yzak, we're just explaining the truth to them! What're you doing, lower the gun! I came here to stop all this!" exclaimed Lacus, her voice high-pitched but sounding fierce and firm.
Athrun stepped backward, standing protectively in front of Cagalli, who seemed doubtful of whether to trust him or not. Kyo stepped in-between Athrun and Yzak, looking from one young man to the other.
"I don't know who I should fight. Should I fight against you, Athrun Zala, or you Yzak Jule. Both of you are supposed to be on the same side, however, I can see one party has betrayed his team." said Kyo, turning to look Athrun, who looked stern and worried at the same time. "On the other hand, you could be just feigning your betrayal, and could still be working hand in hand with these imposters."
"If you want to lay a single finger on Cagalli, you'll have to come through me first." hissed Athrun fiercely, a tint of sarcasm in his voice, as he spread his arms out protectively in front of Cagalli.
"Shut up, Athrun. I don't need you to potect me, I don't trust you anymore. You've been lying to me about everything right from the start, how would I know if your love was all a sham as well?" asked Cagalli, her eyes welling up with tears as she gazed up at Athrun, feeling her heart on the brink of shattering to pieces. Turning around she fled as fast as she could, along with Kira and Miriallia.
Lacus looked worried as she surveyed the current situation.
Just then, Yzak raised a gun, and locked onto Cagalli. Athrun's eyes widened, but before he could react he heard the gun fire, however, the shot didn't hit Cagalli. Instead, someone else was lying on the sandy ground, hands clutching her side.
It turned out Kyo had flung herself at Yzak the moment he raised the gun, and he had fired a second later, sending the bullet penetrating through Kyo instead.
Kyo's blood spread onto the sand, as she lay there groaning slightly, and feeling tears come to her eyes as she tried to withstand the pain.
"Yzak Jule! The reason I came here was to stop Athrun from killing the Orb Princess! Why did you try to kill her? And instead of killing her, you hurt someone else!" exclaimed Lacus, her voice becoming stern and horrified, as she fell to her knees beside Kyo.
Yzak himself seemed to have realised his mistake, and he threw the gun on the ground before storming off. Dearka trailing along behind him.
"We've got to get her to somewhere with medical facilities." said Lacus, frantically trying to stump the bloodflow with her hands. Athrun nodded at her before lifting Kyo into his arms and carrying her off in the direction of the Athha house.
A/N Ok, I know there are some ppl out there who really hate Kyo, because she's an OC, but pls bear with her. Besides, after what happened in this chapter, I won't say whether you'll get to see her again, but I think some of you know the answer to that already. Sorry for typo errors! Anyway, here's another chappie, I hope you enjoyed it!
In the next chapter: Cagalli seems traumatic at the shocking revelation of truth, and how will she react when Athrun confronts her once more? In addition, since Lacus, Dearka and Yzak have been accepted by the Orb management to stay at Orb, how will things go about, will love start blossoming between the characters? And will Kyo live to see another day?