Chapter 17 An Exhausting Birth
A/N: I know the last chapter was kind of short, really sorry, but I was really short on time. I sort of fast forwarded the time as well, as I couldn't possibly go and on and on elaborating, so I just made it 3 months later. The characters all seem their plan will be successful, but will it? Well you'll just have to read and find out, hehe! Happy reading!
"Lord Uzumi, we're all ready, you can summon Mia now. Be sure to give us at least 15 minutes time though. That should be enough for us to explain everything and escape." said Kira, speaking softly through his mobile phone to the Lion of Orb.
Within seconds of ending the call, Kira stuffed his phone back into the front pocket of his Levi's jeans before smiling and nodding at the others. "We'll have to wait a while to let Mia proceed to Lord Uzumi's office before setting off."
"Understood," said Lacus breathing in deeply, and trying to calm herself. The pink-headed girl had the jitters, her knees were shaking and she had butterflies swooping and flying around wildy in her stomach.
"Good luck, Lacus, we're all counting on you. Though we will be stationed nearby at corridors, you're doing the main job, confronting our target." said Dearka saluting Lacus playfully, before studying a hand-drawn map of their plan, made by Kira.
"Now, if Mia comes along too early, and Lacus hasn't exitted Athrun's bedroom, do your best to distract her, so be it a stupid or nonsensical distraction, just try to buy Lacus more time." said Murrue firmly, who was also studying one of the maps drawn by Kira. She was to be stationed one corridor away from Lord Uzumi's office with Andy, in case Mia came out.
Murrue would have top alert the others by calling them on their mobile phones and letting the phone ring once as a signal. The all clear signal was of course, to be sent by Lacus, who would let the phone ring three times.
"I certainly hope this works out, no doubt I have faith in all of you, but if fate decides to intervene today, then there's nothing we can do to prevent it." said Cagalli feeling ehr baby move around energetically within her.
"Cagalli, I can't guarantee you that this will work out, but if we can't get Athrun to come to his senses and return him to you, then by all means, when your baby is born we will all do our part in helping you." said Kyo determinedly, walking up to the blonde Orb Princess and putting an arm around her.
Kyo had changed out of the body-baring dress Miriallia had forced her to wear, but there was unfortunately no time for her to wash the excessive make-up off her face. Therefore, it left the attractive redheaded girl feeling rather cakey.
As for Yzak, he was still too embarrassed about his pants-wetting incident to look Kyo straight in the eye for the meantime. However, his little mishap didn't deter him from wanting to help in the plan.
Kira refused to let Cagalli help as since the blonde girl was expecting, the brunette young man didn't want any accidents.
"Ok, it's time. Let's go, ganbatte!" said Kira, leading the way stealthily out of the bedroom. Athrun was most likely to be in his own bedroom since he hardly ever went anywhere without Mia.
"To your positions everyone!" said Kira in a loud whisper, within seconds everyone cleared the corridor and proceeded to their respective positions.
"Good luck, Lacus, if you desperately need help, just scream, I'll be waiting outside over here." said Kira, watching as Lacus pushed open Athrun's bedroom door and enter, before swinging the door shut.
Sure enough, the charming blue-haired co-ordinator was seated by his desk and reading a book, which looked something like a bible, though it wasn't.
"Oh Mia, you're back, that was quick? It took you only a mere five minutes to meet the Lion of Orb?" asked Athrun, standing up and proceeding toward Lacus, and planting a passionate kiss on her lips, believing she was Mia.
"Err... aah yes, he actually just wanted to tell me a few things." said Lacus uneasily, inching away from Athrun.
"I see, what did he tell you?" asked Athrun curiously, eager to hear a reply.
Lacus froze dumbstruck, she wasn't expecting things to turn out like this, and she didn't come up with a reply for his question either! But nevertheless, she had to try, she didn't want to let Kira, the others and most of all, Cagalli, down.
"He just said he was... err... lonely and so he told me about... the err... ideals of Orb." said Lacus, sighing silently in her mind now that she had come up with a perfectly logical answer.
"Oh," said Athrun, returning to his book once more and turning away from Lacus.
"Athrun, I've got something else to tell you, I don't think I should keep you in the dark any longer." said Lacus slowly, looking at Athrun innocently and twisting her body around the way Mia did.
However, Lacus didn't sound much like Mia, her voice was a little higher than Mia's, while Mia's voice was brighter and more girlish, and Athrun seemed to have sensed that. Mia also had a different way of speaking, she spoke in a more smutty way.
"What is it, Mia? You know you can tell me anything, honeybunny, are you alright though? You sound funny," said Athrun suspiciously, getting up and walking over to Lacus, before wrapping his arms around her.
"Well you know about Cagalli, Kira and the others, about what I told you about them? Abotu Cagalli being a playgirl prostitute and the rest being gangsters or cannibals and whatever else?" said Lacus, trying to immitate Mia's voice as much as possible.
Athrun just grunted in reply, as now he was snuffling around Lacus's neck and licking her. Lacus couldn't help but feel very uncomfortable and afraid, the Athrun who was her former-fiance was never this horny and frisky.
"Did you change your perfume? You smell different," mumbled Athrun, nipping gently at Lacus's ear. The pink-headed girl couldn't help but feel goosebumps form on her skin.
"Yes I did, d'you like it? Anyway, everything I've told you about them, they're all lies." said Lacus, finally starting on some kind of explanation.
"You're kidding me, as far as I know, they're so annoying and keep harassing us. Besides, that Cagalli girl is pregnant now, did you notice? Probably with some playboy's child, serves her right." said Athrun, planting kisses down Lacus's slender neck.
Lacus couldn't help but want to show Athrun the naked truth, the truth that the baby Cagalli was carrying was none other than his, and that she and the others were no cannibals, gangsters or prostitues.
"I've been lying to you all this while Athrun. The others are not like that, they're perfectly normal people. I lied because I wanted you to myself, but the truth is that I've been lying." said Lacus, pulling away from Athrun and looking at him.
Athrun looked really suspicious now, he was eyeing Lacus closely, observing her every movement and facila expression.
Meanwhile, Lord Uzumi had not been able to keep Mia in his office any longer, and the pink-haired impersonator seemed to smell soemthing very fishy anyway. Mia stormed out of the office and came face to face with Murrue and Andrew.
The brunette woman quickly sent a signal to the others indicating that Mia was on the loose, while Andrew disracted her with a very rash and stupid distraction.
Andrew got down on one knee, and stared up at Mia in such a fake loving way. "Oh my love, how I have longed for this day! When I can finally kneel in front of you and tell you of my feelings for you!"
Murrue couldn't help but eye the grown man weirdly, certainly he had come up with a distraction, but it was utterly stupid and obviously a distraction.
Andrew grabbed Mia's right hand and kissed it tenderly, "My love, will you marry me?"
Mia wrenched her hand from his grip, staring disgusted down at him. "No, I will not you slimeball! No doubt you may be kind of good looking, but it's impossible between us."
Mia darted past Murrue and Andrew who scrambled to his feet and followed the impersonator along with Murrue in pursuit. The others had been notified of Mia's escape from Lord Uzumi's office and were on the alert.
"Hello, where d'you think you're going?" asked Yzak, blocking Mia's pathway to the next corridor adjacent from the first. The platinum blonde had his arms outstretched blocking Mia from pushing past him.
"Get out of my way, you brute! What'cha going to do if I push past you? Hit me? You wouldn't dare!" asked Mia, glaring annoyed at Yzak, whose anger was also on the rise as Mia had called him a brute.
Yzak had no choice but feel Mia push past him, however, another obstacle greeted Mia as she passed Yzak, who was standing beside Murrue and Andy now.
"He wouldn't dare hit a girl, but I WOULD!" exclaimed Kyo, greeting Mia abruptly as she swung her hand violently at the pink-haired impersonator's face. Mia's reaction after the slap proved that she wasn't as soft as she looked.
Mia stumbeld slightly ebfore getting back on her feet and standing to full height and facing Kyo. Although Mia was slightly taller than Kyo because of her heeled-shoes, Kyo still stood her ground. '
"You bitch!" squealed Mia, clutching her left cheek where Kyo had struck her hard and fast. However, catching the redheaded girl off guard, Mia rammed forward straight at Kyo who didn't expect Mia's reaction.
Kyo was thrown fast and furious off her feet as she flew backwards before hitting the wall beind her and sinking down into a sitting position. Kyo's face was scrunched up into a painful expression, which sent a pang of pure worry through Yzak.
Murrue and Andy chased after Mia once more, Dearka and Miriallia, who were waiting at the very next corridor, where Athrun's bedroom was along with Kira, was the last row of defense.
It seemed very easy to stop Mia, however, Kira and Lacus had set a rule, that none of them should lay a finger on Mia, however, as you read earlier on, Kyo clearly flouted that rule.
"I knew it! All this had something to do with you guys and Athrun! What're you doing to him now?" hissed Mia, stopping in front of Athrun's bedroom door, which all three of Miriallia, Dearka and Kira were blocking.
"The real question should be, what've you done to him? It's all because of you that Cagalli had to suffer so badly, and it's also your fault that Athrun actually hates us now." said Miriallia sarcastically, glaring angrily at Mia.
"I don't care what you people say! Move aside! I had my reasons for doing everything I did!" said Mia hotly, staring especially at Kira, who was staring eyebrows furrowed at her.
"You had reasons, eh? You're just following orders from Chairman Zala, aren't you? You have a conncection with him, and I'm guessing Kisaka too." Kira snapped, bolting himself firmly against the doorway.
"You're smart, looks like you've figured out part of Chairman Zala's scheming plans. Yes, he was the one who notified me and instructed me to do everything I did, and yes, kisaka is involved. In fact, as you may have already figured, he was the one who actually hurt Athrun the first time round, I salute him on it too." said Mia, winking smuttily at Kira, who just glared at her angrily.
"How could you be so proud of all you've done? Of all the hurt you've caused Cagalli and the sticky situation you and your comrades have thrown all of us into?" asked Miriallia harshly, looking exasperatedly at Mia, who was just smirking away maliciously.
"If you don't move aside, I'm going to have to ram my way past you. Just like I did with Kyo earlier," snarled Mia, looking at Kira before looking sideways at Yzak, who was supporting a frail looking Kyo, who had apparently thrown up seconds after being hit in the stomach by Mia.
"I won't forgive you for everything you've done, not only to Cagalli and the rest of us, but for hurting Kyo as well!" said Yzak heatedly, thinking of lunging at Mia, only to realise that Kyo needed him right then.
However, just then, Lacus opened the bedroom door, indicating that she had fiished the job, however, it was only the beginning of their problems. Mia was there, and the minute Athrun saw two Mias, it would reveal their entire plan.
However, what the others were hoping that would not come true, came true. Athrun appeared by the door beside Lacus, before his eyes widened in shock.
"I knew it! I knew this was all a sham! You're actually Lacus Clyne aren't you? No wonder I thought Mia was acting rather weirdly, because she was actually Lacus Clyne!" yelled Athrun, attempting to hit Lacus, only to be taken on by an infuriated Kira.
"You BASTARD! WHY HAVE YOU BECOME SO FOOLISH AND NAIVE? WHY DID YOU LET A BIMBO POSION YOUR MIND? WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME TO YOUR SENSES AND REALISE THE BLOODY TRUTH! MIA IS LYING TO YOU! CAGALLI IS ALSO PREGNANT WITH YOUR FREAKIN' BABY! YEAAAARGH!" hollered Kira, grabbing Athrun by the collar of his shirt and throwing him to the floor, however, in the midst of doing so, Athrun's head hit the doorway, and he was knocked clean out.
Kira watched in horror at an uncosncious Athrun as blood flowed from the blue-haired co-ordinator's head. The brunette young man took a few steps back, feeling absolutely horrorstruck before bumping into Mia, who was standing directly behind him looking just as dumbstruck and at a loss for words.
"Kira, what've you done?" asked Lacus, looking at the uncosncious Athrun, lying sprawled on his back on the marble floor.
"I... I didn't mean to... I never expected... no... NO!" hollered Kira loudly, falling to his knees by an unconscious Athrun and feeling the pearly tears cloud his vision. He was supposed to bring Athrun back to Cagalli, not hurt him further!
What was Cagalli going to say? Although Athrun was still alive but unconscious, his condition could worsen further and it could prove fatal.
"Someone get medical help from the medical unit, hurry!" said Mia sounding worried, though Kira suspected that she wasn't worried for Athrun, but rather worried for herself.
Sure enough, Kira's assumption proved to be true.
"Athrun can't die on me now. I'll be beheaded if he does, I was ordered to bring him back alive to Chairman Zala." said Mia crouching down and checking Athrun's vital signs.
Dearka who had run off to get help came back minutes later, Dr. Ishida trailing along behind. Dearka had apparently explained everything to Dr. Ishida on the way back to the scene, and upon arriving, the senior doctor jumped into action.
Dr. Ishida paged for a few nurses, who arrived about a minute later carrying a stretcher. The nurses expertly lifted Athrun onto the stretcher, two wincing slightly at the blue-haired young man's weight.
Just then, Kira's handphone rang. The brunette young man, who was too stoned to answer it, looked over at Lacus who answered it for him.
"Hello?" said Lacus formally.
"K-Lacus! I need help! Aaaaah! Ow! I don't know why, but I've started getting contractions! I'm... aaaaah... scared, it's only been 5 and a half months... why am I... ow... going into labour now?" came the worried voice of Cagalli over the other line.
"Hang in there, Cagalli! We're coming, all of us are!" said Lacus frantically, telling Kira about Cagalli's premature labour, which startled the brunette young man who immediately snapped back into reality and hopped into action.
Lacus, Dearka and Miriallia followed along behind. Yzak was slightly delayed as Kyo had said she felt faint and that her stomach was hurting badly, and so the circumstances had forced the platinum blonde to take his girlfriend in his arms and carry her.
Kyo had to admit that the pain she felt physically in her stomach was almost unbearable if not for Yzak's strong arms wrapped around her, she might've fainted right on the spot.
Mia had punched while she rammed into Kyo, and the pink-haired impersonator probably hit the spot where Kyo's wound had been.
Kira burst into Lacus's room, to find Cagalli lying against a pillow on the carpeted flooring of the pink-headed girl's room. She was panting and clutching her stomach at the same time.
"Cagalli, how d'you feel? Are you ok? Hang in there, Dr. Ishida is busy with Athrun at the moment. I accidentally knocked Athrun unconscious," said Kira, before he clamped his hand over his mouth. The brunette co-ordinator had not planned on telling the blonde Orb Princess yet, however, his mouth seemed to have blurted it out.
"You WHAT? How's Athrun? Is he alright? What did Dr. Ishida say? Can he be saved?" asked Cagalli saying all she could before she was hit by a second bout of painful contractions.
"Dr. Ishida didn't say anything, but I think that he will be alright. Right now, focus on yourself. I've heard that Co-ordinator babies are born one or two months earlier than Natural babies. But yours is still premature." said Lacus, not wanting to worry Cagalli but knowing that the blonde girl had a right to know.
"I guess I'll have to go with the flow! Aaaaah! ATHRUN!" yelled Cagalli, clutching her stomach as she felt another contraction.
"By the way, why are you on the floor?" asked Miriallia, looking at Cagalli sitting up against a pillow on the floor.
"I wet Lacus's bed when my waters broke, sorry Lacus... AAAAAAAAH! ATHRUN!" said Cagalli, panting as she drew in jerking rbeaths of air. Kira could see that his sister was close to tears, as she bore the pains of childbirth.
"Why is this... so hard? It hurts so badly! Aaaaaah! Athrun! Aaah! Athrun, where are you? Why can't you be here right now? Aaaaaah!" screamed Cagalli, throwing her head backwards as she burst into tears crying.
Most of the time when a baby was born, the mother would have the baby's father there to support and encourage her. The father would be there to help her through the pain and difficulties.
However, Cagalli was all alone. Not alone in that sense that she was literally alone, but Athrun was not there with her. Yes, he was unconscious, but even if he was conscious, she doubted that given the man he changed to, he wouldn't have even bothered to come and see her.
"Ok, Cagalli, relax and breathe! In and out, yes, that's it!" said Miriallia, encouraging Cagalli and giving examples on how to breath as though she was a midwife. However, the auburn-haired girl was stopped midway when something heavy hit her, causing her to stumble forward.
Miriallia gasped when she realised it was Kyo who had just fell to the floor. The attractive redhead seemed to be unconscious, and indeed she looked really pale like a sheet of blank white paper.
"Kyo! KYO!" screamed Yzak, shaking Kyo by the shoulders in hope that the redheaded girl would arouse and reply to him. The young Jule cursed inside his head, wishing that he could kill Mia Campbell. It was all because of her that Kyo was in this state. even though Kyo had been discharged months ago, the spot where her wound had been was still weak.
"Oh dear, another casualty! What now? Dr. Ishida is busy!" said Dearka, beginning to panic as he saw his platinum blonde comrade cradle his girlfriend apprehensively.
"We're all aware of that, Dearka! Now get a hold of yourself! I know who can help Cagalli, Aunt Suzanne!" said Lacus brightly, sponging Cagalli's forehead as she pushed hard.
"I'm not too sure about trusting Aunt Suzanne with this. You know her age, she's not very young at all. Anyway, I think Cagalli'd do fine with you around, Lacus. Now we've got to help Kyo," said Miriallia, turning to face Yzak who was carrying an unconscious Kyo in his arms.
"Ow! Aaaaaah! Athrun!" screamed Cagalli once more, a new stream of fresh tears cascading down her rosy cheeks, which were now bathed in her sweat.
"Cagalli, conserve your energy, don't shout any longer! I know how much you want Athrun to be by your side right now, but you know that's impossible! Relax, breathe, focus and do your best!" said Kira encouragingly, placing his hand on Cagalli's trembling shoulder.
"I'm bringing Kyo down to the medical unit! The nurses might be able to freakin' do something!" said Yzak, rushing out of the bedroom, Kyo lying bridal-style in his arms. Dearka tagged along as Miriallia had instructed in case Yzak needed a hand with anything.
"Ow! It hurts badly! Somebody help me! Aaaaaaah!" exclaimed Cagalli as she pushed with all her might when the contractions hit her.
For some reason, Cagalli felt frail and exhausted. She had absolutely no strength left to push any longer. She wanted Athrun, she wanted him to be there to hold her and encourage her, but what Kira said was true, Athrun couldn't possibly be there to help her right now.
"Cagalli you can do this! You know it!" said Miriallia, holding Cagalli's hand while Lacus went to change the water being used to sponge Cagalli's forehead.
The room door burst open again, this time letting an anxious looking Lord Uzumi into Lacus's bedroom.
"Cagalli! How're you? You feeling alright?" asked Lord Uzumi, crouching down beside his adoptive daughter and taking her other free hand and squeezing it as the blonde Orb Princess pushed again.
"Father, I'm scared! I can't do this! I can't!" said Cagalli pushing once again with all the strength she could muster.
"Yes, you can! Now do your best, think of the joy you could receive when your baby is born!" said Lord Uzumi, shaking Cagalli gently, and kissing her gently on the cheek.
"Cagalli you're doing well! You're almost there! I can see the baby!" said Lacus, peering in-between Cagalli's legs.
"For the sake of my beautiful baby, I'm willing to push myself to death!" Cagalli thought to herself, squeezing Miriallia and Lord Uzumi's hands as she screamed out pushing as hard as she could.
Cagalli fell back onto her pillow breathing, for a moment she saw black before the cries of a baby echoed throughout Lacus's bedroom, bouncing off the walls. Realising the baby was not fully born yet, Cagalli gave one last push before Lacus slowly guided the tiny bundle of joy out with a towel.
"Well done Cagalli!" cheered Kira, crouching down beside Miriallia and smiling warmly at his exhausted blonde sister, who was just glad that the entire ordeal was over.
Lacus proceeded into the bathroom to wash the baby clean.
"Oh my gosh! It's a boy! And he's so handsome!" squealed Lacus as she came back out of the bathroom, cradling the crying newborn in her arms.
The pink-haired girl handed the baby boy to it's mother who cradled it gently in her arms, cooing softly as she bonded with it.
Indeed, the baby was a boy, and my, was he ever so handsome. Somehow, he just reminded Cagalli of Athrun, he was probably the splitting image of Athrun when he was a baby.
The baby was a rosy shade of peach, just like Cagalli's skin tone. The baby also had a tiny tuft of blue hair on it's head and gorgeous emerald eyes, Athrun's eyes. Miriallia couldn't help but gasp and ogle at the adorable bundle of joy.
"He's an angel, Cagalli. I guess I'm a grandpa now, eh?" said Lord Uzumi laughing merrily and gazing down at his grandson, who was now suckling contentedly from Cagalli's breast.
"I'm proud of you Cagalli," said Kira, gazing lovingly down at his twin sister who just smiled back, her eyes filled with tears of joy.
A/N: Mabuhay! Kamusta ka? Ok sorry, that was just a tiny bit of tagalogue for those of you who are filipinos or filipinas. But I'm not from Philipines though, I'm from Singapore! Anyway, sorry for typo errors and pls review!
In the next chapter: Yzak is extremely worried upon hearing that Kyo's situation has to wait while Dr. Ishida deals with Athrun, and the young Jule goes after Mia Campbell in search of revenge. Cagalli spends most of her time with her baby, however, she decides to bring the baby, whom she has named Aaron Zala, down to the medical unit to visit Athrun. Will Mia stop her again? Also, Athrun wakes up, nut he has changed again, how will everything go?
P.S: This may be the last chapter I will upload for a stretch of time, as I will be migrating to New Zealand on 4th Jan 2006, and things are really busy at the moment, sorry to keep you guys waiting! But do not worry, I will update as soon as I can!