disclaimer: I don't own the anime!

sAnGuine

And we know these times will never fade, hold them close,

this moment is remembered forever

CHAPTER 02: A KISS OF LEMON

Cagalli was brought to a laboratory below the ground. This was the base of her attacker, the people who call themselves as Vampire Hunters. She was brought there at around 6 am; the time was too late that her skin had started to ache. Like the old days, their clan had never developed a defense against the sunlight so mornings were their weakness aside from direct attack to their heart and their head.

She was glad that she was brought here, below the ground. In the arms of the darkness she felt safe even though she's alone. She wanted to cry.

No, I would never dare. These fools would only think that I am weak if separated from my family. With these thoughts running on her mind, she decided to find ways to escape. She would prove to them that she could stand by herself. Her conversation with Murrue served as the fuel for this burning desire. I would also prove to her that I can do this!

"I would never forgive myself if something happens to Cagalli since she didn't showed up in the secret tunnel," Murrue said in the general council in a mixed emotion. She is angry and worrying at the same time.

"Maybe she went to the far-off distance to search fro food, or maybe she's safe. There is even a possibility that she didn't knew about the incidence, " Mwu explained.

"Can't you say something rather than maybe, maybe and maybe! Say something concerete, something factual, something that would prove to me that she is safe," Murrue answered.

Mwu became silent but deep inside him, he knows that Cagalli is all right since he didn't feel anytrhing bad for a week now and he trust his intuition.

"We need to have a search group that would locate Cagalli," another elder said

"I'll head the group Dullindal," Mwu explained to calm Murue

"Got you! Kira, could you head the computer system since you are in charge of the intelligence section of the clan, " He then said again as Kira nods. "The mansion has a secret camera. Could you used your knowledge to retrieve the data from here? We could you that to locate their base where they hide Cagalli if she was kidnap. If not, the data could be used to warn her whenever she return to the mansion."

Yzak is the guard on duty tonight. His blood boils when it comes to Cagalli as vampires killed his parents and he couldn't stand seeing her inside the jail, still alive and kicking.

"Hey you? Aren't you going to say anything? Huh, damn vampires!" he shouted

Cagalli just ignored him. She learned to ignore their insults and it made her numb. It's been a week in this jail, she had thought of the possibility of escaping but couldn't even find the opportunity and the right way to do it. She realized that the base was heavily guarded.

Just then, Athrun came with a bottle of lemonade. "Yzak, the Boss needs to talk to you."

"All right. Guard this damn here," he answered and went out.

Cagalli felt happy upon Athrun's arrival. Among them, he was the only person who hasn't said a single terrible word to her, to her kind. Oh come on, that is because he doesn't talk to you. He doesn't talk to your kind! That is even worse than hearing awful words!

Athrun sat at the computer table just beside the jail. As usual, he would research on the high-tech equipment and ways to improve his skills on vampire hunting over the net. Unable to find something new since he was surfing the net for a week now in the same subject. He decided to think about the vampire that is locked up in the cellar. This woman, she made everything so hard for us! Why couldn't she just give the information we needed.

Athrun rested for a while and thought again, Off course! She would never sold her kind! It's been a week though and no reaction from them? She could have been left out. What is she thinking?

He then stood up from the table and went closer to the jail. He pulled a chair and sat in it. "I'm just thinking, do you like lemonade? My mom used to make me one, a freshly squeezed lemonade," he started.

Cagalli was taken aback by his words, is he talking to me?

"You're not deaf are you? You even threaten me when we first met," Athrun answered.

"Why are you talking to me in this way?' Cagalli asked instead of answering him.

"I'm just bored talking with the computer for a week so I thought of talking to you."

"If you're using that tactic to be friends with me and eventually kill me and my people, stop it! It's useless! See?" Cagalli answered still not looking to him.

Athrun merely laugh. The truth is he was surprised at her remarks.

"Would you stop laughing? It's no use since I've had read to your strategy," Cagalli uttered.

"You are interesting, for a vampire that is! You've got s strong spirit amidst the abandonment of your kind!"

Cagalli became silent. Athrun noticing that he didn't have any reply change the topic, "hey you haven't answered my initial question, do you like lemonade? I could let you taste it if you want though it is not that tasty since I only made it," Athrun said and smiled a little.

"I won't. I'm quiet sure you put some strong poison there!" Cagalli uttered

Athrun was laughing again, for the second time, " are vampires killed by poison?" he asked. "I could report it right now to my Boss," he then chuckled.

Cagalli felt dumb, he was right, as even the strongest poison couldn't kill them.

Athrun stared at her when he finished laughing; this was his first time to laugh that hard after the death of his mother. Not only that, this one night had made him twice happy.

"I've only said that to test you."

"Really? So would you took even just a sip from this lemonade if what you said is true?" Athrun asked and offered his bottle of lemonade.

Cagalli stood up and went to his outreach hand that held the lemonade. She take it immediately to Athrun's amazement and drink it all, till the last drop, "there? You're happy?"

"I said just take a sip but you emptied it. So tell me, how does it taste? Did you enjoy it?" Athrun asked and smiled.

Cagalli found herself staring to his eyes with this, she decided to be nice to him, "it's my first time to drink that kind and I say it's quite different, really" she answered looking to him.

For the first time Athrun blushed as Cagalli stared at her. "Thanks! By the way, I'm Athrun," he reached his right hand again and prepares to shake hers

Cagalli stared at his hand, "what will I do with your hand?" she asked. She did not understand that it was a symbol for an introduction.

"Oh?" Athrun then stared at his hand, " well, what I did was to offer my hand so that you could shake it. It means it's a pleasure to meet you and I was hoping you'll do the same," he explained and reached again.

"Really? So Athrun, I'm Cagalli and it's a pleasure to meet you" she answered and put her hand to the space as Athrun shook her hand. They both felt something warm inside, something special. Did they establish friendship? No, it's a lot more special than friendship and they are sure about that.

"But, would you someday kill me?" Cagalli asked as their hands entangled and Cagalli sat at the floors.

Athrun pushed his chair and did the same. " I don't know Cagalli, maybe, because technically we're different. You're a vampire and I am your hunter? You see what I mean?" he asked

Cagalli let out her breath and sigh, "I know but I don't want to hurt you. When the time comes that I'll be on my final look, that is a full-grown vampire who only thought of murdering people, I give you the right to kill me," Cagalli answered.

"Don't say that it makes me sad," Athrun answered.

Unknown to them, all they have done was monitored by the surveillance camera on the room, which Athrun forgot to turn off. It didn't cross his mind because he didn't expected that they would end up this way when he offered her his lemonade

thanks to my 7 reviewer. .you know who you are so there's no need to say it all here. hope you enjoy this!

Ciao! -shadOwCLite