The World Falls Away
Chapter 9: New Faces, New Friends
By: Jen "the Stampede" Motou
We walked with the two new faces to the group –Shinn and Mayu Asuka- back to their grandma's – I think that's what they said- estate. Mayu – the younger sibling, a small girl with long brown hair - its color much like my own- was holding my hand tightly as she walked between her brother and myself. Her other hand was tightly clenched in his, as she giggled and smiled up at us. Athrun was walking to my right, while Tolle strolled behind. I was quite pleased to meet such kind people in a colony that wasn't neutral. "There it is! There it is! We're home! We're home!" She shouted playfully releasing my hand to pull on her brother's –it almost looked instinctive. "Come On Shinn! Come Oni-chan!" She giggled and pulled him along. He almost feel forward from the fell forward from the force of her, and grocery bag in his left hand nearly slipping out of his grasp. I reached over and snagged it suddenly, almost catching it, as he was drug towards the small house. His crimson eyes wide and raven locks askew he turned –almost pleading- and shouted back to us. "Little help?" he chirped as his sister continued to drag him along.
Athrun chuckled at the sight, while I felt my lips curve into a smile. I was now standing on the doorstep as the youngest of us opened the door and poked her head inside. "Grandma! We're home! We brought friends!" She cooed tugging her brother through the door. We all piled in and stood in line, -military protocol was ingrained in us by now. A small woman, with gray white locks and wild rose eyes came into the room and looked us over. "Oh my, you did bring friends. And who might these young gentlemen be? Shinn?" He looked at her with an innocent look and pointed at his sister aft wrenching his arm free of her grasp. "Don't look at me. It was her idea!" He shouted in a defensive tone. "I see, I see." She chuckled and approached us. She looked us and smiled. "They seem like good people. Good Coordinators." –I suppose Tolle was hidden behind us- Shinn and Mayu both gasped at her comment and Shinn even glared at her. "Grandma! Don't make that kind of assumption!" He snarled at her, glaring all the while. "Oh calm down Shinn. Excuse me but we Coordinators just have a kind of look to us. Don't blame me if I can tell!" she glared back. I chuckled lightly and sat a hand on Shinn's shoulder. "It's OK. Athrun and I are indeed, Coordinators. However Tolle…" "Isn't." his grandmother piped in. She crossed her arms glaring at Shinn and myself. "Oh don't you worry I could tell. Just like all of Mayu's Natural friends. Don't worry its fine. Just remember this isn't your ORB." She said rather coarse tone and left. "Sorry about that. She's a rather hardcore supporter of the war." Shinn attempted to apologize. Mayu stood with her arms crossed, and stormed away in a fuss. "Why does she always have to be so mean!" She shouted as she stormed away. Shinn laughed nervously he seemed embrassed of something- their behavior maybe- and then motioned for us to follow. "Come on, you guys can stay with me. My room's this way."
We all entered his room –messy as it was- finding places to stand until he smiled and told us it was Ok to set down. He took a seat on his bed while Tolle sat down on the floor and I sat down next to Shinn. Athrun had placed himself leaning against a wall. We all stayed silent for a while until Shinn spoke up, his words cracking the silence in two. "So you guys…I don't mean to pry…but.." "You're from ORB I take it." Athrun cut in rather suddenly. Shinn paused and stared at him, "Um, yeah. My family –Mayu, Mom, Dad, and I- we live down in ORB on Earth. We live in the homeland. We were going to move to Heliopolis but after it's collapse, that was out of the question." He said rather grimly looking down. I felt my eyes drop when he said 'Heliopolis' –remembering my former home's collapse- "I see. So you and your sister—You're both neutral I take it." Athrun carried on, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Shinn's eyes stayed dropped. "Yeah, that's right. My family really wants nothing to do with the war. We don't see a point in it. I mean with my mom and sister being Naturals, and dad and I Coordinators...it'd be like fighting in the family…."he paused. "So what about you guys? Are you soldiers?" he asked looking up, anger filling his crimson eyes. "That's right. We're all soldiers." Athrun spoke rather calmly and I don't understand how he could, however you could easily see the mixed emotions come over Shinn as he spoke. "We're soldiers, fighting in a pointless war. We have been bound to duty because of our family and friends. It's something we want to protect." Athrun finished. "That's right. Shinn, I …well Tolle and I, we're from Heliopolis. We were there when it collapsed, however even though we have neutral ideals much like your own, we're still willing to fight for them." I added.
His eyes went wide as he screamed "But how do you choose sides! How can you kill the otherside without even flinching! Naturals or Coordinators we're all the same! How can you guys just join ZAFT, and he the Earth Forces and still call yourselves friends!" Athrun's and my own eyes dropped as he spoke. Tolle had no idea of the situation. I guess this was a good as time as ever to tell. I sighed, my eyes staying dropped. "You see, that's the trick. A Coordinator I may be, but ZAFT I am not." I sighed again, and I felt Athrun's eyes on me. "I am part of the Earth Forces, not ZAFT." Shinn's eyes went wider than before and he stared at me with the most confused look I've ever seen. "How! How can you do that? Coordinators are your own kind! But yet, you fight them! You're killing your own kind!" I said nothing and looked away, shame filling my being. I knew it was true but it couldn't be helped. "Kira, fights for his kind. His friends are his kind, Coordinator or not." Athrun looked Shinn the eyes with a grim but slightly optimistic look. "I see." Was all he said.
A few days Later
We all shook Shinn's hand one by one, and I gave Mayu an affectionate hug. "See you Guys!" she cooed, as she hugged us all. "You're a good man Shinn. Good man. I hope you guys get back to ORB safely" I said giving him a firm hand shake. He smiled and nodded to me. "Be safe you guys. Thank you." He said as he turned and left. "BBBBBBBYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEE" We could hear Mayu and Shinn shout –her louder than him- as we walked away. We soon turned to each other –Athrun and I- and he pulled me into a tight embrace. "See ya Kira. Love you." Athrun spoke. "Love you Athrun, See ya." I said in return as we parted ways once more.
To be Continued…..