Author note: Thanks to those of you wonderful people that have reviewed and have given me nothing but good compliments. Alas, my story draws to an end, in a few more chapters of course. I know exactly what I'm doing and how it'll end so I'll try super mega hard to lengthen the chapters, but don't quote me on that. Once again, thanks for the reviews and here is yet another installment for you to enjoy (hopefully).

Kira looked to the side and watched as Athrun refused to move his deep emerald eyes away from the television screen, even when it was shut off by Tolle. When he actually did, almost ten minutes later, Athrun covered his face with thick locks of blue hair.

Tolle could feel the tension growing in the room, causing him to feel uneasy. He briefly told Kira that he was going to leave and was answered by a single nod. He quickly left the house and went to go warn everyone important to him that something bad was going to happen. And he was absolutely right.

Not used to seeing such emotions coming from his friend, Kira led Athrun back to his makeshift room and closed the door quietly behind them. The whole time Athrun remained quiet, his eyes cast to the side and his mind seemingly lost in another world.

If he knew his father well enough, and he did, then Patrick Zala was up to something completely insane and cruel. He had seen past the calm mask that his father had worn when he was on the television and the way his eyes glistened at his new idea. The man had a thing for war and fighting, always trying to come up with a petty reason to start such violence. It made him sick to the stomach but he was still his father and that was what made it so hard to digest everything that had been announced.

He felt Kira press lightly down on his shoulders, then the soft fabric of blankets underneath himself. Athrun looked up, his eyes shimmering in the dull lighting of the room, as Kira gently brushed the hair away from his face and whisper comforting words. He shouldn't have to do such things.

"There's going to be a lot of fighting," Athrun spoke blandly, stating the obvious.

"I know..." Kira looked away for a moment, his eyes hardening at the thought of war and the danger all of his friends and family would be in because of it. "But are you willing to fight?"

Athrun looked to the floor and traced the texture of the wood underneath his feet without thought. He had been thinking about the question he knew Kira was bound to ask, the one he had asked, but his mind would not let him come to a decision. He wanted to fight alongside Kira, but he still had friends within the PLANTs, so what about them? Would he ever see them again? Would they be enemies now?

"Yes," Athrun answered, his tone straightforward and emotionless.

Kira was unused to his lack of emotions, but was glad nevertheless. He sat down on the bed beside Athrun and felt his friend place a hand on his shoulder. They met each other's eyes immediately, but the look in Athrun's was something Kira had never seen before.

"Kira, you shouldn't be involved with this. You have to stay here until it's all over and promise me you won't leave."

Athrun let his hand slip off his friend's shoulder as Kira's facial expression twisted into a state of shock and bewilderment. His eyebrows furrowed and then he became upset with the comment Athrun had just made. It was like blasphemy to him. He should have a right to fight in the war too.

"W-what?" Kira finally responded, his voice starting to shake before he gained complete control over it. "Athrun, you know I can't do that! I have to help out, I have to!"

"Kira... this... this doesn't involve you."

"You can't go out there by yourself! I won't let you."

"Please Kira, I-"

Tolle burst through the door again, his face distraught and his arms dangling lifelessly by his sides. He rushed over to Kira and Athrun, eyes hardening with each step he took.

"The PLANTs have declared war on us! They've already bombed a dozen factories and you should see what they did to the neighborhood by Miriallia's house!"

"When did this happen?" Kira asked his friend as Tolle grabbed both him and Athrun by the arms, forcing them out of the bed.

"I don't know, but I'm going to help everyone out."

"We're... We're going too."

Kira and Tolle looked towards Athrun, who had his eyes focused on Kira. He didn't want to sit around and do nothing and he knew Kira would be extremely upset if any of his friends were lost in the fighting. Plus, if Kira wasn't in his sight, he didn't know what he would do.

"Athrun?"

"I said we're going as well." He let a hidden emotion drift through his eyes for only Kira to see. "We have to."

Tolle smiled in appreciation, nodding his head before he left the room once again. There was the sound of the front door being closed as Kira's friend rushed to the aid of those in need, leaving Kira and Athrun to themselves yet again.

"I thought you-"

"I changed my mind," Athrun stated, looking around the room for any weapons, but found nothing. He returned to looking at Kira and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We're going to fight this through, together."

The streets were silent, calm, and dead empty. As the sun slowly abandoned the city where the Mafia ruled strongly, it took with it the warmth that many people needed to make it through another day. Another day filled with hatred, another day of fear, and another day of violence.

It was amazing what one influential man could do in the world of the gullible. How much change he could bring, how many different thoughts he brought forth, and how much hatred and lies he fed to those willing to listen and do what he commanded. It wasn't hard, he didn't even have to try at most times, all he needed to do was keep petty promises and spread fear through his people.

Fear the Mafia known as Orb. Hate them with all your will. Help exterminate them from the face of the earth so their disgusting ways of life and ideas won't spread like a disease. Make your life easier and destroy, destroy, destroy.

His hidden messages and false words of hope and peace worked quite well, and that was what got him here in the first place.

He was proud to say that his ideas where the reason for all the commotion and all the fighting. It meant that people believed in him, believed in his ideas and objectives. But there were those that opposed him, and for those certain people he had a wonderful surprise.

It was time to announce it to his people.

The streets that had once been empty were now filled with people clad in formal attire, all headed for the house where the Don of the PLANTs resided. It was going to be a huge meeting, something that would change history, or so they were told.

Inside, Patrick Zala sat at the head of a long maple table that had been stained a deep red color to match the theme of the room. And that was also red. After all, he liked to think red represented them in some sort of way.

The table was lined with many chairs, most of which were filled already. There wasn't enough room for all those invited to the meeting, so anyone who was left without a seat leaned heavily against a smooth painted red wall, waiting to hear what their leader was going to say just like everyone else in the room.

In a far corner, Nicol watched as the place filled up with people. His father was among those seated at the table, and so was Yzak's mother and Dearka's father, and most importantly, Athrun's father. Nicol had been worried ever since Athrun was announced missing, that and nobody bothered to go look for him. Nicol himself had tried, but was stopped by Yzak who had strict orders to prepare for a long awaited fight between the PLANTs and Orb.

He never liked the whole concept of war, or fighting for that matter. He didn't like to see people killed on such a regular basis and he despised the hate that was draped over them like a heavy blanket. But Nicol, like many others, were promised the fighting would end starting tonight, so the young man was quite looking forward to see what was in store.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Patrick spoke up, his voice carrying across the room and silencing any small conversations that had bloomed. "It is time to talk about the future. The future of our children, the future of you, and the future of the PLANTs!"

A loud wave of cheering washed over the room as their respected Don rose from his seat and gave a light wave to silence everyone again. The clapping that had also sprung up quietened and people waited patiently for what was to come next, their eyes glistening with hope for a better tomorrow.

"People of the PLANTs, I present to you the key to our future!" A small curtain that had stood behind Patrick Zala dropped to the ground as people both gaped in awe and shuddered in fear. "This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Genesis."