Chapter8 - Memories

A/N: Revised…

Miriallia got very worried over Cagalli who has been silent throughout the journey home. Athrun kept throwing glances towards Cagalli. She was very quiet and he knew it was not her personality to be quiet. Cagalli on the other hand was having a storm erupting in her mind.

"Cagalli, what happened?" Miriallia asked gently.

"I… I… I am so sorry… I…" Cagalli uttered looking at Miriallia's enquiring eyes.

"I am unworthy of the clan. I have failed." Cagalli said sadly.

"Why and how could you say such a thing?" Miriallia asked.

"I… I'm in love with Zala… I have failed…" Cagalli said in shame.

"What? I see… Cagalli… Don't be so hard on yourself…" Miriallia comforted.

"You would not tell Master would you?" Cagalli asked.

"I would never dream of it! How could you even suggest it?" Miriallia said indignantly.

"I'm sorry Miriallia… I really am…" Cagalli said.

"Maybe we should let him know the truth." Miriallia suggested while Cagalli nodded hesitantly.

"Athrun… We need to talk…" Cagalli said as she dragged him over to her room before he could protest.

"We think that you should know about us." Miriallia said calmly.

"Oh... I'm listening." Athrun replied.

"This dates a long way back." Cagalli started.

Flashback

A seven year old Cagalli woke up groggily. Rubbing her eyes, she changed into a simple white shirt and black shorts. As quickly as they possibly can, the mass of eighty girls assembled at the field.

"Fifty push-ups, now!" Master Yakashi commanded.

"Hai!" they answered. Cagalli finished her push-ups with difficulty.

"Start running until I say stop. If I catch anyone taking a break, I will personally see to her punishment." Master Yakashi said.

"Hai!" they replied weakly. Mud splashed onto her legs as Cagalli ran through the swampy area, several girls were punished for stopping. Cagalli fought to keep up with the other girls.

"Stop!" Master Yakashi hollered.

"Now you will do fifty push-ups again." Master Yakashi said. 'What? Here? In the swamp?' Cagalli thought. Master Yakashi monitored them and spotted some girls stopping just above the mud before pushing themselves up. Walking over, he stepped on their heads, pushing them into the mud. He looked at them coldly and told them to go the punishment room later. Cagalli kept on doing the push-ups. She felt sore all over, her muscles were screaming at her to stop this torture. Cagalli steeled her mind and finished her push-ups. Looking beside her, she spotted a brown haired girl pushing herself up but she was too weak to hold herself up. Letting her strength slip away, the brown haired girl fell onto the mud in fatigue. Master Yakashi looked murderous as he walked over to her.

"You dare stop your work? I will show you the consequences of…" Master Yakashi said.

"I will help her do it if you don't punish her." Cagalli interrupted.

"Fine, you will meet me in the punishment room with your friend here later." Master Yakashi said as he surveyed the blonde. Cagalli started doing the girl's push-ups.

"Lower!" he commanded as he stepped on Cagalli's head, staining her blonde hair and made her face very dirty. Cagalli helped the unknown girl back to their small cottage after the work-out.

"Thank you…" the girl whispered.

"Cagalli and you are?" Cagalli enquired.

"Miriallia." Miriallia replied. Cagalli and Miriallia found out that to their surprise, they slept next to each other. They took out some clean clothes and went to the communal bathing area in the house. They chatted with each other and joked around with the other girls. The girls did not mind squeezing with each other in the medium sized cottage. It had a dull red color for the roof and dirty white walls. It had two floors. The first floor was carpeted and had a large fireplace. The table in front of it was decorated with fresh flowers. The mantelpiece above the fireplace was neatly stacked with books and the shelves along the back had a least a hundred books. Next to the living room was the communal bathing area. The second floor was full of double-decked beds, ten on each side. The girls lived with each other since young and they had strong bonds with each other.

Cagalli and Miriallia made their way over to Master Yakashi's corner. It was a beautiful traditional Japanese house. They knocked the door and went in, their heads bowed down as a form of respect.

"The both of you will do one extra hour each for running, pull-up and push-ups. Both of you will be under the supervision of your leader. Is that understood?" Master Yakashi said.

"Hai." We replied and walked out backwards as form of respect.

Three years later (Cagalli- 10)

Cagalli and her group of friends walked towards the classroom and sat in the front row. Soon, a twenty year old teacher stepped in. She walked to the front and started their lesson.

"Today, you will only have this lesson once so pay attention," She said.

"To kill a person, not only punching and kicking can be used, pulling can also be used." She resumed after scanning the class for students who are not listening.

"Here you see a human skeletal structure, notice the spine? To kill a person when you are without weapons, just flip the person back towards you and move your fingers to the second vertebra and pull. The victim would be paralyzed. Before they die, they would have a sudden contract in their lungs suffocating them. Finally, the victim dies." She said making a demonstration.

"Besides this, striking the Tianling xue on a person's head, would kill him or her immediately."

After that, they swam in one of the island's lake but unfortunately, two of Cagalli's friends, Hanna and Yokoto got eaten by a crocodile there. Hanna tried to save Cagalli from the crocodile which resulted to her own death. Cagalli was devastated and blamed herself. Thankfully, Saito, the most cool-headed one got angry and slapped Cagalli. She shouted Cagalli to her senses.

The next year, Saito and Araiya came down with a very fatal disease. Which they died from it later in April. That very year, Meiyan disappeared suddenly like she never existed. Some say she was trying to escape but was found out and killed. Others claim that she was sacrificed to appease the ghosts of all the other sisters that died during these four years.

Three years later (Cagalli- 13)

Cagalli jogged around the island and waited for Miriallia to catch up. After the push-up incident, they stuck together for four long years.

"Honestly Miriallia, I never thought you were that slow!" Cagalli teased.

"Come on! I was just letting you win!" Miriallia said, while Cagalli rolled her eyes. They argued for a while before resuming their jog. They stopped in front of the large cafeteria, took their food and sat down with the Miyu, Maria and Fae whom they knew for almost all their life.

'It's Saito, Hanna, Yokoto, Meiyan and Araiya's death anniversary." Cagalli thought sadly as she chewed on her food.

"I know that look Cagalli on your face Cagalli." Miyu said.

"I know it's hard but it has been three years already. We have to face the truth. I'm sure Saito and the rest would be sad if we act like that." Fae reasoned.

"I guess you're right." Cagalli said sadly.

Four Years Later (Cagalli- 17)

Cagalli breathed deeply, she tensed upon hearing the rustling of the bushes. Standing stock still, she scanned the vicinity. Miriallia appeared from the shadows, Cagalli felt a wave of relief sweep over her. Although, this isn't the first time she was on a mission, she still felt nervous. She looked around and saw Maria walking. They nodded and Cagalli made a whistle. Fae, who was stationed inside the house itself heard it and knew it was time to make her move. Shoving her Tessen roughly into her sleeve, she made her way towards the target.

Cagalli saw them having a conversation until the man started to make out with Fae. "Horny bastard!" Cagalli mumbled under her breath. Seeing Fae and the man walked out of view, Cagalli moved into the room they are going to. They had it all planned out beforehand. Maria posed as a chambermaid and opened the window earlier on. Miyu acted as the receptionist at the counter so as to stall for time and pick the exact room where they will make their kill. Cagalli went in with ease and hid in the closet which was left open for easy access by Maria. Soon enough, Fae and the man came in. Cagalli saw him grope her butt and a slight flash of anger masked over by surprise on Fae's face. Sweet-talking him into turning his back at her Fae took out her Tessen and got ready to strike him dead. The man twirled around and bound Fae on a chair.

"I knew it, you are one of those bitches who were sent to kill me…" he said softly while Fae looked away.

"I'll be the one killing instead…" he mumbled with malice. Cagalli came out quietly and punched him aside. Freeing Fae, Cagalli went to him and killed him. Before he was killed, he pressed the security button and groups of guards ran towards the room. They cornered the girls into the janitor's closet.

"Cagalli go! I'll take care of them! No matter what happens just run okay? NOW GO!" Fae yelled and with a war cry, she ran out and shot some guards.

"God please protect Fae." Cagalli prayed as she ran out. As she reached the garden, a huge explosion threw her into a tree where she saw Maria protecting a battered Miriallia. Maria looked very hurt with cuts on her arms and a trickle a blood running down from her head staining her gray locks red. Maria looked at them murderously punching many of them. Her rage showed when she lunged at them with such ferocity Cagalli had never known her friend possess.

Fae looked around as she fought the oafs of the slimeball (victim). She gave one of the oafs a flying kick, sweeping one off his feet, she stomped on him. The others approached her with guns as she fought unknowingly. They shot her. She cringed, her face etched in pain.

Maria saw Cagalli and ran to her. She gave Miriallia over to her and told Cagalli to run. Cagalli refused only to be met by a hard nudge in her ribs. "Go! Now before it's too late!" Maria shouted.

'I will protect you my friends!'Fae thought as she willed herself to fight.

Maria pressed the ignition button as she saw Cagalli run to safety.

Seeing more guards appear, Fae knew she could not get out of this tight situation. She hastily pressed the ignition button.

'Goodbye my friends!' She thought as tears trailed down her blood-stained cheek.

End of Flashback

-END OF CHAPTER 9-