Err...this is a slightly weird, probably ooc one-shot that I wrote a while ago.

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Gundam SEED. Duh. Anybody could've told you that...

Innocence

"Come on Kira!" A happy looking 8 year-old Athrun Zala called out to his slower best friend.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Kira Yamato called back. A little exhausted from trying to keep up with his more energetic friend he sped up slightly, not wanting to get left behind.

"Kira! You walk too slow!" Athrun complained as the less enthusiastic brown-haired boy neared. Kira sighed. Then smiled widely.

"Race you!" And he took off, leaving a very confused Athrun behind. After a second or two, Athrun took off as well.

"You can't beat me!"

- - -

"Told you... you couldn't... beat me!" Athrun panted happily. Kira rolled his eyes.

"Whatever! The only reason you beat me was because you tripped and fell down that hill and you can fall faster than I can run!"

"Not true!" They both laughed.

"Okay, now what did you drag me here for?" Kira questioned. Athrun smiled brightly.

"Look over there!" Kira looked curiously at where Athrun was pointing.

"Huh?" he asked smartly.

"It's gonna be our hideout!" Athrun told his friend happily, still pointing towards the newly built treehouse. Kira grinned, finally joining in on some of Athrun's excitement.

"All the way out here? Cool, I'm gonna go look inside!"

"Wait for me!"

- - -

"Kira."

"Yeah?" It was now six years later. Kira and Athrun were still the best of friends, and they still had their secret hideout.

"My father is sending me to be trained for Zaft." Kira frowned.

"But you're only fourteen! Whey do they want to put you into this war?" Athrun shrugged.

"I don't know. But I'm being sent later today." Kira's jaw dropped.

"What? You're kidding right?" Athrun shook his head.

"No, in fact, I should be leaving pretty soon." Kira sat in shock, not knowing what to say. Athrun smiled sadly. "Remember when I first brought you here?" Kira smiled.

"When I challenged you to a race? And you won because you fell face-first down that hill?"

"Hey! That is not the reason I won!" Kira laughed.

"Sure." Athrun shrugged.

"Why do we even keep coming back here? There really is no reason. And it's falling apart." He added as he eyed the frail wall. Kira shook his head.

"I don't know. Old habits die hard I guess."

"Yeah." They sat in silence for a while, staring out the window. "I have to get going." Athrun finally broke the silence. He climbed out of the treehouse, Kira not far behind. "I guess I'll see you? If you're ever sent into the war I mean." Kira nodded.

"Hopefully that won't happen." Athrun agreed. He turned to go then stopped.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" he exclaimed. He reached into his pocket. "This is for you Kira." He held out a little green and yellow bird. "It's name is Birdy. I've been working at it for a while...just a little present." Kira took the mechanical bird. It looked up at him with bright red beady eyes.

"Birdy! Birdy, birdy?" It chattered away contentedly.

"Thanks Athrun."

"Yeah."

"So...goodbye then."

"...goodbye Kira." They stared at one another for a moment, then Athrun turned and left. Kira turned back and looked at their hideout. He remembered all of his fond childhood memories playing in that treehouse with Athrun. He knew he wouldn't come back.

"Yeah. Goodbye Athrun..." he whispered softly to himself. Slowly, he too turned and left.

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I'm assuming that they're about 15 or 16 in the show, I never heard them say. So for the second half they are 14. Oh, and sorry if I've got any of this information wrong, I haven't seen Gundam SEED Desitny yet, so I don't know if that conflicts with anything I put here. If so, sorry about that! R&R please?