(AN): Thank you to all who reviewed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Promise Part One

Onogoro Castle

Ballroom

"I'm sorry Lacus…I have no regrets…at least you will be alright…" Kira told himself as he was able to stand no more.

Kira released his grip on his sword and fell a little to the side and then straight on his back down the podium stairs stopping at the bottom.

The crowd let out a small noise, but they were frozen. Lacus watched everything the room was totally silent and after he came to a stop all that could be heard was the sound of her anguished scream of hurt that she was no longer able to conceal. The crowd was mostly frozen with the acceptation of Mu running towards the podium.

"The King is hit!" a royal guard shouted. As the royal guard instantly started circling around the King and looking for the assassin.

Lacus couldn't control her emotion she was frozen she tried several times to stand but her legs would not work, Lacus used her arms and basically crawled over to Kira.

Athrun and Cagalli were in a state of shock until they saw him fall, Cagalli nearly lost it like Lacus, she put on a strong personally but that was her twin brother, losing him would mean losing a part of herself. Athrun held on to her tightly as they quickly moved over towards the podium. Via was in worse shape as it was her son she had a cascade of tears going down her cheeks but she was almost frozen, she could not take it if he died. She very wobbly walked over only to meet with Athrun and Cagalli, and they walked a little down the stairs.

Lacus was finally able to make it over to Kira, panic and fear was in her face, but when she reached him she found him still awake. His hand was shaking a little as the blood was coming out of his wound. The arrow was still stuck inside his chest area. Lacus couldn't take the emotion, she could be strong at a lot of things, but this is one thing she could not take.

She took Kira's shaking hand in her own and she felt him relax a little at her touch. She buried her head into his neck area until she knew she had to do something; she quickly raised her head and looked into his eyes as she found his looking into hers.

Finally Mu was able to make it through and saw the shape his King was in. Mu cursed himself, but know was not the time. The crowd was losing emotion as Mu looked at the royal guard, as if they didn't know what to do.

Mu glared at them angrily, "What are you standing around for, I want this castle locked down, nobody is to leave, do the same for the city no one will get out of here. Search everything and everyone until the assassin is found." Mu shouted at them angrily.

Mu wasn't done, "Get the royal physician in here, he is still alive."

The guard quickly went into action as they did what Mu said. The guards started locking everything down, they started blocking all exits, and they started getting the crowd back.

Mu looked down in horror, it was his King and he failed. Mu knelt down and Kira saw him and found a little strength to speak.

George and Flay watched in horror as that was not supposed to happen. Jibril was even a little angrier, but his plan would still work out. Jibril looked over at George and he quickly saw George and Flay focused on the sight of the podium and he quickly slipped the letter into a part of Georges garments and he slowly slipped away from them knowing that the crowd was focused on something else at the moment.

As soon as Cagalli and Via got towards Kira they were relieved to find him awake, but they saw the wound and it was critical. They wanted to get closer but Athrun decided that Kira would only really need Lacus up there and they agreed. Nicol made his way through and saw his friend's condition. Murrue got through and went over to Via.

The guards were holding them back but Siegel and Eileen watched in horror. The siblings saw what happened, but Eileen asked Mear and Miriallia to take them towards the back as they didn't want them to see it. Siegel held Eileen as she broke down, she felt Kira was perfect for Lacus and know Lacus was hurting gravely. They watched but they couldn't really see anything.

Kira looked up at Mu's blurred vision and tried saying something. Lacus and Mu tried to hear.

"Ba…bal…Balcony!" Kira finally got out.

Those two were the only ones who heard it and Lacus remembered the balcony as well, but she kept her eyes on Kira. Mu however looked up and saw the person he hated most smiling at him. Rau didn't even try to conceal his presence. Mu felt his anger boil as Rau quickly booked from the balcony, Mu knew he would not get away.

Mu quickly looked over towards Athrun and Nicol, "Stay with them and don't move!" Mu shouted as he removed his sword and quickly ran out the doors shouting some orders as he did.

"Keep everything locked down, and don't let anyone leave yet, and get that doctor in here!" Mu shouted as he disappeared.

Lacus and the rest of them watched Mu disappear, but Lacus quickly turned her head back at Kira. The rest of his family was their as well, but they gave him the room and the time with Lacus as his wound seemed critical.

Lacus looked into Kira's eyes who seemed be looking into hers, she was hurting gravely, but she knew she would be no help to him if she completely lost it.

"Listen to me Kira, I need you to hang on, focus on me," Lacus told him as she looked at his wound, she didn't want to remove the arrow, but she used her own hand and placed it around the arrow trying to stop the blood as best she could.

Kira's eyes were opening and closing, he was struggling to stay awake, Kira had absolutely no regrets for what he did for her, but he didn't want to leave her either.

Lacus held his hand a little tighter as Kira gave her a small smile.

"You made me a promise Kira, and I know you will never break a promise to me…you have to stay here with me," Lacus told him.

The crowd watched as none resisted the royal guard moving them to a distance. The guard was doing its job well, as they had the castle completely locked down, everyone who was in the ballroom was still in the ballroom. The guests watched in concern and sadness at the sight they were witnessing.

Lacus watched as Kira was overtaken by more pain as he was struggling for breathe. Lacus once again couldn't control her emotion and her tears fell. Lacus looked at his wound and she saw the pendant that was once concealed was now near his wound. Lacus looked back into his eyes.

At this point the royal doctor had finally arrived in full escort by the guard that went to retrieve him and he was moving quickly to the fallen King.

"Remember Kira, we are going to get married, this was going to be our life to share with each other." Lacus said as Kira was overcome by pain again.

Kira saw the pain in her eyes and held her hand a little tighter, and he used his strength to move his other free hand up and placed it on her cheek as he moved a few tears that were falling down. "I…I…will be with you…Lacus," Kira said as he used the last remaining strength and passed out.

Lacus looked as his eyes shut and her emotion couldn't take it, "I love you…you can't leave me alone," Lacus cried out as she rested her head once again on his chest.

Cagalli lost it as well as Via, Athrun was starting to overcome and he walked ever so closer to his fallen unconscious friend as well as Nicol, they just had to see.

The crowd lost it as they thought their King was gone.

The doctor finally made it through the crowd and he quickly knelt down to check the fallen King.

"Please My Lady, I must check him," The doctor said as Lacus lifted her head and sat down staring at him.

The doctor started looking at him, the wound was critical, the doctor looked a little closer and smiled. The doctor quickly turned around to look at all of them especially Lacus.

"The King lives, he is still alive," The doctor said as the crowd all watched in awe. Lacus placed a hand over her heart as a sign of relief. Cagalli and Via stopped and looked as well. Athrun and Nicol neared the doctor and both knelt down.

"His wound is in his heart, how?" Athrun asked.

The doctor quickly looked at him, "No my Lord the arrow is pierced just below it, from what I can tell right now nothing major was hit, but this is only my observation."

"So he will be alright?" Nicol asked.

The doctor looked at him, "It is way too early for that, and even if nothing major was hit his life is still in danger."

The doctor looked closer at the arrow and he saw the pendant, the doctor looked closer and saw a mark towards the bottom of the pendant.

The doctor looked at Lacus, "You might have just saved his life My Lady."

Lacus was looking at Kira but when she heard that she looked at the doctor.

The doctor smiled, "It appears his pendant was moving when he ran to get you out of the way, and the arrow just barley grazed it and moved its direction just enough, if this wasn't there I can tell by the angle it would have instantly killed him."

Lacus was glad but she was more worried about Kira.

"What is next doctor?" Athrun asked.

"We need to get him to his chambers, and I need to remove the arrow and check his wound for any extra damage, I won't lie his life is still in danger." the doctor replied.

"Then we will waste no time, let's get him to his room." Athrun said as he signaled the royal guard to help him.

"Shouldn't we place him on something general?" a guard asked.

Athrun looked at him and the doctor.

"I really don't want to waste time just keep his body elevated, I really need to get that arrow out." the doctor said.

Athrun looked at Nicol, "Make sure everyone follows Mu's order, I will go with him."

"I understand, get word to me if there is any news," Nicol said.

Athrun nodded and looked over at Cagalli, he could tell she was still a wreck, but he had to help with this first. Athrun gave the signal and six members of the royal guard gentle picked up there King and started leading him out of the ballroom, the crowd was extremely worried as they saw him being carried out but they gave him plenty of room. Lacus got up with them as well and never left his side, she didn't look at a thing as they were all lead out, and her only concern was Kira. Athrun watched and he looked back at the podium to see Kira's sword still impaled in the podium. Athrun walked up and removed it from the ground and placed it on Kira's seat.

"I know you will hold it again my friend," Athrun said as he walked over to Cagalli who immediately embraced him.

Athrun looked at her, "Come on lets go," Athrun said as he started leading her out. Murrue tended to Via as she was still a mess, but Murrue actually was worried about Mu, know one really saw what he was after, but she could tell he was most angry with himself.

All four of them left not long after Kira and Nicol immediately returned to locking down the ballroom, and no one left. Nicol did feel anger as what happened to his friend but he had to stay coolheaded as he needed to look after his task.

George and Flay watched the whole event and Flay was extremely angry but so was George.

"Daddy, its all over, whoever was supposed to do this job screwed up," Flay said.

George was angry with no King his dream was over and so was his estate as he was nearly broke.

"It's not fair daddy, I can't be Queen know," Flay started whining.

Georges glare at her instantly shut her up as he was in no mood.

Jibril was no where near George anymore, he was angry Rau failed, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing for his goal so he decided to wait it out.

Onogoro City

Right after Mu saw Rau, Rau knew his task was complete, it didn't matter to him that he struck the ORB King; it was all the same to him, actually a little easier for his goal. Rau watched as the King fell and then he watched as Mu rushed towards him, after they started talking Rau decided to make himself fully visible so he could be seen. After the short conversation Mu turned around and Rau smiled as his eyes dead locked Mu's. He saw the anger in Mu's eyes and Rau quickly ran back into the balcony area and through the curtain, Rau ran as fast as he could with the crossbow still in his hands and as soon as he got to the stairs he went down them.

Jibril's subordinate was aware of what went on, but before he could question him Rau struck him hard with his fist knocking him to the ground. People who were out their watched him as he fled and some of the guards members out their drew their swords but it was all in vain as Rau was easily able to get past them, Rau got outside the castle and ran for the gates the guards blocked his way but he threw his crossbow straight at them as they were hit and one fell to the ground, the other charged him but Rau ducked his thrust of the sword and connected with his fist to the back of his head and knocked him to the ground.

Rau got out of the castle and headed straight for the place he left his sword, as soon as he reached the place he got his sword out and smiled, but as he heard a voice behind him he smiled.

Onogoro Castle

Kira's Chambers

The doctor was inside the chambers working on Kira with a few other doctors that were called in. They even ordered Lacus out of the room so they could work fully. Lacus was outside the room with Merna who immediately heard what was going on and rushed there. Murrue was with Via, and Athrun was with Cagalli, all were waiting for the news, and they had been in there for a long while.

Merna looked at Lacus, who she could tell was overtaken by fear.

Murrue consoled Via the best she could but that was still her son so she was worried.

Athrun held on to Cagalli while she was worried as well.

They were waiting as patiently as they could, and the doors had finally opened.

Onogoro City

After Mu saw Rau he gave his final orders to the guard and removed his sword to chase after Rau. Mu was extremely angry with himself, that arrow should have been for him, he would have easily of taken it and for all he knew his King and friend was dead. Mu got out of the ballroom and a few guests pointed in the direction Rau went and Mu went as quickly as he could, he got out of the castle and saw the gate guards either wounded or knocked out.

"Where is he?" Mu demanded to know as he looked at the guards.

"He went that way sir," the wounded guard said as Mu didn't care about taking anyone with him, this was far too personal a fight and he finally wanted this man gone. Mu left in the direction that was mostly a one way road. Mu's anger was starting to take over as he ran. As he kept going Mu finally arrived at the spot where he saw Rau. Mu watched as Rau picked up his sword. Mu stopped directly behind him.

"It ends today," Mu said as he gripped his sword tighter.

Rau smiled and slowly he turned around and laughed.

Onogoro Castle

The doors finally opened and all looked on as the doctor finally walked out. Lacus was very terrified of the news.

"How is my son doctor?" Via asked as she was afraid of the news.

The doctor looked at her and then to Lacus, "We were able to remove the arrow, his wound showed no sign of hitting his heart, or any other organs."

There was a sigh of relief to most.

"So he will be alright then?" Cagalli asked.

The doctor looked at them, "I cannot tell you that yet, we have repaired the damage as best we could but his blood loss was significant."

"What does that mean?" Cagalli shouted as Athrun had to calm her down.

Lacus couldn't take it, "Will he live doctor?" she asked as she could feel the emotion over take her again.

The doctor looked at her, "I can not say at this point, we did all we could for him, it is up to His Majesty's own strength at this point."

Lacus closed her eyes.

Cagalli was starting to go crazy.

"If he makes it through the night he should be able to make a slow but full recovery," the doctor said.

Lacus looked at him, "Can I stay with him?" she said more as she was going to no matter what than a question.

The doctor looked at her, "I think that would be best." he said as he and the rest of the doctors walked out.

Lacus couldn't look at the others as she walked in and the guards standing outside closed the doors behind them.

"I believe he will make it," Athrun said as the doors closed.

Cagalli smiled at him, "So do I."

Via and Murrue said nothing, and all were not going anywhere as they would wait the night right outside the door but they wanted to leave Lacus alone in there, if anyone could get him through this she could.

Lacus walked into the room and saw Kira lying on the bed; his wound was bandaged as the doctors really did a good job. She saw he was still not awake and she sat down next to him on the bed. She saw on his chest he still wore his pendant and she clutched hers with her hand. She knew he would not leave her and she would do everything in her power to bring him back. She gripped his hand in her and laid her head on his shoulder. She would not let him go.

To be continued…

(AN): The next part should be up later today, it will contain Mu's fight, George gets searched, and Kira's fate. Bye for now.