(AN): I want to thank all who reviewed.

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

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Manipulating

Messiah Castle

Rau arrived back at the capitol of Messiah a little late in the day. Rau rode into the castle gates knowing all to well what the Emperor would do. Rau got off his horse and walked into the castle. Rau made sure that his presence was known to a certain few so they would report it back to Andrew. Rau was going to make sure they knew everything so it could go back to ORB.

Shiho and Meryin were aware that he had arrived back; after he disappeared a few days ago no one was able to say where he went. The Emperor was not even aware he went to ORB as he was busy with his own obsession of trying to conquer ORB.

"Think we should inform Andrew?" Meryin asked.

Shiho looked at her, "Let's wait and see if we can figure out where he went first."

Meryin agreed and they went back to their work while keeping their ears open.

Castle Hallway

Rau walked in and was heading to the throne room to inform Gil of the events when he saw Azeral appear out of nowhere. Rau smiled as he knew Azeral would find out he was back. Rau decided to hear what he had to say. Rau walked straight up to him.

Azeral looked at him, "Is it done?"

Rau looked at him, "I missed the target, but hit the ORB King."

Azeral looked shocked, missing the target was not good, but this could prove better for his and Jibril's plans.

"What about the money?" Azeral asked.

Rau smiled, "I seem to have forgotten it."

Azeral grew a little angry, "You forgot it! That was enough to keep us funded for awhile."

Rau smiled, "It doesn't matter, the ORB King is probably dead and that is all that matters." Rau said as he started walking away.

Azeral grabbed his arm in anger, "I am running this operation not you, what I say goes!" he shouted.

Rau grew annoyed of him and instantly latched on to his arm causing Azeral to scream in pain, Rau drew his sword and placed it to his neck, "I grow tired of your yelling, and of you."

Azeral started shaking in fear.

"You can do nothing without me so I suggest you watch your tone from know on," Rau told him as he squeezed his arm harder.

Azeral cried out in pain and agreed, "Alright…alright I understand."

Rau released him and he fell to the floor, Rau didn't even bother to look at him as he continued off to the throne room.

Azeral watched as he left and knew he had to be a little more cautious around that man.

Rau continued walking until he reached the throne room doors; since it was the evening hours he knew Gil would most likely be in there trying to figure out how to get into ORB and Rau knew he had him right where he wanted him.

Throne Room

The guards opened the doors to the throne room and Rau walked in. Gil was sitting on his throne with a hand to his face as he was stressed from all the planning. Gil heard the doors open and looked at who was interrupting his thoughts, he looked and saw the man he was trying to find walk into the room with a smug look on his face.

Rau saw Gil look at him and he knew it would be easier than he thought. Rau walked up to the throne and knelt down. "I bring urgent news sire," Rau said.

Gil looked at him, "Where have you been, especially at a time like this, my general just vanishes while I am planning an invasion, I should severely punish you."

Rau smiled but didn't look up yet, "Forgive me sire, I went to ORB for a little contract job."

Gil heard that and stood up, "What do you mean you went to ORB? You could have blown everything!"

Rau looked up, "I believe you will be satisfied with what I have to say sire."

Gil sat back down, "Continue."

Rau smiled, "I received a message from the same man that wanted that slave Queen captured, and this time he wanted her gone for good."

Gil grew interested.

"I accepted the contract and went to ORB to complete it," Rau said.

Gil looked at him, "You go and do something like that without informing me."

"You were to busy with the planning sire," Rau replied.

"What were the results?" Gil asked annoyed.

Rau smiled, "I missed her, but I hit the ORB King straight on, he is most likely dead."

Gil stood up again, "You hit the King, you fool he will without a doubt strengthen there forces and we will no longer have surprise, they may even attack us!" Gil shouted at him.

Rau smiled again, "Think about this sire, with the King gone their forces and people will be without a doubt distraught, this is the perfect chance for you."

Gil grew silent.

"I did this for you and the invasion sire, I do everything for ZAFT." Rau told him as he knew Gil was taking the bait.

"They could also be more motivated, and strike us harder," Gil told him.

Rau looked at him, "That won't matter sire, they will be blind with fury they will not be able to attack us correctly, now is the time for us to attack."

Gil sat back down and thought about it, he was angry that he went behind his back, but what Rau said was also the truth.

"You have a good statement and point…we will try it your way, but I want to do this in one strike, we will gather all our forces and strike them where we did a while ago and that is the Scandinavia border." Gil told him.

Rau smiled, "One more thing sire, I want your authority to do something that will strengthen our attack."

"Go ahead," Gil said.

Rau explained what he wanted to do.

Gil smiled as he heard what Rau said.

"Very well I will grant you permission, I will call a council meeting and start our planning, in the mean time send out messengers to all the squads around ZAFT, I want all of them, and we will succeed," Gil told him sternly.

Rau smiled and stood up, "As you wish My Lord," Rau said as he walked out knowing it was too easy to get Gil to change his mind, but it all worked out.

Gil watched him leave and smiled, he was pleased and sure everything would turn out in his favor.

Onogoro Castle

Kira awoke the next morning to find that it was still dark out; he smiled as he saw Lacus snuggled up to his side. Kira smiled and kissed the top of her head gently as he recalled the events that took place last night. After there conversation with Mu he personally delivered the news to the crowd outside the castle as the cheers could probably be heard all over the city. The people were beyond relief as it was the news they were hoping for. The crowd cheered and chanted their King's name and there was a celebration throughout the night that had just ended. Kira wanted to at least make an appearance but Lacus would not allow it as she insisted he not strain himself. The rest of his family left shortly after Mu knowing they could trust him to Lacus' care, they spoke for awhile like they always did and it was not long after that he fell asleep.

Kira looked down at Lacus' face, and realized that she most likely stayed up as long as she could to make sure he would be alright. Kira looked down at his chest which was wrapped from his wound and it was still causing him a lot of pain. Kira blocked it out by putting his mind to the storm that would soon approach his Kingdom, and that storm was ZAFT. Kira smiled down at Lacus, and very gently got out of her grasp, but in doing so he started straining his wound. Kira knew if she caught him doing this he would be in serious trouble. Kira got out of her grasp and she only slightly stirred. Kira painfully sat up and slowly got off the bed, it took him a few minutes but he stood up and walked over to the balcony.

He opened the balcony doors and stood in the doorway and started overlooking his city, he would not let what he knew the Emperor would try to do happen. Kira had to start planning for what he would do, but first he decided he would take care of the trouble in the dungeon and he would do that today. The breeze blew in as Kira clutched his chest, but that wasn't nothing compared to the voice he heard behind him.

"What did I tell you about getting up?" Lacus asked sternly.

Kira smiled and slowly turned around to see her hands on her hips and she was giving him that look he loved seeing.

"Ah…don't get up," Kira said softly as he stared into her eyes.

Lacus walked up to him, "Than what are you doing up?"

Kira looked out to the city, "Watching the storm starting to stir."

Lacus looked out and back at him, "It looks like a good morning to me."

Kira smiled, "The storm starts in ZAFT, and I will end it in ZAFT."

Lacus looked at him, "You shouldn't be thinking about this now." She said as Kira wrapped his arms around her, Lacus smiled and returned his embrace making sure not to brush up against his wound to hard.

"I cannot lie down while the Emperor plots our destruction, I have to take care of the nuisances in the dungeon once and for all, and then I will preserve our peace," Kira told her as he slowly kissed her softly.

Lacus shut her eyes and returned it as she knew there would be no stopping him when he was like this.

They slowly departed from their kiss, "I understand, but don't overwork yourself." Lacus told him very sternly.

Kira smiled, "I understand, I will handle this early and come right back."

Lacus smiled, "I know you will, because I'm coming with you to make sure."

Kira laughed a bit as he knew it was impossible for him to deny her anything.

"As you wish My Lady, but I will tell you it will not be pretty," Kira told her.

Lacus looked at him, "I understand, just promise me you won't strain yourself…and not…" Lacus said but Kira cut her off.

"I promise you I will not let it happing again, and I will not strain myself," Kira said as he knew she was afraid he would lose it again.

They smiled at each other and returned to lie down for a few more hours; they got a little rest and got back up. The doctor checked Kira's wound again, and found that it should heal well as long as he doesn't strain himself. Kira finished changing into his royal garments with the help of Lacus, and though she protested him carrying his sword, he strapped it to his side. Lacus as well changed into the royal garments that were giving to her. While she was doing that, Kira gave a guard the order to have the prisoners brought to the throne room for sentencing.

Lacus finished and they both headed to the throne room. Kira wanted to get their on his own, but Lacus wouldn't allow it as she made him lean on her for support.

When they arrived they found that both Athrun and Cagalli as well as Mu were already there. They had a feeling that Kira would do this today.

Kira stopped leaning on her as he would not show any sort of weakness to his people in this room. It was also full of the council members as well as some of the legal people who would normally do the sentencing.

Lacus didn't want him to do this on his own, but she walked in with him keeping just a casual lock on his arm like she always did, but she also did it just to make sure he would be fine. The people bowed as the King approached his throne; Kira nodded to all of them and approached his throne. He led Lacus to her seat which was now next to his, not a throne yet, but that would change later. He helped her sit and than sat in his own seat and awaited the arrivals.

Kira looked up as the door opened and Kira just stared.

Dungeon

Flay like always had still not shut her mouth, the jail guard was all to relieved when the guard sent by the King came to retrieve them. The guard got the word and a few others followed him to the cells.

Flay stopped bawling as she saw them approach and George stood up and looked at them as well.

The guard stopped and looked at both of them, "It's time for your judgment." he said as a few other guards started opening the doors.

George grew angry as they took hold of him roughly.

"Watch it, this is all a mistake and I will have yours jobs when I get out of here," George said as they started leading him away.

The guard opened Flay's cell, "Lets go." he said as he grabbed her arm.

"Let go you brute, I will soon be Queen and I will have your heads," she screamed at him.

All the guards started laughing, "That's a good one, now lets go." he said as they started leading her away.

Flay was wailing and throwing her arms all over the place as they dragged her up the stairs.

The guards lead both Flay and George to the throne room doors and they stopped right in front of them.

George gulped and Flay balled her eyes out again, but she stopping crying and thought she would try to do something else when she saw the King.

The guards nodded to the others and the doors to the throne room were opened.

Onogoro Castle Throne Room

As soon as the throne room doors were opened all watched as both were lead into the room. The people inside and the rest of the city was well aware that they were the ones arrested for this crime. Mu volunteered to be the voice as he was the last time, he had to admit he loved doing this to the Allsters, but this time he knew Kira would not go light. Kira never let his eyes leave them as they approached the throne, George feared for his life, while he saw Flay trying to use her pathetic seduction methods to sway him, but Kira was not showing any mercy today. Lacus two left a lot of hatred for these two people, the target was her but it hit Kira and she would not forgive them for that, whatever Kira had planned for them, she knew they deserved. Jibril made an effort not to show up today, but he knew George would not rat him out, he was not wise enough.

The guards led them to the front of the throne and stopped at the bottom stairs, they forcefully made the two kneel in front of the King and back away, stopping at each of their sides. Kira watched them intently as Mu began to speak.

"George and Flay Allster, you are charged with high treason, attempting to assassinate the King, an act punishable by death." Mu said as Kira told him to say him instead of Lacus; he wanted to get them to trip up.

George and Flay looked up, and Flay with her low intelligence fell into Kira's trap.

"We never wanted to hurt the King, that slave girl…" Flay said as George struck her and she fell to the ground, their arms were free, just as Kira wanted and he knew Flay would screw up.

"So you admit to hiring an assassin to make an attempt on our future Queen, and regardless an attack on her is the same as an attack on the King, and under our new laws you both violated the anti-slave laws again, you attack her because she was a former slave," Mu told them.

Flay just wouldn't shut up, she was surprised her father hit her, but she kept her mouth going.

"I never did anything wrong, she isn't worthy of being Queen," Flay said.

Mu smiled as he knew she was digging her own grave.

George stayed quiet knowing he was screwed.

Mu looked over to George, "You governor were the one to hire ZAFT to get rid of our future Queen, for the reason of her being a commoner and to get your own daughter on the throne," Mu said.

George didn't remember Jibril at all; his mind was blank as he just couldn't think.

"Ridiculous," George said.

Mu glared at him, and pulled out the letter, "I found the letter on you that day of our Kings attack, all the evidence points here so our King may show you some mercy if you come clean, the past attack on our future Queen, and the attempt are all we need to convict you, but how painful your punishment is…will be up to your truthfulness," Mu said as he handed the letter up to Kira.

Kira finally read the letter, and without a doubt that was more than enough.

"What say you?" Mu asked George.

Kira finished reading the letter and looked down at George with a fierce glare.

George gave up, "Yes it is true, I sent for someone to kidnap the girl, and yes when it failed I went to the same man to permanently get rid of her, but it was not to get rid of the King at all, it was only the girl."

Mu smiled, "That leaves me with one question governor, why?"

George looked down, "I can't stand the new laws, those creatures are equal to us now, and most importantly I wanted my daughter as Queen, she didn't have anything to do with these two acts." George said as he was hoping he would by it.

Mu looked at the Kira, "It appears I am done with this one sire."

Kira looked at him, "I have heard enough from him."

George looked at the King, as Kira looked at him.

"I am ready to decide your fate," Kira said.

George gulped.

Kira looked him in the eyes, "Because you came clean, I will grant you a painless death, you are hear by ordered to be executed later today."

George hung his head, "I thought I would be granted mercy."

Kira looked at him, "I did grant you mercy, the death I had planned for you was a lot worse," Kira looked at the guards, "Get this filth out of my sight."

The guards nodded and two of them started dragging him off.

Flay was shocked and started wailing again, "Daddy…you can't hurt daddy!" Flay screamed out.

Mu looked at her, "You better worry about yourself."

Flay stopped bawling and looked at him, "As for you, what do you have to say."

Flay looked at the King, but this time in anger, but Kira didn't care.

Flay just hung her head and said nothing.

Mu looked at her, "This is your second offence in violating the slave laws, and you have nothing to say.

Flay didn't say a word she just started crying again. Mu looked back up at Kira and Kira spoke again.

"As for you, you need not worry I have no plans to execute you," Kira said.

Flay looked at him.

"I can't prove your actions in this attack and though I hate your guts, I believe your punishment will be worse than death." Kira told her.

Flay stared at him angrily.

"From this day forward your noble status is stripped, your family's estate and all your fathers money will be handed to the lower class, you will have to make your own living on the streets, you are now a peasant," Kira told her sternly.

Flay started wishing to be executed, she stated bawling again, and Kira looked at the guards.

"Get her out of my sight, and dump her out by the gate, whatever happens to her out there is her problem," Kira said as the guards did what they were told and dragged her out of their she was throwing her arms everywhere screaming really loud.

Mu watched and he admitted it was quite funny; there was no better punishment for that witch.

After they were gone Kira looked over at Lacus and she smiled at him, she knew he did the right thing.

Kira didn't strain himself to much, but he did what Lacus told him and they both returned to his chambers to rest.

Later that day George was executed in the dungeon, as Kira promised it was not that painful as George was stabbed through his heart with a heated blade. George was given no funeral as people made sure he would not be remembered.

The guards did what they were told and threw Flay outside the gate, she could no longer return to luxury her estate was guarded off, and she had no money, she was terribly distraught over hearing her father's death, and she vowed her revenge. Flay ended up sleeping on a road the first night and even her former nobleman laughed at her. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she vowed to get even somehow.

With that out of the way Kira could now focus on the task at hand and that was what he knew was going to happen, and that was another ORB, ZAFT war.

To be continued…

(AN): I hope you liked this chapter; the next one will be up by the weekend, See you later.