Chapter 12
Just listen to the sounds...

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED or Gundam SEED Destiny in any way.

What I got inspiration was from my One-san Tenshi... She showed me something that of what I thought I was always opposite of. So I dedicate this chapter to her my One-san Tenshi. Arigato One-san!

A sigh was given, as Ichiru looked out a window of Cagalli's house. It was four more days till the big day. She had been having butterflies in her stomach all week. She was grateful that Cagalli offered to let her stay at her house for till the wedding. Ichiru was unsure... She began to wonder what if something went wrong... What if she ran away...

It had been raining what seem like all day. The clouds stretched for miles. It didn't look like it would be letting up anytime soon. Nor did the uncertainly on Ichiru's face. A tear rolled down the side of her cheek. After the first one.. They came more like the rain. Soon a piece of her clothing wiped away those tears, as she continued to look outside. "What am I going to do... I don't know if I can go through this..." she murmured softly to herself.

Slowly standing up from her seat by the window sill, Ichiru walked over to where the wedding dress was. Looking at the white dress, Ichiru just thought it was beautiful.. Snapping her gaze away from the dress as more, tears rolled down her cheeks... Now she walked slowly over to the bed. She climbed upon it's covers and laid down on them. Tears still rolled down her cheeks. She pulled a pillow to her and hugged. Maybe a nap was all she needed...

Eyes slowly began to close, but soon snapped open trying to fight sleep. The soothing sounds of the rain pitter pattering on the roof, had assisted her to sleep. Tears still rolled down her cheeks, till she had cried herself to sleep. The peaceful figure of Ichiru Fanel was now asleep, trying to calm herself, and trying to find what she should really do in her dreams...

Just outside the room two people listened to her. They weren't sure if she was alright or not. They decided not to disrupt her. Slowly a blonde female with amber eyes to looked to a male with navy blue hair and with emerald eyes. They began to whisper to each other about if they should tell the male with brown hair and purple eyes.

"Do you think we should?" the male said with a soft voice.

"No. Ichiru has to decide on her own, not for someone to decide for her," the female whispered just as soft. "You will never understand what a girl has to go through on the last few days before her wedding."

The male was about to open his mouth, but he couldn't think of anything to say. She had a point about that. "Lets go. We won't tell Kira about this," he whispered, before slowly tip toeing away from the room with the person he was talking with. They soon disappeared into the halls.

But lingered inside the room was the emotions of Ichiru. They brought to her dreams of her past. Most of them that haunted her forever. The ones that will never leave her.

- Inside the dreams of Ichiru -

One day when Ichiru was younger, it was hours before the fall of Junius Seven. She was spending the day with Nicol on a different PLANT. They were happy, they didn't worry about war at this point of time nor did they want to be apart of it. Ichiru had forgotten about the male called Kira Yamato and she was now in love with a male named Nicol Amalfi.

"Nicol-kun! Lets go get some food to eat I'm hungry!" Ichiru said, waving her arm to get the boy's attention.

"Uh.. Coming!" he called, running over to her.

Ichiru smiled at him, today was such a good day. Nothing could go wrong. They were with each other.. They were happy together. The day continued on with more wonderful things. They performed at the restaurant Nicol had taken her too. Ichiru played the violin, while Nicol played the piano. They were a wonderful duet together... This wasn't the first time Ichiru had played with Nicol. They had done many small concerts for people that asked them to do one. They had been introduced through music.

Ichiru was staying with Nicol's family for the time being, while her parents were away on business on Junius Seven, but little did she know it would be their grave...

Ichiru and Nicol were in the piano room practicing. "We're getting better Nicol-kun," she stated.

They were going to be doing a performance for a group of people that had asked them to in a few days. They were just tying up some loose ends. A knock was heard at the door. "Come in," Nicol said, looking to his mother, who had tears in her eyes.

Nicol quickly got on the piano bench and went over to her. "Mother! What is wrong!"

"Ju.. Junius.. Junius Seven was destroyed," she said, in between sobs. Even though they didn't have any family at Junius Seven... Nicol's mother knew that Ichiru's parents where there.

Now Nicol quickly looked to Ichiru who was wide eyed. "Mother... Father..." she said softly, before she just fell back to what seem darkness to her. But in reality she had just passed out from the shock. While passed out she heard the sound of the piano. The piano always soothed her... Even if she was crying...

Two days later she had woken up in a room.. A room she seemed to know. There was a sigh of relif by the green haired male. "Ichiru! Are you alright! I've been so worried about you..."

"Nicol-kun... Where is mother and father?" she questioned weakly.

Nicol couldn't answer it. And while he couldn't answer it, Ichiru began to grow worried. She knew her strength wasn't with her, but she sat up. "Nicol-kun ple-" She didn't finish before she was hugged.

"I'm so sorry," he said softly, hugging her.

"Mother... Father..." she said softly before crying in Nicol's arms.

- End of Ichiru's dream -

Ichiru snapped awake. "It was only a dream," she said panting. No it wasn't a dream, but a nightmare from her past. It did give her the answer she was looking for. What she should do. Then rain hadn't stopped yet, nor was it going to. Ichiru had found her answer and now she was going to seek out a person that she knew who was going to understand her.

Ichiru was going out into the rain so she was going to put on a better attire for the weather. Ichiru looked for the clothes she had brought with her. Pulling out a some pants that went to her ankles, she nodded in approval. She took off the shorts she was wearing and put on the pants. Her shirt was just fine. Now she searched for her black jacket and soon found it under a chair. She wondered what it was doing there, but she didn't wonder to much. Quickly grabbing a brush, she brushed her hair quickly and smiled. "There we go I'm off!"

Grabbing her violin case, she ran out of the room. She ran down a bunch a stairs, which she hated so much. Running up them was such a bother and running down them she could've tripped or something. Once reaching the bottom she ran past Cagalli, and stopped. "Cagalli do you got an umbrella?" asked Ichiru, who was sort of in a hurry.

"Huh.. Yes I do..." Cagalli replied, pointing to a vase like thing that held the umbrella.

"Thanks, I'll be back soon!" Ichiru called behind her. Slipping on her shoes, Ichiru was out the door leaving a very confused Cagalli.

Cagalli just blinked. Wasn't Ichiru just crying a hour ago? And where was she going with her violin case. Cagalli didn't want to stop her so she just went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Ichiru ran with her violin case in one hand and the umbrella in the other. "I hope he hears it..." she murmured as she continued to run. Taking a swift turn into a park, Ichiru looked around... He wasn't there. Walking under a tree that shielded her from the rain, Ichiru bent down and began to take out her violin.

Soon music began to flow out of the park. Gentle soft music was carried across the wind and to where ever it could reach. "Just listen... to the sounds of my voice..." she whispered to herself. She continued to play till he came. This was the only way she could think of that would get him to come here and sure enough, it did get his attention.

Walking around with an umbrella over his head, Nicol sighed. He hadn't seen Ichiru since that day at the music store where he was playing the piano. When was he going to see her again? "Ichiru..." he murmured as he continued to walk. His head looked to the ground and kicked a loose stone. It was only a few days left till the big day for Ichiru. Nicol let out another deep sigh.

Soon the sounds came to his ears. He recognized the instrument, a violin. A name came to his mind, Ichiru. Though the sound of the violin was faint to him, he still followed it. Was this what Ichiru meant by, just listen? Probably. Nicol continued to run in the rain. Though it wasn't good for a person to run in the rain, Nicol didn't care at the moment. Stopping to catch his breath, he spun around to look which direction that the sound was coming. "Just keep playing Ichiru.. I'll find you.."

He took off once again, till he heard the sounds getting louder and louder. He knew he must have been getting close. Then just when he thought he was getting somewhere the music suddenly stopped. Stopping once again, he looked around. "Damn.." he cursed under his breath. Just as he was about to give up the music started up again, but now the rain was coming down even harder than before and the people around him were trying to get some cover from the rain. Nicol pushed his way through people and soon came to a park. He was soaked to the bone. He had not put up his umbrella since it would only slow down his running.

Once upon entering the park, Nicol heard it better. "Ichiru..." he said, now running to find where it was truly coming from. Coming to a complete stop, Nicol fixed his red eyes on the person playing the violin. The person was soaked to the bone, the tree hadn't done much protection against the rain, but the person didn't care. Their eyes were closed, as they played the violin. It was just like Ichiru, she was stubborn and she never gave up to easy. Walking forward now the violin stopped and Ichiru opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Nicol..."

"Ichiru..."

Ichiru placed her violin back in the case so it would get anymore wet than it already was. Standing up and looking back at Nicol, she smiled slightly. He listened. "Nicol, would you like to go for some coffee or tea?" asked Ichiru. She knew they needed to talk, and they would talk over coffee or tea.

"Sure. I would like that," he replied, as he walked closer to her.

Picking up her violin case and the umbrella she walked closer to him. "It is good to see you again, nevermind it is just good to hear your voice again," she said smiling slightly. It had been so long since she had last heard his voice... She still questioned herself if that was truly Nicol that broke into her house that day.

"Same. Oh yes... I'm sorry about what happened before, when I broke into your house.. I needed to see you again.." he told her, taking the umbrella from her hand holding it up for the both of them. He wasn't to sure if it was the right thing, but he just want to see her again not from far away, but up close.

"It is okay," she said softly. Ichiru looked around and saw a place you could go get some coffee or tea. They just need some time to catch up with old things. "Look we can go over there," she said, pointing.

"Alright then," he replied, as he led her over to the coffee house. There was so much he wanted to ask her and talk about. He did have a question about Yzak and Dearka. He thought he saw them the other day. They looked quite angry, but he wondered why they were down here. Once reaching the coffee shop, Nicol opened the door for Ichiru and waited till she got in before he went in.

Ichiru smiled. He was still the gentlemen he was before. Looking around, she found an empty seat for two. Walking over to it, Ichiru was followed by Nicol. Once they were seated a waiter came on over and smiled at the two. "What can I get the two of you?" he asked.

"I'll have a tea," said Ichiru.

"Same here," Nicol said. He just didn't liked coffee, maybe Ichiru was rubbing off on him.

"First question. Where have you been? Could've at least told me where you were," she said, looking at him.

Nicol laughed slightly before he spoke about his whereabouts. "Well, I was told I was found on the beach after my mobile suit had been destroyed. I was injured badly and a few more hours laying on the beach I would've been dead. I joined forces with the group that saved my life, but they let me come look for you first."

Ichiru was shocked what he been through. "And... Your probably wondering who I'm with... Right?"

"He looks like a nice guy... What is his name?" Nicol said with a hint of jealously.

Ichiru could always tell when he was jealous because it was so unlike him to be. "His name is Kira Yamato. I meet him before I meet you. He is also a friend of Asuran... And I believe you fought against him many times... Kira Yamato... Is the pilot of the Strike."

If Nicol would've had some kind of liquid in his mouth besides saliva he would've spit it out. "Th-the Strike!" he asked quite confused. "He doesn't look like a pilot."

"When I thought you had died, I had no one left to lean on... He was there. Then I feel back in love.. I hope you can understand."

"I understand of cour-" his attention was caught to a piano that was in the coffee shop. Nicol then looked over to Ichiru. He decided he was going to ask Ichiru if she wanted to do a performance together. "Ichiru, look over there a piano," he said, glancing over to the piano.

Ichiru followed his eyes, and nodded a yes to him. "Just like old times Nicol. Just like old times," she said, smiling at him. Placing the violin case on her lap she opened it up and brought it out. Now she placed the case back on the ground and stood up followed by Nicol. They didn't have their sheet music with them, but they knew how the song they picked went. It was both their favourite.

Once over at the piano, Nicol sat down on the bench and placed his hands at the keys. Now he looked over to Ichiru who gave him a wink to show him she was ready. The song was started by the violin followed the piano moments later. The combo sounded so good. The door of the coffee shop opened as more and more people filled the up the coffee shop.

Ichiru looked out to the crowd and saw no one she knew yet, but probably soon. Her gut feeling was kicking in and knew the people that cared for her would come. "Nicol," she whispered quietly just so Nicol would hear. "Some people that we know are going to be in here.."

To show that he heard he just nodded. The song continued to flow just as softly. Even the heavens from above stopped the rain to her the soft sound of the piano and violin. Minutes past and the song continued, this was a long song even though Nicol and Ichiru hadn't quite finished perfecting it, it was still good.

Then the door opened once more and one female and four males entered. One the males was furious that the silly little girl had found Nicol before he had, but he just enjoyed the song for Nicol's sake. None of the five people had heard Nicol play, except the navy blue haired male. The song soon began to get softer and softer till it just disappeared, and when it had tons of clapping was done.

Ichiru and Nicol hadn't noticed the big crowd before them. Five pairs of eyes caught there attention. Kira Yamato, Cagalli Yula Athha, Asuran Zala, Yzak Joule, and Dearka Elsmen. Ichiru and Nicol soon came off the stage and went over to the five people.

"That was good," Yzak said looking away, not liking the fact that he had admit it.

Kira just looked at Ichiru and smiled. That was the best he had heard her play, then again she had the person that made it sound even better with her. His gaze went to Nicol now. "That was really good.. Umm... Nicol," Kira said. He had almost forgotten his name, though Asuran and Ichiru had mentioned it only a couple times.

Nicol looked to brown haired male with purple eyes. He must've been Kira Yamato. "Thank-you, Kira."

"Well! We must be going," Cagalli spoke up. "There is still some things for the wedding that need to be looked over. Nicol you will come right?"

"Yes Nicol please do, you can bring a few friends if you wish," Ichiru begged.

Nicol thought for a second, it would be kind of weird to see the girl he once loved to be going down the aisle with another guy. Then he thought he was being childish, he should be happy for her. "Sure. I'd like to come," Nicol said, smiling and he knew just the friends he would bring.

"Alright then we should get going then," Ichiru said, looking to Yzak, Dearka, Cagalli, Asuran and then Kira.

The seven people soon left the coffee shop. Once saying their goodbyes six of them went in one direction and one went alone in another direction. Something then hit Ichiru. Were she and Nicol going to play like they just did ever again? Quickly stopping and turning around. "Nicol-kun!" she called out, waiting now for him to turn around. "Will we play together again like that?"

"Only time will tell Ichiru! Only time will tell!" he yelled out, before giving a soft wave to her and turning around to go back walking. He soon disappeared in the sea of people that came out from the rain.

Ichiru nodded her head softly, a tear came down the side of her cheek. She almost jumped when a hand was placed on her shoulder. It was none other than Kira Yamato's. He smiled down at her, as she turned her head to look at him and smile back a him. "And when that time comes, I'll be there to watch the whole thing," he said softly. He turned her around and placed a soft gentle kiss on her lips.

After the kiss was over Kira spoke once again. "Only time will tell my dear Ichiru..."

The End

- cries - So sweet! Well my first fan fiction is over sadly enough, but I am rewriting some of the chapters most of the beginning ones, because I feel that I can do a better job of doing those beginning chapters. Other than that I really hoped you enjoyed, 'Only Time will tell'. Took me a long time to write, but I finished it. Also please check up on this fan fiction to read the rewritten chapters. Also chapter 1 has been rewritten. Well thank-you so much. Please review and tell me what you think of my fan fiction. I promise I will write more fan fictions in the near future!

.Memory.Chobit.