I have never seen Gundam SEED Destiny, so Meer Campbell won't have an appearance in my stories until I do. -small smile-

Also, you guys apparently thought something terrible was going to happen to Lacus. -large smile- Sadly no.

Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 12 - 'Happy' Birthday

'Birthday's are happy...right?

You party, eat, and smile...right?

Then why did he seem so sad?'

The Fang battle had been yesterday. Everyone was in really high spirits because of it too. Athrun had some questions though, but he knew Cagalli wouldn't answer them. So he approached 2nd mate, Mwu La Flaga.

"Hey...Mwu?"

The blonde pirate turned around and smiled.

"Hey there! What can I help you with?" he asked in a happy voice.

"Why were we attacked? It's not just because you're pirates...is it?" Mwu's smile dropped.

"I dunno." and he turned away. Athrun knew there was more to it.

"How did Kira know they were coming?" he pressed. Mwu paused for a moment before shrugging.

Okay, now Athrun just wanted to know.

"How'd he learn to climb like he does?"

Mwu shrugged again and Athrun felt his blood boiling. Why wouldn't this guy answer even one question?

"How the hell is Kira even a pirate?" he yelled before he knew what he was saying.

None of the crew was on deck, strangely. No one heard the yell. The question, asked in anger, seemed to hit a nerve in Mwu.

"Ok. You want some answers?" Mwu turned to face him. "Alright then."

He had a weird smirk on. Athrun saw him raise one finger.

"First Question. I really don't know. We've always had ships coming at us for unknown reasons. We're pirates. It happens."

2 fingers.

"Second Question. Kira's always been able to tell when other ships were in the area. Usually we avoid them, especially the navy ships."

3 fingers.

"Number three. The captain knew how to climb like that before I met him. If you want those types of questions answered, go to Cagalli or Dearka."

Finally, 4 fingers.

"And finally..." Mwu took a deep breath. "JUST BECAUSE HE'S NICE DOESN'T MEAN HE CAN'T BE A PIRATE!" It echoed. The crew must've heard it. If they did, no one ever mentioned it.

-

When the ship next docked, it was 10 miles away from the nearest town and the town wasn't even in sight. No one seemed confused except for Athrun and Lacus.

They were even more lost when Kira announced that he, Mwu, and Dearka were going into town...alone. Kira and Mwu left, Dearka paused before leaving.

"Hurry up, alright? This shouldn't take long." he winked before running after the others. The crew started zipping around the ship as soon as they were gone.

Athrun looked around the ship. Lacus seemed to know what was going on now too! He slipped off the side of the ship and into the tall grass without being seen.

-

"Ok...We'll do this without getting caught this time." Mwu said softly.

Kira sweat dropped as he laughed. They were in the bushes, or...behind them actually...whatever. At the moment, the 3 pirates were discussing their tactic. Whenever they stole stuff, Kira would leave a sticker-like object in the shape of wings. That was usually the only way someone knew that it had been the "Freedom" that had stole from them, and not some petty theif.

Kira's eyes flashed slightly and his breathing became silent. Almost like a tiger coming up on it's prey. He flipped around like lightning and shot his hands out, latching onto the neck of the intruder. Mwu and Dearka looked like they had almost wet their pants at the sudden movement. Said brunette blinked and released his prey.

"Athrun?" he asked in surprise as the bluenette caught his breath. "Sorry...there was no harmful intent in what you were doing...but I still attacked you..." he looked at the ground as the others gave him somewhat confused looks.

"Let's...raid the town." Dearka stood up, soon followed by the others.

-

They had so far stolen from 6 houses each and none of them had been caught. Athrun had proved how sneaky he could be and Kira was impressed. 20 minutes after leaving the ship, they were headed back. Kira seemed pleased. (-coughunderstatementcouch-)

Athrun soon became aware of a glow coming from on the ship. Dearka and Mwu smiled at each other and Kira was 'glowing' too. He cheered and ran faster to the ship.

Lights were stung up in the sails, all the roping, and the crow's nest. Brightly colored streamers were also hanging from the sides of the ship and the sails. Kira ran up the ramp onto the ship, boxes (of spoils) under his arms still. He dropped the boxes of stuff and beamed. All Athrun heard (even an hour after they echo ended) was a booming :

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" From the crew.

'It's his birthday?' Athrun wondered.

-

"Kira!" Lacus called about halfway into the party.

Kira turned from his sister, who had been agreeing that this was the best party they'd had yet. There were drinks, both alcoholic and non, and lots of food made by the crew instead of Kira...for once. The twins both received small gifts from the crew too.

"Hey Lacus!" Kira greeted happily.

"Kira. I have something for you!" the pink haired girl smiled.

Athrun looked up from his glass and out of his self-pitying. He hadn't known it was Kira's (or Cagalli's) birthday...but Lacus had? They'd never celebrated his birthday during the year the brunette had spent at his house. How could he have known?

"Really?" Kira's eyes lit up.

She took his hands, placing something in them. The smile on his face...fled. In his hands was a golden necklace. The chain was also gold. The necklace had an unusual weight to it for plain gold. This was rare gold...only found in this particular necklace...

It was the Royal Medallion...Lacus's family's Royal Necklace...

He looked up as his left hand closed over the necklace she'd given him and his right one flew to the necklace around his neck. He looked to her neck, but the one in his hand was definitely hers. Only the necklace he'd made of seashells for her was around her neck.

"L-lacus...why?" he whispered.

Athrun noted his right hand. Dearka, Mwu, and Cagalli were all watching in anticipation. Dearka and Cagalli more than Mwu.

"This is why we met in the first place, right? You went through so much trouble for it...So now I'm letting you have it!" she smiled.

Kira's eyes shook for a moment. He lowered his head to hide his eyes as he whispered...

"Thanks Lacus...I...don't feel to well...I'm gonna go...to my room..." he raised his head to smile slightly at her. "Good-night." he the turned around and proceeded to his room.

Lacus suddenly regretted giving him the necklace. It had obviously cause her friend a great amount of pain for some reason...There was a pause before Mwu smiled.

"Hey little lady." he walked over to Lacus, who looked up at him. "How about a drink?" he held out the cup.

WHAM!

"Ow! Hey!" Mwu rubbed his head as he dropped the cup.

"No alcohol! We're only 16!" Cagalli yelled angrily.

A couple of crew members laughed at him. He scowled lightly at his superior.

"Hey Lacus." Dearka asked softly. "Wanna dance?"

"Sure." she smiled slightly, currently distracted from the problem.

Athrun found his smile hard to find...as he looked at the door to Kira's room...

-

'Where am I?...I-it's so...so bright here...'

The brightness suddenly reversed and became total darkness. A light shown about 20 feet away, glimmering in the vague shape of a cross...or something...

He covered his eyes with his arm to stop the light from blinding him. Once his eyes were used to it's brightness, and it had dimmed ever so slightly, he lowered his arm and looked to the form. Eyes widening, he breathed out one word...

"No..."

A brunette was hanging in what appeared to be mid-air. His arms were out to the side, so he was in the basic form of a cross. His head was down, chin brushing against his chest. His eyes were closed, as if in sleep.

But the horror of the scene...wasn't his position...

Blood dripped from somewhere in his hair on his head, down his face, and fell slowly off his chin. He wore his captain's outfit, but the sleeves were torn off and the basics of the outfit had been torn so that the outfit was merely rags on him. His arms were covered in cuts and bruises...

He scanned the brunette and froze. A dagger...piercing deeply into the very heart of the teen...blood staining the pure white clothing he wore and dripping from the blade...sickeningly enjoying his torment.

Tears welled up in his eyes, to cascade down his tanned cheeks in rivulets...like an endless river...

"No...no no...KIRA!" he yelled in anguish, falling to his knees and feeling like he would sink through the endlessly black floor...never to surface again...

His yell echoed until it reached what edge this abyss had, when it finally came to an end. A red feather floated down from somewhere above, landing next to his right hand, tickling his fingers. He opened his eyes and stared at it for a moment before moving to pick it up.

Just as he had lifted it off the floor, the feather burst into flames, and vanished. He gasped, but could not feel any pain from holding the remaining fire. The cheerfully burning flames flew from his hands, and he watched it as it went.

The fire circled Kira's dead, poised body...and cherry blossoms fell from the sky. It seemed so magical to him...more so if the boy in the middle had been alive...

The flames extinguished, but the petals continued to fall. As he watched, the wounds on Kira's body began to heal themselves...slowly...perfectly...His clothing changed...

He wore a long sleeved white shirt with golden bands at his wrists, white pants with gold bands at his ankles, and a weird over shirt like thing. It was purple, the ends of it's open, short sleeves were bordered in gold, as was the low neck and the bottom edge, which hung down around his legs in the front and back but not on the sides. A brown sash was tied around his waist to hold the shirt and a brown ribbon like object tied the neck of the shirt and hung out beautifully.

All of his cuts had healed as his clothing changed and now it truly seemed he was merely sleeping, the dagger remained poised in Kira's chest...but it dissolved into nothing but dust in the nonexistent wind mere moments later.

If his eyes weren't wide enough, they widened even further when white wings sprouted from the brunette's back...and they were beautiful...

'Wh-what's happening?...'

Lavender eyes slowly opened, dead at first but gaining light...Kira's head rose and he looked directly in the other one's eyes. His lips moved but no sound was made. But the other boy could hear his words...not in his head...but in his heart.

"I hear you..."

Whatever bonds had held him vanished as his wings flapped once, blowing air everywhere and making him cover his face to protect it from sudden dust. When he could see, the other boy was already floating away...eyes closed in simple happiness and content...

-

Meh, Lots of Kira Angst...Next chapter is when...hm...would you call it the 'climax' of the story? -shrugs- It's a big part though. And plays a role in the rest of the story to come, I believe.

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