Chapter 18 - Ever Dream, Ocean Soul
The title is two titles of different songs by Nightwish. 'Ever Dream' and 'Ocean Soul,' duh.
'The peace had returned.
So why did I feel so sad?
I felt I had lost something...
Or maybe it was that I was losing something.'
-
The people of Heliopolis paused in their seemingly pointless lives to look at the sea. Something was coming, a ship. It's unpainted wood and white bordering revived nightmares of missing leaders and they felt fear gather in them.
The ship's flag was pure white, and no one was on deck. Their curiosity overcame their fear and the people found themselves walking to the dock. Something seemed to be calling them to the ship...
Standing on the very front of the ship, where it was likely to fall, was a brunette they all recognized. They smiled, seeing a bluenette boy and a pink haired princess behind him on deck. The ship docked and a ramp was let down.
Athrun was the first to leave the ship, followed by Lacus who hugged her father tightly.
"Father!" she smiled. "I've missed you."
"Lacus!" he looked at her gently and caressed her face. "You're alright..." he let a tear escape his eyes.
"Oh yes. Kira took care of us. It was an amazing trip. Everything was a misunderstanding." she smiled reassuringly. "He never meant for the crew to take an hostages, just him."
Siegel Clyne paused and looked up at a boy he had helped care for.
He wore a white cloak with a red underside, on the back was the symbol for Freedom in red. His clothing consisted of a pair of white pants with his name in red kanji on the left lower leg. His shirt was just a normal, white, long sleeved shirt with Freedom written in red kanji on his right shoulder, his first name in red kanji on his left shoulder and (if he took off the cloak) his last name and post in red on the back. (Ex. Captain Yamato...Hmm, I suppose it should be Hibiki, ne?)
Kira looked like a little kid, the way he was hiding behind Athrun. It seemed a mix between hide-and-seek and a child who knew he was in trouble. Kira's eyes stared steadily at the floor.
"Kira." Siegel called gently and Kira's eyes rose from the ground.
The blonde, middle aged man had to pause. He knew that look. He'd seen it before. He'd seen it...so long ago. His eyes softened and he motioned Kira to come to him. When Kira was near, he held him gently and reassuringly.
The townsfolk and crew members gasped. Kira hugged him back and tears fell from his eyes. Siegel remembered this. A little boy of 4, one who cried and hugged him just like this.
"Welcome home." he whispered. It was long overdue. "So long ago...I should've said that." (1)
Only Kira heard it and he pulled away. Athrun placed a hand on his shoulder and Kira looked over his shoulder at him.
"You can't stay too long Kira...We need to give Le Creuset over to the authorities...They'll take you too if you're here." Athrun said sadly. Kira nodded and wiped his eyes.
"Come on men!" a yell of indignation was heard. "We'll restock and then head out! I don't wanna cause anymore harm." he smiled towards the town and townspeople.
At this smile, everyone began swarming over him, Athrun, and Lacus, hugging them and welcoming them back. Kira was lost amidst his emotions and surprise and could only smile at them.
-
It had only been two days. The Gammow crew had been set free to return to their families (they were almost all captured innocents after all, remember?) and the Freedom was finishing its restocking. Rau Le Creuset was in the town jail, awaiting arrest.
Kira, Lacus, Athrun, Cagalli, and everyone else was down at the dock. Mir, Murrue, and Flay were there too. Currently, Kira stood facing Dearka.
Dearka was staying in Heliopolis with Miriallia. He was going to help them out any way he could.
Kira gave Dearka a smile, shedding some tears. Dearka closed his eyes to stop from crying and embraced his captain tightly. Kira blinked and hugged him back. They split a minute later, Dearka furiously wiping his eyes. Kira laughed.
"I'll miss you." he admitted. "You're one of my best friends."
"Yea." Dearka laughed ironically. "Second to that guy." he gestured over to Athrun, who was helping with the restocking. "I'll see you again." he said in finality.
Mwu was saying goodbye to Murrue. Kira gave him a sad look, though the 2nd mate didn't see it. He was giving up a chance at love and a family to stay with him...Murrue was crying and Kira felt truly sorry for her.
Kira blinked as he was suddenly embraced by someone who was bent a bit, hiding their face. Red hair gave Sai away though.
"Sai?" Kira asked curiously.
"I'm sorry!" he said loudly to Kira's shoulder. "I'd come, really I would but...but..."
"Sai!" Kira laughed, patting his friend on the back. "It's alright! I'll be okay if you stay here!"
"A-are you sure?" he asked, backing away, looking pitiful.
"Yes." he smiled broadly. "Besides, she needs someone to stay with her." he said softly.
Sai blushed. Yes, he was staying to be with Flay. It seemed that she had opened up to him on the way back, when no one was looking. Sai felt bad because Tolle was staying on and he wasn't, like a betrayal to their captain.
"Captain Yamato sir." a strict female voice called softly and he turned to see Badguriel as Sai was pulled off by Flay.
"Ah. It's you. Aren't you headed home?" Kira asked, confused. She shook her head.
"No sir. My family is dead sir." she lowered her head for a moment before giving him a face that accompanied a question.
"Yes."
"What?" She blinked.
"Yes you can join my crew." Kira laughed. "That's your question, right?" he smiled kindly at her and she blushed. "It's fine with me as long as you stop calling me 'sir.'"
"Uh...Th-thank you s-Captain." she bowed low, like Yzak had and Kira laughed outright.
"Sorry. I gotta go finish saying goodbye to everybody." he covered his smiling mouth and took off down the dock to find Lacus.
-
Lacus was standing with Athrun, he seemed to be comforting her, as she looked quite sad. Kira wondered what was going on. When he stopped next to them and said hello, both of them jumped.
"So...what's going on?" he asked, a child's curiosity playing on his face, Lacus smiled.
"It's nothing." she shook her head. "We aren't...engaged anymore." Lacus smiled again, a sad smile. "I feel bad about this though...even though it was my decision..."
"Lacus, I told you. I don't mind." he looked at Kira, who was next to him, out of the corner of his eyes, then back to Lacus. "You and I can marry anyone we want now. Even each other later if we want. Nothing's really changed."
Lacus smiled at him and Kira blinked.
"Oh, that's right." Lacus and Athrun looked at him in confusion. "This is yours Lacus."
He reached in a hidden pocket and pulled out a golden medallion on a golden chain. Lacus gasped when he put it in her hands.
"But...I gave this to you! You worked so hard to-" she stopped and blinked at the finger on her lips, silencing her.
"Lacus. I don't want it." he lied, he lied well. "My father told me to protect the royal necklaces, a certain one in particular. But I feel they're better protected in the hands of the royal families. If any are stolen, I'll steal them back." he smiled at her.
"I see." she nodded in understanding, putting her necklace back on. Kira noticed she was still wearing the shell one he'd made. "I'll treasure both of these." she promised.
Kira took her hands and kissed her on the cheek as a tear ran down it. He pulled back and smiled at her.
"I'll miss you." he nodded his head slightly.
"But we'll meet again." Lacus said hopefully. Kira nodded again.
"Yes. I promise." he smiled and then released her hands. "Athrun. Can I speak with you alone?"
Athrun blinked as Kira took his right wrist and began to pull him away. Lacus didn't follow and he didn't have a choice.
To anyone watching, the scene that occurred next would've likely been peculiar. They stood in the shadow of the Freedom, off away from everyone else. Kira reached up around his neck and when he brought them down, a jaded necklace lay in his right hand. Athrun gasped.
"That's my-" he stopped, looking into Kira's eyes. "Oh my god." he backed up a step and Kira's eyes seemed fearful.
"This...this belongs to you." Kira whispered. "My father gave it to me after Manson attacked Raiton. I'm sorry Athrun...I led him there. It was my ability to sense treasure that...And your mom!"
"Kira." Athrun stared at him, disbelieving.
"I was standing, not 30 feet from you...when your mother died. I...I wanted to help, I really did! But my feet wouldn't move and my voice wouldn't work." Kira started crying, holding the necklace tightly, but not hurting it. "I'm sorry..."
He fell to his knees, trying to stop the tears. Athrun was staring at him still, unmoving.
"Kira." Athrun managed. Kira looked up at him just as Athrun took his hands and pulled him up. Kira flinched, fearing the worst.
Athrun took the necklace slowly from his hand.
'It's hot...like flames...' Athrun thought, amazed for a moment.
Kira froze when Athrun suddenly hugged him. Warm wetness hit his shoulder and Kira realized with a jolt that Athrun was...crying...
"A-athrun?" he asked, startled.
"I'm going to miss you...so much." Athrun said, shaking. "Nothing's gonna be the same anymore. Not since you. Thank you so much...Kira."
Kira paused, smiled warmly, and hugged Athrun back.
"I'll miss you too..." he whispered, a tear falling from each eye.
A minute or so later, they broke apart and stared at each other. A call caused them to look up at the ship.
"Captain! We're all set!" Yzak called over the edge at them.
"Alright, get the ship moving. I'll be on board in a sec." Kira ordered calmly. It seemed he felt...free. (Oh the irony.)
Yzak nodded and went to set sail. Kira and Athrun looked at each other for a moment before Kira backed up. Athrun put the necklace on, the weight was unfamiliar, but he would become as used to it as Kira had been.
Kira jumped backwards as the ship began moving away. He flipped, above water, and grabbed a window halfway up the hull. He pushed off and grabbed a rope hanging on the dock and swung himself onto the deck of the Freedom. Athrun smirked at Kira's antics.
"Show off!" he called. Kira looked over the edge and gave a laughing smile.
-
"Mwu, keep the ship steady. Don't wanna lose me, do you?" Kira warned as the ship left the docking area. Mwu nodded, having a semblance of knowledge of what his captain was about to do.
Kira turned and faced the back of the ship. He took a deep breath and began running towards the edge. He leapt off the back, everyone on the dock gasped, and reached his hand back. His fingers grazed the railing and he gripped it tight, landing sideways on the very back of the ship.
He stared at the dock, and the receded city. His premonitions all seemed to have come true. His sadness was immense as he waved at his friends and the townsfolk. Ten seconds later, he was just hanging there, staring sadly.
"Uh, Captain?" Natarle asked from above him. "Where are we headed?"
Kira smiled and shrugged.
"Excuse me? What do you mean?" she asked, not used to having no destination in mind.
He let out a sigh of loss, overcoming the sadness that had engulfed him. Kira turned slightly and climbed like a wild monkey back onto the deck next to her. She seemed surprised by the way he acted. He smiled.
"We'll go wherever we're taken. That's fate, that's destiny. That's...adventure."
Fin.
-
"That was the last time I ever saw Kira. He's still out there. Roaming the seas and giving those around him that sense of peace and assurance. I can feel him even now. He's with us all, and we're with him. In spirit."
Athrun signed the last page, closed the book, and sighed. He turned the book over to look at the cover.
The Freedom
Adventures with the Prince of the Sea
Athrun Zala
He smiled. Athrun stood and left the room. A breath of wind blew in from the open window in the quiet study. The book was opened by it's invisible and delicate fingers, to his fourth page.
"What I have to say doesn't deal with my parent's deaths, my lonely life, or his spending a year at my house. Or...maybe it does. What I have to say revolves around my hatred of pirates, awkward personalities and situations, and love and hate circulating everywhere. Of truth and lies, trust and betrayal, and of loyalty.
But mostly, it's just about the sea, the sun, and the air, and how destiny and fate can bring people together. To really put into words what I'm about to tell you, I'll quote my best friend...
'We'll go wherever we're taken. That's fate, that's destiny. That's...adventure.'
What I'm about to tell you, is what happened...when I learned Kira's past, and that he'd left it behind. When I learned he lived for the present, and looked to the future. This is what happened...when I learned Kira's biggest secret.
-Athrun Zala"
Yes, Athrun was writing a book this entire time. Wind and Water is about Athrun's first book. Sanguine Memories, the somewhat started sequel will be about what happened after this, and Athrun's second book.Bye Everyone!-Jessica M.
1. This will explained in the sequel.
Things to be explained in sequel!
1. Where Kira and Cagalli are from.
2. Mwu's past.
3. Rau's mask.
4. The legend of the Prince of the Sea
5. Anything else that is gonna be explained that I can't remember right now.