Chapter 9
Flashing Blades (re-written)
Summary- What if Kira was a girl?
Disclaimer- I don't own Gundam Seed/Destiny
Athruns P.O.V
"NICOL!" I shouted as I watched the Strike cut the Blitz in half.
"A-athrun…run…." Were the final words of my comrade and friend before the blade of the Strikes sword penetrated his body.
I could here the screams and shouts of Yzak and Dearka once they finally grasped of what had just happened. I however remained frozen. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. Kira wouldn't do this!
I was barely attentive when the commander ordered us back. I felt my machine being lifted, was it Yzak or Dearka? I wasn't sure.
Everything was automatic. I got out of the Aegis and floated towards the locker room like always. I wasn't even aware of the small and almost barely hearable whispers of apologies as I floated towards my destination.
I entered the locker room to see that Yzak and Dearka hadn't arrived yet. Like always I changed out of my flight suit and into my uniform. This was a dream I told myself over and over. It has to be.
I looked up when the familiar hiss of the door reached my ears and the even more familiar shouting and ranting of Yzak as he entered with Dearka close behind.
I lowered my head.
"DAMNIT!" Yzak shouted punching Nicols locker.
I winced at the loud noise.
"Take it easy Yzak." Dearka tried the pathetically to calm Yzak down.
"How can I calm down? That bastard murdered Nicol!" Yzak said and gave a sideways glance at me.
I snapped I don't know why. Perhaps because I knew that he was blaming me for Nicols death though he didn't say it, or maybe the realization of what Kira did finally registered into my mind.
Whatever it was I snapped.
I grabbed Yzak by his collar and slammed him against the lockers painfully.
"Why don't you just say it? He died trying to protect me!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I was breathing heavily. I was furious and angst at the same time. Not a good combination.
Yzak sent a nasty glare but didn't say anything which was surprising. He pushed me off and floated towards the door. Dearka was about to follow when Yzak suddenly spoke.
"Next time Zala I will get him." Yzak voice was cold, bitter and deadly. If you could kill someone with the tone of your voice Yzak would have won the war for us.
Both left not giving me a second look.
I broke down. I let by defenses, pride, and dignity down and broke into a violent fit of tears. Why? Why did you do it Kira? Nicol didn't deserve to die!
I pounded my fist against Nicols locker in utter fury.
"Nicol." I whispered as if my voice would bring him back.
I gave one last punch to the poor locker door that already had dents from mine and Yzaks abuse towards it.
The punch must have been stronger than I though. The door opened and sheets of music paper poured out.
Ignoring my throbbing knuckles I bent down and absorbed the sheets of music. I could hear Nicols voice telling me about how much he was glad that I went to his concert and how he could wait for the war to end so that he could practice his music some more.
I started crying again this time of complete sorrow.
'It's my fault! I couldn't protect him! He died trying to save me from Kira! Kira killed him! The Strike destroyed the Blitz. Kira why! Why did Nicol have to die! Kira! Why did you do it?' Then for the first time in my life I felt everything leave me. I felt nothing but hatred. I hated and despised Kira for what she did. I been spending all my time trying to protect and get Kira to join us when she did the very thing the commander said she would.
I could hear the commanders' voice echoing in my head.
"The Strike. What if she won't listen to you? Will you shoot it down, or be shot down?"
I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. It wasn't me who was shot down though. That I could handle. This was my mistake for believing that Kira would come around. See past her arrogant ways and realize where she belonged. Instead she killed Nicol. Innocent Nicol.
I made my self a vow. Right then and there.
"I will not let you get away with this Kira! If it's the last thing I do!" I shouted to the empty room. I left the room after though. I ran out like the devil himself was after me. I raced to my quarters and collapsed on the bed.
'Why?' was my only though after I drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Kiras P.O.V
I watched wide eyed as my sword plunged into the charging MS. I was more shocked not by my kill as I have experienced this before but more from Athruns heart reaching scream as it pierced my ears over the communicator. I was both stunned and heart broken to hear such a scream of utter sorrow and pain.
I never thought Athrun was capable of such emotions. He was often calm and collected. True he was sad and hurt at times, but during or childhood he never expressed such a scream of terror and emotion.
I knew deep with in my very being that this was the start if something horrible. I knew that Athrun would not forgive me for killing his friend. He would no doubt act on his revenge the next time we meet in battle.
I could only watch as the Blitz was slowly cut in half. The poor pilot. I felt almost sick.
The Duel and Buster soon responded by viciously attacking. They weren't even bothering to aim. Only blindly shooting in hopes of hitting something, anything that could act as a proper revenge for there slaughtered friend.
I quickly went back to the Archangel as I was ordered back. ZAFT would need time to prepare to be able to retaliate in the next battle.
I exited my cockpit once I was on the Archangel. I slowly made my way down to the floor were applause and congratulations welcomed me.
"Alright you finally got one."
"Nice job out there."
"Great work kid…ops…I mean Ensign."
I reserved pats on the back. A few ruffled my hair and others made jokes about how they made bets on how long it would take until I finally got one of the pilots of the other G-weapons.
I felt my whole world coming down on me. I wasn't upset that I had killed that other pilot. No. I never wanted to kill anyone but we are at war and I need to protect my friends first and for most. I was more upset that I knew that in the next battle against Athrun he will try to kill me.
"STOP IT!" I shouted my heart aching.
"What?" several mechanics asked in confusion?
"I just killed on of their pilots! Don't you understand what that means!" I asked though I knew my answer.
"Hey what's wrong with you?"
"Yeah you have been doing this for awhile now."
I wanted to scream at them. Yes I have been the pilot of the Strike for some time now, but that doesn't make it any easier. Was I supposed to become numb to killing? Was I to become heartless and cold? I guess Athrun was right. They didn't care if I killed as long as it wasn't them. As long as I killed in the name of naturals and not coordinators they didn't care.
Commander La Fllaga must have sensed my anger and disjunction. He stepped through the crowds and unlatched me from their grasp.
"Hey knock it off! Cant you see that the girl is exhausted?" He asked glaring at the others.
I didn't respond. I didn't even give a polite thank you. I merely made my way through and left the hanger.
I don't know how long I was wondering. I had changed out of my flight suit long ago. I felt weak and tired. I felt used and dirty. I killed Athruns friend…..does that mean he will try and kill mine?
I made my way to my room and decided to get some sleep. I would most likely wouldn't be able to fight if I was tried.
A small house on an island
A blind man carefully rocked back and forth on his chair. Several children were getting in their last few moments of play. The sky's were darkening, a show that a storm of rain and wind was fast approaching.
No parents were present. Only the lone guardian and many children differencing in age.
The man suddenly frowned. The way a family would at a close relative's funeral.
Something was coming. Something terrible and unforgiving.
Battle field Athruns P.O.V
I felt ever cell in my body become over whelmed with hatred and frustration. I hated because the very woman who slaughtered my friend was now in front of me, fighting me, trying to cut me down before I did her. I was frustrated because it was taking so long; I wasn't able to defeat her to kill her in my desired time. I wanted her dead! I want her to feel the pain of death like the one she inflected upon my friend. Also I was frustrated at the voice in the back of my head that was telling me to stop and think twice. I pushed that aside and continued to inflect deadly shots that were barely dodge able and take violent swings that created a devastating damage to the other.
I wasn't wining or losing. As much as I would hate to admit that my opponent was stronger. I had no choice but to cave. Kira was strong. In a clean fight one free of a personal tragedy I have no doubt that she would defeat me. Unfortunately for her this was not a clean fight. This was a fight stained with the blood of someone I cared for.
I watched as Kira dodged another one of my carefully planed shots. She fired but they were warning shots. I felt anger. She was not taking this seriously. She was trying to avoid killing me. I felt sick and disturbed. She had sliced through Nicol like her was nothing yet here she was shooting warning shots while I was doing everything I could to try and shot her down.
I watched intrigued as a Sky grasper came over towards us. His flying was a bit clumsy and inaccurate. I could easily assume that he was not a trained pilot. Unlike Kira though he did not have a natural skill in the field of flying. He was a natural. One of Kiras friends. I heard Kira shout out a name that I did not catch, that was the least of my concerns. I felt an unfamiliar feeling stir in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to do something I swore to myself I would never do. I wanted to hurt Kira. Not physically but emotionally. I wanted to make her cry and scream in pain at the lost of someone she was close to. I wanted her to feel what she caused me!
So I made a jump away from Kira. I became between her and the aircraft. I took my shield and through it at the aircrafts cockpit. I watched as they connected. Dead on. The pilot was not experienced enough to ovoid the incoming object and the pilot was decapitated.
Kira did what I wasn't expecting though. I was expecting her to break down in tears like she use to do when she was emotionally wounded. No instead I found myself barely dodging some very accurate shots. I felt my self become calm and more observant. (A/N Athrun is in seed mode)
We went back and forth. I shot she shot. I was hit she was hit. I noticed that when Kira fought in rage that she became less accurate and left several open shots. I had managed to get some fairly damageable hits while she was in her time of weakness.
My Aegis lost and arm and a leg. Kira had pulled out her saber for close combat and was able to remove my right leg and arm. I was able to cut off the Strikes head and left arm. The cut as managed to cut into the cockpit but not close enough to do any damage to Kira herself. I quickly transformed my Aegis seeing an opening and latched my self to the Strike. I was about to deliver a powerful blow with my cannon when I noticed that my power was out. The Aegis armor turned grey and I was helpless.
I quickly opened the self destruct code and existed the cockpit. I wasn't able to get out of the destructions path fast enough as I too pushed in the blast. I felt my world become black.
Battle Kiras P.O.V
I screamed helplessly as I watched my friend die before my eyes. Tolle was gone.
I felt hot tears of pain and hatred pour down my face.
'Damn you Athrun!' I thought. I quickly dropped my original plan of trying to avoid hurting Athrun to trying to kill him.
I felt the familiar calming of my body and my actions become more précised. (A/N Seed mode for Kira)
I battled Athrun my hardest. Well at least the hardest I could give the situation. I knew that I wasn't battling as well as I could and I knew that Athrun wasn't either. We were both blinded by anger and resentment that we weren't concentrating on actually hitting the other but just inflecting as much pain as possible.
I wasn't really aware of what was happening until I saw Athrun exit the Aegis. Then it dawned on me. He was going to self destruct the Aegis. I was stunned and surprised. I didn't feel my body act on its own. I found my self exiting the cockpit just as the Aegis was destroyed. I felt my body propelled into to the air. Then everything went black.
After Math
"Urge" Kira mumbled as she pulled her aching body away from the water. She had her legs soaked from being in the water and she was covered in sand. Not only was that she aching all over.
"Where am I?" Kira asked herself and anyone else that may have been around. She felt a stinging pain on her left temple and raised her hand to touch it. She felt a wet substance on her fingers; lowering them to her eyes she saw a blood staining her finger tips.
Looking around she saw a lot of destruction all around her. Trees were knocked down and metal was everywhere. It was early morning. Kira could see the sun rising over the hill tops. Not to far away she saw the Strike.
Kiras eyes widen as the events that happened only a few hours ago registered into her mind.
"Oh God, Athrun." Kira said to herself. She felt her tired body begin to shake at realization of what she had tried to do.
Looking around frantically her eyes landed on a figure not to far away. She slowly crawled her way over. Her aching legs weren't responding. As she approached she felt her breath get caught in her throat.
"Athrun." Kira whispered. He like her was badly beaten up. Though she seemed to be in worse condition sense she was closer to the blast. Kiras hand slowly approached his face and she moved a few strands of blue hair from his face. She placed a hand on his neck to check his pulse and lowered her head to check his breathing.
"Good you're still alive." Kira said to the unconscious Athrun. Athrun began to stir slightly. His cold body responding to the warm body next to his.
Kira looked around again. She could see the Archangel in the distance but getting their attention would be next to impossible in their condition.
Athrun stirred some more his body shifting even more. He slowly began to regain consciousness. His eyes fluttered open.
"K-Kira?" Athrun asked in quiet surprise. Kira broke her gaze from the war-ship to look back at Athrun.
"Stay still your injured." Kira said to Athrun ignoring any awkwardness from telling the very person she wanted to kill a few hours ago.
Athrun felt his eyes widen even more, was Kira for real? He just tried to kill her by blowing up his Gundam. He had killed her friend prier to that. Why was she treating him in such a way?
Kira smiled at Athrun as his handsome face showed surprise and guilt. "It's alright. Right now you can't move or you'll injure yourself even more." Kira spoke softly she didn't care that they had tried to kill one another at this point. Athrun was still her friend and she didn't blame him for his actions, how could she when she did the same?
Athrun didn't remain still though. He tried sitting up but the pressure he allied to his right arm was painful and he collapsed under the pain.
"Athrun!" Kira called worried as she saw him try to get up and fail do to pain in his arm.
Athrun had closed his eyes from the pain for a moment then opened them to see Kira closely inspecting his arm without touching it to much. He gaze as her lovely face showed general worry.
"I think it's broken. Can you move it at all?" Kira asked breaking Athrun from his stare.
Blinking out of his daze Athrun tried moving his arm. He could lift it but not mend it.
"I can lift it, but it hurts to bend it." Athrun said.
Kira smiled slightly. "That's good then. You didn't injure your shoulder then."
Athrun smiled but it wasn't from happiness more so that he could show that Kiras help was appreciated.
Athrun stared at Kira again and saw a fairly large gash on her temple. It was bleeding not rapidly but enough to be concerned since it was a head injury.
"Your, head!" Athrun shouted his face now a face a worry.
"Huh? Oh, this?" Kira said pointing to her head.
"Yeah." Athrun said a little more calmly but still worried.
"I know don't worry." Kira said like a mother would to a child reminding her not to forget something. She ripped a piece of cloth from her flight suit from a hole. She pulled the thick fabric and managed to get a fairly large piece and held it to her head and applied pressure to try and stop the bleeding.
"Where are we?" Athrun asked.
"Don't know. Some kind of island in Orb. The Archangel is not to far away." Kira said in a calm voice.
"The what? Oh you mean the "legged ship"." Athrun said looking at Kira again.
"Is that what ZAFTS been calling it?" Kira asked with slight amusement.
"Yeah." Athrun said. He looked at Kira again and felt emotions run through him. He almost killed his best friend. He felt his heart ach. He looked into thoughts amethysts eyes as Kira turned to him to ask what was wrong. He didn't reply in words only wrapped his arms around Kira ignoring to sharp pain from moving his broken arm.
"A-Athrun?" Kira asked shocked at Athruns sudden action. A pretty blush tinting her face.
"Oh, God! I almost. Kira…I….I…..I didn't want…….please forgive me." Athrun sobbed burying his face in Kiras hair.
Kira didn't know what to do. In the past it was always her who broke down and Athrun was the one left indefinite.
Kira smiled and returned Athruns hug by wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "It's alright. If it makes you feel any better I was trying to kill you as well. I'm so happy I didn't though."
Athrun pulled back slightly to see Kira was now crying as well. Taking his hand and wiping her tears as they fell.
"Please don't cry." Athrun whispered.
Kira smiled. "I was about to say the same thing."
Athrun laughed slightly the action causing his body to shake and he groaned slightly from the pain.
"What now?" Kira asked.
Athrun didn't know how to answer that. Sense he had no idea either.
"I don't know." Athrun replied.
Kira smiled slightly and leaned her head against Athruns shoulder. She laughed at herself slightly. She had figured out her feeling for her best friend ran deeper than a mere friendship not to long ago. Then she tried to kill him, and now she was hugging him in the after math of their battle.
"Kira…..I…." Athrun started.
"Yes?" Kira asked tiredly.
"I want you to know that I…..I really do care for you." Athrun said his face turning red. Not from just what those words meant but in the atmosphere he had chosen to say them in. Sitting on the cold wet ground of an island with a broken arm, your partner have a head injury, and all this only moments after trying to kill one another wasn't exactly how he pictured saying he feelings out in the open.
Kira chuckled slightly. "I care for you to…but how do you care for me?" Kira whispered the last part. Unfortunately Athruns hearing was probably the only part of him that wasn't damaged.
"What?" he asked.
"Athrun…I….I…never mind. Forget what I said." Kira said looking at the ground.
"Kira…." Athrun was interrupted though when a mans voice called out to them.
"Hello there."
As if on impulse Athrun turned to the voice but shielded Kira with his body in case of an enemy.
"Don't worry I mean you no harm. In fact I came to see if you are alright." The man with a cane said.
"Who are you?" Athrun asked sternly though he was in hardly any physical condition to do anything.
"I am Reverend Malkio." (A/N I don't care if I spelt that right this is how I am spelling his name!) Said the man.
Athrun took a closer look and realized that the man wasn't looking at them but straight ahead.
"I'm blind incase you are wondering." The reverend said sensing Athruns question.
"Oh." Athrun said dumbfounded.
"Is your friend alright? I could have sworn I heard two voices." The blind priest said.
"Oh yes I am alright." Kira said who was forgotten during the interaction.
"I see please come with me. Can you stand?"
Kira and Athrun helped on another up. Kira had an injury to her ankle but other than that she could stand alright now that her body was a bit rested. Athrun had no injury to his legs and was able to stand on his own. The both made there was to a house upon Malkios instruction.
Archangel
Dearka was set in a medical room. He had been captured during the battle when the Buster was shot down.
"I wonder what happened to Athrun and the Strike." Dearka asked himself when he was left alone.
He smiled slightly at Yzaks reaction if Athrun had succeeded in destroying the Strike.
"Guess I won't be finding out for a while." He said without a care in the world.
Malkios Orphanage.
Kira and Athrun were shocked to learn that such a battle that they had inured had taken place so close to an orphanage.
"I have called Miss Lacus." A shuttle will be sent to pick the tow of you up. Sense she has requested to see you."
"You mean go to PLANT?" Kira asked not liking the idea of going to ZAFT.
"Yes I told her that an Athrun Zala and a Kira Yamato were under my care and she asked me to send both of you to her home in PLANT." He responded.
"No I can't go to PLANT …" Kira didn't get to finish. She was struck with a wave of pain.
"You are in need of great medical condition young lady. Mr. Zala here was lucky enough to have only minor injures excluding that broken arm of his. You how ever have a serious head injury and may have suffered internal wounds."
Kira only looked at the floor. She wasn't getting out of this.
Athrun looked at Kira feeling pain and guilt.
"How did you survive anyways?" Athrun asked. He couldn't help it was driving him crazy. The blast should have killed Kira.
"I was able to exit the cockpit before the Aegis exploded. Unfortunately that was all I was able to do. I was right next to the Strike when the explosion happened." Kira explained.
Athrun looked away with guilt.
"You both should get some rest. There is a room in the back on the left. There are two beds so you two will be sharing a room." The reverend said getting up and retiring to his own room.
"Come on we better get some sleep." Athrun said guiding Kira to the room with his one good arm. The other was in a splint.
"Alright." Kira said she was far to tried to argue and longer.
'Archangel…' were her last thoughts.
To be continued……
A/N OMG! It's 2:27 am! Argh! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Again sorry if I butchered the English language. I think I'm getting better. The next Chapter will have Lacus and the Freedom and Justice! Yeah! To main story time line will still be used but a lot of events will be changed or cut. Don't worry though there will be lots of Athrun and Kira fluff in chapters to come!
Till me what you think!
Tootles.
