AN: Ok, so the second chapter has been released rather quickly compared to my other works. Just under a minute. This must be a new personal record for myself! YAY. Here two people meet and well, you will see what does or does not blossom between them. I apologize now for any spelling or grammatical errors, as i usually just leave such things for spellcheck to pick up on. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Especiually since i had fun writing it.
The sun shined down onto an encampment and trickled its ways to the fallen knight's eyes as he fluttered them open, his eyes still blurry. His sight was captured by a vision of loveliness as his senses sharpened and he saw a young lady looking down upon him with a smile veiled across her heart-shaped face.
His mouth gaped open as he gawked at her pink hair which cascaded down her back. Her face was cute and one of innocence enhanced by the bright smile she wore. But it was when he looked into her ocean blue eyes that he fell in love with the gentleness that was Lacus Clyne, daughter of the King of Plant.
Finding the knight slowly awakening, she couldn't help but gaze down into his purple eyes as she continued to stroke his brunette hair. She had laid his head upon her lap to help him sleep through the night after his injured body was found by the soldiers he led into battle. Having brought no medical supplies with them, the life of their leader was now in the hands of the Plant Caravan.
Her voice was the most beautiful sound Kira had ever heard and gave new life to his ears.
"I see you have awakened good Sir. My name is Lacus." She closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly in respect.
Once able to draw his eyes away from her, he looked around in confusion. "What? Where am I? The battle! My men! I must see to them!" He attempted to sit upright too fast; the affects of his wounds placed a heavy burden upon him causing him to fall back onto her lap. Lacus giggled at his actions and attempted to cover her mouth with one hand hoping he would not take offense.
"Do not worry my lord, your men are fine. The attackers soon left after your arrival. They seemed quite terrified of your detachment. It is you I was worried about. Your wound was quite severe." Her voice was drenched with sadness "I was afraid you would not make it through the night."
Kira looked down and saw he was wearing neither the clothes nor armor he arrived here with. His chest was exposed save the blood stained bandages wrapped around his ribs. For all his battles he had finally received his first scar. A thought struck his mind as his cheeks turned a bit red. "I um…who changed me out of my uniform and treated my wounds?"
Lacus smiled down proudly at the soldier who lay upon her, though her cheeks soon too blushed. "I was the only one skilled in the art of healing. I hope you don't mind though as you have nothing to be embarrassed about."
Kira eyes were once again wide in shock and embarrassment, too afraid to ask what that meant though he felt he already knew. The awkward silence that would have followed was driven away as a familiar companion entered the tent to see how his childhood friend had been doing.
"I see you have met my fiancé Kira" replied Sir Athrun Zala, the head of the detachment entrusted to guard the royal entourage.
Kira smiled and turned to see his friends as the words weighed heavily down upon him, causing him more pain than the wound he bore. "Athrun! Fiancé? You mean… you two are…"
But before he could finish his question, Lacus would answer it for him as she stuck her tongue out at her friend and protector of the past year. "Athrun! You know we called that whole thing off! It's not fair to tease an injured soldier like that." She had a pouty face on fully expecting an apology though certain it would never come.
"My my Lacus. You certainly are defensive about that. Could it be you have developed a fondness for the future king of Orb?" Athrun new fully well she would respond brashly to the fiancé comment. He always felt she was the type to fall for Kira, and he knew for certain Lacus was just what a man like Kira needed in his life. However that didn't mean he couldn't get a little fun out of the situation.
Though now it was Lacus who was shocked. She glanced back down at the man who stirred on her lap wondering if what Athrun said could be true. "You mean you are Sir Kira? The one my father speaks so highly about? The man who has helped my father through several harsh crises in Plant and helped both our kingdoms in such a short amount of time?"
Taking in her questions he now too had to accept her shock as well. "Your father? You mean you're the daughter of Siegel Clyne that I have heard so much about? I had heard your beauty trumps the most beautiful rose but I truly had no idea until now."
The two suddenly felt rather bashful having known so much about one another yet never having met until now. Having a keen sense of awareness Athrun couldn't contain his laughter as he made his way out the tent to attend to matters before the caravan resumed its journey. The two would not be gifted with a great deal time alone as another much elder man entered the tent and too looked on with amusement at the sight held before him.
"I see you have awoken Sir Kira, and introduced yourself to my daughter in a far more thorough fashion than I think is necessary." Kira never bothered to try and get up from Lacus' lap when Athrun had stopped by not wanting to leave such a comfortable position. Though when a girl's father is around, one changes their mind rather quickly. Kira was quickly prevented from his rise as a hand that found his shoulder quickly rushed him back down to her lap.
Lacus took a far stronger tone with her father than with Athrun when she spoke to him. "Oh hush father. Sir Kira needs his rest and shouldn't move until I think he's better. He's not and that's final."
Siegel Clyne stared at his daughter in bewilderment wondering where this newfound attitude was coming from though he certainly had his suspicions. Kira's eye started twitching showing his unease at the situation and could not think of many ways to diffuse it. He once again tried to lift his head off her lap and tried to say something that may help the situation. "No really…I um…I'm feeling just great now. Hon-"
His eyes locked onto Lacus once more as she gave him an angry pouty look that left her lips pursed and her face even more appealing than before. He suddenly had an urge to kiss her then and there but the image of a guillotine flashed through his mind. "Err I mean….it hurts! I better not move just yet." Kira willingly rested his weary head against her lap trying to avoid whatever look the King of Plant might be giving him.
The mighty king of Plant and commander of one of the largest armies ever seen to man admitted defeat to his pink-haired little princess as he raised his hands and left the tent. Kira focused his gaze upon the princess that held him so dearly, confused by the flutter of emotions that stamped his heart. "Thank you for taking care of me milady."
His politeness was rewarded with a flick to his forehead and a giggle from the girl "Just call me Lacus." She liked the thought of her name rolling of his tongue.
"Only if you call me Kira." She nodded and continued to stroke his hair much to Kira's satisfaction. Her touch sent shivers down his spine and a warmth into his soul to drive away the burdens of war that he had carried with him for some time.
"Lacus, would…would you do me the honor of telling me more about yourself? I do not think the stories I have heard have done you justice, I fear none ever could." Lacus giggled at his boldness. She had heard much about this particular prince and was soon beginning to realize the same was true about him.
"Hmm, first tell me what you have heard. I am curious to know what those in Orb think of me."
Kira had not foreseen that particular turn of events. He never imagined someone so beautiful held such wit. He had no choice but to heed the orders of a princess. "Very well. I heard your beauty was one that could never be fully described in words and could only truly be known by tingling ones senses. It is even said in Orb that you are even more beautiful than our Princess, my sister Cagalli, though it is hard for me to judge my sister in that fashion."
Lacus smiled and softly giggled with her cheeks more red than before, accentuating her soft pink lips which captured Kira's eyes before he started to speak. "I'm told your voice is the sweetest sound one could hear leaving even the birds jealous of your songs. It is also said your mere presence could warm the hearts of even the coldest of men. Many stories have come to Orb of the various suitors you've had, pledging their undying loyalty and love for you only to be turned away…" He paused for a moment, a bit unsure if the next rumor he heard would be appropriate.
Kira lifted his head from her lap, this time without resistance, and turned to face her while he absorbed her slender form. When he heard her speak just to him once again, he knew the rumors about her singing must surely be understated "What is it Kira? It sounded like there was more."
Kira, a man who had stared down death many times over the past year was too now helpless against this innocent pink princess. He looked down shyly and twiddled his fingers unsure if the next story would land him with a slap or a giggle, hoping for the latter. "Uh well, this last rumor it…well, please don't get upset at me for saying this. I had heard your lips were as soft as rose petals and that a kiss from them would bring pleasure not found anywhere else throughout all the kingdoms. I hope I have not been too foreword."
He looked up planning to appear sympathetic though he truly wondered as to the validity of the last one. He quickly got his answer as the princess closed her eyes and brought her lips to his giving him her first kiss. They parted after a few moments that felt too short leaving both nearly breathless from the encounter. "Now you are the first and only one to know how much truth there is to that." She found the stuttering that emanated from his mouth to be quite pleasing and relaxed her nerves as she wondered how the prince would respond.
"Now, I didn't give you permission to get up." She pulled Kira back down onto her lap to rest, despite the presence of a few pillows that lay inside the tent along with them. Lacus would tell Kira of her childhood at Plant through the years she spent studying at the house of Ramius and then to her return home. She recounted the tale of how she met Athrun and the fact their brief engagement was a formality neither wanted. "When I met him, I knew I liked him but I never got the feeling that I loved him. I guess it sounds silly since I didn't know what love was at the time."
Kira needed to know the answer to the question that followed. "Do you know now?" She lowered her eyes and looked straight down at him, the answer had been teasing her for too long, "I feel I do, now…"
However their romantic motion was interrupted by the war cry of Kira's stomach as they spent a good part of the morning and into the afternoon getting to know one another. Lacus laughed and apologized for allowing the weary warrior to go hungry for as long as she did.
"It's alright Lacus, really. I'm used to not eating when I'm supposed to. But you know I will have to get up if I am to be able to eat." Lying down upon Lacus like that would have made eating rather hard.
Lacus shook her head having obviously thought of an appropriate solution. "That's easy silly. I will just have to feed you."
Kira's eyebrows arched. He was a prince chosen to be king of an entire nation. A student who traveled the lands in search of knowledge and wisdom. A knight who drove away evil, not someone who needed to be fed. "But Lacus, what would my men think if they saw us? I have worked hard to gain their trust."
Lacus would not back down, determined to get her way. "They aren't in here with us right now are they? And if they do find out, they will just have to deal with me!" she shook an angry fist but only managed to scare Kira's heart further into submission to her.
He played along with her and added. "No princess, please spare my men. Do with me what you will for I am yours to command." Lacus caught hint of his teasing and stuck out her tongue at him before pulling aside a plate left earlier. It only contained a fair assortment of bread and various cheeses.
"I'm afraid this is all we have to offer. The marauders managed to steal a few supplies and destroyed the others. The reinforcements that came after you had fallen had not known they would need to bring more." She truly wished she had more to offer Kira which inspired an idea. "But if you be good, I'll treat you to some special dessert."
Kira pretended to think hard on the subject but complied with her demands "As you wish. This shall serve to be a feast for us both." Lacus would then feed the soldier who lay helpless to her wishes while he rested upon her lap. She sometimes teased him with a morsel of food just inches away from his lips only to plop it into her own with great satisfaction. But soon the food disappeared and the time for dessert had quickly arrived.
"So have I behaved my princess?" he enquired. He had not inherited the taste for sweets like his sister had but suddenly they offered a new found appeal to him. Lacus nodded and told him he would have to sit upright and turn around. As he did he found his lips once again pressed against her own silky smooth lips as they kissed once again, this time with no end in sight. He wrapped his arms around her slim waist as she laced hers around his neck allowing her to deepen the kiss with the passion she had kept in her heart.
Just outside the tent, two observers have been watching their little interactions with great interest from the moment the couple decided to eat. "It seems my old friend has found someone he likes." Remarked the blue haired knight.
Siegel Clyne replied without faltering, no displeasure found within his voice. "Yes, he will be a good match for her. I am glad those two like each other. Although isn't this a bit too fast?"
Athrun could only shrug and offer what little wisdom a child could offer a senior. "Ours is a much faster generation my king. Though if they are truly so eager to share such love with one another, why wait?"
The king looked down upon his knight as his mind brought up various suspicions. "You knew something like this would happen were the two to meet, didn't you?" Athrun was the only man who had befriended both and had insisted Lacus accompany her father to visit the kingdom of Orb.
In a mock tone of innocence the young knight replied as he walked away from the tent "My lord, I do not know why you would accuse me of such a thing. Though now that it has happened, I won't be the one to stop them. You are certainly free to do so if you like, my king."
The leader of Plant cleared his throat before he too walked away. "No I don't think that would be necessary. Kira is too much of a gentleman to take advantage of my daughter." Except now he wondered just how safe Kira would be alone with Lacus like that. 'I'll have a guard interrupt them in a few minutes. That should be safe enough.'
Well? What did you think? Please leave me a review. I have been considering posting replies to reviews in my author notes but i am unsure if people will like that. (sometimes it can make a chapter seem far longer than it actually is, whichi always found disapointing) Anyways, suggestions? Loved it? Hated it? I want to know.